ZHS-Running Start Program Information

The Running Start Program is a partnership between local Community College and Washington State public high schools. The program offers eligible high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to enroll in regular college classes and to receive both high school and college credit for those classes. Students may choose to enroll simultaneously in high school and college classes, or solely in college classes. Though the high school district office pays for college tuition costs, all other costs must be paid by the student--including transportation, lab fees and necessary books and supplies. Our local community college is YVCC. You may go to the YVCC Running Start Page at http://www.yvcc.edu/RunningStart/ for further information.

College vs. High School
A comparison for Running Start students

Personal Freedom in High School		Personal Freedom in College
Your time is usually structured by others.		You manage your own time.
You can count on parents and teachers for guidance and to remind you of your responsibilities.		You will be faced with new moral and ethical decisions. You must balance responsibilities and set priorities.
Guiding Principle: You will usually be told what your responsibilities are and corrected if your behavior is out of line.		Guiding Principle: You're old enough to take responsibility for your decisions and their consequences.

High School Classes		College Classes
The school year is 36 weeks long; some classes extend over both semesters and some do not.		The academic year is divided into three separate 10 or 11 week quarters, plus 3 days at the end of the quarter for final exams.
Teachers carefully monitor class attendance.		Some instructors factor attendance into final grades; some do not take attendance at all.
You are provided with textbooks at little or no cost.		You must budget $200 or more for textbooks each quarter.

Studying in High School		Studying in College
Study time outside of class can be as little as 2 hours per week, and this may be for last-minute test preparation.		You should plan to study 2 to 3 hours outside of class for each in-class hour throughout the quarter to achieve mastery. You will need to review class notes and assignments regularly.
Class participation is often all that is necessary to learn what is needed.		Substantial reading and writing assignments may not be directly reviewed in class.
Guiding Principle: You are usually told in class what you need to learn from assigned readings.		Guiding Principle: It's up to you to read and understand the reading assignments. Lectures and other assignments presume you have already done so.

High School Teachers		College Teachers
Teachers approach you if they believe you need assistance.		Most instructors expect you to initiate contact if you need assistance.
Teachers provide you with information you missed when you were absent.		Instructors expect you to get notes from classmates for information you missed.
Teachers often write information on the board to be copied into your notes.		Good note-taking skills are a must; instructors expect you to identify the important points.
Teachers often take time to remind you of assignments and due dates.		Instructors expect you to consult the course syllabus for all important class information.

Tests in High School		Tests in College
Frequent tests covering small amount of material.		2 or 3 tests per quarter, may be cumulative, covering large amounts of material.
Teachers may rearrange test dates to avoid conflict with school events.		Instructors in different courses usually schedule tests without regard to the demands of other courses or outside activities.

Grades in High School		Grades in College
Consistently good homework or "extra credit" may raise your overall grade when test scores are low.		Grades on tests and major papers usually comprise most of the course grade. review class notes and assignments regularly.
Initial low test grades may not have an adverse affect on your final grade.		Generally, all tests contribute substantially to your final grade. A low initial test is a "wake-up call".
Guiding Principle: Effort counts. Teachers reward a good-faith effort.		Guiding Principle: Results count. Instructors expect quality work.

Thanks to Doug Morgan at Spokane Falls Community College for use of this table.

Step 1 Information: Gather information from the counselor, Guidance Center or attend an Information meeting is held at home high school for 10th & 11th grade students & parents. (January-February)

Step 2 Apply: Student & parent complete a Running Start Application form (Green) available in the Guidance Center.

Step 3 Test: Students take the COMPASS test to check for academic readiness for college work. Students must call 574-4956 to reserve a seat for testing on available dates. Students must bring the signed application form, a photo ID and $10 for the test fee payment. COMPASS testing will take 2.5 hours. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled testing. Students are encouraged to complete COMPASS testing prior to April 10.

Step 4 Notification: Student receives notification of eligibility to enter the Running Start Program, usually within one week of testing.

Step 5 HS Guidance: Eligible students make appointments with high school counselors to identify graduation requirements, review YVCC equivalent courses, and develop an enrollment plan. Counselor will give students a YVCC Running Start course equivalency enrollment form to complete.

Step 6 Course Selection: Student and parents will select desired courses and alternates for the equivalency form. The Student returns the course equivalency form to the counselor. The counselor will complete the ZHS equivalency information, sign the form, and return to the student to take to YVCC for registration.

Step 7 Orientation and Registration: Students attend their scheduled YVCC orientation, advising and registration meeting. The completed and signed equivalency form is required. This is usually done in mid-May.

This information sheet is designed to help ZHS students in the YVCC Running Start program match YVCC courses with ZHS graduation requirements. If students have specific questions, please contact Mr. Griffin @ ZHS.

A Reminder: All ZHS graduation requirements fulfilled through YVCC-RS need to be completed by the end of the YVCC winter quarter of the Senior year in order to participate in the May/June commencement. This is because YVCC courses in spring quarter classes will not be completed until after the ZHS graduation.

Credit Equivalency

YVCC College Credits	Equal to ZHS High School Credits
1 credit course	.2 credit (approximately a quarter credit)
2 credit course	.4 credit (less than 1 semester)
3 credit course	.6 credit (approximately 1 semester)
4 credit course	.8 credit (approximately 3 quarter credit)
5 credit course	1.0 credit (full year equivalency)

Enrollment Planning

Based on state funding for 1.0 FTE (Full Time Equivalency) per student the following chart shows enrollment options that students can choose each semester at ZHS.

ZHS	YVCC	Total Semester Credits
5 courses (2.5 credits)	0 courses (0 YVCC credits)	2.5 credits
3 courses (1.5 credits)	1 course (5 YVCC credits)	2.5 credits
1 course (.5 credit)	2 courses (10 YVCC credits)	2.5 credits
0 courses (0 credit)	3 courses (15 YVCC credits)	3.0 credits

Students with permission of the principal may exceed the 1.0 FTE formula by taking extra classes at ZHS. Students taking more than 15 credits a quarter at YVCC may be subject to fee payments. Students are cautioned to not academically overload themselves. Remember that for each hour in college, plan on 1-2 hours of outside study each night.

COURSE SELECTION: Many students wish to earn not only a High School Diploma, but also an Associate Degree when participating in Running Start. First students must enroll and complete all courses needed for the high school diploma BEFORE the spring semester of the SENIOR year. Most of the courses students select to meet ZHS graduation requirements can also be used for an Associate Degree requirements. Next students may work with the YVCC advisor on picking other courses that will allow them to complete an Associate Degree. Please review a current YVCC catalog for complete course titles and descriptions

English: ZHS requires 4.0 credits (8 semesters). Normally 2.0 credits are completed at the end of the Sophomore year. To complete the final 2 credits students are to take: English 101-English Composition 1 and English 102 English Composition 2 or students may take other English courses such as Literature which are listed above the 100 level.

Math: ZHS requires 3.0 credits (6 semesters). Normally 2.0 credits are completed at the end of the Sophomore year. ZHS accepts all Math courses 100 and above. Math credit towards graduation can not be offered for sub-100 courses.

Science: ZHS requires 3.0 credits (6 semesters) of which at least 1.0 credit must be a lab science. Normally 2.0 credits (1.0 lab and 1.0 non-lab) are completed at the end of the Sophomore year. ZHS accepts Science credits from YVCC in the following departments: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physical Science, or Physics. YVCC Agri-science courses may be accepted if pre approved by the ZHS counselor or principal.

Social Studies: ZHS requires 1.0 credit in Washington History, Geography and Government, 1.0 credit in US History and 1.0 credit in CWP. Normally Juniors have completed Washington History and Civics/Government and US History for a total of 2.0 credits. If not then

§ Option #1: ZHS students may take Pols 100W for 5 credits to complete their CWP requirement. This is the preferred option.

§ Option #2: WAC 180-51-075 allows certain courses to be substituted for the CWP. ZHS has identified the following five credit courses as accepted substitutes if prior permission is obtained from the counselor or principal.

§ Anthropology: Anth 101-Intro to Anthropology, Anth 102-Cultural Anthropology

§ Economics: Econ 107-Economic Geography, Econ 201-Principles of Micro-Economics, Econ 202-Principals Macro-Economics

§ Geography: Geog 101-World Regional Geography, Geog 102-Physical Geography, Geo 108-Human Geography, Geog 205-Economic Geography

§ Political Science: Pols 101-Intro to Political Science, Pols 201-Intro to Political Theory, Pols 203 International Relations

§ Sociology: Soc 101-Intro to Sociology, or Soci 102-Contemporary Social Problems

Fitness and Health: ZHS requires 2.0 credits in Fitness and Health courses including the required Health class for .5 credit. Normally 2.0 credits are completed at the end of the Sophomore year. If students need credits in these areas they may take 100+ level courses in the departments of: Allied Health, Chemical Dependency Studies, Health, Nutrition, and Physical Education courses if prior permission is obtained from the counselor or principal. Students may also use the sport credit option for after hours participation at ZHS.

Career-Technical Education: ZHS requires 2.0 credits in Career-Technical Education courses. Normally 2.0 credits are completed at the end of the Sophomore year. If students need credits in these areas they may take 100+ level courses in the following departments: Aeronautics, Agriculture, Allied Health, Automotive, Business Administration or Business Tech, Criminal Justice, Education, Engineering, Fire Science, Information Technology.

Fine Arts: ZHS requires 1.0 credit in Fine Arts. Normally 1.0 credits are completed at the end of the Sophomore year If students need credits in these areas they may take 100+ level courses in: Art, Drama, Humanities (art related), Music, or Photography.

Information provided by the colleges to the Washington Council for High School/College Relations

CWU accepts most Running Start credits. Students participating in RS are considered freshmen with college credit and must submit ACT or SAT scores even if they anticipate completing an AA degree. Students should submit official college transcripts, along with their high school transcripts and test scores to be considered for admissions, and to have their college credits transferred to the University. RS students are eligible for freshmen and transfer scholarships. The first year live-in requirement also applies to RS students.

Credits earned under Running Start in the state of Washington are treated just as any other transfer credits earned at the transcripting schools. For purposes of admission eligibility, students must meet both freshman and transfer admission criteria. College in the High School courses will be accepted in transfer if they are from a regionally accredited college or university and are consistent with Eastern’s general transfer credit policy.

Students are admitted under freshman criteria (unless they possess a Direct Transfer Agreement degree). Students are given the choice whether to register as a first-year student or as a transfer student.

Running Start students should use the Freshman Application and meet the January 15 deadline regardless of the number of college credits or degree anticipated. In addition to routine documents required for the freshman application, a college transcript current through the autumn quarter should also be sent to the Office of Admissions by the application deadline. For Running Start and College in the High School programs, the UW will award transfer credit for college-level courses offered by a regionally accredited institution when credits and content are consistent with UW general transfer-credit policies.

Students who participate in Running Start programs and apply for admission directly out of high school are required to meet the entrance requirements for freshmen (this includes submitting an ACT or SAT score).

All students earning college credit while in high school are considered freshmen for admissions and scholarship purposes and granted advanced academic standing and course access when appropriate. Refer to the WWU transfer admissions web pages for credit evaluation and course planning information. Official college transcripts or test scores must be received for credit to be awarded.

Gonzaga University will accept college credit on a course-by-course basis under the following conditions: Credit must be posted on a college transcript; College credit must be from an accredited institution; Individual courses must be academic in nature, college-level, and at least a 2.0/C grade point average. Running Start students are considered as “freshmen with credit” when applying, and therefore should submit SAT or ACT scores, an essay, high school transcript, activities and awards, and a letter of recommendation. **Please note: The Admission Committee at Gonzaga is currently reviewing the policy and may make some minor changes. Please check their website or call for updates.

Heritage accepts college-level courses from students who have participated in Running Start.

If you have participated in Washington State Running Start, Advanced Placement (AP) exams, or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, you may be eligible for college credit. PLU accepts Running Start credits as college credits, and awards up to 30 semester hours for AP and IB exam results.

Saint Martin’s accepts Running Start or College in the High School credits on a course-by-course basis. Credits must be academic in nature and 100 level or above.

SPU accepts all college-level Running Start credits posted on college transcripts (no more than 90 credits).

Students who have participated in a Washington Community College Running Start program must submit community college transcripts as well as secondary school records. Transfer credits will be evaluated according to usual guidelines. They must fulfill all other freshman application requirements, including either ACT or SAT scores. The priority deadline for freshman (including RS) is February 1.

Credit is granted only for college classes taken at a college campus which were beyond what the student would have taken in a standard four years in the high school.

Whitman will review credit earned through the Running Start program and similar dual enrollment programs on a course-by-course basis. Course work is eligible for credit only if the class(es) are taught on the college campus by college faculty, and no more then one-third of the participants consists of high school students. Credits awarded will be for classes at a commensurate level and in subject matter relevant to the Whitman College liberal arts curriculum.

Whitworth accepts Running Start credits, AP, IB, and other college credits. Running Start students must follow freshman application deadlines and requirements.

If you have questions, or ff you find transfer guides for other schools, please email Hillary Emerson (hemerson@yvcc.edu).

To find out how individual YVCC courses will transfer or for more information, visit the college’s website or see a Running Start advisor.