Community Colleges are always focused on forward momentum – building a better future, and making goals a reality – but you may not know the story behind the North Carolina Community College System’s Open Door philosophy. In 1964, W. Dallas Herring – often called the father of the NC community college system, stated that the only valid philosophy for North Carolina was to provide a comprehensive education based on the belief that “We must take people where they are and carry them as far as they can go.” That is why the doors of North Carolina community colleges are open to everyone who can benefit from the services they offer – from GEDs to diplomas, certificates, two-year degrees, workforce training, and even helping to start a new business.
When students apply to WCC, they often assume they have to wait to be accepted, just like with four-year institutions. At WCC, all eligible applicants are accepted to the College. There are necessary steps that have to be completed for a student to be admitted, but there are no application fees or special requirements. Some programs have specific eligibility criteria, such as Nursing and Basic Law Enforcement Training, and acceptance into them is not guaranteed. But students always have a starting point at Wilson Community College.
Students who want to enroll in a degree, diploma, or certificate program need to complete the NC Residency Determination (to qualify for in-state tuition) and submit an application for admission, along with official transcripts. We also encourage all students to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine federal financial aid and state grants eligibility. These steps can sometimes be confusing and even overwhelming, especially for first-time college students, but WCC admissions and financial aid staff are here to help.
And what if you have kids, work a lot, or maybe don’t have access to a car? Any one of those challenges, or even all three, is what a lot of our students experience! WCC makes every effort to schedule face-to-face and online classes (or hybrid, a mixture of the two) to accommodate our students’ needs. You can even use our computer labs for free to work on your online classes. The City’s RIDE transportation service can even bring you right to our campus. And although WCC doesn’t offer daycare, we are well-connected with all kinds of County services to make sure you have access to every resource available.
So whether you are a new, first-time student, coming to us from a university, or a returning student, we are here to help you navigate the process. In fact, we encourage students to start admissions and enrollment as early as possible to avoid the stress and anxiety that can come with registering late – particularly when it comes to applying for federal financial aid.
Registration for our next 8-week session starts March 10, and early registration for summer and fall semesters begins April 3. It’s never too late to start your college education or just take a class or two to learn more about what you might be interested in.
You can learn more about what Wilson Community College has to offer and our admissions process by visiting our website at www.wilsoncc.edu. You can even schedule a campus tour or get step-by-step directions on how to apply at https://www.wilsoncc.edu/apply-now/. Our door is always open, and we have something for everyone! #WilsonCC We make Wilson work.
What’s Happening
January 30 – WCC Community Chorus Practice at 7:00 p.m.
February 28 – Red Cross Blood Drive from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the Eagles Center