Prospective Students

Admissions

Cape Fear Community College operates under an open door admission policy. This means the College is here to assist anyone who can benefit from a CFCC education. To enroll, students must either be a high school graduate (or equivalent) or at least 18 years of age. While CFCC advises all students seek a high school diploma or equivalent, admission to certain certificate programs may be granted without prior completion of a high school diploma or equivalency. In addition, admission to the college does not mean that students will be admitted immediately to a program with specified admissions requirements.

General Admissions Process

First-Year Applicants:

Admission to CFCC requires the following:

• Admissions Application – the application can be accessed online at www.cfcc.edu/admissions. 
• Residency Application – the residency application is available via the Residency Determination Service at www.ncresidency.org.  Residency determination establishes if a student pays in-state or out-of-state tuition.  This is required for all students.
• Official secondary transcript or equivalency (accepted equivalencies include: GED^®/HiSET/TASC)

Students are required to submit official high school transcripts with a graduation date or equivalent transcripts with a completion date. Home school students must submit a copy of the home school’s approved registration from the state in which they are registered (if applicable) and a home school transcript with graduation date. 

High school and home school seniors may be provisionally admitted upon receipt of an official transcript indicating they are a current high school senior. Students admitted provisionally are required to submit final/official transcripts with a graduation date before the start of the entering term and are not eligible for financial aid until the final/official transcript is received.

Foreign Transcripts:

Foreign transcripts must be evaluated and translated (if applicable), by a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (naces.org) or a current member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators (aice-eval.org). Completed evaluations, along with copies of the original transcript(s), should be sent directly from the evaluation agency to CFCC Admissions. If the evaluation is sent directly to you, in order for it to be considered official, it must remain in the original sealed envelope. Once opened, it is no longer considered official.

Transfer Applicants:

If you have previously attended a college or university, please follow the general admissions process.  While it’s not required to submit official college transcripts for general admission, transcripts are required to earn transfer credit, potentially waive placement testing (if applicable), and receive veterans’ benefits. Only courses with a grade of “C-“or higher from an accredited college or university are transferable. 

Questions regarding your transcript evaluation should be directed to the Registrar’s Office.  As part of the enrollment process, you will be required to provide a valid Residency Certification Number from the State of North Carolina or complete a Residency Application with the Residency Determination Service (RDS) at ncresidency.org. RDS determines if you will pay in-state or out-of-state tuition.

Students interested in health science programs are required to submit transcripts in advance of individual program deadlines. Visit http://cfcc.edu/admissions/health-sciences-admissions/ for more information.  

Additional Information Regarding Transfer Credit:

Credits are transferable from regionally accredited two and four year institutions within the United States. Courses are transferred that compare in content, quality and credit hours to those offered within the North Carolina Community College System.

Transcripts from institutions that are not regionally accredited are not evaluated by CFCC since the coursework is not generally accepted. A student may request to have the chairperson of the department under which the transfer coursework falls review the coursework to see if it may be accepted by CFCC. If the chairperson decides to award credit, he or she must notify the Registrar’s office in writing, who will then post the appropriate credit to the student’s record. It is the student’s responsibility to provide all the documentation necessary to complete the evaluation, including course descriptions, syllabi, and any other materials requested by the department chair.  Any final decision regarding the acceptance of credits from unaccredited institutions is subject to approval by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.  For information about requesting an evaluation of credits from an institution without regional accreditation, the student should contact the Registrar’s Office

Transcripts of course work completed at a college or university located outside of the United States must be accompanied by a certified English translation course evaluation and course descriptions. Transcripts must be evaluated and translated by a CFCC approved agency. Qualifying evaluations include those approved by a NACES (www.naces.org) or AICE (www.aice-eval.org) member evaluator before CFCC will review transcripts for admission or transfer credit purposes. An official copy of the evaluation must be sent directly to CFCC or presented in a sealed/official envelope.

Credit for Military Experience–Veteran applicants should submit an official military transcript to the College in order to request credit for previous military experience and training. The College grants credit where applicable for military service schools in accordance with the recommendations of the American Council on Education’s Guide To The Evaluation Of Educational Experiences In The Armed Services. Credit recommended must be consistent with the requirements and objectives of an academic program in order to be granted. Students should be aware that the transferability of these credits is totally at the discretion of the receiving institution and that Cape Fear Community College makes no guarantee of such transfer.

Some courses that depend heavily on technology, speed and accuracy, physical skills, and/or language skills will be subject to review after five years unless the student has been continuously enrolled. Courses subject to review may include, but not limited to, computer, foreign languages, sciences, and trades courses.  CFCC reserves the right to not award credit based on the discretion of the appropriate academic area.

Credits transferred from other institutions will be noted on the student’s CFCC transcript. Grades achieved at other institutions will not be used in the grade point average computation at CFCC.

Credit gained through advanced placement testing will require official transcripts from the testing agency.

Experiential learning, proficiency testing from other institutions, and work based learning experience that was evaluated by another institution will not be transferred as course work to CFCC.

Students who wish to receive transfer credit should submit official copies of all transcripts two weeks prior to registration so that evaluation of transfer credit can be completed.  It is the student’s responsibility to provide transcripts and to make the college aware of potential transfer credits. Students should not sign up for courses for which they could potentially be awarded transfer credit for. Students who choose to remain in courses that they may receive transfer credit for are subject to the college’s stated refund policy if they decide to drop the course after courses begin. Faxed transcripts are not acceptable.

To receive a degree, diploma or certificate from CFCC, transfer students must complete at least 25 percent of program requirements from CFCC.

Re-Admission of Curriculum Students:

Students (including CFCC graduates) returning to CFCC who have not been enrolled for one (1) or more academic years must submit a new admissions application.  If you have had a period of non-enrollment, you may be required to complete the Residency Determination Service Application. This application determines if you will pay in-state or out-of-state tuition and is mandated by the State of North Carolina via the Residency Determination Service. For further information, please see the General Admissions Process.

Health Science Enrollment Center (HSEC) / Health Science Programs:

The HSEC is an information portal for students interested in the health care field.  Students can get information about CFCC’s health-related programs through Curriculum and /or Continuing Education.  The college offers programs that are selective admissions or open enrollment.  The staff in the center are available to help students understand specific program requires and the scope of the various professions.  They can make referrals based on the student’s needs, including career exploration.  The Health Science Center is located on the Wilmington Campus on the second floor of Union Station (U-297). For additional information and to review selective admission programs, please visit the appropriate academic program page or Health Science Enrollment Center section of the CFCC website. 

Selective Admission/Health Science Programs:

Associate Degree Nursing

Associate Degree Nursing Transition

Cardiovascular Sonography (AAS & Diploma)

Dental Assisting

Dental Hygiene

Medical Assisting (AAS & Diploma)

Medical Sonography

Nurse Aid (CCP, High School only)

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Pharmacy Technology (AAS & Diploma)

Practical Nursing

PN to RN Accelerated Path

Radiography

Surgical Technology

Veterinary Technology

In addition to meeting general college admission requirements, students applying to selective admission programs must first meet program specific requirements. These include:

·         Complete the college and program application processes by established deadlines

·         Ensure that official high school and college transcripts (if applicable) are on file at CFCC

·         Meet CFCC minimum GPA requirements

·         Meet minimum English and math requirements

·         Meet science course requirements

·         Meet any additional requirements as described in the information packets of each selective health science program (these are accessible at the individual health science webpage)

An overview of these requirements can be found at:  https://cfcc.edu/admissions/health-sciences-admissions/  and  https://cfcc.edu/admissions/admissions-steps/health-science-students/

Open Enrollment Health Science Programs:

Nurse Aid (Continuing Education only)

Emergency Medical Science (Curriculum and Continuing Education)

Health and Fitness Science (Curriculum only)

Substance Abuse Counseling (Curriculum and Continuing Education)

In addition to the above listed programs, CFCC also offers a variety of health science career paths through the Continuing Education department. These can be accessed at: https://cfcc.edu/job-training/healthcare-careers/.

Admission as a Special Credit Student (Non-Degree Seeking):

Students who do not wish to enter degree or diploma programs may enter CFCC as “special credit” students. Students admitted as special credit students may carry only a part-time course load. Special credit students must meet course prerequisites. Admission as a special credit student does not constitute admission to any curriculum program. Special credit students may attempt no more than 18 credit hours without meeting admissions requirements. Students who exceed this number will not be permitted to register until admissions requirements are met. Students who enter a curriculum program from special credit status must meet all admissions requirements prior to time of registration.  Special Credit students are not eligible to receive financial aid or Veteran’s benefits.

Admission as a Special Credit-Lifelong Learner Student (Non-Degree Seeking):

Students who have no desire or intention to work toward a degree, diploma, or certificate and wish to take classes for personal development, enrichment, or simply for the joy of learning may enroll as a Lifelong Learner. To be admitted as a Lifelong Learner, the student need only submit a completed college application for admission. Students admitted as Lifelong Learners may carry only a part-time course load. Lifelong Learners must meet and verify course prerequisites prior to course registration. Admission as a Lifelong Learner does not constitute admission to any curriculum program. A Lifelong Learner who wishes to be reclassified as a regular student must complete admission requirements as outlined in the General Admissions Process in this catalog. Lifelong Learners are not eligible to receive financial aid or Veteran’s benefits.

Admission of Visiting Students:

Visiting students are those who are admitted and enrolled at another college or university and wish to enroll at CFCC to supplement their coursework.  Applicants should follow the general admissions process and select “visiting student or lifelong learner” as the program of study/major on the admission application. Visiting students must meet and verify course prerequisites prior to registration.

Provisional Admission:

Provisional admission is granted prior to the last day to register. Students whose official high school transcripts have not been received by the Admissions Office at the time of registration may be admitted provisionally. Financial Aid will not be available to a student who is provisionally accepted until the final official transcript is received in the Admissions Office. All admissions requirements must be met within thirty (30) calendar days from the first day of the academic session. Those students who do not meet admissions requirements within thirty (30) calendar days may be dropped from courses. Students will not be allowed to register for upcoming semesters until all admission requirements are met.

Admission of International Students:

Cape Fear Community College does not issue the necessary documents to obtain the F, J, or M student visas. Other visas may be acceptable for admission. Contact the Director of Admissions for further information.

Undocumented Immigrants & Deferred Action Childhood Arrival (DACA) Students:

Undocumented Immigrants

According to state board code 1D SBCCC 400.2 Admission to Colleges, community colleges shall admit an undocumented immigrant only if he or she attended and graduated from a US public high school, private high school, or home school that operates in compliance with State or local law.  Undocumented immigrants will be charged the out-of-state tuition rate, can be prohibited from enrolling in programs that lead to professional licenses, and are required to register on the final day of registration.

DACA Students

Current North Carolina Community College System policy allows DACA applicants to enroll at CFCC at the out-of-state tuition cost. Acceptance to the college does not guarantee admission to certain programs.

Pre-Registration Requirements:

Prior to registering for classes, students must:

• Complete Orientation

• Determine Course Placement    

  • Students who graduated from a US public, private, or home school within the last ten years will be placed based on their unweighted high school GPA.

  • Students who earned the GED from 2014-present will be placed based on their GED scores.

  • Students who graduated high school more than 10 years ago or who have an Adult High School Diploma, GED prior to 2014, HiSet, TASC, or Foreign High School Diploma are required to complete placement testing, start in transition courses, or be waived from placement testing. 

Information about the different ways placement testing can be waived can be found here: https://cfcc.edu/testing-services/placement-testing-and-waivers/course-placement-and-assessment/

If a student who is eligible to take the placement test does not qualify for any placement test waivers, please visit the Testing Services homepage to to learn more about how to schedule your placement test:  https://cfcc.edu/testing-services/placement-testing-and-waivers/

There is no charge for the placement test. You may take the placement test twice (one initial test and one retest). In order to request accommodations based on a documented disability, requests for approval, assistance, and scheduling must be arranged through CFCC’s Disability Support Services office (910-362-7800).

Medical Examinations:

A medical history and/or drug screening is required for certain programs, including Marine Technology and Health Sciences programs. Students are notified of this requirement as applicable to their programs of study. Contact Program Director or Department Chair for further information.

Right to Deny Admission:

The College reserves the right to refuse admission or readmission to any applicant during any period of time that the student is suspended or expelled from any other educational entity. 23 SBCCC 02C.0301 (d).

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. 23 SBCCC 02C.0301 (e) and (f).

Applicants who are refused admission have the right to an appeal. To initiate such an appeal, the applicant must submit a written appeal to the Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management within five (5) calendar days after being notified of the refusal to admit. The Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management will present the appeal to the Judicial Board within (5) calendar days of receipt of the written appeal. If the student wishes to appear before the Judicial Board, the request must be included in the written appeal. The Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management will notify the applicant of the Judicial Board’s decision. The decision of the Judicial Board shall be final with no further appeals.

Contacting the Office of Admissions

Mail official correspondence to:

Office of Admissions

Cape Fear Community College

411 North Front Street

Wilmington, NC 28401

Official Documentation Statement:

High school transcripts, equivalency score reports, ACT/SAT score reports, college transcripts, and other official documentation related to admission, must be received directly from the high school or organization by mail or electronically from an approved provider.  Official electronic transcripts should be e-mailed to transcripts@cfcc.edu (this must be from an approved agency or organization).  If you have questions regarding your documents, please contact the Registrar or Admission Office.

Campus Visits

Cape Fear Community College encourages prospective students and parents to visit the campus and tour our facilities. Guided tours may be scheduled Monday through Friday when classes are in session. Appointments are necessary to ensure that appropriate staff will be available to answer questions. Information pertaining to academic programs, student services, and the admissions/registration processes will be presented during the tour. Tour dates and times are available on the College’s website at www.cfcc.edu. 

Career and College Promise (Dual Enrollment/Early College)

The Career and College Promise Program allows qualifying high school students the opportunity to enroll in college classes in order to earn both high school and college credit upon successful completion of CFCC courses. This program offers the following pathways:

• Career and Technical Education Pathway
• College Transfer Pathway
• Cooperative Innovative High School Pathway (or Early College High School)

The Career Technical Education Pathway allows high school students the opportunity to enroll in a CFCC CTE Pathway that aligns with their high school career cluster programs. To be accepted into this program, students must meet the following criteria*:

• Be a high school junior or senior;
• Have an unweighted GPA of 2.8 on high school courses or have the approval of the high school principal or designee;

*Some CTE pathways include courses that require testing prerequisites for enrollment. 

The College Transfer Pathway allows high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to complete core general education classes required during the first two years of a four-year degree. To be accepted to this program, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be a high school junior or senior;
• Have an unweighted high school GPA of 2.8 or higher;
• OR demonstrate college readiness in English, Reading, and Math on an assessment or placement test such as the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or the CFCC Placement Test.
• Meet all program prerequisites.

The Cooperative Innovative High School Pathway (or Early College High School) allows students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and up to two years of college credit within five years. CFCC partners with New Hanover County Schools and Pender County Schools to host three early college high schools. Pender Early College High School (PECHS), Wilmington Early College High School (WECHS), and Southeast Area Technical High School (SEA-TECH) are connected to CFCC.  Students must have the desire to attend a smaller school with high expectations for academics and behavior. Admission to the program is granted by each respective school system.

For more information on college courses available to qualifying high school students, visit our website at http://www.cfcc.edu/ccp.

Supplemental Studies

To help ensure student success, the college offers courses to students who need help in the basic skills: mathematics, reading, and writing.  These courses are required for those students who have been identified as needing enhancement in these skills.

Supplemental courses count toward registered credits as it applies to financial aid, veterans benefits, and enrollment status. These courses do not count as attempted or earned hours, nor do they count in a student’s academic grade-point average.

CFCC will recognize courses completed with an equivalent grade of “C” or above at other North Carolina accredited institutions. The transfer evaluation will be used for class placement by the advisor.

Please Note:

Prerequisites: A course taken prior to another course.

Corequisites: A course taken at the same time as another course or prior to the course to be taken.

Some courses in communications, humanities/fine arts, mathematics, natural science, or social/behavioral science may fulfill a general education requirement in one of the following programs: AA (Associate in Arts), AS (Associate in Science), AFA (Associate in Fine Arts), AGE (Associate in General Education), AAS (Associate in Applied Science), DIP (Diploma), or CER (Certificate). Please refer to the programs of study section of this catalog for courses that satisfy each program’s general education requirements.

Orientation

The Student Services and Enrollment Management Division offers an in-person orientation to acquaint new students to the College, its facilities, resources, services, activities, organizations, and policies. This orientation is mandatory for all new students prior to class registration.

Testing

Some applicants to degree, diploma, and certain certificate programs may be required to have valid placement test scores on file prior to signing up for classes. All or parts of the placement testing requirement may be waived if the applicant meets certain criteria (see General Admission Process).  The placement test is not an entrance exam.  The primary purpose of the placement test is to determine the individual’s skill level and readiness. Test results will be used to determine the need, if any, for supplemental placement. 

Placement tests are administered in the following areas: English and Math. All placement scores are valid for ten years from the testing date.

Reinforced Instruction for Student Excellence: RISE

Beginning academic year 2020/21, students’ math and English placement will be determined primarily by their unweighted high school GPA using the following guidelines:

• Students with a GPA of 2.8 or higher may register for college-level math and English courses.
• Students with a GPA of 2.2 to 2.799 may register for college-level math and English courses with required corequisite support courses.
• Students with a GPA below 2.2 will be required to enroll in math and English transition courses through the Learning Resource Center (Curriculum) or Academic & Career Readiness (Continuing Education).

Students who graduated from high school more than 10 years ago will be required to take the RISE placement test unless they meet other criteria that determine placement.

The RISE Placement Test

The The RISE Placement Test is an un-timed test taken on a computer. Fluency using a computer is not needed to take the test. The test is divided into two sections: English and Math. There is no fee for the test.

Testers need to bring a picture ID when coming to a test session. Testers should arrive at the testing center fifteen (15) minutes prior to the start of the testing session. Parking for testers is available in visitor parking on the open surface lots on the Wilmington or North Campuses.

Testers can access the testing schedule and sign up for a testing session by visiting the Testing Services website: https://cfcc.edu/testing-services/placement-testing-and-waivers/.

Testing is generally offered every week that the college is open. To request accommodations based on a documented disability, requests for approval, assistance, and scheduling must be arranged through CFCC’s Disability Support Services office (910-362-7800).

A schedule of dates/times of the Placement Tests can be obtained from CFCC’s website: https://cfcc.edu/testing-services/placement-testing-and-waivers/ .

Retest Policy

Testers may only take the placement test twice.

High School Equivalency Exam Testing

The General Educational Development (GED^®) Exam is a computer based High School Equivalency (HSE) test administered at CFCC. GED^® exam registration is done on the website https://ged.com/. Please see CFCC’s Academic and Career Readiness Dept. for information about taking GED^® classes to help prepare for GED^® exams.

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