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Narrative: Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College (OCtech) develops and publishes admissions policies consistent with its mission. The College operates as an open admissions institution in accordance with the South Carolina State Board for Technical Education Policy Number 3-2-101: Open Admissions and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Policy 4.001: Open Admissions. OCtech serves students with diverse ability levels. Because of this, minimum placement scores in writing, reading, and math skills are established and reviewed annually to determine eligibility for course placement. Students who do not meet minimum standards for freshman level courses are accepted to enroll in appropriate remedial education classes. Course level is based on specific placement test scores.

Applicants who desire to enroll in Associate Degree, Diploma, or specific Certificate programs are required to present course placement credentials, such as COMPASS, ASSET, SAT, or ACT scores. Applicants may also present evidence of satisfactory completion of post-secondary freshman level courses in lieu of placement scores. All Associate Degree and Diploma programs require applicants to exhibit minimum reading proficiency as outlined in the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Policy 4.002: General Entrance Requirements. Applicants who do not meet minimum reading standards are not admitted to Associate or Diploma level programs of study.

Admission to the College is open to applicants who are eighteen years of age or older and who possess a high school diploma. Under certain circumstances approved by the College President, an applicant under the age of eighteen who has not graduated from high school may be considered for enrollment through a special agreement between the College and the principal of the school where the applicant is attending or last attended. These circumstances typically include dually enrolled high school juniors and seniors who are enrolled in College Credit Courses (Triple C) at OCtech concurrently with high school classes as outlined in Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Policy 3.002: Enrollment of High School Students.

Specific programs of study require established admissions criteria and minimum test scores for program acceptance. Admission to Nursing and select Health Sciences programs is competitive due to limited enrollment for these programs. Specific criteria are evaluated and published on an annual basis from the Admissions Office.

Applicants who do not meet minimum reading proficiency requirements are referred to Adult Education for further remediation and are encouraged to return to OCtech after successful completion of adult education classes. A formal Adult Education and SBTCE Memorandum of Agreement exists between the state’s Office of Adult Education and the sixteen technical colleges that comprise the South Carolina Technical and Comprehensive Education (SBTCE) system. The College works closely with each county’s Adult Education Office to assist students with improving reading and math skills. The College houses an Adult Education Skills Institute on the campus. The Skills Institute, a division of Adult Education, accepts referrals of students who do not meet program admission requirements and who desire to improve reading and math competencies. This Partnership assists the College in fulfilling its mission by providing a continuum of service through which students can move to the next educational level and benefit educationally and ultimately economically. The College provides the facility and partial funding for tuition, and the local Adult Education program provides instructional staff and curriculum materials.

During Summer 2004 term, the College utilized federal Perkins funds to offer a Summer Bridge Program to applicants who were accepted to the OCtech, but who were required to enroll in remedial courses due to placement scores. These students received basic skills instruction in reading and mathematics, as well as information on how to succeed in college and how to locate and utilize financial aid to fund the cost of college. The effectiveness of this course will be determined based on the retention and academic performance of these students at the conclusion of Fall 2004 semester and will be reported in Spring 2005.

Missions criteria are published in the Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Catalog, 2004; in program brochures; and on the OCtech website.

ADMISSION TO CONTINUING EDUCATION

OCtech offers non-credit classes through its Continuing Education Division. There are no requirements to attend most non-credit Continuing Education courses for adults. Students may not need a high school diploma or GED for most courses; however, some experience may be necessary. Specific requirements are published by course in each semester's Continuing Education Brochure.

Evidence of Support: