Admissions (Section II) II-1
Admissions Policy
South Piedmont Community College subscribes to the “open door” policy established by the North Carolina
Community College System. The College will admit all applicants who:
• are a legal resident of the United States and who either:
• are high school graduates or are at least 18 years of age
The College will admit an undocumented immigrant as an out-of-state resident, regardless of where the
applicant resides, only if the applicant has attended and graduated from a United States public school,
private high school, or home school that operates in compliance with state and local law.
Please note that admission to the College does not guarantee admission to specic academic programs.
Students must meet additional requirements for admission to individual programs. These requirements
can be found in the college catalog under Admissions Procedures.
The College serves all students regardless of race, color, sex, creed, national origin, age, or disability.
Pursuant to the State Board of Community College Code (1D SBCCC 400.2), SPCC reserves the right
to deny admission to any applicant or student:
• during any period of time that the student is suspended or expelled from another educational entity.
• to programs offered where high school students reside (physically or virtually) that require
compliance with the Jessica Lunsford Act;
• when there is articulable, imminent, and signicant threat to the applicant or other individuals;
• who is not a North Carolina resident who seeks enrollment in any distance education course only if
that applicant resides in a state where the college is not authorized to provide distance education
in that state.
Admissions Procedures and Information
New students are urged to complete the admissions process at least two (2) weeks prior to
registration and apply fornancial aid at least eight (8) weeks prior to registration. Students must
allow a minimum of three business days for application processing. Beginning October 2017, all students
applying to SPCC must have a Residency Certication Number (RCN). A RCN is provided to the student
upon completion of the Residency Determination form on CFNC.org. Applicants to an SPCC health
program should refer to www.spcc.edu for the admissions requirements for that specic health program.
Once all admissions requirements listed below are complete, students will be placed into their program of
study and may receive nancial aid if eligible. Applicants wishing to register for classes prior to completing
his/her admissions le may do so as a Special Credit student. Special Credit students are not eligible
for nancial aid. To ensure nancial aid is in place, applicants should make sure the admissions le is
complete at least two (2) weeks prior to registration.
Complete the SPCC Application for Admission
• Complete an application for admission online at www.spcc.edu. Students who already have an account
with CFNC must use existing login information to ll out SPCC’s application. Those who don’t have
an account with CFNC may create one prior to lling out the application. Students without access to
the Internet may use SPCC’s computers to complete this part of the process.
• Residency Determination will be completed as part of the application and the Residency Certication
Number must be provided on the application prior to submission.
ADMISSIONS
II-2 Admissions (Section II)
Submit ofcial high school, high school equivalency, or Adult High School transcript
• It is the student’s responsibility to request this transcript from the appropriate educational institution.
It is also the student’s responsibility to pay any applicable fees to the appropriate institution.
• O f cial transcripts should be mailed directly from the high school, high school equivalency of c e, or adult
high school to SPCC. Unofcial (student issued, faxed, or e-mailed) transcripts will not be accepted.
• Students who graduated from the high school equivalency program at South Piedmont Community
College may request a copy of their scores from SPCC’s Basic Skills Department in lieu of an ofcial
transcript.
• Anyone who plans to submit a high school transcript from non-public institutions or online high school
programs must contact SPCC’s Admissions Ofce to determine if the transcript is acceptable for
admission into their program of study.
• Students with a bachelor’s degree or higher who submit ofcial college transcripts showing degree
completion are not required to submit high school transcripts, with the exception of all Nursing
applicants who must provide transcripts showing proof of high school completion.
Submit ofcial transcripts from all colleges listed on the admissions application
• Transcripts may be sent from the college electronically through a secure provider such as E-scrip,
National Student Clearinghouse, ScripSafe, etc. Contact previous college for details.
• All foreign transcripts (secondary and post-secondary) must be evaluated by an authorized
evaluation agency at the student’s expense. Post-secondary evaluations must include grades, course
descriptions, and grading scale.
• A college transcript waiver may be available for extenuating circumstances.
• After ofcial transcripts have been received, submit a completed Transcript Evaluation Request form
to the Registrar’s ofce for evaluation of prior course credit.
Placement Testing, if necessary
• After all transcripts have been received, Admissions will determine if a student needs to complete
the English and/or Math Placement Test. Most students will not need testing and will be placed into
courses based upon their unweighted high school GPA (enrollment within ten years of high school
graduation), completion of an Associate Degree or higher, or transferable English or Math credits
from an accredited instituion. If placement cannot be determined and testing is necessary, students
will be notied by email with information about test scheduling and preparation.
• Students pursuing a certicate program are not required to complete placement testing.
Reapplication to the College
Students who have not enrolled for two consecutive semesters (spring and fall) must reapply for admission to
the College. Copies of academic transcripts and placement testing may be required. Students who have been
suspended for academic or disciplinary reasons must consult with the Vice President of Student Services.
Admission of High School Students
Career and College Promise
Session Law 2011-145, the Appropriations Act of 2011, authorized the State Board of Education and the
State Board of Community Colleges to establish the Career and College Promise program, effective
January 1, 2012.
Career and College Promise (CCP) provides seamless dual enrollment educational opportunities for
eligible North Carolina high school students in order to accelerate completion of college certicates,
diplomas, and associate degrees that lead to college transfer or provide entry-level job skills. North
Carolina community colleges may offer the following Career and College Promise pathways aligned with
the K-12 curriculum and career and college ready standards adopted by the State Board of Education:
• A College Transfer Pathway leading to a minimum of 30 hours of college transfer credit;
• A Career and Technical Education Pathway leading to a certicate, diploma, or degree;
Admissions (Section II) II-3
• A Cooperative Innovative High School Pathway approved under Part 9 of Article 16 of Chapter 115D
of the General Statutes.
Links to the following web pages with information on Career and College Promise are listed below. Each
web page targets a specic audience.
• North Carolina Community College System Ofce’s CCP web page:
www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/academic-programs/career-college-promise
• North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s CCP web page:
www.ncpublicschools.org/ccp/
Early College High School
South Piedmont Community College in collaboration with the Anson County School System and the Union
County School System offers Early College High School programs for students living in each county.
Early College High Schools are classied as cooperative innovative high schools under the Career and
College Promise program. Students apply for admission to Anson County Early College (ACEC) or Union
County Early College (UCEC) in the eighth grade. Students enter the Early College program as freshmen
and earn a high school diploma and a two-year Associate Degree in Arts or Associate Degree in Science
within ve (5) years. SPCC tuition is paid for ACEC and UCEC students. Upon graduation, students then
apply to transfer to the college or university of their choice.
Admission for Allied Health and Nursing Programs
Students seeking admission into an SPCC health program will be required to meet the health program
admissions criteria and be of cially accepted into the health program prior to taking program- specic health
classes. Each program has different admissions criteria. Refer to the specic Allied Health or Nursing
Admissions Requirements booklet for the health program in which admission is sought. These booklets
may be found on the website at www.spcc.edu.
Admission of International Students (Documented)
South Piedmont Community College considers admissions to documented foreign nationals. The following
must be completed and submitted to the Admissions Ofce prior to enrollment:
• SPCC Application for Admission
• Permanent Resident Alien Card (or other acceptable documentation)
SPCC is not able to issue I-20s to international students.
Although a student may possess valid documentation to be lawfully present in the United States, that
documentation does not guarantee the student has capacity to establish a domicile in the United States.
All students must complete Residency Determination on www.CFNC.org to receive his/her Residency
Certication Number (RCN). The RCN will classify that student as an in or out-of-state student for tuition
purposes.
South Piedmont Community College does not have housing facilities, living accommodations, or
associated support programs for individuals from other countries. Each student is responsible for their
own transportation.
Admission of International Students (Undocumented)
The North Carolina Community College System advised in Memorandum CC10-026 (effective June 10,
2010) that community colleges should admit or enroll undocumented immigrants only as follows:
• Undocumented immigrants who are high school students may enroll in college-level courses
consistent with the Career and College Promise policy. Participation in this program is not based on
II-4 Admissions (Section II)
legal residence, but on attendance in a North Carolina high school. These courses are open to all
high school students attending high school (public, private, or home school) located in the state who
meet the eligibility criteria.
• Undocumented immigrants may enroll in non-college level courses or programs including high school
equivalency preparation courses, Adult Basic Education, Adult High School, English as a Second
Language and other continuing education courses less than college level.
• Undocumented or battered illegal immigrants who have been determined to meet one of the qualifying
conditions in Federal Law, 8 USC Section 1641 are eligible for college-level courses. It is the applicant’s
responsibility to produce sufcient written documentation to satisfy the College that the applicant is
eligible for post-secondary education benets.
• Undocumented immigrants must have attended and graduated from a United States public high
school, private high school, or home school that operates in compliance with state and local law.
Undocumented immigrants with a high school equivalency diploma are not considered to be “graduated
from a United States public high school, private high school, or home school” and therefore are not
eligible to be admitted.
• Undocumented immigrants who are registered into a class are required to pay the out-of-state tuition
rate. The College shall not enroll undocumented students into a class or program of study for which
there are waiting lists, nor register undocumented students for classes until the conclusion of the last
published (i.e., late) registration period.
Mathematics Direct Placement
A student may place directly into Calculus I (MAT 271) if the student has met at least one of the following
criteria within the past ve (5) years:
• A score of 2 or higher on the AP Calculus AB exam.
• A grade of C or higher in an AP Calculus course and an unweighted HS GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• A score of 90 or higher on the ACCUPLACER College-Level Math (CLM) test.
• A score of 46 or higher on the trigonometry section of the ACT Compass Math Placement Test.
• A score of 580 or higher on the SAT Math and a grade of C or higher in the North Carolina Standard
Course of Study Pre-Calculus course or an equivalent course from another state.
• A score of 27 or higher on the ACT Math and a grade of C or higher in the North Carolina Standard
Course of Study Pre-Calculus course or an equivalent course from another state.
• A score of 560 or higher on the SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2.
See the Advising Center for more information.
Placement Testing for Distance Learning Students
Students outside the College’s service area should contact the Director, Admissions and Testing for
information on College Placement Testing at 704-290-5847.
Placement Test Retest Procedures
Students who are required to take the Placement Test may retest once per section within the time frame
that scores are valid, or ten years. Contact the Testing Center for procedures.
TABE Retest Guidelines
Students may be granted TABE retest permission by the Testing Center if the following applies:
• The student took original test section within two (2) months AND
• Has paid required TABE retest fee
A student is permitted one (1) TABE retest per test section every two (2) months. A student may TABE
retest free of charge if the test section was taken over one (1) year prior.
Admissions (Section II) II-5
Students retesting must provide Retest Authorization form, receipt, and a photo ID at the time of the retest,
at which time the Testing Center staff will ensure eligibility. Testing staff and/or the Director, Admissions
and Testing, reserve the right to disallow a retest if validity of a request is questioned.
Acceptance of Credit
SPCC evaluates, awards, and accepts credit for transfer, credit by exam, credit by nationally recognized
industry credential, and advanced placement. The College ensures that all associated coursework and
learning outcomes are at the collegiate level and comparable to those for SPCC programs.
All requests for transfer credit should be made before enrolling but after application and transcripts
are received at South Piedmont Community College. In order to obtain transfer credit evaluations, a
student must complete a Transcript Evaluation Request form and supply the College with appropriate
transcripts as well as course descriptions or catalogs, if the College requests them.
Students who have completed coursework at other colleges and universities should submit ofcial
transcripts of all post-secondary work. Transfer credit may be awarded for appropriate military courses
based on American Council on Education (ACE) recommendation. Credit will be evaluated in the context
of the current SPCC college catalog and awarded according to the following criteria:
• Prior coursework must correspond in instructional hours and content and must be substantially
similar to SPCC courses required in the degree, diploma, or certicate being sought. Quarter-hour
courses must equate to the semester-hour equivalent of the current required course, either by a
combination of courses or as standalone by using the 3:2 ratio (2/3). Coursework must have been
completed at a regionally accredited college recognized by the Commission on Colleges or other
nationally known accrediting body.
• Coursework must have been completed with a “C” or better.
• Transfer students must meet Residency Requirements for Graduation.
The decision as to how much, if any, transfer credit will be awarded and how such transfer credit will be
applied is discretionary on the part of the College.
To be considered for acceptance of credit from an international university, an ofcial English language
transcript is required and the student must have an International Transcript Evaluation completed by an
evaluation agency at their expense. The transcript, course descriptions, and the grading system can be
submitted to an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES),
World Education Services (WES), or International Education Evaluations, Inc. (IEE) for an international
evaluation. A letter grade of “A,” “B,” or “C” and earned credit hours must be provided for each course.
Course equivalencies based on terms such as “Excellent” or “Good” are not acceptable.
Noncredit to Credit Policy
South Piedmont Community College awards curriculum credits for non-credit work. This includes nationally
recognized industry credentials, credit by examination, approved Continuing Education courses, or through
provisions identied in numbered memos and/or guidance from the North Carolina Community College
System, and/or when a state-approved bridging program is in place.
Students interested in receiving curriculum credits for non-credit work may obtain information from the
Registrar’s Ofce at the time of admission. Students may also visit SPCC’s web site under Student
Resources/Credit Articulation at SPCC, to view currently valid industry certications, pre-approved
Continuing Education courses, and submission forms.
II-6 Admissions (Section II)
Comprehensive Articulation Agreement
The 2014 Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA), approved February 2014, between the State
Board of the North Carolina Community College System and the Board of Governors of the University of
North Carolina establishes the procedures for governing the transfer of credits for students who transfer
from a North Carolina Community College to a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina.
The CAA does not address admission to a specic institution or to a specic major within an institution.
To be eligible for the transfer of credits under the CAA, the student must graduate from the community
college with an Associate in Arts (AA) or an Associate in Science (AS) degree and have an overall
Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and a grade of “C” or better in all CAA courses.
Students who do not complete the degree are eligible to transfer credits on a course-by-course bases.
Additionally the Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement allows for transfer of Associate in
Arts and Associate in Science degree program credits to some private institutions. For more information
regarding the transfer status of specic courses and curricula, visit the Future Students section on the
SPCC Website or contact the senior institution.
Advanced Placement (AP) Course Credit
Applicants to SPCC may request transfer credit for subjects taken in high school if they have a designation
of Advanced Placement and appropriate score on an Advanced Placement exam at the end of the course.
Credit must be applicable to the student’s current degree or diploma requirements. Advanced credit must
be supported by ofcial test score reports to be considered for transfer credit. Only hours earned are
awarded. Ofcial documentation verifying test scores is required. All approved and recorded Advanced
Placement credit will be assigned a grade of “AP.”
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Credit
Applicants to SPCC may request transfer credit for subjects covered under placement examinations. The
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject area exams may be evaluated for SPCC college
credit. Test scores must meet ACE (American Council on Education) recommendations. Credit must be
applicable to the student’s current degree or diploma requirements and must be supported by ofcial test
score reports to be considered for transfer credit. Only hours earned are awarded. Ofcial documentation
verifying test scores is required.
Tech Prep Credit
In cooperation with the local high schools, South Piedmont Community College participates in and supports
the Tech Prep (Technical Preparation) program. Pertaining to credit for Tech Prep, the College adheres
to the North Carolina High School to Community College Articulation Agreement as set forth by the
North Carolina Community College System and the NC Department of Public Instruction. The Tech Prep
program is a course of study for high school students designed to meet the needs for a more technically
oriented educational background. Through a blending of higher level academic and vocational courses,
Tech Prep prepares students for the advanced courses required by South Piedmont Community College.
Requirements for the Tech Prep advanced placement are:
• Earn a grade of “B” or higher in the course at the high school level and
• Score a 93 or higher on the course post-assessment
In order to receive credit as per the agreement, a student must enroll at the community college within two
years of their high school graduation date and immediately notify the Registrar of their Tech Prep status.
All approved and recorded Tech Prep credit will be assigned a grade of “TP.”
Admissions (Section II) II-7
Educational Experiences in the Armed Services Credit
It is the policy of South Piedmont Community College to award credit for training experiences in the
Armed Services. Such experiences must be certied by the American Council on Education. Credit will
be given on the basis of individual evaluation by the Registrar. Creditable military experience must closely
correspond to courses in the South Piedmont Community College curriculum for which the student is
applying. College credit earned while in the Armed Services must be substantiated with an ofcial transcript
of coursework from the Department of Defense or applicable college.
FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA) OF 1974
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 grants certain rights, privileges, and protections
relative to individually identiable student educational records which are maintained by SPCC. Specically,
SPCC has adopted the following general guidelines and specic procedures on access to and release of
student records to ofcials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the
student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer,
subject to the requirements of §99.34 (§99.31 (a)(2)).
Directory Information
Certain information is considered to be “directory information” and may be used for directory purposes
unless a student specically requests directory information to be protected. SPCC may, although not
required, include all of the information listed. In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act (FERPA), directory information relating to a student may include the following:
• Student’s name
• Major eld of study
• Dates of attendance
• Participation in ofcially recognized activities and sports
• Degrees, honors, and awards received
Right of the College to Refuse Access
SPCC reserves the right to refuse permission to students to inspect the following records:
• Financial statement of a students’ parents
• Letters and statements of recommendation for which a student has waived their rights of access or
which were led before January 1, 1975
• Condential letters and statements of recommendation concerning admission, employment, honor
or honorary recognition if a student has signed a waiver of their right of access
• Record being withheld for failure to meet nancial obligations
Disclosure of Educational Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) gives parents certain rights with respect to their
children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or
attends a school beyond the high school level. Educational Records means those records, les, documents,
and other materials that contain information directly related to a student and are maintained by SPCC or by
any person acting for the College. Not included in the term “educational records” are records of instructional,
supervisory, and administrative personnel and records created or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist,
psychologist, or other recognized professional or para-professional acting in his/her professional capacity.
Any student has the right to his/her educational records. This includes the right to:
• Inspect and review the contents of these records.
• Obtain copies of those records at the cost of reproducing those copies.
• A response from the custodian of the records to reasonable requests for explanations and
interpretations of those records.
• An opportunity for a hearing to challenge the content of those records.
II-8 Admissions (Section II)
Disclosure of Educational Records to Third Parties
SPCC will disclose information from a student’s educational records only with the written consent of the
student, except to:
• School ofcials who have a legitimate educational interest.
• Certain ofcials of the U.S. Department of Education, the Controller General, Attorney General,
Secretary, and state and local education programs.
• Specied ofcials for audit or evaluation purposes.
• Organizations conducting certain studies for, or on behalf of, the school.
• Accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions.
• To comply with a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena.
• Appropriate ofcials in cases of health or safety emergencies.
• State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specic state law.
For additional information pertaining to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), consult
the Registrar or Vice President of Student Services.
Destruction of Records
Disciplinary, college activity, and various other records are periodically destroyed. SPCC assumes no
obligation to provide a student with the information contained in such records following their destruction.
FERPA Exceptions
The only exceptions to this rule of condentiality are the following:
1. If a student is clearly likely to do physical harm to another person in the near future, it is the
counselor’s duty to warn the person involved. This step would be taken as a last resort and only
if absolutely necessary.
2. If a student is clearly likely to do physical harm to himself or herself in the near future, it is the
counselor’s duty to contact others. This step would be taken as a last resort and only if absolutely
necessary.
3. If a student shares information about the abuse or neglect of any juvenile(s) or disabled adult(s),
the counselor may be required by state law to report that information to the Department of Social
Services.