Section 6 Title

Section 1 - Introduction

Section 2 - Organization & Responsibility

Section 3 - Personnel

Section 4 - Administrative Rules and Regulations

Section 5 - Educational Programs

Section 6 - Student Development Services

Section 7 - Miscellaneous Information


6.4 Classification of Students

6.4 Contents

6.4 Classification of Students

All students are classified as either curricular or non-curricular (VCCS Policy Manual - Section 6.3.0). A number of additional student classification definitions may be applied to students as indicated below.

6.4.0 General Classifications (Curricular, Non-Curricular, Senior Citizens)

6.4.0.0 Curricular

A student is classified as a curricular student if the following three conditions are satisfied:

  • The student holds a high school diploma, a GED or its equivalent, or is otherwise determined qualified for admission.
  • The required documents for general admission to a curricular program are received by the Office of Admissions.
  • The student has been admitted to one of the College's curricula including international students requiring issuance of an I-20.

6.4.0.1 Non-Curricular

Students who are not formally admitted to one of the regular curricula but who are classified according to the following student goals or conditions are considered non-curricular students. International students requiring issuance of an I-20 or students receiving Federal or State aid are not eligible for these categories.

  • Upgrading Employment Skills for Present Job
  • Developing Skills for New Job
  • Career Exploration
  • Personal Satisfaction and General Knowledge
  • Transient Student: A student who maintains primary enrollment with another post-secondary institution and elects to enroll at VHCC.
  • High School Student – Dual Enrollment or Dual Credit: High school students, with permission of their principal, enrolled at a community college.
  • Auditing a Course: Students desiring to attend a course without taking the examination or receiving credit for the course may do so by registering to audit that course. Students desiring to audit a course will register in the normal manner and pay the required tuition. Audited courses carry no credit and do not count as part of the student's course load. Students desiring to change status in a course from audit to credit must do so within the add/drop period. Changes from credit to audit must be made by the official last day for students to withdraw from a class without penalty. Permission of the instructional division dean is required to audit a course.

6.4.0.2 Senior Citizens Refer to VCCS Policy Manual Section 4.3.0.2

6.4.1 Student Level (Freshman, Sophomore) (VCCS Policy Manual - Section 6.3.1)

6.4.1.0 Freshman

Students are classified as freshmen until 30 semester hours have been completed.

6.4.1.1 Sophomore

Students are classified as sophomores after 30 semester hours.

6.4.2 Student Enrollment Definitions (Full-time, Part-time)

(VCCS Policy Manual - Section 6.3.2)

6.4.2.0 Full-time

Students enrolled for 12 or more credits in a semester are considered full-time students.

6.4.2.1 Part-time

Students enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours in a semester are part-time students. Students enrolled for the summer term are all defined as part-time students for SCHEV reporting purposes only -- not for tuition computation.