What is Running Start? Running Start is a prgram that allws Washingtn State 11th and 12th grade students t take cllege curses at cmmunity and technical clleges. Students earn bth high schl and cllege credits fr these curses. Running Start students and their families d nt pay tuitin, but they d pay mandatry fees, buy their wn bks, and prvide their wn transprtatin. Students receive bth high schl and cllege credit fr these classes, thus accelerating their prgress thrugh the educatin system (http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu). Wh is eligible? Junirs r senirs wh reside in Washingtn and are enrlled in a Washingtn State Public High Schl are eligible. Why Running Start? 2014-15 Tuitin Fees Bks/Supplies Ttal/qtr Regular LCC Students $1,427.10 $130.00 $368.00 $1,925.10 Running Start Students $0.00 $130.00 $368.00 $498.00 #1 Answer: It can save parents THOUSANDS f dllars. It s a savings f $1,427.10 per quarter and $4,281.30 per year! Other great reasns: It gives students an academic jump start int cllege and expses them t cllege level instructin. It allws them the best f bth wrlds. At high schl they can still: D sprts, dance, and cheer Be in clubs, rganizatins, student gvernment, band, and chir G d dances, games, and events At Lwer Clumbia Cllege they can: Get int all f the sprts, musical, and theatrical events fr free Run fr ffice and participate in the LCC student gvernment (ASLCC) Access free tutring and use f the new fitness center Participate in student events like the Back t Schl Bash, Red Devil Fitness Challenges, and Red Devil Days
What are my class ptins? Running Start ffers the same class ptins as ur ther students. Yu can attend full time r part time t fulfill high schl requirements and get ahead in cllege credits. If yu stay n track as a full time LCC student, yu can earn yur tw year transfer degree AND earn a high schl diplma at the same time! LCC ffers classes in a traditinal setting as well as nline. Online classes require strng time management skills, and are generally nt advised in yur first quarter unless yu have experience in an nline setting. If yu attend Tutle Lake r Wdland, LCC has study centers with cmputers inside yur high schl where yu can wrk n yur hmewrk and yur LCC nline classes. It gives yu the ptin t stay n yur high schl campus and access high speed internet withut making the cmmute t Lngview, s yu have mre time t d extra-curricular activities. What are sme f the csts? Running Start nly cvers the cst f tuitin fr cllege level classes (thse numbered 100 and abve). Classes in High Schl Cnfused? The basic rule f thumb is... Tuitin free Credits at Cllege High Schl FTE and Tuitin Free Credits Ttal FTE 1 15 1.2 2 12 1.2 3 10 1.2 4 6 1.2 5 3 1.2 This is a simplified, unfficial apprximatin. The chart n the Running Start Enrllment Verificatin frm has the exact number f weekly minutes at the high schl and the number f cllege credits fr which Running Start will cver the student s tuitin. The mre classes the student takes at the high schl, the less tuitin free credits they get at LCC and vice versa. If yu take mre than what is alltted (yu g abve the 1.2 FTE), yu will have t pay fr the excess tuitin. Other Csts? Students are als respnsible fr: All cllege fees. Fees are like taxes and cver csts fr facilities, security, tutring and ther student necessities. Transprtatin Bks, supplies, tls, and equipment Apprximate bk csts frm 2013: ENGL 101 English Cmpsitin $105.00 HIST 136 US Histry $ 94.00 CHEM 100 Intrductry Chemistry $ 95.00 PSYC 100 General Psychlgy $105.00 Tls fr Welding/Aut/ Diesel Mechanics $ 100.00-500.00 **Sme instructrs may have used tls t sell/brrw
Are There Ways t Help Me With My Tuitin, Fees, r Bks? If yur family qualifies fr the federal free/reduced lunch prgram thrugh yur schl district then LCC is able t help yu with ur fee waiver prgram and ur Bk Fund Schlarship. After acceptance int the Running Start Prgram yu can apply fr the free/reduced fee waiver by cmpleting the Free/Reduced Lunch frm. The frm is n the LCC website at www.lwerclumbia.edu/runningstart and required t receive yur fee waiver. Once the cmpleted Free/Reduced Lunch frm is turned in yu are eligible t apply fr the Bk Fund Schlarship at the end f each fall quarter. The schlarship applicatin will be available at the end f fall quarter every academic year. Funds are issued as a credit thrugh the bkstre and can nly be used fr winter and spring quarter that academic year. Mre infrmatin will be prvided nce yu are in the Running Start prgram. Hw D I Get int Running Start? 1. Apply fr Admissin t Lwer Clumbia Cllege Apply nline at www.lwerclumbia.edu Cst is $30 (Cash, charge, r check made ut t LCC) SSN Please make sure yu prvide this infrmatin n the applicatin Academic Histry: enter frm year, N fr graduating, 10 r 11 fr highest grade cmpleted 2. Take the placement test (yu may access practice tests at the link listed belw). Yu need pht ID t test Take the reading, writing, and math tests **Get mre infrmatin including practice tests, testing hurs, and plicies at http://lwerclumbia.edu/placement. T qualify fr the Running Start Prgram yu must: Test int cllege level reading and writing (ENGL 101) Take the mathematics placement test. Have a high schl G.P.A. f 2.5 r higher (we have an appeal prcess fr this). 3. Apply t the Running Start Prgram by May 8 th. When yu pass the tests, yu ll receive an applicatin packet fr the prgram. Fill ut the applicatin, prvide the required dcuments, and turn it int the Running Start Office during the early bird applicatin perid. If yu miss the May 8 th deadline yu can still be in Running Start, yu ll just have t wait until June 29 th t register! NOTE: There are quarterly registratin deadlines specifically fr Running Start students. Check www.lwerclumbia.edu/runningstart fr dates and deadlines. What if my scres are t lw r my GPA isn t a 2.5? Dn t wrry! If yur test scres are t lw after yur first test, yu get ne free retest. If yu d nt pass the secnd time then yu have t wait ne year t test again. If yu test int English 098 at Lwer Clumbia Cllege, yu can pay t enrll int the class. If yu d well in the class, yu may be placed int English 101. If yur GPA is belw a 2.5 yu will have t cmplete a cnditinal acceptance agreement. If yu pass the writing, but miss the reading prtin by 1-2 pints, please cntact the Running Start Crdinatr, Marcy Gilchrist fr infrmatin n the appeal prcess.
What are the academic requirements fr cntinuing in Running Start? Yu must earn a quarterly LCC GPA f 2.0 r better. If yu fall belw a 2.0 in any quarter yu will be placed n academic prbatin fr the fllwing quarter. What are classes like at Lwer Clumbia Cllege? Classes at LCC are different than at the high schl. Cllege curses typically mve at a faster pace and are mre demanding f yur time and attentin. T manage yur time and t be mre accuntable, students shuld plan t study independently at least tw hurs utside f class fr each hur an LCC class meets. It is recmmended that yu nly take 100 level classes during yur first year at LCC. Mst Running Start students need Plitical Science 202 (American Gvernment) and 203 (Internatinal Relatins) t meet high schl graduatin requirements. These are sphmre level classes and yu must have cmpleted English 101 befre yu can take these classes. The same is true fr all ther 200 level classes, and in fact mst f them require that yu are a secnd year student. There is n indicatr n a class rster that identifies yu as a Running Start student. LCC instructrs expect all students t act respnsibly and cmplete the required wrk independently. Class participatin is imprtant fr yur success and in mst cases it will cnstitute a part f yur grade. Sme instructrs d nt mnitr attendance, but it is unlikely that yu will be successful if yu d nt attend n a regular basis. Others may mnitr attendance clsely, and missing a cuple classes culd lwer yur grade in that class. I ve been accepted int the Running Start Prgram...what d I d nw? Wait until after May 8 th fr an acceptance e-mail welcming yu t the LCC Running Start Prgram. The e-mail will include infrmatin abut hw t register fr fall quarter classes. **Check nline at www.lwerclumbia.edu/runningstart fr dates and general infrmatin. Attend, with yur parent r guardian, a Mandatry Running Start New Student Orientatin in June. The rientatin lasts apprximately three hurs and will cver imprtant details abut yur experience at LCC. Yu will be drpped frm yur classes if yu and yur parent/guardian d nt attend an rientatin. Apply fr admissin t LCC tday s yu can take the practice test as sn as pssible. Make sure yu meet the Running Start May 8 th early bird admissin deadline! Mre Questins Abut Running Start? Ask us! @LCC: Marcy Gilchrist, Running Start Crdinatr, 360.442.2352, mgilchrist@lwerclumbia.edu Shantelle Davidsn, Running Start Assistant, 360-442-2442, sdavidsn@lwerclumbia.edu @High Schl: Cntact yur high schl cunselr fr high schl enrllment/graduatin requirements.
Running Start Myths & Facts Myth: I heard that there is a waiver fr the placement test at LCC. Fact: All new students pay $30 as part f the applicatin fr admissin t LCC. There is n waiver if yu test at LCC. Myth: Smene tld me that I can get Federal Financial Aid. Fact: Running Start students cannt access Federal Financial Aid. There are prgrams that Running Start students can use, but financial aid is nt ne f them. Myth: If I d Running Start I have t g full time. Fact: Students can be full r part time. They can enrll in academic transfer prgrams r in prfessinal/technical prgrams. Myth: My cunselr says I can t d Running Start. Fact: Participatin in Running Start des nt require the permissin f yur high schl, if yu meet the State and Cllege entrance requirements. Yu will be required t meet with yur high schl cunselr each cllege quarter t fill ut the state required Running Start Enrllment Verificatin Frm. Myth: My friend tld me that LCC will make sure I m meeting my high schl graduatin requirements. Fact: Yur high schl graduatin requirements are dne slely by yur high schl cunselr. Yur Running Start advisr will crdinate with yur high schl cunselr, but they d nt knw and cannt advise yu abut yur high schl graduatin requirements. Myth: I can nly begin Running Start in fall quarter. Fact: Yu can start any quarter, but it is easiest t start fall quarter. The high schls and LCC have different academic calendars. LCC is n a quarterly schedule while the high schls are n a semester system. Myth: I thught Running Start was free? Hw cme I have a bill? Fact: Running Start cvers the cst f tuitin as apprved by yur cunselr. As lng as yu stay within yur alltted amunt, AND yu d nt take a class belw the 100 level, yu will nt have t pay tuitin. ALL students must pay mandatry cllege fees and must pay fr their bks, unless they qualify fr Free/Reduced Lunch at their high schl and fllw the necessary steps at LCC t access the fee/tuitin waiver and the Bk Fund Schlarship. Myth: A persn wh did Running Start tld me I dn t need math t graduate. Fact: Yu will need t meet the LCC quantitative skills requirement which is a math based class. Sme students will be eligible t begin cllege level math based n an agreement we have with several lcal high schls. Sme students will test abve the minimum requirement. All LCC students must have prven mastery f intermediate algebra (Math 099) in rder t graduate with their AA. Myth: I was tld Running Start credits dn t transfer t ther clleges r universities. Fact: If yu earn yur AA and transfer t a Washingtn State schl, all credits are sealed in yur transfer degree. If yu d nt earn yur AA sme clleges may nt accept certain credits. Always cntact the institutin yu are transferring t fr advice. They may want the class name and descriptin frm the LCC curse catalg. The same is true fr many private and ut f state universities. Myth: I was tld that I cannt play high schl sprts if I m in Running Start. Fact: Yu can play sprts at yur high schl as sanctined by the WIAA. Yu must meet the same requirements fr enrllment and prgressin as nn-running Start students. Check with yur high schl cunselr r athletic department fr specific WIAA rules. Yu may nt play n an athletic team at LCC while in Running Start. Myth: I was tld I am nt eligible t be valedictrian at my high schl if I m taking classes thrugh Running Start. Fact: Running Start and nn-running Start students are bth eligible t be valedictrian at their high schl as lng as they meet the high schl requirements fr that designatin.
Definitins f cmmn terms in Running Start: Pririty Early Bird Admissin: Fr fall quarter applicatins we set a deadline fr Running Start students called pririty Early Bird admissin. If students turn in their paperwrk in by the pririty date psted, then they are given the pprtunity t register earlier than ther new Running Start students. Thse wh miss the pririty Early Bird admissin date may still turn in their applicatin t the prgram, but risk nt getting the classes they want fall quarter. Running Start Pririty Registratin: Fr all returning Running Start students, registratin begins earlier than ther LCC students. We call this Running Start pririty registratin. If yu fllw the Running Start registratin prcess by the psted deadline, yu will be registered fr classes during the pririty perid. If yu miss the psted deadline then yu will nt be allwed t register until after LCC s regular pririty registratin is cmpleted. Withut Running Start pririty registratin, yu run the risk f nt getting the classes yu want. Infrmatin Sessin: The Running Start prgram hlds meetings called infrmatin sessins t infrm ptential students n the basics f the Running Start prgram. The gal is t give ptential new students infrmatin that will help them gain admissin t the Cllege, test fr admittance, and apply t Running Start. Mandatry Running Start Orientatin: After yu have been accepted int the Running Start Prgram yu must attend a mandatry rientatin sessin in the summer with a parent/guardian. At rientatin we review all the Cllege rules, resurces, and plicies. There are specific dates and times fr each rientatin yu will select a date fr rientatin as part f yur applicatin prcess. NOTE: There are rientatins fr nn-running Start students, but yu will nt attend thse sessins. Cashier: The persn yu pay yur tuitin r fees t when due. Cashiering is lcated in the Admissins Building and is pen 8:00 am - 4:30pm, Mnday thrugh Friday; fall, winter, and spring quarters. Running Start Crdinatr: The persn at LCC wh assists yu in planning yur classes and meeting yur graduatin requirements. Marcy Gilchrist is the current academic advisr fr Running Start. Shantelle Davidsn is the assistant fr the prgram. Dual credit: Taking a class at LCC and receiving credits fr that class at tw places; the high schl, and the Cllege. FTE: This stands fr full time equivalency. The Cllege and the schl districts use this term when calculating funding fr ur public schls and clleges. A student taking 15 credits equals 1.0 FTE. When calculating free tuitin at LCC, high schl cunselrs will nte hw much FTE a student is using (based n 1.2 instead f 1.0 FTE) at the high schl. The balance is used t calculate hw many credits they can take at the Cllege. FERPA r Family Educatinal Rights and Privacy Act: FERPA is a federal law that prtects the privacy f infrmatin fr all LCC students regardless f age. This law prevents all LCC staff members frm releasing any infrmatin (grades, schedules, addresses, e-mails, etc.) t parents, friends, r family members withut written cnsent frm the student.