Academic Integrity

Effective learning, teaching and research all depend upon the ability of members of the academic community to trust one another and to trust the integrity of work that is submitted for academic credit or conducted in the wider arena of scholarly research. Such an atmosphere of mutual trust fosters the free exchange of ideas and enables all members of the community to achieve their highest potential. In all academic work, the ideas and contributions of others must be appropriately acknowledged and work of a student that is presented as original must be, in fact, original. The Academic Integrity Policy provides information on guidelines and procedures for faculty, students and administrative staff to ensure the honesty and fairness of the intellectual environment at WashU. 

Youth Protection Policy

All members of the WashU community, including students, faculty, and staff, are expected to be positive role models in their interactions with minors by behaving in a caring, honest, respectful, and responsible manner. WashU has adopted the Youth Protection Policy which outlines expectations for the safety and well-being of minors at WashU. Your instructors and staff will put a number of best practices in place to ensure your safety as well as provide appropriate supervision while you participate in course work at WashU.

Title IX

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. Under the law, sexual harassment and sexual violence, which are forms of sex discrimination, are also prohibited. All individuals participating in educational programs or activities that are affiliated with WashU – including faculty, staff, students and third-parties attending university-sponsored events – are protected by Title IX administered by the Gender Equity and Title IX Compliance Office.

FERPA & Privacy

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects student educational record information.

The law also gives individual students certain rights:

• the right to inspect and review education records,
• the right to seek the amendment of education records,
• the right to consent to the disclosure of education records except under certain limited circumstances,
• the right to obtain a copy of the school’s FERPA policy,
• the right to file a complaint with the FERPA office in Washington, D.C.

Privacy Information for Families

As provided by federal law in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the university can release information about a student’s academic record if the student has submitted a signed consent form. That said, the university encourages students to share with their families information about their education, rather than rely on this approach. The university will engage with parents when students have violated the standards put forward in the Arts & Sciences Pre-College Programs Code of Conduct according to procedures outlined in our Student Accountability Chart or when the health and safety of the student is at risk. 

Tobacco Free Campus

WashU prohibits smoking or the use of any tobacco products anywhere on campus.

Early College Scholars Program

You are expected to attend every in-person class session unless you receive permission from your instructor in advance. You should plan to attend the full length of the course and to schedule other commitments (i.e. vacation or school activities) when classes are not in session. Every instructor has their own class attendance policies so you should check your syllabus for details; any unexcused absences may have an impact on your grade for the course.

Exploration Courses

You are expected to have an active presence within Canvas. The classes are not self-paced because there are specific due dates for all assignments, but you may work on the course at your own convenience within those parameters. Not submitting assignments by deadlines, lack of participation in discussions or not answering email/Canvas messages sent to you will also be considered lack of attendance.

Future Scholars Academy

You are expected to attend all synchronous online sessions and have an active presence within Canvas. Not submitting assignments by deadlines, lack of participation in discussions or not answering email/Canvas messages sent to you will also be considered lack of attendance.

If you found your course isn't the right fit for you, you'll complete a course change request form by 5:00pm CT on the below stated deadline to be dropped from your course and receive a 100% refund. Should you request to drop after the below deadline, no refund will be issued and you will receive a W on your transcript for withdrawal.

2026 Drop Deadlines

• Early College Scholars Program: January 22
• Spring Exploration Courses: February 11
• Future Scholars Academy
  • Session I: March 16
  • Session II: March 23
• Summer Exploration Courses: June 17

Credit Courses

All students enrolled in course work through the Early College Scholars Program are enrolled to receive a traditional letter grade (A, B, C, D, F). On your course syllabus, your instructor will indicate what % grade needs to be earned for each letter grade. All grading, including when and how assignments are submitted, is at the discretion of the instructor.

WashU does not mail out grades to students or parents. Grades are all accessed online through Workday (not all final grades are posted in Canvas). Grades should be posted about two to three weeks after the end of your course. You may request transcripts following the procedures provided by the Office of the University Registrar. There is a fee charged per transcript requested.

Noncredit Programs

Noncredit programs do not issue a traditional letter grade (A, B, C, D, F). Instead, students will receive an "L" for successful completion/audit or a "Z" for unsuccessful completion/audit.

Students are evaluated based on daily engagement in Canvas ("attendance"), completion of assignments by deadlines, quality of work produced, participation in discussions, interaction with peers as well as their ability to adhere to academic integrity standards and program policies. All grading, including when and how assignments are submitted, is at the discretion of the instructor. 

As these are noncredit programs, no transferrable credit is earned. You may request a transcript at the end of the course. No certificates are issued.

All in-person program attendees must provide documentation of required immunizations and screening. Immunization documentation should be uploaded using the link provided in your orientation course. The following are required immunizations and screenings:

• Two vaccines each for measles, mumps, and rubella after the age of one year. A titer may be provided in lieu of immunizations.
• Meningococcal vaccine (Menactra, Menveo, MenQuadfi, MCV4, MenACWY, MPSV4).
• One tuberculosis test (PPD skin test or blood test such as T-spot or Quantiferon gold) in the past six months for students at high risk of tuberculosis. High risk for tuberculosis includes: foreign born from a high-prevalence country; travel for more than two months to a high-prevalence country; contact with active tuberculosis; HIV positive; suppressed immune system from illness or medication (e.g., organ transplant, prednisone treatment); medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer or kidney failure; body weight 10% or more below ideal body weight; work in prison, nursing home, homeless shelter or hospital; work in lab with mycobacteria; history of abnormal chest X-ray.

It is also suggested that students provide immunization information for the following, although these are not required:

• COVID vaccine
• Annual flu vaccine

If you are requesting a religious exemption, please contact our office at precollege@wustl.edu for directions on submitting documentation to support a request. 

Failure to provide immunization information or documentation for exemption will result in cancellation of your enrollment.

Below we have included guidance regarding health and safety procedures that directly impact participation in the program. Additional information regarding medications and medical care is available here.

Masking

Masking is not required for Danforth Campus spaces. We ask that you keep the following in mind regarding masking:

• Don’t question someone or make assumptions about them because of their choice to wear or not wear a mask. Some may choose to wear a mask, say no to a social engagement, or otherwise exercise more caution than others.
• If a classmate, staff member, or instructor asks you to wear a mask, please consider doing so to be supportive, even if the rules don’t require it. Keep in mind they may be at a higher risk, caring for others at a higher risk, or feeling less comfortable in a mask-optional environment.

For those who are concerned about learning in a mask-optional environment, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• You may continue to wear a mask if you choose. One-way masking does still offer substantial protection to the wearer.
• The university will continue to monitor conditions and reinstate mitigation measures as necessary.

Daily Self-Screening

Take a moment each morning and assess your symptoms. Please stay home if you don't feel well. If you have experienced any of the following in the last 24 hours, please do not come to campus:

• Fever or feeling like they have had a fever
• Chills
• Unexplained muscle pains/body aches
• New or worsening cough
• Trouble breathing
• New loss of sense of taste or sense of smell
• Sore throat, different from your seasonal allergies
• New or worsening diarrhea (not consistent with chronic medical conditions)

In addition to the symptoms listed above, please pay attention to milder symptoms such as a new headache or a stuffy nose. 

We know that attending a pre-college program can be an exciting, but sometimes challenging experience. We also recognize that you will have your own individual needs during the program. Over the course of the program, you will meet with one of our program staff members to discuss questions and concerns and to provide insight on campus resources.

Our program staff will reach out to you to schedule these meetings which may take place in-person, on campus or via Zoom.

You should plan to bring a laptop or tablet for use during class sessions and to complete assignments. There are computer labs on campus, but access may be limited. Free WiFi is available on campus.

You can visit the Campus Bookstore to view and purchase books online. Don’t be alarmed if a textbook isn’t listed for your course and instead it says “no information received from instructor” or “course materials for this course have not been determined.” Some instructors don’t use textbooks or will wait to share textbook information with you until the first day of classes. 

Individuals under the age of 18 are not permitted to rent textbooks. 

Any required text will be noted in the course description. If a text is not listed, then expect instructors to share course materials via Canvas. You will need to have a computer and Wi-Fi, and access to a camera and microphone. We do not recommend the use of a cell phone only to participate in these courses. 

You will need to have a computer and Wi-Fi, and access to a camera and microphone. We do not recommend the use of a cell phone only to participate in these courses. All course materials will be provided via Canvas.

WashU offers a variety of dining options. All dining locations are cashless. 

Learn More about WashU Dining

Food allergies and intolerances

WashU is dedicated to providing a safe environment for all students. Dining services provides several tools to assist those students with food allergies or intolerances, including allergy and nutrition information on each dining location’s menu and for each individual menu item.

Learn more about Allergy Friendly Dining at WashU

It is important to note, that during the program you make 100% of the decision regarding your food choices. Allergy-friendly options are available, but you must be mature enough and prepared to make appropriate choices. This is part of the pre-college experience provided by our programs. You should be proficient in the self-management of your food allergy or intolerance including:

• avoidance of unsafe foods
• recognition of symptoms of allergic reactions
• how and when to tell someone you may be having an allergy-related problem
• knowledge of proper use of medications to treat an allergic reaction

You will need to communicate your needs directly to dining and catering staff to ensure proper food preparation and dining at every meal. Please note that dining and residential locations are not nut-free and that epi-pens are not available in dining or residential locations. You must carry prescribed medications at all times both on and off campus.

You must include any food allergies or intolerances, as well as any prescribed medications and emergency contact information, on your Personal and Medical Information Form. We strongly encourage students with food allergies or intolerances to contact WashU Dining Services prior to arrival on campus to discuss dining safely on campus.

WashU has put into place a number of mechanisms for protecting and alerting our students about security threats on campus. These include additional security measures in our residential areas (video surveillance at building entrances and door peephole viewers in every residential hall room); a messaging system that can instantaneously send a short message to the computers and cell phones of students, faculty, and staff; and an Emergency website and telephone hotline. We have an excellent university police department (WUPD) that is state certified and trained to deal with emergency situations, and coordinates with other law enforcement and emergency responders throughout the region.

WashU Safe App

WashU Safe was developed by the WashU Public Safety department and the Office of Operations and Technology Transfer, with software assistance from AppArmor Mobile. The app addresses and promotes student, faculty and staff safety through important safety alerts and access to campus safety resources. Download the app today on Android or iOS.

It is important to note that acceptance and participation in pre-college course work and activities does not imply or guarantee acceptance into a degree program at WashU. Our pre-college programs and undergraduate admission process are entirely separate.

Pre-college participants do receive a fee waiver for the undergraduate application and can choose at any time to opt out of communications from the Undergraduate Admissions office.

We encourage students with questions about the undergraduate admission process to contact Undergraduate Admissions.

Curious about campus? Take a virtual tour before you arrive and learn more about WashU!

If you will be parking on campus for an extended time, you will need a WashU parking permit. You can obtain a permit through the Parking and Transportation office.

Many students opt for garage parking which can be a less expensive option.

The Future Scholars Academy includes a one day in-person workshop held on WashU's campus the final Friday of each session. Details about the workshop schedule, including meeting location, are included in your orientation course in Canvas.

Your orientation course will provide you with details on accessing your classroom location.

Disability Resources is the official resource for students on the Danforth Campus who have disabilities or suspected disabilities. They work to ensure that every student with a disability will have equal access to our campus and academic programs. Please contact our office at precollege@wustl.edu to discuss the process for requesting accommodations.

Yes. You are welcome to bring a bike to campus. Bike racks are located throughout campus. You should bring a bike lock with you or you can purchase one through WUPD for $25.