Pima County Community College District Standard Practice Guide

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SPG Title: Admissions (Interim)
SPG Number:  SPG-3501/AA
Effective Date: 4/17/01
Approval Date: 4/17/01
Review Date(s):
Revision Date(s): 1/03/01, 4/13/01
Sponsoring Unit/Department: VC Enrollment Services and External Relations
Regulation Title & No.: Admissions, RG-3501/A
Board Policy Title & No.: Admissions, BP-3501
Legal Reference:   Arizona Administrative Code, R7-1-301, R7-1-709, Arizona Revised Statute (ARS) 15-1821
Cross Reference: Transfer Students and Credit, BP-3111; Equal
Educational Opportunity, BP-3112; and Limited Enrollment (Selective Admissions), BP-3506; General Education Requirements, BP-3117; Concurrent Enrollment Guidelines

This guide provides general information about the procedures that must be followed and the conditions that must be met in the admissions process including those concerning student residency, international students, and underage students.

I. Admissions Applications Procedures

This section describes the proper completion and coding of applications for admissions.

All Admissions Offices are responsible for the processing and coding of applications for admission.

A. Review the application form.

NOTE: If an individual submits an application in person, by mail or by fax, a picture ID is required to complete the transaction.

1. Ensure that all sections/items are complete, verified and properly coded and entered.

2. Make sure the application is signed, if taken in person. If a mailed-in or faxed in application is unsigned, send it to the applicant for signature.

3. Admission by telephone is confirmed with an Office of Admissions verification form. An application may be faxed as long as it is signed.

4. Application for Admission will be accepted electronically, through the use of the WEB application process.

5. Assure that an acceptance letter is sent to all new applicants by the campus or district.

II. Determination of Student Residency

RG-3501/A requires students who pay in-state tuition rates to demonstrate evidence of domicile before the start of each semester or session. It is the responsibility of the applicant to apply for admission and to register under the correct domicile determination. Domicile is determined as of the first day of the session in which the student is enrolling.

A. Evidence of Domicile

The State Board of Directors for Community Colleges Regulation 7-1-23 provides the following guidelines regarding documents that students may present to verify eligibility for in-state residency status:

1. An affidavit signed by the student must be filed with the person responsible for verifying domicile.

2. Any of the following may be used in determining a student's domicile in Arizona:

a. Driver's license

b. Income tax return

c. Voter registration

d. Automobile registration

e. Place of graduation from high school

f. Source of financial support

g. Dependency as indicated on federal income tax return

h. Ownership of real property

i. Notarized statement of landlord or employer

j. Bank accounts

k. Other relevant information.

B. Procedure for Classification of Undocumented Student as In-state Status

In order to provide educational opportunities for citizens in its designated service delivery area, Pima County Community College District must comply with all State Board regulations and all appropriate state and local ordinances.

Every applicant to Pima Community College District must have the questions of residency status determined prior to the official starting date of the semester or session in which attendance is expected

The College has determined that "parent" is expanded to include

"legal guardian" in the determination of student status. An undocumented student must demonstrate eligibility for in-state tuition by showing evidence of residency on or before the official start date by meeting one of the following criteria:

1. The student is domiciled in the state for at lease one year immediately preceding the official starting date of the semester or session.

2. The parent's domicile is in Arizona, and the parent is entitled to claim the student as an exemption for state and federal tax purposes. The domicile of an unemancipated person is that of such person's parents.

3. The student is an employee of an employer which transferred him or her to Arizona for employment purposes or is the spouse of such employee.

All applicants not classified upon admission as in-state students will be asked to complete the Domicile Affidavit and provide documentation of residency listed in the catalogue in order to change to in-state status.

Final determination of residency status will be provided by the Director of Enrollment Services/Registrar or by the Chancellor's designee.

III. International Student Admissions Process

RG-3501/A outlines the special requirements that international students must meet for admission to Pima Community College.

A. Following are the items that an applicant for full-time study must present (to the Admissions Office) in order to satisfy those admission requirements:

1. A completed International Student Application Form.

2. A copy of the student's most recent TOEFL score report showing a score of 450 or better. This requirement may be waived if a student's native language is English.

3. Official secondary school (American high school equivalent) records and transcripts, properly translated into English.

4. A completed Financial Guarantee Form, along with a bank statement verifying availability of funds in the current amount of at least $14,000 per year, properly translated into English.

5. A $25.00 non-refundable out-of-country application fee in the form of an international postal money order or certified check made out to Pima Community College.

6. Proof that the student is sufficiently covered by health insurance. This requirement is usually met by accessing student health insurance plan information provided by PCC. Students who already have sufficient health insurance upon enrollment may obtain a waiver of the school plan by obtaining a copy of their health insurance policy written in English and taking it to the International Student Office within the first 15 days of classes. International students must also provide proof of immunization for measles/rubella at the time of admission.

B. International students applying from another school within the U.S. must include the following documents in addition to those listed above:

1. An official transcript from the school currently being attended.

2. A photocopy of the 1-94 card (white card) from the student's passport.

3. A photocopy of the visa page from the student's passport.

C. Foreign students (that student who is applying for part-time admission and is in the US on an active visa status, that is not F-1):

1. A completed Application for Admission that can be accepted and processed at any College admissions location.

2. A copy of their most recent TOEFL score report showing a score of 450 or better, unless they plan to enroll only in English as a Second Language or bilingual offerings.

International student applicants under the age of 18 should be informed of the College's recommendation that they have a "guardian" in the United States to represent them in emergency situations, since the College is not permitted to act in the place of the parent or guardian.

IV. Procedure for Admission of Underage students (Under 16 years of age)

RG-3501/A provides general guidelines to assure appropriate and equitable access for potential students below the age of sixteen.

A. Actions by Pima Community College personnel, the student applicant, or the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the applicant

1. An initial in person, written or electronic request for special admission is made by the student and/or parent(s)/legal guardian(s)

2. The Dean of Student Development or designee must clarify with the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the applicant who is under sixteen that the primary responsibility for the education of underage students lies with the secondary school system, the equivalent private school system, or a home school program until the student reaches the age of sixteen.

3. The College may supplement the primary educational program provided to the underage student by the secondary school system or alternate provider; charter or home school by allowing the applicant to enroll in one to eight credits of college coursework in accordance with R7-1-301. When the College agrees to provide supplemental education for underage students, the student and his/her parents will provide signatures granting the parent's(s')or legal guardian's(s') permission to enroll, as well as a written educational plan stating the educational outcomes the parent(s)/ legal guardian(s) intends the student to meet.

4. Parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who have provided alternate schooling for the student are required to submit a copy of the state credential or certification for the alternate school and also a written educational plan indicating the educational outcomes the alternate schooling intends the student to meet and which the College is agreeing to supplement. The signature of the certificate holder for alternate schooling will be required. The requirement of having the signature of the secondary school's chief administrator or alternate school certificate holder may be waived in unusual circumstances.

5. To be eligible for admission, the student will have completed the ASSET and/or COMPASS with a minimum passing score (s) or the SA T (Scholastic Aptitude Test) with a composite score of 930 or more on the verbal and math portion or will have completed the ACT (American College Test) with a composite score of 22. The SAT and ACT are available at four-year colleges, universities or authorized testing centers for a fee. ASSET and COMPASS tests are free at any assessment center on Pima Community College Campuses.

B. Admissions Intake Interview

1. The Dean of Student Development or designee at one of the five campus locations will receive and review all requests for admission of underage students and will schedule an intake interview.

2. The student applicant will be accompanied by his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) for the appointment.

a. The parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will be provided with the Special Admissions Agreement for Underage Students to be completed and signed by the secondary school administrator and counselor or by the home school supervisor.

b. The parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will be given the Special Admissions Agreement for Underage Students to be signed by them if the student is under sixteen years of age. The student must also sign the agreement and comply with its terms.

c. The parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are responsible for providing the following:

The applicant's birth certificate.
A release (High School Enrollment Permission Form) signed by the school administrator or designee or:
A release (High School Enrollment Permission Form) signed by the certificate holder for the alternate school approving the student's enrollment in PCC classes for supplemental learning.
A copy of the alternate school's state credential or certification, if the student had alternate schooling.
A written educational plan for the student to which the requested college courses are supplemental. The plan should compare favorably with the typical requirement for graduation established by the state and required by the local high school.
A written statement that describes the means of transportation provided for the student to attend PCC by the parent(s)/legal guardian(s).
A copy of the student's scores on either the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), the ACT (American College Test), or the COMPASS/ASSET as per College policy.

3. The completed forms will be reviewed by the Dean of Student Development or designee. The Dean of Student Development will make the determination for initial enrollment of underage students into courses, and may deny enrollment if deemed appropriate.

4. Continued enrollment of those underage students granted permission to enroll by the Dean of Student Development is dependent an evaluation conducted with the student and parent/legal guardian on satisfactory academic progress, appropriate course selection and compliance with the Pima Community College Student Code of Conduct for each term of enrollment until the student reaches 16 years of age.