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College Catalog 2009 - 2010

Admissions Information

Admission Policy
Community College of Philadelphia is an associate’s degree-granting institution with open admission for all who may benefit. Some programs of study are select and may require submission of a copy of the student’s diploma and/or transcript from an accredited secondary school or a state equivalency diploma.

Select programs are competitive. Some programs admit qualified students as space allows. In addition to the transcript requirements mentioned above, each select program has established admission criteria particular to that program. Students interested in a select program are strongly encouraged to apply early and consult with a counselor, the department, or a member of the Office of Admissions for specific information.

The College reserves the right to require students to take remedial work, special courses or to limit the number of courses in which they may enroll depending on the skill level demonstrated during placement testing.

Telephone inquiries regarding admission to the College should be directed to the Admissions Information Center, 215-751-8010, or e-mail admissions@ccp.edu. Applicants may also inquire in person at the Welcome Center, Room M1-17 in the Mint Building, or at a Regional Center.

General Admission Requirements
    Applicants will be admitted to the College based on the following requirements:
  • A diploma from an accredited secondary school, or
  • A state equivalency diploma.

Residency Requirement
Tuition rates at Community College of Philadelphia are determined by a student’s domicile. Domicile is the place where one intends to and does, in fact, permanently reside. The College establishes its residency policy in accordance with the Pennsylvania Code, Title 22, Education Chapter 35.

First preference for admission to the College, and particularly to select programs of high demand, is given to Philadelphia residents. To qualify as a legal resident of Philadelphia, the applicant:
  1. Must be a citizen or a permanent resident alien of the United States or be admitted on an immigrant visa to the United States.
  2. Must have resided in Pennsylvania for at least 12 months prior to first day of the semester at Community College of Philadelphia.
  3. Must have resided in Philadelphia for at least three months prior to first day of the semester at Community College of Philadelphia.

The College will require two items of documentary evidence or statements from disinterested persons in order to establish proof of residence. Examples of factors that may provide convincing evidence include the following:

  1. Lease or purchase of a permanent independent residence.
  2. Payment of appropriate state and local taxes. Special attention shall be given to payment of Commonwealth taxes on income earned during periods of temporary absence from this Commonwealth.
  3. Transfer of bank accounts, automobile and other registered property to this Commonwealth.
  4. Pennsylvania driver’s license/state ID.

Cases shall be decided on the basis of facts submitted, with qualitative rather than quantitative emphasis. The determination of residency in each case is one of the subjective intention of the student to reside indefinitely in this Commonwealth.

Persons on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces and stationed in Philadelphia are considered Philadelphia residents. Persons on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces, stationed in other parts of the country or world, who maintain their legal residence as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are considered Philadelphia residents.

Effective July 1, 2009, a member of the armed forces who is on active duty (or the spouse or dependent child of a member), whose domicile or permanent duty station is in Pennsylvania, will be charged no greater than the in-state tuition rate. This provision remains in effect for each member, spouse or dependent while continuously enrolled at the College, even if there is a subsequent change in the permanent duty station of the member to a location outside the state.

Change of residency for tuition and mailing purposes is the sole responsibility of the student.

Students attending the College for the first time may challenge their residency classification by filing a written petition with the director of Admissions.

Enrollment Status—Part Time/Full Time
Enrollment in classes up to and including 11 credits is considered part-time study. Within this category, students who are enrolled for 5 or fewer credits are classified as studying less than half time. Students enrolled for 6 credits are studying half time; those enrolled for 7 through 11 credits are considered studying at three-quarter time and those enrolled for 12 or more credits are classified as full time.

Students who wish to enroll for more than 18 credit hours in a regular semester or more than 8 credits in a summer session must have the approval of the vice president for Academic Affairs or his/her designee.

Steps to Enrollment (Credit Courses)

STEP 1: Complete an Admission Application
  • Apply online or
  • Apply in-person at the Main Campus or Regional Center near you.
  • E-mail us at admissions@ccp.edu or call 215-751-8010 when you have more questions.
    Transfer students: You must request a copy of your transcript for evaluation and send it to the following address:
         Community College of Philadelphia
         Placement/Transcript Evaluator Office, BG-6
         1700 Spring Garden Street
         Philadelphia, PA 19130-3991

  • You will receive a letter confirming your application has been received and providing instructions for the next step in the enrollment process.

STEP 2: Apply for Financial Assistance
  • Visit the U.S. Department of Education Web site (www.fafsa.ed.gov) to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • Visit the financial aid Web page at www.ccp.edu to read about options and view the User’s Guide.
  • Call us at 215-751-8271 when you have more questions.
  • Community College of Philadelphia’s Federal School Code is 003249.

STEP 3: Activate Your MyCCP Student Account
  • You will receive a letter with instructions to activate your MyCCP account in order to communicate with the College and for the College to communicate with you.
  • You will have an e-mail account.
  • You will receive e-mails from the College through your account about next steps in admissions, financial aid, testing and registration.

STEP 4: Take the Placement Test
  • You must take the placement test (reading, math and English) to see what classes you need to take first.
    Note: Transfer students may receive a waiver for the placement test based on transcript evaluation.
  • Schedule your placement test date through your MyCCP student account.
  • The College will schedule the placement test date for students taking the English as a Second Language version.
  • It is NOT a pass or fail test.

STEP 5: Register and Pay for Classes
  • Schedule your registration appointment through your MyCCP student account.
  • Meet with a counselor or advisor to talk about your test scores, program of study and create your class schedule.
  • Pay tuition and fees.
  • Buy your books.

Readmission Student
A former student who has been away from the College for two or more years must file a new admission application but need not pay the application fee again. Admission applications are available online at www.ccp.edu.

Students seeking readmission after being dropped for poor scholarship or for insufficient progress should consult the Policy on Academic Standards and Progress and should contact the Counseling Center, W2-2, 215-751-8169, for information on reinstatement filing deadlines and requirements.

Guest Student
A guest student is a person who is attending or has attended another college, does not plan to earn a degree from Community College of Philadelphia, and plans to attend the College periodically to take courses that will be transferred to his or her home institution.

Here is some general information that applies to both first-time and returning guest students:
  1. If you have completed a college-level English composition course and/or a college-level mathematics course with a grade of “C-” or better, provide proof by sending or bringing one of the following: (a) official transcript; (b) unofficial transcript; (c) degree audit report; (d) educational plan or (e) student data report to:
         Community College of Philadelphia
         Placement/Transcript Evaluator Office, BG-6
         1700 Spring Garden Street
         Philadelphia, PA 19130-3991

  2. If you have earned a degree, you may present your original diploma, alumni card or professional license as evidence to waive the placement exam requirement and to register for courses that do not require a prerequisite.
  3. If the course(s) you wish to take requires a prerequisite course, you must show proof that you have completed the prerequisite with a grade of “C-” or better. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite course and have not yet received the grade, you will need to submit a copy of your current class roster showing your enrollment in the prerequisite course. It is advisable that you submit official transcripts for course work completed at other colleges.
  4. Students who wish to enroll for an overload (more than 8 credit hours during a summer session or more than 18 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters) must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher with at least 15 credits earned at their home institution.

Additionally, students enrolling for a summer overload must have a demonstrated history of successfully completing summer courses. To obtain approval for a course overload, please visit the Academic Advising Center on the Main Campus in Room W1-1. You may contact the office by telephone at 215-751-8777 or 8778. To assist you in your registration for classes, please follow the instructions outlined below:


First-time Guest Student
  1. Complete a Community College of Philadelphia Application for Admission online at www.ccp.edu.
  2. Complete a Registration Form.
  3. Bring the above-mentioned documents to the Placement/Transcript Evaluator Office (BG-6 at the Main Campus) or to one of the three Regional Centers.

Returning Guest Student
  1. You may take advantage of Web registration or you may meet with an academic advisor and register for classes at the Academic Advising Center in the West Building (Main Campus), Room W1-1.

    To register by Web, you must have an active MyCCP account. A Web Registration FAQ is available on MyCCP on how to activate your portal account (if you have not done so) and register for classes via the Web.

  2. If you plan to enroll in a course that requires a prerequisite and you have taken the prerequisite course at your home institution, you will need to receive a registration permit override to be allowed to register for the course via Web registration. If this permit is not obtained, you will receive an error message that will prevent registration. To receive a registration permit override, go to the Placement/Transcript Evaluator Office at the Main Campus in Room BG-6.

    3. NOTE: Students from other institutions are advised to obtain the approval of their deans before taking courses for which they desire transfer credit.

International Student
Community College of Philadelphia is authorized to issue Form I-20 to assist qualified students who wish to earn an associate’s degree and who require F-1 status to study in the United States. Prospective F-1 international students should contact International Student Services or visit the College’s Web site at www.ccp.edu/site/prospective/international/ for an international student application packet and further information. The coordinator of International Student Services may be contacted by e-mail at internationalservices@ccp.edu or you may visit the College’s Web site at www.ccp.edu and click on Prospective Students, then International Students.

For current F-1 students, the coordinator of International Student Services provides immigration advising, tax filing assistance and other relevant resources. The counselor for ESL and International Students provides academic and personal counseling. Together, they also work closely with the International Student Organization to provide social support programs and local trips.

For additional information, you may contact the coordinator at 215-751-8863 or the counselor at 215-751-8169, or visit their offices in the Mint Building, Room M1-21.

Senior Citizen
The College offers one tuition-free credit course per semester to senior citizens on a limited, space-available basis. Seniors wishing to participate in this program may register for courses two weeks prior to the start of each term. Seniors may register at the College’s Main Campus, Regional Centers or at any of the neighborhood locations. To be eligible, seniors must be at least 65 years old and residents of Philadelphia. Noncredit courses are not included in this offer. A Senior Citizen Registration Fee of $75 is charged for seniors who participate in this program. Note: Senior citizens who desire to take courses but do not want to participate in the College’s Senior Citizens program will be charged full tuition and fees. For more information, please call 215-751-8010.

Transfer Student
Student Transferring into Community College of Philadelphia
Students transferring to Community College of Philadelphia from another college must follow the usual procedure for admission and request a copy of their transcript for evaluation. Please note that evaluation of transcripts is a two-step process. First, students must request that all post-secondary institutions previously attended send transcripts of their academic records to:
     Community College of Philadelphia
     Placement/Transcript
     Evaluator Office, BG-6
     1700 Spring Garden Street
     Philadelphia, PA 19130-3991

Second, students must complete a Transcript Evaluation Request form. These forms are available at the Enrollment Services counters (Main Campus and Regional Centers), the Transcript Evaluator’s Office (BG-6) and the Academic Advising Office (W1-1) or online at www.ccp.edu/site/prospective/transfer_students.php.

Generally, transfer credits will be awarded for courses taken at an accredited postsecondary institution in which the grade was “C-” or better. Please see pages 26-27 (Transfer Credits) for additional information.

Placement testing may be waived on the basis of these transcripts. Students are responsible for having their transfer credits evaluated prior to registration to avoid duplication of course work. For more information, visit the Office of Student Records and Registration at the College’s Web site, www.ccp.edu.

High School Student (Dual Enrollment)
Current high school students, including home-schooled students, may enroll for classes at Community College of Philadelphia for the purpose of earning college credits prior to high school graduation. Prospective students who have not graduated from high school or obtained a GED® are required to complete a special application and return it to the coordinator, School/College Initiatives, Room W1-1R, Community College of Philadelphia, 1700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130 prior to registering for credit courses. Included in the special application is a section signed by the applicant’s parent/guardian and by either the school principal or superintendent of the appropriate district in which the student’s school resides.

Eligible students must possess the academic skills, as evidenced by the College’s placement test, needed to meet the challenges of college-level courses. Students must place at the college level in order to register for courses. Students will not be permitted to enroll in developmental courses. Dual enrollment students must adhere to all College policies and procedures for study at Community College of Philadelphia.

For further information, please contact the coordinator of School/College Initiatives at 215-751-8779. (See page 35 for more information about programs for high school students.)

College Placement Test
The College maintains an Assessment Center in which new students are given placement tests prior to their orientation and registration. Untested continuing and returning students may satisfy the placement test requirement by arranging to be tested in this Center.
  • The placement test helps us place you into courses appropriate to your academic preparedness.
  • The test measures reading, writing and math skills.
  • The College utilizes computerized testing. You may request a paper/pencil version of the test.

YOU MUST BE TESTED IF:
  • You want to register for an English or a mathematics course.
  • You want to take more than one course (or 4 credits) at the Main Campus or a Regional Center.
  • Test scores are valid for two years. Students must be retested after a two-year period unless they have successfully completed an English and/or a mathematics course during this time. Admissions tests for select programs and placement tests for specific courses are also administered.

YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A TEST WAIVER IF:
  • You have already earned a college degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • You earned a grade of “C-” or better in a college level composition and/or math course from an accredited U.S. college.
  • You have ACT scores of 21 English, 17 math or SAT scores of 510 critical reading, 470 math within the past two years.
  • You received a minimum of 213 on the TOEFL computerized test AND a 5 on the TOEFL writing test; or you received minimum of 560 on the TOEFL paper/pencil test AND a 5 on the TOEFL writing test; you received a minimum of 77 on the TOEFL Internet-based test and a 20 on the TOEFL Internet writing test.
  • You are a non-matriculating student interested in enrolling in only one (1) credit course (not to exceed 4 credits), other than English or mathematics. For assistance in identifying and selecting an appropriate course, please visit the Enrollment Services counters at the Main Campus or the Regional Centers, come to Academic Advising (Room W1-1 at the Main Campus) or contact the Admissions Information Center by calling 215-751-8010.

Bring your transcript, your diploma, or your SAT or ACT score report to Room BG-6 on our Main Campus or to any of our Regional Centers and ask for the waiver.


Scheduling a Placement Test
    You can schedule your placement test through MyCCP after submitting your application for admission. Follow these steps to set up your username, password and placement test:
  • Go to www.ccp.edu
  • Click on the MyCCP icon (upper right-hand corner)
  • Click on “How do I get a username and password?” (You will need your student ID number and Social Security Number to get started.)
  • Once you have logged in, go to Banner Self Service links and click on Student Services
  • Select the Schedule Placement Test option and follow the instructions

If you cannot keep your test appointment, you may reschedule it through MyCCP or by calling the Admissions Information Center at 215-751-8010. For a complete description of the placement test, please go to the College’s Web site, www.ccp.edu/site/prospective/assessment/, and from the menu select Prospective Students, then Admission Process and then Placement Testing.

Ability to Benefit Test
The Assessment Center conducts Ability to Benefit testing. This test is required of persons who have applied for Federal Student Aid and who have not earned a high school diploma or GED®. For more information, see Ability to Benefit Requirement in the Financial Aid section on page 17.

Non-High School Graduate
Students without a high school diploma or GED® may be admitted but may not qualify for financial aid. Please see the Ability to Benefit Requirement section under Financial Aid on page 17. Applicants 18 years of age or over who have not graduated from high school may qualify for a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma by means of the General Education Development (GED®) test. For specific information regarding the application and evaluation procedure for earning a GED® diploma through coursework, contact the Office of Student Records and Registration at 215-751-8260.

Concurrent Enrollment for College and High School Equivalency
This option exists for persons who have not earned a high school diploma or GED®. Upon enrollment and completion of 30 college-level credits, students may request that a transcript of their academic record be sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, along with the application for requesting the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Diploma. Applications are available at the Enrollment Services counters on the Main Campus or the Regional Centers.

Advanced Placement
Students entering the College may take waiver examinations in some courses. Success in such tests will permit students to enroll in more advanced courses. Students should contact the appropriate department head for further information.

Credit by Examination or for Life Experience
Students currently registered at the College may apply for a special examination (Credit by Examination) or course credit based on prior experience (Credit for Life Experience) given at the prerogative of the department offering the course for which the student desires credit. Not all departments offer these options. These forms of credit are available for students who have knowledge attained through professional experience, independent study or similar learning experiences comparable to subjects and courses taught at Community College of Philadelphia.

  1. Students must be currently registered at the College.
  2. Students must be eligible to take the course for credit under existing regulations of the College. The course for which credit is requested must be listed in the College Catalog.
  3. Credit by Examination and Credit for Life Experience are administered by the department offering the course. If a student’s performance is deemed satisfactory by the department faculty and approval of the credit is granted by the division dean and the vice president for Academic Affairs, the credits for the course, but no letter grade, will be entered on the student’s academic record.
  4. Credit awarded by examination or for life experience will not be applicable to the meeting of such credit load requirements as scholastic honors or residence requirements for graduation.
  5. An examination for credit may be taken only once for each course.
  6. For Credit by Examination, a fee must be paid prior to taking the examination. It shall be assessed for each test and paid prior to the time the student takes the examination, and the student shall present a receipt for this fee at the time that he/she takes the examination. Similarly, a fee must be paid prior to submitting the application for Credit for Life Experience (see fee schedule on page 16).
  7. When students successfully complete all requirements for credit, the course for which credit is applicable shall be posted on their transcripts, indicating “Credit by Exam” or “Credit for Life Experience.”
  8. Degrees will be granted only to students who have earned at least 30 of the credit hours in residence, not including Credit by Examination or Credit for Life Experience. Exceptions may be requested by individual departments.
  9. The maximum number of credits by examination and/or for life experience allowable toward a certificate shall not exceed one-half of the total number of credits required for the certificate.

In addition, in certain selected courses, Community College of Philadelphia awards academic credit on the basis of acceptable scores on certain testing programs, such as ACT/PEP (American College Testing/Proficiency Examination Program), AP (Advanced Placement program) and CLEP (College Level Examination Program).

Students who receive academic credit through any of these national testing programs will not be assessed a fee by the College. A student must be enrolled in order to receive credit by any such testing program. In order to graduate from the College, the student must complete at least 30 credits of actual course work in residence at the College.

Act 48—Continuing Professional Education for Certified Educators
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on November 23, 1999, passed into law Act 48. This law addresses requirements for professional education planning and requires all certified educators (teachers, principals and superintendents), every five years, to earn six college credits, six continuing professional education credits, or 180 clock hours of continuing professional education, or any combination of collegiate studies, continuing professional education courses, or learning experiences equivalent to 180 hours.

Act 48 regulations recognize collegiate credits from accredited institutions of higher education as appropriate for professional education purposes. Community College of Philadelphia is considered an approved higher educational institution by the Department of Education for providing continuing professional education credits or hours.

Individuals requiring Act 48 certification should complete an Act 48 Certification Form, which may be obtained at the Enrollment Services counter (Room BG-5) at the Main Campus or at any of the three Regional Centers.

Veteran
Veterans must apply for certification each semester. Veterans may apply for certification as early as 120 days before the beginning of the next semester. By applying early, you allow sufficient time for your benefits to be processed and avoid the need to pay out-of-pocket tuition for that semester. To apply, contact the Office of Student Records and Registration located on the Main Campus, Room BG-5.

Chapter 31–Vocational Rehabilitation
All Chapter 31 Veterans need to be certified for their program of study by the local Veterans Administration Office. The local VA office address is:
     Veterans Administration
     5000 Wissahickon Avenue
     Philadelphia, PA 19101
     1-800-827-1000

Chapter 1607—Reserve Education and Assistance
In general, a member of a reserve component who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 and served at least 90 consecutive days is eligible for Chapter 1607 benefits. Those disabled, injured or who have an illness or disease in the line of duty are also eligible. Please contact your reserve unit clerk for additional information. VA toll-free number: 1-888-442-4551. Students must contact the VA on a monthly basis to advise the VA of their enrollment status either by phone at 1-888-442-4551 or on the Web at www.gibill.va.gov.

For more information about veterans education benefits, please visit the College’s Web site at www.ccp.edu/site/current/registration/veterans/, click on Current Students, Student Records and Registration, then Veterans Education Benefits. Students may also visit the Veterans Resource Office located in Room C1-34 in the Career Services Center or e-mail vro@ccp.edu.


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