EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL

Running Start

College in the High School

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WHAT ARE CORNERSTONE/CiHS, and RUNNING START?

• Programs that allow eligible students to take courses through colleges and some universities. (10^th grade students may take CiHS courses on campus only. 9^th grade students may not use CiHS funds to pay tuition.)
• Students earn both high school and college credits for these courses, accelerating their progress through the education system.

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IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

• Grades for both Cornerstone and Running Start become part of student’s permanent record

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• Challenging to take classes simultaneously at the high school and at CWU

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• CWU’s academic calendar is different from CERHS

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• One 5 credit course at CWU will require approximately 10 hours of study time per week

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• Cornerstone courses allow 18 weeks to do work completed in 10 weeks at CWU

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• Algebra II must be taken at CERHS

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CERHS/CWU EQUIVALENCIES

RESOURCES

You will find forms, links, and this Power Point presentation on the High School Counseling page

https://sites.google.com/cersd.org/hs-counseling/home

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CWU forms and other Running Start information may be found at

https://cwu.edu/running-start/admissions

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What is College in the�High School (CiHS)?

College courses that are taught at the HS during regular school periods, taught by qualified instructors approved to be adjunct professors through the college

CiHS Cost

CERHS has a grant allowing students to take 10 free credits before they have to pay tuition.

Each course is typically 5 credits per semester.� ENG 101 = 5 Credits� Pre-Calculus = 10 Credits � (MATH 153: Pre-Calc 1 Fall, MATH 154: Pre-Calc 2 Spring)

$60 per credit

$300 for a 5-Credit Course

$120 for a 5-Credit Course

Most classes are 5-Credits

CERSD will pay 60% of student tuition

Benefits of College in the High School

“It’s nice because you don’t have to spend money on books or gas� (which are very expensive) since you’re at the high school.”

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“You get more one-on-one help from your teachers, because� professors usually don’t seem to help as much.”

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“You can collaborate with your classmates more (I don’t� really know my classmates at CWU but I know� everyone here).”

Testing into CiHS Courses

• Students take the English self-directed placement survey.
• Taken with Mrs. Harper in class.
• Students will be required to take the Accuplacer Test and meet the required cut off to be able to take CiHS courses.
• 30/31 of our students passed into MATH 152 this year.
• Study Guides and Material Provided.
• Passing a Pre-Req CiHS class, meets the requirements for subsequent CiHS classes.

What courses are offered through CiHS?

MATH 152: Functions and� Reasoning

MATH 153: Pre-Calculus 1

MATH 154: Pre-Calculus 2

MATH 172: Calculus 1

MATH 173: Calculus 2

ENG 101: Critical Reading and� Responding

ENG 102: Reasoning and Research� on Social Justice

ENG 105: An Introduction to� Literature

ENGL 244: American Literature I

ENGL 245: American Literature II

ENGL 115: Film as Literature

Pathways

Questions about CiHS?

Running Start

• A program that allows eligible 11^th and 12^th grade students to take courses at colleges and some universities tuition free.�
• Students earn both high school and college credits for these courses, accelerating their progress through the education system.

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Which classes can Running Start students take?

• Running Start students are treated like other students at CWU.
• They can take whichever courses they meet the prerequisites for.
• Most students will be taking 100 & 200 level courses that would be open to other college freshman and sophomores.
• Students should prioritize taking high school requirements first.

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Benefits of Running Start

• Earn up to two years’ worth of college tuition free.
• Greater diversity in course choices.
• Easier transition to university after graduation.
• Explore majors.
• Enjoy learning in a more mature academic environment.
• Get involved with on campus activities.
• Still participate in high school activities.

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Activities students can participate in:

• Take classes in the Douglas Honors College
• Participate in guided research with faculty
• Dance with the Orchesis Dance Company
• Take theatre, dance, music, film, and art classes
• Are part of the ROTC program
• Participate in clubs (academic and fun clubs)
• Have jobs on campus
• Attend campus events like movie night, trivia, cultural events, etc.

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How do RS students do in classes?

Running Start students do well in their CWU college classes

• Average GPA for fall quarter was 3.24
• 32% of students earned a 4.0 GPA
• 55% of students earned a 3.5 or higher
• 90% of students were in good academic standing

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•Average credit load for fall was 10/student (2 classes)

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Things to Keep in Mind

• Creating a high school and college transcript.
• Faster pace can be challenging for some students.
• Less social and free time.
• Program is not free – students pay for books, fees, and transportation.
• Class availability is not guaranteed.
• Adult environment – content of courses not censored for younger students.
• FERPA – college cannot share information with parents without written student permission.
• High school and college calendars are different (breaks are also usually different.

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Running Start Costs

• Running Start students and their families do not pay tuition
• CWU full time tuition is $8,844 a year, so this is a huge savings
• They do pay mandatory fees, buy their own books, and provide their transportation.
• Fees are around $27-$55 a quarter
• Books can vary from $0 - $300
• Book assistance is available to students who qualify
• Students can take up to 15 credits tuition free depending on how many courses they are taking at their high school. (Ms. J will go over this with you if you decide to participate.)

Book and Testing Assistance

Students who qualify for the following may be eligible for assistance with the cost of testing and books at CWU:

• free or reduced lunch in school district
• receiving public assistance
• foster youth
• primary parent/guardian receiving unemployment

Running Start -

Admission Requirements

• Open to juniors and seniors in high school
• Applicants with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher will be automatically admitted.
• Applicants with a 2.00-2.99 cumulative GPA will be considered for admission based on grades AND test scores.
• Applicants with a 2.00-2.49 cumulative GPA will also be required to submit a personal statement.
• Generally, we are looking for recommended placement into ENG 101.
• Students with a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 are not admitted.

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Testing for English and Math

• Students take the English self-directed placement survey (available on our website)
• If taking for Running Start, wait to take it until you have submitted an application and have received a CWU username and ID number
• if taking for Cornerstone, follow instructions from your teacher
• Math: Running Start students can take Accuplacer or ALEKS. Cornerstone students can take Accuplacer.
• Accuplacer is the recommended exam.
• Study guides are available on our website.

Accommodations

• Students with disabilities and/or who are receiving accommodations at their high school should contact the CWU Disability Service Office to request accommodations at CWU.
• This office will work with you to develop accommodations for placement testing and your CWU courses.
• https://www.cwu.edu/disability-support/

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Getting Started

• http://www.cwu.edu/running-start/admissions
• Complete application and submit a high school transcript online. (Transcript should include grades from first semester of this year.)
• Set up your MyCWU account. (Information is emailed and mailed to you once you submit an application)
• Schedule and/or submit necessary test scores for admission and/or placement into English and math – do this after you apply.
• Meet with your high school counselor to determine which courses you need for graduation and to complete your Running Start Enrollment Verification Form.
• Meet with the RS Advisor to develop an education plan and register for classes. Advising for fall will take place in May.
• Attend orientation.

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Advising for fall starts in May. Registration opens on May 26!