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TCAT welcomes homeschool 

students to dual enroll

 

Most TCAT programs are open to high school juniors and seniors, regardless of where they attend school

A question frequently received by admissions personnel at Tennessee College of Applied Technology Oneida/Huntsville amid shifting trends in education is “are homeschool students eligible for dual enrollment?”

The answer is “yes.” Any program that is open to dual enrollment accepts students from homeschool students as well as students who attend public or private schools. The only exception is dual-enrollment programs that are offered specifically on high school campuses. 

The term “dual enrollment” means that students are enrolled in high school classes while simultaneously being enrolled in TCAT classes. By spending part of each school day on a TCAT campus, students can earn credits that will transfer towards a certificate or diploma once they are enrolled as a post-secondary student after high school graduation. In some cases, it is possible for students to complete or nearly complete the program by the time they graduate high school. 

Currently, high school students who are juniors or seniors are invited to apply for admission, although dual enrollment may soon be extended to include high school sophomores.

TCAT Oneida/Huntsville currently has homeschooled students who are dual-enrolled in Welding Technology, Industrial Maintenance – Mechatronics, Diesel-Powered Equipment Technology and Emergency Medical Technology. 

Most of TCAT Oneida/Huntsville’s 23 programs of study are open to dual enrollment. In addition to the four mentioned above that already have homeschooled students dual-enrolled, programs that dual enroll students include Allied Health and Medical Assisting, Automotive Technology, Building Construction Technology, Computer Information Technology, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice: Corrections Officer, Machine Tool Technology, Nursing Aide, and Pharmacy Technology.

Aiden Smith is one of TCAT Oneida/Huntsville’s dual-enrolled homeschool students. He’s currently in the Industrial Maintenance – Mechatronics program, and is following in the footsteps of his father, who completed the program just four years ago.

“He works at a nuclear facility in Oak Ridge now, and I’m hoping to either do what he’s doing or go to TVA,” Smith said. 

Smith, who will graduate high school in June, is in his second year in Industrial Maintenance. He said his instructor, John Blackmore, has been a big help.

“He’s helpful and respectful,” Smith said. “Anything you need help with, he’ll help you with it.”

With going on two years invested in his TCAT journey, Smith does not regret his choice.

“It’s a good option,” he said. “You can get a diploma pretty much fresh out of high school.”

Kolton Cox is another of the dual-enrolled homeschool students. He’s in his second trimester in the Diesel-Powered Equipment Technology program. He actually started his TCAT journey in Machine Tool Technology. But after deciding that machine tool wasn’t for him, he found his calling in diesel.

“I love diesel engines,” he said. “I started off with an interest in steam engines and the more I learned about those, the more interested I became in diesel engines.”

At TCAT’s Oneida campus, where he spends three hours each morning to begin his school day, Cox learns the ins and outs of working on diesel engines, from trucks to tractors to earthmoving equipment like dozers and excavators.

“Gabe (Kennedy) is a great instructor,” Cox said. “He’s probably one of the best instructors I’ve ever met. He’s been extremely helpful.”

Not surprisingly, Cox plans to go into the diesel engine workforce when he’s finished at TCAT.

Canaan Helton, who is enrolled in the Welding Technology program, isn’t actually a homeschooled student. But he finished his high school requirements a year early, as a junior, and talked to his guidance counselor at Sunbright High School about getting started at TCAT full time while he’s still a high school senior. It worked out, and he now spends his entire school day on TCAT’s Huntsville campus, earning hours towards his welding diploma.

Like Cox, Helton is following in the footsteps of his father – and also his sister. Both are welders.

“My dad was an iron worker and a boiler worker in the ‘80s, and my sister works at a fabrication plant in Knoxville,” he said. “Welding is just something my family has always done.”

Helton has been especially influenced by his father, Mansel Helton.

“I take after my dad a lot,” he said. “He told me it’s a good trade to get into, and so I asked my school counselor to try to get me a spot here.”

Like the others, Helton is appreciative of the effort his instructor, Chris Chambers, puts into students in the program.

“He’s a good instructor,” Helton said. “He’ll always tell you what you’re doing wrong and help you fix it.”

Helton hopes to become a boiler mechanic like his father or find a similar line of work.

Another TCAT student following in his father’s footsteps is Stephen Barnett. He’s currently enrolled in the Emergency Medical Technology program on the Oneida campus and already has plans to enroll in the Advanced EMT course after he’s finished with the basic course.

“I like the versatility of the job,” said Barnett, who is from Robbins and is the oldest of 11 siblings. “There’s a lot you can do with an EMT certification.”

Barnett’s father is a paramedic in Morgan County.

“He helped steer me into this,” Barnett said. “I was inspired by him doing the job.” 

Like the other homeschooled students, Barnett will finish high school – in his case, he’s scheduled to finish in May – with hours that will transfer into the program of study once they’re enrolled as full-time, post-secondary students, moving them closer to being finished with their education and ready to go to work.

The point of contact for homeschooled students and other high school students at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville is Kristi Cornelius, the college’s dual enrollment coordinator. She helps more than 400 dual-enrolled students find programs that suit them best and stay on top of their requirements.

“Kristi’s nice. She’s always been helpful and has an answer to the questions I have,” Smith said.

Cox’s advice to homeschooled students who might be interested in dual-enrolling at TCAT: just do it.

“It’s no different than going to a public school and going to TCAT,” he said.

 For more information about dual-enrolling at TCAT Oneida/Huntsville, call Student Services at (423) 663-4900, or visit tcatoneida.edu.