Admissions Policies

Admission to the College 

Admission to the College is open to all who want to continue their learning. No person shall be denied admission to the College on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. 

The College follows Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) A.R.S. § 15-1805.01 (Admissions, enrollments, community colleges); § 15-1821 (Special admission of students under age eighteen; enrollment information; reports); § 15- AP 3.10.01 2 1821.01 (Dual enrollment information) § 15-232 (Division of adult education; duties). 

Note: To find the latest versions of Board Policies or Administrative Policies see the Pima Community College Policy website

• Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to a specified program of study, nor registration in all courses offered by the College. 
• The College shall follow the criteria for “Limited Enrollment (Selective Admissions)” as defined by the program of study. The current, required criteria can be obtained from the Academic Department, program webpage, and can be found in the College Catalog. 
• The College has procedures for the validation of high school completion. Students self-certify their high school completion status on the Pima admission application or through their MyPima portal after applying for admission. 

The College designates three classifications for credit admission in order to comply with federal regulations and state statutes, and to facilitate College reporting; the three classifications are Degree-Seeking, Non-Degree Seeking and International. Students in any credit classification are eligible to take any credit course for which they meet the prerequisite(s).

1. Classification as Degree-Seeking
   • Students who are degree or certificate-seeking and who fall within one of the following categories pursuant to ARS 15-1805.01 and ARS 15-1821 are classified as Degree-Seeking:
   • Is a graduate of a high school that is accredited by a regional accrediting association as defined by the United States office of education or approved by a state board of education or other appropriate state educational agency;
   • Has a high school certificate of equivalency;
   • Is a transfer student in good standing from another college or university;
   • Is a homeschooled student at least 18 years of age;
   • Demonstrates evidence of potential success at Pima Community College as outlined in the College’s placement evaluation process (AP 3.12.01);
   • Is under the age of 18 and who achieves one of the following:
     • A passing score on the relevant portions of the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards test;
     • The completion of a college placement test designated by the community college district that indicates the student is at the appropriate college level for the course
     • Is a graduate of a private or public high school or has a high school equivalency diploma.
     • Is a homeschooled student and provides supporting documentation that meets state standards.
2. Classification as Non-Degree Seeking
   • Students who intend to take credit classes (for personal interest, skill development, high school dual enrollment, upgrading job skills, or for transfer toward a degree at another institution), and who do not intend to pursue a degree or certificate at Pima Community College are classified as Non-Degree Seeking.
3. Classification as International
   • Students from other countries attending Pima Community College on a visa are classified as International.

Admission Classification for Non-Credit Students

Students pursuing non-credit, Adult Education, Workforce or community education courses are classified as Non-Credit.

There are exceptions to high school completion validation based on program admissions (e.g., IBEST programs). High school completion must be validated by the College if: 

• The College has reason to believe that a high school diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education (34 C.F.R § 668.16 (p)), or 
• The College has reason to believe the high school diploma is dubious— e.g., the college knows the student bought the diploma or transcript and was required to perform little or no work. The College will review the validity of high school completion if: 
• Conflicting information is presented between the admission application (Student Information System) and the information provided on the FAFSA; 
• College staff has reason to believe that a high school diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education; 
• College staff have reason to believe the high school diploma is dubious — e.g., the college knows the student bought the diploma or transcript and was required to perform little or no work.
• College staff have become aware of a school or educational provider with a judgment or adverse judicial finding based on fraudulent or insufficient accreditation. 
• External entities inquire about the acceptance of credentials from a provider by the college for admission or financial aid purposes. 

If the College has reason to believe that a high school diploma is not valid or was not obtained from an entity that provides secondary school education, the following procedure will be followed: 

• The College’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS) places a requirement to produce a high school diploma or official transcript validating completion. This requirement prevents Title IV aid from being awarded to the student until the discrepancy is resolved. 
• The student receives a communication notifying the student how to resolve the discrepancy, directing them to upload either a high school diploma or an official high school transcript to the Registrar File Upload tool on the MyPima portal. 
  • If a student is found to have identified an invalid provider as the high school completion provider, the student will receive an email communication and checklist requirement in the student management system informing them that although they have been admitted they have provided conflicting information that must be resolved. 
• Documentation review will be conducted by the Registrar’s Office. Student records will be noted and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will satisfy the requirement if acceptable documentation has been presented. 
  • High School Diploma or transcript - Review for Registrar signature, secure delivery, secure paper, etc. 
  • GED - access state education database to validate completion. 
  • Homeschool - Review for proper components per A.R.S. § 15-1821 and § 15-1805.01. 

Admission of Adult Education Students

In accordance with A.R.S. 15-232, all Adult Basic Education students in Arizona must show documentation that they are lawfully present in the United States to be eligible to participate in state-funded Adult Basic Education classes. The Arizona Department of Education collects data each June and December regarding “the total number of adults who applied for instruction and the total number of adults who were denied instruction under this section because the applicant was not a citizen or legal resident of the United States or was not otherwise lawfully present in the United States.”

Admission and Registration of Dual Enrollment Students 

Dual Enrollment students shall be admitted to the College under guidelines set by A.R.S. § 15-1821.01. 

Admission and Registration of Continuing and Community Education Students  

Students taking continuing or community education courses and who do not intend to pursue a degree or certificate at the College, are classified as Continuing or Community Education and considered non-degree seeking. A student is officially registered for a class after completing all registration steps. By registering for the class, the student agrees to the financial obligations associated with the class. Only registered students are allowed to attend classes. 

Prospective students between the ages of 4 and 17 may be registered for community education courses by their parent or guardian. 

Primary responsibility for admitting, registering, and monitoring continuing and community education students at the College falls under the Continuing Education department. 

Admission of Under Age 18 Students

Guidelines: No student under the age of 18 will be denied admission to the College because of age, lack of high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma, grade in school, lack of permission of school officials, or lack of concurrent enrollment in a public or private school, provided that the general parameters have been met to assess student preparedness. Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to a specific degree program or to all courses offered by the College.

Student Admissions Status and Classification 

College students’ admission status will be classified using the following criteria: 

• Regular Student Students with a high school diploma or equivalent enrolled in an eligible certificate or degree program will be classified as a regular student. 
• Admitted Student Students without a high school diploma or equivalent enrolled in an eligible certificate or degree program will be classified as an admitted student. 
• IBEST Student Students without a high school diploma or equivalent and qualify for Ability to Benefit (ATB) enrolled in an eligible IBEST certificate or degree program will be classified as an IBEST student. 

College credit-seeking students will be classified using the following criteria: 

• Full-Time Student Students actively enrolled for 12 or more credit hours for the fall, spring or summer semesters will be classified as full-time students. 
• 3/4-Time Student Students actively enrolled for 9 to 11.99 credit hours during fall, spring or summer semesters will be classified as 3/4-time students. 
• 1/2-Time Student Students actively enrolled for 6 to 8.99 credit hours during fall, spring or summer semesters will be classified as 1/2-time students. 
• Less than 1/2-Time Student Students actively enrolled for .01 to 5.99 credit hours during fall, spring or summer semesters will be classified as less than 1/2-time students.
• Freshman Students who have less than 30 semester credit hours will be considered freshmen. 
• Sophomore Students who have earned 30 or more semester credit hours will be considered sophomores.

Assignment of Student Identification Number and Use of Social Security Number

Pima Community College assigns all new students a student identification number. PCC does not use your Social Security numbers for student identification numbers.Your Social Security Number (SSN) is used to match your current and future records with any past records, ensuring that you receive full credit for all academic work. If you are applying for financial aid or you wish to claim educational tax benefits, you must provide your SSN on this application. 

Note: You must provide your Social Security number in the event the College is required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to file a form 1098-T Tuition Statement.

Student Residency Requirements

Residency is determined as of the first day of the session in which a student is enrolling. The guidelines to determine residency status are taken from the Arizona Revised Statute section 15-1801 through 15-1807. For questions about these guidelines, or for help determining residency status, please visit the Residency Requirements website or contact a campus Student Services Center. 

Verification of Lawful Presence

To comply with state law, PCC students seeking in-state tuition must complete a one-time Verification of Lawful Presence Form. Once completed, you won’t need to file again while at Pima.

All new and continuing students seeking in-state tuition and registering for credit classes must complete the form and provide documentation.

You will have 10 days from the first day of admission to complete the Verification of Lawful Presence form.  If you do not complete and submit the form within this time period a hold will be placed on your record.  You will not be able to view your grades or receive a transcript until the form is processed. For more information see the Verification of Lawful Presence webpage here.

Registration

Credit Course Registration 

A student is officially registered for a class after completing all registration steps. By registering for the class, the student agrees to the financial obligations associated with the class. Only registered students are allowed to attend classes. 

The College may limit the number of credit hours a student is permitted to register for based on Academic Standing. The College shall follow “Academic Standing” requirements as defined by the Academic Standards Committee and listed in the College Catalog. See AP 3.30.01 (Academic Standing Policy). 

The College may establish course prerequisite and corequisite requirements that a student must meet prior to registration. 

A student is not officially registered when waitlisted for a course. A waitlisted course does not guarantee registration in that course or count towards enrolled credit hours. 

Admission and Registration of Credit Students Under Age Eighteen 

Students under the age of eighteen shall be admitted to the College and register for courses under guidelines set by A.R.S. § 15-1821. 3.2 The College may limit the number of credit hours for which a student under the age of eighteen is permitted to register under guidelines set by A.R.S. § 15-1821. 3.3 The College will make an enrollment determination based on factors set forth in the Underage Student Enrollment Application & Agreement. 

Registration of Students Under Age 16

Pima Community College strives to provide quality instruction and support for all students taking post-secondary level courses. In accordance with ARS 15-1805.01 and ARS 15-1821, PCC has adopted an admissions policy for underage students. These students have the same rights and same responsibilities as any other college student, except as noted here and in applicable College policies. Because the student is a minor, each underage student and her/his parent/guardian are required to review and sign an agreement accepting responsibility for the decision to enroll.  Refer to the Underage Student Enrollment Application & Agreement for additional details. 

• Federal Financial Aid Eligibility: Underage students are not eligible for federal financial aid until they complete high school, obtain a High School Equivalency Diploma, or become 18 years of age and are no longer in high school.
• Academic Freedom in College: Course content and discussion are subject to faculty academic freedom and student rights of free speech. Topics may emerge which the student/parent may not consider age appropriate. If the student or parent is not comfortable with an assignment or classroom discussion, the faculty member is not required to substitute an alternate activity or graded exercise.
• Grading: The grade received by the student is part of the student’s permanent post-secondary academic record and may affect the student’s eligibility for college scholarships or freshman/first-time status at other institutions of higher education.
• Student Support Services: Although the student will have equal access to all academic support services offered to the student body, the College does not provide additional resources specifically for underage students. For more information, go to https://pima.edu/student-resources/counseling/index.html
• FERPA: The student’s academic record (grades, registration information, progress, etc. in class) cannot be accessed by the parent without a written release, signed by the student. For more information, see the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)  page, or go to https://pima.edu/student-resources/student-policies-complaints/ferpa/index.html.
• Faculty communication: The faculty member will provide standard updates on academic progress directly to the student. This may include graded homework, graded test papers, etc. In a college environment, attendance records are not provided as a measure of progress and faculty do not provide written or personal/telephone summaries during the semester.

Maximum Credit Hours Per Semester:

To promote student success and retention, the College limits the number of credits in which a student can enroll each term. Students can enroll in a maximum of 18 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters and 12 credit hours in summer sessions. Enrollment beyond these limits requires approval from Student Affairs. Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor to discuss the appropriate maximum number of credits for their individual circumstances. Credits or coursework taken concurrently outside of Pima Community College should be taken into consideration. For more information, please contact a campus Student Services Center.

Transfer of Credits into PCC

Pima Community College evaluates and awards academic credit for appropriate prior college courses that are equivalent to the College’s courses and learning outcomes to assist students in the achievement of their educational goals. 

The College may accept class credit (with a grade of C, its equal, or better) from colleges and universities accredited by any of the following institutional accreditation commissions:

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

• New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.

• The Higher Learning Commission

• Northwest Commission on Schools, Colleges and Universities

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Prior College Coursework

The College accepts credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities. The College accepts credit from foreign schools where students have had their transcripts evaluated by an authorized foreign credential evaluation agency. This includes members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or partner members of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO). Additional agency evaluations may be considered at the discretion of the Registrar. 

The College accepts credit for acquired knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrated and documented through alternative learning methods. See Administrative Procedure 3.20.01 Assessment of Prior Learning. 

Transcript Submission:

• Only official transcripts will be evaluated for credit. Facsimiles, unsealed documents, or forwarded electronic transcripts (e-transcripts) are not considered official. 

• Hand-carried paper transcripts may be accepted as long as the document is in a sealed, untampered envelope from the issuing institution. 

• E-transcripts must be received from the issuing institution through a secure, password-protected agency. 

Articulation Practices 

• Course with a grade of ‘C’ (2.0 on a 4.0-grade scale) or higher will be considered for transfer. Pass or Satisfactory grades may be accepted when Pass or Satisfactory is equivalent to C or higher. Transferred courses are awarded credit but do not count toward the student’s grade point average. 

• Courses are evaluated to a student’s declared program of study and related programs if the student is declared in a stackable program. 

• The College evaluates freshman and sophomore-level courses based on course equivalencies and expected learning outcomes in alignment with College curricula and standards. 

• Courses will be considered for transferability regardless of their age; however, some programs may restrict the age of courses used for program admission, prerequisite purposes, and/or program completion. 

• Up to 75% of program requirements may be met with transfer credit as long as students also satisfy in-residence credit hours toward program requirements. 

Limits and Appeals

• Students may appeal a transcript evaluation by submitting a Transcript Evaluation Appeal form. 

• Official copies of submitted transcripts are purged three years after receipt. 

• Students may also petition for the evaluation of junior and senior-level coursework if the courses demonstrate curricula and learning outcome standards required for the program

Reference: AP 3.21.01

Grades and Graduation Requirements

Grades earned for credit courses at Pima Community College (“the College”), as assigned under the authority of the course instructors, are recorded at the end of each section according to the following system: 

• A—Superior (4 grade points per credit hour) 

• B—Above Average (3 grade points per credit hour) 

• C—Average (2 grade points per credit hour) 

• D—Below Average (1 grade point per credit hour) 

• F—Failure (0 grade points per credit hour) This grade will negatively impact the student’s completion rate. 

• W—Withdrawal (not included in GPA calculation). A Withdrawal grade will negatively impact the student’s completion rate and will be recorded on a student’s transcript. The last date that a student is engaged in an academically related activity will be recorded in conjunction with this grade. The Withdrawal grade is assigned in one of the following ways: 

  • The student officially withdraws from the class after the drop deadline and on or before the 67% point of the term which is the official withdrawal date. 

  • The instructor awards the grade as part of the 45th day reporting, if appropriate. 

  • A Student Affairs administrator processes an Administrative Withdrawal after the official withdrawal date if requested by the student and only if an exceptional circumstance outside the student’s control prevented the student from completing the class. 

• P—Pass (not included in GPA calculation) ‘C’ or better without grade differentiation ordinarily indicated by the College grading system. 

• I—Incomplete (not included in GPA calculation) A record of ‘Incomplete’ as a grade will be made at the student’s request and at the instructor’s option. A student must have completed 70% of the course work and be passing the class for an incomplete to be considered by the instructor. This grade will negatively impact the student’s completion rate. If no change of grade form is submitted within a year, the ‘I’ will be automatically changed to ‘F.’ 

• PLA—Credit by Prior Learning Assessment (not included in GPA calculation) A grade of PLA will be awarded for classes in which students earn credit through the assessment of prior learning, with the exception of credit earned through standardized national examinations. 

• T—Transfer Credit A T placed next to the grade indicates the grade was transfer credit awarded by the College for coursework taken at other colleges or universities, or awarded based on meeting minimum cut scores for standardized national examinations.

• AU—Audit (not included in GPA calculation) The AU grade on a student’s transcript indicates that the student registered to audit the class without expecting to receive credit at the College. The student’s experience in the class will otherwise mirror that of credit students. The symbol for audit, ‘AU,’ appears on the transcript of grades and on the class list by the student’s name. Students auditing a class must register by the end of the official refund period through the appropriate College process. 

Graduation requirements for credit programs include: 

• A 2.0 overall grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 grade point scale. 

• Exception is allowed if all courses completed at PCC were only available as Pass/Fail, and therefore the student has no GPA. 

• ‘D’ grades do not fulfill any requirements.

• ‘F’ grades do not fulfill any requirements. 

• The GPA is based only on work completed at the College. 

Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation: The GPA is figured by multiplying the number of credit hours for each class by the number of points for the grade given and dividing the sum of the points by the total number of credit hours of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” and “F” grades. The GPA is based only on work completed at Pima Community College. 

Appeal of Grades: To challenge a grade, a student must do so through a formal process. Information about that process can be found on the PCC website. 

Course Repeat Grades: The higher of two grades earned for the same class will be used to figure the GPA. The higher of the two grades will be “Included” (I) and the other will be “Excluded” (E). Both courses will appear on the student’s transcript (special courses that are repeated more than twice may not fall under this guideline.) 

Reference: AP 3.40.01

Academic Standing and Academic Fresh Start for Credit Students

To promote student success; retention, persistence and completion, the College maintains minimum academic standards and initiates additional requirements which support students who do not meet the minimum academic standards Students who are identified as an International Student or Athlete may be held to higher or more restrictive requirements. 

Minimum Academic Requirement

The College has a minimum academic requirement for all credit earning students. Students who maintain a 2.0 GPA and 67% completion rate cumulatively remain in good academic standing. Completion rate is calculated by dividing the number of credits that a student has attempted against the number of credits they have completed. Withdrawals and re-takes are included in this calculation. 

Procedures to Promote Minimum Academic Requirement 

• Academic Warning: The first semester a student falls below a 2.0 GPA and 67% completion rate, the student will be placed on Academic Warning. 

• Academic Probation In any subsequent semester that a student on Academic Warning falls below the 2.0 GPA and 67% completion rate, the student will be placed on Academic Probation. 

• Academic Restriction In any subsequent semester following Academic Probation where the student’s GPA falls below a 2.0, the student will be placed on Academic Restriction. During Academic Restriction, a student will be limited in the total number of credit hours per semester until achieving a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher. Full year and selective admission programs may require faculty approval for an exemption from restriction on course load. 

• Academic Extension In any subsequent semester following either Academic Probation or Restriction a student has a term GPA of 2.0 but does not yet meet the cumulative requirements (2.0 & 67% completion rate) will be placed on Academic Extension. Academic Extension is a ‘holding’ spot for the student who is making progress towards graduation on a term-to-term basis. There are no restrictions or requirements for Academic Extension.

Student Success: Academic Fresh Start

Past academic performance may not reflect a student’s subsequent demonstrated ability. The Academic Fresh Start program allows for a one-time grade forgiveness of up to 30 credit course hours, from no more than four academic semesters, where a grade of “D” or “F” was earned. 

Academic Fresh Start

• Students must meet with a Pima Community College (“College”) Academic Success Counselor to apply for the Academic Fresh Start program. 

• Courses eligible for Academic Fresh Start must have been completed at least three years prior to the submission of the request. 

• Grades approved for renewal through Academic Fresh Start will remain on the student’s transcript; however, the grades will no longer be included in the College’s calculation of the student’s grade point average (GPA).

• If a student has already completed requirements for a certificate or degree, Academic Fresh Start will not change the status of a previously earned degree or certificate. 

• Other institutions may still consider all classes taken and grades received by a student at the College, even if those grades have subsequently been approved for renewal through Academic Fresh Start, when a student transfers to or applies to a professional or graduate-level program at another institution. 

• Grades approved for renewal under the Academic Fresh Start program will be included in the grade point average (GPA) component of the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculation for students receiving Federal Student Aid. 

• For Veteran Benefit Recipients (VBR) the grade-renewal process may result in the repayment of VA Education Benefits. Veteran Benefit Recipient’s must consult with their veteran advisor prior to applying for Fresh Start. 

• The results of an Academic Fresh Start submission are final and cannot be appealed.

Reference: AP 3.30.01 and AP 3.10.02

Attendance 

Attendance and Participation Pima Community College recognizes that federal and state regulations require institutions to have a process to monitor and report student attendance. The College believes that attendance and participation throughout the term are essential to student success. Therefore, students are expected to demonstrate participation in and completion of coursework and to adhere to course attendance and participation requirements per course syllabi, in accordance with Federal definitions. 

• Drop Period: Before the drop deadline for each course, students are expected to attend and participate. Students who fail to meet this requirement will be dropped from the class. 

• Unofficial Withdrawal After the drop deadline for each course, students with excessive consecutive absences (non-attendance for 14 or more consecutive calendar days) in the classes for which they are still registered will be identified as an Unofficial Withdrawal and the College will take appropriate actions. Unofficial Withdrawal may result in adverse consequences for the student and Title IV financial aid may be reduced for a complete withdrawal from school using the federal Return of Title IV calculation.

Reference: BP 3.22