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2013-2014 CATALOGTarrant County Collegeis a Leader College.Additional general information available atwww.tccd.edu
Table of ContentsGENERAL INFORMATION . 5Accreditation and Affiliations . 5Achieving the Dream . 5Mission Statement. 5Institutional Goals . 5Role and Scope . 6Statement of Vision . 6Statement of Values . 6GENERAL REGULATIONS . 7Administrative Withdrawal. 7Change of Address . 7Official Communications . 7Religious Holy Days . 7Student Conduct and Discipline . 7Use of Legal Name . 7Use of Student Number. 8OFFICIAL NOTICES . 8Access to Student Records . 8The American Opportunity Tax Credit . 9Lifetime Learning Credit . 9Selective Service . 9Solomon Amendment . 9Student Right to Know - Crime Statistics . 10Student Right to Know - Graduation Statistics . 10Students Subject to Additional Tuition and Fees. 10Texas Tuition Rebate Program . 11CONTINUING EDUCATION SERVICES . 11The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) . 12STUDENT SERVICES . 13Advising and Counseling Centers . 13Career and Employment Services . 13Disability Support Services . 14Health Services . 14New Student Orientation . 14Student Development Services . 14Student Handbook . 15Student Support Services . 15TCC Police Department . 15Parking Information . 15Testing Centers . 16ADMISSIONS INFORMATION .17Admission Requirements for New Applicants . 17Bacterial Meningitis . 182Tarrant County College 2013-2014 Catalog
Conditional Admission . 19Continuing Students . 19International Admissions . 19Right to an Academic Fresh Start . 21Specialized Admissions Program .21Transcript Requirements . 22TRANSFER OF CREDIT .22Credit by Examination/Experience . 22Credit for Military Service . 23International Baccalaureate Diploma . 23Transcript Evaluation . 23REGISTRATION INFORMATION .24Academic Advisement .24Access to Online Services . 24Auditing a Course . 24Registration . 24THE TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE (TSI) .25Approved Exemptions and Waivers . 26Developmental Studies . 26Attendance in Developmental Courses . 27Student Transition to College Success Course . 28TSI Completion Requirements . 28Course Placement Guide . 30TUITION AND FEES INFORMATION . 31Rules for Residency Determination . 31Appeal of Residency Determination . 32Reclassification of Residency Status . 32Tuition Categories . 32Tuition . 32Other TCC Charges . 33Payment Methods . 33Refund Policy . 34TCC Choice Card . 35Tuition Waivers and Exemptions . 35Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Reimbursed Programs . 37STUDENT FINANCIAL AID SERVICES . 37Introduction . 37General Eligibility Requirements . 37Required Applications . 38Student Financial Aid Services Notices . 38Stars of Tomorrow Program . 38Contact Information . 38Veterans' Educational Benefits . 39ACADEMIC INFORMATION . 39Academic Standing . 39Attendance Policy . 40Classification of Students . 41Tarrant County College 2013-2014 Catalog3
Course Credit (Semester Credit Hour) . 41Course Load . 41Deans' List. 41Drops or Withdrawals . 42Drop Six Regulation . 42Final Examinations . 43Grades and Grade Points . 43Grade Review/Change of Grade . 43Incomplete Grades . 44Repeating a Course . 44Schedule of Classes . 44Terms and Special Sessions . 44Transcript of TCC Student Record . 45Transfer Dispute Resolution . 45GRADUATION INFORMATION . 45Requirements for Graduation . 46Graduation Honors . 46Graduate Guarantee Program . 47Transfer Guarantee . 47Guarantee for Job Competency . 47DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAM INFORMATION . 48Program of Study (Major) . 48Programs of Instruction . 48Transfer to a College/University . 49Core Curriculum . 49The Associate of Arts Degree . 53The Associate of Arts Degree-Cornerstone Honors Program . 54The Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree . 56The Associate of Science Degree . 58The Associate of Science in Engineering Degree .60Fields of Study . 61The Associate of Applied Science Degree . 68Certificates of Completion . 69COURSE DESCRIPTIONS . 1834Tarrant County College 2013-2014 Catalog
GENERAL INFORMATIONAccreditation and AffiliationsTarrant County College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges andSchools Commission on Colleges to award the associate degree. Contact the Commissionon Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone 404-6794500, or http://www.sacscoc.org, for questions about the accreditation of Tarrant CountyCollege.The threefold purpose for publishing the Commission’s address and contact numberis to enable interested constituents (1) to learn about the accreditation status of TarrantCounty College District, (2) to file a third-party comment at the time of Tarrant CountyCollege District’s decennial review, or (3) to file a complaint against Tarrant CountyCollege District for alleged noncompliance with a standard or requirement.Normal inquiries about Tarrant County College District, such as admissionrequirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc., should be addressed directly toTarrant County College District and not to the Commission’s Office.TCC's educational programs and courses are approved by the Texas Higher EducationCoordinating Board. Memberships also are held in the Texas Association of CommunityColleges, Association of Texas Colleges and Universities, and the American Associationof Community Colleges.Achieving the Dream Achieving the Dream is a national movement designed to increase the success ofcommunity college students. For Tarrant County College District, Achieving the Dream isabout making the institution the best it can be so that its students are the best they can be.Since May 2010, TCC has been involved with Achieving the Dream. Broadengagement has included all segments of the college community, the Tarrant CountyCollege District Board of Trustees, and the greater Tarrant County community. All havebeen involved in reviewing data on the success of our students and dialoguing about whatis needed to improve their success. Based on these dialogues, TCC is focusing on twopriority areas: 1) create a comprehensive first-year-experience program for TCC students,and 2) increase student success in developmental education and gateway courses.TCC is committed to providing access to all students and is working to improvestudent success through Achieving the Dream.Mission StatementTarrant County College District, a comprehensive two-year institution established in1965, is dedicated to providing quality education that exceeds the expectations of thepeople of Tarrant County. Accordingly, the mission is as follows:Tarrant County College provides affordable and open access to quality teachingand learning.Institutional GoalsTarrant County College District has developed the following goals to fulfill themission of the College.Tarrant County College 2013-2014 Catalog5
I. Support student learning and success through excellence in teaching andlearning, support services, flexible instructional delivery systems, studentengagement, learning outcomes assessment, and dynamic curricula.II. Ensure affordability, accessibility and diversity reflective of the community.III.Promote institutional effectiveness through continuous improvement,collaboration with and service to the community, employee engagement,professional development, and optimal environment conducive to qualityteaching and learningRole and ScopeThe College implements its mission through a clearly defined set of programs,services and partnerships that include:University transfer programs;Workforce education programs;Technical programs;Developmental courses;Adult literacy courses;Continuing education and community services;An extensive curriculum; a highly qualified, enthusiastic, innovative faculty andstaff; appropriate technology, equipment, and learning resources; diverse modesof instruction and delivery; support services to foster student success; work andpartnerships in support of the cultural and economic development of thecommunity; and A commitment to institutional effectiveness–an ongoing process of selfexamination, self-improvement, and an unending pursuit of excellence. Statement of VisionTarrant County College will be a nationally recognized community college of choicefor academic excellence and lifelong learning.Statement of ValuesTarrant County College is committed to the following values:Student Success – belief in providing quality instruction, resources, and supportservices to assist our students in achieving their lifelong goals;Access – belief in providing educational opportunities for all members of thecommunity;Excellence – belief in providing outstanding quality in educational programs,administrative support, and services to its students, faculty and staff;Service to the Community – belief in the importance of engaging with thecommunity to enhance economic vitality and quality of life;Diversity – belief that the College should reflect the diversity of the community;Innovation and Creativity – belief in cultivating a learning environment thatevaluates and incorporates emerging technologies and methodologies toenhance the quality of instruction and administrative support for ourstudents, faculty and staff.6Tarrant County College 2013-2014 Catalog
GENERAL REGULATIONSAdministrative WithdrawalThe College reserves the right to withdraw a student from class if, in the judgment ofCollege officials, such withdrawal is in the best interest of the student or the student bodyat large.Change of AddressStudents who change their home address or mailing address are expected to notify theCollege of this change immediately using WebAdvisor, or by contacting the campusRegistrar's Office. Documentation may be required.Official CommunicationsA request that a student report to an administrative or faculty office may be made byletter, email or telephone. Failure to comply with such a request may result in disciplinaryaction. Each student is responsible for monitoring his/her MyTCC email account forofficial communications.Communications to the entire student body are considered properly delivered whenthey are placed on official campus bulletin boards, on MyTCC (Blackboard) and/or on theTCC website. Each student is responsible for regularly checking the bulletin boards andwebsites.Religious Holy DaysIn accordance with state law, TCC allows an excused absence to students for theobservance of a "religious holy day," defined as a holy day observed by a religion whoseplaces of worship are exempt from property taxation under section 11.20, Tax Code.Students shall be excused from attending classes or other required activities,including exams, during time needed for travel for the purpose of the observance of areligious holy day. The law mandates that students are required to complete assignmentsor exams missed during the absence within a reasonable time.Student Conduct and DisciplineTarrant County College has established rules and regulations for student conduct andbehavior. These items may be found in the Student Handbook which is available on theTCC website. Failure to abide by all rules and regulations may be grounds for disciplinaryaction.The Vice President for Student Development Services is responsible for enforcingcampus student discipline as outlined in the Student Handbook and makesrecommendations to the President regarding student violations of the College Regulationsand adherence to the District’s disciplinary procedures. These procedures will assureprompt and appropriate action, as well as provide due process in accordance with theguidelines stipulated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.Use of Legal NameStudents are required to provide their full legal name to the College. Students'permanent records, including official transcripts, are required to identify students by theirfull legal name.Tarrant County College 2013-2014 Catalog7
Use of Student NumberA student number is required to identify students' permanent records. The automatedstudent information system assigns a random number, called the Colleague ID, to everystudent. The Colleague ID is used for all internal printed materials and provides additionalprotection to students’ privacy. Students are urged to become familiar with their ColleagueID and to use it when communicating with College offices.Students are requested to provide their Social Security Number to the College formaintenance of their student records. This number allows the College to meet federal andState reporting requirements, enables communication with financial aid providers andservice agencies, allows reporting to IRS regarding eligibility for the AmericanOpportunity Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit, and substantially eases transfer ofinformation between the College and other colleges and universities. Students who do notprovide their Social Security Number risk loss of services and benefits and may encounterdelays when transferring from or to other institutions. The College makes every effort toprotect students' Social Security Numbers from inappropriate disclosure. Questions aboutCollege use of the Social Security Number should be forwarded to the District RecordsOffice or the campus Registrar’s Office.OFFICIAL NOTICESThe College provides the following information in response to federal or statemandates or as a service to the College community. Additional information about theseand other important topics is available through the TCC website.Access to Student RecordsThe Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (PL93-380), commonlyreferred to as FERPA, provides that all records pertaining to a student that are maintainedby the College must be open to inspection by the student and may not be made available toany other person without the written authorization of the student. FERPA gives parentscertain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer tothe student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the highschool level. A "student" is defined as a person who has registered and paid for one ormore Undergraduate (UG) or Continuing Education (CE) courses and who remainsenrolled through the official date of record for that term.The act allows but does not mandate the release of directory information. Undersome circumstances, directory information may be released without the student's writtenpermission. Examples of these circumstances include:81.2.For legitimate educational purposes within TCCTo officials at an institution in which the student seeks to enroll3.To comply with a court order or subpoena4.5.In connection with a health or safety emergency if necessary to protect thestudent and othersTo parents of a student who is a dependent for income tax purposes6.If it is directory information7.To parents of a student younger than 21 years of age if the disclosure concernsdiscipline for violation of the campus drug and alcohol policy.Tarrant County College 2013-2014 Catalog
TCC directory information includes name, current address and telephone number,major, dates of attendance, full-time or part-time enrollment status, degrees and awardsreceived and dates granted, previous educational institution(s) attended, and eligibility andparticipation in officially recognized activities and sports. It should be noted that currentaddress and telephone number are considered restricted directory information. These itemsare released only if a legitimate educational interest is established. NOTE: Email addressesare not considered directory information.Non-directory information is never released without the student’s officialauthorization. These items include but are not limited to:1.Enrollment verification2.3.Grade point average (GPA)Academic standing4.Grades or transcripts.A student may request that all items of directory information be kept confidential bycontacting the campus Registrar's Office or District Records Office. A written request isrequired. The request may be canceled only upon receipt of the student's writtenauthorization.Questions concerning FERPA may be directed to the campus Registrar’s Office, theDistrict Records Office, or online through the TCC website.The American Opportunity Tax CreditStudents may be eligible to claim an American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOC)against their federal income taxes. The AOC may be claimed for the qualified tuition andrelated expenses of students enrolled at least half time in one of the first two years ofpostsecondary education when enrolled in a program leading to a degree, certificate orother recognized educational credential. Eligible tuition and fees are determined by theIRS and will be offset by any grants, scholarships or refunds received. More information isavailable at www.irs.gov.Lifetime Learning CreditStudents may be eligible to claim a Lifetime Learning Credit against their federalincome taxes. The Lifetime Learning Credit may be claimed for the qualified tuition andrelated expenses of students enrolled in eligible educational institutions.If a student is claiming a Hope Credit, none of that student's expenses for that yearmay be applied toward the Lifetime Learning Credit. More information is available atwww.irs.gov.Selective ServiceAlmost all males 18 through 25 years of age living in the United States must registerwith the Selective Service. Almost all non-citizens also are required to register, includingillegal aliens, legal permanent residents, and refugees. If a male non-citizen takes upresidence in the United States prior to his 26th birthday, he must register. Additionalinformation can be found on the TCC website.Solomon AmendmentThe Solomon Amendment allows military recruiters to request certain recruitinginformation from institutions about students. Most of the recruiting information data isTarrant County College 2013-2014 Catalog9
considered directory information under FERPA or data that would normally be collectedby the institution. The 1995/1996 National Defense Authorization Act and the 1997Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act gave branches of the military access to studentinformation including student's name, address, telephone number, age or date of birth,class, and major. The Solomon Amendment requires institutions to cooperate and complywith requests from military recruiters for student information.Student Right to Know - Crime StatisticsThe Campus Annual Security Report can be viewed on the TCC website. A printedcopy of this report is available on request from any campus Police Department.Student Right to Know - Graduation StatisticsFederal law requires that all institutions of higher education disclose graduation ratesto students, applicants and potential students. Graduation rates for TCC can be providedupon request to the District Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Effectiveness.Students Subject to Additional Tuition and FeesTarrant County College does not at this time require additional charges for thefollowing categories of excess hours but is required by law to inform students that chargesmay be instituted by TCC and/or may be incurred when attending other Texas colleges anduniversities.Additional Charges for Students with Excessive Semester Credit HoursTexas legislation allows state colleges and universities to charge additional tuitionand/or fees for students who enter a Texas public higher education institution beginning infall 1999 and who exceed by more than 45 hours the semester credit hours required for thedegree. For undergraduate students initially enrolling fall 2006 or later, the limit is30 semester credit hours above the number of hours required for the degree. Thelegislation exempts technical and workforce education courses. At this time, TCC is notcharging additional tuition for excessive hours.Additional Charges for Students Who Exceed 27 Developmental Semester CreditHoursTexas legislation allows state colleges and universities to charge additional tuitionand/or fees for students who exceed 27 semester credit hours in developmental courses. Itdoes not include any courses in study or thinking skills. At this time, TCC is not chargingadditional tuition for excess developmental hours.Additional Charges for Repeated CoursesTexas legislation disallows state funding for any course for which a student enrollsmore than two times, regardless of grade received. Tracking of enrollments is theresponsibility of the College and will begin with enrollments in the fall 2013 semester.State regulations allow an institution of higher education to charge a higher tuition rate to astudent whose hours can no longer be submitted for state funding.Effective with the Fall 2013 term, TCC will charge a higher tuition rate for thefollowing repeated courses: Same or substantially similar course content Attempted more than twice Graded and/or courses dropped after census10Tarrant County College 2013-2014 Catalog
Courses exempted from funding limitations include: Audit Developmental education Continuing education RepeatableTexas Tuition Rebate ProgramSection 54.0065 of the Texas Education Code provides that some students may earn arebate up to 1,000 if they meet the following:1.2.3.4.They have enrolled for the first time in an institution of higher education in thefall 1997 semester or later;They are requesting a rebate for work related to a first baccalaureate (bachelor's)degree received from a Texas public university (not a community collegedegree);They have been a resident of Texas, have attempted all coursework at a Texaspublic institution of higher education, and have been entitled to pay residenttuition at all times while pursuing the degree; andThey have attempted no more than 3 hours in excess
requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc., should be addressed directly to Tarrant County College District and not to the Commission's Office. TCC's educational programs and courses are approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Memberships also are held in the Texas Association of Community
