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2024-2025 College Catalog

Admissions

Overview

Mitchell Community College has an “open door” admissions policy and accepts students without regard to race, religion, sex, color, creed, national origin, age or disability. Mitchell is open to anyone 18 years old or older or high school graduates younger than 18. Admission to the College does not guarantee acceptance to competitive enrollment programs or guarantee continued enrollment in the College.

Mitchell offers college transfer programs for students who plan to continue their education at a senior institution:

  • Associate in Arts (A.A.)
  • Associate in Science (A.S.)
  • Associate in Fine Arts (A.F.A.)
  • Associate in Engineering (A.E.)
  • Associate in General Education (A.G.E.)—Nursing
  • Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation (AATP)
  • Associate in Science in Teacher Preparation (ASTP)

 

Mitchell offers Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees, diplomas, and certificates for students who intend to enter the workforce after graduation.

Admissions Requirements for Special Credit Students

  • Minimum age of 18 with or without a high school diploma.

How to Apply

  • Complete Admissions Application and Residency Determination.
  • Submit official copies of transcripts or records from high schools and all postsecondary schools attended, or acceptable high school equivalency scores. If an associate degree or higher has been earned, high school transcripts/high school equivalency scores are not required.
  • Determine Assessment Needs. Applicants who have graduated from a U.S. high school within 10 years will be exempt from placement assessment. Applicants who have graduated from high school more than 10 years ago and do not meet placement waiver criteria will need to take the Reinforced Instruction for Student Excellence (RISE) Placement Assessment.
  • Contact an Admissions Specialist to determine assessment criteria.

Readmitted Students

Applicants who have not attended for one or more years must submit a new application. Applicants must contact an Admissions Specialist to determine assessment needs. Applicants will discuss any changes to the curriculum since their last date of attendance with an advisor. Applicants for readmission to limited enrollment programs must follow regular admission procedures for those programs.

Transfer Students

Transfer students may enter Mitchell after meeting all admission requirements. Mitchell will accept credits (with equivalent credit hours and course content) from all institutions within the North Carolina Community College System and from other accredited colleges. Students may transfer credits earned at other institutions if the grades meet Mitchell’s academic standards and if Mitchell receives documentation proving that equivalent competencies were met. Mitchell must receive official transcripts for the student to receive transfer credit. Final acceptance or rejection is at the discretion of the College. Applicants must contact an Admissions Specialist to determine assessment needs. A minimum of 25% of the credits required for a degree, diploma or certificate must be earned at Mitchell, in order to be eligible for graduation.

Visiting/Special Credit Students

Students accepted by or enrolled at another institution and/or individuals who do not want to earn a degree, diploma or certificate must complete an admissions application and indicate SPECIAL CREDIT STUDENT as the program of interest. Individuals attending another institution should receive permission from an official at their home institution. This official should specify the courses the student can take at Mitchell. The student should only enroll in courses specified by their home institution and must meet any required prerequisites or their equivalents. All students must meet prerequisites or/and co-requisites for requested classes. Students who wish to convert “special” to “degree-seeking” must complete the full admissions process.

International Students

Mitchell Community College is not a school sponsored under SEVP, Student Exchange and Visitor Program, and as such, does not sponsor student visas. For a list of schools that sponsor these visas, students may visit https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/schools. Non-U.S. Citizen students will need to contact the Admissions Office prior to submitting an admission application to confirm eligibility requirements.

Auditing/Non-Degree Students

Students who wish to audit a course must register and receive the approval from the instructor. Audit students do not receive credit and must adhere to attendance policies and meet prerequisites and corequisites. Students cannot change an audit course to a credit course or a credit course to an audit course after drop/add. Students cannot receive credit for an audit course toward a certificate, diploma, or degree. Curriculum students will have priority over audit students for registration. Students who register for a course as audit work but then withdraw will receive a grade of “W” for the course. The fees for audit courses are the same as those taken for credit.

Student Identification

Effective Fall 2022, all Mitchell Community College students are required to have a Mitchell student identification card. If a student does not have a student id card and their identification cannot be verified by the census date of a course, the student will be dropped from the course and will be responsible for 25% of the course cost.

High School Students Career and College Promise

Mitchell Community College provides several programs for high school students. All public, private, charter, and home school students are encouraged to take advantage of dual enrollment opportunities at the College. There is no charge for tuition, but students must pay fees and purchase books and materials. High school students interested in taking courses at Mitchell Community College must meet program eligibility requirements.

  • College Transfer Pathways provide course credits toward traditional transfer degrees that will transfer seamlessly to any public or participating private college or university in North Carolina, saving successful students time and money in pursuing four-year degrees. Interested students should contact their high school counselor. Students are dually enrolled at their high school and Mitchell.
  • Career and Technical Education Pathways allow students to earn credits at Mitchell Community College toward a job credential, certificate, or diploma in a technical career. Interested students should contact their high school counselor. Students are dually enrolled at their high school and Mitchell.
Through an alliance with our public-school partners, Mitchell Community College also offers opportunities for high school students through three early college high schools. Students take 

high school and college classes over 5 years (grades 9-13) in pursuit of a high school diploma and an associate degree or up to 2 years of college credit. Interested students should contact their high school counselor. The application is open to all eighth graders in Iredell County.

  • CCTL (The Collaborative College for Technology and Leadership) is located on the Statesville Campus and provides a technology-enriched, leadership-focused curriculum. The curriculum is designed to meet the individual needs of students, ensuring that they are fully prepared to enter the workforce or to continue their education at a four-year institution.
  • Crossroads Arts and Science Early College is located on the campus of Statesville High School. Crossroads offers a traditional honors curriculum in conjunction with college course work. Crossroads provides a variety of Fine Arts electives for students, along with CTE options like Entrepreneurship and Project Management.
  • Agriculture and Science Early College is located on the campus of North Iredell High School and has a strong focus in agriculture and science. Agriculture students are enrolled in college courses aligned with high school CTE classes and will have the opportunity to participate in North Iredell High School’s extensive Future Farmers of America program. In addition, students will also have the option of earning credits toward a traditional transfer degree.

Orientation

Mitchell requires new students to complete the online orientation prior to enrollment. Students are also encouraged to participate in orientation programs offered on campus at the beginning of each semester. Orientation gives students an opportunity to:

  • Meet staff and other students
  • Learn about resources, services, activities and policies
  • Help students take full advantage of opportunities on campus
  • Gain access to Internet tools

Change of Program

Students who change from one program to another within the institution will have credit hours and quality points transferred based on requirements of the new program. Student must meet with their advisor to fill out the change of program form. Students who change programs must follow the program requirements in the current catalog.

49erNext--Mitchell Community College/UNC Charlotte Transfer Partnership

49erNext is a program for Mitchell Community College students who plan to transfer to UNC Charlotte to pursue a bachelor’s degree. This unique program promotes student success by offering collaborative advising that helps students progress toward timely degree completion, coordinated financial aid planning, and career advising. 49erNext students are guaranteed admission at UNC Charlotte after completing an eligible associate degree while earning the required minimum GPA.

Benefits

In addition to the student services one receives at Mitchell Community College, 49erNext students receive these benefits:

  • guided transfer pathways for intended majors/programs at UNC Charlotte
  • academic advising and career services support at Mitchell Community College
  • 49er athletic event student tickets
  • recreation center (UREC) access ($25 fee per semester, subject to change)
  • UNC Charlotte library access
  • CATS All-Transit Pass ($25 fee per semester for light rail and bus access, subject to change)
  • financial aid/FAFSA workshops
  • major and career exploration workshops

Eligibility requirements

  • be a first time, full-time college student
  • be a high school graduate
  • be pursuing an AA, AS, or AE degree
  • complete the Mitchell Community College 49erNext program Interest Form
  • be pursuing a major offered at UNC Charlotte, except Architecture or Nursing (Please talk to a Student Services advisor at Mitchell Community College if wishing to pursue any of these excluded majors to learn about other transfer pathways to UNC Charlotte.)

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Policy

Mitchell Community College has established a process for awarding credit for college-level learning obtained through prior learning experiences other than curriculum coursework. Credit for prior learning may be awarded when a student produces prior learning documentation that meets or exceeds a demonstration of the learning outcomes established as our College’s standards for awarding credit for corresponding curriculum course(s). The following criteria is applied to the review of a student’s submitted documentation requesting credit for prior learning:

  • Mitchell may only award curriculum credit for prior learning that is directly applicable to a student’s declared curriculum program of study
  • Credit for prior learning for advanced courses does not negate the requirement to meet requisite learning outcomes
  • Credit for prior learning may be used to fulfill program requirements except for mandatory institutional requirements
  • No greater than seventy-five percent (75%) of credit hours required for graduation from a curriculum program of study may be earned through credit for prior learning
  • Any credit for prior learning awarded by Mitchell shall be reflected in the student’s records by the Registrar without quality points assigned except for allowances for graded military credit

To be eligible to receive credit for prior learning, students must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Meet all admission requirements for their program of study
  2. Be enrolled in a curriculum program to which the credit will directly apply; and
  3. Request a prior learning assessment consistent with Mitchell’s credit for prior learning procedures and provide all documentation by published deadlines

To obtain credit for prior learning, a student must consult with their assigned advisor first. If the advisor recommends the student proceed, the student may be required to submit a Credit for Prior Learning Request Form. The student’s advisor will provide them with the information if applicable. The Credit for Prior Learning Request Form is available in Student Services.

Mitchell may grant credit for program requirements as described below:

College Level Examination Program

College Board Advanced Placement Program

International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme

Military Education and Training

Challenge Examinations (Credit by Examination)

State or Industry Recognized Credentials

Continuing Education to Curriculum Credit

High School to Community College Articulation Agreements

Public Safety Training (PST) Prefix Courses

Admissions Requirements for Degree Seeking Students

Degree-seeking students must present proof of high school graduation or high school equivalency diploma.

High school graduates
In order to be admitted as a degree-seeking student, applicants must present official transcripts from a public, private, or home school that is recognized under state law at the time of graduation. Note: Online high schools must meet the additional requirement of being accredited by a recognized accrediting agency at the time of graduation. A list of recognized accrediting agencies may be found on the following websites:

www.chea.org

ope.ed.gov/accreditation

www.advanc-ed.org

High school equivalency students
In order to be admitted as a degree-seeking student, applicants must present official high school equivalency transcripts.

Placement Test

Mitchell Community College uses a placement test program to assess specific academic skills and competencies in mathematics, reading, and writing. Test results are used by academic and faculty advisors to place students in appropriate courses to maximize their opportunity for success. Placement test scores are not required for general admission to Mitchell Community College. However, some placement test scores may be a part of the acceptance criteria for a few programs. There is no cost for placement testing!

 

Placement Test Criteria

The placement test is not necessary if:

  1. The student has already earned a previous college degree, including Associate, Baccalaureate, Masters, or Doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
  2. The student has graduated from a United States high school, either public or private, in the past ten years and has an unweighted high school GPA.
  3. The student has completed their GED since 2014 and achieved a mastery score of 170 or above on all areas.
  4. The student has completed the HISET in the past ten years and earned a score of 15 or higher, on all sections, with at least a score of four on the essay.
  5. The student has SAT or ACT test scores that are less than ten years old and indicate college English and/or math placement or has other valid placement test scores on file.

Students have the option to take the placement test for English and/or math if:

  1. high school unweighted GPA is between 2.2 and 2.7999 and is within the past 10-years.
  2. graduated from a foreign high school.
  3. graduated from a U. S. high school beyond ten years.
  4. earned a High School Equivalency or Adult High School Diploma but did not meet the cutoff scores for placement.
  5. waiving the placement test will result in placement into Transitions and BSP (Basic Skills) courses per prerequisite requirements of desired courses and programs.

After taking the placement test, students will be placed on one of the three paths below:

  1. Gateway Courses, which are ENG 111 MAT 143  MAT 152 and MAT 171  (MAT 110 is not a gateway math course, but you could be placed in this course, as well, depending on your program). *Students may be placed into a college level English course with a supplemental course, which is a course to assist in reinforcing the content.
  2. Transitional Courses (ENG 002 MAT 003 BSP-4002, or BSP-4003):16-week, 12-week or 8-week course in either English or math, which allows a student to focus on strengthening foundational skills before moving to the gateway course.
  3. Combination of the previous two depending on placement test scores.

Selective Enrollment Programs

For these programs, applicants must meet additional requirements that may include mathematics and science courses, certifications, physical (medical) exams, etc. Some of these programs have more applicants than available space and may have specific application deadlines. Selective enrollment programs include:

Associate Degree Emergency Medical Science

Associate Degree Nursing

Medical Assisting

Paramedic to Associate Degree Nursing

Collaborative Programs

Collaborative programs include:

ApprenticeshipNC

Registered Apprenticeships are employer driven training models designed to meet the employer’s needs.  This model is a tool to capture the company’s tribal knowledge. Apprentices receive on-the-job training, related technical instruction, and a progressive wage scale.  Apprentices earn state and national credentials in addition to any credential earned at the community college. Mitchell Community College partners with employers to provide related instruction.  In North Carolina ApprenticeshipNC is the registering agency for the US Department of Labor.

Continuing Education Students

For admission to Continuing Education non-credit courses, it is recommended that the student be at least 18 years of age. Some continuing education courses have special admissions requirements.

Residency

Residency status is not determined by Mitchell Community College. In order to apply to Mitchell Community College, an applicant will need to complete the residency application through the North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS). For more information, please visit ncresidency.org , or call 1(919) 835-2290.

A legal resident must have maintained his or her domicile in North Carolina for at least twelve months prior to his or her classification as a resident for tuition purposes. For information regarding tuition and fees for in and out of state residents, please see the college catalog section, Tuition and Fees.

Veterans who have separated from the service may qualify for Section 702 of the Choice Act. Please see the School Certifying official for more information regarding in-state tuition.

Retest Policy

Students may take the placement test only once. It is important to give maximum effort. Study materials will be emailed after a testing appointment has been set. To schedule a placement test, visit mitchellcc.edu/placement-test.