Merced College 2010-2011 Catalog

MERCED COLLEGE 209.384.6000
6000, opt 8, (Los Baños students, call (209) 826-3495) or schedule
an appointment at the college switchboard in the Administration
Building lobby for
● A matriculation orientation
● Assessment; and
● Counseling.
(Please note any special needs/accommodations required when
you schedule these services. It may take more than one week to
provide the accommodation required.)
Following the matriculation orientation, you must:
● Submit the admissions application (which you will complete at
the matriculation orientation) to the Admissions Office in the
Lesher Student Services Center, obtain registration materials,
and receive your student ID card.
● Attend an assessment session (your student ID card is
required).
● Bring your assessment information and high school and/or
other college transcripts to your counseling appointment.
● Register for classes according to the appropriate group
registration code posted at the registration counter in the
Lesher Student Services Center.
● Pay fees, according to the fee payment schedule in place at
the time you register, at the Student Fees Office in the Lesher
Student Services Center.
Exemptions
You are an exempted student if you have an AA/AS or higher degree
or have completed transfer-level English and math courses. You
must provide documentation.
As an exempted student, you are not required to participate in any
matriculation services. However, you may participate in any or all
of these services if you choose to do so.
You have a right to refuse matriculation services. If you choose to
do so, you must complete and sign a Matriculation Refusal Form
available at the Admissions counter. If you refuse the matriculation
process, you will not be able to register for classes until the last
group registration.
The Assessment Process
If you are a new student at Merced College, or a student who has
not completed transfer-level English and math courses, you should
participate in the assessment process. Assessment instruments
are used as an advisory tool to assist you in identifying skill levels
in English and math, and also to assist you in the selection of an
educational program. Scores are advisory only. Counselors will
discuss the scores and other relevant personal and educational
information to help you determine course selection. Course
placement will be based on the placement range and other multiple
measures, such as recent academic history.
If you are pursuing an associate degree, you will have English
and math requirements, and you should begin to fulfill these
requirements as early in your college career as possible.
Goals of the assessment process are:
● To assist in determining which student and instructional
services you may need to support your admission and ongoing
enrollment in the College;
● To assist in determining your level of proficiency in the areas of
20 • Admission & Registration •
reading, writing, and mathematics so that you can be placed
into course work that is appropriate to your goals;
● And to assist in determining your career goals so that you
will be provided realistic and purposeful educational planning,
and, if you are undecided, the opportunity to participate in
course work whose focus is career decision-making.
Except in rare circumstances when approved by a counselor, you
are not allowed to retake assessment tests until your subsequent
semester of enrollment. Once you have begun a math or English
course, you may not retake the assessment tests.
Alternate assessment processes are provided to students with
limited English proficiency or disabling conditions which may
require accommodation. Contact the Assessment Technician,
(209) 384-6089 for information.
Transfer Students
If you are transferring from another college, you must submit a
transcript for evaluation. Transcripts submitted to Merced College
become the property of Merced College and cannot be returned to
you or be forwarded to another institution.
Counseling & Course Advisement
If you want to register in college course work with a prerequisite
you have not completed at this college, you must meet with a
Merced College counselor or advisor for approval. The counselor
can help you determine your preparedness for courses you wish to
enter, determine whether you have met prerequisites, and, when
appropriate, assist you with the preparation of a “prerequisite
challenge” (see below).
These sessions can also provide you with information regarding
College resources and support services helpful to you and allow
counselors to make recommendations regarding the number
of units you should consider taking, given your other work/life
obligations. Counselors can also advise you on other personal,
social, educational, and career-related issues which may interfere
with your course of study.
Are You Eligible for a Course?
Prerequisites and Corequisites
In both the College Catalog and the Schedule of Classes, skills
are listed in the form of prerequisites, two types of corequisites,
limitations on enrollment, and advisories. These skills are normally
given in the form of a course, the successful completion of which
will provide you with the necessary skill(s). A definition of each of
these terms is listed below:
Prerequisite
This represents a set of skills or a body of knowledge that you
must possess prior to enrolling in a course. Without these skills
you will be unlikely to receive a satisfactory grade in the course or
succeed in the program. You will not be permitted to enroll in these
courses and programs without the prerequisite.
One-way Corequisite
This represents a course whose content is dependent on a main
course, but the contents of the main course can stand alone.
These courses do not necessarily need to be taken during the
same semester.