Navigating Admissions at Mountain Gateway Community College

Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) provides accessible educational opportunities for a diverse range of students. The college welcomes applications from individuals with a high school diploma or its equivalent, as well as those who are 18 years of age or older and demonstrate the potential to benefit from the college's programs. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the admission requirements, processes, and special programs available at MGCC.

General Admission Requirements

The following procedures apply to all students seeking a degree or certificate at MGCC:

Application for Admission: Submit a completed Application for Admission, including all required state residency information.
Official Transcripts: Forward official transcripts from all previously attended high schools, colleges, and universities. However, high school transcripts may be waived if the applicant's record is over ten years old or if they have completed twenty semester hours (or the equivalent) at a regionally accredited college or university. The registrar must approve any waiver of the high school transcript requirement. The registrar will research any transcripts that are suspected of being invalid for consistency and credibility. Graduates from a home school setting must provide a graduation date and documentation of completed coursework.
Direct Enrollment Survey or SAT/ACT Scores: Complete a direct enrollment survey or provide satisfactory SAT/ACT scores.

After being admitted, students will meet with a college advisor to discuss their educational interests, plan their application for admission to a specific curriculum or program, and schedule courses based on placement test scores.

MGCC reserves the right to evaluate and document special cases and to refuse or revoke admission if the college determines that the applicant or student poses a threat, is a potential danger, is significantly disruptive to the college community, or if such refusal or revocation is considered to be in the best interest of the college.

Direct Enrollment and Placement

Starting with the Fall 2021 semester, MGCC utilizes Direct Enrollment to determine college readiness in math, reading, and writing.

Read also: Fostering Growth at Gateway

Multiple Measures

Direct Enrollment eliminates reliance on the Virginia Placement Test (VPT) by using multiple placement measures such as High School GPA (HSGPA) and college entrance examinations (SAT/ACT/GED) for recent high school graduates. Students may still use a valid VPT test score if previously taken.

Corequisite Courses

Direct Enrollment offers corequisite courses that provide concurrent learning support to help students navigate through gatekeeper math and English courses. Corequisite classes are taken in the same semester as the college-level course and provide additional support in reading, writing, and mathematics.

Developmental Education

Direct Enrollment offers developmental education courses for students who don’t meet the HSGPA or standardized test score “floor” and/or for students who feel that they lack the knowledge and skills to be successful in college English or math after consultation with an advisor.

Directed Self-Placement

Direct enrollment provides Directed Self-Placement for adult learners who are more than 5 years from high school graduation.

Advising Survey

In the application process, students will complete the Advising Survey. Recent high school graduates will self-report HSGPA and Algebra 2 enrollment on a questionnaire.

Read also: Navigating MyGateway

Program-Specific Admission Requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements, the MGCC Practical Nursing Certificate program and the Associate Degree Nursing Program have selective admissions requirements that students must meet to be admitted. All Associate of Applied Science degree programs have identified technical standards or essential functions that students must be able to fulfill in order to meet program learning outcomes. The specific requirements for each curriculum are listed in the Programs of Study section of the college catalog.

Admission to specific courses is available only when the student meets the prerequisite requirements for the course as identified in the Course Descriptions or Programs of Study sections. Some courses are open only to students in particular programs. Students must comply with all individual course prerequisites established in the college catalog. It is the responsibility of the student to review course prerequisites when making enrollment decisions.

Admission for High School Students

Students enrolled in high school who meet all course prerequisites may be admitted to MGCC under one of the admission programs described below. In general, students who participate in these programs are at least 16 years old and/or have reached junior status.

Dual Enrollment

"Dual Enrollment" gives high school students (including home schooled students) the opportunity to earn college credits while meeting the requirements for high school graduation. If qualified, a dual enrollment student may take courses at any MGCC location or may take special courses that meet all MGCC academic requirements at their local high school. College credits earned at MGCC may meet the high school’s graduation requirements, may be applied toward graduation at MGCC, and may be transferred to another college or university.

For dual enrollment admission, the student must obtain permission from a parent/guardian, the high school guidance counselor (if enrolled in high school), and appropriate Student Services personnel. Details are available from Student Services, high school guidance offices, and the MGCC Early College Access Coach. VCCS Policy prevents dual enrollment students from enrolling in developmental classes.

Read also: Your Gateway to Success

Early College Pathway Program

The Early College Pathway Program allows high school students to jumpstart their college career. Students will begin to earn credentials that are required by most employers for entering the workforce and having opportunities to advance on a career pathway.

Motivated students who meet eligibility requirements may have the opportunity to complete an Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree in General Studies (or Science for Jackson River Governor’s School students) through Mountain Gateway Community College. By following specific guidelines for scheduling courses that meet both high school graduation and MGCC degree requirements, students may graduate from high school and MGCC at the same time. Information is available in the guidance office of each participating high school.

Concurrent Enrollment

"Concurrent Enrollment" is the enrollment of high school students (including home schooled students) in college courses for which they are receiving college credit but are not receiving high school credit. It gives students who do not need additional high school credits the ability to begin their college careers early, enjoying the challenge of college courses. For concurrent enrollment admission, the student must obtain permission from a parent/guardian, the high school guidance counselor (if enrolled in high school), and appropriate Student Services personnel.

Admission for Home Schooled Students

MGCC welcomes home schooled students! An applicant whose home schooling does not require a home-schooled agreement will generally be 18 years of age and able to demonstrate the ability to benefit from a program at the College as determined by an appropriate score on the placement test or the SAT or ACT test. If the applicant is not yet 18 years old, they must submit a letter from the school board in the district where they are registered as a home-schooled student which confirms that they are of junior or senior status.

Additional Requirements and Information

Veteran's Affairs

Many of the College’s programs are approved by the State Department of Education for payment of veterans’ benefits. The Veteran’s Affairs Officer will assist students in applying for Veterans’ benefits and will certify students’ enrollment to the Department of Veterans Affairs for payment. Requests for benefits should be directed to the Veterans’ Affairs Officer. It is the lawful obligation of the Veterans’ Affairs Officer to monitor the veteran’s academic program and to inform the Veterans’ Administration promptly of such matters as poor attendance, unsatisfactory progress, and lapses in enrollment. Veteran students are reminded that in order to receive benefits for a course, the course must be applicable to their approved program of study, as outlined in the college catalog.

Senior Citizens

NOTE: A nonpaying senior citizen may be withdrawn from a class (even after it has begun) if space is needed for a paying student who may register during the add/drop period. NOTE: Senior citizens are responsible for fees established for the purpose of paying for course materials and lab fees.

International Students

MGCC does not admit international students possessing F, M, or J visas. All visa-holders seeking admission must present copies of the I-94, applications of admission and other required information to the Domicile Officer at MGCC at least 45 days prior to the beginning of the semester in which they wish to enroll.

Compliance with Virginia Code

Section 23-2.2:1 of the Code of Virginia requires that the VCCS send enrollment information to the Virginia State Police concerning applicants to institutions of higher education. This information is transmitted electronically and compared against the Virginia Criminal Information Network and National Crime Information Center Convicted Sexual Offender Registry. If the applicant has already registered for classes and attended at least one class meeting at any MGCC location before the college receives notification from the State Police, the student will be immediately informed that he/she is being administratively withdrawn from classes and will receive a refund.

A team of administrators will review the information submitted and make a decision by a simple majority vote within seven (7) calendar days of receiving the letter of appeal. The Director of Student Services will inform the withdrawn offender by letter of the decision of the appeals panel. The MGCC campus community is advised that the following site may be accessed to obtain information on registered sex offenders: VA Sex Offenders. This site, maintained by the Virginia State Police, provides information about registered sex offenders in the geographical area served by Mountain Gateway Community College (as well as anywhere in Virginia). Once the web site is reached, click on “sex offender registry” for relevant information. To comply with federal mandates, MGCC must inform the public of registered sex offenders who are attending classes at MGCC.

Determining Domicile

A Domicile Officer in Student Services is responsible for determining residency, and guidance will be sought where there is a question regarding a student’s residency status. State law does not permit discretion in determining Virginia residency status. Classification must be decided solely by reference to a student’s domicile. Domicile is a technical legal concept and is determined objectively by established legal rules which must be applied impartially.

The following general rules are used in determining domicile:

A person’s domicile is the place where he or she resides with the unqualified intention of remaining permanently.
Persons must demonstrate that they have been domiciled in Virginia for one year immediately prior to the commencement of the semester for which they are seeking Virginia residency status. Parents of students 18 years of age or less must have been domiciled in Virginia for one year. After age 19 residency is normally determined by the individual student’s domicile and not the parents’ because the age of majority in Virginia is 18. If the student, regardless of age, is a “dependent student” as defined for income tax purposes, then the student may claim the domicile of either parent. Students residing in the country on a temporary or education visa are not considered permanent residents of Virginia.

When enrollments must be limited for any curriculum or course, first priority is given to qualified students who are residents of the political subdivisions supporting the College if such students apply for admission to the program a reasonable length of time prior to registration. Entitlement to in-state tuition charges is based on domicile status, not residency.

Tuition Appeals Process

Level I: Appeals regarding tuition status are initially addressed at the Student Services level.

Level II: The student may appeal the disposition of Level I by filing an appeal in writing with the Director of Student Services within five business days following the Level I decision.

Level III: The student may appeal the disposition of Level II by filing an appeal in writing with the Vice President of Academic Affairs within five business days following the time the student reasonably should have gained knowledge of the tuition status determined in Level II.

Level IV: The disposition of Level III may be appealed in writing to the President of MGCC within five business days following the time the student reasonably should have gained knowledge of the tuition status determined in Level III. The President’s decision is the final step in the appeals process and may not be appealed.

Disability Services

MGCC is committed to the goal of providing each qualified student an equal opportunity to pursue a college education regardless of a disability. In order to qualify for accommodations, the student must provide clear and specific evidence from a qualified professional that documents a formal diagnosis of a disability. Except in certain cases, the documentation can be no older than three years.

Section 508 Compliance

MGCC adheres to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 requires agencies, during the procurement, development, maintenance, or use phases of ICT, to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to and use of ICT information and data comparable to the access and use afforded to individuals without disabilities (i.e., “ICT accessibility”), unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. The Section 508 standards are the technical requirements and criteria used to measure ICT accessibility conformance within this law.

Transfer Credits

MGCC welcomes students who wish to transfer credits from another college. Potential transfer students must have an official copy of the transcript from each previously attended college sent to the MGCC registrar prior to consulting an advisor in Student Services for an assessment of credits. At the discretion of the registrar, students transferring credits to MGCC from other Virginia community colleges may not be required to provide a transcript, as course and enrollment history may be available via MGCC’s computerized files. MGCC accepts credit from regionally accredited colleges where equivalency of course material is demonstrated, provided the credits are applicable to the student’s program of study.

Specific Program Admission Details

Here is some program-specific information that may be useful for prospective students:

Multiple Measures: Students must meet one of the following multiple measures: earned a technical diploma or higher, earned a minimum high school GPA of 2.6, earned a minimum college GPA of 2.0 or submit ACT or Accuplacer test scores. Submit any needed transcripts or test scores.
Cosmetology: In addition to the general application, students applying for the Cosmetology program must meet one of the reading readiness multiple measures: earned a technical diploma or higher, minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.6 (unweighted); earned at least 12 college credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0; or submit proof of minimum test scores (15 ACT Reading, 19 SAT Reading, 237 Accuplacer Reading).
Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement 720 AcademyLEA: This is a two-part application process. Step I involves submitting the Application for Admission & Application Fee, DJLE-327 Application for Enrollment, a copy of a valid driver’s license, official HS/GED/HSED transcripts verifying completion, official college transcript verifying an Associate Degree or higher or at least 40 post-secondary credits earned, an Order Background Check ONLY (CBC), a request for an abstract copy of your driving record from your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles, and Verification of Age and US Citizenship. Step II involves an interview.
Dental Assistant: Students admitted into this program progress through three stages: pre-core, core-ready, and core-active as they work to complete their degree. Complete Core-Ready Requirements for Priority Placement. Admitted students must complete the academic preparedness items below to become Core-Ready: Submit an Official High School Transcript or GED/HSED Credential, including a graduation or passing date. Order Background Check ONLY (CBC). Upon completing your order, the BID will be on your To-Do List. Download, print, and then upload the completed BID to your myCB within 30 days of your CBC order. BID's not uploaded within 30 days may result in the need to place a new CBC order. Student Instruction Form. For additional background check information, read and understand the list of criminal offenses that may prevent clinical participation. Academic preparedness prerequisites including college-level knowledge in writingAdditional details regarding these requirements can be found on the Priority Placement page.

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