POLICY 4100 ADMISSIONS TO THE COLLEGE Policy Category

POLICY 4100

ADMISSIONS TO THE COLLEGE

Policy Category: Academic Affairs

Area of Administrative Responsibility: Academic Affairs/Academic Student Services

Board of Trustees Approval Date: June 9, 2020

Effective Date: June 10, 2020

Amendment History: N/A

Contents:

• Purpose

• Scope

• Policy

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Policy is to ensure that Nassau Community College adheres to the admissions

policies and practices set forth by the Board of Trustees.

SCOPE

This policy applies and is binding on all applicants to the College. It shall be used to admit

prospective students into Nassau Community College in order for such students to embark on or

continue their higher education experience.

POLICY

A. DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENTS:

1. New Students:

a. Students who wish to earn a degree or certificate at Nassau Community College

should apply for matriculated status by completing the College's application for

admission and providing all required documentation by the admissions completion

deadline. New students will be required to take an English, math and reading

placement test unless a placement testing exemption applies. The College Catalog

lists placement testing exemptions.

ADMISSIONS TO THE COLLEGE POLICY 4100

b. All new degree or certificate candidates must possess a state-endorsed high school

diploma or a high school equivalency certificate.

c. All students who have graduated from an approved high school or received a high

school equivalency (HSE) certificate will be offered acceptance to an appropriate

program of study. However, some programs have additional academic

requirements, which can be reviewed on the College’s website.

d. International Students: Applicants with international credentials and

international applicants who require a Student (F-1) Visa must submit additional

application materials and are encouraged to review the College’s most up to date

requirements on the College’s website.

2. Transfer Students:

a. For admission with advanced standing from an accredited college(s), applicants

must submit official high school credentials and official college records to the

Office of Admissions. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure the College

receives all official transcripts by appropriate admission completion deadlines.

b. Transfer Credit: Nassau Community College will provide an evaluation of

transfer credits for degree-seeking applicants after an official college transcript is

submitted. The transfer credit procedure is described in detail in the Admissions

Information section of the College Catalog.

3. Re-Admission for Returning Students: All returning students must submit a new

admissions application. Any student who attended another college/university upon leaving

Nassau Community College and wishes to re-enroll must submit all other

college/university transcripts. Any student who is re-admitted to the College under new

academic requirements than those which were in place when student last attended must

satisfy all current academic requirements in order to graduate. Returning students should

refer to the Admissions Information section of the College Catalog for more information.

B. COLLEGE CATALOG: The College Catalog describes the academic programs, general

regulations, policies and procedures of Nassau Community College. The Catalog is reviewed

and updated each academic year to reflect any changes in College academic policy as well as

any additions, changes to or discontinuance of academic programs. Students must comply

with the program requirements stated in the College Catalog based on their date of

matriculation in order to meet requirements for graduation. The College reserves the right to

update the College Catalog as required during the academic year. Students returning to study

at the College after an extended period of absence may be required to meet different program

requirements than those which were in effect during their initial period of attendance.

C. NON-DEGREE SEEKING STUDENTS:

1. Applicants who do not intend to pursue a degree or certificate at the College, but plan to

take courses for personal enrichment or professional growth, should apply as non-degree

ADMISSIONS TO THE COLLEGE POLICY 4100

students. In order to be admitted as a non-degree student, the applicant must provide either

proof of a high school graduation, or proof of having graduated from a college or

university.

As certain College courses have pre-requisites, non-degree students may not be eligible to

circumstances, a non-degree student may be able to take the College’s placement exam(s)

in order to satisfy the pre-requisite requirements. Students who wish to change their

admissions status from non-degree-seeking to degree-seeking must provide the

documentation required for degree-seeking applicants (i.e., official high school/college

transcripts, test scores, etc.) to the College.

2. Visiting Students: Students who are matriculated at another institution may, with the

permission of their home institution, study at Nassau Community College while still

maintaining matriculated status at their home institution.

3. Non-degree students are encouraged to review the Admissions Information section of the

College Catalog for more information.

D. ENROLLMENT OPTIONS FOR APPLICANTS WHO HAVE NOT GRADUATED

FROM HIGH SCHOOL:

1. Early Admission:

Students who have completed their junior year of high school may, upon approval of their

high school and the College, enroll as full-time freshmen at Nassau Community College.

When a student accepted under the “Early Admission” status successfully completes his or

her freshman year of College, the student will also be eligible to earn a high school diploma.

a. Applicants for the Early Admission option must complete the College's admission

application and meet the minimum admissions criteria set forth in the College

Catalog.

2. High School Enrichment: The College allows some high school seniors to enroll in

College courses during the regular academic year, while continuing to attend high school.

Applicants for the High School Enrichment program must complete the College's

admission application and meet the minimum admissions criteria set forth in the College

Catalog.

3. The High School Equivalency (HSE):

a. Nassau Community College's Office of Admissions will consider admissions

applications from students who do not have high school diplomas and who want to

earn a high school equivalency diploma (HSE) through the completion of college

credits. Applicants for the High School Equivalency diploma must complete the

College's admission application and meet the minimum admissions criteria set forth

in the College Catalog.

ADMISSIONS TO THE COLLEGE POLICY 4100

b. Upon completion of courses required for the HSE, students submit an application

for the equivalency diploma to the New York State Education Department. The

College’s Registrar’s Office assists with this process.

c. Students admitted under the HSE program cannot be granted a degree or certificate

until their high school equivalency diploma is granted by New York State. While

taking courses prior to receiving their high school equivalency diploma, students

are not eligible for financial aid.

4. Students Schooled at Home: Home-schooled students must submit a certification from

the superintendent of their school district verifying that they have completed the

“substantial equivalent of a four-year high school program.” While Nassau Community

College recognizes home schooling as a legitimate educational option, students schooled

at home who are unable to present a superintendent’s letter are considered to be without a

high school diploma. As such, they are expected to meet the same admission requirements

as are listed above for the high school equivalency program.

5. Fresh Start Program:

The Fresh Start Program allows a student who has not attended Nassau Community College

for a certain number of years, as specified in the College Catalog, to be re-admitted and

receive grade leniency by having all grades lower than C earned during the previous period

of attendance removed from the student’s grade point average. Application requirements

and further information concerning the Fresh Start Program is available for review in the

“Special Programs” section of the College Catalog.

E. NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE APPLICATION: All first-time applicants to the

College, whether degree-seeking or non-degree seeking students, visiting students and students

looking to enroll in the 24 credit High School Equivalency Program must pay an admissions

application fee. Returning applicants are not required to pay a second application fee. Only

the College president or his/her designee has authority to waive the admissions fee.

Applications may be filled out online. A paper application may also be filled out and is

available in the Admissions Office or by printing out the online application.

F. JOINT ADMISSIONS WITH FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES:

1. Applicants who plan to continue their education at a four-year college after graduation

from NCC may be better prepared for acceptance by taking advantage of the College's joint

admissions options. Joint admissions agreements exist with several four-year institutions,

as listed on the College’s Admissions website.

2. Applicants can apply for joint admissions at the time that they apply for admission to the

College and will be contacted by the four-year institution. Acceptance to the four-year

institution is conditional upon receipt by such institution of the applicant’s NCC transcript,

may require a particular grade point average and/or additional course work, as well as

satisfaction of other requirements as set by the four-year institution. Students are

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encouraged to contact the four-year college of their choice for further information on the

joint admissions opportunities.

G. ADMISSION OF PERSONS WITH DISCIPLINARY DISMISSALS:

1. Nassau Community College is committed to providing an opportunity for all qualified

applicants to receive a quality education. Applicants who have been dismissed from

another academic institution for disciplinary reasons may be accepted to study at Nassau

Community College, providing the applicant is able to successfully satisfy the evaluation

process. Applications will be reviewed by the College Admissions Review Committee. The

Committee will request that the applicant provide the specifics of the disciplinary

dismissal, such as background, charges filed, and date(s) of occurrence. Appropriate

releases may have to be executed by the applicant for receipt of educational disciplinary

records. The Committee may also require a personal interview to clarify or verify the

information received.

2. Upon reviewing the information, the Committee will determine whether the student may

be admitted to the College, whether certain conditions of admissibility will be imposed

(i.e., major selection, course scheduling, involvement in activities), or whether admission

will be denied. The Committee includes representatives from the following College

Departments: Dean of Students Office, Admissions, and Public Safety. The College

reserves the right to deny an applicant’s request for admission to the College or to a selected

program at the College if the applicant’s disciplinary record would prevent the applicant

from successfully completing or obtaining a required license and/or certification associated

with the program, or would involve an unreasonable risk to persons or property, or to the

welfare of the Campus community.

3. Failure to disclose any disciplinary dismissals, falsification of data, or intentional

misrepresentation within any area of the application process, may result in denial of

admission, disciplinary action, or the immediate dismissal of any student found to be

culpable.

4. Additional Procedures for Admissions of Persons with Disciplinary Dismissals are detailed

in the College Catalog.

H. ADMISSION OF STUDENTS WITH PRIOR FELONY CONVICTIONS:

1. In accordance with State University of New York (SUNY) Policy 3200, Nassau

Community College does not inquire into an applicant’s prior criminal history during the

College application process. After acceptance, the College shall inquire whether the

student has previously been convicted of a felony if such a student: 1) seeks admission into

academic programs which contain a mandatory clinical component, 2) will be involved in

field experiences or internships, or 3) will be participating in study abroad programs. The

information required to be disclosed regarding such felony convictions shall be reviewed

by standing campus committee(s) consistent with legal standards articulated in New York

State Corrections Law and SUNY Policy 3200. The Committee(s) will determine whether

ADMISSIONS TO THE COLLEGE POLICY 4100

the applicant who has made a post-admission disclosure of a prior felony conviction will

be permitted access to the clinical or field experiences, internships or study abroad

programs, and any conditions on such access.

2. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior

criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic

programs and/or to meet the licensure requirements for certain professions. Students who

have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the office of their intended

academic program.