The Jump Start Program provides high school seniors in EKU’s service region the opportunity to enroll in three credit hours (typically one course) of college-level work at EKU's main campus or on extended sites in the fall and spring semester of their senior year---tuition-free.

The goal of the program is to encourage high school students to consider higher education (hopefully at EKU!) and to introduce them to the excitement and rigor of the university classroom.

Students from Bell, Bourbon, Boyle, Casey, Clark, Clay, Estill, Fayette, Garrard, Jackson, Jessamine, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, McCreary, Mercer, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Washington, Wayne and Whitley County with verification of good academic standing from their principal or guidance counselor are eligible for the program. Students from other Kentucky counties must contact Steve Byrn at stephen.byrn@eku.edu, Director of Admissions, for special approval to participate.

The recommended application dates are August 1 for fall and December 1 for spring. Earlier application is strongly encouraged.

The first advising and registration sessions occur one week prior to classes beginning in fall and spring. Jump Start students may register for remaining seats in classes at that time.

The ACT test is not required for admission to the Jump Start Program.

Some courses have prerequisite requirements of specified ACT scores for enrollment. Some common course prerequisites that Jump Start students encounter are listed below:

All Jump Start students are required to attend an advising and registration session. During this session, you will meet with staff members from the Office of Academic Advising and the Registrar’s Office who will assist you in selecting and registering for classes at EKU based on your future plans and interests. Students must meet all course prerequisites. Jump Start is designed to allow high school seniors to fill remaining seats in classes the week prior to the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

Please consult also with your high school guidance counselor or principal regarding courses they may recommend for you.

Students should alert staff at the advising and registration session if they are currently enrolled in or plan to enroll in AP or IB courses at their high school.

All Jump Start students will register at the advising and registration sessions held on the campus where they will be attending classes. All registration at EKU is completed on-line and students must go through training before they are given their Registration Access Code (RAC number). See the Jump Start web site for specific session dates at http://www.enrollment.eku.edu/jumpstart/sessions/.

The classes are free! Students are responsible for the cost of the textbook(s) and any associated course fees. Students parking on the Richmond campus must also purchase a parking permit.

Yes, the classes taken through the Jump Start Program are "real" college classes. The faculty teaching the class and the students in the class will not know that you are in high school unless you tell them.

This means that as a Jump Start student you have all the rights and privileges of being a college student in the class. With these rights, though, comes the responsibility of the coursework and grades. The grades earned in classes taken through the Jump Start Program are the first real grades that you will earn in college. Colleges and universities require that you transfer all college credits you have attempted. Whether you decide to attend EKU or another institution after high school, your Jump Start grades will go with you----we hope as A’s!

Some high schools allow students to enroll in courses at EKU and count those courses toward their high school requirements. Please consult with your high school guidance counselor concerning your school’s policy.

All EKU students have web access to their mid-term and final grades. Additionally, all EKU students are sent a paper copy of their final grades through the US Postal Service. If a Jump Start student wishes to have their EKU course credit count toward their high school graduation requirements, then it is the Jump Start student's responsibility to provide the high school with a copy of their EKU grades. These grades will be available approximately one week after the end of the EKU Final Exam week. EKU does not provide Jump Start student's home high schools with copies of grades at EKU.

If you are taking classes on the Richmond campus, you will be allowed to park in areas on campus designated for commuter parking http://www.publicsafety.eku.edu/parking/. Students should complete the information at the "BOSSCARS" link to EKU Direct after registering for classes.

Students will receive a bill for their parking permit. If students decide not to continue classes for the second semester of their senior year, they may return their parking permit to Parking Services for a partial refund. Students taking classes in the spring only, will be billed a prorated charge for a parking permit. Parking permits will be available for pick-up on campus during the first week of classes.

Students taking classes at the Corbin, Danville, or Manchester centers will not be required to purchase a parking permit and may park in any available student parking.

After registering for classes, students may purchase their textbook(s) at the EKU Bookstore http://www.bookstore.eku.edu/or any other nearby college bookstores.

Students at Corbin, Danville, and Manchester will be able to purchase their books at the Centers.

In order to register for a spring semester course, you must submit a new EKU Jump Start Recommendation Form (located on-line at http://www.enrollment.eku.edu/jumpstart/form/), and an EKU Application for Admission (https://web4s.eku.edu/pls/prod/bwskalog.P_DispLoginNon)to the Office of Admissions.

After submitting the new materials, please attend the January advising and registration session listed on the Jump Start website..

Yes, please apply for the Jump Start program through the steps described in the previous item, but specify which site you wish to attend. Staff at the Centers will assist you in advisement and registration. Please see the link for "Jumpstart Advising and Registration Sessions" at http://www.enrollment.eku.edu/jumpstart/sessions/ for more information and contact numbers.

Yes. Students wishing to enroll in more than three credit hours during either semester of their high school senior year should be admitted as High School Special students. The High School Special and the Jump Start programs use a common application.

High School Special students may begin registering for classes on the same day as freshmen and other non-degree seeking students.

High School Special students may enroll in as many credit hours as they desire. All students must meet the stated courses prerequisites.

Students wishing to also participate in the Jump Start Program to receive the three credit hour waivers (available only in the fall and spring) may not register for the Jump Start course until the stated Jump Start orientation/registration session each semester.

Students should attend the Jump Start orientation/registration session to register for the Jump Start course. Students in the Jump Start courses are allowed to register for an EKU class with seats remaining the week prior to classes beginning in the fall and spring. Jump Start students may register on the orientation/registration day for more than three credit hours, however they will be billed for all credit hours in excess of three.

If students are unable to register for a class at Jump Start orientation/registration that fits with their schedule, they may not request for the Jump Start Waiver to cover the cost of a class they registered for prior to the orientation/registration session.

Further questions about the Jump Start Program application process should be directed to the Office of Admissions, 859-622-2106 or 1-800-465-9191, or admissions@eku.edu or The Office of Academic Advising, 859-622-2276 or e-mail advising@eku.edu.