Running Start Information for Students

To qualify for Running Start:

• You must be a Junior or Senior as determined by your high school and/or school district.
• You must be currently enrolled in a Washington State public high school.
• If you are home schooled, or a in a private school, you will need to enroll in your neighborhood public high school as “intent to home school”.
• You can participate in Running Start for three quarters as a Junior and three quarters as a Senior.
• Students must apply to the college and pay the $25 application fee.

There are two locations to drop off your proof of eligibility:

• Main campus - turn into the Enrollment Services office in Gaiser Hall

• CTC campus - turn into the Student Services office at Clark College at Columbia Tech Center

You also have the option to scan/email your college level placement to runningstart@clark.edu.  If you send via email, please make sure your name is clear on your documentation and you have included your Clark College student ID number (SID).

• Fall 2020 - detailed information for current sophomore and juniors

Students who complete the steps to enrollment and qualify for Running Start will be required to attend an orientation.During this event, students will receive helpful information about attending Clark College, which will include meeting with the Advising Center.  Before you attend an Orientation, you much complete placement by submitting placement documentation or taking our placement test(s).

Visit the Assessement and Placement to view your placement options.

Sign-up for Orientation

• Monitor important dates and deadlines for every term.
• Meet with your high school counselor every term and complete the Enrollment Verification Form (EVF).
• Turn your EVF into the Enrollment Services office in Gaiser Hall.
• Schedule Academic Advising appointment, as needed, to ensure your success at Clark College.  An Academic Advisor can assist you with class selection and degree completion requirements.
• Monitor class schedule in your MyClark@ctcLink account.  You are responsible for your schedule and should:
  • Monitor your waitlisted courses.
  • Check your schedule for any tuition/fees that may be due.
  • Check that you are registered for the correct classes.
  • Be sure to check for building and class locations prior to the first day of the term.
  • Drop courses from your schedule that you no longer plan to attend.
• Pay your Fall, Winter and Spring term tuition by the tuition/fees payment due dates.
• Purchase your books and supplies.
• Login to Canvas AND attend your classes.

• Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) - is required every term and must be signed by your high school counselor and submitted prior to the tuition/fees payment due date.

• Running Start Fee Waiver Form - students must qualify for the fee waiver.  (See details attached to the waiver form.)

Check in with your high school.  Your high school counseling office can provide you with timelines to meet and discuss the Running Start Program.

Note:  Your high school counselor should discuss with you which classes you need to fulfill your high school graduation requirements.  When you meet with your high school counselor, they will complete and sign your Enrollment Verification Form (EVF).  The EVF will determine the number of college credits you can take at the college.  Once your high school counselor has signed your EVF, you will turn in the completed form to the Enrollment Services office.

As a Running Start student, you must submit the Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) each term you register (Fall, Winter and Spring terms).  The purpose of this form is to track the combined number of credits in which you are enrolled between your high school and the college.  Your high school counselor, your parent, and you are required to sign this form.  Turn your completed EVF into the Enrollment Services office as soon as you have met with your high school counselor.  Please read the EVF information sheet.

Note: We cannot bill your high school for tuition until you submit your EVF.  If you do not submit the form, you will be required to pay full tuition by the tuition/fees payment due date.

Clark College must waive mandatory college and/or student assessed fees for eligible, low-income Running Start students.  Eligible, low-income Running Start students are still required to pay class fees, tuition/fees for courses below 100 level, and textbooks.

• Running Start Fee Waiver Form - students must qualify for the fee waiver.  (See details attached to the waiver form.)

NOTE: The RS Fee Waiver is only valid while you are in the Running Start Program.

• Access date/time - when you may begin registering for upcoming term(s)
• Add and/or drop classes
• Monitor your waitlisted classes
• Check your Student Schedule

• Fall 2020 term begins Monday, September 21

Check the Upcoming Events calendar for more information.

The number of credits you can take in the college is determined by how many classes you are taking in the high school.  Your high school counselor will know and will specify this on your Enrollment Verification Form each term.

Five college credits equal one high school credit. Classes vary in credits, so it depends on the class you take.  See the table below as a guide. 

For example, a 1.0 high school credit class (English, Math, History, etc), which takes a school year to complete at the high school, can be completed in one quarter (11 weeks) at the college. 

Note: Some high schools may require more than one class to cover the content required.  For example, some high schools may require two 5 credit History classes to meet your high school graduation requirements.