Early Start FAQ
What is Early Start?
In June 2010, Executive Order (EO) 1048 established the Early Start Program. This program is for CSU-admitted freshmen who have not demonstrated college ready proficiency in Mathematics and/or English. As of summer 2012, incoming freshmen who have not demonstrated entry-level proficiency in English and/or Mathematics will be required to begin developmental work prior to the term for which they have been admitted, e.g., summer prior to fall.
All students who score below 138 on the English Placement Test (EPT) and/or below 50 on the Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) exam must enroll in Early Start at CSUN or another CSU campus in Summer 2012
When is Early Start Math being offered at CSUN in summer 2012?
We’ll run sequential sections of two courses beginning June 4th.
Math courses run in the following sessions:
- June 4 though August 3
- June 18 through August 3
- July 9 through August 3
- July 16 through August 3
All sessions will have both Math courses available.
There are two math classes?
Yes.
Students who score below 34 on the ELM should take ESM 096LI and
Students who score 34-49 on the ELM should take ESM 096LII
By enrolling in Early Start, can students move up a level in developmental Math? Can they move up into G.E. Math?
Yes. Students who show improvement over the summer will be invited to campus to work with faculty and retest. It is possible to move between levels in developmental math or to retest out of developmental altogether.
Is the Early Start Math class online?
Yes and no. Students can complete the course and earn credit online. If they show improvement, they will be invited to come to campus for tutoring and retesting. No students are obliged to come to campus for the Early Start Math class, but cannot move up unless they are invited to do so and then successfully retest.
When is Early Start Writing being offered at CSUN in summer 2012?
There are three two-week sessions:
- June 18 through June 29
- July 9 through July 16
- July 19 through August 3
Are there two writing classes?
No, there’s just one.
Can students move to a higher level writing class based on Early Start?
No. The early start writing course is designed to help them improve their reading and writing skills and be successful in their freshman level writing course.
Is the Early Start Writing class online?
Yes.
Additionally, the Learning Resource Center will have writing tutors available this summer for students who want to come to campus, but the course material is entirely online.
Do students need to do both the writing and math classes?
Yes, they need to do both if both their ELM and EPT scores fall into the mandated ranges.
Can students take Early Start at another CSU campus?
Yes. All CSU campuses have early start classes and students may take any campus’ early start class.
Can students take Early Start at a community college?
No Los Angeles County community college has an approved Early Start course. There are a few statewide, but students are encouraged to complete the requirement at a CSU campus.
Will there be non-CSUN students taking early start at CSUN?
Yes. Early numbers indicate about 10% of the students will be from other campuses.
Who is exempt from Early Start?
- Students who are exempt from the EPT/ELM tests
- Students whose EPT and ELM are higher than the Early Start ranges
- International students
- Residents of other states
- Students participating in the CSUN EOP Summer Bridge program
- Students who qualify for admission through the CSUN EOP Program
- Any student who completes English 113A in Summer 2012
- Any student in CSUN’s Freshman Connection Strong Start Program
- Students admitted to CSUN after August 1, 2012 (please note that most students are already admitted to the University and no effort should be made to change a student’s status to allow them into this group).
- In addition, some students with disabilities registered through the Disabilities Resources and Education Services office (DRES) will be exempted. If you know of a student who might need to be exempted because of his or her disability, please have that student contact DRES.
The campus also has an exemption committee that will provide further guidelines for exemptions for both groups and individual students.
What is the Smart Page?
The Smart Page is a CSU-wide resource where students can confirm whether or not they need to do Early Start and in which area(s). ALL students should go to the Smart Page unless they are planning to enroll in Strong Start.
Students who need to do Early Start will indicate on the Smart Page at which campus they intend to complete the requirement.
We are strongly encouraging CSUN students to complete Early Start at CSUN. The writing course is online and the math course is mostly online.
The link to the Smart Page is on the student’s checklist in the student portal.
After students go to the Smart Page what happens next?
They must wait 24 hours before enrolling in Early Start classes!
Once the 24 hours has passed, they can go to the Early Start section of the portal and they’ll find a link to enroll in Early Start classes.
How do they enroll?
Admissions and Records has created a step-by-step guide!
See: http://www.csun.edu/anr/soc/guides/earlystart.html
Do they have to pay?
Yes, students have to pay for Early Start unless they have a waiver of fees, based on financial aid requirements.
Who gets the waiver?
Any student with a complete financial aid packet who is expecting a $5,000 or less family contribution will have the waiver. SOLAR and the Smart Page both have these students coded in the system as having the waiver.
If a student doesn’t have the waiver, how much does it cost?
$182 per unit plus $2 in miscellaneous fees.
All CSUN Early Start classes are one unit classes.
If a student needs both classes, what is the cost?
$366
When is payment due?
Within 2 hours of enrolling in their Early Start class(es).
What happens if they don’t pay?
Students who don’t pay the fee will be dropped and will have to re-enroll.
How do they pay?
There’s a link on the Early Start portion of the Student Portal to the payment process.
What happens if students go to the Smart Page but don’t enroll?
This is a mandatory program. The exemption committee will determine the outcome(s) for non-compliance.
What happens if students go to the Smart Page and enroll, but never go to class?
They will receive no credit “NC” in the class. The exemption committee will determine the outcome(s) for non-compliance.
What happens if students go to the Smart Page and enroll, but stop going to class?
They will receive no credit “NC” in the class. The exemption committee will determine the outcome(s) for non-compliance.
Who should students call if they have problems with the Smart Page?
Admissions and Records (818) 677-3700
Who should students call if they have problems with enrolling?
Admissions and Records (818) 677-3700
Who should students call if they have problems with paying for the classes?
The Tseng College of Extended Learning (818) 677-2504
Who should I contact if I have more questions?
For questions about Early Start Math: Developmental Mathematics (818) 677-2231
For general questions and questions about Early Start Writing: Undergraduate Studies (818) 677-2969
Created May 16, 2012, Updates May 22, 2012