DESSE FAQs

The Dual Enrollment Survey for Student Engagement (DESSE) is a national survey designed to better understand the experiences of high school students who are taking college-level courses. It is administered by the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) at The University of Texas at Austin.

The goal is simple: to learn more about how concurrent enrollment courses are supporting students and where improvements can be made. Colleges use this information to strengthen instruction, student support services, and partnerships with high schools—ultimately helping students feel more confident and prepared for college.

Concurrent Enrollment is the term used by the state of Colorado when the program first began back in 2009. Nationally, "dual enrollment" is a common name that is used in place of Concurrent Enrollment. For the purposes of this survey, we are only asking about your experience with Front Range Concurrent Enrollment courses. Please do not include Concurrent Enrollment courses taken at other colleges, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), CU Succeeds, Cambridge or Advanced College Experience (ACE) courses.

If your high school offers courses through Front Range Community College (FRCC), and you’ve taken at least one class for college credit, you may be invited to participate. Students across the country take part in this survey, so your voice helps paint a broader picture of what concurrent enrollment looks like nationwide.

You’ll be asked about your experiences in college-level classes you take through Front Range Community College while you are still in high school.

The survey will ask you questions about:

Your responses help improve programs for future Concurrent Enrollment students. FRCC will use the results to:

• Understand whether students feel engaged and supported
• Identify strengths and areas for improvement in concurrent enrollment
• Inform planning, course design, and student services
• Share trends with faculty, administrators, and state or national organizations

Your privacy is important. While colleges receive the data, they do not examine individual responses. The information is combined with answers from other students to find patterns and insights. Participation is completely voluntary, and you may skip any question that makes you uncomfortable. Survey results will be sent to Front Range Community College in August.

Most students complete the survey in 15–20 minutes. You can take it on your phone, tablet, or computer.

Concurrent enrollment gives students a powerful early start on their college journey—and everyone’s experience is a little different. By taking the DESSE, you help FRCC and your high school better understand:

• How supported you feel
• Whether your coursework feels meaningful
• How confident you feel about transitioning to college
• What resources or improvements could make concurrent enrollment even stronge

Your input can benefit you and your peers directly in the next few years. Your perspective plays a real role in shaping opportunities for future students across Colorado and the nation!

You can learn more about the DESSE, including frequently asked questions and participating colleges.