CIS Mission

The mission of College in the Schools partnerships is to connect high school with college to create a culture of lifelong learning and advance academic and career growth.  CIS values inclusive access and academic course success for students  currently underrepresented in U partnerships, and environments of learning and belonging that affirm student and community cultures.

UMN Courses and Departments

CIS partnerships offer UMN courses that fulfill major, minor and elective degree requirements and coordinate these arrangements with campus departments.  UMN credit is reflected on the student transcript each term.  

CIS sections of the University courses follow the same UMN course, student conduct and instructional principles and policies that impact UMN classrooms on campus. 

CIS Administration

Primary development for all aspects of the partnership are coordinated and sustained by the CIS team enabling academic relationships to thrive between students-instructors and instructors-faculty.   Program, course and policy administration, system processes, and evaluation responsibilities are carried out by the CIS team.  Student enrollment processes are provided by CCAPS student services team.  CIS personnel connect with faculty coordinators, CIS instructors and high school administration as we orchestrate and talk through development and problem solving.  Visit the Contact Us page to learn about the CIS team and their roles in the program.

CIS partners sign Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) to document financial arrangements, faculty leadership, CIS instructor qualifications, expenses, and key aspects of sustaining the relationships and partnership. CIS has MOA agreements between CIS and partner high schools and CIS and UMN departments.

CIS's administrative home is the College of Continuing and Professional Studies, College Pathways unit, Dual Enrollment programs.  We are uniquely situated to work across University colleges, resources and support outreach to our CIS high school partners.

Partner Primary Roles & Responsibilities

CIS partners include University academic departments and departmental administrators, University faculty and staff, high school teachers, high school administrators and counselors, and the College of Continuing and Professional Studies. Below is a brief outline of each of our roles that coalesce to support these transformative academic experiences.

CIS Instructor Roles & Responsibilities

• 1. Teach UMN course(s) through CIS regularly

  2. Attend and engage in required CIS professional development workshops and education opportunities with the cohort

  3. Participate in CIS student field days 

  4. Review student roster and approve students to take the UMN course.  See Student Eligibility on the CIS website.

  5. Develop your UMN course syllabus, following UMN guidelines, provide a copy to CIS each term 

  6. Cooperate with CIS office for administrative business including student registration, submission of UMN grades, SRT course evaluations, etc.

  7. Note: Instructors may elect to serve on a Course Advisory Committee

School/District Partner Roles & Responsibilities

• 1. Pay CIS $145 course fee per student enrollment

  2. Provide release days and a substitute for CIS instructors to attend required workshops and required student field days

  3. Observe student eligibility criteria and UMN class size limits 

  4. Provide transportation for students, chaperones and instructors to participate in student field days on campus

  5. Provide texts, technology, laboratory needs, and other required materials for each student and instructor

UMN Academic Departments Roles & Responsibilities

• 1. Grant permission to offer an introductory UMN course through College in the Schools 

  2. Assist in the identification of a CIS faculty coordinator for the department’s UMN course, approve CIS instructor qualifications, and support the faculty coordinator as they carry out CIS professional education opportunities.

  3. Support the faculty coordinator as a CIS liaison; meet with CIS on periodic basis for updates and developmental conversations; and sign or renew a CIS MOA.

  4. Consider creating direct benefits and connections to CIS students such as scholarship funds for matriculated CIS students to major in the discipline, provide materials and academic advising regarding department majors and degrees, and/or offer summer courses or "next steps" in a sequence.

UMN Faculty Coordinator Leadership Roles & Responsibilities

• 1. Ensure equitable UMN course teaching and learning experiences for CIS instructors and CIS students.  Ensure that CIS sections of the UMN course are congruent with or the same as the course as taught on campus through syllabus development and review, site visits and reports,  and connections and engagement with CIS instructors through required professional education.  

  2. Site visits are required the first term teaching the course and every three years afterward.  Site visits include communication with instructors prior to the observation, a follow-up conversation, sharing a written report, and filing the information in MyCIS.

  3. Select and mentor new CIS instructors prior to teaching by providing course-specific workshops, individual meetings, and/or professional development plans.

  4. Develop and lead a cohort of CIS instructors in required ongoing professional education.  Typically these are offered as professional development workshops each academic term and in the summer.  They may be offered in a variety of formats.  

  5. Serve as CIS Liaison with the UMN Department and CIS Team.  

  6. Assist CIS liaisons, as needed, in students’ efforts to secure content or credit recognition for the UMN course.  Generally, this involves connecting with faculty on campus by letter, email or telephone.

  7. Work with CIS program staff and provide required accreditation evidence and documentation every 6 years during a NACEP Accreditation cycle or as needed in a campus Higher Learning Commission review.

  8. Plan and oversee CIS Student Field Day required and optional experiences, generally offered once per term.  The cohort and CIS provide event support in creating these experiences.  The purpose of a CIS Student Field Day is to become acquainted with campus, met peers, learn about campus and college life, and use the content of what’s being taught in the course or as part of the discipline at the event.

CIS Administrative Leadership Roles & Responsibilities

• 1. Make CIS policy decisions, adhere to UMN policies, and resolve partnership issues. 

  2. With UMN academic departments, identify courses for inclusion in CIS portfolio 

  3. Participate in selection of faculty coordinators; support and oversee faculty coordinators 

  4. Support CIS instructors, CIS students, and partner administration

  5. Set up all UMN class sections taught through CIS

  6. Inform, guide and register CIS students at UMN  through MyCIS

  7. Bill schools 

  8. Participate in planning and implementation of workshops and field days 

  9. Handle student concerns/complaints

  10. Participate in selection and preparation of new CIS instructors

  11. Maintain relationships with partners and stakeholders, including legislators 

  12. Conduct and share program evaluation 

  13. Prepare and administer program budget 

  14. Set up payroll 

  15. Participate locally and nationally with educational associations to stay informed of broad concurrent and dual enrollment issues and innovations, including the Minnesota Concurrent Enrollment Partnership Consortium and National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP)

  16. Ensure that the CIS partnership meets NACEP and HLC standards for accreditation

  17. Create and make available all publications (e.g. website, online guides, strategic reports, etc.) to inform and engage constituents