The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information or military status in any of its activities or operations.
I. Open Door Admissions
Except as otherwise specified herein, the College maintains an open-door admission policy to all applicants who are legal residents of the United States and who are high school graduates or are at least eighteen (18) years of age. The College shall not solicit or use information regarding the accreditation of a secondary school located in North Carolina that a person attended as a factor affecting admission to the College or to any program of study, loans, scholarships or other educational activity at the College unless the accreditation was not conducted by a State agency. For purposes of this Policy, the term “accreditation” shall include certification or any other similar approval process. Student admission processing and placement determination shall be performed by College officials.
Admission requirements for an emancipated minor shall be the same as for an applicant who is eighteen (18) years old or older. Non-emancipated minors may be admitted and allowed to attend the College pursuant to 1D SBCCC 200.95.
The open-door policy does not mean there are no restrictions on admission into specific College programs. Students shall be admitted into specific College programs when they demonstrate aptitude for these programs as determined by personal interest, academic background, placement tests and/or personal interviews. If an academic deficiency exists, applicants will be given an opportunity to remove the deficiency by taking preparatory work.
For more specific information regarding certain admissions criteria, see Procedure 5.1.1.1.
II. Admissions Denials
A. Basis for Denials
1. Suspension/Expulsion from another Educational Entity.
If the College suspends or expels a student for non-academic disciplinary purposes, the College shall record the suspension or expulsion in the student’s educational record. Upon receipt of a written request signed by the student and subject to all applicable privacy laws, the College shall, in accordance with the student’s request, inform other colleges and universities of the term and circumstances of the student’s non-academic disciplinary suspension or expulsion, if any. The College reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant during any period of time that the applicant is under a period of suspension or expulsion from another educational entity for non-academic disciplinary reasons.
2. Safety Concern.
The College reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant if it is necessary to protect the safety of the applicant or other individuals. When making a safety determination, the College may refuse admission to an applicant when there is an articulable, imminent and significant threat to the applicant or other individuals. When refusing admission based on safety concerns, the Registrar shall document:
a. Detailed facts supporting the rationale for denying admission;
b. The time period within which the refusal to admit shall be applicable and the supporting rationale for the designated time period; and
c. The conditions upon which the application was refused and if the applicant would be eligible to be admitted in the future.
3. Residency for Distance Learning.
The U.S. Department of Education regulation 600.9 State Authorization requires that if an institution is offering distance education in a state where it is not physically located, the institution must meet individual state requirements for offering distance or correspondence education within that state. The College participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of post-secondary education.
Admission of applicants residing outside of North Carolina to an on-line degree, diploma, certificate program or individual on-line courses offered by the College is dependent on the College’s ability to secure authorization from the applicant’s state of residence. As a NC-SARA participating institution, the College is authorized to offer distance education courses in states that are also participating in NC-SARA.
State authorization does not affect the cost of attending the College. Tuition requirements, including those for out of-state students, still apply. This requirement does not apply to non-credit continuing education courses.
4. Undocumented Immigrants.
An undocumented immigrant is any immigrant who is not lawfully present in the United States. The College shall not admit undocumented immigrants unless all of the following conditions apply:
a. The undocumented immigrant attended and graduated from a United States public high school, private high school or home school that operates in compliance with State or local law.
b. The undocumented immigrant must comply with all federal and state laws concerning financial aid.
c. The individual shall not be considered a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes and must be charged out-of-state tuition regardless of whether the individual resides in North Carolina.
d. When considering whether to admit the individual into a specific program of study, the College shall take into account that federal law prohibits states from granting professional licenses to undocumented immigrants.
e. Students lawfully present in the United States shall have priority over any undocumented immigrant in any class or program of study when capacity limitations exist.
f. An admitted undocumented student will not be permitted to register for a class or program of study or be placed on a waiting list until the conclusion of the last published registration date for the term.
5. Re-admissions.
The College reserves the right to refuse readmission to a former student who has unsettled financial obligations at the College or who has not complied with previous disciplinary requirements. For readmission concerning Health Science Programs, see Procedure 5.1.1.2.
6. Criminal Justice Education and Training.
The College requires students enrolled in courses mandated under N.C.G.S. § 17C and 17E, the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission or the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and
Training Standards Commission to be sponsored by law enforcement agencies until completion of the program. The student must be sponsored by a law enforcement agency to be admitted into the program. Failure to have such sponsorship shall result in an admission’s denial.
7. Non-Criminal Justice Education and Training Firearm Courses.
Except for courses governed by Criminal Justice Education and Training, if the College has a program that requires students to possess a firearm, prior to admission, the student must provide proof of eligibility to possess firearms. For purposes of this Policy, “firearm” means a handgun, shotgun or rifle that expels a projectile by action of an explosion; “proof of eligibility” means: i) a current, valid State-issued permit to purchase a firearm; ii) a current, valid State-issued concealed carry permit from North Carolina; iii) a current, valid State-issued concealed carry permit from a state with a reciprocal concealed carry agreement with North Carolina; iv) proof of an exemption from permit requirements pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 14-415.25; or v) a background check to determine whether the applicant can lawfully possess a firearm in North Carolina pursuant to N.C.G.S. §§ 14-269.8; -404(c); -415.1; -415.3; and -415.25.
B. Appeal for Admissions Denials
If an applicant is denied admissions to the College for any of the reasons specified in Section II(A)(1)-(7), within five (5) calendar days following the receipt of the reasons specifying the denial, the applicant may file a written appeal with the Registrar for a reconsideration. The written appeal shall contain the applicant’s reasons why he/she should be admitted and shall include any supporting documentation. The Registrar shall also meet with the applicant and provide the applicant an opportunity to respond. Within ten (10) calendar days from receipt of the applicant’s written appeal, the Registrar shall make his/her determination and provide the applicant with a written response.
If the applicant does not agree with the Registrar’s determination, within five (5) calendar days following the receipt of the Registrar’s determination, the applicant may file a written appeal with the President. The President shall conduct an “on the record review” and shall make a determination within ten (10) calendar days after receipt of the applicant’s written appeal. The President’s decision is final.
III. Registration
Registration is complete when all fees are paid or deferred by the Business Office and the student is issued a receipt. It is the responsibility of the instructor to ensure that each of his/her students is actually attending the correct class and section number.
Adopted: January 8, 2020
Legal Reference: 1D SBCCC 200.95 and 400.2; NC Community College Written Memoranda
CC10-026 (issued 7/12/10)