Running Start Program
Office Location: Laidlaw Center 134
360.383.3123
Running Start is a statewide partnership between high schools and community and technical colleges in Washington. Whatcom Community College remains commited to serving local students through Running Start, the popular program for high school juniors and seniors. Running Start offers families significant cost savings as students begin their college careers.
- Students may enroll simultaneously in high school and college classes, or solely at the college.
- Students receive both high school and college credit for classes completed at the college.
- Students do not need the permission of the high school to enroll in the program - the student and parents make this choice.
- View the Running Start video for additional information.
Information Meetings
To learn more about Running Start, please attend a one-hour information meeting. No RSVP necessary. Information meetings are held in Heiner Center, room 209 and In Laidlaw Center, room 118 (Campus map).
Running Start Information Meetings
- Wednesday, February 22, 4-5pm, Heiner Center 209
- Wednesday, March 7, 7-8pm, Heiner Center 209
- Wednesday, March 14, 4-5pm, Heiner Center 209
- Tuesday, March 20, 4-5pm, Heiner Center 209
- Wednesday, March 21, 7-8pm, Heiner Center 209
- Thursday, March 22, 7-8pm, Heiner Center 209
- Monday, March 26, 4-5pm, Heiner 209
Eligibility for Running Start
Students must be in 11th or 12th grade as determined by the public high school. Home schooled students will work with their school's District Office annually to determine grade level (home school students in the Bellingham District should contact the high school registrar). Students attending a private school must register with a public high school to receive Running Start funding.
Eligible students must place at college-level English and reading as determined by Accuplacer tests.
Testing for Running Start Admission
To qualify for Running Start, students take both the Sentence Skills (English) and Reading placement tests. (Students who have earned a score of "4" or "5" on the AP English Language exam are exempt from placement testing.) A one-time Testing Fee of $20 will be charged for testing unless the student is eligible for a Fee Waiver. To sign up for a test, please call 360.383.3123.
- Thursday, February 23, 3-5pm, Laidlaw Center 121 - FULL
- Thursday, March 1, 3-5pm, Laidlaw Center 121
- Tuesday, March 6, 3-5pm, Laidlaw Center 121
- Thursday, March 8, 3-5pm, Laidlaw Center 121
- Tuesday, March 13, 3-5pm, Laidlaw Center 121
- Saturday, March 17, 9-11am, Baker Hall 106
- Wednesday, March 21, 3-5pm, Laidlaw Center 121
- Saturday, March 24, 9-11am, Baker Hall 106
- Saturday, March 24, 12-2pm, Baker Hall 106
- Tuesday, March 27, 3-5pm, Baker Hall 106
- Wednesday, March 28, 3-5pm, Baker Hall 106
- Thursday, March 29, 3-5pm, Baker Hall 106
- For students who can't attend a group test, call 360.383.3123 for individual testing.
Important testing information:
- Bring picture ID and your Social Security Number with you. Arrive on time. As a group you will pay fees and complete forms.
- When you complete the English and Reading tests, you will be given your scores. Please bring them to the Running Start Office where you will receive more information and learn about your next steps. If you need further information about enrolling in courses, please contact the Running Start Office at 360.383.3123 or email rstart@whatcom.ctc.edu.
- For directions to the campus and to locate the Laidlaw Center, please view our campus map.
Sample Questions:
Sample Questions are available for review (under Main Menu, select Sentence Skills and Reading exercies only - DO NOT USE the sample Math questions).
Special testing instructions for students with an IEP or 504 plan:
Students who need to test under special conditions should make arrangements through a Running Start advisor before coming to the College. Advisor names and phone numbers are listed below. Please do not sign up for a group test before speaking to an advisor.
ESL - English as a Second Language Testing:
Students who were enrolled or are currently enrolled in ELL or ESL classes in high school should contact the Running Start Office at 360.383.3126 and arrange to take the QUIA test at the College. Please allow 3.5 hours for this test.
Math Testing:
Students who wish to take a math class or a math-based science class at the college must first take the WCC math placement test. (We encourage all students to take math either at the high school or the college every year.) The math placement test is usually completed in a separate session after students have taken the initial Sentence Skills and Reading tests (outlined above).
Students take the math test independently in the Testing Center (Laidlaw 133) during open hours. Testing Center hours are as follows:
- M, Th, F: 8:30am-4pm
- T, W: 8:30am-8pm
- No placement testing during the last two weeks of every quarter.
- Call for open hours buring the break between quarters.
Please bring photo ID and arrive in the Testing Center at least 1.5 hours before it is scheduled to close. When re-taking a math test, please report to the Running Start office before going to the Testing Center.
- Study help can be found on WCC's Online Math Center. This site has a list of concepts covered on each math test; look under Learning Math. Paper handouts of this information are also available in the Running Start Office, Laidlaw 134.
- No calculators needed.
- Bring photo ID and your Whatcom Community College ID number.
- Only college-level math is funded by Running Start. However, students may self-pay for below-college level (algebra) courses.
Orientation
All new Running Start students must attend orientation. No RSVP necessary. Parents need not attend.
Orientation for Spring 2012:
- Thursday, March 29, 3:30-5pm, Syre Student Center
Tuition, Fees, and Other Costs
Running Start funding covers only college-level credits (courses numbered 100 and above). Running Start students taking only college classes may enroll in up to 15 tuition-free credits per quarter. RS students who combine high school and college credits will be funded up to 120% of a full-time load (Fall, Winter, Spring). Students may exceed these limits by paying college tuition. RS students eligible for a Fee Waiver are exempt from the funding limits. RS students pay certain fees; Fee Waiver students will have some fees waived.
Placement testing Fee (waived for low income):
$20.00 (one-time fee, covers additional placement tests and retests)
Lab & Materials Fees (cannot be waived):
Art and Art-Graphics – $15-$25, varies by class
Science classes – $30.00
Nursing 100 – $75.00
Other courses to be determined
Comprehensive and Technology Fees (waived for low income):
Running Start students owe $6.00 per credit, up to/including 10 credits. (Comprehensive fee = $2.50/credit + Technology fee = $3.50/credit)
Fee Waivers:
Low income RS students should submit a Fee Waiver Petition form to have certain fees waived and to be exempt from the funding limits. Students may be eligible for a Fee Waiver if receiving free/reduced meals at high school, or receiving public assistance from a state or federal program. See the Running Start Office for the Petition form, or click here to view/print the form. Submit Fee Waiver petitions prior to placement testing or by the first day of the quarter.
Tuition:
Running Start students owe tuition for classes numbered under 100 and for college-level credits over 15 per quarter. Tuition will be charged for combined high school and college credits exceeding 120% of full time. This chart is a guideline of possible high school and college combinations that fall within the 120% funding cap. Fee Waiver students are exempt from the funding limits but must pay tuition for classes numbered under 100.
Tuition Rates Fall/Winter/Spring quarters 2011-12:
Resident Tuition: $102.39 per credit
Non-Resident Tuition: $274.39 per credit
Online course tuition/fees:
Running Start students will not be charged extra for college-level online courses unless the online credits are part of a quarterly total of college-level credits that exceeds 15, or a combined high school and college credit load that exceeds 120% of full time. Fee Waiver students are exempt from the funding limits.
Unpaid Tuition/Fees:
Running Start students will not be dropped from classes for unpaid fees and/or partial tuition amounts. Students will be dropped from classes for which full tuition is due and not paid by the deadline. Until all financial obligations to the College are met, students will be blocked from future registration at WCC, and cannot receive official transcripts.
Textbooks
Running Start students are expected to obtain their own textbooks and course materials. Most students will purchase their books from the WCC Bookstore. Click here for more tips on obtaining books. Students who cannot afford all of their books may be eligible to borrow some of their textbooks from the Running Start Book Loan program.
Running Start Advisors are happy to answer your questions
- Laine Johnston, WCC Running Start Advisor, 360.383.3126
- Sarah Pearson, WCC Running Start Advisor, 360.383.3122
- Email rstart@whatcom.ctc.edu