Academic Preparedness

Placement |  Faculty |  Advisor |  Academic Services |  Libraries

Placement

Location
Assessment Center, Room 217, Medlin Campus Center, Jamestown Campus

Hours
Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am-6:00 pm,  Friday, 8:00 am-1:30 pm
2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, 9:00 am-10:00 am

(Note: An applicant or student who appears for the test prior to the closing time shown above will be admitted to the test. A COMPASS Card from the Admissions Department and a picture ID is required to be presented to sit for the test.)

New Students
All new students who enroll at the college in an academic program must take the GTCC Placement Test.
Scores of 510 and 520, verbal and math on the SAT, respectively, will waive the requirement for the placement test, except for allied health, limited enrollment programs. Evidence of success in college English or math at another college will waive the respective test.

COMPASS
The GTCC Placement Test is COMPASS, a computer administered instrument. The COMPASS is an assessment of skills in written English, reading and math. The COMPASS results will assist counselors and advisors, as well as yourself to properly schedule appropriate classes for your initial term of entry and beyond.

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Faculty

Credentials
The faculty of Guilford Technical Community College have a variety of college and work experiences. Most of the instructors in the technical programs come from industry and have on the job experience. The instructors in college transfer courses have masters degrees or higher and have expertise in the field in which they teach. Developmental education instructors have teaching experience and are trained in working with academically deficient students. The college catalog lists all full-time, credentialed faculty at the end of that publication. Many part time faculty work during the day and teach at night, providing a seamless contact relating work experience to their teaching assignment.

Classroom
The faculty provide each student in class with a syllabus at the beginning of the term (it is important not to miss the first class-essential information is provided during that first meeting). The syllabus will give the student information about the course: content, objectives, outcomes, and unit instruction timeline. In addition, the syllabus will show the grading policy, the final grade calculation process, the attendance policy, and the withdrawal policy.

Note: failing to officially withdraw from a class will result in a grade of F.

Office Hours
The faculty will note office hours on the syllabus, as well as office location. Each faculty will identify several hours during the week that they are available to assist students by appointment in their office. Students are encouraged to contact instructors for an appointment to discuss academic progress, career options, and other matters of importance related to academic success.

Grading
The GTCC grading scale is as follows:

A: 94-100,
B: 86-93,
C: 78-85,
D: 70-77
F: Below 70

Some courses use S and U; S and U grades count toward graduation, but are not calculated into the grade-point-average.

Students can receive an incomplete (grade of I), but an I must be completed or removed by the 70% point of the next term or the I will become an F. Students can also get credit by proficiency for courses, which must be approved and administered during the first week of a course. Proficiency grades do not compute in the grade-point-average, but do count to meet required hours for graduation.

Please be reminded that faculty are your best source of information and are your guides to your success in a course. Use them to your best advantage.

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Advisor

A faculty advisor will advise students of their course options and monitor their program plan throughout their enrollment at GTCC. It is, however, the student's responsibility to contact his/her faculty advisor.

Assignment
Each student enrolled in a program of study for a degree, diploma, or certificate is assigned an advisor in his or her program.

Responsibility
The assigned advisor will be available to assist advisees with a variety of issues: academic performance, academic standing, career exploration, career choice, program plan, registration, and graduation requirements. An advisor is also a good person to consult about jobs and employment outlook.

Registration
Students should meet with their assigned advisor during the advising period prior to registration for a coming term. The registration notice, which is mailed about two weeks prior to registration for a coming term will show students the name of their advisor, the advisor's telephone extension and room number. Students will contact their advisor (office hours are posted on each faculty members office door) who will help them select the appropriate courses and provide the student with his or her PIN (personal identification number) to register by TRACS (new students are required to be advised by the advising cadre their first term of enrollment).

Students should be prepared for the advising session by getting a course schedule and reviewing program requirements prior to the advising session. A list of courses and alternative courses should be prepared by the student before the advising session. The faculty advisor will have access to each advisees "program plan," which is a listing of required courses and those completed to date by the student. Students should ask their advisor for a copy. The program plan is a good guide for course selection and as a graduation audit template. Program plans are available from the Records Department, Admissions and Records Office, Medlin Campus Center, Jamestown Campus, at any time.

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Academic Services

Computer Lab
Students can use the computer lab in the Percy Sears Applied Technologies Center. The lab has about 100 computers and is open six days and four evenings a week. The computers in the lab can be used by students (ID required) to complete course assignments, to practice computer skills, and to do work required in on-line courses.

Skills Lab
The Skills Lab is a support service for students enrolled in developmental English, math, and reading courses. The Skills Lab provides supplementary materials including computer programs, videotapes, and worksheets; assistance from the Skills Lab instructor; and a place to study. In addition, any GTCC student who is interested in strengthening his or her basic academic and study skills is encouraged to come by the Skills Lab for individual assistance. The Jamestown campus Skills Lab is located in Health Careers 100-102. Hours are posted on the Skills Lab door.

Assistance is also available in the Academic Skills Lab on the Greensboro campus, J.S. Price Annex, room 06A.

Tutoring Center
The Tutoring Center provides free tutoring to currently enrolled GTCC students who seek assistance with their coursework. The purpose of the tutoring program is to help students become independent and successful learners by assisting them to develop good study skills, to increase their understanding of course content, to enhance their self-confidence, and to develop a positive attitude toward learning.

Tutors are paid by the college. The majority of tutors are currently enrolled students who have made an A or B in the course or its equivalent in which they are tutoring and have been recommended by their instructor.

All students interested in receiving tutorial assistance or being a tutor should see the Tutoring Center staff for an appropriate application form. The Tutoring Center is located in room 100-102 in the Health Careers Building.

Writing Center
If a student needs help with a writing assignment, the student can go to the Writing Center, located on the first floor in the open lab of the Applied Tech Building, Jamestown Campus. The services are free to enrolled students.

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Libraries

GTCC has three libraries: Jamestown, Greensboro, High Point

Jamestown Campus
The M. W. Bell Library is in the Learning Resource Center Building

Hours:
Monday-Thursday 7:30 am-9:30 pm
Friday 7:30 am-5:00 pm
Selected Saturdays 9:00 am-2:00 pm

Greensboro Campus
West Washington Street in Room 202

Hours:
Monday-Thursday 9:00 am-Noon
Friday 12:30 pm-3:00 pm
Selected Saturdays 6:00 pm-9:00 pm

High Point Campus
South Main Street in Room 139

Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
9:00 am-Noon / 12:30 pm-3:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am-Noon

Note: Other hours by arrangement. Summer hours may vary.

A student's ID card serves as the library card. The card gives access to any of the three libraries to establish library privileges. A GTCC student can borrow materials from other libraries in the area or from across the southeast through the interlibrary loan mail service. There is a fax machine available at the M. W. Bell Library on the Jamestown Campus and all libraries have copying machines.

Librarians are available to assist students with research both individually and as classes in the Learning Resources lab in the M. W. Bell Library on the Jamestown Campus. Students are encouraged to use the libraries for research, for assignments, for studying and for recreational reading.

For more information visit Library Services online.

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