Admissions

Admissions Policy

The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, genetic information or military/veteran status in any of its activities or operations. 

Open Door Admissions

Except as otherwise specified herein, the College maintains an open-door admission policy to all applicants who are legal residents of the United States and who are high school graduates or are at least eighteen (18) years of age. The College shall not solicit or use information regarding the accreditation of a secondary school located in North Carolina that a person attended as a factor affecting admission to the College or to any program of study, loans, scholarships or other educational activity at the College unless the accreditation was not conducted by a State agency. For purposes of this Policy, the term “accreditation” shall include certification or any other similar approval process. Student admission processing and placement determination shall be performed by the College officials. Admission requirements for an emancipated minor shall be the same as for an applicant who is eighteen (18) years old or older. Non-emancipated minors may be admitted and allowed to attend the College pursuant to 1D SBCCC 200.95. The open-door policy does not mean there are no restrictions on admission into specific College programs.

Admissions Denials  

1. Basis for Denials    

a. Suspension/Expulsion from another Educational Entity

If the College suspends or expels a student for non-academic disciplinary purposes, the College shall record the suspension or expulsion in the student’s educational record. Upon receipt of a written request signed by the student and subject to all applicable privacy laws, the College shall, in accordance with the student’s request, inform other colleges and universities of the term and circumstances of the student’s non-academic disciplinary suspension or expulsion, if any. The College reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant during any period of time that  the applicant is under a period of suspension or expulsion from another educational entity for non-academic disciplinary reasons.

b. Safety Concern

The College reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant if it is necessary to protect the safety of the applicant or other individuals. When making a safety determination, the College may refuse admission to an applicant when there is an articulable, imminent and significant threat to the applicant or other individuals. When refusing admission based on safety concerns, the Vice President of Student Services shall document:

• Detailed facts supporting the rationale for denying admission
• The time period within which the refusal to admit shall be applicable and the supporting rationale for the designated time period; and 
• The conditions upon which the application that is refused would be eligible to be admitted.

c. Residency for Distance Learning

The College is not authorized to provide distance learning courses outside of North Carolina unless state authorization has been granted from the state in which the applicant resides. State authorization requires colleges to seek and secure authorization to offer instruction in that state.  

Admission of applicants residing outside of North Carolina to an on-line degree, diploma, certificate program or individual on-line courses offered by the College is dependent on the College’s ability to secure authorization from the applicant’s state of residence.

State authorization does not affect the cost of attending the College. Tuition requirements, including those for out-of-state students, still apply. This requirement does not apply to non-credit continuing education courses.

d. Undocumented Immigrants

An undocumented immigrant is any immigrant who is not lawfully present in the United States. The College shall not admit undocumented immigrants unless all of the following conditions apply:

• The undocumented immigrant attended and graduated from a United States public high school, private high school or home school that operates in compliance with State or local law.              
• The undocumented immigrant must comply with all federal and state laws concerning financial aid.
• The individual shall not be considered a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes and must be charged out-of-state tuition regardless of whether the individual resides in North Carolina.
• When considering whether to admit the individual into a specific program of study, the College shall take into account that federal law prohibits states from granting professional licenses to undocumented immigrants.
• Students lawfully present in the United States shall have priority over any undocumented immigrant in any class or program of student when capacity limitations exist.
• An admitted undocumented student will not be permitted to register for a class or program of study or be placed on a waiting list until the conclusion of the last published registration date for the term.

e. Readmissions

The College reserves the rights to refuse readmission to a former student who has unsettled financial obligations at the College or who has not complied with previous disciplinary requirements.

f. Criminal Justice Education and Training

The College requires students enrolled in courses mandated under N.C.G.S § 17C and 17E, the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission or the North Carolina Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards Commission to be sponsored by law enforcement agencies until completion of the program. The student must be sponsored by a law enforcement agency to be admitted into the program. Failure to have such sponsorship shall result in an admission’s denial.

2. Appeal for Admission Denials

In an applicant is denied admissions to the College for any of the reasons specified in Section II(A)(1)-(7), within five (5) calendar days following the receipt of the reasons specifying the denial, the applicant may file a written appeal with the Vice President of Student Services for a reconsideration. The written appeal shall contain the applicant’s reasons why they should be admitted and shall include any supporting documentation. The Vice President of Student Services shall also meet with the applicant and provide the applicant an opportunity to respond. Within ten (10) calendar days from receipt of the applicant’s written appeal, the Vice President of Student Services shall make a determination and provide the applicant with a written response.

If the applicant does not agree with the determination, within five (5) calendar days following the receipt of the Vice President of Student Service’s determination, the applicant may file a written appeal with the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Vice President of Academic Affairs shall conduct an “on the records review” and shall make a determination within ten (10) calendar days after receipt of the applicant’s written appeal. The Vice President of Academic Affairs’ decision is final.

General Admissions Procedures

Admission to the College does not guarantee immediate acceptance to the curriculum program desired by the applicant. Applicants interested in pursuing a program of study/major MUST complete the General Admission Process prior to first-time enrollment. Once the General Admission Process is complete, applicants are placed into their program of study and may receive financial aid if eligible. Anyone wishing to register for classes prior to completing their admissions file may do so as a Non-Degree Seeking student. Certain programs may have additional entrance requirements such as Health Programs, the Associate of Arts in a Year, and Basic Law Enforcement Training.

Non-Degree Seeking Applicants

Non-degree seeking students are those students who enroll in one or more courses but do not desire to graduate from a program of study. The student may register for any course which is open to all students and does not require a prerequisite. However, if a student plans to register for a course that requires a prerequisite course, the student must submit an official transcript from a regionally accredited institution showing completion of this requirement with a grade of “C” or higher prior to registering. The transcript must be evaluated by the Registrar’s office to ensure the prerequisite for the desired course has been met. Students may not register for courses in a program that has a waiting list or restricted admission (such as health programs).

Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for financial aid or veterans benefits nor are they permitted to earn any degree, diploma or certificate awarded by the College.

General Admission Process

Complete the SPCC Application for Admission

Complete an application for admission online at www.spcc.edu. Click on the Apply button in the top right corner of the page. Applicants may use our library to complete any part of the process. Applicants who have graduated high school, or will have graduated high school before the intended enrollment term, should complete the “Adult Application”. Graduating Career and College Promise (CCP) Seniors that took classes at SPCC during their Senior year and wish to enroll as an SPCC adult student in the term following graduation will complete the “Adult Application.”

Submit Official Transcript(s)

Request official transcripts from all previous schools attended (high school, high school equivalency, and college transcripts). Official transcripts must be submitted via an electronic transcript service to admissions@spcc.edu or mailed directly from the institution to South Piedmont at SPCC Admissions Office, P.O. Box 126, Polkton, NC 28135.

Applicants that submit official college transcripts showing degree completion of an associate’s degree or higher are not required to submit high school transcripts. SPCC high school equivalency graduates may request a copy of their scores from SPCC’s College and Career Readiness department in lieu of official transcripts. Applicants submitting a transcript from a non-public or online high school must contact the Admissions Office to determine if the transcript is acceptable for admission into the chosen program of study.

All foreign transcripts (secondary and post-secondary) must be evaluated and translated by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) recognized evaluation company at the student’s expense.

IMPORTANT: Unofficial (student issued or faxed) transcripts will not be accepted. SPCC evaluates all college transcripts for transferable credit.

College Placement Test (CPT), if needed

Once all official transcripts are received, applicants will be notified by email if Placement Testing is needed. Most applicants will be placed into courses based upon:

• Unweighted high school GPA
• Completion of an Associate’s degree or higher
• Transferable college credits for English or math
• Qualifying SAT or ACT scores within 10 years of enrollment
• GED graduate from 2014 or after scoring 145 or higher in all test sections

Applicants not meeting the above criteria may need Placement Testing.

Returning Students (Readmission)

Returning students who are eligible for readmission and who have not been enrolled at the College for two (2) academic semesters must submit a new admission’s application and update residency classification prior to registration. Copies of academic transcripts and placement tests may be required. The student is required to meet the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of readmission according to the current College catalog. Students who have been placed on academic or disciplinary suspension must fulfill the terms of their suspension before being considered for readmission. Students on disciplinary suspension must consult with the Vice President of Student Services to request readmission. The College reserves the right to deny readmission to a former student, including a student who has unsettled financial obligations at the College or who has not complied with previous disciplinary requirements. All of the student’s debts to the College must be paid in full before registering for courses.

Students previously enrolled in Career and College Promise, non-credit courses, or College and Career Readiness will complete the General Admission Process detailed above to enroll in curriculum programs.

 Continuing Education Programs

For applicants seeking admission to a continuing education program, all applicants must complete the College’s continuing education registration process and pay the applicable tuition and institutional fees.

Admission of High School Students: Career and College Promise

Career and College Promise (CCP) provides seamless dual enrollment educational opportunities for eligible North Carolina high school students to accelerate completion of college certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees that lead to college transfer or provide entry-level job skills. The College offers the following CCP 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 college transfer credit;
• A Career and Technical Education Pathway leading to a certificate, diploma, or degree;
• A Cooperative Innovative High School Pathway approved under Part 9 of Article 16 of Chapter 115D of the General Statutes.

Except as provided above, the College cannot offer enrollment options for students who are under the age of sixteen (16) unless they have earned a high school diploma

For any questions about CCP eligibility, please email sep@spcc.edu or call 704-290-5090.

Enrollment of Early High School Graduates

Graduating high school students that finish high school graduation requirements early and can obtain an official high school transcript showing a graduation date prior to the start of SPCC’s term may enroll as an adult student for that semester. If the graduation date is after the start of SPCC’s term, if the student meets CCP eligibility requirements, they are able register as a CCP student for that term. Early graduates must not be placed in a program of study or registered until the final high school transcript is received. 

Selective Programs Admission Procedures

Health Programs

SPCC’s Health Programs are designated as selective admission programs. Factors for admission include, but are not limited to: clinical space availability, instructor-to-student ratios specified by the applicable accrediting/approving agencies and/or other limited instructional resources. In addition, Health Programs have additional enrollment criteria in addition to the General Admission process. Refer to each program page in the Program Admission Requirements and Handbooks  section for specific program information.

Associate in a Year Program

SPCC’s Associate in a Year Program is designated as a selective admission program. This is a fast-paced program that selected applicants complete as a cohort. The Associate in a Year program has additional enrollment criteria in addition to the General Admission process. Refer to the program page in the Program Admission Requirements and Handbooks  section for specific program information.

Basic Law Enforcement Training

The North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (“BLET”) is a State accredited program designed to prepare entry level individuals with the cognitive and physical skills to become certified police officers and deputy sheriffs.

To be accepted into the College’s BLET program, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Must complete a BLET application.
2. Must be at least 20 years of age or older.
3. Must be a citizen of the United States of America.
4. Must be a high school graduate or have earned a high school equivalency (high school diplomas earned through correspondence enrollment are not recognized toward educational requirements).
5. Must provide a medical examination report, properly completed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina, a physician’s assistant, or a nurse practitioner, to determine the applicant’s fitness to perform the essential job functions of a criminal justice officer.
6. Must take a standardized reading comprehension test and score at the tenth-grade level or higher within one year prior to entrance into the BLET program.
7. Must provide a certified criminal record check for local and state records for the time period since the applicant had become an adult and from all locations where the applicant has resided since becoming an adult. An Administrative Office of the Courts criminal record check or a comparable out-of-state criminal record check will satisfy this requirement.
8. Must have not been convicted of a felony or:

• a crime for which the punishment could have been imprisonment for more than two (2) years; or
• a crime or unlawful act defined as a “Class B misdemeanor” within the five (5) year period prior to the date of application for employment unless the applicant intends to seek certification through the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission; or
• four (4) or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as “Class B Misdemeanors” regardless of the date of conviction; or
• four (4) or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as “Class A Misdemeanors” except the trainee may be enrolled if the last conviction occurred more than two (2) years prior to the date of enrollment; or
• a combination of four (4) or more “Class A Misdemeanors” or “Class B Misdemeanors” regardless of the date of conviction unless the individual intends to seek certification through the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.

9. Every individual who is admitted as a trainee in the BLET program shall notify the BLET of all criminal offenses which the trainee is arrested for or charged with, pleads no contest to, pleads guilty to or is found guilty of, and all Domestic Violence Orders (N.C.G.S.§50B) which are issued by a judicial official and which provide an opportunity for both parties to be present. The notifications must be received by the College within 30 days of the date the case was disposed of in court.
10. Must meet all other qualifications required by the North Carolina Department of Justice.

Appeal Procedure for Denial of Admission into Selective Programs

Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to selective academic programs. Applicants must meet additional requirements for admission to selective academic programs and be accepted into those programs. Any applicant who believes the college has unfairly denied admissions into their chosen selective academic program may appeal the denial decision if the student deems the college is at fault (wrong-doing, documented evidence of inconsistencies, etc.) in denying their status.

Applicants who have been denied admissions into a selective program may appeal using the procedure below. Failure to follow the procedure will result in forfeiture of the appeal. Applicants needing assistance in navigating the appeal procedure should contact the Director of Student Wellness and Advocacy for guidance.

1. An applicant who wishes to challenge the denial of admissions into a selective program of study must first consult with the appropriate Dean for the program in which admissions is being denied within five (5) business days after admission was denied.
2. The appropriate Dean will complete a review of the student’s credentials, including any additional documentation the applicant submits and will render a decision in writing to the applicant within three (3) business days.
3. Should the matter remain unresolved after consulting with the appropriate Dean, the student may file a Formal Appeal for Denial of Admission into Selective Programs if the appeal meets one of the following criteria: (1) policy and/or procedures were not followed, procedural irregularity that affected the outcome, (2) evidence of a conflict of interest or bias that affected the outcome, or (3) new evidence that was not reasonably available at the time of the determination that could affect the outcome. This formal appeal for the admission denial must be received within three (3) business days after the notification of the Dean’s decision. This appeal must be submitted through the Formal Appeal for Denial of Admissions form located and also on the website under Student Panel/Appeal Forms. This form must be completed in its entirety. All supporting documentation to include emails, the grounds for the appeal, etc., must be attached to the appeal form. Incomplete or insufficient documentation will forfeit the appeals process. (Applicants needing assistance with completing the form may contact the Director of Student Wellness and Advocacy.) The student will receive notification of receipt of the appeal.
4. Once the appeal is received, the appeal is reviewed by the Vice President of Student Services to ensure the reason for the appeal meets the criteria for an appeal. Requests that do not meet the criteria for an appeal may be denied without input from the Student Appeals Team. Requests that meet the criteria for an appeal are forwarded to the Student Appeals Team for a hearing.
5. For appeals moving forward, within three (3) business days of receipt of the appeal, a Student Appeals Team will review the appeal. If necessary, the applicant and the Dean will be notified of the date, time, and location of the hearing. The location may be in person (on campus), by conference call (on the phone), or virtually (video conferencing with a call-in option). Both the applicant and the Dean may present pertinent information. At the discretion of the Student Appeals Team, other pertinent individuals may be contacted for additional information, either in person, by conference call, or virtually.
6. The Vice President of Academic Affairs/CAO will notify the applicant (by student SPCC email), the program director (by SPCC email), and the Dean (by SPCC email), of the decision on the appeal within three (3) business days after the review. The decision of the Student Appeals Team is final.

The Student Appeals Team is a standing team appointed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs/CAO and will consist of five (5) voting members to include representatives from faculty, staff, and the student body. (The student representative will be selected from a pool of student leaders within the college.)

Guaranteed Admissions Agreements

SPCC has several formal agreements with four-year baccalaureate institutions, which guarantee admission to that institution, if certain criteria are met. Some agreements require that the student declare their intent to transfer early, so it is important to visit the Academic Advising center to learn more about each college’s requirements.