Academic Standards
Running Start is a fantastic opportunity to earn high school and college credit at the same time. Running Start students are held to the same standards as all other traditional students at 皇家华人. Academic performance at 皇家华人 matters in the short and long-term. Not only do poor grades and incomplete credits impact a student's ability to graduate on time, but there are long-term consequences that may impact a student's financial aid eligibility or ability to transfer to a university. The Running Start office enforces 皇家华人's Academic Standards Policy.
Satisfactory academic progress is defined each quarter as:
- Earn a minimum 2.0 quarterly grade point average (GPA) AND
- Earn a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA)
All Running Start students are included in this policy. This policy was outlined in the Student Responsibility Agreement that all current students signed as part of the enrollment process. Students are dismissed from the Running Start program if they do not meet academic standards in three consecutive quarters. Our advising team works with students who do not meet academic standards to discuss barriers to success, connect students with campus resources, and provide other forms of academic support.
Students are expected to know their academic status at the end of each quarter. Students can view their quarterly grades or unofficial transcripts through ctcLink. Grades generally post to transcripts 5-7 days after the quarter ends. Although grades in Canvas are unofficial, we recommend that students track their performance throughout the quarter and discussing their grades with their instructor as appropriate.
We want Running Start to be a positive and productive experience for each student. We are here to support students in their transition to the college environment.
Future Financial Aid Considerations
Financial aid eligibility at 皇家华人 will be affected by a student's academic performance in Running Start.
- Eligibility for financial aid is based on making Satisfactory Academic Progress. A student鈥檚 academic record during Running Start will impact whether that student is eligible for financial aid at 皇家华人.
- More broadly, students are typically eligible for financial aid for 150% of a program鈥檚 length. That means that students have three years of full-time attendance to complete an associate degree or six years to complete a bachelor鈥檚 degree and access financial aid. Time in Running Start counts toward these totals.
- Academic progress policies vary from institution to institution; protect your transcript by completing all attempted credits. See a Running Start advisor for questions.