2009-10 Consumer Information

Accreditation:
Piedmont Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees, diplomas and certificates. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Piedmont Community College. The Commission is to be contacted only if there is evidence that appears to support an institution's significant non-compliance with a requirement or standard. In addition to this regional accreditation, individual programs have accreditation or licensing board criteria as listed in the college catalog or at www.piedmontcc.edu. Copies of these accreditations can be obtained from the Office of Research and Institutional Effectiveness (Person County Campus, Room B115).

Degree Programs, Training and Other Educational Offerings:
A complete and detailed listing of the college's degree programs and completion requirements can be found in the college catalog or at www.piedmontcc.edu. Full-time faculty members, with their degree qualifications, are listed by program area in the college catalog. Contact information for college faculty is on the college's website at: www.piedmontcc.edu. Students needing to complete a high school diploma or GED can find information at the college's Adult Basic Skills Office (Person County Campus, Room E120; 336-599-1181, ext. 268 or the Caswell County Campus; 336-694-5707 ext. 238) or at www.piedmontcc.edu.

Tuition and Costs of Attendance:
Tuition is established by the North Carolina General Assembly. The current tuition rate per semester for instate students is $50 per credit hour, charged up to a maximum of $800. The out of state rate is $241.30 per credit hour to a maximum of $3,860.80 per academic semester. Each semester a $20 student activity fee is charged. For more information regarding tuition and fees, visit: www.piedmontcc.edu. Specific program fees, insurance and graduation fees are listed in the college catalog. Transportation costs vary depending on the distance a student must commute to the college. Programs containing cooperative education, clinicals, or externships also have transportation requirements to the individual sites. Programs with these requirements are listed in the college catalog.

Withdrawals and Refunds:
Students must officially withdraw from courses to be eligible for refunds. To withdraw from a course, students should contact their faculty advisor or the Student Development Office. Students will receive a 100% refund of tuition and fees if they withdraw before classes begin or if a class they are registered for is canceled. A 75% refund is given once classes begin and up to the Census Date* of a given class. Detailed information on tuition and fees, residency requirements, and refund policies are in the college catalog and student handbook: www.piedmontcc.edu. *For Census Date, contact the Office of Student Development 336/599-1181 ext 272.

Disability Services:
The Disability Office is located in Student Development, (Person County Campus, Room E132; Caswell County Campus, Building K). Information on available services and how to access these services can be found in the Disability Services Handbook or on the college website at: www.piedmontcc.edu.

Student Right to Know Act - Completion and Graduation Rates -Tina
Each year the college publishes information on the average graduation rate of students, who when first enrolling, indicate that their intent is to earn a degree. The current rate of graduation for this group (2004 Cohort) is 36%. The rate of transfer-out to other colleges or universities is 13%. Visit http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds for more details regarding the College's performance.

FERPA
In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Piedmont Community College releases no personally identifiable information about students without the expressed written consent of the student. Exceptions to this practice is information defined as "Directory Information" which includes: student's name, enrollment status and curriculum, current street and e-mail address, telephone number, degrees, diplomas or certificates earned, awards received, participation in officially recognized activities, and most recent previously attended educational institution. Students wishing to block this "Directory Information" may do so by written request to the Dean of Student Development. Certain school officials and faculty may have access to non-directory student information without written consent from the student on a strictly academic need-to-know basis. Detailed information on FERPA can be found in the college catalog.

Financial Aid Information Summary - Financial Aid Application Process: Students interested in receiving financial assistance while attending Piedmont Community College should electronically submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). The FASFA on the Web worksheet is available in Student Development or on the Department of Education website at www.fasfa.ed.gov beginning in January of each year. The Financial Aid Office holds workshops periodically to assist in the process of filing the FASFA. Financial aid personnel are usually available to assist with the completion of the FASFA form during normal business hours. Eligibility for need based aid is determined from the needs analysis that is returned from the Department of Education. Students may also submit a scholarship application to apply for scholarships that are awarded at the school. The Financial Aid Office maintains a scholarship board that students may utilize to research outside scholarship opportunities. Eligibility for scholarships may require a level of need along with a strong academic record. Information about federal and state aid is described in further detail in a brochure entitled, How to Pay for Your Education at Piedmont Community College, available in the Financial Aid Office, located in Building E on the Person County Campus and in Student Development (Building K) on the Caswell County Campus. Select scholarships are listed in the college's General Catalog and Student Handbook. Piedmont Community College does not participate in the federal student loan program.

Assistance:
The Financial Aid Office is open each day Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m., except during the summer months when the office closes at 12:30 p.m. on Fridays. Staff is available to assist with the application process, to answer questions and troubleshoot any problems the student may encounter with the financial aid process. Additional information concerning our policies and procedures is available in the General Catalog and Student Handbook and on the college website at www.piedmontcc.edu. Additional assistance and information regarding federal student financial aid can be obtained at the Educational Opportunity Center located at 208 South Main Street in Roxboro, NC.

Award Process:
Award letters are generated on a weekly basis as awards are determined, usually beginning in late June before the upcoming academic year, and on a continuing basis throughout the award year. Enclosed in the award packet are specific guidelines relative to the grant(s) that are awarded to the student. Information concerning disbursement is included, along with dates of the disbursement of any remaining balance after tuition, fees, and book charges have been deducted. Students who receive their awards after the disbursement date should allow at least 10 working days to receive their disbursements. Refunds are mailed to the address on record for the student. It is the student's responsibility to read the information concerning the award and to fully understand the requirement of any aid they will receive. Students have a right to question any awards they receive and understand how their eligibility was determined for various awards.

Refunds and Repayments:
All students should understand the refund and repayment policies of the College in the event they must withdraw from their classes before completion. These policies are determined in compliance with federal and state policy and are listed in the Piedmont Community College General Catalog and Student Handbook. This information is also enclosed with the award letter that is sent to students. Personnel are available in the financial aid office to explain these policies in further detail.

Satisfactory Academic Progress:
Students must successfully complete a certain number of their attempted hours in order to remain eligible for aid. The financial aid satisfactory academic policy is sent to all financial aid students with their award packet. Students must maintain a minimum academic standard to remain eligible for financial aid. Students are encouraged to contact financial aid personnel to explain these policies in further detail.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Information
It is the policy of Piedmont Community College to comply with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-226) as implemented by regulations and contained in 34 CFR Part 86, Subpart B, (amended as Title IV Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994). Therefore, it is the policy of this College that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of a controlled substance on the College's campuses or at any site or activity operated by Piedmont Community College is prohibited. Any student or employee violating this policy is in violation of the College's rules and regulations and will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including permanent expulsion or dismissal.

Anyone who violates the College's policies relating to drug abuse will be referred to the appropriate legal agencies for prosecution under the federal and state laws governing use and possession of a controlled substance. This includes, but is not limited to, narcotic drugs, hallucinogenic drugs, amphetamines, barbiturates, marijuana, anabolic steroids, or any other controlled substance as defined in Schedules I through V of Section 2020 of the Controlled Substance Act (21 U.S.C. Section 812) and is further defined by regulation at 21 C.F.R. 1300.11 through 1300.15 or article 5 Chapter 90 of the North Carolina General Statutes. Persons who violate this statute shall be guilty of a felony and may be imprisoned up to 10 years or fined up to $10,000, or both, at the discretion of the court. (Refer to college catalog and student handbook for details.) The college provides information on health risks and can assist students in locating treatment or counseling services for addiction issues. For questions, please contact the Counseling Services located in Student Development (Person County Campus, Room E130; Caswell County Campus, Building K).

Cleary Act (Campus Security)
Campus safety and security are founded on a philosophy that advocates a proactive rather than a reactive approach to the safety and security of the college's students and facilities. Security officers have a presence within college buildings and patrol parking areas. Campus Security regularly informs faculty and staff of issues pertaining to safety and security. Students and faculty/staff are encouraged to report to security any suspicious activity. Policies regarding use or sale of alcohol, facility usage, sexual harassment, and response to assault can be found in the college catalog and student handbook, in addition to the college's website: www.piedmontcc.edu.

Notice of Non-discrimination
Piedmont Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Vice President, Administrative Services, P.O. Box 1197, Roxboro, NC 27573-1197, (336) 599-1181, ext. 236. For further information on notice of non-discrimination, the OCR office for North Carolina is located at: Washington DC (Metro), Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-1475; Telephone Number: (202) 453-6020; e-mail: OCR.DC@ed.gov.

Constitution Day Activities (held on or around Constitution Day - September 17)
Constitution Day is a campus-wide event hosted by the Student Government Association. The event is held on the Person County Campus around the courtyard. The day generally includes a guest speaker who addresses relevant topics, a Constitution quiz, and voter registration. An announcement of Constitution Day activities can be found on the school announcement monitors and through Student Government Association flyers.