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Admissions

Quick Start Center

View our Enrollment Presentation (PowerPoint - 846 KB) for information on the steps needed to become a Virginia Western student.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old do I have to be to enroll?

Any person who has a high school diploma, a GED, or who is 18 years of age and can benefit from classes at the college may be admitted.

According to Virginia Community College System policy, dual enrollment coursework is restricted to high school juniors and seniors. Exceptions for admission may be considered for freshman and sophomore high school / home school students (ages 14, 15, or 16) who are able to demonstrate readiness for college-level coursework. Because the enrollment of freshman and sophomore students is considered exceptional, each freshman and sophomore student iwll be treated on a case-by-case basis and will require formal approval of the college president or his designee.

 

Enrollment of freshman and sophomore level students will also require the approval of the appropriate division dean. Assessment testing will be required prior to enrollment. Other conditions, as deemed appropriate by the president and/or dean, may also apply.

Others with special circumstances may attend with approval of the Virginia Western Community College Admissions Committee.

The college reserves the right to evaluate special cases and to refuse admission to applicants when considered advisable in the best interest of the college.

How do I take courses if I don't live near the college?

Distance Learning is a convenient alternative to regular courses, providing equivalent substance and quality without the traditional constraints of time and place.

Visit Distance Learning for information on courses and options available to you as a distance learning student.

What is the difference between a full and part-time student?

The normal academic course load for students taking courses in the fall and spring semester is 15-17 credits. The minimum full-time load for the fall and spring semester is 12 credit hours and the normal maximum full-time load is 18 credits. Students wishing to carry an academic load of more than 18 credits in the fall or spring semester must obtain approval from the Admissions and Records Coordinator in the Admissions Office.

The normal academic course load for students in the summer semester is 8-10 credits. The minimum full-time load in the summer semester is 8 credits and the maximum load is 12 credits. Students wishing to carry an academic load of more than 12 credits in the summer semester must obtain approval from the Admissions and Records Coordinator in the Admissions Office.

Approval to take credit loads above the normal levels is generally approved under the following circumstances:

Upon recommendation by an advisor/counselor, students may be required to take less than the minimum full-time academic load if they are on academic warning or probation, their placement test scores are low and developmental courses are recommended, or they are high school graduates with a GPA of 2.0 or less.

How do I get a student ID?

Student I.D. cards may be obtained through the Student Activities Office, Student Center, room 204A. Cards are issued at the beginning of each semester and are validated with a sticker for each subsequent semester.

I.D. Cards are issued each semester and are valid for one academic year. Students who register and pay for three or more credits are eligible to receive a VWCC Student ID Card. Other staff and faculty members are eligible upon proof of status with the college. The first card is issued free of charge to all students, staff and faculty. ID cards will identify the individual by name and will bear a photo and a semester validation sticker, in the case of students and part-time employees.

Each semester, the student and part-time employees must visit the ID Card Office to receive a current semester validation sticker. The sticker will be placed on the current ID Card. This sticker verifies current enrollment or employment. Without this sticker, the card is invalid. There will be a replacement fee for any lost or stolen cards and a replacement fee for any lost stickers. The detailed ID card policy can be obtained from the Student Activities Office, room 204 of the Student Center.

How do I get placement testing?

Placement testing is required of many students before beginning classes. All new students who are seeking a degree or entering a program of study, students planning to receive financial aid, students entering the first semester of mathematics or English courses (includes transfer students who do not have credit in mathematics or English) must either take the COMPASS assessment for placement in English and mathematics or they must provide documentation for a waiver of this placement test requirement. Students need to meet with a college counselor before taking the placement test.

In order to be exempt from the Writing and Reading Skills portion of the COMPASS, a student must provide documentation of having met one of the following criteria:

Completed academic or college-bound English with grades of B or better for both the junior and senior year of high school.

Achieved a score of 510 or higher on the verbal section of the SAT or a score of 19 or higher on the ACT

In order to be exempt from the mathematics portion of the COMPASS assessment, the student must meet one of the following criteria:*

* Due to the variety of math courses offered and the various requirements for each one, students may wish to consult an advisor for exact criteria for waivers in mathematics.

The COMPASS test is administered and scored on the computer. For those students unable to take a computerized test, the ASSET may be substituted which is a paper and pencil exam.

Placement tests are given in the college's Learning Technology Center and no appointment is necessary. Hours are 8 AM to 7PM Monday through Thursday, 8AM to 4 PM on Friday and 9 AM to 12 Noon on Saturday. Testing hours may change by semester - please check with the center.

If you need practice and/or samples - please link to the following:

How do I request a tour of the campus?

You may request a tour by calling the Student Ambassadors office at 857-6172.

As a student, where can I park?

Students must park in white-lined spaces only. Some parking lots and spaces are reserved for faculty and staff only and are clearly marked. No parking decal is needed. Specific information regarding parking is as follows:

Parking Lot Designation

LOT 1 - South of Duncan, Craig, and Chapman Halls

LOT 1E - South of Duncan Hall and Humanities Building

LOT 3 - North side of Thomas Center

LOT 4 - East side of Humanities Building

LOT 5 - East side of Fishburn Hall

LOT 6 - East side of Brown Library

LOT 7 - South side of Colonial Avenue

LOT 8 - South of Fishburn Hall

LOT 8E - Hill above Anderson Hall

LOT 9 - East side of Colonial Avenue

LOT 10 - Ground level, Anderson Hall

LOT 11 - West of Business Science Building

Note: Inability to locate a vacant parking space is not justification for illegal parking.

Evening Parking (5-11 p.m.)

The following lots will be open for student, faculty, & staff parking after 5 p.m.:

Visitor Parking

All visitors to campus must use designated visitor parking areas unless supplied with an approved visitor permit obtained from the Cashier's Office, any Division Office, or Police Office.

It is the responsibility of the host on campus to arrange the space and the approved permit for issuance to the visitor.

Lot 5 is not available for reserved groups. (Refer to the above paragraph.)

Special Provisions

VWCC Campus Police are appointed by the Circuit Court of the City of Roanoke as police officers and exercise all powers and authority for law enforcement on this campus and adjacent streets. City traffic tickets will be issued for violations of the above regulations. (City traffic tickets include information on method of payment. Please follow these directions if you receive a ticket.)

Also, obey all STOP and SPEED LIMIT signs. Parking is a privilege and you are expected to abide by the parking regulations. Multiple tickets will be issued for continuous violations in the same calendar day.

The fine for "handicapped" parking violations is $125.00. Parking ticket fines begin at $20.00, failure to pay ticket fines may result in a summons to court. Multiple parking tickets issued to the same vehicle or individual during the academic year may result in forfeiture of parking privileges on the campus.

What is a credit?

Credit is recognition by a college or university that a course of study has been completed. VWCC was on a quarter system issuing quarter hours of credit between September 1966 and May 1988. The college converted to a semester system issuing semester hours of credit beginning with the summer 1988 semester.

What is a program of study?

A program of study is your plan for the future. It is your major at Virginia Western. When you declare your program of study, a faculty advisor is assigned to you who will assist in class selection, pre-requisite requirements and provide information on job related occupations to the program. Financial aid recipients must declare a program of study. You can declare your program of study by completing the Plan Change form. This form is available in the Records or Counseling Offices located in Chapman Hall.

What does it mean to enroll and how do I do it?

In order to participate in a class at Virginia Western, a student must first enroll/register in class. To begin this process, new students should bring a completed application form to the Admissions Office located on the ground floor of Chapman Hall or apply online. Students who have not been enrolled for more than three years must reapply to the college before they can enroll. Most types of students can enroll/register themselves online or by telephone if they prefer to do so.

The following types of students may enroll for classes online:

In order to enroll/register for classes online, the student must:

How do I find my advisor?

The Counseling Center offers a confidential and friendly atmosphere where professional counselors and advisors are equipped to help you plan your education, identify career goals, select a program of study, resolve educational and personal conflicts, referrals, and provide personal counseling and other life planning assistance you may need while you are attending Virginia Western. Services are designed to help all current and prospective students meet their education, career, and personal development goals. Students are seen on a "walk-in" first-come first-served basis in Chapman Hall, (540) 857-7237.

Each student in a program of study is assigned to a faculty advisor consistent with the student's career goals. The faculty advisor will assist the student in selecting proper courses, interpreting curriculum requirements, and assessing academic progress. A student may find his/her advisor through the SIS system:

What is a transcript?

A transcript is a copy of a student's official academic record listing all courses taken and grades received.

What colleges do VWCC students get accepted at later?

The top five colleges that Virginia Western students transfer to are Radford University, Virginia Tech, Roanoke College, Old Dominion University and James Madison University. However our students successfully transfer to colleges and universities all over the country.

How do I find available housing?

Virginia Western is a non-residential campus. All housing opportunities for VWCC students come from the various communities in and around the city of Roanoke. Local housing information for VWCC students will be made available in the Student Activities Office located on second floor of the Student Center.

VWCC - The Community's College