Running Start at PCC
The Running Start Program is authorized by the Washington State Legislature and the Auburn School District. The program allows qualified students to attend classes at community/technical colleges to earn college and high school credit simultaneously. Students must pass specific criteria to be eligible to participate in this program.
Tuition is fully funded under the Running Start Program. Students are responsible for purchasing any required books, lab and miscellaneous fees, and for providing their own transportation.
Who is eligible?
A student must be a Junior or Senior as defined by the High School’s policy. Typically a Junior will have earned at least 10.5 credits by the end of their sophomore year and a senior will have earned 15.5 credits by the end of the junior year.
A student must also take the COMPASS or ASSET exam at the community college. The student must earn college level placement scores on the exam in order to qualify.
What do I do if I am interested?
- Talk with your parents about the program. (See the attached Contact for things to discuss)
- Take the COMPASS/ASSET exam.
See what the questions are like at http://www.act.org/compass/sample/index.html.
Take the placement test in April at the college you plan to attend for Running Start.
Do Your Best!
- Have parents sign the contract sheet and bring with you when you meet with your counselor. Make an appointment to meet with your counselor.
Bring your COMPASS score report to the appointment.
You and your counselor will discuss if you qualify.
- Receive the Running Start Authorization form.
Fill in all the demographic information you can and your counselor will complete the rest. (This form must be completed for each quarter of participation.)
- Apply to the community/technical college you plan to attend.
- Register for college classes by turning your form in to the college and register for college classes.
7. Bring a copy of your college class schedule to your ARHS counselor.
Your counselor will then be able to adjust your high school schedule to coincide with your college schedule.
What if my parents or I have other questions? Please call your counselor in the Auburn Riverside High School Counseling Office (253) 804-5161 or go online to the PCC website of: http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/getstarted/runningstart/index.php
Running Start PCC
The college experience
Class pace, size and participation requirements
The academic pace of college classes is much faster than in a comparable high school class. For example, a high school math class which is taught in one year at the high school is taught in one quarter (10 weeks) at the college. There is very little time for faculty to review lessons for students who do not understand the material or were absent from class. If a student needs additional assistance, the student is responsible to seek out the instructor. Instructors have regular office hours when students can meet to discuss issues or difficulites and most will arrange appointments outside of posted office hours if the student has a conflict. (Free tutoring is also available.) Classes can vary in size from 15 to 80 students, with the average class size about 30 students. Students in classes may range in age from 16 to 80 years old. Classroom participation is an integral part of college and most faculty require students to participate in classroom discussions. Students will experience a variety of opinions and perspectives.
Homework & preparing for class
College classes demand an average of two to three hours of homework for each hour of class. A five credit class will have approximately 10-15 hours of homework each week, and the total time commitment for a five credit class will be approximately 20 hours a week. Unlike high school, there is no classroom time for homework. It is the student’s responsibility to be prepared each day for class and meet all course deadlines. College faculty normally do not offer make-up work for students who are behind or need to improve their grade. The syllabus handed out at the beginning of the quarter outlines expectations.
Attendance
Most faculty members are aware of a student’s pattern of attendance and may factor it into the final grade. Regardless of whether the student has attended class, the instructor will hold them accountable for undertstanding the material covered in class or assigned for that day. Some faculty give pop quizzes and expect all papers to be turned in on time with no possibility to make up work. Faculty will provide a syllabus at the beginning of the quarter outlining their expectations. It is the student's responsibility to understand and follow through with these expectations.
Withdrawing from (dropping) a class
Many students believe that if they simply stop attending, they will be withdrawn from the course; this is NOT true. Students will receive a 0.0 (Fail) for the course, which becomes part of their permanent high school and college records. Withdrawing from a class may have serious implications on a student's high school graduation status. It is important for students to officially withdraw from a course, if necessary. To withdraw from a class, students must obtain a Schedule Change Form from the Registrar's Office. The student's high school counselor and the Running Start Advisor need to sign the form. The student needs to return the signed form to the Registration Office before the last day of withdrawals.
Grades & academic records
Grades are mailed to high school counselors following final exams. The Running Start Pre-Enrollment form has a signature line for students that releases transcripts to be sent to their high school each quarter.
Students successfully completing classes through the Running Start Program will receive both high school and college credit. Grades received become part of the permanent college transcript. If students apply to other colleges, they must list Pierce College as a college attended and request an official transcript be sent to verify previous college course work.
Academic standards
Download a copy of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Running Start Students (pdf format).
http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/getstarted/runningstart/forms/academicProgress.pdf
Costs
Tuition costs for classes (up to 18 credits per quarter) are paid by the school district. Students need to purchase books and supplies for each class (approximately $90 per class). Check with the bookstore on the Puyallup or Fort Steilacoom campus for the exact cost of books. There may be a lab fee for some courses, and Pierce College charges a college comprehensive fee per credit up to 10 credits. This fee pays for parking, transcripts, catalogs, etc.
Parent access to student records
It is the policy of the College to regard Running Start students as “regular college students.” The college is an adult learning community and we treat all of our students accordingly. Students are expected to be independent and responsible for their actions.
We are not allowed to give information regarding a student's attendance or progress to parents without the student's written permission. In addition, faculty will not discuss the student's progress without written permission. Only name, dates of enrollment, and degrees earned can be released without student authorization. Download a copy of the Student Consent Form to release information (pdf). http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/pdf/releaseConsent.pdf
The college is released to give academic information to high school counselors or administrators if necessary. If you have questions about this, contact your high school counselor or the Running Start coordinator at either the Puyallup or Fort Steilacoom colleges.
Running Start PCC
How to Enroll at PCC
Step One: Take the ASSET or COMPASS (There is a FEE for this service)
New students should contact the Testing Center (Ft. Steilacoom Campus 964-6521, Puyallup Campus 840-8343) to schedule an appointment to take the COMPASS test. There is a COMPASS test fee.
The assessment process will indicate your basic skill levels in reading, writing and math, and will take approximately 3 hours. Students must take all three sections of the test regardless of which classes they wish to take. To qualify for Running Start, students must place into English 101 (to take non-math classes), or place into Math 107, 114, 121, 156, or 281 and English 101 or Reading 101 (to take math courses only).
See what the questions are like at http://www.act.org/compass/sample/index.html.
Step Two: Meet with your high school counselor/school district
After taking the COMPASS, you must give the score sheet to your high school counselor. Running Start students need to meet with their high school counselor to determine what classes to take and to complete their high school Pre–Enrollment form. http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/getstarted/runningstart/forms/rs-pre-enroll-sample.pdf
Step Three: Meet with an Advisor to register for classes
Meet with an Advisor by appointment or on a walk–in basis. During this time, you and the Advisor will discuss your educational goals, select classes accordingly, and complete the Registration Form. Students are expected to bring a list of classes and times they wish to take classes based on their high school counselor's recommendations. Students must bring the completed Pre–Enrollment Form or Enrollment Request for Home–Based Instruction Form (signed by the high school counselor/school district official) before they will be allowed to begin the registration process.
Step Four: Register and pay for classes
After meeting with an Advisor, proceed to the Registration window to register. Then continue on to the cashier's window to pay for classes. Tuition for Running Start students is paid by the School District. However, students must pay any lab fees for classes and must also pay a $5.00–$15.00 college comprehensive fee.
Step Five: Attend new student orientation/Running Start orientation
When you meet with an Advisor, you will also need to register to attend a New Student Orientation before the first day of classes.
Running Start Contract
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Your son/daughter, ______, has indicated a desire to participate in the Running Start Program through Auburn School District and a community/technical college. Along with the benefits of the program there are also cautions you need to be aware of.
§ Running Start is conducted on a college campus with adults and Running Start students will have adult expectations.
§ In Running Start courses there are no progress reports only final grades and all academic information is considered confidential between the college instructor and the student. Neither parent nor high school staff can access that information.
§ Running Start classes progress at a much faster pace than high school classes and College classes demand an average of 2 hours of homework for each hour of class.
§ Attendance is between the student and the instructor. Instructors may not take attendance.
§ Students are expected to be prepared for class each day and meet all deadlines with no make-up possibilities. (Pop quizzes are always a possibility)
§ Students will interact with adults from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Classroom discussions will reflect this diversity.
§ Tuition will be paid by the school district for courses at the 100 level or above for a credit load that does not exceed the scale prescribed by the state on the Running Start Enrollment Verification Form. Books, supplies, fees, and transportation are the responsibility of the student and their family.
§ Running Start courses may conflict with high school extracurricular activities. This is also true of vacations and breaks.
§ Running Start students are out of the information loop for things such as activity requirements, PSAT testing, scholarship application deadlines etc. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of such dates.
§ Be careful! Some community colleges do not use the grading scale set forth by the state for running start high school credit. Credit may be earned at the community college but credit at the high school may or may not be awarded for low grades earned at the community college.
§ If a student completes all academic requirements at the end of their junior year, earning 22.5 credits in the appropriate areas, (This does not include HSPE testing or Portfolio requirements) they will no longer be eligible for the Running Start program. They are still eligible to take classes at Auburn Riverside High School. ______Student Initials.______Parent Initials.
______
Student Signature Date Parent Signature Date
______
Counselor Signature Date Received Student e-mail address (required)
RUNNING START
Auburn School District – Pierce Community College
Course Transfer Guide (Check for availability at Pierce-Puyallup.)
High School Requirements Pierce CC Courses
English
Am Lit/Writing or Honors Am Lit English &101, 107, 120, 210, &220, &244, &245, &246, 265
12th Grade elective English Above classes plus:
English 103, 110, &111, &112, &113, &114, 121, 122, 140, 204, 205, 207, 208, 209, 220, &226, &227, &228, &235, &236, &237, &238, 250, 251, 266
Journalism (CMST) &102, 103, 201
Speech (CMST) &101, (CMST) &220
Math Math &107, 114, &141, &142, &146, &148, &151, &152,
&153, 156, 205, 224, 238
Social Studies
Washington State History History &214
U.S. History History 130, 168, &156, &157, &158, &159
Global Issues History &128, 270, 272, 280 Political Science &101, &203
Both Civics and Global Issues Political Science &203
Elective Social Studies Courses which meet the Pierce CC social sciences requirement.
Science
Lab Science Astronomy &101
Biology &100, 120, &160, &211, &212, &213, &24, &242
Biotechnology 110
Chemistry &110, &121, &131, &161, &162, &163, &261, &262, &263
Environmental Science 210, 220
Geology 100, &101, &103, 117, 140, &208, 210, 220, 282, 283
Health Science 119, 210, 140
Microbiology 110, &260
Natural Science 150, 160, 170
Oceanography &101, 170, 286
Physics &100, &121, &122, &123, &221, &222, &223
Physical Science 101
Non-Lab Science Courses which meet the Pierce CC science requirement but do not include a lab component.
Health/PE
Health Health Science &101, 119, 140, 200, 210
Physical Education 228, 230, 231, 232
PE All courses in the PE Department.
Occupational Education see counselor
Electives
Foreign Language any – see counselor/college transfer advisor
Other 100 level or above – see counselor Rev. 04/30/2009