Every year, the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) conference brings together the people shaping the future of dual enrollment—program directors, faculty, policy leaders, and partners like us.

This year, one thing was clear: dual enrollment isn’t just expanding, it’s evolving. Across sessions, workshops, and even our collaborative vision board at the McGraw Hill booth, three themes stood out.

1. From Participation to Purpose: Designing Dual Enrollment as a Pathway, Not a Program

The most powerful conversations at NACEP centered around a shift in mindset: dual enrollment isn’t just about participation—it’s about purpose.

Speakers like John Fink from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) shared data showing that participation has grown to 2.8 million students nationwide—and that institutions are increasingly focused on turning that early momentum into long-term enrollment success. The goal now is designing programs that connect students’ early experiences to clear academic and career pathways.

Programs that do this well start earlier, helping students and families understand their options, linking dual enrollment courses to meta-majors and CTE pathways, and offering advising that helps them see how high school credits translate into college and career momentum.

At our booth, leaders shared excitement in their own purposeful results—35% matriculation rates, nearly 50% enrollment growth, and expanded access for students who previously wouldn’t have imagined themselves in college.  These stories reflect a shared commitment to helping students see what’s possible—and building bridges that turn those early opportunities into lasting success.

2. Empowering the Educators Behind Every Dual Enrollment Program

Across sessions, faculty preparation and support emerged as one of the most critical factors driving program success. From credentialing requirements to onboarding challenges in LMS systems, institutions are looking for scalable ways to equip high school instructors with the same tools, training, and community that their college peers receive.

We heard an inspiring example from Hawkeye Community College in Iowa, which has built a structured, scalable model to support its concurrent enrollment instructors. After moving the program under Academic Affairs, Hawkeye made instructor onboarding and Canvas training a requirement—positioned as a way to enhance the student experience. Each instructor is credentialed through their Dean, set up in campus systems as a Hawkeye instructor, and guided by a Concurrent Responsibilities Agreement that mirrors full-time faculty expectations. Ongoing discipline-specific workshops, Canvas roundtables, and course reviews by faculty liaisons ensure quality and consistency across every site.

At McGraw Hill, we’re seeing the same needs echoed across institutions—which is why our train-the-trainer sessions and group faculty workshops are designed to meet educators where they are, simplifying implementation of our online homework platforms like McGraw Hill Connect®, ALEKS®, and SIMnet® and ensuring consistency across programs and partners.

3. From Policy Momentum to Practical Impact

The policy landscape is moving fast.

Sessions led by SHEEO, NACEP, and the CCRC highlighted new state and federal developments reshaping access and affordability—from Workforce Pell Grants for short-term credentials to tuition-free Promise programs, and emerging flexibility in instructor credentialing requirements.

This wave of policy innovation represents opportunity. Through collaboration across colleges, districts, and partners, institutions can translate policy into practice, and build sustainable, scalable models that keep access and quality at the center.

Closing Reflection

After three days of conversation, collaboration, and vision board sticky notes, one message came through loud and clear: dual enrollment is at an inflection point, and the next phase is about connecting pathways to purpose, strengthening faculty support, and bridging the gap between policy ambition and practical implementation.

At McGraw Hill, we’re proud to partner with the educators and leaders driving this evolution—ensuring that every student, in every program, has access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.

Connect with our team to discuss your program goals and discover tailored ways we can help enhance faculty training and support: