Policy

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

I. 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 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.  For more specific information regarding certain admissions criteria, see Procedure 05.01.010.a.

II. Admissions Denials

A. Basis for Denials 

1. 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  Per NC Administrative Code 23 NCAC 02C .0301 (d), Western Piedmont Community College reserves the right to refuse admission to students under “disciplinary suspension or disciplinary expulsion” at another institution of higher education. Prospective students may request an appeal of the college’s policy by contacting the Dean of Student Services using the “Student Grievance Procedure”. Final decision as to the prospective student’s admission will be made by the Dean of Student Services.

2. 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 for Student Success and Support Services shall document:

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

3. 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.

4. 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:

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. North Carolina Community College Memorandum CC10-026 clarifies undocumented immigrants with a General Education Diploma (GED) are not considered to have graduated from a United States public high school, private high school, or homeschool; and, therefore, are not eligible to be admitted to a community college. For more specific information regarding certain undocumented admissions criteria, see Procedure 05.01.010.e.

5. Readmissions.

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

6. 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 Sheriffs’ 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 admissions denial.

7. Non-Criminal Justice Education and Training Firearm Courses.

Except for courses governed by Criminal Justice Education and Training, if the College has a program that requires students to possess a firearm, prior to admission, the student must provide proof of eligibility to possess firearms.  For purposes of this Policy, “firearm” means a handgun, shotgun or rifle that expels a projectile by action of an explosion; “proof of eligibility” means: i) a current, valid State-issued permit to purchase a firearm; ii) a current, valid State-issued concealed carry permit from North Carolina; iii) a current, valid State-issued concealed carry permit from a state with a reciprocal concealed carry agreement with North Carolina; iv) proof of an exemption from permit requirements pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 14-415.25; or v) a background check to determine whether the applicant can lawfully possess a firearm in North Carolina pursuant to N.C.G.S. §§ 14-269.8; -404(c); -415.1; -415.3; and -415.25.

B. Appeal for Admissions Denials

If an applicant is denied admission to the College for any of the reasons specified in Section II(A)(1)-(7) the applicant may appeal the denial through Policy 05.03.060 Student Grievance.

Adopted: June 7, 2022

Legal Reference:   1D SBCCC 200.95 and 400.2; NC Community College Written Memoranda CC10-026 (issued 7/12/10)