Admission

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Preparation Assessment New Student Orientation Admission Requirements College Graduates

Specific Admission Procedures Auditing a Course Changing Course Status Academic Advising

Amarillo College does not require completion of specific high school courses for admission. Listed below is the core curriculum recommended by the Texas Education Agency for high school students who plan to enroll in college-level programs.

Amarillo College has an “open door” admission policy that ensures all people who can benefit from higher education have an opportunity to do so. Our admission policy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability.

Legislation requires students entering Texas public colleges and universities be assessed for reading, mathematics, and writing skills before they enroll in any collegiate course work for credit, unless exempt.

Texas Success Initiative

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) was established in 2003 by TEC code 51.307. TSI is designed to ensure that students have the academic skills necessary for effective performance in college-level course work. Assessments used at Amarillo College for TSI purposes are THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment) and ACCUPLACER. Results of these assessments are used by advisors to place students into appropriate course work and to help students achieve academic success at Amarillo College. Assessments are administered by Testing Center located in Room 101 in the Student Service Center. Testing schedules may be obtained in Assessment Services or by accessing the Assessment Services web page at www.actx.edu/.

Summary of TSI Requirements

1. Each student, unless otherwise exempt, who enters Amarillo College to complete a Level-Two certificate or an Associate degree must be assessed in reading, writing, and mathematics skills prior to enrolling in any college-level coursework.

   Students enrolling in a Level-One certificate program must adhere to the testing requirements dictated by each program before enrolling. Students need to see their program advisors for testing requirements.

2. High school students are subject to the following guidelines:
   
   1. A high school student who enrolls in dual credit courses or is concurrently enrolled in both high school and college courses must take a required assessment prior to enrolling in college-level coursework.
      
   2. A high school student who fails to achieve the minimum passing standard may not take college level classes related to portions of the test that have not been passed. Additionally, the student may not be required to take developmental classes while in high school.
3. Students who are blind must take a required assessment. Appropriate accommodations are available.
   
4. Students who are deaf and have taken the Stanford Achievement Test may elect to use these scores or may take any approved test. Students who are blind and/or deaf should be encouraged to see the disAbility Services Coordinator for more information.

Testing Exemptions and Exceptions

Students in any of the following categories or conditions are exempt from testing:

1. Earned within the last five years a composite score of 23 or higher on the ACT test, with individual English and Math scores of at least 19.
   
2. Earned within the last five years a composite score or 1070 or higher on the SAT test, with individual Verbal and Math scores of at least 500.
   
3. Earned within the last three years the following minimum scores on the TAKS test: Writing scale score 1770 and a minimum score of 3 on the essay, Reading TLI 89, Math TLI 86.
   
4. Possess an Associate or Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
   
5. A student who transfers to Amarillo College from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or an accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and who has satisfactorily completed (C or higher) college-level coursework in math, english and/or reading.
   
6. Enroll in a Level-One certificate program, a program of 42 or fewer semester credit hours. Note: Students enrolling in a Level-One certificate program must contact the Program Advisor for required testing and remediation information.
    
7. A student who is not seeking a degree or certificate. These students:
   
   • must not be seeking a degree or certificate
     
   • must meet all Amarillo College admission requirements
     
   • On application must declare “Educational Goal” to be other than Associate Degree or Certificate of Completion
     
   • cannot receive federal financial aid
     
   • must meet all course and testing prerequisites
      
8. All exceptions and exemptions are subject to change due to legislative and/or THECB decisions.

Minimum Passing Standards

ACCUPLACER:

• Reading - 78
  
• Math - 63 (College Level - 75)
  
• Writing - Essay - 6 (or Essay 5 + Objective 80 or Higher)

THEA:

• Reading - 230
  
• Math - 230 (College Level - 270)
  
• Writing - 220

Assessment Requirements for Certificate Programs

Testing requirements for certificate programs vary. Each level-one certificate program has minimum testing requirements. Contact the program advisor for information.

All new college students who are enrolled in eight or more hours will participate in one of the following activities:

• Badger Boot Camp
  
• Student Success (STSU 0211)
  
• Strategies for Learning (RDNG 0103) or
  
• New Student Orientation Session

Each of the activities reviews:

• Campus resources
  
• College success techniques

To sign up for Badger Boot Camp or a New Student Orientation session please contact the Student Activities Office in the basement of the College Union Building. Contact your advisor to sign up for Student Success or Strategies for Learning.

Student who do not meet this requirement will not be allowed to re-enroll until the requirement is met. Transfer students who have successfully completed 12 or more hours with a 2.0 GPA should contact the Student Activities Office for exemption verification.

All Students

For admission to all programs, applicants must take the following steps:

• Complete an application for admission.

First Time College Students

• Graduates of accredited high schools must submit to the Admissions Office an official high school transcript to verify graduation.
  
• General Educational Development Certificate holders must submit an Official Report of Test Results or a copy of the GED Certificate to the Admissions Office.
  
• Persons who have not graduated from an accredited high school or earned a GED, who are 18 years of age or older, may be admitted on an individual approval basis.
  
• Persons age 16 or 17 who are no longer attending a high school program, and who have not earned a GED, may be admitted with approval of the Vice President, Dean of Instruction. These students will be admitted on probation and advised by the Advising and Counseling Center staff. Testing will be required as a part of the admission decision. Remediation will be required if test scores indicate deficient areas. Students who were schooled in a nontraditional setting must provide notarized documentation of course completion.

Concurrent High School Students

• High school seniors seeking early admission must submit written approval from their high school principal or counselor. Concurrent students will be limited to enrollment in no more than two courses per semester.
  
• High school juniors must meet requirements for seniors and demonstrate college-level reading ability.
  
• High school students in a nonaccredited or nontraditional setting must be at least age 16 and provide a transcript or notarized statement of courses completed showing at least junior standing. Testing is required to demonstrate college-level reading ability and meet course prerequisites. Students will be advised by Advising and Counseling staff.

Transfer Students

• Certificate and degree seeking students must submit official copies of transcripts from all previous colleges and universities to the Admissions Office.
  
• Transfer students who are not enrolling to complete a degree or certificate need only submit an official transcript from the last school attended.
  
• Transfer students who are not on academic suspension at the last institution attended will be admitted unconditionally.
  
• Transcripts become the property of the College and will not be returned to the student or forwarded to another school. If a transcript is received which shows academic suspension from the last school attended after the student has completed enrollment at Amarillo College, the student will be subject to administrative withdrawal with forfeiture of tuition and fees.

Students who have graduated from other institutions and wish to enroll for personal development are not required to submit college transcripts. However, they must complete the Amarillo College Application for Admission and meet all course prerequisites prior to enrollment in individual classes.

International Student and International Transfer Student Admissions

Students seeking permission to enter the United States on an F-1 student visa authorized by Amarillo College, students who wish to change their temporary visa to F-1, or F-1 visa holders seeking admission to AC as a transfer student must document that all the following requirements are met.

• Must have a sponsor, relative or advocate from Amarillo or the Amarillo College service area that will assist the applicant in meeting admissions requirements and provide support upon arrival and for the duration of their studies. Name, address, and contact information must be provided to the College.
  
• Evidence of graduation from high school or its equivalent. This document must be an original certified by an official from that school or educational organization that sanctions the school. If the document is not in English, a certified translation must accompany the document.
  
• Official transcripts from each college or university attended. The transcript must be an original certified by an official of the school or the educational organization that sanctions the school. If the transcript is not in English, a certified translation must accompany the document. Students seeking to transfer course work from international schools must have their transcripts evaluated by an approved credential evaluation service. The cost of this service will be paid by the student. Three approved services are:
  

  Education Credential Services
  P. O. Box 9970
  New York, NY 10113-0745
  www.ece.org

  Foreign Credential Services of America
  1910 Justin Lane
  Austin, TX 78757-2411
  www.fcsa.biz

  World Education Services
  P.O. Box 5087
  Bowling Green Station
  New York, NY 10274-5087
  www.wes.org

• Minimum TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) - www.toefl.org - scores of 79 on the Internet based test (iBT) 213 on the computer-based test or 550 on the written version of the test. Official scores must be reported directly from the testing agency, Educational Testing Services, to Amarillo College. When registering for the TOEFL, list institution code 6006 to designate Amarillo College as a school to receive the test results from your exam. Scores which are too old to be sent directly from RETS will not be accepted. Amarillo College does NOT issue student visas for enrollment in our ESL (English as a Second Language) classes.
  
  Unless exempt, all degree seeking students entering Texas public colleges and universities must be assessed for reading, mathematics, and writing skills before they enroll in any collegiate course work for credit. Assessment results are used by advisors to place students into appropriate course work and to help students achieve academic success at Amarillo College. Tests are administered by Testing Services in the Student Service Center, Room 101. See the Testing Services Information Guide on the AC website (www.actx.edu) for details.
  
• The results of a current physical exam documenting the student is in good health, fit to travel, and free of communicable disease.
  
• World Health Organization Immunization record showing current immunizations for measles/mumps/ rubella.
  
• Financial records documenting sufficient funds to travel to the United States and pursue an educational program. Bank records should be in the form of a letter signed by a bank official verifying that sufficient funds are on deposit to support the student for up to three years of study. If the student’s local sponsor or advocate wishes to pledge support, an Affidavit of Support form will be provided by Amarillo College and must be completed with a notarized signature.
•  
• A $1,000 (U.S.) tuition deposit must be received by Amarillo College before a student visa will be authorized. The funds should be sent in the form of a bank check or money order payable to Amarillo College. The tuition and fees for the first semester of enrollment will be paid from these funds. Any balance after first semester tuition and fees are paid will be refunded to the student. If the applicant enters the U.S. on a visa authorized by Amarillo College but fails to enroll, the tuition deposit will be forfeited. Students who do not use the visa to enter the U.S. will be eligible for a refund of their tuition deposit.

Application Deadlines: All requirements listed above must be met and documented by the deadlines below in order for Amarillo College to issue an authorization for a student visa, or an I-20 for transfer.

Fall Semester - July 15
Spring Semester - November 15
Summer - Visas and I-20’s are not authorized for summer enrollment

In addition to the general Amarillo College admission requirements, students must meet additional admission criteria as outlined in the following information:

• Students seeking admission to the following programs must meet additional admission requirements as stated in the individual program guidelines. These programs are: Associate Degree Nursing, Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Fire Protection Technology, Medical Data Specialist, Medical Laboratory Technology, Nuclear Medicine, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Paramedicine Technology, Pharmacy Technology, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiation Therapy, Radiography, Respiratory Care, Surgical Technology, and Vocational Nursing.
  
• All students majoring in the health-care fields must provide documented proof that they have been immunized prior to program admission. Students in Allied Health and Nursing should consult their program chair regarding mandatory immunization requirements.

Acceptance of Transfer Course Work

• Standard academic credits are accepted from colleges and universities accredited by one of the regional accrediting associations. Amarillo College also accepts credits from colleges and universities that are accredited by the American Association of Bible Colleges. Courses in which a grade of “D” was earned will not be accepted as transfer credits at Amarillo College unless the overall GPA from the institution which issued those grades is 2.0 or higher.
  
• Transferability disputes between state-supported institutions within Texas will be handled in accordance with the guidelines published by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Issues which cannot be resolved between institutions will be reported to the Commissioner of the Coordinating Board for resolution.

Students seeking to audit courses must apply and meet all admission requirements. The student must have permission of the instructor or the department chair in order to audit a class. Having received this permission, they may register on an audit basis at the close of regular registration and then only if space is available. No college credit is awarded for courses that are audited and a grade of “AU” (audit) will be assigned. The cost of auditing courses is the same as registration for credit. Auditors are entitled to attend class and may participate in class discussions and other class activities at the discretion of the instructor. Laboratory courses, skill and individual instruction courses, and clinical courses are not suitable for audit. Approval for audit is valid only for the class and semester specified and is not transferable. Students who elect to enroll on an audit basis may not subsequently change to a credit status.

Changing from Credit to Audit Status

Students who are enrolled for credit may change to audit status no later than the census date for each semester or term. Refer to your WebAdvisor account for this date. Permission of the instructor is required. The election to change to audit status will be irreversible. No credit will be awarded and a grade of “AU” (audit) will be assigned.

Adding a Course

To add a course, students must consult an academic advisor. Students may add a course only with the approval of the academic advisor. If a fee is required, the charge is paid at the Assistance Center or other campus Service Centers. No add is official until the student submits the appropriate form to the Assistance Center.

Withdrawing from a Course

It is the responsibility of the student to officially drop or withdraw from a course. Failure to withdraw may result in a grade of “F” for the course. A grade of “W” will be given for student-initiated withdrawals that are submitted on or before the withdrawal deadline for the traditional 16-week schedule (Nov. 20 and April 17 in the Spring semester).* Students may obtain an Academic Schedule Change Form from an academic advisor, the Advising and Counseling Center, or the Assistance Center.

Withdrawal requests will not be accepted by telephone. Changes are not official until completed forms are submitted to the Assistance Center.

*Certain classes meet outside the traditional 16-week schedule. Please refer to your WebAdvisor account for more information.

Withdrawing from the College

Students who wish to withdraw from all courses must contact the Advising and Counseling Center, located in the Student Service Center, or a counselor at the West, Moore County, Hereford or East campus. Students may also completely withdraw from classes at any of the assistance centers, on the web, or by phone.

Amarillo College considers academic advising essential to college success. Advisors assist students with course schedules, academic plans, and transfer or employment information. Students are assigned program advisors from the academic program in which they propose to major. Students who have not yet selected a major field of study will be advised by the Advising and Counseling Center. In some instances, students are assigned to an advisor based on test scores or admission status.

While students in most majors are required to seek academic advising, in some programs continuing students with good academic standing are permitted the option of scheduling courses without advisor approval. Self- scheduling students are cautioned that it is solely their responsibility to ensure that course choices fulfill their curricular or personal requirements. All students are strongly encouraged to confer with an academic advisor each semester they are enrolled at AC.