NCC welcomes new head of Dual Enrollment

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This spring Nashua Community College welcomed a new Dual Enrollment Coordinator to oversee the Running Start and Early College programs, former high school teacher Michelle Grimm.

“While I was teaching, I learned that I really enjoy working with students on their transition from secondary education to what comes next, particularly post-secondary education. And one of the things I love about NCC is all the exit points for students – they can enroll in professional career training, a certificate program, an associate degree; there is something for everyone.”

Before coming to NCC in May, Grimm taught at Timberlane Regional High School in Plaistow. “I am a civil engineer by training. I took some time off when we started our family and reentered the workforce as an engineering and mathematics high school teacher at Timberlane.”

Grimm now leads the Dual Enrollment Office at NCC, which helps Greater Nashua public, private, and homeschool students at the high school level earn college credit at no or low costs.

Dual Enrollment: How it works

“There are two different programs through NCC: Running Start and Early College,” said Grimm. “Running Start is where high school students take classes at their local high school with their high school instructors and earn high school and college credit. The other program is Early College where high school students come to NCC and take college classes on our campus and earn college credit. Early College classes may also count toward high school credits, but that is up to the high school to determine.”

Early College classes operate on a college schedule versus a high school schedule, meaning classes are available days, evenings, and Saturdays, and class delivery may be on-campus, online, or hybrid (on-campus and online). Accelerated classes such as half-semester classes are also available. Grimm noted that high school students may take online and accelerated courses through Early College, but they first need permission from the department chair.

A third Dual Enrollment program, eStart, offers online-only courses through the Community College System of New Hampshire for $150 per course.

Costs and Scholarships

Dual Enrollment pathways can help students get ahead on their college goals while saving big. “It’s a time savings for earning your degree, but it’s also a great way to save money,” said Grimm.

Early College students pay half the in-state tuition rate of $215/credit for 2022-2023, and Running Start is $150 per course, with a need-based scholarship available. Students can also apply for the Governor’s Scholarship, which completely funds two STEM (science, technology, engineering, & mathematics) or CTE (career and technical education) courses per student each academic year.

The Governor’s Scholarship covers a broad offering of courses, like business, automotive technology, physics, and more.

“The Governor’s scholarship is available for sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and homeschool students 15 and older. They can use it toward Running Start or Early College,” said Grimm.

Learn More

For Running Start, Grimm advises students to talk to their guidance counselor, “They will know what courses are available at their high school and how to get signed up.”

Anyone interested in Early College can contact Michelle Grimm by phone or email, 603.578.6915 or mgrimm@ccsnh.edu.

“I want high school students’ first experience with college to be a positive one. I’m here to help and facilitate the process, so don’t hesitate to reach out and talk.”

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