Skip to main content
High school seniors across southeastern Illinois who have already taken college classes or explored entrepreneurship while still in school will soon have another opportunity waiting for them after graduation.
Through Illinois Eastern Community Colleges’ new Running Start program, eligible students who participated in dual credit courses or the CEO entrepreneurship program will receive a three-credit tuition waiver they can use for a class at IECC after graduating from high school.
For some students, it could mean stepping back onto campus just weeks after graduation — this time as a college student continuing the path they began while still in high school.
Vice Chancellor of Institutional Outreach and Lincoln Trail College President Tona Ambrose said the program was created to recognize the initiative students have already shown by beginning college-level coursework early.
“Students who complete dual credit courses or participate in CEO are already demonstrating college and career readiness,” Ambrose said. “The Running Start program recognizes that effort and encourages them to keep their educational journey going.”
Students may use the tuition waiver for any three-credit class within one year of graduating from high school. The flexibility allows students to explore different academic or career interests while continuing their education locally.
For some graduates, that might mean enrolling in a summer class soon after graduation. For others, it could be the class that helps them explore a career field, complete a general education requirement, or take the first step toward a certificate or degree.
Ambrose said the program builds on the success of IECC’s partnerships with high schools throughout the district.
“The Running Start program extends the impact of our dual credit and CEO partnerships by creating a clear next step for students,” she said. “It strengthens the pipeline from high school directly into college.”
The program also highlights the collaborative work IECC and local school districts are doing to prepare students for the future.
“Running Start reinforces the strong connection between IECC and the high schools we serve,” Ambrose said. “It also gives counselors, teachers and administrators another way to encourage students to continue their education locally.”
Ambrose said the goal of the program is to help students maintain the momentum they have already built through their early college and career experiences.
“Running Start sends a strong message that IECC recognizes students who take initiative in their education,” she said. “Most importantly, it shows them that the work they’ve already done can lead directly to new opportunities.”