College 2021 Catalog 2022 WCJC celebrated the grand opening of Corbett Park in 2020. Plan. Achieve. Transfer or Work. PRESIDENT’S WELCOME Welcome to Wharton County Junior College! It is my pleasure to welcome you to Wharton County Junior College. Since 1946, we have provided a quality education to students throughout the region. Proudly, WCJC holds one of the highest academic transfer rates in Texas. For more than 70 years, our mission to provide a quality education to students has remained constant. Our adaptability has made it possible for us to meet the challenges of today’s students with online, hybrid, and in-person formats. WCJC offers you a variety of support services in reaching your goals, as well as dozens of programs to choose from including courses that transfer and programs that will train you for specific fields. Please visit us online at wcjc.edu to find information about our various student support services including admissions, advising, registration, financial aid services and more. Learn more about our programs by looking through our catalog and by viewing our department webpages. Whether you are a recent high school graduate or an adult learner, we are here to help you on your educational journey. We encourage you to explore this catalog to learn more about our programs. We are grateful you have chosen to continue your educational path with us and look forward to creating a pathway to success for you. Betty A. McCrohan President 911 Boling Highway ~ Wharton, Texas 77488 979-532-4560 College Catalog No. 76 2021-2022 WCJC GUARANTEE: Wharton County Junior College guarantees that WCJC students who are planning to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a bachelor’s degree will be able to transfer their academic credit core courses to all state-supported colleges and universities in Texas. If a student takes core courses according to the conditions of this guarantee, and these courses are not accepted at a state-supported college or university of Texas, Wharton County Junior College will offer alternate courses that are acceptable, tuition free. Wharton County Junior College guarantees students of WCJC who complete a technical/vocational program will acquire the necessary job skills for entry-level employment in their field of study. If the employer decides that a completer lacks the entry-level job skills in the occupational field in which he or she has been trained, Wharton County Junior College will provide additional skill training, tuition free. This catalog is intended as a description of those programs and activities offered at Wharton County Junior College. The college reserves the right to select from the courses listed in the catalog that can be offered during any session. Further, WCJC reserves the right to change any regulations without previous notice. Not all courses listed in this catalog are offered each semester. The class schedule listing courses offered by WCJC and schedules is available on the WCJC Website (www.wcjc.edu). Wharton County Junior College is committed to equal opportunity for all students, employees, and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, political affiliation or belief, and for all beneficiaries of programs financially assisted under Title I, WIOA on the basis of citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States or his or her participation in any WIOA Title I financially assisted work or program. No person, including students, faculty, staff, part-time staff, and temporary workers, will be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination or harassment under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by Wharton County Junior College on the basis of the categories listed above. All inquiries concerning WCJC policies, compliance with applicable laws, statues, and regulations (such as Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504) and complaints should be directed to the following college officials: Dean of Human Resources, Rachel Bahnsen, Title IX Coordinator for Employees 911 Boling Highway, Administration Building, A-208 Wharton, Texas 77488 [email protected] 979-532-6442 Dean of Student Success, Lindsey McPherson, Title IX Coordinator for Students 911 Boling Highway, Pioneer Student Center, PSC-301 Wharton, Texas 77488 [email protected] 979-532-6905 ii 2021-2022 College Catalog Directory & Calendar College and Program Accreditation ACCREDITED BY: Wharton County Junior College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the Associate Degree. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404- 679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Wharton County Junior College. APPROVED BY: Texas Education Agency (TEA) Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has approved college/university parallel offerings and programs in technical education. The Texas Veterans Commission has approved programs for veteran educational benefits. PROGRAM ACCREDITATIONS BY: Texas Board of Nursing (BON) – Associate Degree Nursing National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) – Associate Degree Nursing Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) – Cosmetology Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) – Dental Hygiene National Association for the Education of Young Children Accreditation of Early Childhood Higher Education Programs (NAEYC) – Early Childhood/Child Development Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) – Emergency Medical Services Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) – Health Information Technology Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE) – Human Services Texas Board of Nursing (BON) – Licensed Vocational Nursing The American Bar Association, (approved by) – Paralegal Studies Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education – Physical Therapist Assistant Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) – Police Academy Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology – Radiologic Technology Wharton County Junior College – Choose. Connect. Complete. iii Table of Contents WCJC GUARANTEE ...................................................................................................................................... i COLLEGE AND PROGRAM ACCREDIATION ........................................................................................... iii WCJC SERVICES DIRECTORY ..................................................................................................................... v ACADEMIC CALENDAR ........................................................................................................................ vi-viii ABOUT THE COLLEGE................................................................................................................................. 1 Statement of Mission ................................................................................ 1 Historical Sketch ....................................................................................... 1 WCJC Today .............................................................................................. 3 GENERAL ACADEMIC INFORMATION ..................................................................................................... 4 Degrees and Certificates ........................................................................... 4 Instructional Divisions ............................................................................... 4 Community Outreach Programs ............................................................... 5 ACADEMIC POLICIES .................................................................................................................................. 7 Attendance of Classes ............................................................................... 8 Final Examinations .................................................................................. 10 Graduation Requirements ...................................................................... 11 OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS & REGISTRATION .......................................................................................... 22 Admission................................................................................................ 22 Registration ............................................................................................. 28 Testing Information ................................................................................ 30 DISTANCE EDUCATION INFORMATION ................................................................................................ 34 Support for Online Students ................................................................... 35 System Requirements ............................................................................. 35 Online Student Responsibilities .............................................................. 36 FINANCIAL INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................... 36 Tuition & Fees ......................................................................................... 36 Installment Plan .....................................................................................