Policy

Start Sooner includes both the academic classroom experience and the community residential experience. It is our goal to create and jumpstart the first year experience for Start Sooner participants. In order for that to happen, Start Sooner has developed programs and activities that are structured around building community, developing students personally as achievers and leaders, and providing a social experience.

There will be non-mandatory evening activities planned during week nights with no activity lasting more than one hour. Study hall is open and available every day of the program.

Saturday trips during the program are not mandatory for students. However, students are highly encouraged to attend. 

Class attendance is mandatory. 

Students are required to attend a program meeting each Sunday night of the program at 8 p.m. A doctor's note or other documentation will be required for any absences. 

Start Sooner students are required to attend all mandatory programming. Other Start Sooner activities and programming are highly encouraged. Noticeable absence from Start Sooner functions may serve as grounds for disciplinary action or removal from the program.

Most importantly, Start Sooner students will be required to adhere to the university's student conduct policy. For a full list of student policies at the University of Oklahoma, please visit the University of Oklahoma’s Student Handbook.

In addition to the University of Oklahoma’s policies, students will adhere to Start Sooner’s policies in order to protect and ensure the safety of all students.

As a part of the Start Sooner program, students are required to complete a set number of study hours per week based on the format of their general education course (online, video conference, or in person). Study hours must be logged in the program's designated study hall locations, and students should check in with a member of the program staff. Study hours are required to ensure students are as successful as possible in their two courses, especially because of the fast-paced nature of summer courses.

Visitors will be permitted until curfew, Sunday-Thursday at 11:00 p.m. and Friday-Saturday at 12:00 a.m.

Students will be allowed to leave campus during the program. However, students must attend class and all mandatory programming, and must abide by Start Sooner policy.

Please note that all students must be in the residence hall by curfew each night. 

• Monday - Thursday - check in by 10:00 a.m. & 11:00 p.m.
• Friday - check in by 10:00 a.m. & 12:00 a.m.
• Saturday - check in by 11:00 a.m. & 12:00 a.m.
• Sunday - check in by 11:00 a.m., 8:00 PM for weekly meeting, & 11:00 p.m.

Quiet hours will be observed on the halls where students are living at the times listed below. There is a Start Sooner student lounge where students can play games and work on group projects until curfew. 

• 9 p.m. – 11 a.m. Sunday through Thursday

• 11 p.m.  – 11 a.m. Friday – Saturday

Any student with a disability should notify Start Sooner staff in order for necessary accommodations to be made.

The University of Oklahoma is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunity and full participation for students with disabilities. Consistent with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, The University of Oklahoma ensures that no “qualified individual with a disability” will be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination solely on the basis of disability under any program or activity offered by The University of Oklahoma. Accommodations on the basis of disability are available by contacting the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center at 730 College Avenue - University Community Center, Norman, OK 73019; (405) 325-3852 Voice, adrc@ou.edu.

More information on disability resources can be found at ou.edu/adrc.

In the event of an unforeseen circumstances or emergency where a student needs to be removed from Start Sooner, a parent or guardian should immediately contact the program director and notify them of the occurrence. Following the initial notification, the parent or guardian of the student needs to fill out a withdrawal card and follow the process listed here on the Academic Advising website. The Start Sooner Program Fee is non-refundable. Tuition is 100% refundable should a student withdraw before attending the second scheduled class during the first week of of the July summer block.

If a student withdraws from the program, they will not be able to remain in the residence hall during the program. They will have to move out of the residence hall and move back in on the fall move-in date.