Admissions

Basic Guidelines and Standards for Admissions

General Application Policy

Steps for General Admission

Immunization Requirements

Submitting Official Documents

Competitive Programs

Program Requirements

Dual Enrollment

Annual Notification: All career and technical education courses and programs are offered at Pierpont regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, or disability.

Basic Guidelines and Standard for Admissions

The Pierpont Community & Technical College Admissions Policy follows the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Title 135 Procedural Rule, Series 23 “Basic Guidelines and Standards for Admissions at Community and Technical College”. The college is committed to providing an educational opportunity to all persons regardless of educational background or preparation.

Admission to Pierpont is open to any person age eighteen or older, able to benefit from study at the community college level.

General Application Policy

Students who have a high school transcript of completion or have passed a High School Equivalency Exam may enroll in a Certificate of Applied Science (CAS) degree, an Associate of Arts (AA) degree, and an Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) degree. Students seeking admission to Pierpont Community & Technical College shall do the following:

• Submit an application for admission and meet applicable deadlines. It is strongly recommended to submit your application and any supporting credentials be on file at least two weeks prior to start of term or semester.
• ACT/SAT scores are not required for general admission; however, certain competitive programs require standardized test scores as ACT/SAT/TEAs for specific program admissions.  In addition, some courses, such as ENGL 1104 and MTH 1207, use standardized test scores for placement purposes. Applicants whose scores do not meet placement requirements for 3-credit ENGL and MTH courses, may enroll in a 4-credit course option for these courses. These 4-credit courses include embedded academic support.

Please note the following:

• All credentials submitted in support of an application for admission become the property of the college and will not be returned to the student, even if the applicant opts not to attend.
• Any student admitted upon the basis of false credentials will be subject to immediate dismissal from the institution.
• Credentials received without a general application are held for 90 days, upon which the credential may be disposed.  If this occurs, the student would be responsible for submitting a new credential.
• Applicants and students who fail to register during a semester or term for which they have been admitted are required to file another application in order to gain admission at a later date.
• Neither regular nor conditional admission to the college ensures the entry into a specific program of study; implies eligibility to enroll in courses with established pre-requisites; nor permits entry into competitive programs with limited capacity/availability (numbers of students and special entry requirements).
• All credentials, including transcripts and test scores, must be submitted as official documents. 

Orientation

Pierpont offers new student orientation sessions. Students can enroll, select classes, complete financial aid steps, and more. Contact (304) 367-4907 for information.

Steps for General Admission

First-Time Freshman

Submit:

1. Application for Admission
2. Official High School Transcript (sent by high school), Home School Transcript, or Official High School Equivalency Exam Certificate (sent by Department of Education)
3. ACT/SAT Scores, Accuplacer: Next Gen or other approved placement scores when necessary (prerequisites, entry into program of study requirement.
4. Apply for financial aid (FAFSA code 040385).

When admission is approved:

1. Complete Placement Tests if necessary (administered by Pierppont at no cost to the student).
2. Attend Orientation Session.
3. Complete Financial Aid Counseling Session (if taking out loans).

Transfer Student

Any applicant for admission who has attended another accredited institution of higher education as a degree-seeking student is classified as a transfer student and must meet the admission requirements of Pierpont Community & Technical College. Credits and grades earned at any institution that is accredited and recognized by the United States Department of Education shall be transferable to Pierpont.  (For additional information concerning the articulation policy of transfer work, please see “Transfer Credit” in the “Prior Credit” section of the academic catalog.)  Applicants must submit all transfer work completed upon admission.  Applicants classified as “transfer students” are considered to have demonstrated their ability to be successful at the collegiate level (e.g. ability to benefit) based upon their previous admission at the

Transfer applicants should complete the following:

1. Submit an application for admission and all applicable college transcripts.
2. Apply for financial aid (FAFSA code 040385).

When admission is approved:

1. Complete placement tests if necessary.
2. Attend an orientation session.
3. Complete a financial aid counseling session if requested for educational loans.

2nd-Degree Post Graduate

Any applicant who has completed a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited institution may pursue another degree as a postgraduate student.

2nd Degree Post Graduate applicants should do the following:

1. Submit an application for admission and all applicable college transcripts
2. Apply for financial aid (FAFSA code 040385)

When admission is approved:

1. Complete any required placement tests
2. Attend an orientation session
3. Complete any required financial aid counseling session

Students with a completed bachelor’s degree are assumed to have met all general studies requirements; however, general studies and major requirements will be reviewed by the appropriate departments to determine what additional courses may be required.

Non-Degree Seeking

Individuals who wish to register for occasional college courses with no degree objective are defined as “non-degree seeking.” These students may include transient students, high school students, high school or High School Equivalency Exam graduates wishing to take classes but not interested in attaining a degree, and adult students without high school or High School Equivalency

Note: Non-degree Seeking students may not be eligible for financial aid.

Transient Students

Transient students are those students whose “home” college is one other than Pierpont Community & Technical College and who are attending Pierpont for the purpose of completing coursework to transfer back to their “home” institution. 

Transient students are required to do the following:

1. Complete an Application for Admission.
2. Share college transcripts showing that any pre-requisite courses have been satisfied.
3. If, after completing 15 credit hours, transient students wish to become degree-seeking students, they must submit an application as a degree-seeking student.

Early Admission Standards:

Early admissions standards for high school students enrolling in community colleges are subject to the requirements of the WVCTCS Section 135-19-6 of Title 135, Series 19 “Guidelines for College Courses for High School Students”.

To enroll in college credit/dual credit classes, follow these steps:

• Apply to Pierpont by clicking on Apply Now at pierpont.edu.
• Consult with your high school counselor to discuss class availability and eligibility requirements.
• Contact the Transitional Education Specialist for Download an add/drop form from the dual enrollment webpage and email it to complete registration at dualenrollment@pierpont.edu.

Submit placement testing scores or prior college transcripts that show eligibility for enrollment in courses with pre-requisite requirements. 

Please note: Students can utilize this “Early Admissions” opportunity to take general education courses and program prerequisites not offered at their high school. Doing so will allow students to get a “jumpstart” on earning college credits. Most courses taken for college credit are offered online and are taught by Pierpont Community & Technical College faculty. Several in-person options are also available. 

Non-High School or Equivalency Completers

Without a high school transcript of completion or passing of a High School Equivalency Exam, individuals may be conditionally admitted into the college as “Non-Degree Seeking” students.

NOTE: Students who apply as “Non-Degree Seeking” students are not eligible for financial aid. Following each semester, students will be evaluated to determine whether the college-level academic performance indicates an ability to continue. 

Other Non-Degree Seeking Student

Submit:

1. Application for admission
2. High school transcript or High School Equivalency Exam Certificate (sent by the Department of Education) if applicable
3. Prerequisite courses or test scores may need to be met for some courses

Immunziation Requirements

The following immunizations are strongly recommended for all students enrolling at Pierpont:

• MMR (mumps, measles, rubella)
• Meningococcal vaccine
• Polio series
• Tetanus-Diphtheria- Pertussis (Td and aP or Tdap within the past five years)
• Hepatitis A Vaccine
• Hepatitis B Series
• Varicella Vaccine (or history of chicken pox)

Some programs (including, but not limited to, Health Careers, Early Childhood, and Food Service Management majors) require immunizations to complete certain classes, practicums, and internships. Please contact the program coordinator for additional information. 

Submitting Official Documents/Credentials

Credentials may be submitted to the Processing Department within the Office of Admissions by:

Electronic mail (email): processing@pierpont.edu

Mailing Address:

Pierpont Community & Technical College
ATTN: Office of Admissions
500 Galliher Drive
Fairmont, WV 26554

Competitive Programs

Some programs of study have competitive entry, are limited in the number of students admitted annually, and have specific application deadline dates. Applicants to competitive programs should have their official credentials, inclusive of all required documents (test scores, official transcripts, etc), sent to Pierpont in advance of specific program admissions deadlines. 

Each competitive program has its own separate program application. Each competitive program also has its own specific deadline to have all applications and required documents on file with the program to be considered for admission.

Competitive programs requiring separate applications are as follows: 

(*Note: This major is affiliated with United Hospital Center [UHC] and WVU Hospitals [WVUH]. Students must attend interviews and respond to emails directly from UHC and WVUH Radiologic Technology program.)

Required competitive program credentials may include:

• Program application
• High school transcript, home school transcript, or High School Equivalency Exam scores
• Placement scores
• ACT/SAT/TEAS scores

College transcripts (if applicable) and any other required information must be on file by the deadline.

• The credentials are collected by the Office of Admissions and are submitted to the appropriate selection committee for consideration. The Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) program collects applications directly, see PTA program coordinator. 

Program Requirements

Specific program requirements are in the ‘Program of Study’ section of the catalog.

Physical examinations are not required for general admission to Pierpont Community & Technical College. However, certain programs do require physical examinations:

• All ‘Health Sciences’ students must have a physical examination prior to entering any Health Sciences program.  Forms are available from Program Coordinators.  Completed forms should be submitted to Program Coordinators.
• Early Childhood students must have a physical examination prior to entering the program.  Documentation of examination should be submitted to the Early Childhood Program Coordinator.

STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COSTS INCURRED WITH PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS, IMMUNIZATION, AND BACKGROUND CHECKS.