Welcome to Lorain County Community College.

We're glad you are here and wish you well in your academic pursuits.

Enrollment Services LCCC Library/Community Resource Center, LC 169 440-366-4032	Financial Services Center  LCCC Library/Community Resource Center, LC 157 440-366-4034
Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 7:30 pm  Friday  8:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 7:30 pm  Friday  8:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Starting college can be an intimidating and overwhelming experience. We hope this information will answer many of your questions. The more information you have, the more prepared you'll be to succeed in your first semesters at LCCC. Remember, everyone has the opportunity to succeed at LCCC!

Start with the LCCC Catalog - The Ultimate Resource!
Your most important resource will be the college catalog. Click here for the current LCCC catalog. This is the most important reference tool you will have as a student.

When do classes start and end?
In the front of the catalog, you will find the academic calendar that lists important dates and deadlines, such as when you may register for classes, when classes begin, withdrawal dates and when the campus is closed for holidays.

What is a credit hour and how many do I need?
Each course is assigned a credit hour value. Some courses, such as Physical Education courses, are one credit hour, while most others are two, three, four and five credit hours. To be a full-time student, you must carry 12 credit hours. This usually means taking four or five courses.

To graduate from LCCC, you need a minimum of 62 semester credits, with more credit hours required in some programs. It is important to know the course requirements for your individual program. They are outlined in your program's curriculum guide, which can be found in the Connections Center located on the first floor of the College Center building.

What's the difference between a credit hour and a contact hour?
When you check the course descriptions in the LCCC Catalog, the credit hour value for each course is listed to the right of the course number. In parentheses is listed the contact hours for the course. Contact hours are the actual amount of time a student would be attending that class, including labs and clinical times. Where there is a discrepancy between credit hours and contact hours, it usually means that the course requires a laboratory, a clinical or field experience.

How long is a semester?
LCCC is on the semester system with three terms: a fall, spring and summer semester. The fall and spring semesters are 16 weeks long (15 weeks of instruction and one week of final examinations). There are also subterms including 5,8, and 10 week sessions. In the summer courses are more compressed having 8 week and 5 week sessions available.

Deciding What to Study

What Associate's Degrees Can I Earn at LCCC?
At Lorain County Community College, there are many different types of degree programs to meet your unique needs. LCCC has transfer programs where you can earn an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science Degree. In these programs, you are taking the same coursework that freshman and sophomores in your major are taking at any other university. In a transfer program, you will complete a lot of your general requirements. Within this degree, it is suggested that you complete the State Transfer Module, which is a group of courses guaranteed to transfer to any four-year, state school when you complete an Associate of Arts or Science Degree.
 
LCCC also offers applied programs where you earn an Associate of Applied Business or Science, or Certificates of Proficiency or Completion. The intent of these programs is to give you marketable skills, so that when you complete your program, you may enter the workforce with the necessary preparation for your job field. Examples of applied programs are: Nursing, Electronics, Business Management and Police Science. These programs are not initially designed for transfer, but there are some opportunities for transfer with many of these degrees. This is especially true with LCCC's University Partnership program. Consult your Counselor/Advisor for more information.
 
Another unique degree opportunity allows for students to have some input, with approval, into the design of their own program with the Associate of Individualized Studies and the Associate of Technical Studies.
 
Why Do I Need to Participate in Placement Assessment?
The placement assessment is designed to improve your chances of success here at LCCC. It is important, when you are starting college, to be placed in the right courses. If you are placed in a course that is too easy for you, you may get bored and lose interest. On the other hand, if you are placed in a course that is too difficult, you may become overwhelmed and lose confidence in your abilities. Therefore, placement assessment helps to place you in courses commensurate with your current abilities. Even if you have weaknesses in some areas, you can still achieve your goals if you correct these weaknesses through developmental classes, tutoring and careful course selection.
 
Most new students are required to take the Asset/Compass Assessment before they enroll in English or Math, or register for more than six credit hours. Exceptions are made for those who have high ACT or SAT scores, or for those who have college degrees. LCCC is an "open-door institution," and we have students come from varied educational backgrounds. If developmental work is indicated by the Asset/Compass Assessment, it is mandatory to complete the developmental courses before moving on to regular courses.
 
Your Placement Assessment results will help make sure you sign up for the appropriate classes. If you need brush-up work, Developmental Education courses are available in Reading, English and Math, and are covered by financial aid. Although some courses are calculated into your Grade Point Average, they do not count towards your graduation requirements, nor do they transfer. Developmental courses will help you to correct any academic weaknesses you may have so you can build the foundation for success at LCCC.
 
Another way to make sure you're taking an appropriate course is to check whether a prerequisite course is required for the course you are considering. The course descriptions in the LCCC Catalog list prerequisites in italics underneath each description. Prerequisites must be taken before enrolling in a later course unless the student has been assessed as having prior learning experience that allows acceleration to the next course.

Prepare for Success

What's The Difference Between High School and College?
First and foremost, the level of course difficulty is very different between college and high school academic work. You may not spend as much time in the classroom as you did in high school, but you will find the work to be more demanding, with more homework, reading and independent work. College requires self-discipline and self-motivation. For every hour that you spend in the classroom, you should expect to spend two hours on outside work. For example, if you are taking 12 credit hours, you should plan to spend 12 hours per week in the classroom (contact hours) and have 24 hours of homework per week. In other words, being a full-time student is like having a full-time job. 

How Can I Keep Track of How I'm Doing?
Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is very important. It is the calculation of all the grades you have earned in your courses at LCCC. In order to graduate from LCCC, you need to have an overall GPA of 2.0, or the equivalent of a "C" average. When your GPA falls below a 2.0, you are subject to academic probation and possibly academic dismissal. Hence, it is very important to achieve high grades. Some programs at LCCC, as well as those at some transfer institutions, may require a higher GPA than a 2.0. If you achieve a 3.5 GPA, you are eligible for academic honors such as the Dean's List and graduation with honors.

Your GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale. Each letter grade earned is given a point value. For example, a letter grade of an "A" is equal to 4.0 points, a "B" is equal to 3.0 points, etc. In this system, an "F" is worth 0 points. To calculate your GPA, you first must multiply the credit hours for a course by the point value of the grade. For example, a semester three credit hour course with an "A" grade, or 4.0 points, would give a total of 12 quality points. A student's GPA is computed by dividing the total number of quality points by the number of semester hours attempted.

Some Courses may be taken as a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory, or S/U option. These courses are not calculated in your Grade Point Average. In order to earn a Satisfactory grade, you must earn the equivalent of a "C" grade or better in the course. Some developmental courses are graded this way. Physical Education electives may be taken on an S/U basis by request in the Records Office and/or Connections Center Offices.

Getting Help When You Need It

What should I do if I find myself in academic trouble?
Get tutoring at the Academic Support Center in the Library. You are allowed up to two hours a week of free tutoring. Try talking to your instructor. The instructor may be able to provide you with extra help and guidance in identifying problem areas. Talk with your counselor. He or she will be able to help you explore all the different options and alternatives available to you to resolve your difficulty.

If you find yourself having to miss classes near the end of the semester due to circumstances and conditions beyond your control, talk to your instructor about taking an "incomplete" grade which will allow you extra time to finish the required coursework. This is accomplished through a contract between the student and the faculty member signifying a completion date.

Can I withdraw from my courses?
Yes. If you are attending a course and are unable to complete it, make sure to officially withdraw from the course in the Connections Center Offices. The deadline date for withdrawal is always listed in the academic calendar in the front pages of the LCCC Catalog. If you do stop attending without withdrawing, you will receive an "F" grade for the course. An "F" grade is calculated into your Grade Point Average, and can lower your overall GPA, while a "W" for withdraw is a non-punitive grade and is not calculated into your GPA. However, if you are on financial aid, "F"s and "W"s may affect your financial aid status. It is a good idea to talk with your instructor and/or counselor before withdrawing from a course.

Resources Are Available to Assist You

Where can I get help with career plans and knowing which courses to take?
Enrollment Services offers academic, career and personal counseling, as well as specific information on degree programs and transfer schools. If you are undecided about a career, or if you need help navigating your educational program, make an appointment with a Counselor in the Counseling area. Academic Advisors are available in the Connections Center providing walk-in advising and general information about programs and services for potential, new and returning students. The Counseling area also offers one-credit-hour seminars dealing with issues such as career decision-making, personal development, innovative learning techniques and test anxiety.

Also housed in the Counseling area is a career library that contains information on four-year colleges, including transfer guides, as well as career, job search and resume writing information. Computers are available that can assist you with career and transfer exploration. Feel free to stop and browse whenever the Student Development area is open.

How can I pay for college?
The Financial Aid Office can tell you about various forms of financial aid that can assist you in paying for your schooling. These types of aid include grants, loans, work study and scholarships. You can apply for all types of financial aid by filling out the Student Financial Aid Application in the Financial Aid Office, where they can also give you information on the different types of aid available exclusively to LCCC students. 

How do I get involved?
Student Life offers an opportunity to get involved on campus. There are a variety of clubs and activities. You can also get involved in student government through the Student Senate, or be involved in planning campus activities or events through the Program Board. LCCC also has a student newspaper called "The Collegian" which provides opportunities for those students who are interested in journalism or writing. 

How do I find child care while I am attending classes?
The Children's Learning Center, connected to the Physical Education building, provides quality child care while you are attending classes. For more information, click here to visit our website.

Let's Get Started!

How do I register for courses?
For your initial registration and scheduling of courses, the Advisors and Counselors will assist you. This usually occurs when you are finished with you Placement Assessment. It is helpful to work on selecting the times you want to take your courses on your own as you know your individual schedule better than anyone else. Each course is assigned a section number which matches the scheduled course time. This information is published in the Semester Class Schedule along with the title, course number and credit hours of any class you want to take. You should always check the starting date for your course times to make sure that your classes are not conflicting. If you have any difficulty with this, the Connections Center can assist you. You now also have the opportunity to register over the web with online registration.

What's the next step?
You register for your courses at LCCC s "One Stop Shop" in the Connections Center or register online. In the Connections Center you can work with an advisor or counselor (if necessary) in selecting courses or register for courses with a student service representative. You will receive a copy of your personal class schedule that will list the times, dates and room numbers for your courses. You will pay for your courses in the Financial Services Center on the first floor of the College Center building.

Make sure to bring a copy of your personal class schedule with you the first day of class to verify your enrollment. The only thing left to do will be to get your books at LCCC's bookstore and get your Student Identification Card (ID) at the campus library.

Good luck as you begin your educational journey here at Lorain County Community College. If you have additional questions, please ask us or send your e-mail to: Ask Auntie Carol - LCCC's E-Mail Academic Advisor. We are here to help you!

- The Enrollment Services Staff