General catalog, student handbook |
Previous | 1 of 8 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
|
This page
All
|
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
1
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
2
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Directory
General College Information
Phone: 704-216-RCCC (7222)
Hours of Access:
Mon. – Thurs.: 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Fri. 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
An automated attendant is available after hours.
See the college website for campus directory of specific RCCC phone listings.
College Mailing Address:
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
P.O. Box 1595
Salisbury, N.C. 28145
College Package Delivery:
(Unless specified otherwise)
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
1531 Trinity Church Rd.
Concord, NC 28027
College Internet Address:
www.rccc.edu
Locat ions:
Cabarrus Business and Technology Ctr. Campus
660 Concord Parkway Drive, Concord, NC 28027
Cloverleaf Cosmetology Center
988 Cloverleaf Plaza, Kannapolis, NC 28081
Cloverleaf Extension Center Campus
Cloverleaf Plaza, Kannapolis, NC 28081
North Carolina Research Campus
399 Biotechnology Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081
North Campus
1333 Jake Alexander Blvd., Salisbury, NC 28146
South Campus
1531 Trinity Church Road, Concord, NC 28027
All Campus Locations are Tobacco Free.
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
3
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Table of Contents
Academic Calendar.....................................................................................................4
General Information...................................................................................................5
History of the College.....................................................................................7
Program/Services Overview.......................................................................................9
Admissions and Enrollment.....................................................................................13
General Admission Information.................................................................14
Admission of High School Students............................................................17
General Admission Information for Corporate and
Continuing Education...........................................................................18
Tuition and Fees...........................................................................................19
Financial Aid & Veterans Benefits...............................................................21
College Policies and Procedures...............................................................................23
Academic Policies and Procedures.............................................................24
Standards Governing Student Enrollment.................................................34
Disciplinary Actions & Sanctions................................................................38
Campus Safety Information........................................................................40
Programs of Study.....................................................................................................43
Course Descriptions................................................................................................209
Faculty and Staff......................................................................................................317
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
4
Academic Calendar
Fall Semester 2013 Fall Semester 2014
Aug. 19 M Classes Begin Aug. 18 M Classes Begin
Aug. 19-Oct. 11 First Minimester Aug. 18-Oct. 10 First Minimester
Aug. 22 TH Deadline for Refunds Aug. TBA Deadline for Refunds
Sept. 02 M Labor Day Holiday* Sept. 01 M Labor Day Holiday*
Oct. 14-16 M-W Student Break Days Oct. 13, 14 M-T Student Break Days
Oct. 21-Dec. 18 Second Minimester Oct. 17-Dec. 17 Second Minimester
Nov. 05 T Last Day to Withdraw Nov. TBA Last Day to Withdraw
Nov. 11 M Veterans Day Holiday* Nov. 11 M Veterans Day Holiday*
Nov. 27 W Student Break Day Nov. 26 W Student Break Day
Nov. 28, 29 TH, F Thanksgiving Holidays* Nov. 27, 28 TH, F Thanksgiving Holidays*
Dec. 18 W Semester Ends Dec. 17 W Semester Ends
Dec. 23-31 M-T Winter Holidays* Dec. 22-31 M-T Winter Holidays*
Spring Semester 2014 Spring Semester 2015
Jan. 01 W New Year’s Holiday* Jan. 01, 02 T, F New Year’s Holiday*
Jan. 13 M Classes Begin Jan. 12 M Classes Begin
Jan. 13- Mar. 07 First Minimester Jan. 12- Mar. 06 First Minimester
Jan. 16 TH Deadline for Refunds Jan. TBA Deadline for Refunds
Jan. 20 M Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday* Jan. 19 M Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday*
Mar. 10-14 M-F Spring Break* Mar. 09-13 M-F Spring Break*
Mar. 19-May 13 Second Minimester Mar. 18-May 12 Second Minimester
Apr. 03 TH Last Day to Withdraw Mar. TBA Last Day to Withdraw
Apr. 18 F Spring Holiday* Apr. 03 F Spring Holiday*
May 13 T Semester Ends May 12 T Semester Ends
May 17 S Graduation May 16 S Graduation
Summer Semester 2014 Summer Semester 2015
May 21 W Classes Begin May 18 M Classes Begin
May 23 F Deadline for Refunds May TBA Deadline for Refunds
May 26 M Memorial Day Holiday* May 25 M Memorial Day Holiday*
June 25 W First 5 Week Session Ends June 22 M First 5 Week Session Ends
June 26 TH Second 5 week Session Begins June 23 T Second 5 week Session Begins
July 04 F 4th of July Holiday* July 03 F 4th of July Holiday*
July 31 TH Classes End July 29 W Classes End
Disclaimer Statements for Calendars
*Rowan-Cabarrus is closed on holidays listed above.
The calendar is subject to change. For the most current version, consult the online calendar at:
College Course Advisement Weeks and Registration dates for each term will be announced in the Rowan-Cabarrus Student
Planner
Spring Break Days will be used as make-up days for inclement weather, if necessary.
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
5
General Information
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
6
General Information
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College reserves the right
to change its regulations, policies, fees and programs
without notice.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is an equal
opportunity institution. All programs, activities and
facilities are available to all on a non-discriminatory
basis, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age,
handicap, or national origin. The college provides access,
equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation
in services, programs, activities, education and
employment for individuals with disabilities. Reasonable
accommodations will be provided to individuals with
disabilities upon request, in advance of the event.
Open Door Policy
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has an open-door
admission policy for applicants who are high school
graduates, are at least 18 years of age or whose admission
eligibility conforms to North Carolina law and North
Carolina Community College system directives. The
Board of Trustees reserves the right to amend the local
admissions policy within the parameters permitted by the
state of North Carolina and the State Board of Community
College Code. Admission to the college is open without
regard to race, creed, disability, national origin, sex or
age to any student who meets the age or graduation
requirements.
Some degree programs have specific requirements for
admission. These requirements are available from the
program head, department head or Student Services
counselor.
Tuition
Tuition is set by the North Carolina Legislature and
the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges.
Tuition rates are subject to change without notice.
Accreditation
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is accredited by the
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA
30033-4097, 404-679-4501) to award associate degrees,
diplomas and certificates.
Consumer Information
In compliance with federal law this information can be
located on the college website: www.rccc.edu.
Board of Trustees
Carl M. Short, Jr., Chair
Cynthia L. Mynatt, Vice Chair
Dr. Carol S. Spalding, President
J. Thomas Bost
Paul A. Brown
Darise D. Caldwell
R. Daryl Cox
Patricia G. Fulcher
Dianne Y. Greene
Patricia K. Horton
Administration
Dr. Carol S. Spalding..................................... College President
Dr. Rod Townley.........Vice-President of Academic Programs
Jeanie Moore............ Vice-President of College Advancement
& Vice-President of Corporate and
Continuing Education
Gaye McConnell..... Vice-President Enrollment Management
and the Student Experience
Jeremy Campbell............................ Chief Information Officer
Carla Howell.................................... Chief Governance Officer
Janet Spriggs......................................... Chief Financial Officer
Jonathan Chamberlain....................Chief Officer of Planning,
Capital Projects and Environmental
Operations
Tina Haynes............................Chief Human Resource Officer
Mark Ebersole.............. Associate Vice-President, Enrollment
Management and Student Services
Ron Scozzari....................Associate Vice-President, Academic
Programs
Dr. Hasan Naima..............Dean of Engineering and Business
Technologies
Wendy Barnhardt........... Dean of Health and Public Services
Dr. Marcy Corjay................... Dean of Science, Biotechnology,
Mathematics and Information
Technologies
Claudia Swicegood..........................Dean of Special Programs
Dr. Carol Holbert.............. Dean, Department of Liberal Arts,
and General Education
Cheryl Marsh................................ Dean of Pre-College Studies
Ann Morris................................ Dean in Corporate Education
Debra NeeSmith........Dean of Educational Resource Services
Spencer Rummage.......Dean of Public Services Technologies
Robert S. Misenheimer
Stephen M. Morris
J. Scott Padgett
Dakeita Vanderburg-
Johnson
Quentin Woodward, Jr.
Leslie Brown, Student
Government Association
President
General Information
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
7
2011-2014
RCCC Strategic Plan
Mission
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College improves lives and builds
community through public higher education and workforce
development.
Values
We are committed to our college and our community through our
values:
• Trust, integrity, inclusiveness and mutual respect
• Excellence and Innovation for 21st Century education
and workforce training
• Exemplary service-delivery experience
• Continuous improvement through lifelong learning
and achievement
• Responsibility, sustainability and accountability
• Relationships, teamwork, and global citizenship
Goals
• Prepare students for 21st Century careers and
opportunities that stimulate sustainable economic
and workforce development.
• Produce exceptional learning that demonstrates
academic excellence and student success.
• Provide excellent service delivery for current and
prospective students to advance achievement.
• Acquire, develop, and manage human, fiscal,
and infrastructure resources essential to the
development and delivery of high-quality
education and service.
• Serve as a catalyst for advancing the community.
History of the College
The need for a technical education center was recognized in
1960, when Salisbury-Rowan community leaders, working
through the chamber of commerce, conducted a survey of
manpower requirements in the area. Results of the survey
provided the basis for their request that the State Board of
Education establish an industrial education center in Rowan
County. The people of Rowan County gave strong support to
the idea by approving a $500,000 bond issue to purchase land
and to finance construction of the first building. When the center
first opened its doors in 1963, it offered seven pre-employment
education programs and a variety of short courses for adults.
In 1964, the school was designated Rowan Technical Institute
under the provisions of the Community College-Technical
Institute Act. This made it possible to expand the school’s
curricula.
In 1979, the General Assembly passed a bill which recognized
the synonymous nature of the terms “institute” and “college.”
After appropriate action by the Board of Trustees and the Rowan
County Commissioners, the North Carolina State Board of
Education officially approved the name of Rowan Technical
College.
In 1988, the trustees of the college voted to change the name of
the institution to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to more
accurately reflect the comprehensive nature of its programs and
the service area. The college became the first multi-campus
institution in the state in 1991 when the South Campus opened its
doors.
The college has experienced considerable growth since 1963,
and now enrolls an average of 20,000 citizens annually. Today,
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College prepares individuals for
careers in approximately 50 programs of study in business, health
and public services, and industrial and engineering technologies.
The college also offers the Associate in Arts, Associate in Fine
Arts and Associate in Science degree programs for those students
who intend to transfer to a four-year college or university.
Rowan-Cabarrus serves the residents of Cabarrus and Rowan
counties at four campus locations (North, South, Cloverleaf Plaza
and Cabarrus Business and Technology Center), multiple centers,
and through online programs. In 2010, Rowan-Cabarrus opened
a 62,000-square-foot classroom and laboratory building at the
North Carolina Research Campus, in Kannapolis.
At the same time, a new 38,000-square-foot classroom building
opened at the North Campus. This was Rowan-Cabarrus’ first
LEED building and the first completely new facility built on
the North Campus in more than 30 years. The building is LEED
Gold certified, a leader in its own right as the first LEED Gold
building in Rowan or Cabarrus counties and the fourth in the NC
Community College system.
In November 2010 Rowan County citizens approved a $12
million bond referendum for capital improvement projects on
the North Campus as a commitment to keep the college facilities
updated to provide the highest quality and relevant instruction
and training for our communities. These renovations are ongoing
on the North Campus through 2014.
General Information
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
8 General Information
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
9
Program/Services Overview
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
10
Programs and Services
Overview
Business, Engineering, Health, Public
Services and Technical Programs:
(A.A.S. or Associate in Applied Sciences)
The North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS)
has offered two year degree, diploma and certificate
programs for individuals whose career goals are to
immediately enter the workforce in their chosen
profession or trade. The program offerings in the
Associate in Applied Sciences provide education and
training in current and emerging careers in our regional
service area and beyond. Some of the A.A.S. programs
have established articulation agreements with private
and public universities which accept some courses toward
an undergraduate degree.
Transfer Programs:
Rowan-Cabarrus offers three transfer program areas:
Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.), and
Associate of Science (A.S.). The transfer programs offer
degree completing students the opportunity to transfer
64 credit hours to the University of North Carolina
system member institutions. Students may elect to earn
a 32 hour diploma prior to transferring. Transferring
to private universities or to colleges and universities
outside of North Carolina requires additional research
and planning by students while enrolled at Rowan-
Cabarrus to ensure the best possible credit transition. See
Comprehensive Articulation Agreement section.
Associate in General Education:
The Associate in General Education (A.G.E.) is a degree
program designed for students who want additional
flexibility in designing a degree program to meet their
educational and academic needs. The A.G.E. is not a
transfer degree option, but some individual courses may
be received by senior institutions if a student is interested
in transferring.
Comprehensive Articulation Agreement:
The Comprehensive Articulation Agreement became
effective in 1997. This agreement addresses the transfer
of credits between institutions in the North Carolina
Community College System and from that system to
constituent institutions of the University of North
Carolina. Community college graduates of the A.A. and
A.S. programs who have completed the general education
transfer core will be considered to have fulfilled the
institution wide, lower division general education
requirements of receiving institution.
Academic and Career Advising Centers
(ACA Centers):
The ACA Centers are composed of Master Advisors,
Faculty Master Advisors, and administrative support. The
ACA Centers are dedicated to providing quality advising
in an environment that is welcoming, professional, and
supportive. Academic Advising is a cooperative effort
between the student and the advisor that is an ongoing
and developmental process, which extends beyond course
planning and selection. While the ultimate responsibility
for exploring choices and making decisions rests with the
student, the ACA Centers are committed to facilitating this
process so students can develop an educational plan, set
career goals and achieve personal growth.
Basic Skills Program:
An important function of the college is to provide
educational programs on the pre-college level. Pre-college
Studies offer adults the opportunity for meaningful
social and occupational growth through Adult Basic
Education (ABE), High School Equivalency Program (GED)
and English as a Second Language (ESL) program. For
additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus
website at: http://www.rccc.edu/precollege/about-abe-ged/
Career and College Promise Program:
The Career and College Promise Program (CCP) offers
structured opportunities for qualified high school juniors
and seniors to accelerate completion of college certificates,
diplomas, and degrees that lead to college transfer or
provide entry-level job skills. Career and College Promise
includes College Transfer Pathways, Career and Technical
Education Pathways, and Cooperative- Innovative High
School Program (Early College). Tuition is free for eligible
North Carolina public school students. For additional
information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at:
http://www.rccc.edu/highschool/careercollegepromise/
Corporate and Continuing Education
Programs:
At Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Continuing
Education programs support the philosophy that learning
is a lifelong activity. This division offers courses for
professional development and community service
courses of general interest at convenient times and
locations. The Corporate Education Department supports
individual, organizational, and economic development
by providing career-focused, educational programs
and services to businesses and industries of Rowan and
Cabarrus counties. For additional information, please
visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/
corporatecontinuing/
Program/Services Overview
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
11
Counseling Services:
Professional counseling services are provided to students,
prospective students, and the entire college community
in the areas of personal, academic, career emergency
needs, and disability services. Counseling services
are confidential. Consistent with the college mission,
counseling services focus on promoting individual
growth, student success and retention. For additional
information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at:
http://www.rccc.edu/counseling/
Career Services provide career counseling to students
and potential students; provide tools and information for
students to be successful in their job search in the way of
resume reviews, interview feedback, and labor market
information. This division offers individual and group
career counseling and other career exploration tools to
help students make decisions about their education and
career path. Career counselors encourage students to
look inward and learn more about themselves in order
to venture outward toward their future. For additional
information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at:
http://www.rccc.edu/careerservices/
English as a Second Language (E.S.L):
ESL is offered as a Pre-College program. Please refer to
the Basic Skills section. For additional information, please
visit the RCCC website at: http://www.rccc.edu/precollege/
about-the-english-as-a-second-language-program/
Enrollment and Student Services:
Students can receive information about registration,
general advising assistance, transcripts, financial aid,
career counseling, academic counseling, veterans’ benefits
and graduation through the Student Services offices at
North or South Campus. For additional information,
please visit the RCCC website at:
http://www.rccc.edu/studentservices/
Financial Aid/Veteran’s Administration
Benefits/Federal Student Loans
Rowan-Cabarrus offers many types of financial assistance
including federal and state grants, federal student loans,
federal work study, and institutional scholarships.
Initially, students should complete the federal financial
aid application at: www.fafsa.gov to be considered for
financial assistance.
Veteran’s benefits are available for qualified veterans
and/or their designated family member. For additional
information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at:
http://www.rccc.edu/financialaid/
Learning Resource Centers (LRCs):
Learning Resource Centers (LRCs) are essential
components of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
The LRCs provide our patrons with library, audiovisual,
Internet and instructional resources and services
necessary to support the educational programs of the
college. They also provide resources to meet the various
needs, interests, and aptitudes of the students enrolled
in lifelong learning. LRCs are available at North, South
and CBTC. Services are available on demand at NCRC and
Cloverleaf Campuses. For additional information, please
visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at:
http://www.rccc.edu/lrc/
Navigation Station:
Navigation Station is more than a place... it’s a philosophy.
You come to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to
learn and not to run from office to office taking care of
the administrative details of your education. The school
brings together a host of administrative services under
one roof so that you can get back to the business of being
a student! Start at the Navigation Station on-campus or
online to start your success at Rowan-Cabarrus.
The Navigation Station offers extended hours at both our
North and South Campuses to meet your needs. Individual
services are scheduled by location. Please check out our
website for details: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/
R3 Career Services:
R3 Center and Career Counselors provide Rowan-Cabarrus
Community College and the community with career
exploration, career development and career information
activities. Services are available on the primary campuses
and at the R3 Center in Kannapolis. For additional
information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at:
http://www.rccc.edu/r3/
Student Government Association/
Student Life:
Student Life is a critical component of the student
experience. Student Life at Rowan-Cabarrus continues to
flourish with record participation in clubs, activities and
events. The college calendar is jam-packed every week
with service projects, blood drives, Open Mic’s, legislative
visits, leadership conferences, and Wii Wednesdays – not
to mention the Spring Fling, Fall Fest, Holiday Hoopla,
and other traditional activities designed to engage large
numbers of students. For additional information, please
visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/
sga/ or http://www.rccc.edu/studentlife/
Program/Services Overview
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
12 Program/Services Overview
Small Business Center:
The mission of the Small Business Center (SBC) is to
increase the success rate and number of viable small
businesses in the community by providing education,
counseling, a resource library, and special programs.
The SBC offers free two-hour seminars on topics such as
business start-up, funding, business plans, marketing,
sales, green operations, social media, and online ventures.
More in-depth training and skill building includes
courses in basic accounting, QuickBooks and business
plan writing. For additional information, please visit the
Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/sbc/
Testing Centers:
The Testing Centers at North and South Campus provide
the following testing services: college placement testing,
GED testing, academic course testing and serves as a re-mote
test site for other colleges and universities. In 2013
the Testing Centers will be expanding services to include
entrepreneurial testing for CLEP, DSST and other assess-ment
or certification inventories. For additional informa-tion,
please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at:
http://www.rccc.edu/testing/
Tutoring Centers:
Tutoring services for students are available on North
and South Campuses. Students can receive assistance on
English, writing, reading, mathematics, business technol-ogy
courses, most science classes, including Biotechnology
and foreign language. For additional information, please
visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/
tutoring/
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
13
Admissions and Enrollment
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
14
General Admission
Information
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and other
institutions in the North Carolina Community College
System operate under an Open Door policy. In accordance
with the State Board of Community College Code, Title 23,
Chapter 2(c), Section .0300, the college shall maintain an
open-door admissions policy, which accepts applicants
who have graduated from high school, hold a GED or
adult high school diploma, or are at least 18 years of
age. The college also enrolls high school students who
are qualified to participate in college courses as a dual
enrollment student. The Rowan-Cabarrus Board of
Trustees reserves the right to establish local admission
policies as authorized within the parameters established
by the State Board of Community College Code.
Rowan-Cabarrus offers education and training to meet
the needs of the community. Different areas of the college
have different admission criteria. Please read the section
which applies to your educational interest or contact the
Navigation Station for assistance in determining which
admission information applies to you.
Individuals seeking accommodations related to
enrollment, please refer to the section for Special
Students.
College Degree, Diploma and Certificate
Program Admission
The degree, diploma, or certificate programs are taught
at a level beyond high school. Therefore, a high school
diploma or recognized equivalent is usually the minimal
preparation; however, a prospective student may
demonstrate their academic readiness though the college
placement inventory. If you have not completed high
school, the college provides GED programs through pre-college
studies.
In order to assure that your educational experience will
be successful; advisors will assist in determining your
present academic preparedness for the program you
have chosen. The college uses placement tests, academic
records, occupational experience and/or other indicators
to determine the student’s preparedness and potential for
success.
If you have not successfully completed all the high school
courses needed to succeed in the program of your choice,
Rowan-Cabarrus will make the courses available to you.
In certain A.A.S. programs, students are enrolled on a
space-available basis because laboratory space is limited.
Applicants to these programs are encouraged to contact
Student Services as soon as possible.
High school seniors should apply early in their senior
year. New students are admitted prior to the start of each
semester. Qualified students are accepted during each
semester’s registration, if space is available.
The Basic Law Enforcement Training program and
all health programs contain additional admission
requirements that must be met before the student is
admitted to the program. All admission requirements are
listed in special admission section and the online catalog
updates.
Developmental Courses
Developmental courses (designed to improve reading,
writing, spelling, mathematics and computer skills) are
taught in small classes. If you completed the placement
tests and your scores indicate that you needed to refresh
your skills, you will need to take some developmental
courses. Usually, students who take developmental
courses will be advised that they can take one or two of
their regular program courses at the same time. Academic
advisors will assist you in planning your schedule.
Developmental classes are considered non-credit courses
and are not included in the grade point average; however,
tuition and fees are charged at the same rate as a credit
course. Some college level courses have satisfactory
completion of a related developmental course as a
prerequisite.
Enrolling is Easy at Rowan-Cabarrus:
• Apply for Admission: Once you have made
the decision to take classes at Rowan-Cabarrus
Community College, call or visit the Navigation
Station or Student Services on any campus or go
online to apply. It takes a minimum of two business
days to process your application, depending on the
date you apply.
• By signing or electronically completing and
submitting the college application, the student accepts
the responsibility to be aware of and follow codes of
conduct, behavior standards and all program specific
rules, policies, and procedures.
• Official Transcripts* Contact the guidance office or
registrar’s office of your high school and any colleges
you have attended and request an official copy of
your transcript be sent to:
Student Services/Records Office
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
P.O. Box 1595
Salisbury, North Carolina, 28145-1595
*An official transcript is in a sealed envelope, has
an embossed seal or original signature, and is
usually mailed directly to Rowan-Cabarrus from the
institution or may be sent electronically from the
institution or transcript service to Rowan-Cabarrus.
The graduation date will be posted on all high school
transcripts. Public high school graduates of 2013 are
encouraged to request an electronic copy from the
College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) before
September 15, 2013.
Admissions and Enrollment
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
15
Home-school graduates should send a final transcript,
verifying your graduation, as well as a copy of
the letter from the North Carolina Department of
Non-Public Instruction acknowledging your home
school. Correspondence/online school diplomas
will be accepted if they are regionally accredited or
accredited by the Distance Education and Training
Council (DETC). Any other correspondence/online
school diplomas will be reviewed on a case-by-case
basis.
• Placement Testing
Accuplacer placement testing is generally required of
all students entering a curriculum program at RCCC.
The tests assess your skills in the fundamentals of
reading, writing, mathematics, and computer skills.
Your scores are used to place you appropriately into
courses that will enable you to succeed. If you are
entering a certificate or taking a specific course of
interest you may not be required to take Accuplacer,
but will be expected to meet all course prerequisites
to be eligible to register.
You must complete an application for admission prior
to testing and have a Student ID number; schedule an
appointment to take the Accuplacer placement test
(English, Reading, Mathematics, and Computer Skills)
at www.rccc.edu/testing.
You may be exempt from testing if you:
• Have a U.S public high school GPA equal to or greater
than (= or >) 2.6 and graduated within 5 years of your
college enrollment with an FRC Code of 1, 2, 3, or 4 OR
passing grades in Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry and
a 4th math suitable for college admission.
• Have completed transferable college-level
coursework in English, and math with a grade of
“C” or better. Your official college transcript from
the awarding college must be evaluated in order to
determine any exemption.
• Achieved SAT scores of Writing (500) OR Critical
Reading (500) and Math (500) or ACT scores of
Reading (20) OR English (18) and Math (22). Your
official scores must be received from the testing
agency to determine any exemptions. In addition, the
ACT or SAT must have been completed within the past
five years.
• Have received an associate’s degree, bachelor’s
degree or higher from an accredited college or
university. Your official college transcript showing the
degree awarded must be received to determine any
exemptions.
Special accommodations for placement testing due to
a disability can be made with Disability Services prior
to scheduling a placement test date. Please refer to
the “Information about Special Students” section.
If you are an applicant for the Associate Degree
Nursing, Practical Nursing, Dental Assisting, and
Radiography or Basic Law Enforcement Training
programs, please refer to the specific program for
required placement scores, remediation, and other
criteria used for program admission.
On Testing Day:
• Check in with the staff at the Navigation Station on
either the North or South Campuses area when you
arrive.
• Bring a Picture ID, such as a Driver’s License, Military
ID, State ID Card or Student ID Card
• Bring your Student ID Number - You will not be able
to test without this number. If you cannot locate your
Student ID Number, please ask the Navigation Station
staff for help.
• New Student Orientation
Completing the Rowan-Cabarrus New Student
Orientation is strongly encouraged as a part of the
admission process. This orientation is offered as
a seated, in-person session or as an online session
(through Blackboard). Both formats provide
important information for all students. Please visit
the website at: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/228/
new-student-orientation-general-information/
Residency:
Student residency status is for tuition purposes and is
established by the initial admissions application. The
application for the North Carolina Residency can be found
on our website at: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/492/
application-for-north-carolina-residency/
Appeals related to residency must be issued in writing in
the first 10 class days of the semester. You can find more
information related to our Residency Appeals Process at:
http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/457/residency-appeals-process/
Out-of-State Student
A student who is determined to be a nonresident of North
Carolina is subject to a significantly higher tuition charge
than a resident. An initial residency decision is made
during at the point of application to Rowan-Cabarrus.
A student who is determined to be a nonresident based
on information provided on the application may apply
to have their status reviewed by completing the North
Carolina Residence and Tuition Status Application. This
application must be submitted no later than 10 business
days after the first day of classes for the semester the
student wishes their status to be reviewed. For more
information on Out-of-State Residency Criteria please see
our website at: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/455/in-state-and-out-
of-state-residency-criteria/ Tuition rates are subject to
change by action of the General Assembly.
Admissions and Enrollment
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
16
International Admissions
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College provides educational
opportunities for individuals who may not be citizens
or residents of our regional service area. This school is
authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant
students. Non-immigrant students will be accepted to
begin classes in the fall semester only. To be considered
for admission, an international student must present the
following information to admissions:
• A completed application, received no later than June
15 of the admission year.
• Forward a certified copy of his/her official high
school diploma, transcript from all high schools
and post-secondary institutions the student has
attended, and official U.S. educational evaluation of
the documents. All transcripts from schools outside
the United States must be evaluated by a reputable
evaluation service. A list may be obtained in Student
Services
• Original financial documents are required along with
a statement of financial support from the student’s
sponsor, and a statement from the sponsor’s bank
that there are sufficient funds, $15,000 U.S. dollars, to
support the student. If there is no sponsor, an original
and official document that shows the student has on
deposit sufficient funds to support his/her tenure as a
student ($15,000/year U.S. dollars).
• A minimum score of 500 on the Test of English as a
Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a minimum score of 173
on the computerized version, or a minimum Internet
Based Test (IBT) score of Reading 17, Listening 17,
Speaking 16, and Writing 16. If any single score falls
below the minimum, the IBT will not be considered.
All scores must be received as official documents. No
copies of scores will be accepted. TOEFL test scores
must be within 2 years of the date of admission.
• After all required documentation has been received
by deadline, and after approval by the Director of
Enrollment and Recruitment, the applicant may be
issued his/her I-20.
• After applicant has received the appropriate visa
allowing him/her to enter the U.S., he/she must
present evidence of medical insurance coverage prior
to registration.
NOTE: Rowan-Cabarrus does not have scholarship or loan
funds for international students available at this time. The
college does not provide dormitory facilities.
Admissions and Enrollment
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
17
Admission of High School
Students
Career and College Promise
Currently enrolled high school juniors and seniors who
wish to take college courses through Rowan-Cabarrus may
participate in Career and College Promise Program. To
participate in this program the high school student must
begin the process through their high school guidance
counselor or approved homeschool principal. Students
must select one of four College Transfer Certificate
Pathways or may select a Career Technical Certificate
Pathway.
To qualify for a College Transfer Certificate Pathway, a
student must demonstrate college readiness in English,
mathematics and reading using an approved assessment.
They must also have a 3.0 or higher grade point average
on their high school courses and continue to make
progress towards graduation.
To qualify for a Career Technical Certificate Pathway, a
student must have a 3.0 or higher grade point average or
have the recommendation of a school official.
Career and College Promise students may take one or two
courses each semester as long as they have met the course
prerequisites. Developmental courses are not available to
high school students.
For additional information, please visit the Rowan-
Cabarrus website at:
http://www.rccc.edu/highschool/careercollegepromise/
Early College at Rowan-Cabarrus
Early College is an educational partnership between
Rowan-Cabarrus and school districts in Rowan and
Cabarrus Counties. This partnership provides high school
students an opportunity to earn both high school and
college credits during four years of enrollment in an early
college program. By earning enough credits, a graduating
high school senior could exit high school with an associate
degree and be ready for workforce employment or
transfer to a four-year college or university. The student
must enroll as a high school freshman to pursue this
opportunity. College tuition for early college students is
waived. Early college programs are administered by the
local educational agency (school district) but housed on
the college campus. To learn more information about
early college opportunities in Rowan County, Cabarrus
County, or Kannapolis City Schools, please contact these
school districts.
Registration/Scheduling
The traditional college curriculum operates on the
semester system and uses an online class scheduling tool
known as WebAdvisor. All students enrolled in programs
are expected to register using WebAdvisor - Registration
during the dates scheduled on the Academic Calendar
which can be found on the Rowan-Cabarrus website:
http://www.rccc.edu/recordsregistration/web-advisor-registration-and-
web-support-schedule/. WebAdvisor support sessions
are available to assist students in navigating the use of
WebAdvisor, review of pre-requisite blocks, waivers and
overrides. Students are encouraged to meet with faculty
advisors prior to registration access. Registration is
completed by paying the required tuition and fees for the
courses scheduled. Please refer to the section on tuition
and fees.
For additional information, please visit the Rowan-
Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/corporatecontinuing/
Schedule Changes
At the beginning of fall and spring semesters, there is a
two-day period during which students, who are enrolled
in credit courses, can make schedule changes (Drop/Add).
There is one day at the beginning of summer semester
for students to change schedules. Changes to student
schedules may be done through WebAdvisor or by coming
on campus for assistance at a WebAdvisor support
session. Students wishing to make a change after this time
must see their instructor and program head.
Please contact the Rowan-Cabarrus Admissions Office
for detailed information about student eligibility, course
eligibility, and the required documentation.
Admissions and Enrollment
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
18
General Admission
Information for
Corporate and Continuing
Education http://www.rccc.edu/corporatecontinuing/
Corporate and Continuing Education offers coursework in
the following areas: Adult Basic Education, Compensatory
Education, personal enrichment, and workforce
development. Below are the general requirements for
admission and registration to each area in Corporate
and Continuing Education. Individuals seeking
accommodations should refer to the Special Students
section.
Adult Basic Education Courses
Adult Basic Education consists of courses and laboratory
work to prepare students for the GED exam. Incoming
students must be at least 18 year old. Minors (age 16 or
17) may be enrolled on a “space available” basis only
and with the dean’s approval. People seeking admission
to enter the GED program must contact the Pre-college
studies office (704-216-3510) to get specific enrollment
information. Those under age 18 must receive and
complete an enrollment packet before meeting with
the dean of Pre-college studies for approval to begin
coursework.
Compensatory Education
Compensatory Education is specifically designed to meet
the needs of adults who have intellectual disabilities.
Students in this program must be at least 17 years old.
The purpose of the program is to compensate adults with
intellectual disabilities for the lack of, or inadequate,
education received earlier. The focus of the Compensatory
Education program is on helping the individual become as
independent as possible through acquiring basic and life
skills needed to function successfully in daily living.
Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible to participate in the
Compensatory Education program, an individual must be
17 or older, and (a) diagnosed with mental retardation or
(b) functioning on a level equivalent to mental retardation
resulting from head injury or brain damage.
Classes are offered at no cost to the student and are
currently held at Rowan Vocational Opportunities in
Rowan County, and at the South Campus in Cabarrus
County. Admission and enrollment in this program are
limited. For more information, contact Barbara Gainey
(704-216-3508 or barbara.gainey@rccc.edu).
English as a Second Language (ESL):
ESL classes are designed especially for adults whose
native language is not English and who want to improve
their English. Instruction is offered in listening, speaking,
reading, and writing. ESL classes are provided on campus,
in the community, and in workplace settings.
For more information, please contact Melody McGinnis
(704-216-3521 or melody.mcginnis@rccc.edu).
Personal Enrichment
Personal enrichment courses are offered throughout
the year in all areas of interest ranging from computer
skills courses to physical fitness and wellness courses.
Most of these courses have no admission criteria.
People interested in taking these courses may register
by contacting the Navigation Station for additional
information about the dates, times, locations and costs
associated with these courses. Registration and payment is
available online through Webadvisor. This link is located
on the top right of our website, http://www.rccc.edu/. For
additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus
website at: http://www.rccc.edu/enrichment/
Workforce Development Courses
Continuing Education offers a wide variety of workforce
development courses to the community. Many of these
courses provide not only continuing education credit,
but also certification at local, state or national levels.
Some examples of courses in this area are: CPR, Certified
Nursing Assistant, EMT, Fire Safety, Law Enforcement
certification and recertification, waste water treatment,
and notary training.
Courses are offered throughout the year. Some courses
have prerequisite training or certification which must
be met before enrollment. Please check the college
website or. For additional information, please contact
the Navigation Station for the most current information
related to the specific course or visits the Rowan-Cabarrus
website at: http://www.rccc.edu/corporatecontinuing/
Tuition and fees for these courses are also variable.
Admissions and Enrollment
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
19
Tuition and Fees All students are now able to pay tuition through
WebAdvisor
Tuition, Fees and Related Costs –
Curriculum Courses
Tuition and fees are set by the North Carolina State
Board of Community Colleges and the General Assembly
and are subject to change. Any changes will be effective
beginning each fall semester. Tuition and fees are due at
each registration period by the payment date listed for
each registration period. Please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus
website for the payment dates: http://www.rccc.edu/
recordsregistration/web-advisor-registration-and-web-support-
schedule/
Tuition
Because the state helps pay the tuition of North Carolina
residents out of tax dollars, tuition for North Carolina
residents is $69.00 per credit hour, up to and including 16
credit hours. There will be a maximum tuition charge of
$1,104.00 per semester. Tuition for nonresident students
is charged at the rate of $261.00 per credit hour with a
maximum charge of $4,176.00 per semester. These rates
were effective at the time of printing. Any changes in
tuition will be effective beginning Fall Semester of each
year. The college accepts American Express, Discover,
MasterCard, VISA credit cards for registration payment.
For current tuition rate information, please refer to:
http://www.rccc.edu/onestop//466/tuition-and-fees-for-academic-programs/
2012-2013 Tuition Rates
North Carolina Residents: Non-Resident Students:
Credit Hour Tuition Credit Hour Tuition
1 $ 69.00 1 $ 261.00
2 $ 138.00 2 $ 522.00
3 $ 207.00 3 $ 783.00
4 $ 276.00 4 $1,044.00
5 $ 345.00 5 $1,305.00
6 $ 414.00 6 $1,566.00
7 $ 483.00 7 $1,827.00
8 $ 552.00 8 $2,088.00
9 $ 621.00 9 $2,349.00
10 $ 690.00 10 $2,610.00
11 $ 759.00 11 $2,871.00
12 $ 828.00 12 $3,132.00
13 $ 897.00 13 $3,393.00
14 $ 966.00 14 $3,654.00
15 $1,035.00 15 $3,915.00
16 $1,104.00 16 $4,176.00
Tuition rates are subject to change by action of the
General Assembly
A resident student is generally defined as one whose
legal residence has been in North Carolina for at least 12
months before enrollment or re-enrollment in the college.
Senior Citizens (age 65 and older)
Tuition shall be waived for up to six credit hours per
academic semester for senior citizens age 65 or older who
are qualified as legal residents of North Carolina. If an
eligible senior citizen enrolls for more than six (6), but
less than sixteen (16) credit hours in a given semester,
he/she shall be charged the regular tuition rate for the
maximum of 10 credit hours. Senior citizens will be
charged fees as any other regularly enrolled student
Fees
Campus Access Fee
All students pay a campus access flat fee of $20.00 per
semester/term which supports parking, security systems,
student accident insurance, remote notification and
public safety infrastructure, and other enhancements of
access to college facilities. This fee is refundable only if
the student completely drops all courses by the refund
deadline as published in the Academic Calendar.
Technology Fee
Students at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College pay a
technology fee for each of the fall and spring semesters,
and summer term. Technology fees cover the cost of
instructional supplies, materials, computers and other
technology support. Technology fees are charged on a
pro-rata basis depending on the number of credit hours
for which the student is enrolled as follows:
7+ credit hours ................................ $16.00 per semester
1-6 credit hours ................................ $ 8.00 per semester
Student Activity Fee
Students at Rowan-Cabarrus are required to pay a $28.00
activity fee for fall and spring semesters (regardless of
the number of credit hours enrolled). This fee covers
student activities coordinated by the Student Government
Association (SGA). Students pay a $6.00 activity fee for
summer term, regardless of the number of credit hours
for which the student is enrolled.
Graduation Fee
Curriculum students will pay a $5.00 fee each semester
per graduate, regardless of participation in the ceremony,
to offset the costs of degree, diploma, or certificate
production and diploma cover, as well as cover the
cap and gown cost for the ceremony. This fee is non-refundable.
GED graduates will be charged a graduation
fee if they participate in the ceremony
Lab Fee
Curriculum students will pay a lab fee for courses that
have an associated lab. The fee will range from $5.00 to
$15.00.
Admissions and Enrollment
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
20
Professional Liability Insurance
Cosmetology, Early Childhood Education, Dental, Nursing,
Radiography students are required to purchase student
professional liability insurance which is available for
approximately $13.00 per year. Students in Continuing
Education courses which require patient care or direct
client service are also required to have professional
liability insurance. The Rowan-Cabarrus Cashier’s Office
can provide additional information about this fee.
ART/Photography Fee
Students choosing to enroll in ART 261 – Photography I
will be charge a material fee of $170 to cover expenses
including, but not limited to: Film, printing paper,
chemistry and facility rental.
Ceramics Fee
Students choosing to enroll in ART 283 will be charged
$210.50 to cover the cost of facility usage and materials.
MSM/Motorsports Fee
Students choosing to enroll in specific MSM courses
located in SMP will incur an additional $80 lab fee to
cover off-campus industry facility experience.
Official Transcript Fee
Beginning Fall 2013, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
will be using Transcripts on Demand by SCRIP-SAFE
International as its trusted agent for processing transcript
requests. This process is completely secure and will be
delivered to your intended recipient electronically. Refer
to our website for updated information.
Retest Fee
Students choosing to retest will pay a fee to cover at
minimum the actual cost of the test. The cost will vary
depending on the test or inventory type. A minimum fee
of $5.00 will be charged for each retest session. This fee
does not apply to GED testing/retesting. This fee is non-refundable.
Nursing Testing Fee
All nursing students are required to pay a fee for testing
services. This fee is billed for the NUR course at the time
of registration. Please refer to the individual Nursing
Programs of Study for estimated program costs by
semester.
Tuition Refund Policy
Tuition, as well as the refund policy, are set by the
North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges and
the General Assembly, and are subject to change. The
following is the tuition refund policy:
• A 100 percent refund shall be made if the student
officially withdraws prior to the first day of class(es)
of the academic semester or term as noted in the
academic calendar.
• A student is eligible for a 100 percent refund if the
class in which the student is officially registered is
cancelled due to insufficient enrollment.
• A 75 percent refund shall be made if the student
officially withdraws from the class(es) prior to or on
the official 10 percent point of the semester.
• For classes beginning at times other than the first
week (seven calendar days) of the semester a 100
percent refund shall be made if the student officially
withdraws from the class prior to the first class
meeting. A 75 percent refund shall be made if the
student officially withdraws from the class prior to or
on the 10 percent point of the class.
Official withdrawal for a refund involves completing the
proper online withdrawal and drop form located at http://
www.rccc.edu/onestop/online-drop-form prior to or on
the “10 percent” point of the semester. Students must
request a refund in writing prior to or no later than the
“10 percent” date of the semester.
As required by State Law, any student registered for any
class as of the first day of the semester, will be responsible
for 25% of tuition, even if the student does not enter the
class(es). Students who do not plan to attend, must drop
by submitting the Online Withdrawal Form.
Any student enrolled who is in the military reserve or
National Guard who may be called to Active Duty that
makes it impossible for them to complete their course
requirements, will be granted a full refund for military
purposes. The student must provide official deployment
documentation before reporting to or upon their return
from service, to the Director of Registration & Records for
a refund to be considered.
See the Academic Calendar on the college website for the
“10 percent” date of each semester. Refund information
is available online at: http://www.rccc.edu/events/category/
academic-calendar-2012-2013/
Admissions and Enrollment
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
21
Senior Citizens (age 65 and older)
Tuition shall be waived for up to six credit hours per
academic semester for senior citizens age 65 or older who
are qualified as legal residents of North Carolina. If an
eligible senior citizen enrolls for more than six (6), but less
than sixteen (16) credit hours in a given semester, he/she
shall be charged the regular tuition rate for the maximum
of 10 credit hours. Senior citizens will be charged fees as
any other regularly enrolled student.
Textbooks and Supplies
The cost of textbooks and supplies varies with the
program of study. These items may be purchased from
the college bookstore. The bookstore accepts MasterCard
and VISA credit cards for payment of textbooks and other
merchandise.
Admissions and Enrollment
Financial Aid and Veterans
Benefits
Financial Aid
Many students seek some form of financial aid to help
meet their college expenses. Students seeking college
degrees, diplomas and most certificates may qualify for
state or federal assistance. Individuals taking continuing
education coursework, certain curriculum certificate
programs, and special credit majors (undeclared or non-degree
seeking) are not eligible to receive state or federal
grants or loans.
Financial aid programs are available in the form of
scholarships, grants, loans and work study programs.
Financial Aid in Student Services can provide you with
specific information. You can qualify for financial aid if
you:
• are accepted for admission in an eligible programs as
a student; and
• show eligibility by completion of the online FAFSA
(Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form:
www.fafsa.gov
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s school code for
the FAFSA is 005754 for all campuses. Check the Rowan-
Cabarrus website for additional and detailed information:
http://www.rccc.edu/financialaid.
The college serves as a referral agency for:
Veterans Benefits
Social Security
Vocational Rehabilitation
Department of Social Services
Department of Commerce, Employment Services
The college serves as a disbursing or coordinating agency
for:
Federal Direct Student Loans
Federal Direct Parent Loans
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grants (SEOG)
Federal Pell Grant
North Carolina Education Lottery Grant
North Carolina Community College Grant
Scholarships
Various scholarship opportunities are available through
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Check the Rowan-
Cabarrus website - http://www.rccc.edu/scholarships/ often
for updated scholarship information. Most scholarship
applications are available in the spring of each year for
the following fall semester.
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
22 Admissions and Enrollment
The Financial Aid office can provide you with information
on other types of aid which may be available. In addition
to scholarships and grants, many Rowan-Cabarrus
Community College students are employed through the
federal college work study programs on a part-time basis
in offices, labs, libraries, or other campus locations. Work
study compensation counts as part of your financial aid
package.
Applications for financial aid are accepted throughout the
year, and assistance will be given as funds are available.
Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
Check the website (www.rccc.edu/financialaid/terms) for the
specific requirements regarding Satisfactory Academic
Progress.
For more information on financial aid, loans and
scholarships, contact Financial Aid, 704-216-RCCC (7222).
Financial Aid and Scholarship Refunds
Students that have funds remaining after tuition, books,
and fees charges are paid receive the remaining balance
usually within in 6-8 weeks of the beginning of the
semester. Every curriculum student will receive a My
RCCC Card in the mail from HigherOne. Upon activation
of the card, students will receive the disbursement on the
debit card or into their personal checking/savings account
depending on the preference the student selects when
activating their My RCCC Card. Students receive the card
at no charge however, replacement fees may apply.
Textbook Purchases
Students with financial aid or scholarship awards may
purchase textbooks and supplies through the on campus
bookstore. Rental books for selected classes are available
with a credit card on file. Rental options are not available
for financial aid and scholarship recipients.
U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Benefits
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College programs are
approved by the North Carolina State Approving Agency
for the enrollment of persons eligible for education
assistance benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA). Entitled veterans, eligible spouses, and
dependent children who have applied, met all admission
requirements, been fully accepted, and have registered
for classes, may be CERTIFIED to the U.S. DVA Atlanta,
Georgia office as enrolled and in pursuit of an approved
program of education.
It is the responsibility of the veteran to request from
the last high school and all colleges attended that an
official transcript(s) be sent directly from the school to
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Students cannot be
certified to receive benefits until all transcripts have been
received and evaluated. Students may be certified only
for the classes required for completion in their approved
program of study.
Veterans receive educational benefits on the following
basis:
• Arts and Sciences Courses - Credit Hours per Week
• Occupational Courses - Credit Hours per Week
• Tele-Course, Hybrid or Internet courses may change
your eligible credit hour certification.
Check the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College website
http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/tag/veteran-benefits/ for additional
information.
Grades and Progress Reports
Records of progress are kept by this institution on veteran
and non-veteran students alike. Progress records are
furnished to the students, veterans, and non-veterans
alike at the end of each scheduled school term through
WebAdvisor.
Rowan-Cabarrus is a Service-member Opportunity College
(SOC). Students who may have transferable credit are
encouraged to submit their documents to the Rowan-
Cabarrus Records and Registration area of Student
Services. Refer to the catalog section on Academic Policies
and Procedures.
Navigation Station
Navigation Station is more than a place... it’s a philosophy.
You come to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to
learn and not to run from office to office taking care of
the administrative details of your education. Navigation
Station brings together a host of administrative services
under one roof so that you can get back to the business of
being a student!
Stop here for everything you need to get registered and
pay for your classes. We can help you every step of the
way, from filing financial aid forms and understanding
your payment options, to registering for classes,
requesting a transcript, or completing an application
for graduation. You can make an appointment with an
academic advisor and find out about your holds and how
to remove them. Are you having a life event and need to
speak to someone, one of our counselors is here to listen.
The Navigation Station offer extended hours at both our
North and South Campuses to meet your needs. Individual
services are scheduled by location, please check out our
website for details.
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
23
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
24
Academic Policies
and Procedures
Confidentiality of Student Records: FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
(FERPA) is a Federal law that governs the maintenance of
student records. This act, with which the college intends
to comply fully, protects the privacy of educational
records, establishes the right for students enrolled to
inspect records kept by the college about the student
and the right to correct inaccuracies in the records.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College recognizes its
responsibilities to students in maintaining accurate and
confidential student records. Access to the records by
persons other than the student is limited and generally
requires prior consent by the student. Rowan-Cabarrus
Community College adopted a written policy governing
the rights of parents and students under the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Directory Information
FERPA does allow that Rowan-Cabarrus officials may
disclose appropriately designated “directory information”
without student written consent. Directory information
is information contained in a student’s education record
that is not generally considered harmful or an invasion
of privacy if released. Rowan-Cabarrus officials declare
the following items as directory information which can
be made available to the public. Students may request
to withhold directory information, except where it is
required on campus, by notifying the director of records
and registration in writing within the first five days after
student enrollment that such information is not to be
made available.
• Student’s name
• Address
• Telephone listing
• Date of birth
• Field of study
• Dates of attendance
• Degrees, diplomas or certificates awarded
Academic Load - Students
A full-time student is one who is enrolled in 12 or more
credit hours of course work per semester. Average full-time
enrollment for most students will vary between 15
and 18 hours of credit. Students who wish to carry more
than 21 credit hours must have prior approval from the
vice president of enrollment and the student experience
unless their curriculum requirements, as stated in the
catalog, require more than 21 hours in a particular
semester. Course schedules and course loads should be
carefully planned through consultation with a counselor
and approved by the student’s faculty advisor. Note: The
NC General Assembly has set tuition and registration fees
on a “per credit hour” basis with a maximum charge for
16 credit hours. Please see Tuition and Fees section of this
catalog for further details.
Attendance Requirements
A student is expected to attend every class for which he/
she is scheduled and to arrive on time. Instructors will
keep an accurate record of class attendance. All students
must attend class during the first week of classes or forfeit
their seat in the course. Distance education students are
expected to log-in to their distance education courses
during the first week of classes and submit an assignment
as required. Please refer to the Distance Education
website for more information. The student is responsible
for contacting his/her instructor when unavoidable
absences occur, and for maintaining contact every few
days during any necessary extended absence. Students are
responsible for withdrawing from any class, if they find
they will be unable to complete an academic term. The
student must complete and submit the online withdrawal
form located at http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/online-drop-form/
when officially withdrawing from a class after the
“10 percent” point of the academic semester/term.
Instructional time missed is a serious deterrent to
learning. A student is responsible for fulfilling the
requirements of the course by attending all classes
(including shops, labs, and clinics) and completing
course assignments. Failure to maintain contact with
the instructor for the equivalent of two weeks either
by attending classes, submitting assignments, and/or
meeting with the instructor in person or by telephone,
may result in a grade of “F” being issued for the course.
In some cases, an exception may be granted. The student
must contact the instructor if there are extenuating
circumstances such as an accident, illness, or death in the
family.
Some programs and courses at Rowan-Cabarrus
Community College may have more stringent attendance
requirements due to the nature of a course or program.
These requirements are stated in the program description
or course syllabus. Students will be informed in writing
during the first class meeting of specific attendance
requirements. Class attendance is calculated from the first
officially scheduled class meeting (includes the drop/add
period) through the last scheduled meeting.
Class Schedules
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College schedules traditional
seated classes between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., Monday
through Thursday; and between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on
Friday. Saturday classes may also be offered. Credit
courses are offered during the day and during the
evening hours from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. The purpose of
offering credit courses both day and evening is to provide
flexibility in scheduling and optimum availability of
courses. Schedule and course information are published
by the college the prior to each semester and are available
on the college’s website at: www.rccc.edu. Non-credit
Occupational Extension and Community Service courses
are also offered both day and evening.
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
25
Program Advisors
Each student enrolled in a program has access to a
program advisor or advising group who assists the
student in planning course schedules. The student may
seek assistance from any program advisor in his/her
particular program of study. The program advisor assists
the student in evaluating his/her academic progress and
suggests improvements or schedule changes. Program
advisors and students are strongly encouraged to develop
an educational plan of work.
Schedule Changes
At the beginning of fall and spring semester, there is a
two-day period during which students, who are enrolled
in credit courses, can make schedule changes (drop/add).
There is one day at the beginning of summer semester,
which students may make changes to schedules. Changes
to student schedules may be done through WebAdvisor
or by coming on campus for assistance at a WebAdvisor
support session.
Withdrawal Policy
If a student withdraws from a class after the end of the
drop/add period and before the 65% point in the class,
he/she will receive a grade of “W.” A Grade of “W”
will appear on the student’s transcript, but will not be
considered as hours attempted in the accumulated Grade-
Point Average. If a student does not withdraw before the
65% point in the class, the student will receive a grade
of “F” or the grade earned. Courses may be dropped at
any time during the schedule change period of the class.
Courses dropped during schedule change (drop/add)
period will not appear on the student’s academic record.
Once a student has enrolled in class and has paid fees,
that student remains a member of the class unless:
Student Withdrawal - The student officially withdraws
from the course by completing the necessary printed or
web form available at the following website address:
http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/online-drop-form/
Faculty Withdrawal - An instructor will withdraw
the student if the student has not attended courses for
two consecutive weeks (or 12.5% of course duration), of
scheduled course meetings during a 16 week semester
whereby the student has not attempted intentional,
ongoing communication with the instructor in person, via
telephone, or campus email, to discuss the circumstances
of the ongoing absence and plan their efforts to complete
missed assignments
Administrative Withdrawal - Administrative
withdrawal may be implemented as part of mediated
resolution to violations of the Campus Code of Conduct
and appropriate documentation may appear on the
student’s official transcript, as needed.
Medical Withdrawal - Students may request a medical
withdrawal based on injury, illness, or psychological/
psychiatric disorder. A Medical Withdrawal will be
granted for all courses in the enrolled semester. Medical
Withdrawals will not be granted for individual course(s).
A Medical Withdrawal request must be made prior to
future enrollment.
Military Withdrawal - A student may withdraw
from courses due to call for Active Duty for military
purposes. The student must provide official deployment
documentation before reporting to or upon their return
from service, to the Director of Registration & Records.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College reserves the right to
make changes in the regulations, courses, fees, and other
matters of policy and procedure when necessary.
Grading
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College operates on a
grade-point system, and each student’s academic standing
is established by a grade point average (GPA) which is
determined by numerical values assigned to each grade.
At the end of each semester, students will access final
grades via WebAdvisor based on the following scale.
Health programs and developmental studies courses are
graded on a variation of this scale.
Grade Grade Explanation Quality Points
A 93-100 Excellent 4 quality points per
semester hour
B 85-92 Good 3 quality points per
semester hour
C 77-84 Average 2 quality points per
semester hour
D 70-76 1 quality point per
semester hour
F <76 Failing 0 quality points
I Incomplete 0 quality points
W Withdrawn 0 quality points
AU Audit 0 quality points
CE Credit by 0 quality points
R Developmental Course 0 quality points
Is this information below still accurate?
*In the Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing
programs, numerical grades below 77 (C) in all required
courses are considered unsatisfactory attainment of
course competencies. For students enrolled in the
Radiography and Dental Assisting programs, numerical
grades below 77 (C) in Radiography (RAD), Dental
Assisting (DEN), and Biology (BIO) courses are considered
unsatisfactory attainment of course competencies. In
these instances, students will not be allowed to continue
in the program. All health program students should refer
to the specific program handbook regarding the minimum
grade to be earned for program progression.
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
26
In Developmental Studies courses, a grade of 77 or
above is required for satisfactory completion. Students
earning numerical grades below 77 will receive the grade
of “R” (Repeat) and must register again for the course.
Developmental Studies courses are noncredit courses and
are not included in the Grade-Point Average (GPA).
Grade Appeal Procedure
Students may appeal a grade awarded in a course by
using the grade appeal procedure found on the College
website: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/794/rccc-grade-appeal-request/.
Students must issue the request for appeal within
10 business days of receiving a grade or forfeit the right to
appeal.
Grade of Incomplete (I)
A grade of Incomplete (I) may be assigned by the
instructor for any student who’s coursework is of passing
quality which represents a significant amount of the
requirements for a final grade, but is incomplete due to
recent illness, accident, or recent death in the immediate
family. Students, who need additional time to complete
the objectives of a course due to either of these unusual
circumstances beyond the student’s control, should
contact the Instructor and request a grade of incomplete.
All work that is incomplete must be submitted and graded
by the end of the following semester/term.
The grade of “I” is computed in the Grade-Point Average
as “0” quality points. However, when a student completes
the provisions necessary for the removal of an “I,” the “I”
will be removed from the student’s record and replaced
with the grade earned. The GPA will then be recomputed
using the grade earned. If course requirements are
not met by the deadline given, the grade of “I” will
automatically be changed to a grade of “F.” The student
must register again for the course.
Any student who has a grade of “I” in any course at the
end of the term will not be considered for Scholastic
Honors for that semester/term. To not jeopardize this
honorable mention, it is recommended that students not
delay completing all course objectives by the deadline
agreed upon by the instructor and student.
Grade-Point Average (GPA)
The GPA for one semester is obtained by the following
method: The quality points for each course are found by
multiplying the appropriate grade point value for the
grade earned by the semester hour credits assigned to
the course. The total grade points for all courses in the
grading period are added. Dividing the total of the grade
points by the total of the semester credit hours gives the
grade-point average for the semester.
Example:
Course Grade Credit Hours Grade Points
BIO 168 A 4 = 16
ENG 111 B 3 = 9
PSY 150 B 3 = 9
ACA 122 C 2 = 6
MAT 161 D 3 = 3
TOTAL 15 TOTAL 43
GPA 43 / 15 = 2.86
Grade of “A” earned on a three-semester hour credit
course equals 12 grade points.
Cumulative Grade-Point Average
The cumulative GPA is determined by using the total
grade points in two or more semesters divided by the total
course credits attempted in two or more semesters.
Academic Standards
Students must maintain satisfactory academic standards.
Academic evaluation of student performance occurs at
the end of each semester. This evaluation may be neither
arbitrary nor capricious and must be consistent with
previously announced criteria. Minimum satisfactory
academic performance is defined as maintaining a
cumulative Grade-Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 (a
grade of “C”).
Advising Students Who Experience
Academic Difficulty
Instructors are responsible for keeping students informed
regularly about their progress in individual courses,
with specific responsibility to expedite the reporting
of student performance at each measurement point
(chapter tests, mid-terms, finals, etc.). Instructors and
advisors are responsible for assisting students who are
experiencing academic difficulty. Advice to help students
improve performance may include, but is not limited
to, completing developmental education courses or
subcomponents of developmental programs, carrying
a reduced course load, special tutoring, or repeating
selected courses. Semester grade reports are sent to all
students. The faculty advisor and student should arrange
a conference with a counselor whenever the nature
of a student’s academic difficulty is beyond the scope
of the instructor or faculty advisor’s ability to assist.
Failure to maintain satisfactory academic standards will
result in academic probation and can result in academic
suspension.
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
27
Academic Probation
A student who fails to maintain satisfactory academic
standards at the end of any term will automatically
be placed on academic probation for the next term. A
student placed on academic probation will not be allowed
to register and/or begin class until the student has (a)
participated in an Academic Probation Workshop or (b)
met with a Student Services counselor. Either of these
establishes corrective conditions to help the student
achieve satisfactory performance while continuing
probationary enrollment. The hold on registration/class
attendance would then be lifted and documentation of the
corrective actions placed in the student’s file. A student
on academic probation who fails to achieve satisfactory
academic standards by the end of the academic
probationary term is subject to academic suspension and
will not be allowed to register for the next term without
the permission of the vice president of enrollment and the
student experience or his or her designee.
Academic Suspension
At the end of each semester, the counseling staff from
the direction of the director of counseling and career
services will review the cases of all students on academic
probation who failed to achieve satisfactory academic
standards. Unless they are able to document individual
cases of extenuating or mitigating circumstances that, in
their professional judgment, justify extending academic
probation for another semester, a recommendation for
academic suspension may be made to the vice president
of enrollment and the student experience. After one
semester of academic suspension, a student may also
apply for readmission to the program from which he or
she has been academically suspended if the sequence of
course offerings make readmission possible.
Academic Appeals Committee
Appeals of academic suspension will be referred by the
vice president of enrollment and the student experience
to the academic appeals committee no later than five days
after receipt. The appeals committee will be comprised
of the vice president, the student’s advisor, a counselor,
two students selected by the Student Government
Association, and the program head of the program from
which the student has been suspended. If the academic
appeals committee reverses suspension, the student will
be afforded an opportunity to make up all work missed
during the appeal process.
Scholastic Honors
The following academic honors lists are posted each
semester on the Rowan- Cabarrus website:
http://www.rccc.edu/studentservices/scholastic-honors/. More
information on the following academic honors lists may
be obtained from student services.
President’s List
A full-time student achieving a grade-point average of 4.0
for the semester will be recognized on the President’s List.
To be eligible for the President’s List, the student must
be a full-time student enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit
hours.
Dean’s List
A full-time student obtaining a grade-point average of 3.5
or above for the semester will be recognized on the Dean’s
List. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, the student must
be a full-time student enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit
hours.
Honors List
A student obtaining a grade-point average of 3.0 or above
for the semester will be recognized on the Honor’s List.
To be eligible for the Honor’s List, the student must be
enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours.
Note: Since Developmental Courses are non-credit
courses, they are not included in the total hours required
for Scholastic Honors.
Course Residency Requirement
A minimum of 25% of the total number of credit hours
required for graduation in a particular program must be
taken at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. No more
than 75% of required credit hours can be accepted for
transfer credit.
Course Substitution
In an attempt to meet graduation requirements, it is
sometimes necessary to substitute one course for another.
A student may request credit for a course required in his/
her program of study based on successful completion of
a substitute course. The course requested must be equal
in credit and comparable in value. Action upon such
substitutions must be initiated by the student’s faculty
advisor, who submits the request to the appropriate
Program Head, Dean and Academic Vice President for
approval. A student may substitute up to a maximum of
five courses.
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
28
Course Repeat Rule
Students may repeat one time a course for which they
received credit regardless of the grade received unless
specified in the curriculum. Although both grades will
appear on the student’s record, only the higher grade will
be counted toward the cumulative grade-point average.
For students receiving Veteran’s Benefits, approval is
required prior to repeating any course for which a final
grade of “F” was received. This can only be done once per
course. If a passing grade of “D” or better was received,
the course cannot be repeated for Veteran’s Benefits.
Courses for which a grade of “W” was received, may be
repeated for Veteran’s Benefits, providing the student’s
cumulative GPA indicates overall satisfactory progress
to date. Approvals will be communicated through the
campus Veteran’s Benefits officer.
Auditing Courses
An audit is the completion of a course for which no
assessment is made or grade awarded. Students who wish
to audit courses must register and pay tuition and fees
associated with those courses. Financial Aid will not pay
for any course that is registered as an audit.
If an audit is not declared at the time of registration,
students must obtain approval from the instructor of the
class no later than the “10 percent” point of the semester.
Students auditing courses receive no academic credit but
are encouraged to attend class, participate in discussions,
and take examinations. Normal attendance policies will
apply. Students withdrawing during the semester will
be given a grade of “W.” Audited coursework will not be
considered for transfer credit toward any other Rowan-
Cabarrus program. Audited courses are not eligible for
transfer credit to another institution.
Tests and Final Examinations
Tests and quizzes (oral and written), including
comprehensive final exams, are given by the instructor in
accordance with the approved course syllabus.
Transfer of Credits - College Coursework
Transcripts from other regionally accredited institutions
may be evaluated for transfer credit. Awarding of credits
earned at a non-regionally accredited institution will be
reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
A student who wishes to have transfer credit evaluated
by Rowan-Cabarrus Community College should request
an official transcript from the transferring institution be
sent to admissions student services. Courses submitted for
transfer credit must be equivalent to offerings at Rowan-
Cabarrus. Exceptions to the transfer of credits may be
made by the appropriate program chair and the academic
vice president. Only courses with grades of a “C” or higher
will be accepted for transfer, provided the courses are
applicable to the curriculum of interest. Quality points
will not be transferred. No more than 75% of required
credit hours can be accepted for transfer credit.
Credit may also be awarded for appropriate scores on
subject areas of the College Level Examination Program
(CLEP), the Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), or
the Advanced Placement (AP) Program. Official test results
should be submitted to the Admissions Office. Ordinarily,
full credit will be transferred for similar courses if the
numbers of credit hours in the two courses under review
are the same.
Students receiving an Associate in Arts, Associate in
Science, or Associate in Fine Arts degree from Rowan-
Cabarrus will find those credits transferable to most
colleges and universities. Students receiving an Associate
in Applied Science degree will find their credits
transferable to most private colleges in our area. Students
should consult the receiving institution to determine the
credits that will transfer from the program in which they
are enrolled. A student may obtain general information
about cooperative programs from the admissions office,
and is responsible for seeking specifics and complete
requirements from the school that awards the degree.
Rowan-Cabarrus is a Service-members Opportunity
College (SOC) which means members of the military
may receive academic credit for education and training
completed while in service. Students should provide the
necessary documents to the student services, records and
registration area for evaluation.
Transfer of Credits - Professional
Certificates
An enrolling student may request that professional
certificates with appropriate documentation be evaluated
for full or partial course credit within his/her major.
Additional criteria may be required along with the
certificate to receive full course credit. For each area
of certification, the appropriate program head will
determine the Rowan-Cabarrus course equivalencies and
corresponding certification required for credit.
The student should notify the program head of which
course(s) the professional certification is to be applied by
submitting the original professional certificate for review.
The student should submit this information during the
admissions process; however, a professional certification
can be submitted at any time during the student’s
enrollment at the college. The program head will complete
the credit by professional certification form and submit it
to the appropriate academic dean for approval, along with
a copy of the certification. Once approved by the dean, the
documentation will be sent to student services’ records
department for assignment of credit to the permanent
record. No more than 75% of required credit hours for
a degree or diploma can be accepted for credit in this
manner. Professional certifications should be current, and
program heads can provide information regarding time
limits (i.e. within last five years) in order for credits to be
awarded for a particular program of study.
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
29
Rowan-Cabarrus Programs of Study accepting appropriate
Professional Certificates:
Air Conditioning
Heating and Refrigeration
Automotive Systems Technology
Computer Information Technology
Computer Programming
Construction Management
Electrical/Electronic Technology
Machining Technology
Medical Office Administration
Networking Technology
Office Systems Technology
Web Technologies
Welding Technology
Please check the Rowan-Cabarrus website for updates and
revisions to the technical programs of study that accept
professional certifications for full or partial course credit.
Examples of Professional Certifications and related
Programs of Study:
Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Program
Certificates – Automotive Systems Technology
Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) Credentials –
Office Systems Technology
Medical Office Administration Degree or Diploma
Credit by Examination
Students enrolling at the college who believe they are
proficient in a subject due to Continuing Education Units
(CEUs), life experiences or professional certifications may
request credit by examination. The examination may be
written, oral, a performance test, or a combination of
these.
To seek credit by examination, a student should obtain
guidance from his/her faculty advisor, approval from
the program head of the course in question, and must be
registered for the course for which credit by examination
is sought.
The examination for credit must be administered by the
instructor during the first eight class days of the semester.
Tuition and Fees for credit by examination are the same
as for regular enrollment. If the examination is completed
satisfactorily with a grade of “C” or better, the instructor
will then complete a credit by examination form and
forward it to the director of records for a grade of “CE”
to be awarded. A student who is unsuccessful with the
examination may not request a second attempt, but may
remain in the course through completion of the semester.
The decision of the examining faculty is final.
Credits earned by examination will be entered on the
student’s permanent record, but quality points will not be
awarded for such credit. Credits earned by examination
may be used to satisfy graduation requirements but
cannot be used to satisfy the policy stating 25% of the
credits required for graduation must be taken at Rowan-
Cabarrus Community College. Hours earned by credit by
examination will not be used to satisfy VA or Pell Grant
requirements. Hours earned by credit by examination
are not transferable to other colleges. For further
information, contact the program head of your area of
study or student services.
Students receiving financial aid, scholarships or third
party payment of tuition are responsible for checking
with the financial aid office before requesting credit by
examination.
Advanced Placement for High School
Courses
Students entering Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
from Rowan-Salisbury Schools, Cabarrus County Schools,
and Kannapolis City Schools may be awarded advanced
placement credit as provided in agreements between
these school systems and Rowan-Cabarrus Community
College. Advanced placement may also be awarded to
those students taking appropriate high school coursework
and meeting guidelines established by the High School
to College Agreement between the N.C. Department
of Public Instruction and the N.C. Community College
System. Advanced placement credit based on high school
achievement may be allowed to students enrolling
in specified programs. Details concerning specific
requirements are available from counselors at the high
schools and at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
Degree, Diploma, and Certificate
Requirements
Students who successfully complete a two-year technical
education program will earn the Associate in Applied
Science Degree. Students who complete the Arts and
Sciences program will earn the Associate in Arts or
Associate in Science Degree. The Diploma is awarded
to students who satisfactorily complete a one-year
vocational program or the general education core for
the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science program.
Students who satisfactorily complete programs of study
less than a year in length are awarded a Certificate.
A student is scholastically eligible for graduation when he/
she has satisfied the specific requirements of the college
and the program for which he/she is enrolled, completed
a minimum of 25% of required hours in residence at
Rowan-Cabarrus, and has earned a program grade point
average of at least 2.0. A student may graduate using
the catalog under which he/she initially enrolled or the
current catalog. A student not enrolled for 12 consecutive
months (or more) will re-enter under the current catalog.
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
30
Graduation Events
Graduation exercises to award degrees, diplomas, and
certificates are held at the end of the spring semester.
The specific date of graduation is listed in the Academic
Calendar. Graduation rate information for Rowan-
Cabarrus Community College is available on the college
website (www.rccc.edu) and in student services.
For more information on graduation please see our
website at: http://www.rccc.edu/admissions/graduation-information/
Graduation Honors
Students who earn a grade-point average of 3.0 through
3.49 out of a possible 4.0 in their course of study will
graduate With Honors. Those students who earn a 3.5 and
higher out of a possible 4.0 in their course of study will
graduate With High Honors. Those students who earn
a 4.0 in their course of study will graduate with Highest
Honors.
Outstanding Student Awards
These awards are made to the graduates who have
distinguished themselves by being most outstanding
in terms of scholastic achievement, performance, and
maturity of purpose during their program of instruction
at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. One student may
be recognized for each program.
Student Records
Student Services keeps complete student records. Each
student, however, is responsible for making certain that
all of the requirements for graduation have been met.
For that reason, students are encouraged to check their
records periodically, especially prior to registration for
their last semester.
Transcript Request Policy
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), students and former students
needing official copies of their academic transcript must
request them from the Student Services Office. The
request must bear the original signature in pen and ink
by the student, to include the name and address of the
institution or individual who is to receive the transcript.
Faxed requests will be honored only if the transcript is
forwarded directly to the college or university. Phone
requests are not acceptable. The first two transcript
requests are free of charge. Any thereafter are charged
$8.00 per transcript request.
Effective Fall 2013, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
will begin using Transcripts on Demand by SCRIP-SAFE
International as its trusted agent for processing online
transcript requests. This process is completely secure and
will be delivered to your intended recipient electronically.
You may find more information on at www.rccc.edu
regarding transcript requests once this new procedure is
in place. Students requesting a printed copy for pick up
at RCCC will require a two day processing time. These
requests will be charged $10.00 per transcript payable
prior to printing. These requests may be made at
http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/626/transcript-request-form/.
Special Students
General Information about Special
Students
All students are special at Rowan-Cabarrus Community
College; however, some students have special needs. This
section addresses the following: services for students
with disabilities, enrollment and registration for senior
citizens, enrollment and registration for sex offenders,
special credit students, and undocumented persons.
Disability Services
Policies Regarding Students with
Disabilities
Disability services at Rowan-Cabarrus are offered to assist
students with disabilities in achieving their educational
and vocational goals and to comply with section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990. The college’s goal is to make
Rowan-Cabarrus accessible for all students. In order
to minimize the effects of a student’s disability on his/
her classroom performance, a reasonable adjustment or
accommodation is provided as long as an accommodation
or an adjustment does not alter a published course
competency or course standard. Services are provided
based on documentation provided by the student and the
individual’s particular need and circumstance.
It is the mission of Disability Services for students with
disabilities to have equal access to learning at Rowan
Cabarrus Community College. Believing that students with
disabilities can better advocate for their own needs with
greater success, the office of Disability Services strives to
empower students at every step.
Request for Assistance or Accommodation
Students seeking assistance or accommodation are
responsible for making their disability known to the
disability services counselors in student services.
Students may elect to disclose a disability at any time.
Rowan-Cabarrus may not seek out and identify students
with disabilities. Disability services provides support
services in curriculum, continuing education and pre-college
courses. Because disability accommodations are
not automatic and often require specific arrangements,
students seeking disability accommodations should
make contact with disability Services for any additional
information as soon as possible.
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
31
Students are encouraged to contact disability services as
soon as possible. Requests for accommodations should be
made at least three weeks prior to the first day of class for
which the accommodations are requested.
All attempts will be made, but without minimal
advance notice, Rowan-Cabarrus cannot assure that all
appropriate accommodations can be accomplished prior
to the first class.
Required Documentation
Students seeking assistance or accommodation must
provide documentation from an appropriate professional.
Required documentation includes the results of medical,
psychological, educational and/or emotional diagnostic
tests or evaluations that verify both the need for
accommodation, and the specific type of accommodation
requested. Specific documentation guidelines are
available through disability services.
Documentation will be considered confidential and
will be maintained by disability services. Disability
documentation is not a part of the academic record. This
information will be considered confidential and is to be
shared within the institution on a need-to-know basis
only. Disability records may be destroyed five years after
the student’s last enrollment.
For students with learning or other non-apparent
disabilities, documentation should be current, which
is generally considered no older than three years.
Students who provide documentation showing a history
of disability may be granted accommodations for one
semester in order to allow the student an opportunity to
update older documentation; however, accommodation
beyond one semester will be dependent upon the student
providing current documentation.
Rowan-Cabarrus may also require an updated evaluation
or assessment of disability.
Accommodation Plan
Upon a student’s request for accommodation and a
review of appropriate documentation, the student
and a disability services counselor will develop an
accommodation plan in consultation with faculty as
appropriate or necessary. The plan will outline specific
accommodations or adjustments. These may include
physical, testing, instructional, academic support and/or
equipment accommodations. Requested accommodations
must be supported by documentation.
The accommodation plan may include a pre-determined
schedule of meetings to monitor progress with a disability
services counselor. A copy will remain on file with
disability services.
The accommodation plan must be reviewed and/
or updated with each semester registration.
Accommodations are not automatic and must be
requested in advance. Accommodations will not be
granted retroactively.
Students are expected to maintain contact with disability
services as to the implementation and effectiveness of
specific accommodations. Students should immediately
report any concern regarding their accommodation plan
to disability services.
Rowan-Cabarrus does not provide services of a personal
nature outside of the classroom. Arrangements for
personal services are the student’s responsibility.
All students are expected to comply with college policies
and regulations as outlined in the Rowan-Cabarrus
Catalog/Student Handbook.
Accessible Services, Materials and
Equipment
Instructor Notification
Instructor notification is not automatic and must be
initiated by the student. Following class registration, the
student must request an accommodation notification
form through disability services. The student will then
deliver the accommodation notification to each course
instructor. The student must obtain the instructor’s
signature, provide a copy for the instructor, and return
the completed form to disability services. Accommodation
will not be in effect until the completed form is returned.
Classroom Notes
Students with specific functional limitations may request
assistance with classroom notes. A determination of
the method for obtaining classroom notes is based on
disability documentation, course format and the course
instructor’s recommendation.
Classroom notes will generally be obtained by the
utilization of a digital recorder or a volunteer classmate.
Carbonless duplication paper is available upon request
through disability services as well as a photocopy
machine. Students are responsible for providing and
operating the digital recorder and batteries.
When presenting an accommodation notification form,
the student informs the instructor that notes will be
needed and asks for assistance to identify a volunteer.
In the event that either the volunteer system or digital
recorder is not successful, immediately contact disability
services.
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
32
A volunteer note-taker or digital recorder does not excuse
poor class attendance. Students receiving class notes
accommodation should not expect notes for days missed
unless special arrangements are made in advance.
Based on the inability to access reasonable and
appropriate classroom notes through the use of a digital
recorder or volunteer, a student may be eligible for a staff
note-taker/scribe. This accommodation will be determined
on an individual basis. The student should contact and
inform disability services regarding the cancellation
of staff note-taker/scribe services. The staff note-taker/
scribe will wait 15 minutes following the scheduled class
start time. The staff note-taker/scribe will not remain in
the classroom when the student is absent. If the student
fails to arrive by the second class, the staff note-taker/
scribe will assume that the student will be absent for the
remaining classes. The student will be expected to obtain
missed notes in the same manner as other students.
Alternative Testing
Testing accommodations, based on disability
documentation, may include extended time, reduced
distraction environment, test scribe, test reader, computer
use for written exams, enlarged print or use of a
calculator.
The student is expected to make arrangements, at least
two class days in advance, through the course instructor
and disability services. Actual test accommodations may
be provided through disability services or the testing
center based on the specific arrangements made by the
student and course instructor. The instructor will be
notified if the student is absent at the scheduled time.
Accessible Materials
Students whose documentation supports an
accommodation for printed material in an alternate
format should contact disability services as soon as
possible following registration. Availability of alternate
format material may be limited so students are
encouraged to make a request for textbooks or other class-related
materials well in advance. In converting printed
text into an alternate form, disability services will try to
honor the student’s preference. However, depending on
the time of the request, the availability of materials, the
volume of materials, and the expected time for return,
adjustments may be necessary. Such adjustment may
include the student using appropriate assistive technology
(CCTV or scan/reader computer software) available on
campus.
Requests for accessible materials will be processed in the
order in which they are received.
Interpreters
Interpretation and transliteration services will be
arranged for qualifying deaf and hard-of-hearing students
for scheduled classes, labs, scheduled student activities,
and appointments. Every attempt will be made to honor
a student’s communication preference; however, other
arrangements may be made depending on the time of
advanced notice and availability of interpreters.
Students must request services in advance to assure that
services can be arranged. Students are asked to provide
a three-week advance notice for scheduled classes and a
one-week notice for scheduled activities or appointments.
Students who request interpreter services and plan to be
absent or find that services are not needed must cancel
arrangements immediately through disability services.
In the event of an unreported absence, the interpreter will
wait 15 minutes following the scheduled class start time.
The interpreter will not remain in the classroom when
the student is absent. If the student fails to arrive by the
second class, the interpreter will assume that the student
will be absent for the remaining classes. The student will
be expected to obtain materials in the same manner as
other students.
If a student has three unreported absences in a given
class, interpreter services may be terminated until the
student meets with disability services. The student will be
notified in writing.
Students should report any concern or problem involving
an interpreter to disability services.
Adaptive Equipment
Various adaptive equipment or software for on-campus
use can be made available to qualified students as a part
of a specific classroom accommodation plan. However,
any prescriptive or personal devices, including those for
home use, are the responsibility of the student.
As a part of the accommodation plan, the qualified
student will be able to sign out equipment from the
disability services office. Other equipment, such as
software or modified keyboards, will be available in the
assigned classroom or LRC as requested.
Every attempt will be made to provide appropriate
training to enable the student to effectively utilize specific
equipment or software. Such training will require active
student participation, advance notice, and additional time
on campus.
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
33
Personal Services
Personal Attendants
Students are responsible for providing for their own
personal health and hygiene needs along with their
mobility needs within the classroom and around campus.
Due to regulations and space limitations, personal
attendants generally may not attend class with the
registered student unless the accommodation is supported
by disability documentation as a health/safety issue and is
included in the student’s accommodation plan.
Attendance
Disability Services does not have a role in determining
course attendance policies. Students are expected to
attend scheduled classes regardless of their disability.
Students may request that instructors be informed as to
the legitimacy of disability-related absences, but such
notification will not excuse or alter the course attendance
policy.
Students anticipating absences should notify the course
instructor in advance. Students are also responsible for all
missed assignments and material.
Tutoring Services
Tutorial services are scheduled in specific content
areas campus-wide through academic programs as
appropriate. Qualified students are encouraged to request
accommodations in order to utilize those services.
Students are responsible for individual tutoring or
individual instruction outside of the scheduled activities
offered through academic programs.
Parking
Accessible parking is available in accordance with state
and federal regulations. Students are required to follow
all appropriate regulations and to have a North Carolina-issued
permit visible when parked in an accessible or
handicapped space.
Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served
basis.
Any student wishing to address accessible parking issues
should contact disability services.
Grievance Process
Students who experience a problem and/or feel unfairly
treated should attempt to resolve the problem informally
with disability services.
Concerns regarding a specific accommodation will be
resolved with the involvement of the student and the
appropriate instructor, program head, academic dean,
academic vice president, and vice president of enrollment
and the student experience.
If a concern cannot be resolved to the student’s
satisfaction, the student should utilize the student
grievance process as outlined in the Rowan-Cabarrus
Catalog/Student Handbook.
Program Evaluation and Development
In consultation with faculty and staff, the Rowan-
Cabarrus counseling staff will be responsible for
evaluating services at Rowan-Cabarrus for students
with disabilities and recommending changes in policies,
procedures and services as appropriate.
The Rowan-Cabarrus counseling staff will provide
guidance and support to both faculty and staff in
providing services for students with disabilities.
The Rowan-Cabarrus counseling staff will provide in-service
training and information to Rowan-Cabarrus
faculty and staff as appropriate. Professional consultants
in the area of services for students with disabilities may
be utilized in specific cases and in staff development
efforts.
For additional information and resources regarding
disabilities for students in higher education, please see
the following links:
www.ahead.org/affiliates/north-carolina
www.ADA.gov
www.edpubs.org/ocr/transition.html or www.edpubs.gov
www.disabilityresources.org
Sex Offenders
Persons who are registered sex offenders are required by
state and federal law to disclose to local law enforcement
their interest in attending college, verifying the dates,
times and locations of the coursework of interest.
Offenders may or may not be permitted to enroll and
register for courses pending approval of the local law
enforcement agency. Offenders who fail to comply with
the state and federal law will forfeit their educational
opportunity with Rowan-Cabarrus even if otherwise
qualified.
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
34
Special Credit Students
Some students wish to register for credit courses, but do
not intend to complete a degree, diploma, or certificate
program. These students are registered as special credit
students - no major declared. They can enroll in classes
on a space-available basis and with the approval of their
college advisor. Tuition and fees are the same as for
regularly enrolled program students. If these students
later wish to apply credits earned toward a degree or
diploma, they must declare a program/major at student
services. A change in status must be submitted when
the student has earned 18 semester hours (including a
college-level English and math course) as a special credit
student. If not already done so, at the time a program is
declared, the student must meet all the regular admission
requirements for the program of choice.
Undocumented Persons
Individuals who are not documented are eligible to take
most courses in Continuing Education, and any course in
Adult Basic Education and ESL without any restrictions.
Enrollment in college credit courses is limited by the
following guidelines from the NC Legislature:
• Must pay out of state tuition for the coursework
selected.
• Must register at the last hour assuming space is
available. Documented students have first priority
for seat availability in all curricula.
Undocumented students who are public high schools
students enrolled in approved college credit programs
through Career and College Promise programs are not
subject to this NC statute.
Standards Governing
Student Enrollment
General Overview:
Students are both members of the external community,
which includes Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, as
well as members of the internal academic community of
the college itself. As citizens of the external community,
students are subject to all civil laws, the enforcement
of which is the responsibility of civil authorities. As
members of the academic community, students are subject
to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College regulations and
obligations. College students, as adults, are expected to
exercise mature and responsible self-discipline, to behave
with courtesy and integrity, and to maintain appropriate
academic standards as well as appropriate conduct
standards. Failure to maintain required standards
can lead to conditional enrollment or curtailment of
enrollment. These standards and enrollment constraints
are described in the following paragraphs:
Student Agreement Regarding Internet
Usage
Upon signing the college application, the student accepts
and agrees to abide by the policy and responsibilities
specified in Procedure No. 7.18 – Student Internet
Acceptable Use Policy. Further, with this educational
opportunity also comes responsibility, and the student
concurs that:
• It is my responsibility to not reproduce or redistribute
software and/or software keys licensed to Rowan-
Cabarrus Community College.
• It is my responsibility to know and observe the
acceptable use policies of external networks accessed
via the Rowan-Cabarrus Internet connection.
• It is my responsibility to ensure that the performance
of the Rowan-Cabarrus network is not degraded and
that authorized users are not deprived of Internet
and/or network resources or access by my activities.
It is my responsibility to avoid the knowing or
inadvertent spread of computer viruses.
• It is my responsibility to ensure that all copyright
laws, including licensing restrictions, are honored. I
understand that ownership of text, music, software,
and other media is proprietary and, therefore, is
protected to the full extent of the law and must be
respected.
• It is my responsibility to not intentionally interfere
with the normal operation of computer networks
or illegally gain access (i.e., hack) to the networks
and the information contained within the network
resources or attached equipment.
• It is my responsibility to ensure that use of the
network and Internet is consistent with student
behavior and conduct guidelines and is not for
personal financial gain.
• I understand and agree that Rowan-Cabarrus may
inspect, monitor or disclose Internet, electronic mail,
and/or network activities when required by and
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
35
constituted by law when there is substantiated reason
to believe that violations of any federal, state or local
law or any violation of Rowan-Cabarrus Community
College policies or procedures have taken place.
• It is my responsibility not to view, download, save,
receive, or send material(s) related to or including:
– Offensive content of any kind, including
obscene material;
– Discrimination on the basis of race, gender,
national origin, age, marital status, sexual
orientation, religion, or disability;
– Threatening or violent content or behavior;
– Illegal activities;
– Gambling;
– Personal financial gain;
– Forwarding email chain letters;
– Spamming email accounts from Rowan-
Cabarrus email services or company machines;
– Dispersing corporate data to Rowan-Cabarrus
customers or clients without authorization;
– Personal use that states or implies Rowan-
Cabarrus sponsorship or endorsement of its
message.
Rowan-Cabarrus has the right to review any materials
stored on any system provided by the college and to edit
and remove any materials. I hereby waive any right
which I may otherwise have in and to such materials.
Student Agreement Regarding Academic
Testing Center Usage
Upon signing the college application, the student accepts
and agrees to abide by the Student Academic Testing
Center Terms for Testing. Further, with this educational
opportunity also comes responsibility, and the student
concurs that:
• Identification will be required for testing - driver’s
license or picture ID.
• Students must know course name and number,
instructor’s name, and course type.
• All books, book bags, and coats will be left in a
specified location.
• Disruptive devices (cell phones, beepers, etc.) are to
be turned off and not used.
• No notes, books or other supplemental materials
will be permitted unless specifically stated on the
instructor’s “Conditions of Testing” form.
• No discussion of any type will be permitted while
testing. We are attempting to create a similar
environment to in-class testing.
• All tests will be taken in one sitting and returned
to the Examiner/Proctor before leaving the Testing
Center.
• The Examiner/Proctor may consult the Testing
Director or security if suspicious or questionable
behavior is observed. The rules of student behavior
and sanctions also apply to the Academic Testing
Center.
• Please see the Examiner/Proctor and/or the Testing
Director if you have questions regarding this
agreement or a testing concern before receiving the
test.
Campus Code of Conduct
http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/618/code-of-conduct/
Campus Behavior Standards
The college reserves the right to maintain a safe and
orderly educational environment for students and staff.
Therefore, when in the judgment of college officials, a
student’s/patron’s conduct disrupts or threatens to disrupt
the college community, appropriate disciplinary actions
will be taken to restore and protect the well-being of the
college community. Students are expected to conduct
themselves in accordance with generally accepted
standards of scholarship and morality. Community
patrons are expected to conduct themselves in accordance
with the accepted standards of good citizenship in the
state of North Carolina. The purpose of this code is not to
restrict student or patron’s rights, but to protect the rights
of individuals in their academic pursuits on the campus.
1. Academic Dishonesty
(a). Academic Integrity: The college prohibits taking
or acquiring possession of any academic material (test
information, research papers, notes, etc.) from a member
of the college staff or another Student without permission;
receiving or giving help during tests; submitting papers or
reports presented as the student’s original work that are
not entirely the student’s own; not giving credit for others’
work.
(b). Network Files: Rowan-Cabarrus network files are
provided to students for academic work. These files are
not private and are subject to review for compliance with
the college’s acceptable use policy for technology, the
Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, and general
copyright law.
2. Behavior
(a). Indecent Conduct: The college prohibits disorderly,
lewd, or indecent conduct, including public physical or
verbal action; language commonly considered offensive
(not limited to, but including profanity); or distribution of
obscene or libelous written or electronic material.
(b).Violence: The college prohibits mental, psychological
or physical abuse of any person (including sex offenses)
on college premises or at college-sponsored or college-supervised
functions, including verbal or physical actions
that threaten or endanger the health or safety of any
such persons or which promote hatred or prejudice. This
includes fighting and or other disruptive behaviors, which
includes any action or threat of action which endangers
the peace, safety or orderly function of the college, its
facilities or persons engaged in the business of the college.
(c). Harassment: The college prohibits any act, comment,
behavior, or clothing which is of a sexually suggestive,
harassing, offensive, or intimidating nature. The college
prohibits stalking, or behavior which in any way
College Policies and Procedures
ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
36
interferes with another student’s rights or an employee’s
performance or created an intimidating, hostile or
offensive environment. (This includes the display or
navigation to pornography or other inappropriate
websites and materials.)
(d). Disruption: The college prohibits any intentional
obstruction or interruption of teaching, research,
administration, disciplinary proceedings or other college
activities, including public service functions, and other
duly authorized activities on college premises or at
college-sponsored activity sites.
(e). Failure to Comply: Refusal to adapt one’s behavior
to instructions of college officials is prohibited. If, in
the opinion of college officials, clothing or behaviors
(including gang colors, signs or symbols) are threatening,
intimidating or offensive in nature, sanctions may be
imposed immediately.
3. Use of College Property
(a). Purposeful Use of Campus Facilities: The college
prohibits loitering without educational purpose or goal;
therefore, individuals must be engaged in purposeful
acts on campus which meet educational goals or in
appropriate recreational and extracurricular activities.
(b) Use by Unattended Minors: The college prohibits
minors under the age of sixteen (16) from being on
the campus unattended. Minors are not allowed in
classrooms, labs, shops, learning resource center or
other instructional areas without college authorization.
Parents and guardians whether enrolled in college or as
a community patron, must remain with the minor child
at all times. Violators will be asked to leave the premises.
Early College students are exempt from this requirement.
(c) Theft and Damage: The college prohibits theft
of, misuse of, or harm to college property, or theft
of or damage to property of a member of the college
community or a campus visitor on college premises or at
a college function.
(d) Occupation or Seizure: The college prohibits
occupation or seizure in any manner of college property,
a college facility, or any portion thereof for a use
inconsistent with prescribed, customary or authorized
use.
(e). Presence on College Premises: The college prohibits
unauthorized entry upon the college premises;
unauthorized entry into a college facility or a portion
thereof which has been restricted in use; unauthorized
presence in a college facility after closing hours; or
furnishing false information to gain entry on the college
premises or into a college facility.
(f). Assembly: The college prohibits participation in or
conducting an informal or formal unauthorized gathering
in a manner that threatens or causes injury to persons
or property or that interferes with free access to, ingress
or egress of college facilities, that is harmful, obstructive,
or disruptive to the educational process or institutional
functions of the college; or remaining at the scene of
such an assembly after being asked to leave by a college
official.
(g). Fire Alarms: The college prohibits setting off a
fire alarm or using or tampering with any fire safety
equipment on college premises or at college-sponsored
activity sites, except with reasonable belief in the need
for such alarm or equipment. In the event of a fire alarm
sounding, Students MUST evacuate the building, unless
otherwise directed by a college official.
(h). Emergency Phones: The college prohibits the misuse
of the emergency phones in college hallways in making
false reports of emergencies, disturbances, physical
injury or illness of students, employees or college visitors
requiring attention of campus security or off-campus
emergency personnel. Students activating the emergency
phone are required to give their full-name, nature of the
emergency, exact location of the emergency and stay “on
the line” with the college official until released. Exception:
If the individual activating the emergency phone believes
they are in imminent danger from another person, they
should provide as much information as possible before
leaving the phone in the connected position.
4. Drugs, Alcohol and Other Substances
(a). Drugs and Alcohol: Substances referred to under
this policy include all illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages,
and misused legal drugs (both prescription and over
the counter). The college prohibits possession or use of
alcoholic beverages on college premises or at college-sponsored
or supervised functions (including off-campus
functions) unless otherwise permitted by a college
administrator. The college prohibits being in a state of
intoxication on college premises or at college-sponsored
or supervised functions (including off-campus functions)
or in a college-owned vehicle. The college prohibits
possession, use, sale or distribution of any controlled
substance, illegal drugs, or drug paraphernalia except as
expressly permitted by law. Any influence which may be
attributed to the use of drugs or of alcoholic beverages
shall not be in any way limit the responsibility of the
individual for the conduct or consequences of his/her
actions.
(b). Tobacco and Food: The college prohib
Object Description
Description
| Title | General catalog, student handbook |
| Other Title | Student handbook; General catalog & student handbook; Rowan-Cabarrus Community College |
| Date | 2013 |
| Description | 2013/2014 |
| Digital Characteristics-A | 9.16 MB; 316 p. |
| Digital Format | application/pdf |
| Pres File Name-M | pubs_serial_generalcatalogrowancabarrus20132014.pdf |
| Pres Local File Path-M | \Preservation_content\StatePubs\pubs_borndigital\images_master\ |
| Full Text | ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1 ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 2 Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Directory General College Information Phone: 704-216-RCCC (7222) Hours of Access: Mon. – Thurs.: 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Fri. 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. An automated attendant is available after hours. See the college website for campus directory of specific RCCC phone listings. College Mailing Address: Rowan-Cabarrus Community College P.O. Box 1595 Salisbury, N.C. 28145 College Package Delivery: (Unless specified otherwise) Rowan-Cabarrus Community College 1531 Trinity Church Rd. Concord, NC 28027 College Internet Address: www.rccc.edu Locat ions: Cabarrus Business and Technology Ctr. Campus 660 Concord Parkway Drive, Concord, NC 28027 Cloverleaf Cosmetology Center 988 Cloverleaf Plaza, Kannapolis, NC 28081 Cloverleaf Extension Center Campus Cloverleaf Plaza, Kannapolis, NC 28081 North Carolina Research Campus 399 Biotechnology Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081 North Campus 1333 Jake Alexander Blvd., Salisbury, NC 28146 South Campus 1531 Trinity Church Road, Concord, NC 28027 All Campus Locations are Tobacco Free. ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 3 Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Table of Contents Academic Calendar.....................................................................................................4 General Information...................................................................................................5 History of the College.....................................................................................7 Program/Services Overview.......................................................................................9 Admissions and Enrollment.....................................................................................13 General Admission Information.................................................................14 Admission of High School Students............................................................17 General Admission Information for Corporate and Continuing Education...........................................................................18 Tuition and Fees...........................................................................................19 Financial Aid & Veterans Benefits...............................................................21 College Policies and Procedures...............................................................................23 Academic Policies and Procedures.............................................................24 Standards Governing Student Enrollment.................................................34 Disciplinary Actions & Sanctions................................................................38 Campus Safety Information........................................................................40 Programs of Study.....................................................................................................43 Course Descriptions................................................................................................209 Faculty and Staff......................................................................................................317 ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 4 Academic Calendar Fall Semester 2013 Fall Semester 2014 Aug. 19 M Classes Begin Aug. 18 M Classes Begin Aug. 19-Oct. 11 First Minimester Aug. 18-Oct. 10 First Minimester Aug. 22 TH Deadline for Refunds Aug. TBA Deadline for Refunds Sept. 02 M Labor Day Holiday* Sept. 01 M Labor Day Holiday* Oct. 14-16 M-W Student Break Days Oct. 13, 14 M-T Student Break Days Oct. 21-Dec. 18 Second Minimester Oct. 17-Dec. 17 Second Minimester Nov. 05 T Last Day to Withdraw Nov. TBA Last Day to Withdraw Nov. 11 M Veterans Day Holiday* Nov. 11 M Veterans Day Holiday* Nov. 27 W Student Break Day Nov. 26 W Student Break Day Nov. 28, 29 TH, F Thanksgiving Holidays* Nov. 27, 28 TH, F Thanksgiving Holidays* Dec. 18 W Semester Ends Dec. 17 W Semester Ends Dec. 23-31 M-T Winter Holidays* Dec. 22-31 M-T Winter Holidays* Spring Semester 2014 Spring Semester 2015 Jan. 01 W New Year’s Holiday* Jan. 01, 02 T, F New Year’s Holiday* Jan. 13 M Classes Begin Jan. 12 M Classes Begin Jan. 13- Mar. 07 First Minimester Jan. 12- Mar. 06 First Minimester Jan. 16 TH Deadline for Refunds Jan. TBA Deadline for Refunds Jan. 20 M Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday* Jan. 19 M Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday* Mar. 10-14 M-F Spring Break* Mar. 09-13 M-F Spring Break* Mar. 19-May 13 Second Minimester Mar. 18-May 12 Second Minimester Apr. 03 TH Last Day to Withdraw Mar. TBA Last Day to Withdraw Apr. 18 F Spring Holiday* Apr. 03 F Spring Holiday* May 13 T Semester Ends May 12 T Semester Ends May 17 S Graduation May 16 S Graduation Summer Semester 2014 Summer Semester 2015 May 21 W Classes Begin May 18 M Classes Begin May 23 F Deadline for Refunds May TBA Deadline for Refunds May 26 M Memorial Day Holiday* May 25 M Memorial Day Holiday* June 25 W First 5 Week Session Ends June 22 M First 5 Week Session Ends June 26 TH Second 5 week Session Begins June 23 T Second 5 week Session Begins July 04 F 4th of July Holiday* July 03 F 4th of July Holiday* July 31 TH Classes End July 29 W Classes End Disclaimer Statements for Calendars *Rowan-Cabarrus is closed on holidays listed above. The calendar is subject to change. For the most current version, consult the online calendar at: College Course Advisement Weeks and Registration dates for each term will be announced in the Rowan-Cabarrus Student Planner Spring Break Days will be used as make-up days for inclement weather, if necessary. ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 5 General Information ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 6 General Information Rowan-Cabarrus Community College reserves the right to change its regulations, policies, fees and programs without notice. Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is an equal opportunity institution. All programs, activities and facilities are available to all on a non-discriminatory basis, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. The college provides access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to individuals with disabilities upon request, in advance of the event. Open Door Policy Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has an open-door admission policy for applicants who are high school graduates, are at least 18 years of age or whose admission eligibility conforms to North Carolina law and North Carolina Community College system directives. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to amend the local admissions policy within the parameters permitted by the state of North Carolina and the State Board of Community College Code. Admission to the college is open without regard to race, creed, disability, national origin, sex or age to any student who meets the age or graduation requirements. Some degree programs have specific requirements for admission. These requirements are available from the program head, department head or Student Services counselor. Tuition Tuition is set by the North Carolina Legislature and the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. Tuition rates are subject to change without notice. Accreditation Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, 404-679-4501) to award associate degrees, diplomas and certificates. Consumer Information In compliance with federal law this information can be located on the college website: www.rccc.edu. Board of Trustees Carl M. Short, Jr., Chair Cynthia L. Mynatt, Vice Chair Dr. Carol S. Spalding, President J. Thomas Bost Paul A. Brown Darise D. Caldwell R. Daryl Cox Patricia G. Fulcher Dianne Y. Greene Patricia K. Horton Administration Dr. Carol S. Spalding..................................... College President Dr. Rod Townley.........Vice-President of Academic Programs Jeanie Moore............ Vice-President of College Advancement & Vice-President of Corporate and Continuing Education Gaye McConnell..... Vice-President Enrollment Management and the Student Experience Jeremy Campbell............................ Chief Information Officer Carla Howell.................................... Chief Governance Officer Janet Spriggs......................................... Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Chamberlain....................Chief Officer of Planning, Capital Projects and Environmental Operations Tina Haynes............................Chief Human Resource Officer Mark Ebersole.............. Associate Vice-President, Enrollment Management and Student Services Ron Scozzari....................Associate Vice-President, Academic Programs Dr. Hasan Naima..............Dean of Engineering and Business Technologies Wendy Barnhardt........... Dean of Health and Public Services Dr. Marcy Corjay................... Dean of Science, Biotechnology, Mathematics and Information Technologies Claudia Swicegood..........................Dean of Special Programs Dr. Carol Holbert.............. Dean, Department of Liberal Arts, and General Education Cheryl Marsh................................ Dean of Pre-College Studies Ann Morris................................ Dean in Corporate Education Debra NeeSmith........Dean of Educational Resource Services Spencer Rummage.......Dean of Public Services Technologies Robert S. Misenheimer Stephen M. Morris J. Scott Padgett Dakeita Vanderburg- Johnson Quentin Woodward, Jr. Leslie Brown, Student Government Association President General Information ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 7 2011-2014 RCCC Strategic Plan Mission Rowan-Cabarrus Community College improves lives and builds community through public higher education and workforce development. Values We are committed to our college and our community through our values: • Trust, integrity, inclusiveness and mutual respect • Excellence and Innovation for 21st Century education and workforce training • Exemplary service-delivery experience • Continuous improvement through lifelong learning and achievement • Responsibility, sustainability and accountability • Relationships, teamwork, and global citizenship Goals • Prepare students for 21st Century careers and opportunities that stimulate sustainable economic and workforce development. • Produce exceptional learning that demonstrates academic excellence and student success. • Provide excellent service delivery for current and prospective students to advance achievement. • Acquire, develop, and manage human, fiscal, and infrastructure resources essential to the development and delivery of high-quality education and service. • Serve as a catalyst for advancing the community. History of the College The need for a technical education center was recognized in 1960, when Salisbury-Rowan community leaders, working through the chamber of commerce, conducted a survey of manpower requirements in the area. Results of the survey provided the basis for their request that the State Board of Education establish an industrial education center in Rowan County. The people of Rowan County gave strong support to the idea by approving a $500,000 bond issue to purchase land and to finance construction of the first building. When the center first opened its doors in 1963, it offered seven pre-employment education programs and a variety of short courses for adults. In 1964, the school was designated Rowan Technical Institute under the provisions of the Community College-Technical Institute Act. This made it possible to expand the school’s curricula. In 1979, the General Assembly passed a bill which recognized the synonymous nature of the terms “institute” and “college.” After appropriate action by the Board of Trustees and the Rowan County Commissioners, the North Carolina State Board of Education officially approved the name of Rowan Technical College. In 1988, the trustees of the college voted to change the name of the institution to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to more accurately reflect the comprehensive nature of its programs and the service area. The college became the first multi-campus institution in the state in 1991 when the South Campus opened its doors. The college has experienced considerable growth since 1963, and now enrolls an average of 20,000 citizens annually. Today, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College prepares individuals for careers in approximately 50 programs of study in business, health and public services, and industrial and engineering technologies. The college also offers the Associate in Arts, Associate in Fine Arts and Associate in Science degree programs for those students who intend to transfer to a four-year college or university. Rowan-Cabarrus serves the residents of Cabarrus and Rowan counties at four campus locations (North, South, Cloverleaf Plaza and Cabarrus Business and Technology Center), multiple centers, and through online programs. In 2010, Rowan-Cabarrus opened a 62,000-square-foot classroom and laboratory building at the North Carolina Research Campus, in Kannapolis. At the same time, a new 38,000-square-foot classroom building opened at the North Campus. This was Rowan-Cabarrus’ first LEED building and the first completely new facility built on the North Campus in more than 30 years. The building is LEED Gold certified, a leader in its own right as the first LEED Gold building in Rowan or Cabarrus counties and the fourth in the NC Community College system. In November 2010 Rowan County citizens approved a $12 million bond referendum for capital improvement projects on the North Campus as a commitment to keep the college facilities updated to provide the highest quality and relevant instruction and training for our communities. These renovations are ongoing on the North Campus through 2014. General Information ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 8 General Information ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 9 Program/Services Overview ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 10 Programs and Services Overview Business, Engineering, Health, Public Services and Technical Programs: (A.A.S. or Associate in Applied Sciences) The North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) has offered two year degree, diploma and certificate programs for individuals whose career goals are to immediately enter the workforce in their chosen profession or trade. The program offerings in the Associate in Applied Sciences provide education and training in current and emerging careers in our regional service area and beyond. Some of the A.A.S. programs have established articulation agreements with private and public universities which accept some courses toward an undergraduate degree. Transfer Programs: Rowan-Cabarrus offers three transfer program areas: Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.), and Associate of Science (A.S.). The transfer programs offer degree completing students the opportunity to transfer 64 credit hours to the University of North Carolina system member institutions. Students may elect to earn a 32 hour diploma prior to transferring. Transferring to private universities or to colleges and universities outside of North Carolina requires additional research and planning by students while enrolled at Rowan- Cabarrus to ensure the best possible credit transition. See Comprehensive Articulation Agreement section. Associate in General Education: The Associate in General Education (A.G.E.) is a degree program designed for students who want additional flexibility in designing a degree program to meet their educational and academic needs. The A.G.E. is not a transfer degree option, but some individual courses may be received by senior institutions if a student is interested in transferring. Comprehensive Articulation Agreement: The Comprehensive Articulation Agreement became effective in 1997. This agreement addresses the transfer of credits between institutions in the North Carolina Community College System and from that system to constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina. Community college graduates of the A.A. and A.S. programs who have completed the general education transfer core will be considered to have fulfilled the institution wide, lower division general education requirements of receiving institution. Academic and Career Advising Centers (ACA Centers): The ACA Centers are composed of Master Advisors, Faculty Master Advisors, and administrative support. The ACA Centers are dedicated to providing quality advising in an environment that is welcoming, professional, and supportive. Academic Advising is a cooperative effort between the student and the advisor that is an ongoing and developmental process, which extends beyond course planning and selection. While the ultimate responsibility for exploring choices and making decisions rests with the student, the ACA Centers are committed to facilitating this process so students can develop an educational plan, set career goals and achieve personal growth. Basic Skills Program: An important function of the college is to provide educational programs on the pre-college level. Pre-college Studies offer adults the opportunity for meaningful social and occupational growth through Adult Basic Education (ABE), High School Equivalency Program (GED) and English as a Second Language (ESL) program. For additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/precollege/about-abe-ged/ Career and College Promise Program: The Career and College Promise Program (CCP) offers structured opportunities for qualified high school juniors and seniors to accelerate completion of college certificates, diplomas, and degrees that lead to college transfer or provide entry-level job skills. Career and College Promise includes College Transfer Pathways, Career and Technical Education Pathways, and Cooperative- Innovative High School Program (Early College). Tuition is free for eligible North Carolina public school students. For additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/highschool/careercollegepromise/ Corporate and Continuing Education Programs: At Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Continuing Education programs support the philosophy that learning is a lifelong activity. This division offers courses for professional development and community service courses of general interest at convenient times and locations. The Corporate Education Department supports individual, organizational, and economic development by providing career-focused, educational programs and services to businesses and industries of Rowan and Cabarrus counties. For additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/ corporatecontinuing/ Program/Services Overview ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 11 Counseling Services: Professional counseling services are provided to students, prospective students, and the entire college community in the areas of personal, academic, career emergency needs, and disability services. Counseling services are confidential. Consistent with the college mission, counseling services focus on promoting individual growth, student success and retention. For additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/counseling/ Career Services provide career counseling to students and potential students; provide tools and information for students to be successful in their job search in the way of resume reviews, interview feedback, and labor market information. This division offers individual and group career counseling and other career exploration tools to help students make decisions about their education and career path. Career counselors encourage students to look inward and learn more about themselves in order to venture outward toward their future. For additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/careerservices/ English as a Second Language (E.S.L): ESL is offered as a Pre-College program. Please refer to the Basic Skills section. For additional information, please visit the RCCC website at: http://www.rccc.edu/precollege/ about-the-english-as-a-second-language-program/ Enrollment and Student Services: Students can receive information about registration, general advising assistance, transcripts, financial aid, career counseling, academic counseling, veterans’ benefits and graduation through the Student Services offices at North or South Campus. For additional information, please visit the RCCC website at: http://www.rccc.edu/studentservices/ Financial Aid/Veteran’s Administration Benefits/Federal Student Loans Rowan-Cabarrus offers many types of financial assistance including federal and state grants, federal student loans, federal work study, and institutional scholarships. Initially, students should complete the federal financial aid application at: www.fafsa.gov to be considered for financial assistance. Veteran’s benefits are available for qualified veterans and/or their designated family member. For additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/financialaid/ Learning Resource Centers (LRCs): Learning Resource Centers (LRCs) are essential components of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. The LRCs provide our patrons with library, audiovisual, Internet and instructional resources and services necessary to support the educational programs of the college. They also provide resources to meet the various needs, interests, and aptitudes of the students enrolled in lifelong learning. LRCs are available at North, South and CBTC. Services are available on demand at NCRC and Cloverleaf Campuses. For additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/lrc/ Navigation Station: Navigation Station is more than a place... it’s a philosophy. You come to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to learn and not to run from office to office taking care of the administrative details of your education. The school brings together a host of administrative services under one roof so that you can get back to the business of being a student! Start at the Navigation Station on-campus or online to start your success at Rowan-Cabarrus. The Navigation Station offers extended hours at both our North and South Campuses to meet your needs. Individual services are scheduled by location. Please check out our website for details: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/ R3 Career Services: R3 Center and Career Counselors provide Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and the community with career exploration, career development and career information activities. Services are available on the primary campuses and at the R3 Center in Kannapolis. For additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/r3/ Student Government Association/ Student Life: Student Life is a critical component of the student experience. Student Life at Rowan-Cabarrus continues to flourish with record participation in clubs, activities and events. The college calendar is jam-packed every week with service projects, blood drives, Open Mic’s, legislative visits, leadership conferences, and Wii Wednesdays – not to mention the Spring Fling, Fall Fest, Holiday Hoopla, and other traditional activities designed to engage large numbers of students. For additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/ sga/ or http://www.rccc.edu/studentlife/ Program/Services Overview ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 12 Program/Services Overview Small Business Center: The mission of the Small Business Center (SBC) is to increase the success rate and number of viable small businesses in the community by providing education, counseling, a resource library, and special programs. The SBC offers free two-hour seminars on topics such as business start-up, funding, business plans, marketing, sales, green operations, social media, and online ventures. More in-depth training and skill building includes courses in basic accounting, QuickBooks and business plan writing. For additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/sbc/ Testing Centers: The Testing Centers at North and South Campus provide the following testing services: college placement testing, GED testing, academic course testing and serves as a re-mote test site for other colleges and universities. In 2013 the Testing Centers will be expanding services to include entrepreneurial testing for CLEP, DSST and other assess-ment or certification inventories. For additional informa-tion, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/testing/ Tutoring Centers: Tutoring services for students are available on North and South Campuses. Students can receive assistance on English, writing, reading, mathematics, business technol-ogy courses, most science classes, including Biotechnology and foreign language. For additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/ tutoring/ ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 13 Admissions and Enrollment ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 14 General Admission Information Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and other institutions in the North Carolina Community College System operate under an Open Door policy. In accordance with the State Board of Community College Code, Title 23, Chapter 2(c), Section .0300, the college shall maintain an open-door admissions policy, which accepts applicants who have graduated from high school, hold a GED or adult high school diploma, or are at least 18 years of age. The college also enrolls high school students who are qualified to participate in college courses as a dual enrollment student. The Rowan-Cabarrus Board of Trustees reserves the right to establish local admission policies as authorized within the parameters established by the State Board of Community College Code. Rowan-Cabarrus offers education and training to meet the needs of the community. Different areas of the college have different admission criteria. Please read the section which applies to your educational interest or contact the Navigation Station for assistance in determining which admission information applies to you. Individuals seeking accommodations related to enrollment, please refer to the section for Special Students. College Degree, Diploma and Certificate Program Admission The degree, diploma, or certificate programs are taught at a level beyond high school. Therefore, a high school diploma or recognized equivalent is usually the minimal preparation; however, a prospective student may demonstrate their academic readiness though the college placement inventory. If you have not completed high school, the college provides GED programs through pre-college studies. In order to assure that your educational experience will be successful; advisors will assist in determining your present academic preparedness for the program you have chosen. The college uses placement tests, academic records, occupational experience and/or other indicators to determine the student’s preparedness and potential for success. If you have not successfully completed all the high school courses needed to succeed in the program of your choice, Rowan-Cabarrus will make the courses available to you. In certain A.A.S. programs, students are enrolled on a space-available basis because laboratory space is limited. Applicants to these programs are encouraged to contact Student Services as soon as possible. High school seniors should apply early in their senior year. New students are admitted prior to the start of each semester. Qualified students are accepted during each semester’s registration, if space is available. The Basic Law Enforcement Training program and all health programs contain additional admission requirements that must be met before the student is admitted to the program. All admission requirements are listed in special admission section and the online catalog updates. Developmental Courses Developmental courses (designed to improve reading, writing, spelling, mathematics and computer skills) are taught in small classes. If you completed the placement tests and your scores indicate that you needed to refresh your skills, you will need to take some developmental courses. Usually, students who take developmental courses will be advised that they can take one or two of their regular program courses at the same time. Academic advisors will assist you in planning your schedule. Developmental classes are considered non-credit courses and are not included in the grade point average; however, tuition and fees are charged at the same rate as a credit course. Some college level courses have satisfactory completion of a related developmental course as a prerequisite. Enrolling is Easy at Rowan-Cabarrus: • Apply for Admission: Once you have made the decision to take classes at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, call or visit the Navigation Station or Student Services on any campus or go online to apply. It takes a minimum of two business days to process your application, depending on the date you apply. • By signing or electronically completing and submitting the college application, the student accepts the responsibility to be aware of and follow codes of conduct, behavior standards and all program specific rules, policies, and procedures. • Official Transcripts* Contact the guidance office or registrar’s office of your high school and any colleges you have attended and request an official copy of your transcript be sent to: Student Services/Records Office Rowan-Cabarrus Community College P.O. Box 1595 Salisbury, North Carolina, 28145-1595 *An official transcript is in a sealed envelope, has an embossed seal or original signature, and is usually mailed directly to Rowan-Cabarrus from the institution or may be sent electronically from the institution or transcript service to Rowan-Cabarrus. The graduation date will be posted on all high school transcripts. Public high school graduates of 2013 are encouraged to request an electronic copy from the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) before September 15, 2013. Admissions and Enrollment ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 15 Home-school graduates should send a final transcript, verifying your graduation, as well as a copy of the letter from the North Carolina Department of Non-Public Instruction acknowledging your home school. Correspondence/online school diplomas will be accepted if they are regionally accredited or accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Any other correspondence/online school diplomas will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. • Placement Testing Accuplacer placement testing is generally required of all students entering a curriculum program at RCCC. The tests assess your skills in the fundamentals of reading, writing, mathematics, and computer skills. Your scores are used to place you appropriately into courses that will enable you to succeed. If you are entering a certificate or taking a specific course of interest you may not be required to take Accuplacer, but will be expected to meet all course prerequisites to be eligible to register. You must complete an application for admission prior to testing and have a Student ID number; schedule an appointment to take the Accuplacer placement test (English, Reading, Mathematics, and Computer Skills) at www.rccc.edu/testing. You may be exempt from testing if you: • Have a U.S public high school GPA equal to or greater than (= or >) 2.6 and graduated within 5 years of your college enrollment with an FRC Code of 1, 2, 3, or 4 OR passing grades in Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry and a 4th math suitable for college admission. • Have completed transferable college-level coursework in English, and math with a grade of “C” or better. Your official college transcript from the awarding college must be evaluated in order to determine any exemption. • Achieved SAT scores of Writing (500) OR Critical Reading (500) and Math (500) or ACT scores of Reading (20) OR English (18) and Math (22). Your official scores must be received from the testing agency to determine any exemptions. In addition, the ACT or SAT must have been completed within the past five years. • Have received an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Your official college transcript showing the degree awarded must be received to determine any exemptions. Special accommodations for placement testing due to a disability can be made with Disability Services prior to scheduling a placement test date. Please refer to the “Information about Special Students” section. If you are an applicant for the Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, Dental Assisting, and Radiography or Basic Law Enforcement Training programs, please refer to the specific program for required placement scores, remediation, and other criteria used for program admission. On Testing Day: • Check in with the staff at the Navigation Station on either the North or South Campuses area when you arrive. • Bring a Picture ID, such as a Driver’s License, Military ID, State ID Card or Student ID Card • Bring your Student ID Number - You will not be able to test without this number. If you cannot locate your Student ID Number, please ask the Navigation Station staff for help. • New Student Orientation Completing the Rowan-Cabarrus New Student Orientation is strongly encouraged as a part of the admission process. This orientation is offered as a seated, in-person session or as an online session (through Blackboard). Both formats provide important information for all students. Please visit the website at: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/228/ new-student-orientation-general-information/ Residency: Student residency status is for tuition purposes and is established by the initial admissions application. The application for the North Carolina Residency can be found on our website at: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/492/ application-for-north-carolina-residency/ Appeals related to residency must be issued in writing in the first 10 class days of the semester. You can find more information related to our Residency Appeals Process at: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/457/residency-appeals-process/ Out-of-State Student A student who is determined to be a nonresident of North Carolina is subject to a significantly higher tuition charge than a resident. An initial residency decision is made during at the point of application to Rowan-Cabarrus. A student who is determined to be a nonresident based on information provided on the application may apply to have their status reviewed by completing the North Carolina Residence and Tuition Status Application. This application must be submitted no later than 10 business days after the first day of classes for the semester the student wishes their status to be reviewed. For more information on Out-of-State Residency Criteria please see our website at: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/455/in-state-and-out- of-state-residency-criteria/ Tuition rates are subject to change by action of the General Assembly. Admissions and Enrollment ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 16 International Admissions Rowan-Cabarrus Community College provides educational opportunities for individuals who may not be citizens or residents of our regional service area. This school is authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant students. Non-immigrant students will be accepted to begin classes in the fall semester only. To be considered for admission, an international student must present the following information to admissions: • A completed application, received no later than June 15 of the admission year. • Forward a certified copy of his/her official high school diploma, transcript from all high schools and post-secondary institutions the student has attended, and official U.S. educational evaluation of the documents. All transcripts from schools outside the United States must be evaluated by a reputable evaluation service. A list may be obtained in Student Services • Original financial documents are required along with a statement of financial support from the student’s sponsor, and a statement from the sponsor’s bank that there are sufficient funds, $15,000 U.S. dollars, to support the student. If there is no sponsor, an original and official document that shows the student has on deposit sufficient funds to support his/her tenure as a student ($15,000/year U.S. dollars). • A minimum score of 500 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a minimum score of 173 on the computerized version, or a minimum Internet Based Test (IBT) score of Reading 17, Listening 17, Speaking 16, and Writing 16. If any single score falls below the minimum, the IBT will not be considered. All scores must be received as official documents. No copies of scores will be accepted. TOEFL test scores must be within 2 years of the date of admission. • After all required documentation has been received by deadline, and after approval by the Director of Enrollment and Recruitment, the applicant may be issued his/her I-20. • After applicant has received the appropriate visa allowing him/her to enter the U.S., he/she must present evidence of medical insurance coverage prior to registration. NOTE: Rowan-Cabarrus does not have scholarship or loan funds for international students available at this time. The college does not provide dormitory facilities. Admissions and Enrollment ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 17 Admission of High School Students Career and College Promise Currently enrolled high school juniors and seniors who wish to take college courses through Rowan-Cabarrus may participate in Career and College Promise Program. To participate in this program the high school student must begin the process through their high school guidance counselor or approved homeschool principal. Students must select one of four College Transfer Certificate Pathways or may select a Career Technical Certificate Pathway. To qualify for a College Transfer Certificate Pathway, a student must demonstrate college readiness in English, mathematics and reading using an approved assessment. They must also have a 3.0 or higher grade point average on their high school courses and continue to make progress towards graduation. To qualify for a Career Technical Certificate Pathway, a student must have a 3.0 or higher grade point average or have the recommendation of a school official. Career and College Promise students may take one or two courses each semester as long as they have met the course prerequisites. Developmental courses are not available to high school students. For additional information, please visit the Rowan- Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/highschool/careercollegepromise/ Early College at Rowan-Cabarrus Early College is an educational partnership between Rowan-Cabarrus and school districts in Rowan and Cabarrus Counties. This partnership provides high school students an opportunity to earn both high school and college credits during four years of enrollment in an early college program. By earning enough credits, a graduating high school senior could exit high school with an associate degree and be ready for workforce employment or transfer to a four-year college or university. The student must enroll as a high school freshman to pursue this opportunity. College tuition for early college students is waived. Early college programs are administered by the local educational agency (school district) but housed on the college campus. To learn more information about early college opportunities in Rowan County, Cabarrus County, or Kannapolis City Schools, please contact these school districts. Registration/Scheduling The traditional college curriculum operates on the semester system and uses an online class scheduling tool known as WebAdvisor. All students enrolled in programs are expected to register using WebAdvisor - Registration during the dates scheduled on the Academic Calendar which can be found on the Rowan-Cabarrus website: http://www.rccc.edu/recordsregistration/web-advisor-registration-and- web-support-schedule/. WebAdvisor support sessions are available to assist students in navigating the use of WebAdvisor, review of pre-requisite blocks, waivers and overrides. Students are encouraged to meet with faculty advisors prior to registration access. Registration is completed by paying the required tuition and fees for the courses scheduled. Please refer to the section on tuition and fees. For additional information, please visit the Rowan- Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/corporatecontinuing/ Schedule Changes At the beginning of fall and spring semesters, there is a two-day period during which students, who are enrolled in credit courses, can make schedule changes (Drop/Add). There is one day at the beginning of summer semester for students to change schedules. Changes to student schedules may be done through WebAdvisor or by coming on campus for assistance at a WebAdvisor support session. Students wishing to make a change after this time must see their instructor and program head. Please contact the Rowan-Cabarrus Admissions Office for detailed information about student eligibility, course eligibility, and the required documentation. Admissions and Enrollment ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 18 General Admission Information for Corporate and Continuing Education http://www.rccc.edu/corporatecontinuing/ Corporate and Continuing Education offers coursework in the following areas: Adult Basic Education, Compensatory Education, personal enrichment, and workforce development. Below are the general requirements for admission and registration to each area in Corporate and Continuing Education. Individuals seeking accommodations should refer to the Special Students section. Adult Basic Education Courses Adult Basic Education consists of courses and laboratory work to prepare students for the GED exam. Incoming students must be at least 18 year old. Minors (age 16 or 17) may be enrolled on a “space available” basis only and with the dean’s approval. People seeking admission to enter the GED program must contact the Pre-college studies office (704-216-3510) to get specific enrollment information. Those under age 18 must receive and complete an enrollment packet before meeting with the dean of Pre-college studies for approval to begin coursework. Compensatory Education Compensatory Education is specifically designed to meet the needs of adults who have intellectual disabilities. Students in this program must be at least 17 years old. The purpose of the program is to compensate adults with intellectual disabilities for the lack of, or inadequate, education received earlier. The focus of the Compensatory Education program is on helping the individual become as independent as possible through acquiring basic and life skills needed to function successfully in daily living. Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible to participate in the Compensatory Education program, an individual must be 17 or older, and (a) diagnosed with mental retardation or (b) functioning on a level equivalent to mental retardation resulting from head injury or brain damage. Classes are offered at no cost to the student and are currently held at Rowan Vocational Opportunities in Rowan County, and at the South Campus in Cabarrus County. Admission and enrollment in this program are limited. For more information, contact Barbara Gainey (704-216-3508 or barbara.gainey@rccc.edu). English as a Second Language (ESL): ESL classes are designed especially for adults whose native language is not English and who want to improve their English. Instruction is offered in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. ESL classes are provided on campus, in the community, and in workplace settings. For more information, please contact Melody McGinnis (704-216-3521 or melody.mcginnis@rccc.edu). Personal Enrichment Personal enrichment courses are offered throughout the year in all areas of interest ranging from computer skills courses to physical fitness and wellness courses. Most of these courses have no admission criteria. People interested in taking these courses may register by contacting the Navigation Station for additional information about the dates, times, locations and costs associated with these courses. Registration and payment is available online through Webadvisor. This link is located on the top right of our website, http://www.rccc.edu/. For additional information, please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/enrichment/ Workforce Development Courses Continuing Education offers a wide variety of workforce development courses to the community. Many of these courses provide not only continuing education credit, but also certification at local, state or national levels. Some examples of courses in this area are: CPR, Certified Nursing Assistant, EMT, Fire Safety, Law Enforcement certification and recertification, waste water treatment, and notary training. Courses are offered throughout the year. Some courses have prerequisite training or certification which must be met before enrollment. Please check the college website or. For additional information, please contact the Navigation Station for the most current information related to the specific course or visits the Rowan-Cabarrus website at: http://www.rccc.edu/corporatecontinuing/ Tuition and fees for these courses are also variable. Admissions and Enrollment ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 19 Tuition and Fees All students are now able to pay tuition through WebAdvisor Tuition, Fees and Related Costs – Curriculum Courses Tuition and fees are set by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges and the General Assembly and are subject to change. Any changes will be effective beginning each fall semester. Tuition and fees are due at each registration period by the payment date listed for each registration period. Please visit the Rowan-Cabarrus website for the payment dates: http://www.rccc.edu/ recordsregistration/web-advisor-registration-and-web-support- schedule/ Tuition Because the state helps pay the tuition of North Carolina residents out of tax dollars, tuition for North Carolina residents is $69.00 per credit hour, up to and including 16 credit hours. There will be a maximum tuition charge of $1,104.00 per semester. Tuition for nonresident students is charged at the rate of $261.00 per credit hour with a maximum charge of $4,176.00 per semester. These rates were effective at the time of printing. Any changes in tuition will be effective beginning Fall Semester of each year. The college accepts American Express, Discover, MasterCard, VISA credit cards for registration payment. For current tuition rate information, please refer to: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop//466/tuition-and-fees-for-academic-programs/ 2012-2013 Tuition Rates North Carolina Residents: Non-Resident Students: Credit Hour Tuition Credit Hour Tuition 1 $ 69.00 1 $ 261.00 2 $ 138.00 2 $ 522.00 3 $ 207.00 3 $ 783.00 4 $ 276.00 4 $1,044.00 5 $ 345.00 5 $1,305.00 6 $ 414.00 6 $1,566.00 7 $ 483.00 7 $1,827.00 8 $ 552.00 8 $2,088.00 9 $ 621.00 9 $2,349.00 10 $ 690.00 10 $2,610.00 11 $ 759.00 11 $2,871.00 12 $ 828.00 12 $3,132.00 13 $ 897.00 13 $3,393.00 14 $ 966.00 14 $3,654.00 15 $1,035.00 15 $3,915.00 16 $1,104.00 16 $4,176.00 Tuition rates are subject to change by action of the General Assembly A resident student is generally defined as one whose legal residence has been in North Carolina for at least 12 months before enrollment or re-enrollment in the college. Senior Citizens (age 65 and older) Tuition shall be waived for up to six credit hours per academic semester for senior citizens age 65 or older who are qualified as legal residents of North Carolina. If an eligible senior citizen enrolls for more than six (6), but less than sixteen (16) credit hours in a given semester, he/she shall be charged the regular tuition rate for the maximum of 10 credit hours. Senior citizens will be charged fees as any other regularly enrolled student Fees Campus Access Fee All students pay a campus access flat fee of $20.00 per semester/term which supports parking, security systems, student accident insurance, remote notification and public safety infrastructure, and other enhancements of access to college facilities. This fee is refundable only if the student completely drops all courses by the refund deadline as published in the Academic Calendar. Technology Fee Students at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College pay a technology fee for each of the fall and spring semesters, and summer term. Technology fees cover the cost of instructional supplies, materials, computers and other technology support. Technology fees are charged on a pro-rata basis depending on the number of credit hours for which the student is enrolled as follows: 7+ credit hours ................................ $16.00 per semester 1-6 credit hours ................................ $ 8.00 per semester Student Activity Fee Students at Rowan-Cabarrus are required to pay a $28.00 activity fee for fall and spring semesters (regardless of the number of credit hours enrolled). This fee covers student activities coordinated by the Student Government Association (SGA). Students pay a $6.00 activity fee for summer term, regardless of the number of credit hours for which the student is enrolled. Graduation Fee Curriculum students will pay a $5.00 fee each semester per graduate, regardless of participation in the ceremony, to offset the costs of degree, diploma, or certificate production and diploma cover, as well as cover the cap and gown cost for the ceremony. This fee is non-refundable. GED graduates will be charged a graduation fee if they participate in the ceremony Lab Fee Curriculum students will pay a lab fee for courses that have an associated lab. The fee will range from $5.00 to $15.00. Admissions and Enrollment ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 20 Professional Liability Insurance Cosmetology, Early Childhood Education, Dental, Nursing, Radiography students are required to purchase student professional liability insurance which is available for approximately $13.00 per year. Students in Continuing Education courses which require patient care or direct client service are also required to have professional liability insurance. The Rowan-Cabarrus Cashier’s Office can provide additional information about this fee. ART/Photography Fee Students choosing to enroll in ART 261 – Photography I will be charge a material fee of $170 to cover expenses including, but not limited to: Film, printing paper, chemistry and facility rental. Ceramics Fee Students choosing to enroll in ART 283 will be charged $210.50 to cover the cost of facility usage and materials. MSM/Motorsports Fee Students choosing to enroll in specific MSM courses located in SMP will incur an additional $80 lab fee to cover off-campus industry facility experience. Official Transcript Fee Beginning Fall 2013, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College will be using Transcripts on Demand by SCRIP-SAFE International as its trusted agent for processing transcript requests. This process is completely secure and will be delivered to your intended recipient electronically. Refer to our website for updated information. Retest Fee Students choosing to retest will pay a fee to cover at minimum the actual cost of the test. The cost will vary depending on the test or inventory type. A minimum fee of $5.00 will be charged for each retest session. This fee does not apply to GED testing/retesting. This fee is non-refundable. Nursing Testing Fee All nursing students are required to pay a fee for testing services. This fee is billed for the NUR course at the time of registration. Please refer to the individual Nursing Programs of Study for estimated program costs by semester. Tuition Refund Policy Tuition, as well as the refund policy, are set by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges and the General Assembly, and are subject to change. The following is the tuition refund policy: • A 100 percent refund shall be made if the student officially withdraws prior to the first day of class(es) of the academic semester or term as noted in the academic calendar. • A student is eligible for a 100 percent refund if the class in which the student is officially registered is cancelled due to insufficient enrollment. • A 75 percent refund shall be made if the student officially withdraws from the class(es) prior to or on the official 10 percent point of the semester. • For classes beginning at times other than the first week (seven calendar days) of the semester a 100 percent refund shall be made if the student officially withdraws from the class prior to the first class meeting. A 75 percent refund shall be made if the student officially withdraws from the class prior to or on the 10 percent point of the class. Official withdrawal for a refund involves completing the proper online withdrawal and drop form located at http:// www.rccc.edu/onestop/online-drop-form prior to or on the “10 percent” point of the semester. Students must request a refund in writing prior to or no later than the “10 percent” date of the semester. As required by State Law, any student registered for any class as of the first day of the semester, will be responsible for 25% of tuition, even if the student does not enter the class(es). Students who do not plan to attend, must drop by submitting the Online Withdrawal Form. Any student enrolled who is in the military reserve or National Guard who may be called to Active Duty that makes it impossible for them to complete their course requirements, will be granted a full refund for military purposes. The student must provide official deployment documentation before reporting to or upon their return from service, to the Director of Registration & Records for a refund to be considered. See the Academic Calendar on the college website for the “10 percent” date of each semester. Refund information is available online at: http://www.rccc.edu/events/category/ academic-calendar-2012-2013/ Admissions and Enrollment ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 21 Senior Citizens (age 65 and older) Tuition shall be waived for up to six credit hours per academic semester for senior citizens age 65 or older who are qualified as legal residents of North Carolina. If an eligible senior citizen enrolls for more than six (6), but less than sixteen (16) credit hours in a given semester, he/she shall be charged the regular tuition rate for the maximum of 10 credit hours. Senior citizens will be charged fees as any other regularly enrolled student. Textbooks and Supplies The cost of textbooks and supplies varies with the program of study. These items may be purchased from the college bookstore. The bookstore accepts MasterCard and VISA credit cards for payment of textbooks and other merchandise. Admissions and Enrollment Financial Aid and Veterans Benefits Financial Aid Many students seek some form of financial aid to help meet their college expenses. Students seeking college degrees, diplomas and most certificates may qualify for state or federal assistance. Individuals taking continuing education coursework, certain curriculum certificate programs, and special credit majors (undeclared or non-degree seeking) are not eligible to receive state or federal grants or loans. Financial aid programs are available in the form of scholarships, grants, loans and work study programs. Financial Aid in Student Services can provide you with specific information. You can qualify for financial aid if you: • are accepted for admission in an eligible programs as a student; and • show eligibility by completion of the online FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form: www.fafsa.gov Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s school code for the FAFSA is 005754 for all campuses. Check the Rowan- Cabarrus website for additional and detailed information: http://www.rccc.edu/financialaid. The college serves as a referral agency for: Veterans Benefits Social Security Vocational Rehabilitation Department of Social Services Department of Commerce, Employment Services The college serves as a disbursing or coordinating agency for: Federal Direct Student Loans Federal Direct Parent Loans Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) Federal Pell Grant North Carolina Education Lottery Grant North Carolina Community College Grant Scholarships Various scholarship opportunities are available through Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Check the Rowan- Cabarrus website - http://www.rccc.edu/scholarships/ often for updated scholarship information. Most scholarship applications are available in the spring of each year for the following fall semester. ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 22 Admissions and Enrollment The Financial Aid office can provide you with information on other types of aid which may be available. In addition to scholarships and grants, many Rowan-Cabarrus Community College students are employed through the federal college work study programs on a part-time basis in offices, labs, libraries, or other campus locations. Work study compensation counts as part of your financial aid package. Applications for financial aid are accepted throughout the year, and assistance will be given as funds are available. Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Check the website (www.rccc.edu/financialaid/terms) for the specific requirements regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress. For more information on financial aid, loans and scholarships, contact Financial Aid, 704-216-RCCC (7222). Financial Aid and Scholarship Refunds Students that have funds remaining after tuition, books, and fees charges are paid receive the remaining balance usually within in 6-8 weeks of the beginning of the semester. Every curriculum student will receive a My RCCC Card in the mail from HigherOne. Upon activation of the card, students will receive the disbursement on the debit card or into their personal checking/savings account depending on the preference the student selects when activating their My RCCC Card. Students receive the card at no charge however, replacement fees may apply. Textbook Purchases Students with financial aid or scholarship awards may purchase textbooks and supplies through the on campus bookstore. Rental books for selected classes are available with a credit card on file. Rental options are not available for financial aid and scholarship recipients. U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Rowan-Cabarrus Community College programs are approved by the North Carolina State Approving Agency for the enrollment of persons eligible for education assistance benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Entitled veterans, eligible spouses, and dependent children who have applied, met all admission requirements, been fully accepted, and have registered for classes, may be CERTIFIED to the U.S. DVA Atlanta, Georgia office as enrolled and in pursuit of an approved program of education. It is the responsibility of the veteran to request from the last high school and all colleges attended that an official transcript(s) be sent directly from the school to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Students cannot be certified to receive benefits until all transcripts have been received and evaluated. Students may be certified only for the classes required for completion in their approved program of study. Veterans receive educational benefits on the following basis: • Arts and Sciences Courses - Credit Hours per Week • Occupational Courses - Credit Hours per Week • Tele-Course, Hybrid or Internet courses may change your eligible credit hour certification. Check the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College website http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/tag/veteran-benefits/ for additional information. Grades and Progress Reports Records of progress are kept by this institution on veteran and non-veteran students alike. Progress records are furnished to the students, veterans, and non-veterans alike at the end of each scheduled school term through WebAdvisor. Rowan-Cabarrus is a Service-member Opportunity College (SOC). Students who may have transferable credit are encouraged to submit their documents to the Rowan- Cabarrus Records and Registration area of Student Services. Refer to the catalog section on Academic Policies and Procedures. Navigation Station Navigation Station is more than a place... it’s a philosophy. You come to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to learn and not to run from office to office taking care of the administrative details of your education. Navigation Station brings together a host of administrative services under one roof so that you can get back to the business of being a student! Stop here for everything you need to get registered and pay for your classes. We can help you every step of the way, from filing financial aid forms and understanding your payment options, to registering for classes, requesting a transcript, or completing an application for graduation. You can make an appointment with an academic advisor and find out about your holds and how to remove them. Are you having a life event and need to speak to someone, one of our counselors is here to listen. The Navigation Station offer extended hours at both our North and South Campuses to meet your needs. Individual services are scheduled by location, please check out our website for details. ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 23 College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 24 Academic Policies and Procedures Confidentiality of Student Records: FERPA The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a Federal law that governs the maintenance of student records. This act, with which the college intends to comply fully, protects the privacy of educational records, establishes the right for students enrolled to inspect records kept by the college about the student and the right to correct inaccuracies in the records. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College recognizes its responsibilities to students in maintaining accurate and confidential student records. Access to the records by persons other than the student is limited and generally requires prior consent by the student. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College adopted a written policy governing the rights of parents and students under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Directory Information FERPA does allow that Rowan-Cabarrus officials may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without student written consent. Directory information is information contained in a student’s education record that is not generally considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released. Rowan-Cabarrus officials declare the following items as directory information which can be made available to the public. Students may request to withhold directory information, except where it is required on campus, by notifying the director of records and registration in writing within the first five days after student enrollment that such information is not to be made available. • Student’s name • Address • Telephone listing • Date of birth • Field of study • Dates of attendance • Degrees, diplomas or certificates awarded Academic Load - Students A full-time student is one who is enrolled in 12 or more credit hours of course work per semester. Average full-time enrollment for most students will vary between 15 and 18 hours of credit. Students who wish to carry more than 21 credit hours must have prior approval from the vice president of enrollment and the student experience unless their curriculum requirements, as stated in the catalog, require more than 21 hours in a particular semester. Course schedules and course loads should be carefully planned through consultation with a counselor and approved by the student’s faculty advisor. Note: The NC General Assembly has set tuition and registration fees on a “per credit hour” basis with a maximum charge for 16 credit hours. Please see Tuition and Fees section of this catalog for further details. Attendance Requirements A student is expected to attend every class for which he/ she is scheduled and to arrive on time. Instructors will keep an accurate record of class attendance. All students must attend class during the first week of classes or forfeit their seat in the course. Distance education students are expected to log-in to their distance education courses during the first week of classes and submit an assignment as required. Please refer to the Distance Education website for more information. The student is responsible for contacting his/her instructor when unavoidable absences occur, and for maintaining contact every few days during any necessary extended absence. Students are responsible for withdrawing from any class, if they find they will be unable to complete an academic term. The student must complete and submit the online withdrawal form located at http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/online-drop-form/ when officially withdrawing from a class after the “10 percent” point of the academic semester/term. Instructional time missed is a serious deterrent to learning. A student is responsible for fulfilling the requirements of the course by attending all classes (including shops, labs, and clinics) and completing course assignments. Failure to maintain contact with the instructor for the equivalent of two weeks either by attending classes, submitting assignments, and/or meeting with the instructor in person or by telephone, may result in a grade of “F” being issued for the course. In some cases, an exception may be granted. The student must contact the instructor if there are extenuating circumstances such as an accident, illness, or death in the family. Some programs and courses at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College may have more stringent attendance requirements due to the nature of a course or program. These requirements are stated in the program description or course syllabus. Students will be informed in writing during the first class meeting of specific attendance requirements. Class attendance is calculated from the first officially scheduled class meeting (includes the drop/add period) through the last scheduled meeting. Class Schedules Rowan-Cabarrus Community College schedules traditional seated classes between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday; and between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday. Saturday classes may also be offered. Credit courses are offered during the day and during the evening hours from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. The purpose of offering credit courses both day and evening is to provide flexibility in scheduling and optimum availability of courses. Schedule and course information are published by the college the prior to each semester and are available on the college’s website at: www.rccc.edu. Non-credit Occupational Extension and Community Service courses are also offered both day and evening. College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 25 Program Advisors Each student enrolled in a program has access to a program advisor or advising group who assists the student in planning course schedules. The student may seek assistance from any program advisor in his/her particular program of study. The program advisor assists the student in evaluating his/her academic progress and suggests improvements or schedule changes. Program advisors and students are strongly encouraged to develop an educational plan of work. Schedule Changes At the beginning of fall and spring semester, there is a two-day period during which students, who are enrolled in credit courses, can make schedule changes (drop/add). There is one day at the beginning of summer semester, which students may make changes to schedules. Changes to student schedules may be done through WebAdvisor or by coming on campus for assistance at a WebAdvisor support session. Withdrawal Policy If a student withdraws from a class after the end of the drop/add period and before the 65% point in the class, he/she will receive a grade of “W.” A Grade of “W” will appear on the student’s transcript, but will not be considered as hours attempted in the accumulated Grade- Point Average. If a student does not withdraw before the 65% point in the class, the student will receive a grade of “F” or the grade earned. Courses may be dropped at any time during the schedule change period of the class. Courses dropped during schedule change (drop/add) period will not appear on the student’s academic record. Once a student has enrolled in class and has paid fees, that student remains a member of the class unless: Student Withdrawal - The student officially withdraws from the course by completing the necessary printed or web form available at the following website address: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/online-drop-form/ Faculty Withdrawal - An instructor will withdraw the student if the student has not attended courses for two consecutive weeks (or 12.5% of course duration), of scheduled course meetings during a 16 week semester whereby the student has not attempted intentional, ongoing communication with the instructor in person, via telephone, or campus email, to discuss the circumstances of the ongoing absence and plan their efforts to complete missed assignments Administrative Withdrawal - Administrative withdrawal may be implemented as part of mediated resolution to violations of the Campus Code of Conduct and appropriate documentation may appear on the student’s official transcript, as needed. Medical Withdrawal - Students may request a medical withdrawal based on injury, illness, or psychological/ psychiatric disorder. A Medical Withdrawal will be granted for all courses in the enrolled semester. Medical Withdrawals will not be granted for individual course(s). A Medical Withdrawal request must be made prior to future enrollment. Military Withdrawal - A student may withdraw from courses due to call for Active Duty for military purposes. The student must provide official deployment documentation before reporting to or upon their return from service, to the Director of Registration & Records. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College reserves the right to make changes in the regulations, courses, fees, and other matters of policy and procedure when necessary. Grading Rowan-Cabarrus Community College operates on a grade-point system, and each student’s academic standing is established by a grade point average (GPA) which is determined by numerical values assigned to each grade. At the end of each semester, students will access final grades via WebAdvisor based on the following scale. Health programs and developmental studies courses are graded on a variation of this scale. Grade Grade Explanation Quality Points A 93-100 Excellent 4 quality points per semester hour B 85-92 Good 3 quality points per semester hour C 77-84 Average 2 quality points per semester hour D 70-76 1 quality point per semester hour F <76 Failing 0 quality points I Incomplete 0 quality points W Withdrawn 0 quality points AU Audit 0 quality points CE Credit by 0 quality points R Developmental Course 0 quality points Is this information below still accurate? *In the Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing programs, numerical grades below 77 (C) in all required courses are considered unsatisfactory attainment of course competencies. For students enrolled in the Radiography and Dental Assisting programs, numerical grades below 77 (C) in Radiography (RAD), Dental Assisting (DEN), and Biology (BIO) courses are considered unsatisfactory attainment of course competencies. In these instances, students will not be allowed to continue in the program. All health program students should refer to the specific program handbook regarding the minimum grade to be earned for program progression. College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 26 In Developmental Studies courses, a grade of 77 or above is required for satisfactory completion. Students earning numerical grades below 77 will receive the grade of “R” (Repeat) and must register again for the course. Developmental Studies courses are noncredit courses and are not included in the Grade-Point Average (GPA). Grade Appeal Procedure Students may appeal a grade awarded in a course by using the grade appeal procedure found on the College website: http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/794/rccc-grade-appeal-request/. Students must issue the request for appeal within 10 business days of receiving a grade or forfeit the right to appeal. Grade of Incomplete (I) A grade of Incomplete (I) may be assigned by the instructor for any student who’s coursework is of passing quality which represents a significant amount of the requirements for a final grade, but is incomplete due to recent illness, accident, or recent death in the immediate family. Students, who need additional time to complete the objectives of a course due to either of these unusual circumstances beyond the student’s control, should contact the Instructor and request a grade of incomplete. All work that is incomplete must be submitted and graded by the end of the following semester/term. The grade of “I” is computed in the Grade-Point Average as “0” quality points. However, when a student completes the provisions necessary for the removal of an “I,” the “I” will be removed from the student’s record and replaced with the grade earned. The GPA will then be recomputed using the grade earned. If course requirements are not met by the deadline given, the grade of “I” will automatically be changed to a grade of “F.” The student must register again for the course. Any student who has a grade of “I” in any course at the end of the term will not be considered for Scholastic Honors for that semester/term. To not jeopardize this honorable mention, it is recommended that students not delay completing all course objectives by the deadline agreed upon by the instructor and student. Grade-Point Average (GPA) The GPA for one semester is obtained by the following method: The quality points for each course are found by multiplying the appropriate grade point value for the grade earned by the semester hour credits assigned to the course. The total grade points for all courses in the grading period are added. Dividing the total of the grade points by the total of the semester credit hours gives the grade-point average for the semester. Example: Course Grade Credit Hours Grade Points BIO 168 A 4 = 16 ENG 111 B 3 = 9 PSY 150 B 3 = 9 ACA 122 C 2 = 6 MAT 161 D 3 = 3 TOTAL 15 TOTAL 43 GPA 43 / 15 = 2.86 Grade of “A” earned on a three-semester hour credit course equals 12 grade points. Cumulative Grade-Point Average The cumulative GPA is determined by using the total grade points in two or more semesters divided by the total course credits attempted in two or more semesters. Academic Standards Students must maintain satisfactory academic standards. Academic evaluation of student performance occurs at the end of each semester. This evaluation may be neither arbitrary nor capricious and must be consistent with previously announced criteria. Minimum satisfactory academic performance is defined as maintaining a cumulative Grade-Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 (a grade of “C”). Advising Students Who Experience Academic Difficulty Instructors are responsible for keeping students informed regularly about their progress in individual courses, with specific responsibility to expedite the reporting of student performance at each measurement point (chapter tests, mid-terms, finals, etc.). Instructors and advisors are responsible for assisting students who are experiencing academic difficulty. Advice to help students improve performance may include, but is not limited to, completing developmental education courses or subcomponents of developmental programs, carrying a reduced course load, special tutoring, or repeating selected courses. Semester grade reports are sent to all students. The faculty advisor and student should arrange a conference with a counselor whenever the nature of a student’s academic difficulty is beyond the scope of the instructor or faculty advisor’s ability to assist. Failure to maintain satisfactory academic standards will result in academic probation and can result in academic suspension. College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 27 Academic Probation A student who fails to maintain satisfactory academic standards at the end of any term will automatically be placed on academic probation for the next term. A student placed on academic probation will not be allowed to register and/or begin class until the student has (a) participated in an Academic Probation Workshop or (b) met with a Student Services counselor. Either of these establishes corrective conditions to help the student achieve satisfactory performance while continuing probationary enrollment. The hold on registration/class attendance would then be lifted and documentation of the corrective actions placed in the student’s file. A student on academic probation who fails to achieve satisfactory academic standards by the end of the academic probationary term is subject to academic suspension and will not be allowed to register for the next term without the permission of the vice president of enrollment and the student experience or his or her designee. Academic Suspension At the end of each semester, the counseling staff from the direction of the director of counseling and career services will review the cases of all students on academic probation who failed to achieve satisfactory academic standards. Unless they are able to document individual cases of extenuating or mitigating circumstances that, in their professional judgment, justify extending academic probation for another semester, a recommendation for academic suspension may be made to the vice president of enrollment and the student experience. After one semester of academic suspension, a student may also apply for readmission to the program from which he or she has been academically suspended if the sequence of course offerings make readmission possible. Academic Appeals Committee Appeals of academic suspension will be referred by the vice president of enrollment and the student experience to the academic appeals committee no later than five days after receipt. The appeals committee will be comprised of the vice president, the student’s advisor, a counselor, two students selected by the Student Government Association, and the program head of the program from which the student has been suspended. If the academic appeals committee reverses suspension, the student will be afforded an opportunity to make up all work missed during the appeal process. Scholastic Honors The following academic honors lists are posted each semester on the Rowan- Cabarrus website: http://www.rccc.edu/studentservices/scholastic-honors/. More information on the following academic honors lists may be obtained from student services. President’s List A full-time student achieving a grade-point average of 4.0 for the semester will be recognized on the President’s List. To be eligible for the President’s List, the student must be a full-time student enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours. Dean’s List A full-time student obtaining a grade-point average of 3.5 or above for the semester will be recognized on the Dean’s List. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, the student must be a full-time student enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours. Honors List A student obtaining a grade-point average of 3.0 or above for the semester will be recognized on the Honor’s List. To be eligible for the Honor’s List, the student must be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours. Note: Since Developmental Courses are non-credit courses, they are not included in the total hours required for Scholastic Honors. Course Residency Requirement A minimum of 25% of the total number of credit hours required for graduation in a particular program must be taken at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. No more than 75% of required credit hours can be accepted for transfer credit. Course Substitution In an attempt to meet graduation requirements, it is sometimes necessary to substitute one course for another. A student may request credit for a course required in his/ her program of study based on successful completion of a substitute course. The course requested must be equal in credit and comparable in value. Action upon such substitutions must be initiated by the student’s faculty advisor, who submits the request to the appropriate Program Head, Dean and Academic Vice President for approval. A student may substitute up to a maximum of five courses. College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 28 Course Repeat Rule Students may repeat one time a course for which they received credit regardless of the grade received unless specified in the curriculum. Although both grades will appear on the student’s record, only the higher grade will be counted toward the cumulative grade-point average. For students receiving Veteran’s Benefits, approval is required prior to repeating any course for which a final grade of “F” was received. This can only be done once per course. If a passing grade of “D” or better was received, the course cannot be repeated for Veteran’s Benefits. Courses for which a grade of “W” was received, may be repeated for Veteran’s Benefits, providing the student’s cumulative GPA indicates overall satisfactory progress to date. Approvals will be communicated through the campus Veteran’s Benefits officer. Auditing Courses An audit is the completion of a course for which no assessment is made or grade awarded. Students who wish to audit courses must register and pay tuition and fees associated with those courses. Financial Aid will not pay for any course that is registered as an audit. If an audit is not declared at the time of registration, students must obtain approval from the instructor of the class no later than the “10 percent” point of the semester. Students auditing courses receive no academic credit but are encouraged to attend class, participate in discussions, and take examinations. Normal attendance policies will apply. Students withdrawing during the semester will be given a grade of “W.” Audited coursework will not be considered for transfer credit toward any other Rowan- Cabarrus program. Audited courses are not eligible for transfer credit to another institution. Tests and Final Examinations Tests and quizzes (oral and written), including comprehensive final exams, are given by the instructor in accordance with the approved course syllabus. Transfer of Credits - College Coursework Transcripts from other regionally accredited institutions may be evaluated for transfer credit. Awarding of credits earned at a non-regionally accredited institution will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. A student who wishes to have transfer credit evaluated by Rowan-Cabarrus Community College should request an official transcript from the transferring institution be sent to admissions student services. Courses submitted for transfer credit must be equivalent to offerings at Rowan- Cabarrus. Exceptions to the transfer of credits may be made by the appropriate program chair and the academic vice president. Only courses with grades of a “C” or higher will be accepted for transfer, provided the courses are applicable to the curriculum of interest. Quality points will not be transferred. No more than 75% of required credit hours can be accepted for transfer credit. Credit may also be awarded for appropriate scores on subject areas of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), or the Advanced Placement (AP) Program. Official test results should be submitted to the Admissions Office. Ordinarily, full credit will be transferred for similar courses if the numbers of credit hours in the two courses under review are the same. Students receiving an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, or Associate in Fine Arts degree from Rowan- Cabarrus will find those credits transferable to most colleges and universities. Students receiving an Associate in Applied Science degree will find their credits transferable to most private colleges in our area. Students should consult the receiving institution to determine the credits that will transfer from the program in which they are enrolled. A student may obtain general information about cooperative programs from the admissions office, and is responsible for seeking specifics and complete requirements from the school that awards the degree. Rowan-Cabarrus is a Service-members Opportunity College (SOC) which means members of the military may receive academic credit for education and training completed while in service. Students should provide the necessary documents to the student services, records and registration area for evaluation. Transfer of Credits - Professional Certificates An enrolling student may request that professional certificates with appropriate documentation be evaluated for full or partial course credit within his/her major. Additional criteria may be required along with the certificate to receive full course credit. For each area of certification, the appropriate program head will determine the Rowan-Cabarrus course equivalencies and corresponding certification required for credit. The student should notify the program head of which course(s) the professional certification is to be applied by submitting the original professional certificate for review. The student should submit this information during the admissions process; however, a professional certification can be submitted at any time during the student’s enrollment at the college. The program head will complete the credit by professional certification form and submit it to the appropriate academic dean for approval, along with a copy of the certification. Once approved by the dean, the documentation will be sent to student services’ records department for assignment of credit to the permanent record. No more than 75% of required credit hours for a degree or diploma can be accepted for credit in this manner. Professional certifications should be current, and program heads can provide information regarding time limits (i.e. within last five years) in order for credits to be awarded for a particular program of study. College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 29 Rowan-Cabarrus Programs of Study accepting appropriate Professional Certificates: Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Automotive Systems Technology Computer Information Technology Computer Programming Construction Management Electrical/Electronic Technology Machining Technology Medical Office Administration Networking Technology Office Systems Technology Web Technologies Welding Technology Please check the Rowan-Cabarrus website for updates and revisions to the technical programs of study that accept professional certifications for full or partial course credit. Examples of Professional Certifications and related Programs of Study: Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Program Certificates – Automotive Systems Technology Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) Credentials – Office Systems Technology Medical Office Administration Degree or Diploma Credit by Examination Students enrolling at the college who believe they are proficient in a subject due to Continuing Education Units (CEUs), life experiences or professional certifications may request credit by examination. The examination may be written, oral, a performance test, or a combination of these. To seek credit by examination, a student should obtain guidance from his/her faculty advisor, approval from the program head of the course in question, and must be registered for the course for which credit by examination is sought. The examination for credit must be administered by the instructor during the first eight class days of the semester. Tuition and Fees for credit by examination are the same as for regular enrollment. If the examination is completed satisfactorily with a grade of “C” or better, the instructor will then complete a credit by examination form and forward it to the director of records for a grade of “CE” to be awarded. A student who is unsuccessful with the examination may not request a second attempt, but may remain in the course through completion of the semester. The decision of the examining faculty is final. Credits earned by examination will be entered on the student’s permanent record, but quality points will not be awarded for such credit. Credits earned by examination may be used to satisfy graduation requirements but cannot be used to satisfy the policy stating 25% of the credits required for graduation must be taken at Rowan- Cabarrus Community College. Hours earned by credit by examination will not be used to satisfy VA or Pell Grant requirements. Hours earned by credit by examination are not transferable to other colleges. For further information, contact the program head of your area of study or student services. Students receiving financial aid, scholarships or third party payment of tuition are responsible for checking with the financial aid office before requesting credit by examination. Advanced Placement for High School Courses Students entering Rowan-Cabarrus Community College from Rowan-Salisbury Schools, Cabarrus County Schools, and Kannapolis City Schools may be awarded advanced placement credit as provided in agreements between these school systems and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Advanced placement may also be awarded to those students taking appropriate high school coursework and meeting guidelines established by the High School to College Agreement between the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and the N.C. Community College System. Advanced placement credit based on high school achievement may be allowed to students enrolling in specified programs. Details concerning specific requirements are available from counselors at the high schools and at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Degree, Diploma, and Certificate Requirements Students who successfully complete a two-year technical education program will earn the Associate in Applied Science Degree. Students who complete the Arts and Sciences program will earn the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science Degree. The Diploma is awarded to students who satisfactorily complete a one-year vocational program or the general education core for the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science program. Students who satisfactorily complete programs of study less than a year in length are awarded a Certificate. A student is scholastically eligible for graduation when he/ she has satisfied the specific requirements of the college and the program for which he/she is enrolled, completed a minimum of 25% of required hours in residence at Rowan-Cabarrus, and has earned a program grade point average of at least 2.0. A student may graduate using the catalog under which he/she initially enrolled or the current catalog. A student not enrolled for 12 consecutive months (or more) will re-enter under the current catalog. College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 30 Graduation Events Graduation exercises to award degrees, diplomas, and certificates are held at the end of the spring semester. The specific date of graduation is listed in the Academic Calendar. Graduation rate information for Rowan- Cabarrus Community College is available on the college website (www.rccc.edu) and in student services. For more information on graduation please see our website at: http://www.rccc.edu/admissions/graduation-information/ Graduation Honors Students who earn a grade-point average of 3.0 through 3.49 out of a possible 4.0 in their course of study will graduate With Honors. Those students who earn a 3.5 and higher out of a possible 4.0 in their course of study will graduate With High Honors. Those students who earn a 4.0 in their course of study will graduate with Highest Honors. Outstanding Student Awards These awards are made to the graduates who have distinguished themselves by being most outstanding in terms of scholastic achievement, performance, and maturity of purpose during their program of instruction at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. One student may be recognized for each program. Student Records Student Services keeps complete student records. Each student, however, is responsible for making certain that all of the requirements for graduation have been met. For that reason, students are encouraged to check their records periodically, especially prior to registration for their last semester. Transcript Request Policy In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), students and former students needing official copies of their academic transcript must request them from the Student Services Office. The request must bear the original signature in pen and ink by the student, to include the name and address of the institution or individual who is to receive the transcript. Faxed requests will be honored only if the transcript is forwarded directly to the college or university. Phone requests are not acceptable. The first two transcript requests are free of charge. Any thereafter are charged $8.00 per transcript request. Effective Fall 2013, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College will begin using Transcripts on Demand by SCRIP-SAFE International as its trusted agent for processing online transcript requests. This process is completely secure and will be delivered to your intended recipient electronically. You may find more information on at www.rccc.edu regarding transcript requests once this new procedure is in place. Students requesting a printed copy for pick up at RCCC will require a two day processing time. These requests will be charged $10.00 per transcript payable prior to printing. These requests may be made at http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/626/transcript-request-form/. Special Students General Information about Special Students All students are special at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College; however, some students have special needs. This section addresses the following: services for students with disabilities, enrollment and registration for senior citizens, enrollment and registration for sex offenders, special credit students, and undocumented persons. Disability Services Policies Regarding Students with Disabilities Disability services at Rowan-Cabarrus are offered to assist students with disabilities in achieving their educational and vocational goals and to comply with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The college’s goal is to make Rowan-Cabarrus accessible for all students. In order to minimize the effects of a student’s disability on his/ her classroom performance, a reasonable adjustment or accommodation is provided as long as an accommodation or an adjustment does not alter a published course competency or course standard. Services are provided based on documentation provided by the student and the individual’s particular need and circumstance. It is the mission of Disability Services for students with disabilities to have equal access to learning at Rowan Cabarrus Community College. Believing that students with disabilities can better advocate for their own needs with greater success, the office of Disability Services strives to empower students at every step. Request for Assistance or Accommodation Students seeking assistance or accommodation are responsible for making their disability known to the disability services counselors in student services. Students may elect to disclose a disability at any time. Rowan-Cabarrus may not seek out and identify students with disabilities. Disability services provides support services in curriculum, continuing education and pre-college courses. Because disability accommodations are not automatic and often require specific arrangements, students seeking disability accommodations should make contact with disability Services for any additional information as soon as possible. College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 31 Students are encouraged to contact disability services as soon as possible. Requests for accommodations should be made at least three weeks prior to the first day of class for which the accommodations are requested. All attempts will be made, but without minimal advance notice, Rowan-Cabarrus cannot assure that all appropriate accommodations can be accomplished prior to the first class. Required Documentation Students seeking assistance or accommodation must provide documentation from an appropriate professional. Required documentation includes the results of medical, psychological, educational and/or emotional diagnostic tests or evaluations that verify both the need for accommodation, and the specific type of accommodation requested. Specific documentation guidelines are available through disability services. Documentation will be considered confidential and will be maintained by disability services. Disability documentation is not a part of the academic record. This information will be considered confidential and is to be shared within the institution on a need-to-know basis only. Disability records may be destroyed five years after the student’s last enrollment. For students with learning or other non-apparent disabilities, documentation should be current, which is generally considered no older than three years. Students who provide documentation showing a history of disability may be granted accommodations for one semester in order to allow the student an opportunity to update older documentation; however, accommodation beyond one semester will be dependent upon the student providing current documentation. Rowan-Cabarrus may also require an updated evaluation or assessment of disability. Accommodation Plan Upon a student’s request for accommodation and a review of appropriate documentation, the student and a disability services counselor will develop an accommodation plan in consultation with faculty as appropriate or necessary. The plan will outline specific accommodations or adjustments. These may include physical, testing, instructional, academic support and/or equipment accommodations. Requested accommodations must be supported by documentation. The accommodation plan may include a pre-determined schedule of meetings to monitor progress with a disability services counselor. A copy will remain on file with disability services. The accommodation plan must be reviewed and/ or updated with each semester registration. Accommodations are not automatic and must be requested in advance. Accommodations will not be granted retroactively. Students are expected to maintain contact with disability services as to the implementation and effectiveness of specific accommodations. Students should immediately report any concern regarding their accommodation plan to disability services. Rowan-Cabarrus does not provide services of a personal nature outside of the classroom. Arrangements for personal services are the student’s responsibility. All students are expected to comply with college policies and regulations as outlined in the Rowan-Cabarrus Catalog/Student Handbook. Accessible Services, Materials and Equipment Instructor Notification Instructor notification is not automatic and must be initiated by the student. Following class registration, the student must request an accommodation notification form through disability services. The student will then deliver the accommodation notification to each course instructor. The student must obtain the instructor’s signature, provide a copy for the instructor, and return the completed form to disability services. Accommodation will not be in effect until the completed form is returned. Classroom Notes Students with specific functional limitations may request assistance with classroom notes. A determination of the method for obtaining classroom notes is based on disability documentation, course format and the course instructor’s recommendation. Classroom notes will generally be obtained by the utilization of a digital recorder or a volunteer classmate. Carbonless duplication paper is available upon request through disability services as well as a photocopy machine. Students are responsible for providing and operating the digital recorder and batteries. When presenting an accommodation notification form, the student informs the instructor that notes will be needed and asks for assistance to identify a volunteer. In the event that either the volunteer system or digital recorder is not successful, immediately contact disability services. College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 32 A volunteer note-taker or digital recorder does not excuse poor class attendance. Students receiving class notes accommodation should not expect notes for days missed unless special arrangements are made in advance. Based on the inability to access reasonable and appropriate classroom notes through the use of a digital recorder or volunteer, a student may be eligible for a staff note-taker/scribe. This accommodation will be determined on an individual basis. The student should contact and inform disability services regarding the cancellation of staff note-taker/scribe services. The staff note-taker/ scribe will wait 15 minutes following the scheduled class start time. The staff note-taker/scribe will not remain in the classroom when the student is absent. If the student fails to arrive by the second class, the staff note-taker/ scribe will assume that the student will be absent for the remaining classes. The student will be expected to obtain missed notes in the same manner as other students. Alternative Testing Testing accommodations, based on disability documentation, may include extended time, reduced distraction environment, test scribe, test reader, computer use for written exams, enlarged print or use of a calculator. The student is expected to make arrangements, at least two class days in advance, through the course instructor and disability services. Actual test accommodations may be provided through disability services or the testing center based on the specific arrangements made by the student and course instructor. The instructor will be notified if the student is absent at the scheduled time. Accessible Materials Students whose documentation supports an accommodation for printed material in an alternate format should contact disability services as soon as possible following registration. Availability of alternate format material may be limited so students are encouraged to make a request for textbooks or other class-related materials well in advance. In converting printed text into an alternate form, disability services will try to honor the student’s preference. However, depending on the time of the request, the availability of materials, the volume of materials, and the expected time for return, adjustments may be necessary. Such adjustment may include the student using appropriate assistive technology (CCTV or scan/reader computer software) available on campus. Requests for accessible materials will be processed in the order in which they are received. Interpreters Interpretation and transliteration services will be arranged for qualifying deaf and hard-of-hearing students for scheduled classes, labs, scheduled student activities, and appointments. Every attempt will be made to honor a student’s communication preference; however, other arrangements may be made depending on the time of advanced notice and availability of interpreters. Students must request services in advance to assure that services can be arranged. Students are asked to provide a three-week advance notice for scheduled classes and a one-week notice for scheduled activities or appointments. Students who request interpreter services and plan to be absent or find that services are not needed must cancel arrangements immediately through disability services. In the event of an unreported absence, the interpreter will wait 15 minutes following the scheduled class start time. The interpreter will not remain in the classroom when the student is absent. If the student fails to arrive by the second class, the interpreter will assume that the student will be absent for the remaining classes. The student will be expected to obtain materials in the same manner as other students. If a student has three unreported absences in a given class, interpreter services may be terminated until the student meets with disability services. The student will be notified in writing. Students should report any concern or problem involving an interpreter to disability services. Adaptive Equipment Various adaptive equipment or software for on-campus use can be made available to qualified students as a part of a specific classroom accommodation plan. However, any prescriptive or personal devices, including those for home use, are the responsibility of the student. As a part of the accommodation plan, the qualified student will be able to sign out equipment from the disability services office. Other equipment, such as software or modified keyboards, will be available in the assigned classroom or LRC as requested. Every attempt will be made to provide appropriate training to enable the student to effectively utilize specific equipment or software. Such training will require active student participation, advance notice, and additional time on campus. College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 33 Personal Services Personal Attendants Students are responsible for providing for their own personal health and hygiene needs along with their mobility needs within the classroom and around campus. Due to regulations and space limitations, personal attendants generally may not attend class with the registered student unless the accommodation is supported by disability documentation as a health/safety issue and is included in the student’s accommodation plan. Attendance Disability Services does not have a role in determining course attendance policies. Students are expected to attend scheduled classes regardless of their disability. Students may request that instructors be informed as to the legitimacy of disability-related absences, but such notification will not excuse or alter the course attendance policy. Students anticipating absences should notify the course instructor in advance. Students are also responsible for all missed assignments and material. Tutoring Services Tutorial services are scheduled in specific content areas campus-wide through academic programs as appropriate. Qualified students are encouraged to request accommodations in order to utilize those services. Students are responsible for individual tutoring or individual instruction outside of the scheduled activities offered through academic programs. Parking Accessible parking is available in accordance with state and federal regulations. Students are required to follow all appropriate regulations and to have a North Carolina-issued permit visible when parked in an accessible or handicapped space. Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Any student wishing to address accessible parking issues should contact disability services. Grievance Process Students who experience a problem and/or feel unfairly treated should attempt to resolve the problem informally with disability services. Concerns regarding a specific accommodation will be resolved with the involvement of the student and the appropriate instructor, program head, academic dean, academic vice president, and vice president of enrollment and the student experience. If a concern cannot be resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student should utilize the student grievance process as outlined in the Rowan-Cabarrus Catalog/Student Handbook. Program Evaluation and Development In consultation with faculty and staff, the Rowan- Cabarrus counseling staff will be responsible for evaluating services at Rowan-Cabarrus for students with disabilities and recommending changes in policies, procedures and services as appropriate. The Rowan-Cabarrus counseling staff will provide guidance and support to both faculty and staff in providing services for students with disabilities. The Rowan-Cabarrus counseling staff will provide in-service training and information to Rowan-Cabarrus faculty and staff as appropriate. Professional consultants in the area of services for students with disabilities may be utilized in specific cases and in staff development efforts. For additional information and resources regarding disabilities for students in higher education, please see the following links: www.ahead.org/affiliates/north-carolina www.ADA.gov www.edpubs.org/ocr/transition.html or www.edpubs.gov www.disabilityresources.org Sex Offenders Persons who are registered sex offenders are required by state and federal law to disclose to local law enforcement their interest in attending college, verifying the dates, times and locations of the coursework of interest. Offenders may or may not be permitted to enroll and register for courses pending approval of the local law enforcement agency. Offenders who fail to comply with the state and federal law will forfeit their educational opportunity with Rowan-Cabarrus even if otherwise qualified. College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 34 Special Credit Students Some students wish to register for credit courses, but do not intend to complete a degree, diploma, or certificate program. These students are registered as special credit students - no major declared. They can enroll in classes on a space-available basis and with the approval of their college advisor. Tuition and fees are the same as for regularly enrolled program students. If these students later wish to apply credits earned toward a degree or diploma, they must declare a program/major at student services. A change in status must be submitted when the student has earned 18 semester hours (including a college-level English and math course) as a special credit student. If not already done so, at the time a program is declared, the student must meet all the regular admission requirements for the program of choice. Undocumented Persons Individuals who are not documented are eligible to take most courses in Continuing Education, and any course in Adult Basic Education and ESL without any restrictions. Enrollment in college credit courses is limited by the following guidelines from the NC Legislature: • Must pay out of state tuition for the coursework selected. • Must register at the last hour assuming space is available. Documented students have first priority for seat availability in all curricula. Undocumented students who are public high schools students enrolled in approved college credit programs through Career and College Promise programs are not subject to this NC statute. Standards Governing Student Enrollment General Overview: Students are both members of the external community, which includes Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, as well as members of the internal academic community of the college itself. As citizens of the external community, students are subject to all civil laws, the enforcement of which is the responsibility of civil authorities. As members of the academic community, students are subject to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College regulations and obligations. College students, as adults, are expected to exercise mature and responsible self-discipline, to behave with courtesy and integrity, and to maintain appropriate academic standards as well as appropriate conduct standards. Failure to maintain required standards can lead to conditional enrollment or curtailment of enrollment. These standards and enrollment constraints are described in the following paragraphs: Student Agreement Regarding Internet Usage Upon signing the college application, the student accepts and agrees to abide by the policy and responsibilities specified in Procedure No. 7.18 – Student Internet Acceptable Use Policy. Further, with this educational opportunity also comes responsibility, and the student concurs that: • It is my responsibility to not reproduce or redistribute software and/or software keys licensed to Rowan- Cabarrus Community College. • It is my responsibility to know and observe the acceptable use policies of external networks accessed via the Rowan-Cabarrus Internet connection. • It is my responsibility to ensure that the performance of the Rowan-Cabarrus network is not degraded and that authorized users are not deprived of Internet and/or network resources or access by my activities. It is my responsibility to avoid the knowing or inadvertent spread of computer viruses. • It is my responsibility to ensure that all copyright laws, including licensing restrictions, are honored. I understand that ownership of text, music, software, and other media is proprietary and, therefore, is protected to the full extent of the law and must be respected. • It is my responsibility to not intentionally interfere with the normal operation of computer networks or illegally gain access (i.e., hack) to the networks and the information contained within the network resources or attached equipment. • It is my responsibility to ensure that use of the network and Internet is consistent with student behavior and conduct guidelines and is not for personal financial gain. • I understand and agree that Rowan-Cabarrus may inspect, monitor or disclose Internet, electronic mail, and/or network activities when required by and College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 35 constituted by law when there is substantiated reason to believe that violations of any federal, state or local law or any violation of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College policies or procedures have taken place. • It is my responsibility not to view, download, save, receive, or send material(s) related to or including: – Offensive content of any kind, including obscene material; – Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, or disability; – Threatening or violent content or behavior; – Illegal activities; – Gambling; – Personal financial gain; – Forwarding email chain letters; – Spamming email accounts from Rowan- Cabarrus email services or company machines; – Dispersing corporate data to Rowan-Cabarrus customers or clients without authorization; – Personal use that states or implies Rowan- Cabarrus sponsorship or endorsement of its message. Rowan-Cabarrus has the right to review any materials stored on any system provided by the college and to edit and remove any materials. I hereby waive any right which I may otherwise have in and to such materials. Student Agreement Regarding Academic Testing Center Usage Upon signing the college application, the student accepts and agrees to abide by the Student Academic Testing Center Terms for Testing. Further, with this educational opportunity also comes responsibility, and the student concurs that: • Identification will be required for testing - driver’s license or picture ID. • Students must know course name and number, instructor’s name, and course type. • All books, book bags, and coats will be left in a specified location. • Disruptive devices (cell phones, beepers, etc.) are to be turned off and not used. • No notes, books or other supplemental materials will be permitted unless specifically stated on the instructor’s “Conditions of Testing” form. • No discussion of any type will be permitted while testing. We are attempting to create a similar environment to in-class testing. • All tests will be taken in one sitting and returned to the Examiner/Proctor before leaving the Testing Center. • The Examiner/Proctor may consult the Testing Director or security if suspicious or questionable behavior is observed. The rules of student behavior and sanctions also apply to the Academic Testing Center. • Please see the Examiner/Proctor and/or the Testing Director if you have questions regarding this agreement or a testing concern before receiving the test. Campus Code of Conduct http://www.rccc.edu/onestop/618/code-of-conduct/ Campus Behavior Standards The college reserves the right to maintain a safe and orderly educational environment for students and staff. Therefore, when in the judgment of college officials, a student’s/patron’s conduct disrupts or threatens to disrupt the college community, appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken to restore and protect the well-being of the college community. Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with generally accepted standards of scholarship and morality. Community patrons are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the accepted standards of good citizenship in the state of North Carolina. The purpose of this code is not to restrict student or patron’s rights, but to protect the rights of individuals in their academic pursuits on the campus. 1. Academic Dishonesty (a). Academic Integrity: The college prohibits taking or acquiring possession of any academic material (test information, research papers, notes, etc.) from a member of the college staff or another Student without permission; receiving or giving help during tests; submitting papers or reports presented as the student’s original work that are not entirely the student’s own; not giving credit for others’ work. (b). Network Files: Rowan-Cabarrus network files are provided to students for academic work. These files are not private and are subject to review for compliance with the college’s acceptable use policy for technology, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, and general copyright law. 2. Behavior (a). Indecent Conduct: The college prohibits disorderly, lewd, or indecent conduct, including public physical or verbal action; language commonly considered offensive (not limited to, but including profanity); or distribution of obscene or libelous written or electronic material. (b).Violence: The college prohibits mental, psychological or physical abuse of any person (including sex offenses) on college premises or at college-sponsored or college-supervised functions, including verbal or physical actions that threaten or endanger the health or safety of any such persons or which promote hatred or prejudice. This includes fighting and or other disruptive behaviors, which includes any action or threat of action which endangers the peace, safety or orderly function of the college, its facilities or persons engaged in the business of the college. (c). Harassment: The college prohibits any act, comment, behavior, or clothing which is of a sexually suggestive, harassing, offensive, or intimidating nature. The college prohibits stalking, or behavior which in any way College Policies and Procedures ROWAN-CABARRUS COMMUNITY COLLEGE 36 interferes with another student’s rights or an employee’s performance or created an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. (This includes the display or navigation to pornography or other inappropriate websites and materials.) (d). Disruption: The college prohibits any intentional obstruction or interruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings or other college activities, including public service functions, and other duly authorized activities on college premises or at college-sponsored activity sites. (e). Failure to Comply: Refusal to adapt one’s behavior to instructions of college officials is prohibited. If, in the opinion of college officials, clothing or behaviors (including gang colors, signs or symbols) are threatening, intimidating or offensive in nature, sanctions may be imposed immediately. 3. Use of College Property (a). Purposeful Use of Campus Facilities: The college prohibits loitering without educational purpose or goal; therefore, individuals must be engaged in purposeful acts on campus which meet educational goals or in appropriate recreational and extracurricular activities. (b) Use by Unattended Minors: The college prohibits minors under the age of sixteen (16) from being on the campus unattended. Minors are not allowed in classrooms, labs, shops, learning resource center or other instructional areas without college authorization. Parents and guardians whether enrolled in college or as a community patron, must remain with the minor child at all times. Violators will be asked to leave the premises. Early College students are exempt from this requirement. (c) Theft and Damage: The college prohibits theft of, misuse of, or harm to college property, or theft of or damage to property of a member of the college community or a campus visitor on college premises or at a college function. (d) Occupation or Seizure: The college prohibits occupation or seizure in any manner of college property, a college facility, or any portion thereof for a use inconsistent with prescribed, customary or authorized use. (e). Presence on College Premises: The college prohibits unauthorized entry upon the college premises; unauthorized entry into a college facility or a portion thereof which has been restricted in use; unauthorized presence in a college facility after closing hours; or furnishing false information to gain entry on the college premises or into a college facility. (f). Assembly: The college prohibits participation in or conducting an informal or formal unauthorized gathering in a manner that threatens or causes injury to persons or property or that interferes with free access to, ingress or egress of college facilities, that is harmful, obstructive, or disruptive to the educational process or institutional functions of the college; or remaining at the scene of such an assembly after being asked to leave by a college official. (g). Fire Alarms: The college prohibits setting off a fire alarm or using or tampering with any fire safety equipment on college premises or at college-sponsored activity sites, except with reasonable belief in the need for such alarm or equipment. In the event of a fire alarm sounding, Students MUST evacuate the building, unless otherwise directed by a college official. (h). Emergency Phones: The college prohibits the misuse of the emergency phones in college hallways in making false reports of emergencies, disturbances, physical injury or illness of students, employees or college visitors requiring attention of campus security or off-campus emergency personnel. Students activating the emergency phone are required to give their full-name, nature of the emergency, exact location of the emergency and stay “on the line” with the college official until released. Exception: If the individual activating the emergency phone believes they are in imminent danger from another person, they should provide as much information as possible before leaving the phone in the connected position. 4. Drugs, Alcohol and Other Substances (a). Drugs and Alcohol: Substances referred to under this policy include all illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages, and misused legal drugs (both prescription and over the counter). The college prohibits possession or use of alcoholic beverages on college premises or at college-sponsored or supervised functions (including off-campus functions) unless otherwise permitted by a college administrator. The college prohibits being in a state of intoxication on college premises or at college-sponsored or supervised functions (including off-campus functions) or in a college-owned vehicle. The college prohibits possession, use, sale or distribution of any controlled substance, illegal drugs, or drug paraphernalia except as expressly permitted by law. Any influence which may be attributed to the use of drugs or of alcoholic beverages shall not be in any way limit the responsibility of the individual for the conduct or consequences of his/her actions. (b). Tobacco and Food: The college prohib |
| OCLC number | 36525542 |
