Non High School Graduates Under Age 18 Enrolling in Courses
International Students/Student VISA Requirements
Nicolet College is committed to an open-door policy for admission to the college for all prospective students who meet statutory requirements. Applicants who apply for admissions to technical programs and the university transfer program are served as directed by the policies of Nicolet Area Technical College and the Wisconsin Technical College System.
Applications for admission are treated on a rolling, first come-first served basis, as long as all admissions requirements are met.
Admission to Nicolet Area Technical College is open to individuals who feel they can benefit from the instruction offered. Individuals who hold a high school diploma, a high school equivalency diploma (HSED), or a GED certificate are eligible to enroll in post-secondary programs consistent with their ability levels. Other individuals may be admitted to post secondary programs if they can demonstrate an "ability to benefit" from instruction. Ability to Benefit criteria are applied under the same guidelines as used for Federal Financial Aid determination.
Because of the varied background in educational preparation of our students and because college programs and courses vary widely in levels of difficulty, admissions services are designed to provide the best match for an individual's abilities, interests, and aptitudes. To facilitate this match, applicants for admission to designated programs will undergo assessment prior to being accepted into the college or a program. Although admission to particular programs may require specific prerequisites, Nicolet will admit and work with students to assist them in developing prerequisite skills. Students who do not have a high school diploma, GED certificate, or high school equivalency diploma can be admitted to college programs designed that can assist them with earning these credentials.
1. Submit Application, Application Fee, Transcripts
Anyone who wishes to enroll in a post-secondary program - associate degree, technical diploma, or certificate, or register for six or more credits in one semester, must apply and be accepted for admission before registering for classes. Nicolet uses the Wisconsin Technical College System Application for Admissions form. These forms are available from district high school guidance counselors, all technical colleges, on both the WTCS and Nicolet College websites, or by writing to the Admissions Office, P.O. Box 518, Rhinelander, WI 54501. Students can apply in person, by mail, or online.
Students applying online use the electronic application form available on the Nicolet website at http://www.nicoletcollege.edu/highschool/gettingstarted/admissions/admis_process.html or through the WTCS at https://www.witechcolleges.org/apply_online/application_online.php?district=16. When applying online, the application fee can be paid by charge card or by mail.
Students are encouraged to apply for admissions early. There is no application deadline for most programs, but for optimum availability of courses, it is strongly recommended that students apply no later than July 1 for the fall semester or Dec. 1 for the January (spring) semester.
Seniors who will be graduating from high school may not apply for admission before Sept. 1 of their senior year. Applications received prior to Sept. 1 from 12th graders will be returned.
The application and one-time, non-refundable $30 application fee (checks, money orders, and Visa/MasterCard payments are accepted, please do not send cash) should be sent to the Admissions Office along with official high school transcripts and transcripts of any other prior post-secondary work, if applicable. The application fee may occasionally be waived by special permission of the Director of Enrollment Services in certain documented circumstances.
Anyone currently enrolled in high school or a high school graduate, must contact his or her high school to have an official transcript mailed or faxed (FAX number for transcripts is 715-365-4901). Transcripts from all other college or related post-secondary schools attended and ACT scores, if the ACT was taken within the last five years, should also be included with the application. Students will be contacted when the Admissions Office has received the application, application fee, and transcripts and they will be asked to schedule their mandatory admissions interview.
All new students must schedule a mandatory informational interview with an admissions counselor prior to testing and being admitted to a program. During the interview, students will receive information about the Accuplacer basic skills assessment (unless the student has taken the ACT assessment within the last five years), academic advising procedures, registration, financial aid, college services, and program updates and basic requirements. This is a good time for new students to reaffirm their choice of programs and become familiar with their next steps in the admissions process. Students may choose to take their Accuplacer assessment as their next step or brush up on basic skills before proceeding to take the Accuplacer. Basic skill brush up is available in the Drop-in Academic Support Center in the Art Tech Center for any new student. Some students may also need to access the Special Needs Support counselors before taking the Accuplacer to receive special accommodations for a learning or physical disability.
3. Accuplacer Assessment/Other Placement Tests
Nicolet requires new, first-time college students to complete either the Accuplacer computerized assessment test or the ACT (American College Testing) exam as part of the admissions process for most programs. Testing requirements and program entry criteria vary from program to program. Students should check with the Admissions Office for specific program testing requirements. This testing must be completed prior to acceptance into technical and university transfer programs.
The ACT is strongly recommended for high school students entering the University Transfer Program. Current high school students should check with their guidance office about the ACT schedule of testing and registration requirements. Nicolet College is a site for ACT testing on various Saturdays throughout the year, but students must pre-register for the exam.
In addition to taking the Accuplacer assessment, students will also be asked to complete a computerized writing sample to determine placement into college writing courses. University Transfer and Land Survey students will also be asked to complete a separate Algebra math test as part of the Accuplacer. Neither Accuplacer test scores nor the results of the writing assessment will prohibit a student from entering the college, but both may have a bearing on a student's placement into programs and certain courses.
Certain programs may require additional testing in areas such as science reasoning, keyboarding, or computer skills as part of program admission. All students will be notified of testing requirements at the time of application.
No appointment is necessary for taking the Accuplacer test, but students need to report to the Testing Center to begin the test before 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Most students complete testing in 90 to 120 minutes.
Testing Exemptions
Students may be exempted from Accuplacer testing if they have taken an ACT test within the last five years and submit the results along with their admissions application. have completed more than 12 post-secondary credits at another college or university within the last five years and have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 ; or have earned a bachelor's degree or higher in a related field.
4. Acceptance Status/Academic Advising/Registration
Following Accuplacer testing, all new students are given the status of pre-program by the Admissions Office. Students who score at a level below 9th grade competency in basic skills are referred to the Basic Education Center for more in-depth remedial work prior to entering a program. All pre-program students are then notified when their next step is to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor to register for classes prior to the beginning of the term. Some programs, especially those, which may have waitlists, make ask new students to attend a mandatory group orientation/registration session with their academic advisor and program instructor.
During a new student's academic advising/registration appointment or group registration session, the student will be informed of specific program or course requirements, review Accuplacer or ACT scores, and develop a personalized education plan to meet the student's goals. If test scores and transcripts indicate the student meets the requirements of the program or coursework, the advisor accepts the student officially into the program and registers the student. If the advisor feels that the student needs to do some brush up work in basic skill areas, the advisor may register the student in a combination of prep classes and core courses. If the student needs all prep courses, the student could remain in a preprogram status until course requirements are met.
Academic advisors are assigned to students based on their program and are available to assist students at any time during their educational experience at the college. They can provide information about course selection, interpretation of test scores, major requirements, transfer of credits, transcript evaluation, articulation of courses, advanced standing, test out procedures, and anything regarding a student's academic records and requirements. All new Nicolet students must meet with an advisor in order to register for their first semester's classes. Continuing students are strongly encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester prior to registration, to insure they are on track for graduation or completion of educational goals.
New students will be notified of the date and time of New Student Orientation, which is usually held just prior to the start of each semester. Attendance at orientation is strongly recommended for all new students. During these sessions, students receive information about academic policies and procedures, campus services available to all students, and student activities and clubs. Students also receive their new student handbooks, yearly academic calendars, and Photo ID cards.
Youth Options provides greater learning opportunities for qualified high school juniors and seniors. Students who are considering a technical career, wishing to begin college early, or want to prepare to enter the workforce immediately after high school graduation will be interested in Youth Options. The program allows students to take credit courses at Nicolet while still in high school and in many cases, receive both high school and college credit.
The student who has completed 10th grade; is in good academic standing with the high school; does not have a record of disciplinary problems; and does not meet the statutory definition of a "child-at-risk" may participate in Youth Options.
To enroll in Youth Options, high school students may obtain the necessary state-mandated DPI and the Nicolet forms from the high school counseling office or Nicolet's Admissions Office. The student must obtain a parent or guardian's signature on the form and then discuss with a high school counselor how Youth Options will fit into the student's high school schedule. Forms must be submitted to the high school by March 1 for the fall semester and Oct. 1 for the spring semester.
The high school will notify Nicolet College of those interested in participating in Youth Options. Students who wish to take more than 6 credits (or two classes) at Nicolet will be required to take the Accuplacer basic skills test or submit ACT scores to verify basic academic competencies. If Nicolet approves the Youth Options request, the student will enroll in courses and attend a New Student Orientation. Under the guidelines of the Youth Options program, qualified students will have the cost of both tuition and books paid for by the high school. Under newly revised Youth Options legislation, Nicolet College is no longer required to give Youth Options students priority in registration for courses over our regular college students.
Courses in both the University Transfer program and in any associate degree or diploma program can be taken under this program as long as students meet the course prerequisites and admissions requirements. No remedial coursework or summer session courses are allowed under the Youth Options Program.
(This does not include Youth Options, Youth Apprenticeship or Tech Prep Students Enrolled in Courses).
Students who have not yet graduated from high school and who are under the age of 18 may enroll in Nicolet courses if those courses meet after the regular high school day is over or during the Nicolet summer session and providing the student meets the course/program requirements or prerequisites. High School students under age 18 could enroll in a course during the school day if they have received written permission from their high school. Students under the age of 18, unless a high school graduate, will not be permitted to enroll in a class in which any part of the class involves hands-on applications in areas identified as hazardous by Nicolet Board Policy (6.05.1)
If the student is under the age of 16, written permission from both the parent/guardian and the instructor of the course is required. (See attached form). The student must also meet the course/program requirements or prerequisites. Students under the age of 16 will not be permitted to enroll in any Health Occupations courses (example EMT-Basic or Nursing Assistant), fire training courses or a class that may include hazardous hands-on applications.
Students under the age of 18 fall under all protection of federal FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) guidelines while enrolled as a Nicolet student (see FERPA guidelines).
Nicolet Area Technical College is approved by the US Department of Justice/ Immigration and Naturalization Service for attendance by non-immigrant students and issuance of I-20 student visa forms. International students who wish to obtain an I-20 form to apply for F-1 Visa status must follow the regular Nicolet admissions process, plus provide the following information to the Admissions Office: the equivalent of high school/and college transcripts translated into English; written documentation of financial support to cover educational expenses; letter of support from US sponsor; proof of medical insurance or the ability to obtain medical insurance; demonstrated English proficiency as demonstrated on the Accuplacer assessment; and personal data including date of birth, country of birth, and country of citizenship.
All information is reported by Nicolet College to the Immigration and Naturalization Service/Department of Homeland Security via the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) on the web. By law, the Designated School Official at Nicolet must report all enrollment information on international students holding F-1 visas each semester to SEVIS.
DATE ADOPTED: March 1, 1995
DATE(S) REVISED: April 14, 2004
DATE(S) REVIEWED: January 2004