Get a Running Start at Clark College

High school students can learn how to take the next step in their education by attending one of four optional Running Start Information Night sessions at Clark College.

The identical sessions will be held 7:00-8:00
p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5; Monday, Feb. 24; Monday,
March 9; and Tuesday, March 24. All four events, which are free and open to the
public, will be held in the Clark College gymnasium in the O’Connell
Sports Center, located on the southwest side of Clark College’s main campus.

Running Start allows eligible juniors
and seniors to earn college credit while they fulfill their high school
graduation requirements. Running Start students attend Clark classes along with “regular” college students. They can choose from
a full range of academic and professional and technical courses.

The program, which can significantly reduce the
cost of a college degree, has proven popular in Southwest Washington. Some
Running Start students are so motivated that they earn their associate degree
from Clark at the same time that they earn their high school diploma. These
annual information nights frequently attract hundreds of interested students
and parents to the college, which is why the college is hosting four sessions
this year. Clark College welcomed 2,428 Running Start students at
the beginning of the 2019 fall term.

These information sessions are for students and
parents who want to know more about beginning the program in Fall 2020. While
the sessions are completely optional, they are a good opportunity to hear
current Running Start students candidly describe their experiences in the
program and to learn about the eligibility criteria, expectations, timelines,
and more. Students and parents who live on the eastern side of the college’s
service district can also find out about expanded options available at Clark’s
East Vancouver location at Columbia Tech Center.

Running Start students pay for books,
transportation, and some fees, but do not pay full Clark College tuition.
Students can attend part-time or full-time under the Running Start program. Fees
are subject to change by the Washington State Legislature. A fee waiver is
available for those demonstrating financial need.

Clark College is located
at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way in Vancouver, Wash. Parking will be available in the
college’s Red lots on the east side of Fort Vancouver Way and in the Purple Lot
on the west side of Fort Vancouver Way. Driving directions and parking maps are
available at www.clark.edu/maps.

Individuals
who need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully
participate in this event should contact Clark College’s Disability Support
Services Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP), or visit Penguin Union Building (PUB) room 013, as soon as possible.

For more
information on Running Start, visit the Clark College website at www.clark.edu/runningstart. For information about
Running Start Information Nights, call 360-992-2078.