Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of commonly asked questions for current students. Please contact our office or your advisor if you cannot find the answer to your question here. 

View Enrollment, Classes and Other frequently asked questions below.

Enrollment

  • What if my records are blocked when I try to enroll in classes?
    Ask yourself the following questions:
    • Have I submitted my Enrollment Verification form? Enrollment Verification forms are required for each quarter. You must get a new form from your counselor each quarter and turn in a signed copy via our Secure Document Upload Tool.
    • Did I meet Academic Standards last quarter? If last quarter’s GPA was below a 2.0 you will need to meet with an advisor before enrolling in the next quarter. Check your GRC email or the Navigate app for messages about your next steps.  
    • Do I have any outstanding fines or parking tickets? Outstanding fines or parking tickets must be paid prior to registration. You can view which office placed the hold via ctcLink. Holds can only be removed by the office that placed the hold. Our office cannot remove holds placed by other offices. 
  • What happens if I miss the enrollment deadline?
    You will not be able to participate in the Running Start program for the quarter. You must be enrolled in classes by the third day of the quarter to participate in Running Start for that quarter. You are welcome back the following quarter provided that you meet the next quarter’s deadlines.
  • What if I need to change my schedule after the quarter begins?
    If you need to add or withdraw (“drop”) from a class once the quarter has begun, there are specific timeframes you need to follow:
    • You may add or drop classes on your schedule using online services through the third day of the quarter. After the third day of the quarter you will need instructor permission to add classes to your schedule. 
    • Be mindful of the deadlines to withdraw from classes each quarter. There are always two windows of opportunity to withdraw from classes: the first deadline allows you to withdraw from class(es) without showing on your transcript and is typically on the 10th day of the quarter. The second deadline allows you to withdraw, but that withdraw will be on your transcript. That deadline is typically during the eighth week of the quarter.
    • Consult with your high school counselor to determine how schedule changes will impact your high school transcript.
    • Please note: only you as the student can initiate and complete adding/dropping classes on your schedule. An instructor, parent, or advisor cannot complete this process on behalf of students.
    • Always save a receipt of your enrollment transactions for your records.
  • I'm not sure about my math placement…help!

    Running Start students are strongly encouraged to continue with math courses - even if they have met their high school's math diploma requirement. Stopping out of a math sequence can make it difficult later on to get back into the groove of taking math. Students may complete math at the high school or decide to take math at Green River - either way, it's a good idea to do so. 
    Please visit the Placement website for information on placement. There are a few ways students are placed into math at Green River. Most Running Start students are placed with their high school transcript or by taking the WAMAP placement test. 

For more information on enrollment, please view the enrollment page.

Classes

  • What classes am I not allowed to take?
    You can take any classes you wish, but Running Start pays for only those classes that are college level (100 or higher). You may take classes below college level, but you will be responsible for paying tuition and fees associated with those classes. Here are classes Running Start does not cover:
    • Read 104, Engl 100
    • Math 0xx (any class below 100-level)
    • Any course that starts with BASIC, ESOL, HSC, or TS
    • Any class below 100-level
  • Can I take online classes?
    Yes. Running Start students will be treated as regular college students and enroll in regular college classes. Online courses are part of the normal delivery of college curriculum. While online (eLearning) classes give more scheduling flexibility, they can be challenging for some students. Before enrolling in an eLearning class students may want to ask themselves how well the following statements describe them: 
    • I feel comfortable using reading and writing as my primary means of communication and learning.
    • I feel I can learn in an environment where oral lectures are not the primary mode of learning.
    • I am self-motivated and can work independently.
    • I have no problem communicating with my instructor and other classmates through electronic means such as email and discussion boards.
    • I have no problem asking questions when I don't understand something or need clarification.
    • I have or will have access to a computer with internet access on a regular basis.
    • I feel comfortable in my keyboarding abilities.
    • I feel comfortable with basic computer skills such as email, creating and saving files, and downloading files.
    • I can dedicate approximately three hours of work per credit hour to my eLearning class.

      Being successful as an online student often requires the abilities listed above.
  • How do I know which classes at Green River apply toward my high school graduation requirements?
    Each district accepts different courses from Green River to meet specific graduation requirements. This means that the course required to complete U.S. History or Senior English will vary from district to district. Students must work with their high school counselor to identify their remaining high school graduation requirements prior to enrollment. High school graduation requirements are often listed on the quarterly Enrollment Verification Form. Our department maintains a list of current equivalency guides on our website: District Equivalency Guide. Advisors will use the information provided during enrollment to help students plan out their high school graduation requirements. 
  • Can students receive a degree from Green River at the same time they get their high school diploma?
    Yes. This is possible but requires careful planning. Be sure to ask a Running Start advisor for help toward the planning of an AA degree. Students that do not plan to graduate from a public high school can ask the college to issue a State of Washington high school diploma upon completion of an associate degree.
  • Should students stay at Green River to finish the AA degree before transferring?
    There are advantages to finishing an AA degree before transferring to a 4-year university in Washington and some out-of-state institutions (universities which have “direct transfer agreements” with Green River; listed in the College Catalog). At some universities in Washington, it may be difficult to transfer with an assortment of credits if you do not complete an AA degree. This is a good question to ask the university to which you plan to transfer.
  • Do Running Start classes transfer to other colleges/universities?
    College credits are transferable to Washington State public colleges and universities, and to most private colleges in the state. It is important for students to consult with college admissions representatives and departmental advisors as early as possible. Students should contact out-of-state colleges for their policies on accepting Running Start credits.
  • What if a student doesn't graduate from high school with their class? Can they still do Running Start?
    They are still eligible to participate in Running Start. However, they can take only those classes required to earn the diploma through the high school. Students will be responsible for the tuition and fees for any non-graduation requirement courses. Students are not eligible for federal financial aid until they have a high school diploma or GED®, which means that students may have to pay out-of-pocket.

Other

  • What if my family moves or change school districts?
    Please let our department know immediately. Have the counselor at your new school fill out a new Enrollment Verification Form and turn it in to our office. Changing school districts could impact high school graduation requirements. Please contact your advisor and let them know that you’ve changed districts.
  • Can parents receive information about their daughter/son's academic progress or grades? Why or why not?
    Running Start students have the same rights and responsibilities as any other college student. All student educational records are maintained according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), concerning information that becomes part of the permanent record and governing the conditions of its disclosure. Only a student's name, dates of enrollment, and degrees earned can be released without their authorization. Students are given the opportunity to authorize access to their records and they can authorize or rescind that permission at any time.

Prospective students, please view FAQs here: Prospective Students/Parents FAQ