Test Center
In an effort to assist test-takers to successfully accomplish their educational and/or professional goals, the Test Center offers a comfortable, positive, and professional testing environment which can accommodate the testing needs of both the campus and the community. To maintain record security, test-takers are required to provide valid government-issued photo identification prior to taking any exams.
Exams are normally delivered via the computer or online, and they are all closely monitored using security cameras with one or more test administrators or proctors present. The Test Center administers exams in compliance with state and federal regulations, including adherence to guidelines established in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students with documented disabilities may qualify for accommodations as prescribed by the Disabilities Services Coordinator.
As a member of the Florida Association of College Test Administrators (FACTA) and the National College Testing Association (NCTA), the Test Center is actively committed to supporting and practicing the standards and guidelines established by these organizations. These standards are updated regularly to reflect developments in testing operations and provide a variety of benefits to all involved in the testing process.
The Test Center web page can be viewed at www.fgc.edu/students/test-center/.
Assessment, Testing, and Certification Services
Effective assessment, testing, and certification services are fundamental to providing students and other test-takers a means of evaluating and measuring their potential and in accomplishing their goals. The following are a sample of the exams given in the Test Center.
- Challenge Exams - Institutional credit-by-exam
- Computer Proficiency Test
- Florida Basic Abilities Test (FBAT) - Corrections Officer and Law Enforcement Officer
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement State Officer Certification Exams (SOCE) - Corrections Officer, Law Enforcement Officer and Probation Officer
- Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE)
- Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE)
- General Educational Development Program examination (GED®)
- General Knowledge exam (GK)
- HESI Nurse Entrance Exams - Practical Nurse (PNET) and Registered Nurse (RNET)
- Paraprofessional Exam (ParaPro)
- PearsonVUE Examinations (other certifications and examinations)
- Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT)
- Remote Site Proctoring for non-FGC students
- Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)
Dual Enrollment Entry Testing
Dual Enrollment candidates must complete the ACT, CPT, PERT, or SAT prior to registering for their first term. Scores will be used for placement into the appropriate college-level courses.
For the SAT-I or Enhanced ACT scores, an official test score transcript must be submitted to the Test Center. Candidates taking the computer-based PERT test only need to notify the Test Center that they have taken the test, and the staff will retrieve the scores from the State repository upon request.
First-Time-In-College (FTIC) Placement Testing
All first-time-in-college applicants for admission to state colleges and universities who apply to enter degree programs (associate or bachelor’s) must be tested for reading, writing, and mathematics proficiency or provide official test score transcripts (ACT, SAT). However, those students who meet the exemption criteria, as set forth in State Board Rule 6A-10.0315 are not required to provide test scores. Advisors are prepared to discuss the appropriate placement options for students who are exempt from testing or for those students who do not meet the cut scores for placement into college level courses.
Test scores will be accepted provided they are less than two years old at the time of initial placement into subject area courses.
Advising
Academic advisors assist students with many aspects of their academic career, including selecting appropriate individual coursework, program planning, and assessing progress toward their educational goals and objectives.
Each semester, students should make an appointment to consult with their advisor before registration to ensure that they are on track to program completion. An advisor’s signature may be required on add/drop/withdraw, change of major, and graduation application forms. Students who register over the Internet assume responsibility for selecting their own courses but are highly encouraged to meet with an advisor beforehand. Students with questions regarding academic advising should contact Advising Services at (386) 754-4222.
Developmental Education Classes
(Developmental Education Legislation Effective Spring 2014)
A student who entered 9th grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-2004 school year, or any year thereafter, and earned a Florida standard high school diploma or a student who is serving as an active duty member of any branch of the United States Armed Services shall not be required to take the common placement test and shall not be required to enroll in developmental education instruction in a Florida College System institution.
This exemption enables a student to enroll in any college credit course that does not require a college-level prerequisite. A student may opt to take the common placement test to help identify where they need additional preparation. Regardless of the scores, the exempted student shall not be required to enroll in developmental education. The exempted student may choose to enroll in developmental education in order to improve their skills before enrolling in college-level courses. An advisor can provide additional information on developmental education options.
Each student attempting college level courses at the College must take an approved entry placement exam, unless exempt as stated above. The score(s) from this exam will be used in determining the appropriate level course for reading, math, and writing.
A student who scores below the minimum level(s) will be required to complete developmental education (dev ed) coursework which will not count toward completion of a degree. Developmental education courses are designed to assist a student with future college level courses.
A student required to complete one or more dev ed courses must begin those courses during the first semester, if enrolled for 12 or more semester hours. Part-time students must begin dev ed courses before completing 12 semester hours. Students must score a grade of C or better to progress to the next level course, whether dev ed or college level. Students must complete the required college developmental education courses by the time they have accumulated 12 hours of college credit, or they must maintain continuous enrollment in college developmental education courses each semester/term until the requirements are completed.
A student required to enroll in a dev ed course will be academically advised through Advising Services during his or her first semester.
Pursuant to state law, students will be allowed only two attempts at a dev ed course at in-state tuition cost. The third attempt will be charged at full cost of instruction. Students will be allowed a total of only three attempts at any single dev ed course. Exceptions to these rules may only be granted for specific, and very limited, circumstances. A student wishing to obtain an exemption to the full cost of instruction for the third attempt should contact the office of the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.
Registration
A first semester student must meet with his or her advisor before registration to plan coursework for a particular semester. A student, excluding Dual Enrollment students, who has been enrolled for the prior semester or has met with an advisor, will be allowed to register online through MyFGC.
The College conducts open registration and add/drop periods for each semester. Students may register during any of these periods; however, students are strongly encouraged to register early to avoid closed classes.
The following brief outline to assist students in understanding the registration process:
- Apply for college admission;
- Complete assessment test (if applicable and if not already taken within the previous two years);
- Have official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions previously attended sent to the Office of Enrollment Services. All transcripts must be received and evaluated prior to registration or the award of financial aid;
- Complete and submit the Florida Residency Declaration and all supporting documents to the Office of Enrollment Services for review and determination of eligibility to be classified as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. Students without that classification must pay the higher non-Florida resident rate for classes;
- All new students must meet with an advisor to discuss and complete a program of study and tentative schedule;
- Continuing students who have not enrolled in the past three terms must apply for readmission and meet with an advisor prior to registration;
- Register online through MyFGC or through the Office of Enrollment Services;
- Pay fees by the established deadline each semester to avoid being dropped from classes;
- Official class schedule may be reviewed and printed online through MyFGC;
- Students who owe obligations to the College or have a registration hold must resolve these prior to registering for classes.
The following holds will prevent students from registering:
Initial Advising Reg. hold-New students must meet with their academic advisor before registering.
Orientation hold - New students must complete an online orientation and successfully pass a quiz prior to or within their first term to continue to register for classes.
Admissions hold - Any students missing documentation required by admissions will receive a hold.
Other holds-Other holds, such as a accounts receivable, financial, or academic hold, may prevent students from registering. Students must contact the respective hold originator to resolve the hold before registering through MyFGC.
Auditing Courses
Auditing a course allows the student to attend classes without taking examinations or receiving credit. A symbol of AU is assigned on the student’s transcript. A grade of “AU” (audit) is not computed in the current or cumulative grade point average (GPA).
Auditing a course requires the instructor’s permission and must be done when registering for the course at the beginning of the semester. The audit option is designed to give students an opportunity to take courses to gain perspective, to review subject materials, or for enjoyment, without academic penalty.
A student auditing a course is not allowed to change to credit status. Courses taken for audit do not count as hours enrolled for the following areas: Veteran’s certification, financial aid awards, international student enrollment requirements, early admission program requirements, or dual enrollment.
Transient Students
Current FGC students: A Florida Gateway College student may wish to take courses at another college or university to apply toward FGC degree requirements. To do so, a student must:
- complete a transient student form through FloridaShines.org (this is preferred if planning to take courses at another Florida public institution), or
- complete a transient student request form, which can be obtained from the Office of Enrollment Services (this certifies good standing to the receiving institution); and
- obtain the necessary signatures required on the transient student form; and
- submit the transient student form to the transient college;
- request that a final transcript be returned to Florida Gateway College upon completion of the transient work.
To qualify to take a course as a transient student, a student must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA and must have met the prerequisites of the equivalent course offered at FGC. The course being taken at the receiving institution must be certified as equivalent to the FGC course to be transferred by the Office of Enrollment Services.
Guest students coming to FGC: Someone who is currently enrolled at another college (the home institution) and is not seeking a degree/program completion at FGC may wish to take courses at FGC as a guest student to apply toward degree requirements at the home institution. The student must have authorization from the home institution to take specific classes at FGC during a designated term and complete the transient student admission process as outlined in the Admissions section of this catalog.
Upon admission, the student may register online through MyFGC. Any requests for exceptions to FGC corequisites for courses with required lab components, will be submitted to the academic vice president, dean, or associate dean. Final decisions on exceptions may not be made until the last day of regular registration. Registration will not be available until the exception is approved.
Guest students at FGC must comply with all FGC rules, regulations, policies and procedures, including registration and fee payment deadlines.
|
