Running Start

Academic traits necessary for success in college classes include highly organized self-management, proactive problem-solving, and self-advocating skills. Solid study habits, excellent test-taking and preparation skills, strong communication in written format under time constraints, and the ability to comfortably interact with adults are a must. Personal motivation for academic success and ability to get help when needed on your own are important.

Remember that you are entering a collegiate learning environment, a high-stakes test/essay performance-driven grading system, where only a handful of major tests/papers/projects will constitute your entire grade. Classroom participation and homework assignments represent a small portion of the overall grade if at all, but must be done to prepare for assessments

Personal Readiness:
A high level of maturity and goal-oriented academic motivation will bring success. In addition to deciding if your academic skill is a good fit to begin college early through the Running Start system, you must make a purely personal decision about how moving to a collegiate setting might change your high school experience and how your future college experience will be impacted by starting early. Running Start represents a significant environmental change. For students who thoroughly enjoy and are very involved in the traditional high school experience, this may be a painful shift that represents a loss. For students who feel they emotionally have grown past the high school social scene, who seek a more mature multi-generational environment, this can be a very positive change.
Do you love the traditional high school environment, or do you want an entirely different experience in an adult setting (average age at BC being 30 years old)? The average college student has a job, a busy day outside of school, and generally isn't seeking social interaction primarily with teens. At community college, you will be treated like an adult, and receive no special treatment or flexibility due to your Running Start designation. Be prepared to work hard and grow as a student, and to have to learn new strategies to succeed in a collegiate environment. You own the outcome, and parents cannot problem-solve on your behalf. Parents must trust that you can manage your education independently. You will start a permanent college-level transcript, which will impact your future plans and higher-level college prospects.

AP versus Running Start

Please note that while Running Start can be an excellent opportunity for the right student, it can represent a serious risk for others. College instructors do not notify parents or high schools when a student is failing or not attending class. College instructors do not inform parents or the high school of student progress in college courses or whether a student has dropped the class. Poor performance in Running Start can result in significant loss of credit, permanent harm both high school and college transcripts, and dismissal from the Running Start program.

Community college credits earned through Running Start are not guaranteed to apply to EVERY four-year college later. Transfer of credits depends on the four-year college you choose to attend. In-state public colleges are a part of the same higher education system as the community colleges, and have transfer credit guidelines established and posted for you to review.

Some private colleges and other states' public colleges will accept Running Start credit, and others will not -- the only way to know is to consult with each college of interest to you. Highly selective four-year colleges are much less likely to accept community college credits and generally prefer that a student stays in high school and takes AP classes and takes the AP exams for potential college.

Students are not permitted on campus during the school day when they do not have a class scheduled, unless they have an appointment with a school official. This is to ensure that we can account for all students on campus in case of an emergency. Students with a part-time Running Start schedule may not arrive at ICS early and spend time in the Commons or Library doing homework, for example.

Dated: 1/12/2024

In recent months we have experienced a significant increase in aggressive acts by students and parents towards staff and instructors.  The level of aggressive acts is far above what we have seen in the past and is cause for serious concern.

Some students and parents are refusing to accept answers provided by instructors and staff.

Please communicate with all staff and instructors at Bellevue College in a mature non-threatening manner. 

• The running start students need to follow the same rules and regulations that all Bellevue College students follow. 
   
• Choosing to do running start is a choice not a requirement. 
   
• College coursework is faster paced.   Many students who are an A student in high school may not earn A's at the college level. 
   
• Each course syllabus needs to be carefully reviewed.  
   
• Late work is almost never allowed by the instructors – do not expect approval if asked. 
   
• Check the academic calendar each quarter for all important dates – this will include information like last day to enroll and last day a student may drop a class. 

All post-secondary education students are subject to FERPA regulations.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that any educational institution administered by the U.S. Secretary of Education must follow. This act is about protecting student privacy by not releasing grades or other personal information to anyone but the student.  

Under FERPA, instructors cannot communicate with anyone but the student about the student’s course work or grades.  This is a federal law to which Bellevue College must legally adhere. It does not matter if the student is a minor and a Running Start student; all students taking college courses are considered adults and FERPA applies to all. 

Parents cannot schedule conferences with the instructor, file a grade appeal on a student’s behalf, or communicate details about a grade appeal or complaint. The student is responsible for all communication regarding course work, grades, and appeals or complaints.

Here are some important guidelines to keep in mind about FERPA and instructor-parent communication: 

• Instructors and other college staff cannot communicate with parents about a student’s educational records in person, via email, or by phone. 
   
• Grade appeals and student complaints must be handled by the student and communicated by the student to the instructor, department chair, or dean. 
   
• Parents should not come to the instructor’s classroom or office in hopes of discussing a student’s work.

We appreciate you participating in the Running Start program at Bellevue College. We want our community to be safe which includes students, staff and instructors.

If you have any questions, we ask you to submit your questions about this message directly to Linda Kepler: linda.kepler@bellevuecollege.edu