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The College in the High School (CIHS) program is open to current high school students.

• While the program is primarily designed for 11th- and 12th-grade students, students may begin participating as early as the summer before ninth grade with approval from their high school or school district.
  • NOTE: Many high schools do not permit underclassmen to participate, and the College in the High School program will honor those decisions.
• Graduated students are not eligible.
  (For example, a student who graduates in Spring 2026 cannot enroll in a Summer 2026 CIHS course.)

Homeschool Students

Yes, homeschool students are welcome to participate!

When creating your Voyager account:

• Do not enter "Homeschool" as your high school.
• Instead, enter the name of the school district, BOCES, or other reporting entity to which you submit your quarterly/annual reports.
• This entity will be contacted for course approval and must be someone other than a parent (e.g., a district administrator or BOCES representative).

For step-by-step instructions, visit the Voyager Information Center.

• Online (Asynchronous):
  Fully virtual, with no set meeting times. You must meet deadlines, but you do not attend live sessions. This is not self-paced.
• Remote:
  Fully virtual with scheduled meeting times (live online sessions). Attendance and deadlines are required.
• Hybrid:
  A mix of instructional methods (usually in-person + online).
• In-Person/Traditional:
  Face-to-face instruction in a classroom. Includes courses held at your high school.

The modality is listed in Voyager when you request classes—on the right-hand side, under course dates.

1. Create a Voyager Account and Request Your Course(s) at https://voyager.hvcc.edu/
   After creating and logging into your account on Voyager, you will be able to review available courses available online/remote and/or within your high school. After you select the course(s) you wish to register for, a notification will be sent to your high school official requesting their approval. Once approved, you will be registered for the course(s), if seats are available, and can then submit a certificate of residence and pay your tuition bill.
   NOTES:
   • If you are a homeschooled student, please review specific directions in the Voyager FAQs on the Enrollment Process and Student Resources webpage prior to creating your account.
   • If you have created a Voyager account in a past semester, please login to Voyager using your HVCC credentials. Forgot your username or password? Visit the Voyager Student page to request help. 
   • Your registration request will not be processed until approved by your high school contact. You can view the status of your requested class(es) by selecting “My Class Request(s)” under the Request Classes tab on Voyager.
   • If you have questions about your pending course requests, contact your high school guidance office and/or teacher.
2. Submit Certificate of Residence and Pay Tuition Bill
   All students residing in New York State must submit a Certificate of Residence. Certificates of Residence must be obtained no sooner than 60 days prior to the date you register for classes and are due by the tuition due date listed on the registration calendar. You can check the status of your Certificate of Residence in Voyager under the Enrollment Checklist link.
   Tuition bills are mailed on a weekly basis beginning approximately 60 days prior to the start of class, and continuing until two to three weeks prior to the start of class. If we do not receive your registration before our final billing run for the term, you may view and pay the bill online in Voyager.
   NOTES:
   • Rensselaer County students should fill out the College in the High School Certificate of Residence for Rensselaer County form (PDF), sign it and submit it within the Certificate of Residence link on Voyager.
   • Students outside of Rensselaer County must follow the directions listed on the NYS County & Local Offices for Certificates of Residence webpage. Once you receive the approved certificate from your county, submit it within the Certificate of Residence link on Voyager.
   • If you live outside of New York state but within the United States, please email cihs@hvcc.edu to have this requirement waived.
   • You must provide a Certificate of Residence and pay your Hudson Valley Community College tuition bill by the due date on the bill in order to be registered for college credit.
   • Payment may be made via Discover, MasterCard or Visa when paying online in Voyager.
3. Submit Immunization Records
   NOTE: The following is only applicable if enrolled in on-campus or Interactive Videoconferencing courses totaling six or more credits.
   Hudson Valley, in accordance with New York State law, requires you to provide immunization records to the college’s Health Services Office.

Important dates and deadlines can be found on the Registration Calendars, including:

• When to create your Voyager account and request courses
• COR and tuition payment due dates
• Drop and withdrawal deadlines

• Fall Registration Calendar
• Spring Registration Calendar (PDF)
• Summer Registration Calendar

How can I get college credit for my high school classes and what can I do with it?
When you are discussing your schedule with your guidance staff, ask if any of your classes are available for college credit. If they are, you must register for these courses via Voyager during the posted registration period.
NOTE: HVCC is unable to back-date registration for students who decide they’d like college credit after the registration deadline.

Do these courses count if I transfer to another college?
Yes, College in the High School courses appear on your official HVCC transcript just like any other HVCC class.

Most colleges and universities accept transfer credit, but policies vary.

• We recommend confirming transfer eligibility with the institution you plan to attend.
• Most schools require a grade of C or higher for transfer.
• For questions about specific colleges, contact cihs@hvcc.edu.

When you apply to college, you will be asked if you have any previous college credit. College credit that you earn by registering through Hudson Valley Community College will be documented on a college transcript. You may use this credit at Hudson Valley or transfer it to another college pending their evaluation. You should request a copy of your transcript be forwarded from the Registrar's Office directly to any colleges you apply to.

What if I don't want the college credit?
If you do not want the college credit, simply do not register via Voyager. Or, if already registered, you can choose not to pay your bill and you will automatically be removed from the course.
NOTE: If you have registered for more than one course within a particular term and opt to pay for only one course, failure to pay for the second course will NOT relieve you of tuition liability for subsequent courses within the term. You must notify the Registrar's Office, in writing via your HVCC email account, of your intent to drop subsequent courses within a particular term.

How long do I have to decide if I want the college credit?
You have until the deadline for payment to decide. This date is printed on the bill you receive. If you change your mind after you have submitted the payment, please refer to the refund, add/drop and withdrawal policies. Refer to the appropriate registration calendar for the specific semester for the deadline dates.

Tuition and Fees

• Tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year College in the High School courses is $74 per credit.
  To figure out the cost of the course, multiply the number of credits of the course by the tuition per credit hour.
  For example: 3-credit hour course: $74 x 3 = $222
• Viking VALUE Fee
  Beginning in fall 2026, students enrolled in courses taught outside their high school or BOCES will be charged a Viking VALUE fee of $25 per credit in addition to tuition. The fee covers required textbook materials.
  • Students may choose to opt out but will be responsible for purchasing their own required course materials.
  • Students are not charged this fee for courses taught at their high school or for IVC courses.
  • Learn more about the Viking VALUE.
• Vehicle Registration and Lab Fees
  Students taking hybrid or in-person courses may be charged a Vehicle Registration Fee and/or Lab Fee. This includes courses that are primarily online but require an in-person final exam. Students who will not be parking on campus may waive the Vehicle Registration Fee.

Refund Policy
All refunds must be applied for in writing to the Registrar's Office. The date your correspondence is received by the college is the effective date for the refund calculation. Refunds are based on the official starting date of the semester, not on the student's actual class attendance. Refunds will be granted according to the Hudson Valley Community College refund schedule.
NOTE: Official notification of withdrawal is required. Not attending class, informing the instructor of withdrawal, or disputing tuition payment DOES NOT constitute official withdrawal and WILL NOT change tuition liability. Students should allow two to three weeks for refund claims to be mailed. For a list of refund deadlines, please refer to the appropriate registration calendar for the specific semester.

Add/Drop
A student may request in writing to add or drop a course by the authorized Add/Drop deadline, which can be found on the registration calendar. Drop requests can be made in Voyager within the Drop/Withdrawal Requests tab, or by emailing registrar@hvcc.edu from your HVCC email address. A course dropped during this time will not appear on an official transcript. If you add a course, tuition liability is immediately incurred. The course will not drop for non-payment.

Course Withdrawal
A student may withdraw from a course, receiving a grade of "W," after the Add/Drop period has ended. Students must request in writing to withdraw from a course by the authorized withdrawal deadline, which can be found on the registration calendar. Withdrawal requests can be made by emailing registrar@hvcc.edu from your HVCC email address. Discontinuance of class attendance or notice to the instructor does not constitute authorized withdrawal.
NOTE: Withdrawal from a course may affect academic standing and/or financial aid eligibility.

Tuition scholarships are available to College in the High School students who qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program and are available (based on the availability of funding) for fall, spring and full-year classes. While scholarships will cover the total amount of the course tuition, students may be responsible for any fees.

Applications for the Free and Reduced Lunch Scholarship are entered on behalf of the student by your high school guidance contact who reviews/approves course requests. Further details on how they may request this are available on the Voyager Information Center under the “How-to Instructions for School Administrators” section.

Computer Access

Students must have access to a computer with an internet connection that meets the minimum system and browser requirements. Courses are managed in D2L Brightspace. Review the Brightspace Browser Support page to ensure you are using a supported device and web browser. You must also be able to use the Hudson Valley Community College WebMail/Outlook email system to communicate with faculty and staff.

Your HVCC username and password will be generated and sent to your personal email address within 30 minutes of creating a Voyager account.
NOTE: Once your HVCC account is created, you will use your HVCC username and password to access all HVCC systems, including Voyager, WIReD, WebMail/Outlook and Brightspace. Access to these systems is available through Voyager. Learn more about HVCC usernames and passwords on the Enrollment Process and Student Resources page.

Online Course Expectations

You must be able to budget your time and priorities. Online learning courses are NOT self-paced. They follow the semester calendar for registration, mid-terms, finals, etc. Homework and other assignments, tests and quizzes are due on a regular basis. Attendance and participation are measured by how often you log into the course and by completion of required learning activities, assignments, quizzes and tests. You can access the course at your convenience to complete your coursework each week following your class syllabus.

Instructional methods will depend on the course, but for most courses, all tests and finals as well as all assignments will be done online. Students will be expected to log on frequently and interact with their fellow students and the instructor.

Students with documented disabilities and medical conditions are encouraged to access services at the college by registering with the Center for Access and Assistive Technology (CAAT) to discuss their particular needs for accommodations.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the Center for Access and Assistive Technology at caat@hvcc.edu; (518) 629-7154; TDD: (518) 629-7596; or stop by their office in the Siek Campus Center, room 130.

CAAT Webpage

How do I get my grades?
All mid-term and final grades are available through Voyager. Grades are not mailed. If you need help accessing your grades, contact the Registrar's Office at (518) 629-4574.

What is the policy on academic standing if I take a College in the High School course?
If you plan to attend Hudson Valley Community College in the future, your success in your College in the High School course(s) will be considered when determining future matriculation, financial aid and athletic eligibility. Your academic standing may be affected by grades of "W" (course withdrawal), "F" (failure) or "Z" (absent without withdrawal). If you are considering withdrawing from a course, or uncertain whether to complete a course, please contact the Registrar's Office to discuss any possible ramifications.