What is Fast Track?
Fast Track is for students who would like to begin early preparation for college by attending Porterville College while still in high school. The program is open to high school students who are prepared for advanced scholastic and community college level courses which are acceptable for an AA/AS degree and transfer to a California State University, University of California, private or other four-year institution. Fast Track will deliver an educational opportunity as well as save students and parents money by having the student complete transferable college credit at Porterville College while still attending high school. Students and parents will save money as tuition is waived for all courses taken while concurrently enrolled in high school. Students and parents are responsible for books and materials for courses, transportation, parking permits, etc.
The completion of the tracks in Fast Track will advance the student’s completion rate of transferable college credits up to one year earlier than their high school classmates.
The community college educational environment is geared toward adult students and lecture/discussion in the courses is not modified due to enrollment of minors. Students must abide by the rules and regulations of Porterville College and the Kern Community College District (KCCD). Any violation of the KCCD Student Code of Conduct, or any of the rules and regulations of Porterville College, may result in appropriate administrative discipline.
Who should apply to Fast Track?
- Mature and motivated Sophomore, Junior and Senior students who are prepared for college level courses and a challenging academic environment.
- Students who have not yet finished high school and want to begin early preparation for college.
- Students who would like to transfer to a CSU, UC, private or other four-year institution after completing their general education requirements at Porterville College.
What courses are offered through
Fast Track?
The courses offered for high school students through Fast Track are general education courses most likely to be taken by students during their first year as a college student. The tracks are part of the requirements for the AA/AS degree offered at Porterville College as well as the general education transfer requirements for CSU campuses and the IGETC requirements for UC campuses.
The student will begin on Track #1 consisting of basic entry level college coursework recommended as an introduction to college curriculum. As the student progresses through the tracks, the courses offered on the tracks increase in difficulty. By the time the student completes the last track, the summer after high school graduation, they will have completed up to 41 transferable college credits.
All students in Fast Track are required to take Education P101—College Planning and Success Strategies (1 unit) during their first term or as soon as they are able. This course is designed to acquaint students with basic aims and objectives of college attendance. Goal setting, college skill building and exercises in critical thinking and stress management are included, as well as emphasis on academic planning for careers and transfers.
If students, who are under the age of 21, wish to obtain the AA/AS degree offered at Porterville College before transferring to a CSU, UC, private or other four-year institution, they must complete 2 credits in Physical Education and one course that meets the multi-cultural studies requirement. The courses that meet the multi-cultural requirement are noted with double asterisks** in the Student Education Plans.
Students who wish to transfer to a UC campus must complete two years of foreign language in high school or one semester in college.
Do all courses transfer to CSU, UC, private and other four-year institutions?
Only courses certified as appropriate for baccalaureate credit are transferable. At Porterville College, all courses numbered P100-P299 are designed for transfer. The sample Student Education Plans provided by Fast Track were designed for transfer to CSU and UC campuses. Based on assessment test results, students may need to take English P050 in order to be eligible for Level 1 English Placement. English P050 is not transferrable to CSU or UC campuses but is required if Level 1 English Placement is not determined by the assessment test.
Students who are interested in specific majors should meet with a college counselor and/or refer to the ASSIST website to help choose courses for specific majors at the campus the student plans to attend. ASSIST is the official repository of articulation for California’s public colleges and universities and provides the most accurate and up to date information about student transfer in California.
Do Fast Track students have the same admission and registration requirements as other Porterville College students?
Fast Track students have the same admission and registration requirements as other students at Porterville College. Fast Track students need to apply for admission, as well as take the assessment test and attend an orientation session at Porterville College before their first term at Porterville College. Porterville College assessment tests are also offered at local high schools twice a year, usually once in the Fall semester and once in the Spring semester. Fast Track students are required to meet the prerequisite requirements for courses they wish to register for. The assessment test results determine a student’s placement in certain courses at Porterville College.
All Fast Track students are required to complete the Porterville College Dual Enrollment Form with signatures from their parent and high school Principal or Designee indicating courses approved for enrollment. Students must attach a copy of their high school transcripts, the Dual Enrollment Form will not be accepted without transcripts attached.
Are Fast Track students required to attend PC after high school graduation?
After high school graduation, Fast Track students may register at Porterville College to complete the remaining credits required to transfer as an upper-division transfer student to a CSU, UC, private or other four-year institution. Students are encouraged to meet with the Porterville College transfer coordinator if continuing at Porterville College.
Fast Track students may also apply to a CSU, UC, private or other four-year institution for admission as a first-time freshman as long as the student does not register for courses at Porterville College beyond the summer session following high school graduation. Transferable college courses will follow the student to the CSU, UC, private or other four-year institution at the time of admission as a first-time freshman or an upper-division transfer student. Students should check the ASSIST website for transferable courses to specific campuses and how those courses will be used at the campuses.
How do I register for courses and what if I need to withdraw from a course?
All Fast Track students are required to register for courses in person through the admissions office. It is important for students who wish to drop a course to officially withdraw from the course according to Porterville College’s course withdraw procedures. Students in Fast Track must withdraw from courses in person through the admissions office. Fast Track students who withdraw from courses are still eligible to re-enroll in the program while still in high school. Students are responsible for understanding the policies, procedures and academic regulations in the Porterville College catalog and abide by these as a student of Porterville College.