Frequently Asked Questions

You are a Vincennes University student. Period. You complete an application to register for dual credit courses, have a VU transcript, a VU ID number (your A-Number), and the same rights and responsibilities as any student sitting in a lecture hall on our main campus. 

Think of Project EXCEL as “College à la carte.” You’re taking a few specific VU classes taught by your high school teachers in your regular building.

Early College is more of a “Full Immersion” experience. You’re likely in a specialized program or building, working toward an actual Associate degree (60 credits), CG (30 Credits), or CPC (15 credits) at the same time you get your High School diploma.

Think of it this way: AP is “one big test.” With Dual Credit, if you pass the VU class, you get the credit. No high-stakes national exam required.

The ICC is a block of 30 credit hours of general education, college-level coursework, which is guaranteed to transfer between all Indiana public and some private institutions. The ICC will meet the basic general education requirements, but some institutions may require additional courses to meet their general education cores.

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: These aren't “practice” grades. They go on a permanent Vincennes University transcript. If you apply to a different college later, you must send this transcript. A “C” in high school and a “C” on your permanent college record are very different. On the flip side, an "A" now is a massive head start for your future college GPA.

• In high school, a syllabus is usually a one-page sheet your teacher hands out that says “Don’t chew gum” and “Bring a pencil.” In college, the Syllabus (plural: Syllabi) is entirely different.
• Think of it as the Terms and Conditions for your class…except this is the one time you actually need to read them. It is a legal contract between you and your instructor. If it’s in the syllabus, “I didn’t know” is no longer a valid excuse. It’s the first thing Dual Credit Admin will ask you about if you want to dispute something in the class. 

• If you want to know how to get an "A" without having to guess, the syllabus is your literal cheat code. Here is what you’ll find inside those 5–10 pages:

• Every professor grades differently. One might make the final exam worth 50% of your grade, while another focuses on weekly labs. The syllabus tells you where to put your energy. College instructors are strict about attendance and late work. If the syllabus says “No late work accepted,” they mean it. There are usually no "extra credit" bailouts at the end of the semester.

• This is the time your instructor is required to sit by their computer or in their office to help you. If you’re stuck, this is a great resource.

• This is huge. Every VU instructor has their own policy on ChatGPT and AI. One might let you use it for outlines; another might consider it an automatic failure. Read this section first.

• Since you’re taking this class in a high school building, your high school might have different rules than Vincennes University. With that, if the high school rule and the VU Syllabus rule conflict, the Syllabus usually wins. Example: If the high school says you can turn in work late for a 10% penalty, but the VU Syllabus for your dual credit class says “Zero points for late work,” it means late work is not accepted. 

• Keep a digital copy (PDF) of every syllabus for every dual credit class you take. Why? If you go to a college outside of Indiana, they might ask to see the syllabus to prove that your VU class matches theirs. Having that PDF saved could be the difference between getting credit and having to retake the class!

1. Resume Experience: Listing “College Coursework Completed” shows employers you can handle high-level responsibility.
2. A Safety Net: If you change your mind in three years, your credits will be sitting there waiting for you. They don't expire.
3. Trade School: If you’re going into welding, tech, or nursing, these credits often cover the “gen-ed” stuff you’d have to take anyway in an apprenticeship or certification program.