Advising and Registration
Dates for registration will be published prior to the beginning of each semester. Students are expected to register on the day or days specified for each semester. In cases of late registration, absences will be counted beginning with the student’s registration.
The College reserves the right to cancel any curriculum or course for reasons of insufficient enrollment or lack of funds.
Academic Advising
This institution views student advisement as one of its most important functions. Each student is assigned an academic advisor who is usually a faculty member from the curriculum in which the student is enrolled. Advisors assist students in selecting and scheduling appropriate classes and developing future academic and career plans. Advisors may also refer students to other available campus resources.
First semester College Transfer students will meet with Counselors in Student Services to be advised. All other students will meet with their academic advisor.
Students are required to meet with their academic advisor each semester for assistance in completing a Course Plan on Blue Ridge’s online myBlueRidge system. Advisors’ office hours are posted on their office doors and on the College website. It is important that students realize that it is ultimately their responsibility to familiarize themselves with specific course and program requirements so that they may complete their goals while enrolled at the College.
Note: ACA 122 College Transfer Success is a required course for all degree and diploma programs at Blue Ridge. ACA 122 is part of the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement for transferability and must be taken by all students in transfer programs. Students should take the ACA course for their program in their first semester but no later than their second semester. Students who are enrolled as special credit students should take this course before they have completed 12 semester hours.
Bookstore
New and used textbooks and school supplies are available in the College Bookstore located in the Killian Building on the Henderson County Campus and the Student Center at the Transylvania County Campus. Books may also be purchased online at
blueridge.bncollege.com. Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, Blue Ridge Community College is required to share required textbook information (ISBN number and retail price) with students at the time they register for classes. This information can be found on the Blue Ridge Community College Bookstore website at blueridge.bncollege.com.
Orientation
New Student Orientation (NSO)
To promote rapid and sound adjustment to the educational philosophy, program, and standards of the College, new curriculum students are required to participate in an orientation program prior to registration. The New Student Orientation can be completed in a face-to-face session or accessed online via the College’s online Learning Management System (LMS).
Student Online Learning Orientation (SOLO)
All students taking an online course will be required to complete the student online learning orientation (SOLO) prior to accessing their online course. The course only needs to be completed once to allow access to all current and future online courses. SOLO can be found within your course list located in the College’s online Learning Management System (LMS).
Prerequisites/Corequisites
Prerequisites
Prerequisites include developmental coursework as prescribed by placement testing, the preceding course in a sequence of courses, or a high school course. Certain programs require prerequisite courses to be completed prior to fall enrollment. The advisor and the student must discuss the waiver of any course prerequisite; any request must be made prior to the process. There must be adequate documentation, which demonstrates that the student has the ability to be successful in the course materials. Developmental course prerequisites, however, may not be waived.
The decision to waive a prerequisite course will be made by the appropriate dean after consultation with the student’s advisor, the department faculty, and the student. The Vice President for Instruction, who will provide written notice to the Registrar, must approve the decision.
If a student registers for a course without meeting the prerequisite(s), the student will be officially dropped prior to the first day of class unless a waiver is granted.
Corequisites
In some cases, corequisites must be taken at the same time, such as CHM 131 and CHM 131A. In other cases, the corequisite course must be taken prior to or in the same semester as the course for which it is a corequisite. Exceptions may be approved by the appropriate dean and will be documented in the student’s academic file.
Current Student Registration
Current Student Registration dates are published online on the College website. All currently-enrolled curriculum students are strongly encouraged to register during Current Student Registration in order to get the courses they need to progress in their programs.
Registration for Continuing Education Students
Pre-registration for continuing education classes can be made in person, online, or by mail with enrollment available on a first-come, first-served basis. Late registration is held at the first class meeting if space is available. Healthcare class registration must be made in person.
Special Credit Students
Students who do not wish to apply for a degree, diploma, or certificate program may enroll for individual curriculum courses upon completion of an application for admission and documentation (transcripts) of prerequisite coursework, if applicable. Special credit students who later wish to enroll in a program of study must complete all admission requirements and declare a program of study. Credit earned as a special credit student may be applied to program requirements, if appropriate. Special credit students do not qualify for financial aid.
Student Classification
A full-time student is a student enrolled in a given semester with twelve (12) or more semester hours of credit. A part-time student is a student enrolled with fewer than twelve (12) semester hours of credit. A freshman is a student who has completed less than half the required credit hours of an associate degree program and a sophomore is a student who has completed half or more of the required credit hours of an associate degree program.
Withdrawals from Courses
This policy applies to all Blue Ridge Community College curriculum courses.
Voluntary Withdrawals from Curriculum Courses
A student may only drop a class for a partial refund on or before the official 10% date of the semester. After the schedule adjustment period (first three class days of the semester), students who drop one or more of their courses on or before the official 10% date of the term must log into myBlueRidge to drop the course(s). In the case of drops prior to the official 10% date of the semester, the course(s) will not be included on the transcript.
Students officially withdrawing from a course after the official 10% date of the semester must see the instructor of the course or the appropriate Chair or Dean.
If a student fails to attend during the entire last 25% of the course, the grade that the student earns will be the final grade assigned.
In the case of a withdrawal, the student will receive a grade of NS or W, which will not influence the grade point average, but which will appear on the student’s official transcript.
Students receiving financial aid should notify the Financial Aid Office if they withdraw from a course or withdraw from the College.
Involuntary Withdrawals from Curriculum Courses
Students who register for a course and do not attend classes prior to 10% of the contact hours of the course will be withdrawn by the instructor.
Any student who accumulates absences in excess of 10% of the course contact hours may be withdrawn from the class.
Determining Student Location for Curriculum and Continuing Education Students
According to Federal guidelines on state authorization (§ 600.9(C)), Blue Ridge must determine a student's location at the time of initial enrollment, as well as update its records should a student's location change. Doing so helps to ensure correct state authorization is obtained and disclosed to the student.
Information on state authorization, professional licensure, and the complaint process can be found on the college’s State Authorization webpage.
Students can also view which state educational requirements for licensure or certification Blue Ridge meets, does not meet, or is undetermined on our Professional Licensure webpage.
For Curriculum Students
Location at Time of Initial Enrollment
For Blue Ridge Community College, a student’s location is determined at the time of Application for Admission. As part of the admission process, a student must designate their program of interest and complete a Residency Determination Service (RDS). The RDS is what reaches out across the State to the different agencies to verify and validate the residency information a student is providing. The residency information on the application and RDS must match.
Upon receiving the application from an out-of-state student, the student’s contact info, listed state of residence, and program of interest is sent to the appropriate Blue Ridge program coordinator. The coordinator will contact the student to verify if the student is planning to remain in that state or relocate to NC for their education.
Prior to acceptance of enrollment into a program designed or advertised as meeting educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for an occupation, the student will be notified via email if Blue Ridge’s program does not meet the educational requirements or if Blue Ridge has not made a determination.
Change of Address
In myBlueRidge, students are required to confirm their address every 60 days. Registration rules will restrict a student from using Student Planning and registering until they confirm.
Because educational requirements for licensure or certification may vary by state, it is imperative the student confirm their address or change of address in a timely manner as potential educational requirements for the new state may directly impact licensure or certification completion.
Upon formal receipt of a change of address to a new state, students will be notified within 14 days of whether or not there is a conflict with the program’s educational requirements for licensure or certification.
Change of Program
If a student changes their program of study, they are required to confirm their address. If the student is an out-of-state student, their contact info, listed state of residence, and program of interest is sent to the appropriate Blue Ridge program coordinator. The coordinator will contact the student to verify if the student is planning to remain in that state or relocate to NC for their education.
Prior to acceptance of enrollment into a program designed or advertised as meeting educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for an occupation, the student will be notified in writing (direct disclosure) if Blue Ridge’s program meets, does not meet, OR if Blue Ridge has not made a determination regarding a state’s educational requirements for licensure or certification.
For Continuing Education Students
Location at Time of Initial Enrollment
For BRCC Continuing Education (CE) enrollments, a student’s location is determined at the time of registration. As part of the registration process, a student must designate a program or course of interest and current address.
The CE Operations Manager will produce a weekly report for out-of-state students enrolled in courses leading to a licensure, certification, or required industry credential. Within 14 days of registration, the CE Program Specialist or Program Director will notify the student in writing via email (direct disclosure) if Blue Ridge Community College’s CE program or course does not meet the student’s respective state’s educational requirements or if Blue Ridge Community College is unable to make a determination.