Community colleges are well known for offering a quality education at the fraction of the cost, and Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) is no exception. Serving students from all walks of life, and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Cape Fear CC offers a wide range of programs for the traditional and non-traditional student alike.
Founded in 1958, Cape Fear CC is located in Wilmington, North Carolina. Named after the Cape Fear River, CFCC is home to the Sea Devils, its mascot. There are three campuses in total affiliated with CFCC, the Wilmington Campus, North Campus, and the Burgaw Center.
Cape Fear Community College
Academics
Like most community colleges, Cape Fear CC offers associate degrees, technical degrees, and continuing education courses.
Cape Fear offers an Associate in Arts (AA) degree in programs such as criminal justice, social work, and art education. AA degrees are normally designed to be transferable to four-year institutions. At Cape Fear, Associate in Science (AS) degrees are offered in general studies. There is also an Associate in Fine Arts and an Associate in Applied Science (AAS). The Associate in Fine Arts is designed to transfer, while AS and ASS degrees are normally designed for a student to enter the job market directly after completing his or her degree.
Individuals who are interested in pursuing a degree that will immediately allow them to join the workforce should look into the Associate in Applied Science or certification courses in fields such as Practical Nursing and air conditioning technology.
Classes are offered throughout the week and even on weekends, from morning until evening. Class formats available include a mixture of online, hybrid, and more “traditional” classroom settings are also offered.
Students must take 44 hours of general core classes for all majors with only a limited number of exceptions. These courses fall under the following categories: English composition, humanities/fine arts, speech/communication, social and behavioral sciences, natural science and mathematics.
In the Arts and Sciences Department, CFCC offers a variety of programs including communications, religion, history and physics. The other main academic department is the Technical and Vocational Departments. Within this department you will find a public services division, business technology division, vocational division, engineering technology division, health sciences division and a marine technology division.
Overall, whatever you may be interested in pursuing, Cape Fear is most likely to have a course or two in it; less common degrees such as boat manufacturing and service, sustainability technologies and esthetics technology, just to name a few are made common offerings at Cape Fear CC.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Cape Fear Community College.
CFCC also has programs for high school students looking to advance through college quickly. This program is known as Gateway and is discussed in detail below.
The Gateway program allows high school students the opportunity to earn college credits. Three main programs fall under this option: Early College, Huskins Classes and Concurrent Enrollment. Through Concurrent Enrollment high school students can take college level courses. Through the Early College program students go to class on the college campus and fulfill two years of college credit while finishing their high school diplomas. This program is open to ninth graders. Finally, the Huskins Classes are for high school students who enroll in college level courses especially designed for them, different from Concurrent Enrollment which allows high school students to take classes especially designed for adult learners. To be admitted, a student must be at least 16 years of age and obtain certification from one’s principal. For information regarding Early College, students are required to contact their school.
Cape Fear Community College
Admissions
Cape Fear Community College has an open door admission policy. Students who have earned a GED or high school diploma are eligible for admission. In order to be accepted, a prospective student must submit an application and transcripts from high school or proof of passing the GED.
Students are also required to take the Accuplacer placement test. Exemptions are possible. Those who have a certain score on the SAT and ACT may be exempt. Those transfer students who have completed college level math and English also may meet exemption. Other ways exemption from the Accuplacer test may occur is if the student has cut off scores from another university or has taken similar developmental courses at another community college.
Financial Aid
The first step in the application process is to complete the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA). Cape Fear highly encourages new applicants to submit their FAFSA information by early July in order to receive financial aid for the upcoming fall term. Please keep in mind that one can complete a FAFSA as early as the beginning of the year for the fall term. In fact, the earlier you do it, the more money available to be allocated. The federal funding mentioned in the paragraph below cannot be obtained without first completing the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for federal funds.
Cape Fear has several financial aid programs available for its students including: the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant (FACG), Federal Work Study, North Carolina Student Incentive Grant, North Carolina Community College Grant, and the North Carolina Education Lottery Scholarship. Please check with Cape Fear’s Financial Aid Office to inquire about application deadlines.
There is also a separate scholarship application for students which can be found online and should be printed and submitted to the financial aid office as soon as possible. The priority deadline is mid May. By filling out this form, you will provide the Financial Aid Office with data that will then be matched to the criteria of available scholarships.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Cape Fear Community College 5221st for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best North Carolina scholarships and financial aid
There are numerous student organizations and clubs on campus. There are clubs that are based on academic majors such as the Mathematics Club. There are clubs that are based on special interests such as the Multicultural Club and then there are clubs that are based on media groups such as the Portals Literary and Arts Magazine Club. To facilitate club meetings and to have a central location for questions and concerns related to student activities, Cape Fear has a Student Activity Center which is housed in the Allied Health Building. The Activity Center also serves a similar function as a student union would on another campus, providing students a place to intermingle, socialize, and relax.
Student Services
Cape Fear also offers an abundance of services for its students from all walks of life, including assisting students with disabilities and returned veterans, for example. Like most community colleges Cape Fear does not currently provide housing for students, but Cape Fear offers counseling services, tutoring in the learning labs, and career services to all interested students. There is also a program known as Align Your Sails, which is offered as a mentoring/coaching program to assist in the college adjustment period.
Through career services, you can receive assistance in creating a resume or have your resume critiqued by an employee of career services. Networking workshops and general information regarding job interviews and professionalism is also available through career services. Students unsure of a career path can also seek help from career services. This is especially important prior to transferring for knowing which career goal you are aiming towards will help you better choose a major that will help you achieve it.
Additional Services
Cape Fear also offers various retention programs for target populations such as the 3MI. 3MI is a “program that is focused on increasing collegiate minority male retention and graduation.” 3MI stands for the Minority Male Mentoring Initiative.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Cape Fear Community College?
In terms of athletics, Cape Fear has several programs for men and women. As a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association-Division I (NJCAA) students involved in competitive sports possibly have the chance to compete in conference championships. Sports are an important part of college life at Cape Fear and students enjoy a wide array of options including golf, tennis, softball, volleyball, soccer and basketball.
Cape Fear Community College
Additional School Information
As mentioned before, it is Cape Fear’s mission to stay relevant and connected to the community. Through various community services, Cape Fear has shown a dedication to Cape Fear residents overall. Cape Fear sponsors a Child Development Center. This center serves as child care and a place of learning not only for the attendees, but also for students who are engaging in early childhood studies. The college also sponsors a dental clinic for eligible patients, a service provided through the Dental Hygiene program.
Caper Fear also offers small business seminars and professional development training. Furthermore, Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses are available to anyone looking to strengthen their reading, writing and math skills. Individuals interested in pursuing a GED have only to contact the ABE program to enroll. Also English as a Second Language (ESL) courses are offered to those individuals in need of improving their basic English skills. Community colleges do not solely exist to produce college-ready students, but also to serve the community at large. Hence, individuals, no matter what stage of their career or life aspirations they consider themselves, can find something at Cape Fear that suits their needs.
Bibliography
Cape Fear Community College. “Catalog 2010-2011.” Web. 29 April 2011 < http://cfcc.edu/cat/cat1011/Catalog2010-2011.pdf>
Cape Fear Community College. “The Gateway Program: College Options for High School Students.” Web. 29 April 2011. < http://cfcc.edu/gateway/documents/TheGatewayProgram.pdf>
Demographics – Main Campus and Surrounding Areas
Reported area around or near Wilmington, NC 28401-3910
Surrounding community
Midsize city (inside urban area, pop. between 100,000 to 250,000)
Feel free to add comments or additional information regarding Cape Fear Community College, or discuss this school in the University Discussion Forum
about 2 years agoMorgan Lutheran
CFCC is a great college. They offer a large variety of classes both online and on campus. After you make it through the initial admission/registration process (there is no application fee, by the way) it takes relatively no effort to register for the following semesters. Most admission and registration processes have to be done in an exact time frame, but the staff have always been more than willing to work with me... They've always treated me with respect... Probably because I'm an intelligent individual who treated them with respect as well, and accomplished things in a timely manner...
The downtown location actually feels like a real university as far as building size, design, and layout. The bookstore overcharges, like most other campus stores I'm familiar with, but there is another little bookstore a few blocks away that sells the same books for half of the price.
Overall, I have really enjoyed my time here, and I think that as long as you put in the effort, you could too.
about 2 years agoLawanda Bowen lawanda_bowen07 ((at)) yahoo dot com
I love going to cfcc. I currently attend downtown campus. North Campus is a better school as far as there tutoring and learning lab.Downtown campus sucks far as that. The classes are smaller than any university and the teachers help you more. So for me i love going to cfcc. Although the information is misleading that you receive all cfcc employees need to be on one accord.
almost 4 years agoDustin Holman dholman ((at)) gardner-webb dot edu
I hate this school, I have never met that many incompetent people in my life. I do not understand how the school functions with the entire Registrar's office acting as if their heads are shoved up their asses. They do not relay information, vital information, to students even afte the stundents request the information. The North campus and Main campus constantly contradict themselves so you never know who is telling you what is right. As well as the general feeling of apathy mixed with aggrivation, when dealing with anyone in the schools faculty. I have only met one member of the faculty that acted like a descent human being. Furthermore, just pay a little bit more and goto UNCW for the love of god, you will thank me for it. If you are going for an associate, I would look else where its just a migrane I would like others to avoid.
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CFCC is a great college. They offer a large variety of classes both online and on campus. After you make it through the initial admission/registration process (there is no application fee, by the way) it takes relatively no effort to register for the following semesters. Most admission and registration processes have to be done in an exact time frame, but the staff have always been more than willing to work with me... They've always treated me with respect... Probably because I'm an intelligent individual who treated them with respect as well, and accomplished things in a timely manner... The downtown location actually feels like a real university as far as building size, design, and layout. The bookstore overcharges, like most other campus stores I'm familiar with, but there is another little bookstore a few blocks away that sells the same books for half of the price. Overall, I have really enjoyed my time here, and I think that as long as you put in the effort, you could too.