Parents of ACCESS Students often have questions like...

What is ACCESS?
The WVU ACCESS program offers academically advanced high school students the opportunity to enroll in WVU courses and earn college credit. Many program participants get a substantial head start on their college career. The success of the student is the overriding concern of the University, the Board of Education, the high school administrators and the guidance counselors who have coordinated their efforts to enable this success.

Who can participate?
This program is for diligent, ambitious students. This opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school is appropriate for those who have excelled in high school "college prep" courses. Since grades earned in these courses taken at WVU become a part of the student's permanent WVU transcript, an ACCESS participant should demonstrate a serious commitment to learning. Visit Admission Requirements to view the WVU requirements. Boards of Education may impose additional selection criteria.

What are the costs?
Unlike public education, tuition and fees are charged for enrollment in WVU courses. Tuition is assessed by the number of credit hours for which the student has registered. You will receive an invoice from the WVU Office of student accounts.

How do I pay for the course?
WVU has adopted a new paperless billing system.  Students will receive an e-mail via their MIX account when bills are due and they can easily pay through the STAR Information System. Students have an option of adding their parents' e-mail address to this notification.  For more information please see http://finance.wvu.edu/osa/billing.cfm. Students may also submit payment with their ACCESS application.

When can courses be taken?
Courses may be taken during the school day if "college release" is granted by the high school. Other options include courses offered after school, Web-based courses, and summer courses.

What courses should my child take?
A list of Recommended Courses has been compiled. This list is not all inclusive but is composed of courses suggested by WVU faculty as appropriate level possibilities for this population. Note that high school and college pre-requisites are included.

What about attendance?
Students must attend the WVU courses for which they receive "college release" from the high school. It is the students responsibility to obtain the signature of the WVU faculty member weekly to document attendance. This measure also helps to assure academic success.

How can my child become an ACCESS student?
Visit the links to Admission Requirementsand How to Applyfor details. Your high school guidance counselor is the best source of this information, but the the WVU Contacts are an additional resource. WVU routinely visits local high schools each semester to facilitate the admission/registration process the next term. However students may be admitted at other times as well.

Can my child participate without my consent?
The consent of the parents and of an official of the high school are necessary for initial admission to the WVU ACCESS program and for subsequent semester course registration. Note the signature lines on the ACCESS application.

Other Questions?
Call the guidance office of your child's school or one of the WVU ACCESS contacts.