Admissions

Policy Statement

Durham Technical Community College follows an open-door with guided placement admissions policy as established by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges (SBCC) and consistent with SBCC code. Durham Technical Community College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity, American Disabilities Act, Section 504 institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex or sexual orientation, color, age, religion, national origin, or disability in admitting students. The College reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant during any period of time that the student is suspended or expelled from any other educational institution. The College also reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant who poses an articulable, imminent, and significant threat to others. 

Procedure

Please Note: This policy does not apply to courses mandated by law under Chapter 17C of the North Carolina General Statutes, North Carolina Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, or Chapter 17E of the North Carolina General Statutes, North Carolina Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission.

Admission Requirements for Degree, Diploma, and Certificate Programs

Admissions to any program requires applicants to submit the initial enrollment application and meet the following conditions established by 1D SBCCC 400.2 (a):

• legal resident of the United States, and  
• who are either high school graduates or are at least 18 years of age.
   

Admissions Requirements for “Undocumented Immigrants”

Admission for undocumented immigrants requires applicants to submit the initial enrollment application and meet the following conditions established by 1D SBCCC 400.2 (b) (1)-(6):

• If he or she 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;
• When determining who is an undocumented immigrant, community colleges shall use federal immigration classifications;
• Undocumented immigrants admitted under Subparagraph (b)(1) of this Rule shall comply with all federal and state laws concerning financial aid;
• An undocumented immigrant admitted under Subparagraph (b)(1) of this Rule shall not be considered a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes. Colleges shall charge all undocumented immigrants admitted under Subparagraph (b)(1) of this Rule out-of-state tuition whether or not the undocumented immigrant resides in North Carolina;
• When considering whether to admit an undocumented immigrant into a specific program of study, community colleges shall consider that federal law prohibits states from granting professional licenses to undocumented immigrants; and
• Students lawfully present in the United States shall have priority over any undocumented immigrant in any class or program of study when capacity limitations exist.
   

Residency Determination

With the exception of high school students enrolled under Career and College Promise (CCP), all applicants and students who are not continuously enrolled or who have an expired Residency Certification Number are required to complete the North Carolina Residency Determination Service interview.

Admission for Limited-Enrollment Programs

Admission to certain programs is limited. These programs may require, degree completion, credit for prior learning, developmental or preparatory courses prior to admission. Students may obtain assistance in setting realistic academic and career goals by attending program-specific information sessions and advising meetings prior to applying to the program. Information session attendance is mandatory for certain limited-enrollment programs.

Provisional acceptance may be granted to graduating high school seniors who submit an enrollment application (including a current US high school transcript) to a degree, diploma, or certificate program.

A criminal background check and the following documentation may also be required to participate in certain programs’ clinical or practical training courses:

• Health insurance and health examination information;
• Immunization records;
• Medical history;
• Reference forms; and  
• Drug screening records.
   

The Basic Law Enforcement Training program accepts candidates who are sponsored by an agency. The sponsoring agency must provide the results of a criminal background check for each sponsored individual.

High School Students Enrolled Under Career and College Promise

The Career and College Promise (CCP) program offers qualified high school students the opportunity to pursue a degree, diploma or certificate. Under CCP, students who meet pathway eligibility criteria may enroll in one of the following pathways: College Transfer, Career and Technical Education, Workforce Continuing Education, or Cooperative Innovative High Schools.

High school students should review the CCP enrollment steps for further information. Interested students must attend an information session prior to applying to the program.

Admission Support for Veterans

If a student is applying for veterans’ benefits, official transcripts for high school and college credentials completed are required. Veterans follow the College’s general admissions procedures as outlined within this document. For support through the admission and enrollment processes, veterans who decide to use the military Tuitional Assistance (TA) and Veterans Education Benefits program are directed to meet with the College’s certifying official in Veterans Services and speak with their Educational Services Officer or counselor within their Military Service branch prior to completing their enrollment.  

The College focuses on supporting students who are veterans and refrains from high-pressure recruitment tactics for the purpose of enrolling service members. The College does not provide any incentives to any person or entity involved in student recruiting, admissions activities, or decisions related to student financial assistance.

Admissions Support for Applicants who have not completed a High School Credential

Applicants who have not obtained a high school credential will be supported during the advising session and provided programming options where the credential can be obtained.

Visiting Student Applicants

Students currently enrolled at another college may take courses at Durham Tech for transfer credit to their original college. Visiting students are not eligible for course substitution, credit by examination, financial aid, or veterans benefits. Documentation of prior coursework or testing is required to enroll in courses with prerequisites. Refer to the Enrollment Steps for Visiting Students page of the College’s website for additional information. Students also should review the Transcript Evaluation web page.

Visiting students must meet all requirements for their intended coursework; however, the placement testing requirement may be waived if the applicant has previously completed college-level math or English courses. Students should consult an academic advisor before taking placement tests or enrolling in courses.

Enrollment as a Post-Baccalaureate Student

Post-Baccalaureate students who wish to take courses to prepare for admission to a graduate or professional school may follow the standard enrollment process. Once the student has completed all enrollment steps, an advisor will assist with the registration process.

Admission of Minors

A minor sixteen (16) years of age or older may be admitted to the College under agreement with an education agency within the College service area; this agreement contingency may be waived if the student has been out of school for at least six (6) months and the application is supported by a notarized petition of the parent, legal guardian, or other person or agency having legal custody of the student. The petition shall certify the student’s residence, date of birth, date of leaving school, and the petitioner’s legal relationship to the student. An emancipated minor must submit court documentation to substantiate their status.

Continuous Enrollment

Students are encouraged to maintain continuous enrollment, which provides the following benefits:

• Allows students to work toward completion of their chosen credential under the academic plan of study in place at the time of enrollment, giving students the opportunity to build an individualized timeline for completion of their program;
• Gives students the opportunity to have completed prerequisites evaluated upon initial enrollment; and
• Qualifies students for priority registration status.
• Provides determination of qualifying in-state or out-of-state tuition designation.
• Maintains eligibility for registering for curriculum coursework with the status as defined by the RDS system (Laws and Policies | NC Residency Determination Service).
   

A student is continuously enrolled at a North Carolina higher education institution if the student is consecutively enrolled in the following fall or spring semesters in courses or prerequisites creditable toward a degree, diploma, or certificate for which tuition is charged. For example, if a student enrolls in the fall semester, the student must enroll in courses the following spring or fall semester to remain continuously enrolled. Students who do not meet the minimum definition of continuous enrollment will be required to reapply to the College, enter the catalog year associated with the term of re-admission, and complete the North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS) application.

Continuous Enrollment for Limited-Enrollment Programs

On a case-by-case basis, continuing education courses or programs may be approved by the dean of the student’s intended curriculum program to be considered towards continuous enrollment at the point of application to limited-enrollment programs.

Continuous Enrollment for Program Completion

Enrollment is not required during the summer term to maintain continuous enrollment, but it may be required by the academic program of study for completion.

Developmental Education and Course Placement

Developmental education course credit can be used to fulfill necessary prerequisites. Health and Wellness programs require that developmental education credits be less than five (5) years old. For these programs, grades older than five (5) years may be used only if the student has been continuously enrolled at the College. If course grades are older than five (5) years and the student has not been continuously enrolled, the student must be re-evaluated for placement. For all other academic programs, developmental education course credits do not expire.

Students' unweighted high school GPA and coursework is the primary determination for placement and can be used for course placement if the student graduated from a US high school. RISE placement test, NC DAP, SAT®, ACT®, GED®, HiSET®, COMPASS, ASSET, and ACCUPLACER scores may be used for placement. If students do not have an unweighted US high school GPA or test scores they can use for placement, they may be required to take an alternative placement test.

Program of Study Catalog Year

If a student does not complete their catalog year program of study within a period of five (5) years despite continuous enrollment at the College, the College may administratively update the student’s program catalog year to the most current year program of study. Students may also request to move to a more recent catalog year. This process will maintain the integrity of changes in standards, prerequisites, course content, regulatory guidelines, and procedures.

State Authorization for Distance Education

Online education is an integral part of Durham Tech’s program offerings. To comply with US Department of Education regulation 34 CFR 600.9(c), Durham Tech has applied for membership in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which allows students in participating states and territories to enroll in online distance education courses. For more information, refer to the Online Learning State Authorization Information page of the College’s website.

To determine whether an applicant’s location makes them eligible for online education at Durham Tech, the College will review the demographic information provided on their application or registration form. Once enrolled, the home/permanent address listed in the student’s official record will be used as their location.

Denial of Admission

In accordance with 1D SBCCC 400.2 (d), the College reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant during any period of time that the student is suspended or expelled from any other educational institution. The College also reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant who poses an articulable, imminent, and significant threat to the applicant or others individuals. When admission is refused the College shall document the following:

• 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 applicant that is refused would be eligible to be admitted.
   

Such applicants will be evaluated using the procedure outlined here. An applicant who has been suspended or expelled for disciplinary reasons from another educational institution; who has an active court order or any other legal restrictions prohibiting contact or interaction with individuals under the age of eighteen (18), whether in person or online, pursuant to N.C.G.S. 14-208.6 and the NC Division of Community Corrections Sex Offender Control Program (Special Conditions); or who poses an articulable, imminent, and significant threat to others shall be evaluated by the College’s Threat Assessment Team. The Team will make a recommendation to the Vice President of Student Services within five (5) working days of their convening and review of the case. The Vice President will make the final admissions decision and will notify the applicant in writing if admission is denied. This communication will outline the facts supporting the decision to deny admission, the length of time and justification for that determination, conditions under which the decision may be reconsidered, and the appeals process.

Appeals Process

Applicants who have been denied admission to the College may appeal the decision to the President. The appeal must be in writing and must be submitted within seven (7) working days of the date of the written denial of admission.

Eligibility to Possess Firearms

In accordance with 1D SBCCC 400.2 (h), any student desiring to enroll in a program that requires the student to possess a firearm shall provide proof of eligibility to possess firearms prior to enrollment in that program. The student shall provide proof by submitting to Admissions, Registration, and Records one of the following documents:

• A current, valid, state-issued permit to purchase a firearm;
• A current, valid, state-issued concealed carry permit from the state of North Carolina;
• A current, valid, state-issued concealed carry permit from a state with a reciprocal concealed carry agreement with North Carolina;
• Proof of an exemption from permit requirements pursuant to N.C.G.S. 14-415.25; or
• A background check as determined by the College, the sole purpose of which shall be to determine whether the student can lawfully possess a firearm in North Carolina pursuant to N.C G.S. 14-269.8, N.C G.S. 14-415.1, N.C G.S. 14-415.3, and N.C G.S. 14-415.25.
   

Records Maintenance

All admissions documentation and records become the property of the College and will not be copied, or otherwise made available, for release to students or third parties unless authorized by the Vice President of Student Services.

Program Information

On each academic program web page, the College provides the following information:

• Credit hours required;  
• Primary location of the program;  
• Application deadline;  
• Estimated time to completion;  
• Cost (tuition and fees) of completing each certificate, diploma, or degree program; and  
• Average salary for individuals employed in the closest-related career field.
   

Although potential students may apply at any time, applicants are encouraged to complete the admission process by the enrollment due dates. High school students may apply early during their senior year.

Definitions

Admitted – Status assigned when a student meets the conditions according to 1D SBCCC 400.2.

Articulable – Capable of being expressed, explained, or justified

Continuous Enrollment – A student is continuously enrolled at a North Carolina higher education institution if the student is consecutively enrolled in the following fall or spring semesters in courses or prerequisites creditable toward a degree, diploma, or certificate for which tuition is charged. Solely for purposes of the Residency Determination Service (RDS), a gap in enrollment of two consecutive semesters (i.e., fall and spring or spring and fall) requires a student to request a residency determination again. Students are not required to be enrolled during the summer term(s) to maintain continuous enrollment for purposes of RDS.  

Imminent – Impending, likely to occur at any moment.

Credit for Prior Learning – As defined in College Policy 1.2.3.  

Provisional Acceptance – Acceptance that is temporary and reevaluated upon receipt of a high school transcript confirming graduation status or once conditions of admitted status are met.

Significant – Considerable, of consequence. The State Board of Community Colleges has granted community colleges the authority to determine what constitutes a significant safety threat.

Undocumented Immigrants – any immigrant who is not lawfully present in the United States as defined by 1D SBCCC 400.2 (a).

Working Days – Days the College is open and operating under a normal schedule. This excludes weekends, closings due to adverse conditions, and holidays.