John Tyler Community College (JTCC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Established in 1967, John Tyler Community College is located in Chester, Virginia and is a two-year college. There are numerous educational opportunities offered by the college including diplomas, professional certificates, transfer degrees, associate’s degrees and individual courses aimed at personal enrichment or career improvement.

The school has an open enrollment policy and it is extremely simple to register for classes. There are several financial aid options available for students who may otherwise not be able to afford a college education.

John Tyler Community College does not have an organized athletics organization or any Greek sororities or fraternities, nor does it offer on-campus housing. However, students have multiple opportunities throughout the year to participate in cultural events and community service events such as conducting blood drives, collecting toys, and volunteering with the local Angel Tree organization to bring underprivileged children toys at Christmas.

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Information Summary

Ranks 65th in Virginia and 2870th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	52.4
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$6,220
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	22 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	65% / 46%
Enrollment Total (all students)	10,144

Academics

Because John Tyler strives to meet the educational needs of the entire comunity, there are numerous paths to educational advancement offered by the college. Students have the advantage of interacting with people of all ages and from all walks of life while attending JTCC and will benefit both professionally and personally from this opportunity.

High school students who wish to get a jump start on their college careers may choose to dual enroll at JTCC and earn college credit while finishing high school. Most courses are held at the high school but some students may take classes on-campus with the approval of the Dean of Student Services.

Students who wish to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at John Tyler have transfer degrees from which to choose. There are Associate of Arts degrees in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Engineering, General Studies and Information Systems. Students may also choose from several different specialties within the degrees. Most programs cover general education and prerequisite-level courses that students would generally take during the freshman and sophomore years at a four-year institution. After completing the first two years at John Tyler, the student is then prepared to transfer to a baccalaureate program and complete the final two years of the degree. Benefits of this program include saving thousands of dollars in tuition money and staying close to home.

Students who wish to begin a new career or work at a higher-paying job while pursuing advanced education may choose from several different associate’s degrees and certificates. Some of the areas of study for degrees include visual arts, accounting, business and nursing. Degree subjects that are particularly interesting and not available at many schools include funeral services and police science/homeland security.

Certificates are available in areas such as building construction, accounting, child care and welding. A certificate of particular interest is the pre-BSN certificate which prepares associate-level nurses to enter a bachelor’s nursing bridge program.

Career studies certificates are designed to increase skills within a profession and open the door for career advancement opportunities. There are nearly 40 areas of study including athletic coaching, emergency medical services, phlebotomy and web design.

There are also programs and individual classes available for professionals needing to earn continuing education credits to maintain licensure as well for adults wishing to take a class or two simply for personal enrichment.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

John Tyler Community College has an open enrollment policy because the school works to meet the many different educational goals of a diverse population. Students seeking to enter a degree or diploma program at John Tyler Community College need only complete a few minimal requirements in order to begin the path to higher education.

In order to begin the admissions process, students need to submit either the online or paper application. Students wishing to enroll in the nursing or funeral service programs also need to have official high school transcripts submitted to JTCC.

The next step is to schedule placement testing. Students should be aware that there is a nominal (less than $10) fee for taking some of these tests. In lieu of placement tests, students may submit SAT, CPT or Work Keys scores for placement purposes.

Students that wish to apply for financial aid should do so at this time in order to receive an award in time to start class and purchase text books. This involves completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that is available online.

After submitting an application and submitting to testing, students will meet with an admissions counselor in order to review test scores, complete a Curriculum Placement Form, discuss program requirements and options and register for classes. Registration is completed via the MyTyler campus communication system. When this process is complete, the student will need to pay tuition and fees by end of the week that registration occurs. This requirement may be waived for students that are awaiting financial aid award payouts. Fees include parking fees, the technology fee and the student activity fee. If payment in full isn’t made by the deadline, class placement will not be reserved.

Finally, students will need to purchase textbooks and other materials needed to begin classes. Books may be purchased either at the college bookstore or via www.jtccbooks.com.

It should be noted that some programs require additional application materials so students should work closely with John Tyler to make sure that application packets are complete.

Financial Aid

John Tyler Community College offers several different kinds of financial aid for students that need assistance paying for college. These include institutional, private, and public need-based and merit-based scholarships, grants, federally subsidized loans and work-study programs. Students that wish to apply for financial aid should begin the process by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that is available online beginning in January. Because many scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis, students are encouraged to apply for aid and add JTCC to their list of schools as early as possible.

Financial information for both the student and family will be required when completing the FAFSA so students should have this information readily available before starting the application.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5970th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Virginia.

Bibliography

John Tyler Community College. John Tyler Community College. 2011. Web. 4 August 2011.

John Tyler Community College