Standards for entrance are also required at many community colleges, in particular, those with limited enrollment. Students are required to fill out special applications and meet admission requirements by taking such test as the SAT or ACT, resulting in a successful passing score. Some programs also require placement tests other than SAT. Programs that require such entrance standards include nursing, allied health, computer technology, engineering technology and law enforcement.
Many community colleges, such as Pima, require good academic standards. For example, students must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.0 and must have a 67 percent completion rate after taking 36 credits. When students fall below the GPA of 2.0, they are usually placed on academic probation. At this time, they are encouraged to consult with an adviser or councilor in order to correct short comings. When all else fails, and the student's academic performance continues to dive, the student is placed on academic restriction for the next semester.
Community colleges also require course selection standards for those who are intending to enter a four-year institution. All selected courses must be transferable. Therefore, students must find out if their chosen community college offers a transfer program. Such programs are designed to meet the requirements of the four-year institution. In order to select the appropriate courses, students should seek the assistance of an adviser before registering for courses, especially first-year students.
In order to graduate, students must also meet community college curriculum standards. For example, students must complete a certain number of courses in the program in which they are seeking a degree. These courses are usually called core courses. The required core courses can number from 36 to 40 credits. No matter how many elective or general courses a student takes, if he has not completed significant core courses he cannot graduate. Therefore, students must always keep the core courses in mind when registering for classes.