Porterville College Fall Schedule of Classes - 2008

Scholastic Requirements

Students who have not previously attended a college or university may be admitted to Porterville College if they are either graduates of an accredited high school, or non-high school graduates, but 18 years of age, who can profit from the instructional programs of the college. Students who have attended another college or university may be admitted to Porterville College by completing the application for admissions form.

Academic Policies, Procedures and Regulations

Student Responsibility

All students have the responsibility of being informed about Porterville College policies and regulations. The Porterville College catalog clearly describes the regulations and procedures regarding limits on credit load, minimum credit requirements, English requirements, required labs, course prerequisites, refund policies, probation and dismissal policies, etc.

Students who do not have a college catalog in their possession should purchase a copy in the bookstore or Office of Admissions and Records or view online at www.portervillecollege.edu to familiarize themselves with its contents.

Graduation and transfer requirements may change from year to year; therefore, it is important for students to keep a catalog from the year they enter Porterville College.

The Porterville College staff is available to students for assistance in meeting requirements and following procedures. However, students are ultimately responsible for their academic program.

Repeating Classes

Credit courses MAY NOT BE REPEATED except for the following reasons:

1. A grade of D, F, or NC is recorded for that course.

2. A course has been previously designated as being a repeatable course in the college catalog. Check the college catalog for the number of times a course may be repeated.

Class Adds

Students may add an open class through September 8 without the instructor's signature. Closed classes require the instructor's signature to add.

Late Enrollment Adds

After September 8, students may only add classes by instructor signature with first date of attendance unless the class is late-starting or "open-entry."

Dropping (Withdrawal) from Classes

Students are responsible for officially withdrawing from any class or classes in which they no longer wish to be enrolled. Students are responsible for dropping their courses; non-payment or non-attendance will not release students from this responsibility.

After registration, students may officially withdraw from a class or classes by filing an add/drop slip with the Office of Admissions and Records or via the web. Fees incurred for registration are due ten days after the transaction. Students will not receive a billing statement and should regularly check their account on the web. Fees not paid by the deadline date listed on this form will result in the student being dropped from classes or holds placed on records.

Semester-length courses dropped on or before September 28, 2006, will not appear on permanent records. Semester courses dropped between September 29 - October 30 will be recorded as "W" on the permanent record unless an earlier withdrawal date is specified by the individual instructor. Withdrawals from semester courses will not be accepted after October 30, and a grade other than a "W" must be given. In courses other than semester length, the 30 percent and 60 percent dates are different, and the instructor should be consulted regarding withdrawal date deadlines. Students may contact the Office of Admissions and Records regarding the procedure to petition to withdraw after the final drop date only if there are verifiable extenuating circumstances.

Disclaimer

Porterville College is governed by the Board of Trustees of the Kern Community College District. No oral or written representation by any employee of the college is binding on the college or the district without expressed approval of the District Board of Trustees.

Early High School Admit Program - Special Admit

How do I enroll at Porterville College if I am still a high school student?

High School Students in 11th and 12th Grades:

• Complete the High School Special Admit Petition for enrollment with principal or vice principal's and parent's signature.
• Student must present most recent report card or transcript to be used as one of the multiple measures along with the assessment test.
• Home schooled students must provide verification of satisfactory completion of courses instructed at the home school. (Home school is instruction by a tutor or other person including the student's parents.)
• High school students are required to demonstrate eligibility for instruction in degree-applicable courses; they are required to complete the assessment test.
• Complete the PC admissions and registration forms.
• High school students are restricted to six credits. Students wishing to take more than six credits will be reviewed by an appeal committee.
• Submit Special Admit Petition, most recent report card or transcript and admissions and registration forms to the Office of Admissions and Records.
• Pay all appropriate fees.

High School Students Below the 11th Grade:

• The community college educational environment is geared toward adult students. Lecture/discussion courses are not always appropriate in their nature and/or language for younger students. However, we realize that academically advanced students younger than 11th grade may wish to take advance level courses. We allow enrollment of such students through the appeal process.
• Complete the High School Special Admit Petition for enrollment with principal or vice principal's and parent's signatures.
• Student must present most recent report card or transcript to be used as one of the multiple measures along with the assessment test.
• Home schooled students must provide verification of satisfactory completion of courses instructed at the home school. (Home school is instruction by a tutor or other person including the student's parents.)
• High school students are required to demonstrate eligibility for instruction in degree applicable courses; they are required to complete the assessment test.
• Complete the PC admissions and registration forms.
• High school students are restricted to six credits. Students wishing to take more than six credits will be reviewed by an appeal committee.
• Submit Special Admit Petition, most recent report card or transcript and admissions and registration forms to the Office of Admissions and Records.
• Pay all appropriate fees.

Open Class Policy

All Porterville College classes are open to all students, with the exception of intercollegiate sports. Some courses have academic prerequisites which are listed in this schedule. The notation, "or instructor's permission," indicates that the prerequisites shown may be waived by the instructor for students with equivalent experience or training.

Name and Address Changes

It is the responsibility of students to notify the Office of Admissions and Records immediately of any name changes. Students may make address changes in the Office of Admissions and Records or on the web.

Final Grades

Grades are available via the web as soon as possible after the close of the semester.

Veterans and Dependents of Veterans

It is the responsibility of veteran students to notify the Veteran's Office that they are enrolling each semester. Completion of the registration materials is no assurance that veterans have been cleared for VA payment.

Veteran students who enroll in short-term classes will only be paid VA educational benefits during the period of the short-term class.

No classes previously taken for credit may be repeated and counted for VA payments.

Steps for Degree Evaluation and Graduation

Meet with a counselor.

Complete the Degree Evaluation Petition during the filing period.

What is the Degree Evaluation Petition (DEP)?

Degree Evaluation Petition (DEP) is the form that begins the evaluation review of the courses you have completed or are in progress to determine if you meet the required course(s) to graduate. The Counseling Center staff forwards the petitions to the Office of Admissions and Records for a final review and then a degree evaluation letter is mailed to emailed to students confirming their status for graduation. The DEP is available in the Counseling Center (AC-126) and must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records by the filing period by the students or counselor.

What if I miss the filing period?

If you missed the filing period for the degree evaluation, you may still meet with your counselor to complete the "Unofficial Degree Evaluation" (UDE). The petition will be forwarded to the Office of Admissions and Records but no letter confirming your status will be mailed. In lieu of this step, the counselor will complete an Unofficial Degree Evaluation with you to confirm the status of graduation. Your Degree Evaluation Petition will be submitted in the next filing period.

Does this mean I won't graduate?

No, you may participate in the graduation exercise in May but, if you missed the filing period for the Degree Evaluation Petition, your degree will not be posted until the filing period.

What is the "Unofficial Degree Evaluation" (UDE)?

The Unofficial Degree Evaluation (UDE) is completed any time outside the filing period. The UDE is completed with your counselor to inform you of course deficiencies needed to graduate including the number of credits lacking, review for 2.00 GPA required for graduation and confirmation of the major. The signatures of both the student and counselor are required on the form. The UDE is submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records by the counselor.

If you withdraw from courses that were needed to graduate before the 60 percent date, a letter will be sent to inform you that, as a result of dropping the required courses, you no longer meet the graduation requirements.

If you have chosen to participate in commencement, a letter will be mailed in early May with details of the graduation exercise.

At the completion of the semester and when degrees have been confirmed by the Office of Admissions and Records, students who did not pass the required courses for graduation from the spring term will be informed they will not receive their degrees.

Go to www.portervillecollege.edu to check the filing period for graduation or as posted in the Office of Admissions and Records area.

California Residency Requirement

New and former students are classified either resident or non-resident for tuition purposes. Residency is determined by the length of physical presence in the State of California and the 'intent" to become a California resident. Intent is indicated by some of the following: voting in California elections, paying California income tax, obtaining a California driver's license and maintaining a continuous residence in California for a minimum of one year before the start of the semester. Residency reclassification has the additional requirement of financial independence from parents who are non-California residents. Acts of intent must be accomplished for one year. The statement of Legal Residence may be picked up in the Office of Admissions and Records.

Non-resident students are required to pay $ 175 per credit tuition in addition to the other mandatory fees.

Non-residents may be reclassified as residents when all requirements have been satisfied.

Eligible non-citizen students can be classified residents if they have resided in the State of California for more than one year and meet the other requirements and if their immigration visa status does not preclude them from establishing residency.

Non-resident tuition is refundable upon drop or withdrawal of classes in accordance with the tuition refund policy.

Non-resident tuition may be changed by KCCD Board.

If there are any questions about residency, telephone the Office of Admissions and Records, 791-2220.

Title 5 Regulations:

AB 540 Implementation-Exemption from Payment of Non-resident Tuition

AB 540 was signed by the Governor on October 12, 2001, and took effect January 1, 2002. The bill was intended to enhance access to California's colleges and universities by providing a fair tuition policy for all high school students in California. This goal is accomplished by adding section 68130.5 to the Education Code. Section 68130.5 requires that students who meet four specified requirements be exempted from the payment of non-resident tuition. Those requirements are:

High school attendance in California for three or more years;

Graduation from a California high school or attainment of the equivalent thereof;

Registration as an entering student, or current enrollment at an accredited institution of higher education in California, not earlier than the fall semester or quarter of the 2001-02 academic year; and,

In the case of a person without lawful immigration status, the filing of an affidavit with the institution of higher education stating that the student has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so.

Nonimmigrant alien students, as defined by federal law, are not eligible for the exemption. Students who are exempt from the payment of non-resident tuition under Education Code section 68130.5 may be reported by community college districts for apportionment purposes. Student information that is obtained in connection with the exemption process is to be kept confidential.

The Board of Governors is required to establish regulations to implement Education Code section 68130.5. The Board has previously adopted a regulation regarding the establishment of residency by alien students. (See Title 5, California Code of Regulations, section 54045.) Section 54045 addresses residency classification, as contrasted with the non-resident tuition exemption created by section 68130.5. Section 54045 is unaffected by the addition of section 68130.5.

Exemption forms may be obtained in the Office of Admission and Records, AC-112.

AB 540 does not provide student financial eligibility for undocumented alien students. The student remains ineligible for state and federal financial aid.