Educational Policy Committee:

Report to the Forum

 

Proposed changes to the Board Policies:

 

ΰ Current Section 2.1 – Admissions

Cross Reference(s) – Mission Statement, US Citizenship and Immigration Services Regulations

 

Raritan Valley Community College is an open enrollment institution that admits to its general academic programs those who have completed the secondary school sequence. Students are admitted to selective admissions programs through the process of rolling admission: the first students to complete the basic requirements are offered admission to the program. The College admits international students who meet basic requirements of English proficiency, completion of secondary school sequence and, meet requirements of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. A general Education Diploma may be substituted for a traditional high school diploma.

 

High school students may be allowed to enroll at the College in special programs under specific guidelines and conditions established by the college.

 

Special guidelines apply to the enrollment of senior citizens, New Jersey National Guards, and certain workforce groups.

 

All students attending RVCC for the first time must apply for admission. All students who have attended RVCC in the past but have either graduated or been inactive at RVCC in the last three years must apply to be re - admitted.

 

An applicant will be admitted or re - admitted to RVCC under one of the following categories:

 

·        Degree – Seeking

·        Non – Degree – Seeking

·        Visiting

·        Transfer

·        Early Admission

·        International

·        Underage

 

Changed Section 2.1 – Admissions

Cross Reference(s) – Mission Statement, US Citizenship and Immigration Services Regulations

 

Raritan Valley Community College is an open enrollment institution.  All students are required to fill out the RVCC application form and pay the application fee.  Certain admission categories may have additional fees. Students are admitted to the College as

 

Degree-seeking: Admission into a degree or certificate program is available only for those students who have completed high school or earned a GED.  Certain selective programs have specific eligibility criteria for admission.

 

Or

 

Non-degree-seeking: These students are not required to demonstrate proof of high school completion or a GED.  Because they do not declare a major, they are not eligible for financial aid.

 

Admission is based on one of the following criteria:

 

Graduates of a state approved high school program or its equivalency

 

Visiting: Students visiting RVCC from another college and intending to transfer their credits back to their home institution.

 

Transfer: Students who have previously attended another institution.

 

Early admission: See section  2.2

 

International:  Students who are not U. S. citizens.

 

Pages 8 – 9 of the RVCC catalog

 

ΰ Current Section 2.2 – Underage Admission

 

Raritan Valley Community College will admit students under the age of 18 who do not possess a high school diploma (or equivalent). These students will be admitted under on of three categories: Concurrent Enrollment, High School Scholars Early Credit Program, or Underage Admission.

 

Changed Section 2.2 - High School Student Admission Policy

Cross Reference(s) – Policy for High School Student Admission

 

Raritan Valley Community College admits students who have not earned a high school diploma or equivalent.  The students are admitted under one of four programs:  Concurrent Enrollment, High School Scholars Early Credit Program, Underage Admission, or Senior Year Option/Dual Enrollment.

 

ΰ Current Section 2.3 - Assessment of Prior Learning (Advanced Standing)

 

Raritan Valley Community College will award credits to students for previous academic and related achievement toward degrees and certificates. Based on recommendation of Raritan Valley Community College faculty, as appropriate, credit for Prior Learning may or courses can all be granted for course work completed at post – secondary institutions accredited by regional accrediting agencies; credit by examination; work satisfactorily completed under the training program of the Armed forces; courses taken through associations, business, government, and industry; portfolio assessment; certain earned licences;and non-collegiate courses based on recommendation of Raritan Valley Community College faculty.

 

Changed Section 2.3 - Assessment of Prior Learning (Advanced Standing)

 

Raritan Valley Community College awards credit to students for previous academic and related achievements. Based on recommendation by RVCC faculty, credit may be granted for: coursework at regionally accredited post-secondary institutions; coursework through associations, business, government, and industry that has been evaluated for college credit by American Council on Education (ACE); work completed in Armed Forces training; certain earned licenses; portfolio assessment; credit by examination.

 

ΰ Current Section 2.4 – Disabilities Services

Legal Reference – ADA Regulations, Rehabilitation Act (Section 504)

Cross references(s) – Student Handbook, College Catalog, Full-time and Part-time Faculty Handbooks, Course Schedule

 

Students with disabilities who are otherwise qualified have the potential to be successful in college will receive reasonable accommodations to support their special needs. Students must self-identify to the Disabilities Services office to qualify to receive services. Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) is in full compliance with the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

 

Changed Section 2.4 – Disabilities Services

Legal Reference – ADA Regulations, Rehabilitation Act (Section 504)

Cross references(s) – Student Handbook, College Catalog, Full-time and Part-time Faculty Handbooks, Course Schedule

 

Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) is in full compliance with the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Students with disabilities who are otherwise qualified and have the potential to be successful in college will receive reasonable accommodations to support their special needs. Students must self-identify to the Disabilities office to receive support.

 

ΰ Current Section 3.5 – Academic Renewal

Cross Reference(s) – Formerly Fresh Start

 

The Board of Trustees recognizes that past academic performance may not, for a variety of reasons, be reflective of a student’s subsequent demonstrated ability. Under the Academic Renewal Program, degree-seeking students who have an unsuccessful record and have been away from College for a minimum period of five years (60 months) may apply to have their RVCC GPA reset to 0. Students must complete a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours with a GPA of 2.5 prior to applying for Academic Renewal. Previous academic records will remain on the transcript and credit toward graduation will begin t the point of the Academic Renewal. The Board authorized the President to direct College staff to develop procedures for this program.

 

Changed Section 3.5 – Academic Renewal

Cross Reference(s) – Academic Renewal Program

 

The Academic Renewal Program is designed for students who attended RVCC, compiled an unsuccessful academic record, and subsequently left the college for an extended period of time. As a result of their work experience, maturity, or new interests, these students may now wish to return to college to pursue a program of study towards a degree.

 

To qualify for this program, a student must:

Have been absent from RVCC for five years.
Upon returning to RVCC, complete a minimum of twelve credit hours, earning a GPA of 2.4 or better.
Be currently enrolled.

 

Under this program:

·        All grades earned prior to the five year period are eliminated from the student’s GPA calculation.

·        Grades earned after returning to RVCC will be included in the new GPA calculations, including the twelve credits required to qualify for this program.

·        All courses taken prior to the five year absence in which a grade of C or better was earned may be used to meet graduation requirements.

·        Credits awarded through evaluation (transfer, CLEP, life-learning experience, credit by in-house examination, military experience and Advanced Placement) are not changed by this program, regardless of their date.

·        Only the GPA is affected by this program. All other previous academic records will remain on the transcript.