College of the Redwoods 2007-2008 College Catalog

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5 Steps to Enroll | Fees | Student Responsibilities

1. Submit New Student Application Form

A completed application is required of all new students as well as from students returning to College of the Redwoods. Application forms are available on the CR website, at cccapply.org, and in the Admissions and Records Office or the administrative offices at each instructional site. Completed forms may be dropped off or mailed to the Admissions and Records Office at any instructional location.

In addition to the form itself, the following documents may also be required:

• Transcripts of Previous College Work: While the enrollment form will be accepted without transcripts attached, official transcripts MUST be submitted if a student wishes to have previous college work count toward the CR degree. It will save a great deal of time and energy for all concerned if transcripts can be provided at the time of initial registration.
• G.E.D. or High School Proficiency Certificate: Students under 18 years of age who have not obtained a high school diploma must provide a copy of one of these certificates prior to initial enrollment. Students who do not possess either of these certificates should inquire about taking the G.E.D. or the Ability to Benefit exam; for more information, contact the Academic Support Center or Counseling & Advising Center.

2. Participate in a Skills Assessment/ English and Math Placement Tests

There are a variety of methods that CR’s academic counselors and advisors use to develop individualized educational plans and to place students in the classes that are most likely to maximize their success.

One of the primary methods is to evaluate the scores that students receive on English and math placement tests administered by the college.

Placement tests are required of students who plan to:

• pursue a degree or certificate that has English or math in the curriculum;
• pursue a transfer program; or
• take a course that has a math or English prerequisite

Students may sign up to take them at a scheduled time prior to the beginning of each semester (these tests are also available at the Mendocino Coast and Del Norte campuses). Individual arrangements can be made if students are not able to attend any of the scheduled sessions. Students with special testing needs should be sure to request accommodations prior to testing at the Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) Office. Contact the Academic Support Center (Eureka campus) or the Counseling and Advising Office (Mendocino Coast and Del Norte) for more specific information.

New and returning students may not have to take these assessments if they can verify:

• that they have taken a comparable state-approved placement test at CR or another California community college within the past three years, or
• that they have taken a college level (degree applicable) English and/or math course with a “C” grade or higher from any accredited college, or
• that they have taken a College Entrance Examination Board Advance Placement Exam in English and/or math and received a score of 3, 4, or 5.

Students seeking these exemptions will be asked to provide written proof that they have taken the above to a counselor or advisor prior to registering for the English or math courses they wish to take.

3. Participate in an Initial Advising Session

Make an Appointment to See an Academic Counselor / Advisor

On the Eureka campus the Counseling and Advising Center, as well as Disabled Students Programs and Services, offer advising services to students. The Del Norte and Mendocino Coast campuses also have Counseling Centers and D.S.P.S. offices, and the Klamath-Trinity and Arcata instructional sites offer basic information on a walk-in basis and provide more in-depth assistance by appointment. In addition to assessment testing, counselors and advisors are likely to use the following indicators to help them determine the extent to which a student is prepared for different levels of college course work:

• the student’s high school grades;
• whether or not the student has had any prior college experience;
• the student’s previous success at the college level, as reflected in his/her transcripts;
• how much high school English the student has taken and what grade the student received in the last English writing course s/he took;
• the highest level of math the student has completed as well as the grade the student received in the last math course s/he took;
• the student’s past study habits;
• the number of employment-related and family obligations the student has; and
• the strength of the student’s motivation to achieve his/ her educational goal(s).

Since assessment is considered to be a key factor in providing students with important information about the level of their skills and their readiness for certain kinds of instruction, students are strongly advised not to skip this step in the enrollment process.

4. Register for Classes

General Registration (for credit courses)

Registration is the process by which students officially enroll in a class or classes. At CR, there are four terms, and thus four registration periods, each year: a 16-week fall semester, a 3-week winter session, a 16-week spring semester, and a 10-week summer session.

Term-specific Schedules of Classes, which include information about important deadlines and specific procedures, are readily available free of charge at each instructional site as well as at locations within each community the college serves. Class schedule information, along with up-to-date information about class changes and cancellations, is also available on the CR website: www. redwoods.edu.

CR students may register via the web or in person at each campus. New and returning students, as well as all continuing students, will be assigned specific registration dates and times for each term. Students may not register before the specified time, but may register at any time after the specified time has passed.

Students are not considered officially enrolled in a class until the registration process is completed and all required fees have been paid.

Registering to Audit a Course

When a student audits a course, it means that s/he intends to sit in on that course on a regular basis, but does not wish to receive any academic credit for it. Community members and students are welcome to audit courses on a space-available basis. This determination may not be made until after the first class meeting, to ensure that students wanting to take the course for credit have every opportunity to enroll before those wishing to audit the class are added to it. Those wishing to audit a course must:

1. Complete the regular CR Application Form;
2. Complete the prerequisites for the course (if any);
3. Obtain an Audit Form from the Admissions and Records Office;
4. Obtain the signature of the instructor to verify that s/ he approves of the audit;
5. Return the form to the Admissions and Records Office;
6. Pay the required fees (unit fees are non-reimbursable).
7. No student shall be permitted to change his/her enrollment in a course for credit to audit or vice versa.

Audited courses will appear on the student’s permanent record (transcript) but no grades or credits will be recorded.

Limitations on Enrollment

Students who fall into the following categories may not be allowed to register:

• Students who are on academic probation or subject to dismissal from the college. These students will be required to meet with an academic counselor or advisor before they are allowed to register for classes. (See page 40 for more information.)
• Students who want to register for more than 18 units. These students will need written approval from an academic counselor or advisor.
• Students who are subject to conduct suspension or dismissal from the college. These students may only register if they have written approval from the Executive Director, Student Development (Eureka Campus, Klamath/Trinity Site, Arcata Site) or the Campus Vice President (Mendocino Coast and Del Norte campuses).

5. Complete a Student Education Plan

After the semester is underway students are strongly encouraged to make an appointment with a counselor to develop a Student Educational Plan (SEP). This plan serves as a roadmap for the student as s/he progresses through the institution toward degree or certificate completion, and is based on each student’s individual needs, personal/ outside commitments, and educational goals. For those who are undecided about their educational plans, it is especially important to meet with a counselor during the first semester of enrollment at College of the Redwoods to try to determine more precisely what their academic and career interests may be. When students have SEP’s to guide them, it is easier to maintain educational focus and forward momentum. It also prevents them from taking courses that are not required for the degree or certificate they seek if they are anxious to complete their degree in the most efficient way possible. Because these plans take a little concentrated time to develop, it is best to get them done mid-semester: October/November and February/ March are the best times to plan to do this.

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