Curriculum Program Admissions

Open Door Policy

The College operates under the “open door” admissions policy of the State Board of Community Colleges. Individuals 18 years old or older and able to profit from further formal education, or a high school graduate under the age of 18, may be admitted to the College. Individuals under 18 years of age who have not attained graduation from high school can attend the College as stipulated by the policies of the State Board of Community Colleges. Admission to the College, however, does not ensure admission to any individual program or course or continued enrollment in the College. The College is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, or disability. The College may refuse admission to an applicant who poses a safety threat.

When to Apply

Applicants are encouraged to apply once the decision to enroll has been made. High school seniors should apply early in their senior year. The regular academic year begins with the Fall Semester; however, applicants may enter most programs at the beginning of any semester.

Applications

Applications must be submitted electronically at https://www.lenoircc.edu/future/newreturn/.

Procedures for Applying to Curriculum Programs

1. SUBMIT AN APPLICATION:  Applications must be submitted online at https://www.lenoircc.edu/future/newreturn/. Computers are available in the Office of Admissions in the Administration Building of the College for students that need assistance.
2. TRANSCRIPTS: Applicants are responsible for having official high school transcripts forwarded directly to the Office of Admissions. Final copies of high school graduating seniors’ transcripts must be provided immediately after the work is completed and the graduation date has been posted. Applicants who possess high school equivalency certificates must present either the certificate or the official scores to the Office of Admissions. Applicants who have attended other colleges or universities are responsible for having official transcripts from each institution that was previously attended sent directly to the Office of Admissions. Applicants who attended high school in a country other than the United States are required to have an evaluation of their transcript(s) performed by an outside evaluation service to certify that the applicant has the equivalent of a high school diploma. Applicants should be sure to use an evaluation service not a translation service. Applicants presenting transcripts of a completed bachelor’s degree will not be required to submit high school transcripts, except in the Health Sciences and Nursing programs where all official transcripts are required. All official documents, such as transcripts (both high school and college), become the property of Lenoir Community College and will not be returned, released, or copied.
3. PLACEMENT ASSESSMENT:  All applicants to degree, diploma, and certificate programs must take the RISE Placement Test or qualify for a RISE Placement Test waiver as indicated below:

a. Has graduated from a regionally accredited public high school, private school, or home school within the past ten years
b. Has earned an associate degree or bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
c. Has satisfactorily completed one college-level math and English course at or above the developmental, vocational, or transitional level at a regionally accredited college or university
d. Has a GED with a score of 165 or higher in each section (2014 and later)
e. Has a HiSet score of 15 on each section and a 4 on the essay (2014 and later)
f.  Has taken the ACCUPLACER, Asset, Compass, or North Carolina’s Diagnostic Test and Placement (NC DAP) test within the past ten years
g. Has scored the following minimum scores on the ACT or SAT:

• Math

  • ACT Math 22
  • SAT MAT 510 (prior to December 2011)
  • SAT MAT 500 (between January 2012 and February 2016) 
  • SAT MAT 530 (March 2016-present)

• English

  • ACT Reading 22 (Pre-December 2011)
  • ACT Reading 21 (between January 2012 and February 2014)
  • ACT Reading 22 (March 2014-present)
  • ACT English 22 (Pre-December 2011)
  • ACT English 18 (between January 2012 and February 2014)
  • ACT English 18 (March 2014-present)
  • SAT Reading 510 (Pre-December 2011)
  • SAT Writing 510 (Pre-December 2011)
  • SAT Critical Reading 500 (January 2012-February 2016)
  • SAT English 500 (January 2012-February 2016)
  • SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 480 (March 2016-present)

GPA Guardrails for Success

To ensure students are set up for success, and to mitigate withdrawals and potential negative repercussions with Financial Aid and completion, LCC has put in place GPA Guardrails for Success.  As students meet with their Advisor to register for classes, the Advisor will help guide students in enrolling for classes, while abiding by the following guidelines:

• Students with a current LCC Cumulative GPA less than a 2.2, or with a GPA less than a 2.2 from their most recently attended institution prior to LCC, will not be enrolled in more than 9** Non-Developmental Credit Hours at any point in a semester.*
• Students with a current LCC Cumulative GPA less than a 2.8 but greater than a 2.2, or with a GPA less than a 2.8 but greater than a 2.2 from their most recently attended institution prior to LCC, will not be enrolled in greater than 12** Non-Developmental Credit Hours at any one point in a semester.*  
• Traditional LCC students must hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 to be registered in a Holiday Course (HIN).  Note: This does not apply to Special Credit (T90990) students.*

Students enrolled in more than the allowable limit of hours based on current or most recently attended GPA may be dropped from one or more classes at the start of the semester and rebilled.  LCC understands and supports the desire for students to complete coursework successfully and on time. 

Note: Curriculum Dean approval is required to enroll in more than 18 hours in a semester.  (This is typically only approved for student GPAs greater than 3.0, with other factors considered).  

*Approval by the Vice President of Instruction & Institutional Effectiveness is required for enrollment in hours over the maximum allowable limit, and all outside factors will be considered.

**Does not include developmental hours.

Reinforced Instruction for Student Excellence (RISE) Placement Test

1. Placement Requirement:
   1. Students who graduated from a regionally accredited public high school, private school, or home school within the past ten years will be placed into the chosen program’s gateway math and English courses based on unweighted high school GPA. 
      • Students with a GPA less than 2.799 must enroll in transition courses. 
      • Students with a GPA of 2.8 or higher may register for any course without mandatory additional supports.
   2. Students who graduated from high school more than ten years ago or do not have a GPA are required to take the RISE Placement Test or qualify for a RISE Placement Test waiver.
2. RISE Placement Test Tiers
   1. The RISE Placement Test for math has three tiers.
      • Tier One: whole numbers; fractions and mixed numbers; decimals; ratio, proportion, and rates; percent; measurement, geometry, and real numbers
      • Tier Two: solving equations and inequalities, graphing, exponents and polynomials, concepts in statistics
      • Tier Three: rational expressions, radical expressions and quadratic equations, factoring, systems of equations and inequalities, functions
   2. The RISE Placement Test for English has two tiers.
      • Tier One: introduction to college reading and writing, identifying main ideas, discovering implied meaning, interpreting bias, analysis through definition, learning across disciplines
      • Tier Two: exploring comparative elements, informed options through casual chains, applied critical analysis, using sources in critical reading and writing

RISE Placement Test Information

• The RISE Placement Test may take two to three hours to complete.  Students may take the RISE Placement Test in sections over several days, if preferred.
• The RISE Placement Test is by appointment only. To schedule an appointment contact the Academic Support & RISE Transition Coordinator at 252-527-6223, ext. 972.
• Students must present a valid photo ID to take the RISE Placement Test.
• Students requiring accommodations with a documented disability should contact the Student Support and Accessibility Advisor at 252-527-6223, ext. 331 prior to testing.
• Upon completion of the RISE Placement Test, students will receive a summary of their results and placement for the required gateway math and English courses needed for their chosen program of study

RISE Placement Retesting Policy

Students will not be allowed to retake the RISE Placement Test. The results of the test will place students into gateway math and English or into a transition course. Mastery of the transition course will allow students to achieve levels that will allow them to take gateway courses.

Specific Program Admissions Requirements

• COLLEGE TRANSFER PROGRAMS
  Applicants must be high school graduates or possess high school equivalency certificates. Students with less than a 2.2 high school GPA from a college prep curriculum valid within 10 years, or a placement test demonstrating placement into college-ready ENG 111 and MATH will be placed into A10300FY - First Year cohort until demonstration of a 2.2 LCC GPA.
• ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE PROGRAMS
  Applicants must be high school graduates or possess high school equivalency certificates.
• ASSOCIATE IN GENERAL EDUCATION
  Applicants must be high school graduates or possess high school equivalency certificates.
• DIPLOMA PROGRAMS
  Applicants must be high school graduates or possess high school equivalency certificates.
• CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
  1. Technical certificate programs: Applicants must be high school graduates or possess high school equivalency certificates.
  2. Health Sciences certificate programs: See health sciences admissions section.
  3. Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Certificate program: Applicants must submit an official high school/HSE transcript and official transcripts from any colleges previously attended. Applicants must provide a letter of sponsorship from a law enforcement agency. Applicants will be required to take a placement assessment specified by the BLET program chair.
• SKILLS CERTIFICATES PROGRAMS
  Applicants must minimum of ten units of secondary school work and demonstrate the ability to succeed in the program. Students who earn certificates of attendance from high schools may be admitted to these programs.
• AVIATION MANAGEMENT AND CAREER PILOT TECHNOLOGY
  Students may take flight training courses in conjunction with the Career Pilot Technology AAS degree. Students who wish to sign up for flight training courses must first provide documentation of FAA compliant medical exam.
• GUNSMITHING PROGRAMS
  The College requires students who request admission to programs that possess a firearm to show proof of eligibility to be enrolled in such program. For the purposes of this Section, “firearms” shall have the same definition as G.S. 14-409.39(2). For the purposes of this Section, proof of eligibility shall include:
  1. Any current, valid State-issued permit to purchase a firearm;
  2. A current, valid State-issued concealed carry permit from North Carolina;
  3. A current, valid State-issued concealed carry permit from a state with a reciprocal concealed carry agreement with North Carolina;
  4. Proof of an exemption from permit requirements pursuant to G.S. 14-415.25; or
  5. A background check that is determined by the college. The sole purpose of the background check shall be to determine whether an applicant can lawfully possess a firearm in North Carolina pursuant to G.S. 14-269.8, G.S. 14-404(c), G.S. 14-415.1, G.S. 14-415.3, and G.S. 14-415.25.

• HEALTH SCIENCES AND NURSING PROGRAMS
  Students needing developmental work in reading, English, and/or math must complete these courses prior to the application deadline in order to be considered for Health Sciences and Nursing programs. Applicants to Health Sciences and Nursing programs must compete for acceptance because of enrollment restrictions. The point system is used for selecting students for most of the programs. Interested students should contact an advisor in the Office of Admissions to obtain information about the programs and the application and selection process. Each program will have specific published deadlines for receiving applications and related documentation.

DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals 

According to NCCCS CC13-019, USC 1621(a) and (c)(l)(A), and SBCC Code 1D-SBCC 400.2, neither federal law or NC law permits individuals with DACA classification to receive professional licenses.  The document confirms that federal law prohibits the granting of professional licenses to undocumented individuals.  An undocumented student may not displace a student who is legally in the USA.  Students that are lawfully present in the US shall have priority over any undocumented immigrant in any class or program of study when capacity limitations exist. Student applicants are responsible for presenting documentation to establish that they have DACA classification

The following programs have a specific admissions process:

• CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS—Refer to the Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division  section of the catalog.

Notification of Admission Status

All applicants will receive acknowledgment upon receipt of application. A letter of admittance will be sent upon completion of all admissions requirements. Students providing email addresses may receive electronic notification of admission status.

Readmission

Students applying for readmission to the College who have not attended for one or more years must submit a new application. Readmitted students will be enrolled under the current college catalog.

Special Credit/Visiting Students

Applicants who do not complete all admissions requirements may be admitted as special students. The special student classification is designed for persons who want to enroll in courses without completing admissions requirements or declaring a major. Special students may be permitted to accumulate fifteen (15) semester hours while completing the regular admission requirements. Special students must show evidence through official/unofficial transcripts or assessment scores that they meet the prerequisites for any courses. Visiting students from other colleges are considered special students.

When a special student selects a major, appropriate credits earned as a special student are accepted toward meeting the requirements for graduation. Special students are not eligible for financial aid.

High School Students

Beginning January 1, 2012, the Career and College Promise program replaced all previous high school programs at Lenoir Community College. Career and College Promise is a partnership between the North Carolina Community College System and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This program offers four pathways for high school students. A few programs allow freshmen and sophomores to enroll. Refer to the College’s website for specifics.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway - Designed for high school juniors and seniors in selected high school career cluster programs, this pathway allows students to enroll in college-level courses that align with their high school career courses.

Workforce Continuing Education Pathway - Designed for high school students to earn a State or industry recognized credential aligned with a high school career cluster. 

College Transfer Pathway - Designed for high school juniors and seniors in college-prep programs, this pathway allows students to enroll in college level courses that will transfer to a college or university.

Cooperative Innovative High School (Early College) Pathway - Designed for motivated students looking for a non-traditional high school experience, this pathway allows rising ninth graders the opportunity to earn their high school diploma and two years of college credit within five years.

International Students

Lenoir Community College is not approved for the attendance of non-immigrant students with F, J, or M visas.

Advanced Placement in Health Sciences Programs

Advanced Placement may be requested by an individual who has successfully completed a minimum of one semester of a Health Science program at a regionally accredited institution and seeks entry into LCC’s comparable program beyond the first semester. Before consideration is granted, the student must:

1. Apply to the College (Complete College Application).
2. Meet general college admissions’ requirements.
3. Meet current prerequisite courses for the desired program.
4. Submit a letter to the Dean of Health Sciences and Nursing requesting placement of Advanced Placement including:
   1. Detailed syllabi and course outlines/modules of successfully completed program core courses,
   2. Clinical evaluation summaries of all core clinical courses, and
   3. Two letters of recommendation: one from the program chair and one from a full-time faculty member where previously enrolled in a Health Science program.
5. Submit Unofficial Transcripts for review.

Decisions for Advanced Placement are made on an individualized basis and provided there is space available in the program. After a careful evaluation of all information provided, the Advanced Placement applicant will be notified in writing by the Dean of Health Sciences and Nursing.

Readmission to Health Sciences Programs

1. Any student who withdraws or is dismissed from a specific health science program may be readmitted only once to the same program subject to program faculty recommendation and available space.
2. A student who wishes to re-enter a health science program must submit a written request to the Dean of Health Sciences and Nursing. This request for reentry must be received by the end of the next semester following the interruption of studies. There is no guarantee of readmission to Health Sciences and Nursing programs.
3. Students who return after an absence of one semester or more (except summer) (a) must meet current admissions requirements, and (b) submit an updated health evaluation.
4. To assure retention of knowledge and skills, students are urged to return to the program at the earliest feasible time. The amount of time which has lapsed between withdrawal from the program and the readmission request must be considered by the program faculty. Auditing of previously completed program courses may be recommended by the program faculty if the student has been out of the program for an extended period of time.

Any student who after readmission does not receive a grade of “C” or better on all curriculum courses will not be eligible to re-enroll in the respective health science program.

Foreign Credential Evaluation

Students who earned their high school or post-secondary degree(s) in a country other than the United States are required to have a “course by course” credential evaluation performed by an external evaluation service. The foreign credential evaluation must be sent from the external evaluation service directly to Lenoir Community College. Please allow four to six weeks for an official credential assessment to be completed and forwarded to the Registrar’s Office.

Acceptance of Transfer Credit

Credit is awarded for freshman and sophomore courses completed at regionally accredited community colleges and universities provided they parallel work offered at Lenoir Community College, are applicable towards the student’s program of study, and carry adequate credit. No grade less than “C” will be acceptable in any program. The Vice President of Instruction must approve any credits from institutions that are not regionally accredited. The maximum transferable credit from another institution and the total allowable credit from all outside sources is 75 percent; 25 percent of the credit hours or 9 credit hours (whichever is greater) required for graduation must be earned through instruction offered by Lenoir Community College. Students are advised that transfer credits and grades accepted by Lenoir Community College do not infer acceptance by other educational institutions. Students will receive evaluations of all official records submitted before the end of the first semester of curriculum enrollment.

Waivers and Substitutions

Waivers and substitutions of courses, other degree requirements, and academic regulations may be made only with adequate cause. Exemption from, or substitutions for, requirements established for a program of study must be recommended by the division dean and approved by the Vice President of Instruction. These requests must be entered on a waiver and substitution form and submitted to the Registrar.