ADMISSION POLICIES

Western Piedmont operates under an “open door” admission policy. All people, 18 years of age or older, or who are high school graduates, and who are able to profit from further formal education, will be served by the College. The college serves all students regardless of race, religion, association, sex, age, disability, or ethnic origin.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR CURRICULUM PROGRAMS

1. All entering curriculum students must submit a properly completed application to the Office of Admissions. Application forms are available in Student Services, from local high school counselors and on-line.

2. Entering students should forward transcripts of high school and all college work to the Admissions Office. Students must authorize in writing the release of transcripts from high schools and colleges.  Admission to all associate degree programs and some diploma and certificate programs requires high school or GED completion. (Only the English version of the GED will satisfy proof of high school graduation)

3. All students seeking a degree, diploma, or certificate at Western Piedmont Community College will be required to sit for the ASSET or COMPASS placement test. High school graduates who score below 30 on the reading, writing, or numerical section of the ASSET placement test or below the following COMPASS scores: reading - 42, writing - 20, pre-algebra - 27, may be referred to the Learning Lab for the TABE test to determine grade level.

4. Permission to register may be denied if all admission requirements are not complete after the student's initial registration.

STUDENTS WITH NON-TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BACKGROUNDS

For curriculum programs requiring high school graduation for admission, WPCC will accept graduates from regionally accredited high schools and from accredited Adult High School programs, GED programs, and Home Schools approved by the NC Division of Non-Public Education and from accredited American Schools abroad.
Other high school graduates (foreign, etc.) must be exempt from ENG 070 and RED 070 as determined by the College placement test; otherwise, they must complete an accredited GED or high school program. (Only the English version of the GED will satisfy proof of high school graduation.)

ADMISSION PROCEDURES FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND COURSES.

SPECIAL STUDENTS

A special student is defined as one who is enrolled in curriculum credit courses but who is not working toward a degree or diploma. Special students will be allowed to register for courses upon providing official college transcripts showing prerequisite courses are met. For admission, special students need only to complete the application.
Special students, however, will be asked to submit proof of high school graduation and meet placement criteria if they desire to be reclassified as regular students. Special students pay the same tuition and fees as regular students.

TRANSFER STUDENTS

A transfer student is a student entering Western Piedmont Community College who has earned credit at another institution and wishes to apply those credits toward a WPCC degree or diploma. In addition to submitting all other application materials, transfer students must have official transcripts sent to Western Piedmont by the institution which originally granted the credit. To be considered for credit, courses must have been taken at a regionally accredited institution. Transfer students must meet the admission requirements of a beginning student; however, students who hold an Associate Degree or higher may be exempt from WPCC placement testing. Students who have successfully completed ENG 111 with a grade of “C” or better may be exempt from the reading and writing sections of the placement test. Exemption from the numerical, elementary algebra, or intermediate algebra sections of the placement test is dependent on the major students are pursuing.

Questions regarding exemptions for the placement test should be directed to the Director of Enrollment Management. Transfer credit may be allowed for courses in which students have made a grade of “C” or better. Transfer credit may be allowed for courses in which students have made a grade of “D” if approved by petition. Transfer credit will not be allowed for courses in which students have received a grade for credit by examination. Credits from colleges operating on the quarter system are recalculated on a semester-hour basis. A grade point average for graduation, honors, and continuing enrollment is computed only for courses taken at Western Piedmont Community College.

VISITING STUDENTS

Students working toward a degree at other institutions may take courses at Western Piedmont for transfer.  For admission, visiting students need only to complete the application.  Also, students must submit official college transcripts showing prerequisite courses are met prior to taking courses at WPCC. Visiting students are encouraged to obtain written permission from the student’s home institution stating that the courses at WPCC will be acceptable toward degree requirements.

HIGH SCHOOL CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT/HUSKINS BILL COURSES

Under regulations issued by the North Carolina State Board of Education, WPCC has entered into cooperative agreements with the Burke County Public Schools and the North Carolina School for the Deaf under which “qualified high school students” may enroll in certain courses at the College while still enrolled in high school.  Students who wish to enroll as a concurrent enrollment student should do the following:

1.  See your high school guidance counselor.
    
2.  Complete an application for admissions with parent signature.
    
3.  Take the COMPASS placement test.  May be exempt if:
   
   • SAT scores Critical Reading/Writing 500 or better and Math 520 or better
   • ACT scores Verbal & Reading 20 or better & Algebra/Coordinate Geometry 10 or better
      
4. High school students enrolled in a curriculum course at Western Piedmont through a cooperative program with the Burke County Public Schools or through dual enrollment are exempt from all or some tuition payments depending on student type and course registration; however, these students may be responsible for paying Student Government Activity fees and Student Accident Insurance fees. Contact the Director of Enrollment Management  for full details.
    
5. Students are also responsible for the purchase of books and supplies.

The Director of Enrollment Management should be contacted if you have further questions.

FOREIGN APPLICANTS (FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES)

Proficiency in the English language and satisfactory academic records are important factors in the admission decision for all applicants from outside the United States. Foreign students must have graduated from a secondary school that is equivalent to secondary schools in the United States.  Furthermore, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the College placement tests are required of all foreign applicants. Students should contact a university in their native country for information about the
Test of English as a Foreign Language.  Foreign applicants should contact the Director of Enrollment Management Western Piedmont Community College for additional information.

READMISSIONS

Western Piedmont Community College follows the Records and Retention Schedule provided by the North Carolina Community College System. Students who have not attended the College for a period of two semesters or longer and wish to be readmitted should contact the Director of Enrollment Management. Students re-entering after one semester of non-attendance may be required to meet the graduation requirements of the current catalog.  Students should be aware that some programs have specific requirements for readmission. Additionally, some programs limit the number of times students can be readmitted. Students who were suspended due to academic deficiencies may seek readmission after one calendar year.  Students who were suspended due to a violation of the Student Code of Conduct must meet the terms of their suspension to be considered for readmission.  Former students will not be readmitted until all financial obligations to any program or activity under the administrative jurisdiction of the College have been satisfied.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

Under North Carolina law, persons must qualify as state residents for a tuition rate lower than that for nonresidents. North Carolina statute 116-143.1 requires that, “To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must have established legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina and maintained that legal residence for at least twelve (12) months immediately prior to his or her classification as a resident for tuition purposes.”
Failure to provide accurate information for residency classification can result in classification as a nonresident and/or disciplinary action. Students who believe that they have been erroneously classified shall be permitted to appeal the classification to the campus appeals officer within one month of the initial residency determination.  If you are  currently classified as non-resident for tuition purposes, it is your obligation to petition for a change in classification to that of a resident if you claim that you are now and for at least the twelve-month period immediately preceding the date of such petition, have been a legal resident of the state of North Carolina.  You should petition for In-State status for tuition purposes three weeks prior to the beginning of the term in which you claim your legal residence should begin.  Regulations concerning the classification of students by residence are set forth in “A Manual to Assist The Public Higher Education Institutions of North Carolina in the Matter of Student Residence Classification for Tuition Purposes.” A copy of the manual is available in the Admissions Office for student inspection.