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Admission Information

Eligibility

Any person who has a high school diploma from an accredited high school or the equivalent certificate (GED), or who is at least 18 years of age and able to benefit from instruction at John Tyler Community College, may be admitted to the College. John Tyler Community College reserves the right to evaluate and document special cases and to refuse admission if the College determines that the applicant is a threat or a potential danger to the College community or if such refusal is considered to be in the best interest of the College. (High school students and home-schooled students interested in admission at the institution should refer to the subsequent sections addressing the enrollment of these populations.)

Ability-to-Benefit Academically

Persons 18 years of age and older who do not have high school diplomas or the equivalents may be admitted if they can benefit from college study as demonstrated by placing at the ENF 1 or higher level on the VPT English Test and the Module 1 or higher level on the VPT Mathematics Test. Such students are not eligible for federal financial assistance.

Application and Admission to the College

New Students

All students planning to take courses at John Tyler Community College must apply for admission. Whenever possible, individuals are encouraged to apply online at www.jtcc.edu. The College does not charge an application fee. Please direct all inquiries concerning applications to the Admissions and Records office at either the Chester Campus or the Midlothian Campus, or e-mail admissionsandrecords@jtcc.edu.

Returning Students

Returning students who have not been enrolled in credit courses at the College during the past three years must reapply by resubmitting an application for admission prior to registration. Please direct all inquiries concerning applications to the Admissions and Records office at either campus, or e-mail admissionsandrecords@jtcc.edu. Students who applied but never attended are required to reapply after three semesters.

Admission to Curriculum/Declaring a Major

To receive financial aid and to graduate from John Tyler Community College (JTCC), you must declare a major/be admitted to a curriculum. In order to do this you must do the following:

• Follow the appropriate steps for admission to JTCC.
• Contact the Advising Center to discuss your future plans and JTCC’s majors.

Chester Advising Center – Moyar Hall M107
E-mail: advising@jtcc.edu

Midlothian Advising Center – T Building T115
E-mail: advising@jtcc.edu

Admission to Individual Courses (Non-curricular Students)

Students who do not intend to declare a major at Tyler may enroll in courses. Students may enroll in courses when the pre-requisites have been met. Pre-requisites are part of the course information at www.jtcc.edu/schedule. Not all courses have pre-requisites.

Admission Limits

When enrollment must be limited for any curriculum, first priority will be given to all qualified students who reside in the cities and counties within the College’s service region. Such students must meet established program deadlines and requirements. The priority list is as follows:

1. Residents of the cities and counties within the College’s service region;
2. Other Virginia residents; and
3. Out-of-state students.

Special Admission Procedures

Transfer Students

Transfer students should submit an Application for Admission and have transcripts from all previous institutions attended sent to the Admissions and Records office if they plan to request transfer credit or if required by their program of study. Some programs do not require transcript submission. An official evaluation of transfer courses will be completed by the John Tyler Community College registrar or assistant registrar of Admissions and Records if the student is curriculum placed, enrolls and completes a Transfer Credit Request Form.

In general, JTCC does not have age limits on courses, but there are exceptions, particularly when the course is part of the major field of study. For example, some applied and/or technical programs (i.e. nursing, information technology, etc.) may have specific age limits on courses taken more than five years ago.

If a specific course has an expiration date within a major at JTCC, it will be stated in the notes section of the curriculum sheet for that major.

For students intending to transfer, length of time since a course was taken may be a factor in its acceptance by the intended transfer institution, even if accepted by JTCC for its degree requirements.

Generally, transfer credits are awarded only if the credits have been earned at an institution which is accredited by one of the six nationally recognized regional accrediting agencies in the United States. Transfer credits may be awarded from non-regionally accredited institutions with the approval of the appropriate academic dean. Students  requesting transfer credits from non-regionally accredited institutions must submit course syllabi and course descriptions for review by the appropriate academic dean. Upon the approval of the dean, transfer credits will be awarded consistent with JTCC policies addressing the acceptance of transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions. John Tyler Community College also normally awards transfer credits for courses completed at accredited foreign institutions. Students transferring from foreign institutions should contact the Admissions and Records office at either campus for additional information. JTCC reserves the right to accept or reject credit recommendations that are noted on foreign credential evaluations.

Usually a transfer student who is eligible to re-enroll at the last college of attendance will be eligible for admission to John Tyler Community College.

• If a transfer student is academically dismissed from a previous college, the student must appeal for admission to John Tyler Community College’s Academic Status Committee by submitting a letter to the Dean of Students (skirkland@jtcc.edu) at least four weeks prior to the desired semester of admission. 
• If a transfer student is suspended or dismissed for other than academic reasons, the student must be considered for admission by the Threat Assessment Team by submitting a letter to the Dean of Students (skirkland@jtcc.edu) at least four weeks prior to the desired semester of admission.

Dual Enrollment of High School Students

Dual enrollment courses allow a student to simultaneously earn college and high school credit while present on their high school campus. The courses are taught at the college level by high school instructors who meet the College’s academic requirements and are offered according to the school district’s calendar and schedule. 

Dual enrollment is primarily for high school juniors and seniors who meet the College admissions criteria. Because admitting high school freshmen and sophomores is considered exceptional, the college-ready status of each prospective freshman and sophomore student will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Formal approval from the College is required for admitting freshmen and sophomores. All individuals admitted as dual enrollment students must demonstrate readiness for college by achieving satisfactory scores on college placement tests or by meeting other entrance standards as set by the College. School counseling staff identify prospective students and manage the selection and admissions process. Course options vary at each school. Generally, textbooks are provided without cost to students and course fees are charged to the school district at the end of each semester. Parents may be expected to reimburse the school district for course fees prior to or after the start of the school year.

Ten school districts in John Tyler Community College’s service region have offered dual enrollment courses and they include Amelia, Charles City, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Hopewell, Petersburg, Prince George, Surry and Sussex. Dual enrollment courses provide an excellent opportunity for high school students to get a head start on college. For additional information about dual enrollment, contact Tracey Howell at dualenrollment@jtcc.edu.

Enrollment of Students under the Age of 18 - Concurrent Enrollment

Individuals 18 years of age and younger who have not completed high school may seek to enroll at John Tyler Community College. They must satisfy the admission requirements expected of all students, including the completion of placement tests, PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores with cut-off scores at or above the scores listed in the placement test scores section of the catalog, as well as provide the institution with letters of permission to enroll from their principals or designees, as well as letters from their parents or guardians. Students under the age of 17 and their parents are required to meet with the Associate Dean of Students (or designee), or attend an information session provided by the Dean of Students office prior to enrolling in classes.

Concurrent enrollment is primarily for high school juniors and seniors. Because admitting freshmen and sophomores is considered exceptional, the college-ready status of each prospective freshman and sophomore student will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Formal approval from the dean of students as designee of the college president is required for admitting freshmen and sophomores. All individuals admitted as concurrent enrollment students must demonstrate readiness for college by achieving satisfactory scores on college placement tests or by meeting other entrance standards as set by the College.

Home-schooled Students

Home-schooled students may enroll at John Tyler Community College. These students must satisfy the admission requirements expected of all students, including the completion of placement tests, PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores with cut-off scores at or above the scores listed in the placement test scores section of the catalog, as well as provide the institution with documentation indicating authorization from the responsible jurisdiction permitting the student to engage in home schooling. The parents of home-schooled students also must provide the institution with written permission to enroll their children. Home-schooled students and their parents must meet with the Associate Dean of Students (or designee) or attend an information session provided by the Dean of Students office prior to enrolling in classes.

Enrollment is primarily for home-schooled students studying at the high school junior or senior levels. Because admitting freshmen and sophomores is considered exceptional, the college-ready status of each prospective freshman and sophomore student will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Formal approval from the dean of students, as designee of the college president, is required for admitting freshmen and sophomores. All individuals admitted must demonstrate readiness for college by achieving satisfactory scores on college placement tests or by meeting other entrance standards as set by the College.

An individual who has completed home schooling and certifies that he or she has the equivalent of a high school diploma may apply and enroll at the institution in the same manner as a high school graduate or recipient of a GED.

International Students

John Tyler Community College welcomes students from around the world and offers comprehensive admission assistance, immigration advising and support services to all non-ctizens and ESL applicants.  

All visa holders seeking admission must present copies of their I-94 and any other required documentation to the Admissions and Records office prior to the beginning of the semester in which they wish to enroll. Copies cannot be accepted. 

Information for international students seeking an F-1 Visa can be found at www.jtcc.edu/international or by emailing IntlStudentServices@jtcc.edu.

Senior Citizens – Citizens 60 Years of Age or Older

Senior citizens are encouraged to take advantage of free tuition provided for by the Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974. Senior citizens, who are Virginia residents and who had a taxable individual income not exceeding $23,850 for Virginia income tax purposes for the year preceding enrollment, may register for credit courses on a tuition-free basis. All senior citizens, regardless of income, may audit credit courses and take some non-credit courses free of charge. Senior citizens waiving tuition can enroll on the first day of their selected class only if there is space available. Those who wish to reserve space in any credit or noncredit class can register and pay as regular students. However, senior citizens will not be allowed to pay for a course to secure a space with the intention of dropping and re-enrolling using the tuition waiver. Students who are auditing courses and who wish to drop or withdraw before the deadlines must appear in person or e-mail admissionsandrecords@jtcc.edu to make the request. Students cannot drop or withdraw from audited courses online. Additional information about special enrollment opportunities for senior citizens may be obtained from the Admissions and Records office.

Out-of-State Compliance Policy

The college has entered into a regional reciprocity agreement through NC-SARA to accept out-of-state students (except for students residing in California) in our online programs and courses. Students may contact the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) at 804-225-2600 or communications@schev.edu for information related to state agency contacts for complaint resolution.

Admission of Suspended and Dismissed Students

Students who have been academically suspended from John Tyler Community College may re-enroll after serving a one- semester suspension. Students who have been academically suspended from any other institution of higher education may enroll after submitting their transcript or a copy of their letter of suspension to the Advising Center. Academically dismissed students from John Tyler or any other institution are not normally admitted to the institution. Academically dismissed students, may petition the Academic Status Committee by submitting their request for exception to this policy to the Dean of Students (skirkland@jtcc.edu). All petitions must be submitted in writing at least four weeks prior to the first day of classes for the semester in which admission is sought. Students dismissed or suspended for disciplinary or non-academic reasons may petition the Threat Assessment Team by submitting their requests to the Dean of Students (skirkland@jtcc.edu)  requesting exceptions to this policy. All petitions must be submitted in writing at least four weeks prior to the first day of classes for the semester in which admission is sought.

Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Admissions Policy

Section 23-2:2:1 of the Code of Virginia requires that the VCCS send enrollment information to the Virginia State Police concerning applicants to institutions of higher education. This information is transmitted electronically and compared against the Virginia Criminal Information Network and National Crime Information Center Convicted Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry.

If the College receives notification, the following procedures apply:

1. The College’s Threat Assessment Team (TAT) shall be notified and consider the applicant or student’s enrollment for a determination of whether he/she is a threat to the campus community or danger to themselves, other students, faculty or staff (i.e., campus community). The Dean of Students reserves the right to suspend the individual or withhold the application on an interim basis while TAT considers the case.
2. Before a recommendation is made by the TAT to the Dean of Students, the TAT will notify the applicant or student in writing that they will be afforded an opportunity to appear in person before TAT or present relevant information in writing regarding their sex offender or crimes against minors status for consideration of whether he/she is a threat or danger to the campus community. Upon receipt of such notice, the applicant or student shall have five (5) business days to contact the Dean of Students Office and arrange a meeting to appear before TAT or provide a written response. At a minimum, the applicant or student shall provide the following information:
   1. Disclosure of the nature of the offense for which he/she has been convicted;
   2. Justification for consideration of admissions/reinstatement;

If the applicant or student does not respond within the requested timeframe, the Dean of Students Office shall inform him/her that TAT will proceed.

3. The TAT shall make a determination of whether a threat or danger exists and recommend to the Dean of Students whether to deny admission or revoke enrollment.
4. The Dean of Students Office shall notify the applicant or student in writing of the TAT’s recommendation and afford him/her with an opportunity to respond in writing within five (5) business days.
5. The Dean of Students Office shall forward the TAT recommendation and any response(s) received from the applicant or student to the vice president of learning and student success (or designee) who may consult with TAT and shall issue a final decision in writing regarding admission or enrollment.
6. The College will provide the campus community through its catalog or web site information on how to access the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry consistent with state and federal law.

Orientation

New Student Orientation

Tyler’s orientation program is designed to give new students and their family members a comprehensive introduction to life at the college. Orientation sessions are held prior to the start of each semester at the College. Orientation is mandatory for students entering Tyler beginning fall 2018.  An online orientation is available for those students who cannot make it to campus.  Visit: http://www.jtcc.edu/orientation for details.

SDV 100 – College Success Skills Course

All degree-seeking and some certificate students are required to complete SDV 100  (SDV 101  or SDV 108 ) – College Success Skills, a one-credit orientation course designed to provide entering students with important information about the College, its policies and services. The course consists of two major parts: 1) an overview of college programs, services, policies and procedures, and 2) personal development seminars. Because of the importance of the information presented, students are encouraged to complete an SDV course during their first semester of attendance and preferably within the first 15 credits.

Academic Advising and Declaring a Major

Advising Center

Professional counselors and academic/career advisors are available at both campuses to assist students with educational decisions and career planning. The Advising Center handles declaring a major with students. If students require assistance beyond the scope of the services of advisors, the JTCC Care Team may assist the student by connecting them with internal and external resources.  The Advising Center staff is committed to helping students and prospective students learn how to develop career and life plans and to deal effectively with career and life transitions. Since there is no single correct way for everyone to deal with such decisions, a variety of developmental services and programs are offered, including assistance with academic and career development. These programs are designed to help students learn how to make better career and life planning decisions, refine study skills necessary for college success, assist with college transfer, and build leadership skills.

Declaring a Major

General admission to the College does not constitute admission to degree and certificate programs. Major declaration is required in order to graduate from John Tyler Community College and to receive financial aid. To be admitted into an academic major, students must:

1. Declare a major with Advising staff in the Advising Center.
2. Provide the College with official copies of transcripts from high school and all colleges and universities previously attended only if any of the following are applicable:
   1. Student is applying for Funeral Services, Emergency Medical Services, or Nursing;
   2. Student has been suspended or dismissed from another college or university; and/or
   3. Student is requesting a transcript review for transfer credits from a college outside the VCCS.

Math and English Course Placement

Speak to a staff member in Advising or Admissions and Records to discuss specific questions or issues regarding math and/or english placement.

Math Placement

All entering students must take or provide mathematics placement tests if they do not qualify for course placement in MTH 111, MTH 130, MTH 154, MCR 4 with MTH 154 as co-requisites, MTH 161, MTH 162, MTH 167, MTH 245, MTH 261, MTH 263, MTH 264, MTH 265, MTH 266, MTH 267 using the math measures placement chart below:

English Placement

All entering students must take or provide English placement tests if they do not qualify for English placement using one of the following measures:

1. A student who has completed a college-level mathematics and/or English course at an accredited institution with a grade of “C” or better may enroll in the subsequent math and/or English course. Students who have not completed a math and/or English course within the last year are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor to ensure readiness for the subsequent course.
2. Any student who has earned an associates degree or higher or who has earned a C or better in college level courses in math and/or English at a regionally accredited institution will be exempt from placement testing provided they meet the prerequisites for the respective courses in their chosen program of study.
3. Any student who has successfully completed developmental courses at a VCCS institution will be exempt from placement testing in those areas and any student who has successfully completed developmental courses at a non-VCCS institution will have their coursework evaluated for placement.
4. A student may submit a high school/home school transcript or an approved test score for placement evaluation. Seniors who have not yet graduated may submit a transcript as of the completion of the first semester of the senior year to determine readiness for placement into college level courses for the purpose of early admission.
5. Students have the option to take the Virginia Placement Test in order to improve their placement standing after other measures are considered. Such placement test scores will not be used to place a student in a lower math and/or English course than indicated by other criteria, unless the student desires a lower placement.

High school GPA (HSGPA) is valid for five (5) years after the date of high school graduation. SAT, ACT and GED Test scores are valid for five (5) years after the date of the test. Virginia Placement Test scores are valid for five (5) years after the date of the test. Previously taken developmental courses will be valid for five (5) years after term taken. Students who take the placement test and who do not enroll in developmental English and/or math are allowed to take one (1) re-test within twelve (12) months. Students who attempt a developmental English and/or math course will be ineligible for a re-test. Exceptions to this re-test policy may be made on a case-by-case basis by a dean or associate dean or Registrar.

All high school students (dual enrollment in the high school, concurrent, and home schooled students) must meet VCCS admission standards as outlined below:

Students planning to take transfer courses must test into ENG 111  and MTE 1, while those planning to take non-transfer (CTE) courses must test into ENF 1 and MTE 1. Developmental classes are not, however, available to dual enrollment or home schooled students. Students should submit applications of admission prior to taking placement tests.

Dual enrollment and home schooled students who provide official evidence of a satisfactory mathematics score of 500 on the PSAT, a mathematics score of 520 on the SAT (before March 2016) or 530 (since March 2016) or a mathematics score of 22 on the ACT, taken within the last two (2) years, are exempt from taking the VCCS mathematics placement test.

Dual enrollment and home schooled students who provide official evidence of a minimum score of 390 on the reading and writing sections of the PSAT or 500 on both the critical reading and writing sections of the SAT (before March 2016) or 480 on the reading and writing (since March 2016), or a minimum score of 18 on both the English Test and Reading Test of the ACT, taken within the last two (2) years, are exempt from taking the VCCS English placement test.

High school students to include dual enrollment in the high school, concurrent, and home schooled students are not allowed to enroll in ENG or Math developmental courses.

Students must adhere to the results of their placement tests with the following exceptions:

If a student believes his/her Virginia Placement Test (VPT) scores were not an accurate reflection of his/her current competencies, the student may petition the associate dean of the Advising Center (or designee) via e-mail and request a re-test. The student must provide a justification for the re-test. The Associate Dean will respond to the request via e-mail within five (5) business days. If the request is granted, the student must take the approval email to the Testing Center. If the request is denied, the student cannot make any further appeal.

For the most up-to-date information, go to www.jtcc.edu/placement.