Admission Policies and Procedures

The open door policy does not mean that there are no restrictions on admission to specific programs. It does mean that these restrictions are flexible enough to allow students opportunities to improve their educational status by eliminating deficiencies through remedial work. When students are able to meet the specific admission requirements for a given curriculum, they may then be enrolled in that curriculum and remain in the program as long as they make satisfactory progress and remain enrolled on a continuous basis as required by their curriculum.

Although the College follows an open door policy, there will be no compromise with academic standards set by the State Board of Community Colleges and the Rockingham Community College Board of Trustees. The College reserves the right to limit enrollment in a curriculum to a number that can be accommodated by the resources of the College.

General Admission Requirements for Curriculum Programs
Applicants for admission to Rockingham Community College must be 18 years of age or high school graduates. The College will accept students with a high school equivalency diploma. A high school diploma or the equivalent is required of all applicants for degree, diploma, and certificate programs.

Special consideration may be given on an individual basis to students not meeting these specific entrance requirements. For students who have not earned a high school diploma or GED certificate, taking an ability-to-benefit test may be an option. If so, the student will be referred to the appropriate office for further discussion. If the ability-to-benefit test is taken, a passing score must be achieved in order to enroll.

Rockingham Community College will admit high school students between the ages of 16 and 18 to appropriate courses at the College. Guidelines established by RCC and area schools will be observed.

Academically gifted and mature students under the age of 16 also may be admitted under very specific guidelines. Rockingham Community College is authorized by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to admit foreign students (F-1 Visa classification) who possess valid non-immigrant documentation. specific admission policies and procedures apply to these students. Please refer to the section on specific Admission Requirements for Curriculum Programs for detailed information on the admission process.

Persons intending to enroll in a specific curriculum are encouraged to submit their applications at least two months prior to the term in which they wish to enroll. Applications can be obtained from high school counselors and from the Student Development Office. This office is open from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., on Friday. Summer hours may vary – please contact the College at (336) 342-4261 for more information. For admissions information, call (336) 342-4261, ext. 2333. If needed, individual appointments with counselors may be made.

Application, Admission, and Enrollment Procedures for Curriculum Programs
The applicant should submit a completed RCC Application for Admission to the Student Development for the semester he/she plans to enroll. Although potential students may apply at any time, the applicant is encouraged to complete the admissions process as early as possible. Th is allows adequate time for processing and satisfying admissions requirements for programs of study.

Write, call, or access the RCC website to obtain an RCC Application for Admission and detailed information about educational programs, or call for an appointment to meet with a counselor.

Student Development Office
Rockingham Community College
PO Box 38
Wentworth, NC 27375-0038
(336) 342-4261, ext. 2333
admissions@rockinghamcc.edu
www.rockinghamcc.edu

• Submit a completed RCC Application for Admission to the Student Development Office. If an applicant applies but does not enroll, his/her documentation (i.e., application, transcripts, test scores) will remain on file for only one year. After a one semester absence, the student must re-apply, submit all official transcripts, from any additional institutions attended, and provide any additional information that may be required.
• Request that official high school (or GED or Adult High School) transcripts and all college, university, or other post-secondary educational transcripts be sent directly to the Student Development Office. If an applicant completed a GED and also completed grade 9 or higher an official high school transcript is also required. Students who fail to submit all transcripts from institutions attended may be subject to denial of admission. See the section on Validation of Prior Education Experiences for more information.
• Meet with an admission counselor to determine the need for placement testing. If placement testing is required, the applicant will be instructed to visit the Testing Center to complete the process. See the section on Testing and Placement for more information.
• Once all admission documents have been received by the Student Development Office, the student may be formally admitted to a program of study. Students applying for a program of study who have not applied for or received financial aid and are in their first semester of enrollment or re-entry have until October 30 (fall semester), February 28 (spring semester), or June 15 (summer session) to submit all offi cial transcripts to the Student Development Office. If all transcripts are not received by the applicable date, the student will not be allowed to register for future terms, receive grade reports, or offi cial transcripts. Students who are not pursuing a curriculum program of study and are interested in taking only a limited number of courses will be classified as “Special Credit”.
• Have a faculty advisor assigned and make an appointment to meet with him/her to schedule classes prior to or during the specifi ed registration period.

Specific Admission Requirements for Curriculum Programs

Admission Requirements for Special Credit Students
Applicants who are not pursuing a curriculum program of study and are interested in taking only a limited number of courses may enroll as a special credit student.

He/she must complete an RCC Application for Admission, and for admission purposes, need not have a high school diploma or equivalent. Special credit students are permitted to register for some credit courses, provided prerequisites have been met. Transcripts will be required to verify completion of prerequisite requirements, or students may be required to take the college placement test to determine appropriate placement. All policies, rules, and the Student Code of Conduct apply to special credit students. Special credit students are not eligible for any form of financial aid through Rockingham Community College.

Student Eligibility for College Transfer Courses, Technical and Advanced Vocational Courses

• High school students must be at least 16 year of age (by the first day of class),
• High school students must be recommended by the chief administrative officer of the high school and approved by community college personnel,
• The chief administrative officer of the high school must certify that the student is taking the equivalent of one-half of a full-time schedule and is making progress toward graduation,
• Enrollment of high school students in any section cannot displace adult college students,
• High school students must meet the same prerequisites, corequisites, and course admission requirements required of all students, and
• High school students may be admitted for any semester on a space available basis.

Admission Requirements for Home Schooled Students Home school students must apply for classes through the local school administrative unit (LSAU) or non-public governing body; the agreement will be between the LSAU or nonpublic governing body and the college.

The home school administrator must provide proof that the home school is certified by the North Carolina Department of Non-Public Instruction. Th is means that the administrator must have a school approval number (if available), a charter for the school or anything that denotes approval from the North Carolina Department of Non-Public Instruction, and provide copies of this information with the RCC Application for Admission.

The home school administrator must also provide an official home school transcript. The transcript must be provided on the school’s offi cial letterhead, showing specific courses completed or in progress for each year attended, and the grade received for each course.

If the student has graduated, the transcript must show date of graduation. The transcript must include the original signature of the home school administrator.

If the home school administrator and/or the student does not have the proper certification, the student cannot register for any credit courses at Rockingham Community College. If the student insists on enrolling, he/she must obtain a general education development (GED) certificate from RCC’s Community Workforce Education Division before being eligible to register for classes.

Home school students registered in curriculum classes under the concurrent enrollment program are exempt from tuition as well as the student activity fee. They are responsible for the payment of parking and technology fees and the purchase of required textbooks and materials. Students are also expected to comply with all academic policies and regulations as set forth in the RCC Catalog.

Admission Requirements for Intellectually Gifted and Mature Students under Age Sixteen
Students under the age of sixteen, who are mature enough and are intellectually gifted, as evidenced by a score in the range of 92nd percentile and 99th percentile on one Aptitude and one Achievement Test, may be admitted to Rockingham Community College to enroll in non-developmental courses. The student must also be ranked in the top 10th percentile in behavioral characteristics. Students are responsible for appropriate tuition and fees. Any student under the age of 15 shall be accompanied at all times when on the community college campus by a parent or another adult designated by the parent in writing.

The following criteria must be met:

• The student must be identified as intellectually gifted and having the maturity to justify admission to the community college.
• The student must receive admission approval from one of the following:
  a. The local board of education, or the board’s designee, for the public school administrative unit in which the student is domiciled or enrolled.
  b. The administrator, or administrator’s designee, of the non-public school in which the student is enrolled.
  c. The person who provides the academic instruction in the home school in which the student is enrolled.
  d. The designee of the board of directors of the charter school in which the student is enrolled.
  e. The administrator of the college or university where the student is enrolled.
• The student must meet course prerequisites and placement testing requirements.

• Aptitude test scores from the NC Community College System Offi ce approved list of tests taken within three years before the date of admission that include composite and sub-test scores documenting percentile ranges from 92% through 99%, and
• Achievement test scores from the NC Community College System Office approved list of tests taken within three years before the date of admission that include composite and sub-test scores documenting percentile ranges from 92% through 99%, and
• A completed Recommendation and Approval Form from one of the following:
  (a) The local board of education, or the board’s designee, for the public school administrative unit in which the student is domiciled or enrolled.
  (b) The administrator, or administrator’s designee, of the non-public school in which the student is enrolled.
  (c) The person who provides the academic instruction in the home school in which the student is enrolled.
  (d) The designee of the board of directors of the charter school in which the student is enrolled.
  (e) The administration of the college or university where student is enrolled.

Admission Requirements for Students Who Completed Secondary and/ or Post-Secondary Education at Foreign Institutions

To fulfill the college’s general admission requirements, these students must:

• Submit transcripts of all foreign course work completed at the secondary and post- secondary level to the college’s Admissions Offi ce. These documents must include an official translation if they are not written in English. If the student has completed a GED or an accredited high school diploma in the United States, the foreign high school transcript is not required.
• Request an evaluation of their foreign coursework. The evaluation agency must send the evaluation report directly to RCC’s Admissions Offi ce. Student copies will not be accepted. Some companies which perform this service are:

  Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
  PO Box 514070
  Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 USA
  (414) 289-3400
  Internet address: www.ece.org

  World Education Services
  PO Box 5087
  Bowling Green Station
  New York, NY 10274-5087
  (212) 966-6311
  Internet address: www.wes.org

Students may be required to take the college’s placement test if proper documentation of appropriate prerequisite course work is not received.

Admission Procedures for Non-Immigrant (F-1) Students
An F-1 student visa status may be granted to a non-immigrant who is a bona fide student “qualifi ed to pursue a full course of study’’ at an academic institution authorized to admit foreign students. When applying for an F-1 visa classification, the individual must prove to a U.S. consular official that he/she wishes to enter the U.S. temporarily and solely for purposes of study and that he/she has permanent residence in a foreign country which he has no intention of abandoning.

Rockingham Community College is authorized by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to admit foreign students who possess valid non-immigrant documentation.

The admission process for prospective F-1 students is as follows:
1. Submit a completed RCC Application for Admission and Medical History Form.
2. Submit transcripts of all foreign course work completed at the secondary and postsecondary level to the college’s Admissions Offi ce. These documents must include an official translation if they are not written in English. If the student has completed a GED or an accredited high school diploma in the United States, the foreign high school transcript is not required.

Request an evaluation of their foreign coursework. The evaluation agency must send the evaluation report directly to RCC’s Admissions Offi ce. Student copies will not be accepted. Some companies which perform this service are:

Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
PO Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 USA
(414) 289-3400
Internet address: www.ece.org

World Education Services
PO Box 5087
Bowling Green Station
New York, NY 10274-5087
(212) 966-6311
Internet address: www.wes.org

Students may be required to take the college’s placement test if proper documentation of appropriate prerequisite course work is not received.

3. If English is not the student’s primary language, provide evidence of proficiency in the English language. Rockingham Community College currently requires that international students whose native language is not English must complete one of the following:

• Take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam and achieve a minimum score of 500 on the paper-based or a minimum of 173 on the computer based test. Test scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service (the TOEFL administrator) to Enrollment Services. Photocopies will not be accepted.
• Provide documentation of English as a Second Language proficiency in university level curricula.
• Provide documentation of successful course work in English at a U.S. or English speaking institution of higher education.
• Provide documentation of satisfactory completion of senior English at an accredited U.S. secondary school.
• Provide documentation of acceptable Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores. For tests administered prior to March 2005, a student must achieve a minimum score of 500 or better on the Critical Reading (verbal) section of the test. For tests administered since March 2005, a student must achieve a minimum score of 500 or better on both the Critical Reading and Writing sections of the test. Scores must be sent directly from the College Board (the SAT administrator) to Admissions.

All application materials and supporting documentation must be received by May 1 for fall semester and October 1 for spring semester admission. Once all requirements have been met, RCC will issue the I-20 Form.

Students transferring from another institution must meet the above requirements and submit an I-538 Form (requesting permission to transfer) at least 30 days prior to the start of the semester.

Note: effective September 1, 2004, SEVIS has implemented a $100 fee for processing of student Visas. Students will be required to pay this fee directly to the SEVIS officer at the time of processing.

Testing and Placement
All incoming students entering into any program of study requiring an English or math course will be required to take placement tests. Based on their placement test scores, students will be advised into the appropriate levels of English and/or math. If their placement test scores warrant placing those students in non-credit developmental courses (i.e. MAT 050, MAT 060, MAT 070, MAT 080, RED 080, RED 090, ENG 080, ENG 090/090A), those courses will be required before the student can take the college-credit level English and/or math classes required in their program of study.

Waiver of Placement Tests/Developmental Courses
Incoming students may have all or part of the placement tests and developmental courses waived if their transcripts document that they have already passed the appropriate college level English or mathematics courses.

Further, students may waive the mathematics placement test and mathematics developmental courses with official documentation of a score of 500 or better on the mathematics section of the SAT or a score of 21 or higher on the mathematics section of the ACT. Students may also waive the reading/writing placement tests and reading/English developmental courses with official documentation of a score of 500 or better on each of the writing and critical reading sections of the SAT or with a score of 21 or higher on each of the reading and writing sections of the ACT. SAT and ACT scores may be no more than three years old.

Student Records
Upon receipt of the application for admission from the prospective student, a student record file is established by the Records Office. It is the policy of the college that this student record file shall be used throughout the student’s enrollment and maintain pertinent basic data relative to the individual’s admission and academic progress. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Records Office of name, address or other directory information changes.

The contents of the student record fi le are as follows: application for admission, transcripts of the student’s previous educational record, placement test results, self-reported medical history, residency questionnaire, correspondence relative to admission and academic progress. The contents of the student record fi le are the property of Rockingham Community college and are maintained in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.

Students that are no longer enrolled at Rockingham Community College will have the contents of their student record fi le maintained in accordance with the North Carolina Community College System Standard Records Retention and Disposition Schedule dated April 1, 2001.

Prerequisite and/or Co-requisite Equivalency Exemption 
Rockingham Community College is committed to complying with state regulations (23NCAC.02E.204) which require the following: 

(1) (c) ii (D) If the course is a prerequisite to another course, the student shall complete all component parts before enrolling in the next course; 

(1) (c) ii (E) If the course is a co-requisite to another course it must be taken before or in conjunction with that course. 

The Common Course Library of the North Carolina Community College System lists minimum required course prerequisites and co-requisites. In addition, Rockingham Community College may include additional prerequisites and co-requisites if they are at a higher level. 

A student requesting a prerequisite and/or co-requisite equivalency exemption must submit the documentation demonstrating knowledge and/or skills required for admission to the course to the appropriate Division Dean or Department Chair. Credit is not awarded for the exempted course. Documentation may include: 

• the student’s RCC academic record 
• a transcript from another regionally accredited college indicating that the student has successfully completed the same course or a course with similar objectives and content 
• employment records demonstrating that the student has been employed in a position that already utilizes the skills taught in the course 
• evidence of credit by examination or other tests 
• national or state certifications 

The Division Dean or Department Chair will review the request and send a written recommendation to the Vice President for Instruction indicating that the equivalent competencies for the prerequisite and/or co-requisite have been met. Upon approval by the Vice President for Instruction, the Division Dean or Department Chair will have the authority to override the prerequisite and/or co-requisite during registration. Documentation for equivalency exemptions will be kept on file with the Registrar in the Student Development office.

Validation of Prior Education Experiences
Prior experience, life experience or courses completed at other institutions will be accepted for credit when judged appropriate to the degree being pursued at RCC and when validated by means of the appropriate criteria below:

1. Courses Verified by an Official Transcript
A. Equivalent Courses—Courses which are judged equivalent in content and quantity to courses off ered at RCC. Equivalency will be determined by:
1. An evaluation of the catalog description of the course.
2. Consideration of the program in which the student was enrolled when taking the course.
3. When feasible, a conference with the student and/or a representative of the transferring institution.
B. Non-Equivalent Courses—Courses which are judged not to be equivalent in content and quality to courses offered at RCC. The appropriateness of non-equivalent courses will be determined by the Vice President for Instruction based upon a written recommendation from the appropriate Dean of the subject area involved. The recommendation should include a rationale and justification of appropriateness. The decision of the Vice President for Instruction will be based upon appropriate consultation with faculty and staff and will be fi nal. Copies of the recommendation and decision shall become a part of the student’s permanent record.
C. Courses taken at institutions maintaining either the accredited, candidate, or correspondent status with one of the following lists of accrediting agencies:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
• New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
• North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
• Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

2. Prior Learning Experiences Not Verified by a Transcript
A. Work and Other Experiences—Such experiences must be validated through: Credit by Exam—Registering for and successful completion of Credit by Exam in the appropriate subject content area.
B. Military Experiences—The acceptance of military experiences for credit may be based upon:
1. The criteria outlined in A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces
OR
2. Credit by Exam—Registering for and successful completion of Credit by Exam in the appropriate subject content area.
C. CLEP Subject Examination—Experiences may be validated through CLEP (College Level Examination Program) Subject Examinations which are judged equivalent to courses offered at RCC. Credit will be awarded for a score of 50 or above on a CLEP Subject Examination that is at or above the mean score achieved by students in the national norms sample who earned a grade of “C’’ in a regular college course in the subject. Equivalency and the amount of credit to be awarded will be determined by the Vice President for Instruction based upon a written recommendation from the appropriate Dean of the subject area involved. The recommendation should reflect the scope of the material measured and a rationale and justification of equivalency. The decision of the Vice President for Instruction will be based upon appropriate consultation with faculty and staff and will be final. Copies of the recommendation and decision shall become a part of the student’s permanent record.

Basic Training Credit
College credit may be awarded for Armed Forces Basic Training. Students must provide a copy of form DD214 showing dates of service and an honorable discharge. Credit for PED 111 and PED 112 will be awarded and the transfer credit will be posted on the transcript.