Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to Richland Community College should

1. Have graduated from high school, or
2. Have received a High School Equivalency Certificate based on the GED test, or
3. Have been home-schooled and meet the "ability to benefit" as determined through a test recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or
4. Intend to enroll in a GED course, or
5. Be a high school junior or senior and have principal approval to enroll, or
6. Be a gifted student below the age of 16 and have principal approval to enroll.

Admission of High School Students and "Gifted" High School Students

High school students may also attend classes at Richland for credit toward either a high school diploma or a college degree. Eligibility for enrollment as a high school student is decided as follows:

1. The student is a high school junior or senior.
2. A signed "Principal's Approval " form must be submitted.
3. A signed "Parent Guardian Approval" form must be submitted.
4. A high school transcript is submitted to Richland. Final approval for enrollment is then determined by Richland.

College credit for classes taken by high school students will be held in "the bank" and awarded to the student upon completion of high school (as verified by an official high school transcript).

"Gifted students" (students with exceptionally high academic ability as determined by the student's school and the College) who are below sixteen years of age may also take courses at Richland with the approval of the student's principal and the College.

Gifted students should follow the application procedures previously listed for the admission of high school students.

Admission to a Program of Study

Each program of study (for example, Electronics, Horticulture, Associate in Arts or Science) has specific requirements for admission. These requirements are based on the student's previous education, work experience, and levels of achievement. See "Programs of Study" beginning on page 64 for a complete list of prerequisites for each program. Information that may be used in admission to a program includes:

1. A transcript of the student's high school and college records. The student should request a transcript from the school(s) to be sent to the Admissions and Records Office at Richland. High school seniors applying for admission should also include a list of courses in progress. Transcripts of individuals who do not enroll at Richland will be kept on file for two years after receipt.
2. Test scores. Richland generally uses the American College Testing (ACT). Other comparable test results may be submitted if approved by a Richland counselor.
3. Application and personal interview, including related experiences since leaving high school or college.

Students may be provisionally admitted to a program even if they fail to meet some requirements. Students provisionally admitted may be required to enroll in developmental courses, take a reduced load, complete further testing, and/or receive career counseling. Similar procedures may also be applied to students enrolling in individual courses only.

Selective Admission to Health Professions Programs

Students who wish to declare a major in the health professions program must meet specialized criteria under the instructional program section of this Catalog. Admission to some health programs is selective due to availability and limitations of practicum sites and limitations in the number of students that can be accommodated in clinical groups. The selective admissions procedures also apply to readmission students, advance placement students and transfer students. Admission to Richland Community College does not guarantee admission to selective admissions programs. The following programs require specialized admission:

• AS Dental Hygiene - cooperative agreement with Lakeland Community College
• AAS Nursing - Registered Nursing
• AAS Occupational Therapy Assistant - cooperative agreement with Parkland Community College
• AAS Physical Therapy Assistant - cooperative agreement with Lakeland College
• AAS Radiography
• AAS Respiratory Care- cooperative agreement with Parkland College
• AAS Surgical Technology
• Pharmacy Technology Certificate
• Practical Nursing Certificate
• Surgical Technology Certificate

Admission to the Nursing Program

Admission to Richland Community College does not guarantee admission to the nursing program. The applicant must meet or exceed all selective admission requirements to be considered for admission to the nursing program. Admission of out-of-district students will be considered when space is available.

Applications to Richland's nursing program are available by attending Nursing Orientation. Information regarding orientation can be obtained from the Health Professions office in S162, Ext. 450. The deadlines for submitting applications of admission are October 1st for Spring '05 and March 1st for Fall '04. Applicants completing ALL admission requirements by the deadline are considered first. Students meeting the admission criteria after the deadline will be considered at the end of the semester if space is available. Final selection is based on the most qualified applicants in the RCC District. Out-of-district applicants will be admitted only if the class has not been filled and all qualified in-district applicants have been accepted. Students are informed by letter of the action taken on their application. A new ADN class may begin in the fall and spring semesters of each year depending on adequate faculty & enrollment.

Admission Requirements:

Applicants must:

1. Apply to and be admitted to Richland Community College - Student Services Center, Room C129, Ext. 267.
2. Submit any high school and/or college transcripts or GED certificates to the Registrar.
3. Apply for financial aid - Financial Aid, Room C129, Ext. 271/274.
4. Take English and Reading Comprehension Placement Tests in Room W124 or submit ACT scores with English and Reading scores of 19 or higher (Determines eligibility for English 101).
5. Take the Math Placement Test in W124 and be eligible for Math 106. (Determines eligibility for math and some science classes).
6. Take the Nelson Denny Reading Test and place at the 12th grade level.
7. Be one of the following:
   1. High School Senior
   2. High School Graduate
   3. GED Graduate
8. Meet ONE criteria in each of the following areas:
   1. Academic Background
   (1) For graduates of high school, a cumulative high school GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale and an ACT composite of 21 and a science reasoning score of 20. Applicants must also have completed 3 years of English, 3 years of mathematics (including Algebra I and II and Geometry), and 3 years of science (including Chemistry and Biology) all with a "C" or better or (2) A 2.5 GPA in 15 semester hours of approved college courses (list of approved courses includes ENGL101, BIOL201, 202, 220, MATH106, PSYCH110, 145, SOCIO 110, HLTH220, and a Humanities/Fine Arts elective) and
   1. Chemistry
      (1) Two semesters of high school chemistry with a "C" or better taken within the past 5 years or (2) College equivalent (CHEM100 or above) with a "C" or better taken within the past five years and
   2. Biology
      (1) Two semesters of high school chemistry and four semesters of high school biology with a "B" or better or completion of BIOL101 with a "C" or better. BIOL 101 or the last Biology taken of BIOL101, 201, 202, 220 must have been taken within the last 5 years and
   3. Computer Literacy
      (1) Complete CIS110, the equivalent, or the proficiency test with a "C" or better.
9. For admission to the program, progression and graduation, a student must earn a grade of "C" or better in each program prerequisite and each program course and have a Program GPA of 2.5.
10. Program GPA is defined as all prerequisite courses, all general education courses and all course curriculums. See Academic Information and Regulation section of the RCC College Catalog for directions to calculate GPA.
11. Students with a pattern of repeating courses after earning a "W" or grade less than a "C" in more than 2 prerequisite and program courses may be admitted on a probationary status. Student selection is determined by
    1. Grade point average (GPA), and/or ACT Score
    2. Biology GPA of 2.0 or better
    3. Nelson Denny Reading Level
    4. Number of general education courses completed.
    5. Number of Biology courses completed.
    6. Priority will be given to the most qualified students. Applicants who meet or exceed the minimum admission requirements and are not admitted because of lack of space shall be placed on a list for alternate admission. The alternate list is ranked for in-district and then for out-district students. In the event of a cancellation of an admitted student, applicants on the alternate list will be contacted up to and including the day before classes start. Once the program begins the alternate list will not roll over. Applicants must reapply for each semester if they wish to be readmitted. There is no preference given for reapplication.