College Admission Procedures

Your Checklist for Enrolling at Trident Technical College
Throughout this Catalog, you will find information, guidelines and policies about enrolling at TTC. Please review all information carefully. Use this simple checklist to ensure that you have completed the enrollment process:

1. Complete the admission application and submit it with the $25 application fee to TTC’s Admissions office before the application deadline of the term when you plan to enroll.
2. Submit proof of high school graduation for all associate degree programs by providing either a copy of your diploma or an official high school transcript after graduating from high school, or GED or military records verifying receipt of high school diploma. If you have earned a degree at the associate level or higher, high school documentation is not required. Some certificate and diploma programs do not require proof of high school graduation for students who are at least 18 years old. Check individual diploma and certificate program admission requirements listed under Programs of Study in this Catalog or go to TTC's Web site. A high school certificate of completion is not acceptable as proof of high school graduation. An applicant under 18 years of age must be a high school graduate or have a GED, or meet the College’s early admit or dual credit requirements.
3. Provide qualifying scores on SAT (480 critical reading and 440 math if taken on or after March 1, 2005; or 480 verbal; 440 math if taken on or after April 1, 1995, or 400 verbal and 400 math if taken before April 1, 1995), ACT (19 English, 18 math) or TTC’s placement test. You may exempt all or part of the placement test by providing college transcripts with equivalent English and math credits or evidence of a degree at the baccalaureate level or higher. You may provide unofficial transcripts to Admissions to exempt testing, but you must submit official transcripts to the Registrar's office for the evaluation and awarding of transfer credit. 
4. Complete the new student orientation process at the Orientation Center at Main Campus or the Student Success Centers at Palmer or Berkeley campuses. Your academic advisor will be assigned to you during the orientation process.
5. Contact your academic advisor to determine the courses you should enroll in during your first semester at TTC. 
6. Register for classes during the published registration period and pay your tuition by the published deadline date.
7. Complete your FAFSA before the College's financial aid priority date for the term when you plan to enroll if you are requesting financial aid awards, including South Carolina Lottery Tuition Assistance.

Application Status
If you apply and are unable to enroll during the semester you indicated on your application and then decide to enroll in a future semester,  you will need to complete a Student Update form within three semesters of applying and submit it to TTC's Admissions office to re-activate your application to the College.  If you decide to enroll more than three semesters after submitting an application, you may be required to submit a new admission application.

Program Admission Requirements
All students pursuing admission into a specific program should refer to the specific program area for admission requirements. In addition to meeting all College requirements, Allied Health Sciences and Nursing applicants must submit a separate Allied Health or Nursing application to the Admissions office and must successfully complete all additional program requirements to be accepted into an Allied Health Sciences or Nursing program. Allied Health and Nursing applicants are required to submit a statement of completion card to the Admissions office after they meet all specified program requirements. Enrollment in each Allied Health Sciences and Nursing program is limited. Applicants are admitted on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis.  

Categories of Admission

• New: You are a new student if you are attending TTC for the first time and plan to enroll in a curriculum program to pursue an associate degree, diploma or certificate. Prospective students classified as new applicants are students who have not attended any other approved, regionally accredited postsecondary institution.
• Returning: You are a returning student if you attended TTC before but have not been enrolled within the last three semesters. As a returning student, you should submit a Student Update form to the Admissions office before the application deadline of the semester you plan to enroll. Depending on your previous academic performance and the major you are declaring, you may also need to provide proof of high school graduation or GED and qualifying scores on SAT, ACT, or TTC’s placement test, and/or college transcripts before an update can be processed.
• Undecided: You are an undecided student if you have met admission requirements but have not chosen a particular career field or academic program, or you are not sure whether you want to earn a certificate, diploma, two-year degree and/or four-year degree. TTC's College counselors can help you choose a program of study or advise you regarding courses to take while you are undecided. Undecided students are not eligible for financial aid, veterans benefits or lottery tuition assistance. Students seeking financial aid awards must be enrolled in an eligible program of study.
• Nondegree: You are a nondegree student if you are at least 18 years old or have a GED or high school diploma and want to take courses for credit but do not seek to earn a TTC degree, diploma or certificate. Nondegree students typically do not have admission requirements but may be asked to provide transcripts or test scores as evidence of having met course pre-requisites. Nondegree students are not eligible for financial aid, veterans benefits or lottery tuition assistance. Students seeking financial aid awards must be enrolled in an eligible program of study.
• High School Smart Start Program: If you attend high school in Berkeley, Charleston or Dorchester counties or through a homeschool association, you may participate in TTC’s Dual Credit or Early Admit programs with permission of your principal or guidance counselor. You will need to provide qualifying scores on SAT, ACT or TTC’s placement test and have the appropriate form signed by your principal or guidance counselor or homeschool association each term.  You are a dual credit student if you want to earn both postsecondary and high school credits at TTC. You will need to submit the dual credit form approving each course you want to take each term. If you are a junior or senior and do NOT need high school credit but want to begin your college education before you graduate from high school, you are an early admit student. You will need to submit a letter from your principal or guidance counselor approving your attendance at TTC each term. When you graduate from high school, all credits earned through dual credit and/or early admit may count toward a TTC degree, diploma or certificate. When you are accepted at another college or university, the credits you earned may qualify to be transferred at the discretion of the admitting institution.
• Transfer: You are a transfer student if you are attending TTC for the first time after having attended other approved, regionally accredited postsecondary institutions. Transfer credit will be awarded only upon receipt of official transcripts. TTC will not compute transfer hours or grades in your GPA. Therefore, TTC accepts all transfer students in good standing, without regard to records of disciplinary or academic standing at the previous institution(s). TTC transcripts will show the equivalent transfer credit awarded for course work completed with a C or better from an approved, regionally accredited postsecondary institution.
• Cross Registration: If you are enrolled at one of the following local colleges, you may be a cross-registration student at TTC with the approval of your home institution: Charleston Southern University, The Citadel, the College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina. As a cross-registration student, you may register on a space-available basis on the published cross-registration dates during the registration period for the upcoming term.
• International: You are an international student if you are requesting a student visa or transferring from another college under a student visa. A TOEFL score of 500 on the paper-based version, 173 on the computer-based version, or 61 on the Internet-based version is required. If you are transferring from another college in the United States, you must submit the Transfer Student Status Verification form from your international student advisor as well as the official transcript from the institution you last attended. International students need to apply at least two months before classes begin each term and must provide a current I-20 and a copy of your I-94 card. International students are required to submit a deposit in the amount of tuition and fees for two semesters. These funds remain on deposit with the College and cannot be used for tuition and fees until the second semester is completed. Additionally, international students must provide a signed Affidavit of Support indicating availability of adequate funds for tuition, fees, other educational needs and living expenses for two terms. Deposit and support funds must be in U.S. dollars. TTC's international students come from more than 20 countries and participate in an active international student organization on campus. All questions about international student admission procedures and instructional fees should be addressed to the international student coordinator at the Main Campus Admissions office. Additional information about the admission requirements for international students is available on TTC's Web site, and also at http://www.uscis.gov/. Trident Technical College is required by federal regulations to track and report changes in international students' enrollment or attendance during the semester.  Faculty are required to notify the Admissions office when an international student stops attending a traditional class or stops active involvement in a distance learning class for more than two weeks. The College’s international student admissions coordinator will notify the Department of Homeland Security when an international student has ceased attendance or changed enrollment status during the semester.
• Audit: If you want to enroll in curriculum classes without earning credit, you may be admitted as an audit student. You must submit a TTC application with the application fee payment, pay full tuition for course work, and indicate you are an audit student when you register.  Audit courses are taken for noncredit and cannot be changed to credit at a later date. You may not change from audit to credit status after Drop/Add. If you enroll as a credit student, you may not change to audit status after Drop/Add.  You may audit an individual course only one time. The vice president for Academic Affairs must approve any exceptions. Some courses cannot be audited, and some may have special requirements for an audit student. If you are interested in auditing a class, contact the appropriate department head or dean. You may be asked to provide transcripts or test scores as evidence you have met course prerequisites.
• Senior Citizen:  If you are over 60, a legal resident of South Carolina and not employed full time, you may take selected academic courses at TTC on a space-available basis without paying tuition as a senior citizen student. Senior citizen students must register on the first day classes begin or during Drop/Add to receive the senior citizen tuition waiver. You may be asked to provide transcripts or test scores as evidence you have met any course prerequisites. You must submit an application with the $25 nonrefundable application fee. Contact the Business office at 843.574.6026 before registration.
• Entry into TTC does not guarantee admission into specific courses or programs. Placement in a specific course is based on standards that will help ensure your academic success.
• TTC reserves the right to modify admission policies and procedures as needed to ensure enrollment does not exceed the facilities and resources available.

Residency
Tuition is based on residency.TTC determines in-county, out-of-county and out-of-state residency based on South Carolina law and South Carolina Commission on Higher Education regulations at http://www.che.sc.gov/. Documents may be required as proof of residency. Residency determination is made at the time of admission and may not be appealed after midterm of the semester in question.

Placement Testing
If you are applying for admission to any of TTC’s associate degree, diploma or certificate programs, or to enroll in developmental studies courses, you may be required to take TTC's placement test, which includes writing skills, reading and math components. The placement test helps ensure that you are academically prepared; your placement scores determine which level of course work you can enter. Based on placement test scores, you may be placed in one or more developmental studies courses. To schedule a time for this test, contact Testing Services at 843.574.6410 at Main Campus, 843.722.5516 at Palmer Campus, or 843.899.8079 at Berkeley Campus. If your reading score is below the minimum requirement, TTC will refer you to an adult education or literacy program. You may exempt comparable components of the placement test if you provide qualifying SAT or ACT scores. If you are exempting the placement test because you have qualifying SAT or ACT scores, you will be placed into appropriate math and English courses based on your SAT or ACT scores. You may exempt the writing skills and reading components of the placement test with SAT critical reading scores of 480 if taken on or after March 1, 2005; or verbal scores of at least 480 if taken on or after April 1, 1995 (400 if taken before April 1, 1995), or ACT English component score of 19. You may exempt the math component with SAT math scores of 440 if taken on or after April 1, 1995 (400 if taken before April 1, 1995), or ACT math component score of 18. Higher SAT or ACT scores are required for placement into some English and math courses. You may also exempt testing requirements if you submit college transcripts with equivalent English and math credits or evidence of a degree at the baccalaureate level or higher.  Entry into TTC does not guarantee admission into specific programs or courses. Placement in a specific course is based on standards that will help ensure your academic success.  

Eligibility to Apply for Financial Aid Under Ability to Benefit Regulations
If you do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, you are eligible to apply for financial aid (Title IV funds) by taking TTC's placement test and achieving the minimum scores as approved by the United States Department of Education. Testing Services administers the placement test on Main, Berkeley and Palmer campuses. The results of the placement test are used to determine eligibility for Title IV funds. Benefit eligibility applies only to programs that do not require high school graduation or GED.

Refresher Class
A refresher class can prepare you to do your best on TTC's placement test. Did you know that:

• Your placement test scores determine whether you should take curriculum college courses or developmental studies courses.
• It is to your advantage to be accurately placed in the highest level course possible.
• Many students fail to take the placement test seriously and actually place below their level of ability.

The refresher class is an orientation to TTC's placement test and a review of basic English, reading and mathematics. The purpose of this one-day, noncredit class is to prepare you to do your best work on the placement test and thereby ensure accurate placement in college course work. The class is especially suited to students who have not been in school recently, students who are unsure of their skills for college-level work in English language, reading and mathematics, and students who have not taken a computerized test. The one-day class is offered through TTC’s Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development on Main Campus. Please contact The Learning Center at 843.574.6378 for additional information. To register, call 843.574.6152. 

Challenge Courses
If you are reasonably certain that your placement test results have misplaced you into a developmental studies course (0-level), you should consider enrolling in a Challenge course.  Frequently, students believe that their placement test results have not accurately placed them in the appropriate course level. Students placed in developmental studies courses (0-level) may wish to challenge the results and enroll in a higher level course than their placement test scores indicate. TTC has designed three one-credit-hour courses for students to demonstrate that they can perform at a higher level than indicated by their placement test scores. Challenge courses provide 15 contact hours of instruction during the week prior to the beginning of an academic term. The timing allows for a successful student to satisfy the requirements of a 0-level course and enroll immediately in the next course level. Students whose placement test scores fall within the challenge range may register for a Challenge course. There are three Challenge courses, one each in English, reading and mathematics. A student who successfully passes a Challenge course has met the requirements of the regular 0-level course and may register for the next course level. Make an appointment with your advisor to see if you qualify and to register.  

New Student Orientation
Orientation is an important part of getting started at TTC. The orientation process is customized for each student because we want you to achieve your educational goals and have a positive experience. You view a video and receive one-on-one attention from an orientation leader, who answers any general questions you might have about the College. The orientation leader also explains the different services at TTC and assigns you an academic advisor. Orientation is vital to your academic success, so all new students are expected to attend. You may attend orientation as soon as your application is processed and you have submitted qualifying test scores or taken the College placement test or have had your test requirements waived. You do not need to be accepted to TTC to attend Orientation. Registration for the following semester begins at midterm, so the earlier you come to Orientation, the better. You'll need time to make an appointment with your academic advisor to register for courses. For your convenience, Orientation Centers are open on all three campuses Monday through Friday. No appointment is necessary; drop by when you are on campus.

Orientation Center Locations
Main Campus, Building 420
Berkeley Campus, Student Success Center, Room 178
Palmer Campus, Student Success Center, Room 226

Academic Advising
Your academic advisor guides you in scheduling an academic program to meet your educational goals. Appointments are required during the advisement/registration process. Office hours for academic advisors are posted on their office doors, or they can be reached by calling the phone numbers listed in the On Course schedule published each semester.  

Schedule of Classes
A schedule of classes for all campuses, titled On Course, is printed each semester. The class schedule is also posted on the Web site and can be accessed through TTC Express. The College reserves the right to make adjustments to the published schedule, including the cancellation of any class, if TTC deems it necessary and appropriate.

Registration
After meeting admission requirements and being accepted to the College, you will be eligible to register each semester in which you plan to enroll. You must meet with your assigned advisor to register. You are not officially enrolled until you complete all the steps of registration, including payment of fees and receipt of a printed schedule.

Catalog Applicability
To graduate, you must fulfill degree requirements as published in the applicable Catalog. If you have had continuous enrollment at TTC, you have two options:

1. fulfill all the program curriculum requirements listed in the Catalog at the time of acceptance into the academic program, or
2. fulfill all the program curriculum requirements listed in any subsequent Catalog in effect while you are enrolled.

If you discontinue enrollment for two consecutive semesters or longer, you must fulfill the program curriculum requirements listed in the Catalog in effect at the time of re-enrollment. The dean of the academic division offering your program must approve any exceptions.

Advanced Standing
If you earned credit hours from other institutions or agencies, you may fulfill up to 75 percent of program requirements through advanced standing. TTC awards the following types of advanced standing credit:  

College Transfer Credit: You may receive college credit for classes in which you earned a grade of C- or better from approved, regionally accredited, postsecondary institutions. TTC considers courses with a grade of P (passing) for transfer credit upon receipt of official notification that a P grade is equivalent to a C- or higher. You must submit official transcripts before TTC can grant credit. TTC automatically evaluates all official transcripts that have been submitted to the College. Returning students must request transcript evaluation through the Registrar’s office. You will not earn quality points for transferred courses. For more information, see Transfer: State Policies and Procedures. 

Advanced Placement: You will receive college credit for a score of 3, 4 or 5 on selected Advanced Placement examinations.  

International Baccalaureate: You may receive college credit for scores of 4 or greater on selected International Baccalaureate higher level exams.    

Tech Prep: Certain courses taken in high schools in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties may qualify for advanced standing. See your advisor for details.    

Tests
Excelsior College Testing: You may receive credit for selected college-level exams if your scores are satisfactory to the College. Official score reports must be on file in the Registrar's office prior to credit being awarded.   

CLEP: You may receive credit for selected College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams if your scores are satisfactory to the College. Contact Testing Services for a listing of accepted CLEP examinations. Official score reports must be on file in the Registrar's office prior to credit being awarded.    

DANTES DSSTs: You may receive credit for selected college-level exams that you have completed with satisfactory scores from the Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES). Contact Testing Services for a listing of accepted DANTES DSSTs examinations. Official score reports must be on file in the Registrar's office prior to credit being awarded. 

Limitations on Test Credit: The awarding of advanced standing through testing is subject to the following:

1. You may receive up to 16 semester credit hours in advanced standing but not more than one-fourth of the total curriculum hours required for program completion.
2. You must verify that the Registrar's office has your official score reports prior to the beginning of the semester in which you seek advanced standing.
3. You may not receive credit for a course you previously attempted.
4. You may retest six months after the original test date.
5. Your GPA will not be affected by advanced standing credits.
6. TTC does not guarantee that advanced standing credit awarded for TTC courses will transfer to other institutions.

Military: You may receive credit for selected formal military course work and training. TTC uses the credit recommendations of the American Council on Education’s Guide for the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services to evaluate military course work.

Experiential Learning:  Students may receive experiential learning credit for selected courses. Credit may be awarded only for courses offered within the current curriculum and must be appropriately related to the student’s educational program. Credit may be awarded only to students currently enrolled in credit courses. Credit may not be granted for a course in which the student has already earned a grade, including audit and withdrawal. Credit may be awarded only to students who have previously completed at least three hours of program-specific course work with a grade of C or better. Some formal business and industry training as well as military experience may be considered for experiential learning credit based on recommendations contained in the National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs. The American Council on Education's Program on Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction (ACE/PONSI) produces this guide. No more than 25 percent of program completion requirements may be composed of experiential learning credit. Exceptions for up to 75 percent of the program requirements may be granted if credit has been previously earned and documented from organizations such as the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) or the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.    

Home Program: The Home program is available for Associate in Arts and Associate in Science students who leave TTC before completing their degrees. Participants in the program can transfer selected, preapproved credits back to TTC to complete their associate degrees. See your advisor for details on eligibility.    

Grade Information
Transcripts/Privacy of Student Records
Transcripts are issued by the Registrar’s office. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), known as the Buckley Amendment, requires that you sign individual release forms for each company, school or individual to whom you desire information released. Parents or guardians of dependent students may access dependent student's records by completing a request form and providing appropriate documentation to verify the dependent status of the student to the office of the vice president for Student Services. Official transcripts are issued by the College only to outside agencies. Official transcripts are not issued to the student. Student copies of transcripts may be issued to the student and are stamped accordingly. 

In accordance with FERPA, the College may release student information known as public or directory information, including the student’s name, address, telephone listing, e-mail address, date and place of birth, major field of study, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student. Students who do not wish to be included in the directory must advise the Registrar.

Grading System   
Letter Grade      Numerical Scale
        A                      91-100
        B                      81-90
        C                      71-80
        D                      65-70
        F                      Below 65

Grade		Used in GPA Calculations	Earns Credit Hours	Grade Points Carried for Each Credit Hour
A	Excellent	Yes	Yes	4
B	Above Average	Yes	Yes	3
C	Average	Yes	Yes	2
D	Below Average	Yes	Yes	1
F	Failure	Yes	No	0
I	Incomplete*	No	No	0
W	Withdrawn	No	No	0
SC	Satisfactory Completion	No	Yes	0
U	Unsatisfactory	No	No	0
AU	Audit	No	No	0

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                               

*Defaults to F (or U, if applicable) automatically after midterm of the next semester, unless work is completed and grade is assigned by the instructor.

Unit of Credit
The semester credit hour is the system of credit used by TTC.