ECW Student Handbook
Welcome to Early College Worcester! We are very happy that you made the decision to join the program and experience college, early. Early College Worcester (ECW) is a partnership between Worcester Public Schools (WPS), Quinsigamond Community College (QCC), and Worcester State University (WSU) that allows you, as a Worcester Public School student, to take college courses at your high school and at QCC and WSU.
This student handbook provides important information to help you navigate the program. We encourage you to read all parts of the Handbook. You can also jump to the section you need most by using the index. If you have questions, contact your school counselor and the Early College Worcester program.
You are making a significant investment in your future and we are proud of you!
Early College Worcester – Start Now! Finish Strong!
What is Early College Worcester (ECW)?
Applying to ECW & Registering for Classes
Benefits of ECW & Student Responsibilities
Dropping and Withdrawing from a Course
Resources and Access to QCC & WSU
Students with Disabilities/Accommodations
Applying to QCC and WSU as a Senior
What is Early College Worcester (ECW)?
For more information about ECW, visit our About page.
Applying to ECW & Registering for Classes
Applying to ECW
Before students can register for college courses through ECW, they must first apply to the program and be admitted. Students should first meet with their school counselor to discuss the benefits and responsibilities of being in the program. Once a student applies and is admitted they have access to the many resources and support programs. There is no requirement to register for a course to take advantage of ECW resources. Once you are an ECW student you will have access to these resources.
Register for Courses
Once you have been admitted, you can start taking courses through ECW. You can take one or more courses every semester. Likewise, there may be a semester that you don’t want to take a college course. Course offerings vary from semester to semester. Please see our current course lists at QCC and WSU.
IMPORTANT - Talk to your counselor about your courses before you enroll. They will share information on course content, rigor, and intensity. Also, attend information sessions offered by ECW, see schedule of information sessions.
Registration Deadlines:
Fall classes, June 1
Spring Classes, December 1
Summer Classes, April to May (Until classes are filled)
ECW Course Catalog
To see a list of current courses, please click here.
Benefits of ECW & Student Responsibilities
ECW offers many benefits, but as an ECW student you also have certain responsibilities.
Student Benefits
Earn credits on a QCC and/or WSU transcript
Build confidence as a college student
Attend academic, social, and career workshops, field trips, and experiences
Listen to speakers who describe their pathway into and through college
Access to attend leadership academies
Learn about certificates, pathways, degrees, and majors
Consult with the early college counselor at your high school who will support you with information and one-on-one advising
Student Responsibilities & Considerations
A college class requires additional hours of studying outside the classroom, much more than a high school class. Meet with your advisor to learn more about the expectations and rigor of each course.
Students are responsible for deadlines. In college there are strict deadlines for when to drop and withdraw from classes. If you want to drop a class because of grades or the course is not interesting, you must drop the course in time, or your transcript will record the unwanted grade.
Students are expected to behave like college students. This means showing up on time, paying attention, doing all your assignments, and communicating with your professor verbally and in emails with polite respect. See Student Code of Conduct: QCC | WSU
Dropping and Withdrawing from a Course
Once you register for a course, you may decide that the course is just not for you and want to drop. Talk to your professor and your school counselor about whether dropping the course is the best option. If you decide to drop the course, please send an email to your school counselor as well as a representative of the college where you are taking the course. QCC - Andy Kupec and Kerry Berry, WSU - Robert Jennings
Dropping and Withdrawing are two different things. Dropping means you are leaving the class early (before the drop deadline - QCC and WSU), Withdrawing means you are leaving later (after the drop deadline). If you drop a course (leave early), your college transcript does not show that you enrolled in the course. If you withdraw from a course (leave late), your college transcript will show a W (Withdraw). It will not affect your GPA (grade point average) or add to your total credits. That said, too many W’s on your transcript does not look good. To avoid that, talk to your professor early if you have questions or concerns about the course.
Check the academic calendar at QCC and WSU to learn the Add/Drop and Withdraw Deadlines. Set a reminder on your calendar too, just in case.
Program Fees
Early College Worcester is a State designated program, which means the courses are free of charge! The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) reimburses QCC and WSU part of the tuition rate and QCC and WSU cover the rest of the cost. Think of ECW as your very first college scholarship!
QCC, WSU, and WPS welcome you to be part of the ECW community.
Resources and Access to QCC & WSU
As an ECW student you have access to many resources.
ECW Student Support Inventory provides an extensive list of important academic, social, emotional, and food security resources available through QCC, WSU, and the Worcester Community. ECW Student Supports Inventory
Technology Resources are available and even required for some classes.
Blackboard is an important resource that most of your college courses will use. There are other virtual resources and support available to students at each college. You can learn more about Blackboard and other access here: QCC | WSU
ECW Mobile App is a useful resource with a calendar of important events, QCC and WSU building finder, and resources. Push notifications are also sent to remind students of deadlines and special events. Download the app by clicking or scanning the QR Codes below.
Students with Disabilities/Accommodations
Do you have an IEP or 504 plan with your high school? You should consult with a student accessibility services specialist at the college where you are taking your course.
Quinsigamond Community College – Student Accessibility Services
Worcester State University – Student Accessibility Services
Please note!
IEP and 504 plan accommodations at the high school do not automatically transfer to the college and may be different at the college.
It is your responsibility as the student to apply for an accommodation – not your high school or your parent/guardian.
Students are required to complete paperwork for an accommodation each semester they take a course.
We encourage you to contact accessibility services and meet with one of the caring professionals to discuss your accommodation.
Student Code of Conduct
As an ECW Student you are a welcomed part of the QCC and WSU community. We encourage you to take advantage of the benefits of each campus. We also expect you to behave like a mature college student, which includes paying attention in class, coming to class prepared, respecting others, and helping to build a civil community. Following the “Golden Rule” – Treat others the way you would like to be treated – is good advice for every situation in life. Think about if you were the other person – the professor, the cafeteria staff, and the student sitting next to you – and help build our community together. We know you will!
That said, you are responsible for reading and understanding the code of conduct at QCC and WSU.
Applying to QCC and WSU as a Senior
As an ECW Student you have earned college credits at QCC and WSU. The next step is applying to college to earn a certificate, associate degree, and/or a bachelor degree. It is best to talk to your school counselor to learn more about the process – they are experts and the process requires a discussion. With that in mind, we want to connect you to three important resources.
Commonwealth Commitment – Paying for college just got easier! Learn more about locking in a low tuition rate and getting money back after earning a bachelor degree.
QCC Admissions – Learn about requirements, information sessions, and apply to QCC.
WSU Admissions – Learn about requirements, information sessions, the Admissions Incentive Program (waived app fees, waived admission criteria, etc.), and apply to WSU.
Transferring QCC & WSU credit to another college
Are you looking to transfer the credits you earned through ECW to another college? To be clear, if you earned credits at QCC or WSU, they are there waiting for you at the institution you took them. To transfer credits from one college to another, you must request an official transcript from QCC and/or WSU (where you earned your credits) and have the transcript sent to the college you will be attending.
The majority of the credits you earn through Early College Worcester transfer to other Massachusetts state colleges and universities that have similar courses and programs. See list of state institutions here.
If you are planning to attend a private university in Massachusetts or a university outside of Massachusetts, please contact their admissions office to learn if your QCC and WSU credits will transfer. Let them know that you have an official transcript from QCC and/or WSU with credits you earned while still in high school. Learn about their transfer policies before you apply – it will help you make decisions on where to apply.
Best Practices
College is a new environment and here are some best practices that will help you to succeed in class.
100% attendance in class
Read your syllabus, which will indicate your assignments, deadlines, and contact information
Check your email daily (the professor may email you)
Talk to your professor after class – virtually or via email. Tell them your interests and ask them questions about what you don’t understand.
Check in regularly with your school counselor and mentor (if the class has a mentor).
Develop a network in your class so you can discuss the class with others, ask someone for notes if you missed a class, and study together.
College Vocabulary
Sometimes the biggest barriers to success can be understanding language that college professors and staff think you understand. Here is a short list of things that may be confusing.
GPA – Your GPA is your Grade Point Average. That means the average of all the final grades you have earned. For example, if you earned an A in Math 101 and a B+ in Psychology, your GPA is an A-, but most people will say your GPA is a 3.7. Grades in college, A through F, are converted to numbers on a scale from 4.0 to 0.0. Read your syllabus and ask your professor what the grade scale is for your specific class.
Lecture – Lectures are the part of the class when the professor teaches you information through longer descriptions and explanations. It is expected that you allow the professor time to lecture in class uninterrupted. If you have questions, raise your hand and ask.
Syllabus – A syllabus is a document that the professor creates that describes the class, which includes course descriptions, learning objectives, assignments, assessments, grading scale, required readings, deadlines, and weekly topics. Many professors post their syllabus on Blackboard and hand out a copy in class. Read the syllabus on the first day of class. If you have questions, ask the professor.
Transcript – In high school you have a report card; in college you have transcripts. They record your classes, the number of credits for each course, the total number of credits earned from all classes, as well as your GPA.
If you have questions and don’t understand a word or concept in class, ask the professor. If you don’t understand it, mostly likely the rest of the class doesn’t either.
We are proud of you for taking the first steps toward college! This is a fun and challenging opportunity. We are here to help you succeed! Contact us with any questions.
