Calhoun Community College is an open admission, coeducational community college which provides two year degree programs. It is among the largest higher learning community colleges under the Alabama Community College System. The college is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
In 1942, Calhoun was started as the Decatur Trade School and in 1947, Calhoun Community College was formed when Tennessee Valley State Technical School and John Calhoun State Junior College were combined. Since then, it has been actively providing workforce development training by partnering with businesses in and around Alabama.
The college is divided into four educational divisions, which are:
Business, Technologies, and Workforce Development Division, which includes trade programs in technologies such as HVAC, robotics, and cosmetology, business administration, and adult education.
The Health Division offers programs in allied health and nursing.
Humanities and Social Sciences Division offers programs in fine arts, literature and social sciences.
Mathematics and Natural Sciences Division offers biotechnology programs.
Calhoun was among the first colleges in United States to start offering online courses in 1997.
As of 2011, Calhoun is home to 12,000 students enrolled in associate degree programs and certificate programs. It also offers career and placement services to current students and alumni by sending them job notifications and postings.
Calhoun Community College is a certified GED testing center and also provides ACT learning courses. At Calhoun, students who require academic assistance can receive free tutoring through the ROADS program.
Calhoun Community College
Admissions
Dual Enrollment for High School Students
Calhoun offers dual enrollment programs for high school students, who can take college classes along with their high school classes to receive college credits. After submitting application forms, it is mandatory to take the placement testing program, which ascertains student skills and places them in a program that matches their skill set.
Early enrollment is also available for high school students who have taken the SAT or ACT and the Alabama High School Graduation Exam.
Freshmen Students
Associate degree applicants must have high school transcripts from an Alabama state accredited school or should have passed the Alabama Public High School Graduation Examination. Out of state students must submit high school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores.
Transfer Students
Transfer students must submit high school transcripts or GED scores, SAT or ACT scores, and all official college transcripts.
International Students
International students are required to submit TOEFL scores in addition to providing all educational transcripts and supporting immigration documents.
Additional Information
At Calhoun, high school students can earn college credits through the dual enrollment program, the accelerated high school program, and the early college enrollment program. No specific admission requirements are mentioned for online programs except for a minimum 2.5 GPA. Students can enroll anytime for online programs. Weekend college is available for working students at the Huntsville/Cummings Research Park.
Most technical and special programs have specific admission requirements which are mentioned in the Student Catalog.
Financial Aid
Federal financial aid is available in the form of Pell grants, Supplemental Education Opportunity grants, Stafford loans, Direct Plus loans, and work study programs. To be eligible for federal financial aid, students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at FAFSA.
State aid is also available through the Alabama Student Assistance Grant, for which students must complete another financial aid form available at the Office of Student Financial Services.
Institutional scholarships are listed here. Some of the available scholarships include the Sallie Mae fund Scholarship Programs, AWS Foundation Scholarships, and the AES Engineers Scholarship.
Calhoun awards scholarships to meritorious students every year through the Calhoun Foundation. In order to qualify for the academic scholarships, students must maintain a GPA of more than 3.0 in the subject they are majoring in.
Only students with a high school certificate/diploma and those who are residents of the United States are eligible.
The college also offers special benefits to military veterans through its Student Veteran Association.
Calhoun Community College
Students
Calhoun offers special student services, clubs and organizations, and other helpful services. Students that are considered minorities, single mothers and homemakers, and disabled students can receive benefits like book loans, personal counseling, and academic advising through the Services for Special Student Populations Center.
Calhoun has an active student government association which is responsible for student activities that are not a part of the academic curriculum. The student association provides opportunities for community service, peer learning, and social outreach.
Clubs and Greek fraternities and sororities at Calhoun enjoy through several annual events and weekly mingles like barbecues and weekend parties. Some of the popular clubs are the Bass Fishing Club, 2CTV, Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Delta Kappa, and the Warhawks Hosts and Hostesses.
Students can use the campus wellness center facility by paying a nominal membership fee per semester. Facilities at the center include running and walking tracks, weight machines, treadmills, and other standard gym equipment.
Outside the campus, Calhoun students have numerous outdoor recreation options. Decatur is located on the banks of the Tennessee River making it a great spot for boating, fishing, and camping. Other outdoor facilities include the Biking Nature Trail and the North Alabama Birding Trail.
Athletics
Athletic teams at Calhoun Community College are called the Warhawks and play in the official school colors of blue and white. The Warhawks are members of the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association and play in the Alabama Community College Conference.
The Warhawks play baseball while the Ladyhawks team plays softball. Campus athletic facilities include a baseball field with a seating capacity of 400 and a softball stadium.
Alumni
Benita Brooks, Miss Alabama 1995
Cary Gray, actor
Bo Bice, American Idol contestant
Bibliography
Calhoun Community College. Calhoun Community College. Web. 24 May 2011
Digital Decatur. Digital Decatur. Web. 24 May 2011
This website and associated pages are not associated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Calhoun Community College. StateUniversity.com has no official or unofficial affiliation with Calhoun Community College.
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