How East Texas A&M’s Dual Credit Program is Helping High School Students Earn College Degrees Faster

For graduates like Blake Roten, East Texas A&M’s Dual Credit Program is a launchpad to a college degree and a fulfilling career.

Through East Texas A&M University’s growing Dual Credit Program, high school students are getting a head start on college. In the past year alone, enrollment in the program surged by over 50%, making it a popular pathway from high school to higher education.

From High School Halls to Police Patrol

Blake Roten a former participant in East Texas A&M’s Dual Credit Program, is a clear example of how early access to college courses can accelerate a young person’s future.

At just 20 years old, Roten has already achieved an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, and a law enforcement badge—propelling his future forward. He is the youngest graduate in the history of East Texas A&M University's Law Enforcement Training Academy and the youngest police officer ever hired by the East Texas A&M University Police Department.

Roten credits the university’s Dual Credit Program for setting him on the fast track to his dream career.

“I definitely wouldn’t have been able to get where I’m at right now if it weren’t for that program,” he said.

A Career Dream and a Family Legacy

Roten, whose hometown is Royse City, Texas, has always dreamed of serving as a police officer. Law enforcement is part of his family’s legacy: his father and grandmother both wore the badge.

“My grandmother is still working,” Roten said. “She was a police officer for 30 years, retired, and then she ended up getting back into it. She’s a school resource officer right now. And my dad was also a police officer for 20 years. Now he’s a lawyer and works with law enforcement officers.”

Although his dream career was set, the path to get there was not. That changed when Roten heard about dual credit during an eighth-grade school orientation.

“Like a typical eighth grader, I was thinking, ‘Yeah, I’m not doing that,'” he said. “Then I got home, and my dad said, ‘This is a great program. You need to give it a chance.'”

At the time, his father was also taking college classes. He encouraged Blake to finish school early and “get it done.”

“I’m very, very grateful that I ended up doing that,” Roten reflected. “It’s been great.”

Blending High School and College

Roten began taking dual credit classes in ninth and tenth grades through a program at Rowlett High School. In 11th grade, after his family moved, he transferred to Royse City High School and continued his college coursework through Paris Junior College and East Texas A&M.

By his senior year, he had completed his associate degree in criminal justice and graduated just days before his high school graduation in May 2023. He recalls the surreal experience of graduating with a college degree before he had even finished high school.

“It was a weird feeling!” he said.

An Opportunity to Start Life Earlier

East Texas A&M’s Dual Credit Program allows high school students to take college-level courses and simultaneously earn high school and college credit. Most classes are taught on high school campuses by credentialed instructors—often high school teachers—who meet the university’s academic standards.

For students, the benefits are clear:

• Earn college credit early: Some students graduate from high school with up to 60 hours of college credit.
• Save time and money: Through discounted tuition, school district support, or state-funded programs like FAST (Financial Aid for Swift Transfer), students can earn college credit without financial burden.
• Build college confidence: By experiencing the rigor of higher education in a supportive environment, students gain confidence in their abilities to handle college-level work.
• Clarify future goals: Dual credit staff work to connect students to degree pathways that align with their interests.

“It comes down to access and success,” said Nikki Steele, executive director of East Texas A&M’s Dual Credit Program. “We want to provide the opportunity for our high school students to take college courses and find success with them.”

For Roten, the biggest advantage was time.

“It’s an opportunity to get started with your life earlier, get into your career, start making money, start saving and get that retirement going,” he said. “There are just so many benefits.”

No Breaks, No Slowing Down

Roten wasn’t just fast-tracking—he was sprinting. After earning his high school diploma and associate degree in the same month, he immediately pursued his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from East Texas A&M.

“I didn’t take any breaks,” he said. “I did summer, mini, spring, winter—every possible term I could take.”

While completing his bachelor's, Roten joined the East Texas A&M University Police Department (UPD) as a security guard. His performance and work ethic in that role prompted Police Chief Bryan Vaughn to extend an offer for him to join UPD as a police recruit, which Roten proudly accepted.

So, after graduating in December 2024, Roten enrolled in the East Texas A&M University Law Enforcement Training Academy (AMLETA) , a regional police academy located on the campus of East Texas A&M.He graduated from the academy in May of this year and began field training as a police officer with UPD.

Now, at age 20, he is a credentialed police officer for the University Police Department and a trailblazer among his peers.

Roten reflected: “Years ago, I would’ve thought, ‘Man, that’d be really cool if I could do something like that, but that’s not going to happen. I’m going to have to wait until I’m 21.’ But here I am. It’s cool to get started on my career earlier and get more experience.”

From Pilot Program to Powerhouse

Launched nearly 15 years ago as a small initiative, East Texas A&M’s dual credit program now partners with more than a dozen independent school districts, including:

• Boles
• Caddo Mills
• Campbell
• Commerce
• Community
• Dallas
• Grand Prairie
• Hawkins
• Lindale
• Mesquite
• Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy
• Rains
• Royse City
• Sulphur Springs
• Troup
• Whitehouse
• Wolfe City

Much of that growth has happened under the leadership of Steele, the university’s first executive director of dual credit at East Texas A&M. Hired in 2023, Steele is expanding dual credit enrollment by strengthening partnerships and increasing outreach. Her background in K-12 education, particularly in building a successful program at Royse City ISD, uniquely prepared her for the role.

How the Program Works

Courses are delivered in various ways, depending on the school district’s agreement with East Texas A&M. In most cases, students attend classes within their high school classrooms and learn from credentialed teachers or university faculty.

Steele noted that the ideal model is when high school instructors teach dual credit courses to provide constant support as their students progress through college courses.

“High school teachers meet with those students every day, so they can spend more time with them,” she said.

Program costs vary based on district partnership agreements. Some districts fully cover tuition and fees for their students; others offer family-pay options or creative incentives like textbook reimbursements.

Supporting the Educators Behind the Program

To support the program’s growth and enhance program quality, East Texas A&M hosted its annual Dual Credit Professional Development Day on July 28. More than 100 instructors, counselors, and administrators from 17 districts gathered for training sessions covering topics like artificial intelligence in the classroom, advising and academic support.

The event was a testament to the university’s commitment to collaboration, continuous improvement and empowering educators who play a key role in student success.

“I have the honor and pleasure of working alongside school administrators throughout the year to identify their student needs and community expectations,” Steele said. “Those relationships are the foundation for a successful partnership.”

From College Credit to Career Confidence

East Texas A&M's Dual Credit Program is opening doors and helping students step confidently into their futures. As the word spreads, more high schoolers are discovering what Blake Roten already knows: when opportunity meets ambition, there's no limit to how far or how fast you can go.

Learn more about the program on the Dual Credit webpage.