Areas Of Study - Lake Area Technical Institute

Accreditation
Lake Area Technical Institute is accredited by The Higher
Learning Commission, A Commission of the North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools, the South Dakota Division
of Work force and Career Preparation and by numerous
agencies governing the quality and accreditation of the many
programs at Lake Area Tech.
General Education
An integral part of LATI’s mission statement is the comprehensive,
foundational nature of the technical education we provide.
General education classes are critical to LATI’s four core values,
known as ROCK: Responsibility, Outcomes, Communications,
and Knowledge. General Education provides the broad
knowledge and skills that enable LATI graduates to work
effectively throughout society.
GENERAL EDUCATION PURPOSE STATEMENT
The purpose of LATI General Education is to provide the
building blocks for success. Through core general education
courses, students gain skills and knowledge for effectiveness in
communications, computer, math and the sciences.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Develop professional competencies.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication.
• Apply mathematical concepts to solve problems.
• Locate, organize and effectively use information from a variety
of sources.
• Demonstrate technological literacy.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the organization and diversity of
the human community.
• Use theories and concepts to understand human behavior.
Instructors
All instructors have many years of successful practical experience
in the job areas they teach, as well as having professional
education and academic training. All instructors are certified by
the South Dakota Office of Curriculum, Career and Technical
Education.
Satisfactory Progress
Students are expected to meet standards of progress as
determined by general school policy and department policy.
Each department sets its minimum standards based on industry
requirements. Students with academic deficiencies will be
subject to loss of financial aid and may be terminated from
school. Academic deficiencies may also affect eligibility for other
types of financial assistance. The Department of Education
requires schools to define and monitor satisfactory academic
progress for financial aid recipients.
Attendance
All departments have attendance requirements. Attendance is
important to both the mastery of course skills and development
of proper work habits.
PLACEMENT AND PRIOR LEARNING
Advanced Placement (AP) is available in Keyboarding classes.
The programs which instruct keyboarding will do a placement
test with students and register the student for the most
appropriate course for the skill level demonstrated. The student
will be granted credit for any keyboarding course he/she tests
out of at no charge.
Prior Learning (PL) is granted in cases where a student may
have work experience or other experiences where technical
credit may be granted. This decision is made by the program
department head. Verification may be requested.
Transfer Credit From High School
Tech Prep credit may be granted to students who graduated
from high schools that have articulation agreements with LATI.
This option and the conditions that apply are explained in the
registration information that each student receives prior to
attending LATI.
Computer
LATI will transfer up to two credits in computers for students
who have taken high school computer classes and graduated
from high school within the last three years under the following
conditions:
• The student must have completed one credit of computers
(excluding keyboarding).
• The student must have a grade of B or better in these
classes.
ACCOUNTING
Students who have completed one credit of high school
accounting or bookkeeping within the last three years and
received a grade of “B” or better will be allowed to articulate two
credits towards an accounting course at Lake Area Technical
Institute. Students also have the option to test out of ACCT
210 Principles of Accounting I.
AGRICULTURE
If your high school uses the Statewide Agriculture Profile
Curriculum and you enroll in the Lake Area Agriculture
program, up to 15 credits may be articulated. Contact Lee
Quale, Director of Enrollment, for more details.
Test Outs Available For These Courses:*
ACCT 210 Principles of Accounting I Students who have had
two or more semesters of Accounting on the high school level
and who received a “B” or better may elect to try the Accounting
I test-out. The test consists of an accounting simulation which
covers the concepts from chapters one through fifteen in the
text.
Student who wish to take the test can be enrolled in any section
of Accounting I. They need to schedule the test with Sally
Solum of the Financial Services department. There is a fee of
$20 per credit to take the test. A minimum score of 80% is
needed to pass. Should the test-out be successful, the student
will not have to pay for ACCT 210 and the student transcript
will reflect the credit earned and the fact that it was earned by
Test Out (TO).
CSC 100 or 102 Computer Test-out Policy Several LATI
programs require a one or three credit computer course. An
opportunity to test out of these classes is available. The instructor
will explain this option the first day of class. A fee of $20 per
credit is required for the test.
MA 115 Medical Terminology Students who have taken
medical terminology in high school may test out of this class.
Check with the Director of Enrollment’s Office for details. A fee
of $20 per credit is required for this test. Fee is waived if part of
a tech prep articulation agreement.
MATH 100 Student may request to test out of any general
math course. The test must be taken during the first week of the
semester. A fee of $20 per credit is required for the test.
* Only one test out allowed per course.
17