CUNY Start, Math Start, and English Start

W Building
Phone: 718-281-5368
Email: cunystart@qcc.cuny.edu
CUNY Start Website

Bonnie Flaherty, Director

CUNY Start offers low-cost intensive programs that provide academic instruction in English (reading/writing), math, and college success. The program enrolls students who have been accepted to college because they have a high school or GED diploma, but are not ready for college-level work based on their initial placement results. With the exception of those enrolled in the JumpStart program, students in CUNY Start, English Start, and Math Start programs do not enroll in other courses and do not draw on financial aid for their semester of attendance in the program.

Students in the full-time Math and English CUNY Start program attend classes 25 hours a week, pay only $75 for the semester, and have two opportunities in the semester to demonstrate proficiency, all of which minimizes student time in developmental classes and saves financial aid dollars for credit courses. All students in CUNY Start work with a dedicated adviser who helps students align academic planning with their career goals.

Math Start is a 6 to 10 week course designed for students who need to improve their math skills, based on their initial placement in the college, before they begin to earn college math credits. Students who successfully complete Math Start are eligible for entry into college-level credited math courses. In Math Start’s interactive, supportive learning environment, student understanding is maximized through in-depth study of core math concepts. Students meet for class 12 to 20 hours per week, depending upon the term, and pay only $35 for the program. All students in Math Start work with a dedicated adviser who helps students align academic planning with their career goals. Students attend a weekly College Success Seminar led by the adviser.

English Start is a 6 to 10 week course designed for students who need to improve their reading and writing skills, based on their initial placement in the college, before beginning many credit courses. Students who successfully complete the English Start course will satisfy the English prerequisite for many college-level courses. Through an interdisciplinary examination of college-level texts, students build key reading and writing skills, including argumentative and analytical writing. Students meet for class 12 to 20 hours per week, depending upon the term, and pay only $35 for the course. All students in English Start work with a dedicated adviser who helps students align academic planning with their career goals. Students attend a weekly College Success Seminar led by the adviser.

JumpStart provides an opportunity for select associate-degree seeking students to address their developmental needs in English Start or Math Start while also enrolling in one college-level course in the same term. JumpStart is a highly collaborative learning model, providing students with the supportive advisement and academic structures of CUNY Start to help students begin to earn credit in their first semester.

CUNY Start Course Descriptions

College Math - Building on high school and GED-level math skills, CUNY Start Math focuses on more complex topics in algebra. Topics include functions in new settings and the manipulation of expressions. Understanding is maximized through in-depth study of core math concepts in an interactive, supportive learning environment.

Academic English (Reading and Writing) - Through an interdisciplinary curriculum, students build key reading and writing skills and broaden their general background knowledge. Skill development includes argumentative and analytic writing, and college-level reading and study skills.

College Success Advisement - All students in CUNY Start participate in a weekly workshop to explore their academic identity and learn about college structures and campus resources. College advisement helps students align their career goals with educational requirements and prepares them for academic achievement and graduation.

Students may only attend one full semester of CUNY Start.

Past students have shown significant skill gains.