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Admissions
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Admission of High School Students Admission of Home School Students |
Admission to English, Math, or Biology Courses Admission to Specific Curricula |
International Applicants for Admission |
General Admission to the College
Any person who has a high school diploma or the equivalent, or who is 18 years
of age, and in any case is able to benefit from a program at the College may be
admitted to the College as a curricular student or non-curricula student when
required items have been received by the Office of Admissions.
Dual enrollment students will be admitted according to the provisions in the
current Virginia Plan for Dual Enrollment. Other persons not meeting these
admissions criteria may apply to the college for special consideration for
admittance.
The College reserves the right to evaluate and document special
cases and to refuse admission if the college determines that the
applicant is a threat or a potential danger to the college community or if such
refusal is considered to be in the best interest of the College.
A
student may be denied admission to the College if there is sufficient reason to
believe that the individual represents a danger to himself or herself or other
students and/or faculty.
Information about noncredit continuing education programs is available in the
Office of Center for Business and Industry .
After a person has been admitted to the College as a curricular student, he/she
will be given an opportunity to meet with a College counselor to discuss
educational interests, to determine curricular needs, and to plan application
for admission to a specific curriculum or program at the College.
Admission of High School Students
A
student who is enrolled in high school at the junior or senior level may attend
the College as part of the Dual Enrollment Program or with the high school
principal’s permission. Some College
courses may fulfill high school graduation requirements if prior approval of the
high school principal is obtained.
• High
school students who want to attend VHCC under the Principal’s Permission
provision must indicate high school status on the College application and submit
a transcript of grades and “Principal’s Permission to Enroll” form to the
Director of Admissions.
• Federal
regulations do not permit financial aid to be awarded to college students who
are simultaneously enrolled in public or private secondary educational programs.
Admission of Home
School Students
VHCC will consider the admission of students who are at least 16 years old, who
are not attending public or private school, and are “ home school students.”
The acceptance of such students may be considered as enrichment to the
home school program, but is not intended to substitute for the home school
experience. The following policies
will apply to the enrollment of home school students:
• Prior to
admission, an applicant who does not have a high school diploma and is not at
least 18 years old will be required to demonstrate appropriate basic skills
compatible with the College academic expectations.
• All
students of VHCC, regardless of age, are subject to all of the rules, policies,
and procedures of the College pertaining to attendance, confidentiality of
records, conduct, etc., as found in the College Catalog and Student Handbook.
• Students
who are home schooled must provide a current copy of a signed home school
agreement between the appropriate school system and the authorizing parent or
guardian. Such documentation must be
provided to the Director of Admissions prior to admission to the College.
• Financial
aid is not available to students who are simultaneously enrolled in home school.
To support the educational pursuits of persons with disabilities in our service
area, it is the mission of Virginia Highlands Community College to 1)
disseminate information to increase awareness of services available to persons
with disabilities, 2) assist with the matriculation of persons with disabilities
into the college environment, 3) develop and implement disability-related
support services that promote the educational and personal development of
persons with disabilities by networking with campus and community based
resources, and 4) assist with the successful integration of persons with
disabilities into continued educational activities and/or the world of work.
Students with learning or physical disabilities must present appropriate
documentation from a medical doctor, a psychologist, a case worker, a
specialist, or another qualified evaluator.
Documentation should clearly identify the disability and state
appropriate academic accommodations for the student.
Eligible students can receive accommodations both in and out of the
classroom. Students must contact
Jackie Craft, Project EXCEL Coordinator, at (276)739-2561.
It is the student’s responsibility to communicate his or her needs and to
utilize the available resources.
Students 18 and over who have not completed a recognized home school program or
obtained a high school diploma or the recognized equivalent (i.e. General
Educational Development or GED certificate) will be required to take an
ability-to-benefit test (COMPASS).
Documentation Needed for
Admissions
All students are required to complete an official application for admission
(Note: social security number is requested). Those seeking in-state tuition also
should complete an Application for Virginia In-State Tuition.
Additionally, all curricular students are required to provide official
transcripts from all high schools, colleges and universities attended. Those
transferring from other colleges and universities should also complete a
“Transcript Evaluation Request Form” to receive transfer credit at Virginia
Highlands Community College. The College also provides and requires a “Self
Reported Health” form for admission to some programs.
To qualify for in-state tuition, a student must live in Virginia for at least
one year immediately prior to the beginning of the semester. Applications for
in-state tuition must be completed by all students seeking the in-state rate.
Admission to Specific
Curricula
In addition to the general admission requirements listed, specific requirements
are prescribed for each curriculum of the College.
These are listed in the Curriculum Offerings section of this catalog.
Persons who do not initially satisfy the published academic requirements
for a specific curriculum may be admitted to the curriculum with the condition
that they complete the appropriate requirements.
It is policy to admit a student to curricula, as space permits.
The appropriate college officer shall officially notify students of their
admission to the curriculum.
Each student must be a graduate of an accredited high school or present passing
score(s) on the General Educational Development Test (GED), or present passing
score(s) on an Ability to Benefit test (COMPASS or ASSET), or otherwise be
considered eligible by the College to be accepted to an associate degree,
diploma, or certificate program. High/home school transcripts are requested
unless the record is ten or more years old and official transcripts of all work
completed at regionally accredited colleges or universities are required unless
waived by the Director of Admissions.
Admission
to English, Math, or Biology Courses
Admission to specific courses is approved only when the student meets the
prerequisite requirements or has instructor approval for the course.
1. All students must
pass VHCC placement tests in reading and writing before entry into the first
college level English composition course.
2. Enrollment in any
biology course requires reading and writing scores appropriate for placement
into ENG 111.
3... All students must
complete VHCC placement tests in math before entry into any math course.
4... COMPASS placement
into MTH 04 is required for enrollment in any chemistry course above CHM 05.
5... Students who
bypass this policy and register for an English or mathematics, biology or
chemistry class without appropriate placement scores are subject to
administrative withdrawal.
6... Students may
not retest any portion of the placement test
without written approval from a
counselor or English/math faculty member.
Policy requires that students requesting a retest meet specified criteria
identified in the next section.
7 Students who
have submitted SAT or ACT scores may be exempt from the English and mathematics
placement test. SAT scores of at
least 500 on both verbal and writing tests exempts the student from the reading
and writing placement tests and a
SAT math score of at least 500 exempts the student from the mathematics
placement test. An ACT score of 21 on math exempts the student from the
mathematics placement test and an ACT score of 21 on both English and verbal
tests exempts the student from the reading and writing placement tests.
Placement Testing and
Retest Policy
Like other institutions of higher learning, Virginia Highlands Community College
requires students to take English and mathematics placement tests.
Students who submit official satisfactory ACT or SAT scores taken within the
last three years will be exempt from the placement test requirement.
Satisfactory scores are:
English: SAT
verbal 500 and SAT writing 500
or ACT verbal 21 and ACT English 21
Math:
SAT math 500 or
ACT math 21
Official scores should be submitted to the Admissions and Records Office. An
official report can be requested at www.collegeboard.com .
1. Purpose of
Placement Test
The purpose
of these tests is to assure that students are
academically prepared for college level work, regardless of prior grades,
work experience, or academic history.
2. When to
Schedule Testing
It is recommended that students
schedule testing prior to enrollment period and not wait until enrollment days.
For example, if a student plans to enroll during fall semester, testing
should occur during the summer prior to fall registration.
All students must complete the VHCC Application for Admissions before
placement testing. The Learning Lab
administers all placement tests (LRC 633).
3. Placement Scores
From Other Institutions
Students may submit placement scores
from other institutions provided the placement test is the same as that used at
VHCC and testing was completed within the past three years.
VHCC will use the placement scores submitted but apply the VHCC cutoff
scores. Placement scores submitted
from other institutions must be on file at VHCC before a student may register
for an English, mathematics, or biology class.
If a student has two placement scores on record in the Virginia Community
College System (VCCS) and both tests were taken within the past three years,
VHCC will accept and use the higher score. Developmental course work completed
outside of the Virginia Community College System is not transfer eligible.
Current placement data help students design academic plans that offer a higher
likelihood of success.
4. Retest Policy
The Academic
Divisions will adhere to a strict retest policy requiring students to appeal to
the counselors and/or faculty in the respective disciplines for retest.
The professional faculty will consider a retest only if
a student meets one of the following criteria:
A. A score is within three points of
a passing score,
B. Previous academic history
indicates the student’s academic competence and/or promise,
C. Mitigating circumstances
prevented the student from appropriately completing a test, or
D. The student did not enroll in
math, English and/or biology within three years of taking the placement test.
The Counselors or
English and mathematics faculty will document all mitigating circumstances.
International Applicants
For Admission
Virginia Highlands Community College is authorized under federal law to enroll
nonimmigrant alien students. The
College welcomes applications from international students who meet the
qualifications set forth in these guidelines.
All stated requirements are subject to change based upon federal
regulations or a determination by the College that a policy change is in the
best interests of the student and/or the College community.
International applicants will be admitted only if they fulfill all general and
special requirements for admission.
International students are considered out-of-state residents for purposes of
determining tuition rates and admission to programs with limited enrollment.
Students who acquired a student visa through acceptance by another school
or college will not be considered until they have secured a written release from
the original institution.
International students who are exclusively taking classes through distance
learning without entry into the United States will be evaluated on an individual
basis. All documentation must be received by June 1 for Fall admission or
October 1 for Spring admission.
1. Financial Responsibility
No financial aid is available for international students.
The College will not certify applications for an international students
to obtain a work permit until they have successfully completed 30 semester hours
of coursework at the College with a 3.0 GPA, or resided in the U.S. for at least
twelve consecutive months, whichever is the longest period of time.
All international applicants must complete a form provided by the College
and have it notarized to affirm they have financial resources sufficient to pay
college and living expenses prior to being issued an SEVIS-20.
The statement must include the amount of income the student will receive
while attending college, the source of income, and the manner in which living
expenses will be met. All
international students holding F-1 and J-1 visas must purchase health and
accident insurance. If the applicant
is under 18, the parent or legal guardian must submit the notarized statement of
financial support. All international
students must have a local sponsor who will assume financial responsibility for
the student.
2. English Proficiency
International students whose native language is not English must document
proficiency in the English language by submitting a TOEFL (Test of English as a
Foreign Language) score. Official
copies of the TOEFL scores must be submitted to Enrollment Services/Admission.
The TOEFL test is required of all applicants who are not native speakers of
English, in addition to all foreign students with visas, except those raised or
schooled in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Jamaica, or other
countries where the College can determine that English is the language of
instruction. A TOEFL score of 550 on
the paper-based TOEFL test and 234 on the computer-based TOEFL test is required,
although achieving that score is no guarantee of admission.
The applicant is responsible for making early arrangements for taking the
test and should address inquiries to TOEFL, Educational Testing Service,
Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA.
The Bulletin of Information, obtainable without charge, contains a description
of the test and rules regarding application, fees, reports on the conduct of the
test, lists of examination centers, examination dates, and an application blank.
On the application for the test, the student should specify that the
scores be sent to the Admission Office at VHCC.
The official results of the TOEFL must be received at VHCC at least 60
days before the term for which the applicant seeks admission.
Applicants who are in the United States and who have not taken the TOEFL
or achieved the minimum cut score, may petition the College to evaluate them for
admission during a visit to the campus.
This evaluation will generally include completion of our freshman
assessment (COMPASS) in English, reading, and mathematics including a writing
sample on an assigned topic, followed by an interview with a member of the
English faculty. The English faculty
member will make the final admission decision based on the interview, writing,
and test results. There is no appeal
to this decision. There is no
substitute for planning ahead on the part of international students wishing to
gain admission to our College.
Transfer applicants who have completed two semesters or terms of a non-ESL
English composition course with above-average grades at an American college or
university are not required to submit TOEFL scores.
3. Academic Transcripts
Non-English transcripts and documents must be submitted in their original form,
accompanied by a certified English translation.
Unofficial documents and documents without accompanying English
translations will not be accepted.
International transfer students must submit a syllabus of university study.
This description of each course or subject studies must be submitted in
English translation of the syllabus.
Application without this information cannot be considered.
It is recommended that transfer students seeking admission from
international educational systems have a professional evaluation service review
their transcripts and other educational credentials.
Students currently enrolled in a U.S. system must still have their
international transcripts evaluated.
4. International Applicant Contact
For additional information about the process for international applicants please
contact: Ms. Debbie Barrett,
Virginia Highlands Community College, P.O. Box 828 Abingdon, VA
24212 or by e-mail at dbarrett@vhcc.edu.
Below is a checklist of admission requirements for international students:
1. Application for
Admission/Readmission as a curricular student.
2. Official translated
and notarized/certified secondary and college transcripts.
3. Test of English as a
Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL
test and 234 on the computer-based TOEFL test is required and the test results
cannot be more than two years old.
4. Verification of
health and accident insurance.
5. Declaration of
financial resources.
6. Official transcripts
from American colleges or universities attended.
When enrollment for any curriculum must be limited, priority will be given to
qualified applicants who are residents of the VHCC service region and other
Virginia residents who do not have access to a comparable program at their
community college. Similar consideration may be given to applicants who live
within areas in which the College maintains a clinical site or has other
agreements.
The priority list is as follows:
1. Residents of the VHCC service region (City of Bristol,
Washington County, and Western portion of Smyth County) and Tennessee residents
from counties in which a clinical-site or other agreements exist (Johnson County
and Sullivan County),
2. Other Virginia residents,
3. Out-of-state and international students.
The Virginia Highlands Community College Board has established the following
schedule for considering applications: prior to April 1 applications will be
considered for only those persons living within the political subdivisions
supporting the College; after April 1 all Virginia residents will be considered
for admission; and after May 1 out-of-state and international students with
student (F-1 and F-2) and diplomatic (A-1 and A-2) visas.
Admission of Transfer Students
In most cases, a student who is eligible to continue enrollment at another
college is eligible to transfer to Virginia Highlands Community College.
Transfer students who are ineligible to return to a previous college usually
will not be allowed to enroll in the same curriculum at the College until
one semester elapses or until he/she completes required developmental courses at
the College. The Admissions
Committee of the College shall decide on each case and usually will impose
special conditions for the admission of such students, including placement on
probation.
Each student transferring from another college should consult the Counselors at
the College for an assessment of credits in order to determine his/her standing
before registering for classes.
Generally no credit will be given for courses with grades lower than “C.”
Transfer students may be advised to repeat courses in order to make
satisfactory progress in their programs.
Transcripts of students transferring from non-regionally accredited colleges and
universities will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis by the appropriate
Counselor.
All transfer students must complete the “Transcript Evaluation Request Form” to
receive transfer credit at Virginia Highlands Community College.
All students are classified according to the following categories:
1. Curricular
Student
A student who has
a high school diploma, a GED, or the ability to benefit is designated as a
curricular student when all of the information required for general admission to
the College has been submitted to the Office of Admissions and when the
individual has been admitted to one of the curricula of the College.
2. Non-Curricular
Student
A non-curricular student is one who is not formally admitted to one
of the curricula but is classified according to the following student goals or
conditions.
A. Upgrading Employment
Skills for Present Job
Student is employed and seeking to upgrade skills for a current job.
B. Developing Skills for
New Job
Student is seeking to develop skills for a new job.
C. Career Exploration
Student is undecided about a career goal and an occupational choice.
The College will provide counseling assistance to aid the student in
making decisions concerning career/curricular goals.
Such a student will be expected to declare another educational goal prior
to completing 30 credit hours of course work.
D. Personal Satisfaction
and General Knowledge
Student is enrolled for reasons not related to specific occupational or
educational goals.
E. Transient
Student
Student, while enrolled at a community college, maintains primary enrollment
with another post-secondary institution.
F. High School
Student
(with college approval only)
- students must be high school juniors or seniors who are 16 or older
- students must be qualified or prepared for the demands of a college level
course and able to benefit from the enrichment opportunity (determined by
appropriate high school personnel)
- public school principal must approve/recommend the cross-registration of the
high school student to the community college
Limitations/Exclusions
- no developmental courses may be approved for a dual enrollment arrangement
G. Auditing a Course
Students desiring to attend a course without taking the examination or receiving
credit for the course may do so by registering to audit that course.
Students desiring to audit a course will register in the regular manner
and pay the regular tuition. Audited
courses carry no credit and do not count as part of the student’s course load.
Students desiring to change status in a course from audit to credit must
do so within the add/drop period.
Changes from credit to audit must be made by the official last day for students
who withdraw from a class without penalty.
1. Freshman
- Students are classified as freshmen until 30 credits have been completed.
2. Sophomore -
Students are classified as sophomores after 30 or more credits of course work
have been completed.
1. Full-time Student - A student is considered a full-time student if carrying 12 or
more credits of course work.
2. Part-time Student
- A student is considered a part-time student if carrying less than 12 credits
of course work.