Admissions

General Admission to the College

Applying to WCC

A student is eligible for admission to WCC if the student is:

• A high school graduate or its equivalent or GED recipient;
• A non-high school graduate 18 years of age or older and able to benefit from a program at WCC;
• A transfer student from an accredited college or university;
• A student who is enrolled in high school at the junior or senior level as part of the Dual Enrollment Program;
• A home-schooled student.

Wytheville Community 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.

The college reserves the right to rescind the admission of any student that cannot produce the necessary documentation for admission or a foreign student that cannot produce a visa that gives him or her educational status in the United States.

Online Application Process

The online application can be found at apply.vccs.edu.

Providing your Social Security Number ensures that you do not create a duplicate student record for classes you may have taken at other colleges in the Virginia Community College System. Note: If you do not provide your Social Security Number, you will receive the following message:

“If you do not give your Social Security Number, access to some services will be limited, tax reporting information will not be available, and financial aid will be delayed. If you choose not to provide your Social Security Number, click OK. Otherwise, click CANCEL and change to your valid Social Security Number.”

WCC will not use your Social Security Number once your Student ID has been issued.

Admission Checklist

In order to be admitted as a regular student, the following items are required:

• A completed official application for admission. (A WCC application form is available via the college’s Internet web site at https://apply.vccs.edu/oa/launch.action.);
• Official transcripts from high school and all colleges/universities attended should be submitted at time of application;
• Placement test scores (if necessary).

WCC Policy Related to Legislation Regarding Admissions

Section 23-2.2:1 of the Code of Virginia requires that the VCCS send enrollment information to the Virginia State Police concerning applicants to institutions of higher education. This information is transmitted electronically and compared against the Virginia Criminal Information Network and National Crime Information Center Convicted Sexual Offender Registry. Language on the web application informs applicants that their information is being transmitted to the State Police.

In the event that the State Police determine that an applicant to Wytheville Community College is listed on the Sex Offender Registry, the State Police will notify WCC. When the college receives such a notification, the following procedures apply:

1. The applicant will be denied admission to WCC in accordance with its admission policy as published in its catalog: Admission Denied/Revoked: Admission to the college, or to college functions or activities, may be denied or revoked to individuals who are unable to demonstrate safe and/or non-disruptive conduct.
2. If the applicant registers for classes and becomes a student before the college receives notification from the State Police, the student will be immediately informed that he/she is being administratively withdrawn from classes and will receive a refund.
3. An applicant may invoke his/her right to an appeal process.

Appeal Process for Denial of Admission or Withdrawal for Convicted Sex Offender

When a convicted sex offender is denied admission to or is administratively withdrawn from classes at Wytheville Community College, he/she may invoke the following appeal process:

1. The applicant or withdrawn student will receive a letter from the Dean of Student Success and Academic Development stating his/her denial of admission or administrative withdrawal.
2. The applicant/withdrawn student may write a letter of appeal to the Dean of Student Success and Academic Development in which he/she provides the following information:
   1. Disclosure of the nature of the offense for which he/she has been convicted;
   2. Justification for consideration of admission/reinstatement.

Note: If a student is appealing a denial of admission or an administrative withdrawal, he/she must submit the letter of appeal to the Dean of Student Success and Academic Development within seven (7) calendar days of the administrative withdrawal.

3. The college Threat Assessment Team (TAT) will review the information submitted and make a decision within fourteen (14) calendar days of receiving the letter of appeal. The Dean of Student Success and Academic Development will serve as the convener of the panel and will be a member of the panel.
4. The Dean of Student Success and Academic Development will inform the applicant/withdrawn student by letter of the decision of the TAT team.
5. If the decision of the TAT is not satisfactory, the student will meet with the Vice President of Academics and Institutional Advancement in a personal conference. The Vice President of Academics and Institutional Advancement has five (5) working days, after this meeting, to render his/her decision regarding the matter to the prospective student. If a satisfactory resolution of the concern does not result from the conference, the student may file a written grievance within five (5) working days with the Dean of Student Success and Academic Development.
6. If the decision of the Vice President of Academic and Institutional Advancement is not satisfactory to the student, he/she may request in writing within five (5) working days that the President review the findings of the Vice President. The President has five (5) working days to render a final decision. The decision of the President is final.

WCC Policy Related to Admission of Students Deemed to Pose a Threat or Potential Danger

Per VCCS Policy Manual Section 6.0.1, the college reserves the right to evaluate and document special cases and to refuse or revoke admission if the college determines that the applicant or student poses a threat, is a potential danger, is significantly disruptive to the college community, or if such refusal or revocation is considered to be in the best interest of a college. The college also reserves the right to refuse admission for applicants who have been suspended from or determined to be a threat, potential danger, or significantly disruptive by another college.

Ability to Benefit Criteria

Students must be high school graduates and have a regular high school diploma or GED in order to receive financial aid. In order to show an ability to benefit, a student must receive a passing score on the WCC placement tests as established by the U.S. Department of Education. Test results will serve as official documentation of the student’s ability to benefit from college-level classes. Students who are still in high school are not eligible for financial aid. Listed are the developmental placement levels required to meet the ability to benefit threshold:

Placement Procedures and Testing

Proper placement in math and English classes is important to assure that students are academically prepared for college-level work regardless of prior grades, work experience, or academic history. All students who are entering a program of study or enrolling in any program that requires a math or English prerequisite must be assessed for placement. This includes transfer students who do not have credit in mathematics or English.

Students who have graduated from high school within the past 5 years, may be placed through review of the high school transcript. Students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher can be placed in college English and considered for college level math if the appropriate high school math courses have been completed. Students who cannot be placed by these measures are required to complete the Virginia Placement Test to determine the appropriate English and math courses and may be required to enroll in Developmental Studies course(s) to improve their skills in these areas. . Students should submit their official high school transcript at the time of application. Evaluation of the transcript and/or placement testing must be completed prior to enrolling in courses. Contact the Student Services Office for more details on WCC’s placement procedure.

Math Placement Test

Test scores are valid for five (5) years after the date of the test. Students who take the mathematics placement test and who do not enroll in developmental math are allowed to take one (1) retest within twelve (12) months. Students who attempt a developmental mathematics course will be ineligible for a retest. Exceptions to this retest policy may be made on a case-by-case basis in accordance with established college procedures.

A student who provides official evidence of one the below test options, taken within the last five years, may be exempt from taking the VCCS mathematics placement test.

• a minimum score of 530 on the mathematics section of the SAT
• a minimum score of 22 on the mathematics section of the ACT
• a minimum score of 165 on the mathematics section of the GED

A placement test may still be required, dependent on the mathematics requirements in the student’s academic plan.

English Placement Test

Test scores are valid for five (5) years after the date of the test. Students who take the English placement test and who do not enroll in developmental English are allowed to take one (1) retest within twelve (12) months. Students who attempt a developmental English course will be ineligible for a retest. Exceptions to this retest policy may be made on a case-by-case basis in accordance with established college procedures.

A student who provides official evidence of one the below test options, taken within the last five years, is exempt from taking the VCCS English placement test.

• a minimum score of 480 on the English (ERW) section of the SAT
• a minimum score of 18 on the English section of the ACT
• a minimum score of 165 on the English (RLA) section of the GED

Official scores from College Board are required and should be submitted to the Admissions and Records Office. An official report can be requested at www.collegeboard.com.

1. 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 WCC Application for Admission before placement testing. The Student Success 1 Stop in Bland Hall on the WCC Wytheville campus, the Crossroads Institute in Galax, and WCC at the Henderson in Marion administer placement tests.
2. Placement Scores from Other Institutions
   Students may submit placement scores from other institutions provided the placement test is the same as that used at WCC and testing was completed within the last five years. WCC will use the placement scores submitted but will apply the WCC cutoff scores. Placement scores submitted from other institutions must be on file at WCC before a student may register for an English, math, 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 two years, WCC will accept and use the higher score. Developmental coursework completed outside the VCCS is not transfer eligible.

Admission to Specified Curricula

In addition to the general admission requirements, there are usually specific requirements for each curriculum at Wytheville Community College. These specific requirements are listed in the Academic Plan Offerings section of the college catalog. It is policy not to admit a student to a curriculum unless that student meets all of the listed requirements for that curriculum. Persons who do not meet the academic requirements for a specific curriculum may become eligible after they have completed Developmental Studies.

A non-curricular student may be required to submit transcripts from colleges and universities attended; however, transcripts are required if the student’s status changes from non-curricular to curricular student.

Enrollment of Home School Students

Wytheville Community College admissions policies address students who have high school diplomas or the equivalent or who are at least 18 years of age and able to benefit from the college experience. The policies also address students who are less than 18 years of age and who are currently enrolled in a secondary school. The college will also consider the admission of students who are less than 18 years of age and do not have a high school diploma, who are not attending a public or private school, and who are documented as “home school students.” These students may be accepted at Wytheville Community College as described below. The program of studies for such admitted students is considered an enrichment to their home school program.

The following policies and procedures will apply to the enrollment of home school students:

1. An applicant for admission who does not have a high school diploma and is not at least 18 years of age is required to demonstrate, prior to enrollment, appropriate basic skills equal to those expected of other entering students.
2. All enrolled students are subject to all of the rules, policies, and procedures of the college pertaining to attendance, confidentiality of records, conduct, etc., as described in the WCC Catalog and Student Handbook.
3. Students who are home schooled must provide current documentation (letters to/from school system or state) that they are “home school students” to the Office of Admissions and Records prior to enrollment in the college.
4. The home school student must meet with a college advisor to discuss enrollment prior to registration.
5. The college advisor will make a recommendation to the Vice President of Academics and Institutional Advancement or designee concerning approval of the student’s request for course enrollment. All subsequent registrations as a “home school student” will require the approval of a college advisor.
6. The home school student is subject to the same basic skills assessment requirements as are other enrolling students and may be required to complete appropriate developmental courses.

WCC Policy Related to Legislation Regarding Admissions for Veterans

Congress passed the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (Veterans Choice Act), which was codified in 38 U.S.C. 3679(c) 6 and modified in December, 2016. Under Section 702 of this law, certain veterans and their dependents utilizing military education benefits would be eligible for in-state tuition at public institutions. Please visit the Tuition  section of the College Catalog for the guidelines in determining In-state tuition for Veterans.

Admission Requirements for International Students

International students are defined as persons who are not citizens of the United States and who hold either temporary or permanent visas. International students applying to the college for admission must hold a valid visa as determined by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services.

All international students on F-1 visas who have entered the United States to study at another college, university or language school must provide proper documentation to transfer to Wytheville Community College.

All international students requiring an I-20 form and all holders of F-2 visas seeking enrollment are required to:

1. Have the equivalent of an American high school diploma. Certified translations into English of all official transcripts and records of previous educational experiences must be sent to WCC by the originating institution.
2. Submit documentation that the applicant possesses health insurance.
3. Submit verification of financial support by completing the Foreign Students Financial Aid and Declaration issued by the college. The form may be obtained from the WCC Admissions and Records Office.
4. Submit a minimal score of 500 on the “Test of English as a Foreign Language” (TOEFL), a minimal score of 61 on the TOEFL Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT), or a minimal score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
5. Submit all appropriate documentation and test scores 60 days prior to regular registration for the semester of requested enrollment. For more information, contact the WCC Admissions and Records Office at 276-223-4701. Students will not be admitted until all general and special requirements for admission are complete, nor will they be admitted on provisional basis.
   Students for whom an I-20 form has been submitted must maintain full-time status.

Admission Priority

When enrollments must be limited for any curriculum, priority shall be given to all qualified applicants who are residents of the political subdivisions supporting the college and to Virginia residents not having access to that curriculum at their local community college, provided such students apply for admission to the program by the deadline established by the college. In addition, residents of localities with which the college has clinical-site or other agreements may receive equal consideration for admission.

Admission of Students Transferring from Other Colleges

A student transferring from another college and eligible for reentry to that college is usually eligible for admission to Wytheville Community College. Students ineligible to return to particular curricula at other colleges generally will not be allowed to enroll at Wytheville Community College until one semester elapses. For transfer students not eligible to return to their previous institutions and seeking admission to particular curricula, the Admissions and Standards Committee of the college will decide each case prior to the beginning of the semester and may impose special conditions for the admission of such students, including placement on academic probation.

A student transferring from another college should consult the Admissions and Records Office at Wytheville Community College for an assessment of credits before registering for classes. The college accepts transfer credits from other similarly-accredited institutions. A student must have earned a grade of “C” or higher in any course for which credit is granted; the course or its equivalent should be listed and described in the VCCS Curriculum Guide, and it must be applicable to the curriculum in which the student is enrolled. Transfer students may be advised to repeat courses if it is clearly necessary in order for them to make satisfactory progress in their curricula. Grades and GPA earned at other colleges do not transfer and are not part of the student’s permanent record at WCC.

Transfer Between Curricula

A student may wish to change academic direction. In such cases, the student should make an appointment with an advisor in Student Services to process a Change of Curriculum Form and to identify new curriculum requirements.

Re-Admission

Curricular students returning to the college will be expected to follow catalog requirements in place at the time of their initial admission or the catalog that is currently in place when the student returns, dependent on which is most advantageous to the student, unless there are restrictions listed in individual programs of study.

Selective Admissions Procedures for Health Professions Programs

Admission to one of Wytheville Community College’s associate degree health programs is different from admission to other programs at the college because there is a limit to the number of applicants admitted. The number of applicants admitted to the health programs is limited for several reasons: number of places available for clinical experiences, accreditation restrictions and limitations in campus facilities (classrooms and laboratories and the number of faculty). Students wishing to apply to one of the following programs will need to submit a Health Program Application on the WCC website:  Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Technology, Nursing, and Physical Therapist Assistant by the published deadline.   Students will be required to submit a Wytheville Community College application, a Health Professions Application specifying the program of interest, official transcripts from high school, GED, and any colleges previously attended unless the previous school was a community college in Virginia. Students may also need to complete college placement tests for math, reading and writing as well as the ATI/TEAS-V for Nursing and TEAS-V AH for Allied Health pre-admission test. Students must complete any developmental courses required for the curriculum of choice prior to being considered for admission to a program.

A comprehensive Criminal Background Check for criminal history and sex offender crimes against minors and a drug screen are required by most programs for entrance into some clinical agencies. Students with convictions may be prohibited from clinical practice or ineligible to sit for required licensure examinations, and, therefore, may not complete the program. Clinical agencies and/or WCC may require drug testing prior to placement for students in clinical rotations. If documented unusual and erratic behaviors suggesting drug and/or alcohol abuse are exhibited once a student is admitted into a program, the clinical agency and/or WCC may also require drug or alcohol intoxication testing at that time.

Students with positive drug test results may be prohibited from clinical practice and may not be able to complete the program. The cost for criminal background checks and drug testing will be the responsibility of the student. For additional program-specific requirements for any health profession program, please contact the Admissions and Records Office or visit the health professions website:  www.wcc.vccs.edu/health-professions.

Admission by Transfer from Another Health Professions Program:

Students who have begun their health program education (Physical Therapist Assistant, Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Technology, or Practical Nursing) at an accredited program other than Wytheville Community College, will be considered for admission by transfer under the following conditions:

1. The student must be leaving the previous program for reasons other than failing to meet academic standards at the previous program.
2. The student must meet all admissions criteria for the WCC Program, including receiving a clear Criminal Background Check and a Clear Urine Drug Screen.
3. The student must present a letter from the Program Head of the previous program stating that the student is leaving that program voluntarily in good standing and without mitigating circumstances or conditions.
4. There must be an available slot in the appropriate student cohort in the WCC Program. This includes clinical site availability. Students transferring from inside of the WCC service area will receive admission priority over students transferring from outside of the WCC service area. For programs that are shared collaboratively between WCC and neighboring community colleges, the “WCC service area” shall include the service areas of the collaborating colleges.
5. The transferring student’s educational transcript will be evaluated by the WCC Program and the appropriate academic placement will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Any coursework presented for transfer must have received a grade of “C” or better.
6. Students must have less than 3 years lapse between exit of prior program and entry into WCC program.
7. The WCC Program reserves the right to test the transfer applicant to determine competency in courses that are requested to be transferred and/or to request copies of appropriate course syllabi.
8. Students may be required to take a clinical refresher course prior to entry.
9. Students from other programs who have been dismissed or withdrawn from those programs because of failing to meet academic or other standards established by that program will NOT be considered for transfer to the WCC Program. These students are encouraged to apply to the WCC Program as a new applicant and to complete the selective admissions process to begin the program from the start.

Returning To WCC

Academic Renewal Policy

The purpose of academic renewal is to adjust the cumulative grade point average (GPA) of students who earned grades of “F” or “D” previously.

Currently enrolled students who return to the college after a separation of five (5) years or more may petition for academic renewal. The request must be submitted to the Admissions and Records Office by completion of the online Academic Renewal Petition Form.

If a student is awarded academic renewal, “D” and “F” grades earned prior to re-enrollment will be deleted from the cumulative and curriculum grade point average (GPA), subject to the following conditions:

1. Prior to petitioning for academic renewal, the student must demonstrate a renewed academic interest and effort by earning at least a 2.5 GPA in the first twelve (12) semester hours (graded A, B, C, D, F) completed after re-enrollment. Developmental course credits (those graded S, R, U) will not count toward the first 12 credits.
2. All grades received at the college will be a part of the student’s official transcript.
3. Students can meet graduation requirements only with courses in which grades of “C” or better were earned prior to academic renewal, providing that such courses meet current curriculum requirements.
4. Total hours for graduation will be based on all course work taken at the college after readmission, as well as former course work for which a grade of “C” or better was earned, credits transferred from other colleges or universities, or credit awarded at WCC by other approved methods.

The academic renewal policy may be used only once and cannot be revoked once approved.

An “Academic Renewal” notation will be made on the permanent record.

The granting of Academic Renewal does not affect any previous academic, financial, or administrative determination made by the college.

Readmission After Suspension

Suspended students may be readmitted one semester after termination of the suspension period (one semester, summer not included) and upon formal written petition using the online Request for Readmission to College Form. Causes for suspension may be found under Student Conduct. Request for Readmission forms must be submitted to the Registrar prior to the beginning of the semester for which the student is registering to return. After receiving the request, the Registrar will present this form to the Student Success Committee. During the suspension period, the student may apply for readmission for the following semester and, if readmitted, will re-enter the college on academic probation. The student who is readmitted must obtain a 2.0 grade point average the semester reinstated and in all subsequent semesters or be academically dismissed. The student may return to the same curriculum assuming slots are available or may request a curriculum change. Previous work will be evaluated for utilization in any new curriculum selected.

Readmission after Academic Dismissal

Normally, academic dismissal is permanent unless, with good cause, students reapply and are accepted under special consideration for readmission. The student may submit a written request for readmission using the online Request for Readmission to College Form to the Registrar, who will present this form to the Student Success Committee. The form must be submitted prior to the beginning of the semester for which the student is requesting to return. The student who is readmitted must obtain a 2.0 grade point average the semester reinstated and in all subsequent semesters.

Retention and Disposal of Records

The academic and personnel records of a student will be maintained either on paper copy or electronically by the college according to the following schedule:

1. Permanent retention is required only for the academic transcript (student permanent record).
2. Three-year retention from the date of student’s separation from the college is required for application forms, readmission forms, high school and college transcripts, residency forms, curriculum admission and change of curriculum forms, and other information kept in the student folder.
3. Three-year retention from date of origination is required for registration, drop/add, and withdrawal forms, faculty grade reports, change of grade forms, and placement test results.
4. One-year retention from date of origination is required for transcript request forms, application forms (non-matriculated students), change of student information such as name and/or address changes, and graduation applications and certifications.

Transfer to Other Institutions

Normally, course work leading to an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree from Wytheville Community College will transfer to most four-year colleges and universities. Some four-year schools accept certain Associate of Applied Science degree programs in transfer, but this policy varies by institution.

Students have the responsibility for becoming familiar with the requirements and prerequisites of the transfer institution and the intended major. Attention should be given to required grade point average, deadlines for transfer applications, applicability of the associate degree program to the intended four-year curriculum, and the number of courses accepted for transfer. WCC advisors are available to help students gather such information and review alternatives, but students make the final choice.

A State Policy on Transfer was endorsed by the State Board for Community Colleges and the State Council of Higher Education in 1991. This policy suggests guidelines for Virginia community colleges and senior institutions on admission of transfer students, acceptance and application of transfer credits, services for and responsibilities of transfer students, and a transfer module for transfer without an associate degree.

Wytheville Community College has formal transfer articulation agreements with other higher education institutions. These agreements, which are discussed below, can be found online and detail the terms of transfer for WCC students completing the associate degree programs for each institution.

Guaranteed Admission and Articulation Agreements

The Virginia Community College System has established more than 30 guaranteed admission agreements with various colleges and universities that allow students who graduate from the appropriate WCC transfer program to  transfer as a junior into a baccalaureate degree program at the four-year institution. For a complete list of these transfer opportunities, please visit the VCCS website at www.vawizard.org/wizard/guaranteed-admission-agreements or see a counselor in WCC’s Student Services Office.

In addition, WCC has established articulation agreements with various four-year colleges and universities that allow WCC students who graduate from the appropriate program to transfer easily to those four-year institutions. For a complete list of these articulation opportunities, please see an advisor in the Student Services Office or visit the online Virginia Education Wizard at www.vawizard.org/wizard/guaranteed-admission-agreements.

College Credit for Prior Learning

Wytheville Community College recognizes that learning takes place in a variety of ways including work experiences, extensive reading, hobbies or avocational endeavors, and other similar activities. The basic premise of the credit for prior learning process is that program-placed students shall be given the opportunity to earn appropriate college credit when their previous studies, training, or life and work experiences have already provided the knowledge, competencies, or skills associated with a course. The college’s commitment to this philosophy of credit for prior learning is coupled with its mandate to ensure standards of academic quality comparable to traditional instruction. Procedures to apply for credit for prior learning can be obtained from the WCC Admissions and Records Office.

The WCC Admissions and Records Office (Room 117 Bland Hall) can provide a printed copy of the Wytheville Community College Credit for Prior Learning booklet upon request.

Definition of Credit for Prior Learning

Credit for Prior Learning is the award of academic credit for subject matter competency that has been gained by previous academic study or occupational experience. This may include, but is not limited to, college credit and advancement based upon individual participation in the Advanced Placement (AP) program of the College Entrance Examination Board; other placement examinations; articulation agreements with other institutions; transfer credit from other accredited institutions of higher learning; training provided by non-collegiate institutions, such as armed forces and service schools; professional certification; or experiential learning.

Criteria for Credit for Prior Learning

The following criteria apply to all forms of credit for prior learning:

• To be eligible for Credit for Prior Learning, you must be currently enrolled in a program at the College.
• Credit for Prior Learning must be applied toward a specific program at the College. Non-curricular students are not eligible for Credit for Prior Learning.
• In order to graduate from WCC, a student must complete a minimum of 25% of the total credits required for the degree, diploma, certificate, or career studies certificate at WCC.
• Transfer credit may be awarded for up to 75% of the degree, diploma, certificate, or career studies certificate requirements. Credit-by-portfolio may be awarded for up to 25% of the academic degree’s requirements. In all cases, at least 25% of the academic degree requirements must be completed at WCC for a student to be awarded a degree, diploma, certificate, or career studies certificate.
• Award of credit through Credit for Prior Learning shall be given, to the extent possible, for courses listed in the current WCC Catalog and Student Handbook. In certain instances, Credit for Prior Learning may be awarded for courses listed in the Virginia Community College System Master Course Guide.
• No credit shall be awarded that duplicates earned course credit at the College, at other institutions, or other credit awarded through Credit for Prior Learning.
• Students may not petition for Credit by Examination for a particular course if they have enrolled (either for credit or for audit) in that course, either at WCC or at another institution.
• The College reserves the right to place a time limit on prior learning experiences for which Credit for Prior Learning may be granted. The College has a time limit for accepting credit for technical courses taken previously at other institutions. The Academic Dean, in consultation with the appropriate program faculty, will determine if courses taken more than five years ago can be used in the student’s current program of study.
• Students are responsible for providing the College with appropriate official documentation of prior learning. In the case of foreign transcripts, the student must assume the responsibility of having transcripts translated and evaluated by an approved evaluation agency. Students are encouraged to have their foreign transcripts evaluated course-by-course rather than by degree. A listing of agencies that are approved to evaluate foreign transcripts is available in the Wytheville Community College Credit for Prior Learning booklet online.
• The official transcript shall specify equivalent course(s) and the number of credits awarded for Credit for Prior Learning. Credit for Prior Learning shall be distinct from earned course credit.
• No grades, grade point average, or other indication of academic standing shall be associated with Credit for Prior Learning entries on the official transcript.
• Credit awarded through Credit for Prior Learning is applicable only to WCC’s curricular requirements. Students are cautioned that credits awarded through AP examinations, articulation agreements, CLEP examinations, credit-by-examination, credit-by-portfolio, or other means of Credit for Prior Learning may not be accepted for transfer by other post-secondary institutions.

Registration

Regular Registration

In order to register for courses or to change programs after initial registration, students must follow the registration procedures established for the college. Failure to follow correct procedures could result in a failing grade or the withholding of academic credit.

Students register for courses during the official registration period. In the event that a class is closed, students must see the academic dean to determine whether additional class slots are available. Usually, they may not enter new classes after the first 10 days of a new semester. Any request for entry after that time must be approved by the Academic Dean.

All registration dates will be announced on the WCC website and Academic Calendar.

Pre-registration

Students will be allowed to pre-register each semester without having to pay tuition at the time of pre-registration. Students who pre-register must pay their tuition or make arrangements with the Financial Aid Office by a payment deadline. This date will be publicized in the Academic Calendar. Students who do not make payment by the deadline will forfeit their class schedule reservations and will have to prepare new schedules during registration.

Change of Registration

In all cases, students should follow established procedures for making any change in their programs after registration. Failure to do so could place their college records in jeopardy. Students receiving financial aid or grants should check with the Financial Aid Office when any changes are made in their class schedules.

1. Withdrawal from a class
   
   A student’s withdrawal from a course without academic penalty must be made within the first nine weeks of a semester, and the student will receive a grade of “W.” After that time the student may receive a grade of “F,” except in rare, documented circumstances. A copy of this documentation must be placed in the student’s academic file.
   
   NOTE: The withdrawal period for classes in non-standard terms, courses, and summer sessions which are not a standard semester in length begins on the first day of classes and concludes on the day that represents the completion of sixty percent (60%) of the non-standard term.
    
2. Addition and late registration for a course
   
   The add and late registration period for classes in the fifteen-week session terminates at the close of the tenth calendar day of the academic semester. The first day of classes, as published in the semester schedule, shall be the first day of the add and late registration period.
   
   The drop period for classes in the fifteen-week session terminates at the close of the fourteenth calendar day of the academic semester.
   
   The add/drop period for classes in non-standard terms, courses, and summer sessions which are not a standard semester in length begins on the first day of classes and concludes on the day which represents the completion of fifteen percent (15%) of the non-standard term. Please contact the Admissions & Records Office for these deadlines.
    
3. Withdrawal from the college
   
   A student who wishes to withdraw from the college should contact a counselor for advice on the procedure. Failure to follow procedures could place the student’s college record in jeopardy and prejudice his or her return to this or another college. Students receiving financial aid must see a financial aid representative to discuss the financial aid implications of withdrawal prior to processing forms.

How to Make Changes to Initial Registration

To make changes to the original registration, students should determine which offices need to be contacted for signatures.

They are as follows:

1. Approvals Needed for Dropping a Class

1. All students may drop a class online using the Student Information System (SIS). For assistance, students should contact the Admissions & Records Office or Student Services. Note: Dropping a class may have an impact on financial aid awards. If stuents receive financial aid, they should contact the Financial Aid office prior to dropping a class.

2. Approvals Needed for Withdrawing from a Class*

1. Curricular Students–faculty advisor or counselor signature. Students receiving financial aid must see a financial aid representative to discuss the financial aid implications of withdrawal prior to processing forms.
2. Non-Curricular Students–counselor signature

3. Approvals Needed for Complete Withdrawal from College*

1. Curricular Students–faculty advisor signature and/or counselor signature. Students receiving financial aid must see a financial aid representative to discuss the financial aid implications of withdrawal prior to processing forms.
2. Non-Curricular Students–counselor signature
   
   *Having secured the proper signatures, students should submit paperwork to Admissions and Records Office to process schedule changes. The date the form is processed by the Admissions and Records Office personnel is the official date of drop or withdrawal. In the case of distance education students who cannot visit campus, approvals may be obtained electronically via email for submission to the Admissions and Records Office. For more information, call 276-223-4701.
   
   The deadlines for the above procedures can be found on the college’s website. Non-standard courses have deadlines unique to their length. If you have questions or need information on deadlines for dropping or withdrawing from a course, contact the WCC Admissions and Records Office.
   
   Off-campus evening students should contact the off-site personnel for instructions for properly adding, dropping or withdrawing from an off-campus class.

Non-Attendance Policy

During the add/drop period or first two weeks of the course, a student must have attended a minimum of one class meeting or the equivalent in the case of a online learning course. In an online learning course, initial student attendance is determined by course participation as measured by accessing and using course materials, completion of a class assignment, participation in a course discussion, or other evidence of participation. Students who enroll in a course but do not attend a minimum of one class meeting or the distance learning equivalent during the first two weeks of the course will be administratively dropped from the course by the college. Existing college policies regarding tuition refund shall remain in effect.

Instructor-Initiated Withdrawal Policy

After the third week of a course and until the 60% mark (last day to withdraw and receive a “W”), the instructor can use the Instructor Initiated Withdrawal Policy. A student who misses more than twice the number of weekly meetings of a course and is unsatisfactorily progressing (U, W, or F) can be withdrawn by the instructor by completing the Instructor Initiated Withdrawal form and submitting it to the Admissions & Records office. Students may request re-entry into the course. Re-entry must be approved by the instructor. If the instructor utilizes this policy, it is included in the course syllabus.

Auditing a Course

Under certain circumstances, a student may register to audit a course. One who audits a course attends classes but is not required to take examinations and, therefore, receives no credit. To register as an auditing student, one must get permission from the appropriate academic dean and must pay the normal tuition for the course. Students are allowed to audit classes only on a space-available basis and for reasons acceptable to the instructor and appropriate Academic Dean. Auditing a course is permitted only when it is in the best interest of the requesting student, other students, and the college. Since audited courses carry no credit, they do not count as a part of the student’s course load. Students desiring to change status in a course from audit to credit or from credit to audit must do so within the add/drop period for the course. Courses that are audited are not eligible for financial aid.

Classification of Students

Curricular Students

Curricular students are those who have been admitted to any of the curricular programs of the college. A student who has a high school diploma or a GED is designated a regular student when the student’s file in the Admissions and Records Office contains all the information for general admission to the college and when the student has been admitted to one of the academic plans of the college.

Non-curricular Students

Non-curricular students are those who have not been formally admitted to curricular programs, but who are classified according to the following student goals or conditions:

1. Upgrading employment skills for present job
2. Developing skills for new job
3. Personal satisfaction and general knowledge
4. Transient
   
   Transient students are those who, while enrolled at a community college, maintain primary enrollment with other post-secondary institutions.
    
5. High school
   
   High school students, with permission of their principal and the appropriate Academic Dean, may enroll at a community college.
   
   Home school students, with permission of the President and with appropriate documentation for Home Schooling, may enroll at a community college.
    
6. Auditing a course (with college approval only).

         Under this classification, students enroll in courses without taking exams or receiving
         credit. Audits are permitted only if there is a sufficient number of students taking
         the class for credit.

Freshman

A student is classified as a freshman until 30 credits of study in a designated curriculum are completed.

Sophomore

A student is considered a sophomore after 30 or more credits of course work in a curriculum are completed. Transferred credits are included providing they apply toward the requirements of the student’s curriculum.

Full-Time Student

A full-time student is one who is carrying 12 or more credits of course work.

Part-Time Student

A part-time student is one who is carrying fewer than 12 credits of course work.