Admissions
RVCC is an open-admission institution. The College, however, reserves the right to require appropriate documentation in support of a student’s admission application and/or to restrict a student’s enrollment to specific courses or to a specific number of credit hours in any enrollment term. Admission to the College does not imply admission to a specific program that has additional admission requirements. (Students should consult the specific program descriptions for further information on these additional admission requirements.)
Students are admitted to RVCC without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, gender, or other protected-class status.
More information about Admissions and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the RVCC website under Admissions.
Advising and Counseling
Every student has the opportunity to use the academic advisement services provided by the academic advisors. Assistance is provided in course selection, program choice, and long-term academic planning. Students experiencing academic difficulty are encouraged to consult with an academic advisor or counselor.
Personal/Mental Health Counseling
Counselors provide students the opportunity to discuss, in confidence, any personal or social problem. Counseling staff seeks to help students develop the ability to cope with and solve problems independently. When appropriate, the counselors will assist students via referrals to mental health centers, substance abuse treatment, or other community resources. Any student in distress or aware of a student in distress should contact Advising & Counseling Services in the College Center.
Students can meet advisors or counselors by appointment, during posted Advising Drop-In Hours, or at workshops and special events. Students can obtain information about academic programs by checking the RVCC website, using records and registration tools on the Lion’s Den Student Services tab, or e-mailing an advisor at acs@raritanval.edu. More information about Advising & Counseling Services and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the Student Services section of the RVCC website under Advising & Counseling.
Career Services
Career counseling is available to all current students and alumni who wish to clarify their career objectives. The office has a career counselor who provides both individual and group career counseling. Through assessment and evaluation, the counselor can help RVCC students identify their skills, interests, and values in order to determine their occupational and educational goals. To make an appointment with the Career Counselor, call (908) 526-1200, extension 8334, e-mail cbazar@raritanval.edu, or drop by the office, located in the College Center, room C-116.
The counselor also can assist students with researching career fields. Information on careers, including salary surveys, educational requirements, occupational demand and growth potential, can be accessed in the RVCC Library and on the Career Services web page. The Lion’s Den portal and Career Services web page also house FOCUS, an interactive, web-based self-assessment system for career and educational planning. Workshops are held throughout the year on selected career topics such as resume writing, interviewing, internship and job search preparation, social media and networking for the job search, and career decision-making.
Information about internships, and full-time, part-time and seasonal positions is available through the online job board where opportunities are posted by area employers. Through RVCC’s partnership with the College Central Network, students can search for a job or internship, as well as post their resume for viewing by potential employers. Additional details can be found in the Lion’s Den portal or on the Career Services website. The Career Services Advisor can be reached by calling (908) 526-1200, extension 8338 or via e-mail at wschnall@raritanval.edu.
Students can receive assistance with resumes, interviewing and internship and job search techniques via online resources or individual appointments.
Information about internship possibilities can be found on the Career Services web page or by calling the Internship Coordinator at (908) 526-1200, extension 8213 or via email at ahermo-w@raritanval.edu.
For further information about internships, please refer to the Internships section.
Disability Services
Students can be approved for appropriate academic accommodations for a documented disability through the Disability Services Office, located in the College Center. Students should submit documentation to the Coordinator of Disability Services in order to receive accommodations. Students who received accommodations in high school, such as an IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) or any other qualifying disability, should notify the Disability Services Office as soon as possible. The Disability Service Office will not receive this information directly from the high school.
In order to use designated Handicapped spaces on campus, students must obtain parking tags from the NJ Department of Motor Vehicles.
For complete procedures, visit the RVCC website. Information about Disability Services can be found under the Advising & Counseling section of the website within the Student Services area; or call (908) 526-1200, extension 8418.
Enrollment Services
The Office of Enrollment Services acts as the custodian of student academic records. We provide and maintain essential processes and answer inquiries with confidentiality and integrity for our students, faculty, and administrators while supporting the overall mission of the College. We also provide and support registration, transcripts and verifications, posting of grades and degrees, transfer credit evaluation, changes in residency, name and address changes, veteran’s benefits, awarding of diplomas, as well as graduation and commencement information. The office also schedules classes and final exams.
For more information, stop by the Office of Enrollment Services located on the first floor of College Center, or visit the RVCC website at www.raritanval.edu and go to the Records and Registration area of the Student Services website.
Educational Opportunity Fund
The Raritan Valley Community College Educational Opportunity Fund Program (EOF) is a state-funded program that provides additional economic and academic assistance to students who demonstrate need. Economic assistance consists of grant money each semester the student is enrolled. Academic assistance consists of advisement, assistance with registration, and monitoring of academic performance to determine appropriate counseling and support services for academic success. In addition, students participate in career preparation activities. An EOF student who transfers to another college may be eligible to receive EOF support services at the new institution.
The EOF program attracts a diverse student population, including recent high school graduates, non-traditional age students, and single parents. Incoming EOF students begin their academic development during an intensive summer session, where they complete appropriate English or Mathematics courses based on placement testing.
To qualify, applicants must:
- Have earned a high school diploma or High School Equivalency
- Have resided in New Jersey for at least one year
- Be eligible for the Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)
- Demonstrate economic eligibility, evaluated on the New Jersey State eligibility scale
- Maintain full-time enrollment
- Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
To apply, applicants must complete an RVCC application, the FAFSA, and provide current tax returns. For additional information, visit the RVCC website at www.raritanval.edu and go to Educational Opportunity Fund within the Prospective Student section. You can also visit the EOF office on the first floor of College Center or call (908) 526-1200, extension 8924 to set up an appointment.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available to full- and part-time students. Our goal is to provide funds from the federal government, State of New Jersey, and College sources for students who would not be able to complete their college education without financial assistance.
Student financial assistance is not a supplement to the student’s income for meeting his/her normal living expenses, but is available to help the student offset the additional expenses incurred directly by his/her education. Most financial aid awards are based on demonstrated financial need, which is the difference between the Cost of Attendance (COA) and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). More information and answers to frequently asked questions are available in the Student Services section of the RVCC website under Financial Aid.
First-Year Experience and R.O.A.R.S
New students can take advantage of the programs and services offered by the First-Year Experience (FYE) Office including: New Student Orientation (R.O.A.R.S.), Weeks of Welcome Activities, First-Year Advising, Academic and Career Planning, First-Year Seminar Course and Student Success Workshops and Programs.
Preparing students for the Raritan Valley Community College experience is an important and essential process as students begin their programs of study. The College recognizes that students need an understanding of all services available to them to optimize their college career. To acquaint and expose newly admitted students and their parents/families to this experience, Raritan Orientation Advising Registration Session (R.O.A.R.S.) programs are planned each semester. The FYE office is located on the first floor of the College Center in Suite 143. More information and answers to frequently asked questions are available in the Student Services section of the RVCC website under First Year Experience.
Office of Student Life
The classroom experience is only one segment of the available education at Raritan Valley Community College. The cultural, recreational, and governmental activities and functions at the College are equally important. By sharing in these activities, students have the opportunity to develop many personal and career skills.
Student life at Raritan Valley Community College develops according to student interest. While the selection, planning, and administration of these activities depend on the interest, time, organization, and effort of the students, assistance is provided by the Office of Student Life. Groups of students interested in forming a student organization should consult with the Student Life Office, located on the first floor of the Ray Bateman Center for Student Life and Leadership, BC-100; contact us at studentlife@raritanval.edu or (908) 526-1200, extension 8873. More information and answers to frequently asked questions are available in the Student Services section of the RVCC website under Student Life.
Testing Center
The Testing Center conducts admissions, placement and competency testing for the College, including for ESL, English and Mathematics, foreign languages and technological competency. Students taking make-up exams or tests for online courses may be required to use the Testing Center. Tests such as CLEP, DSST, and High School Equivalency are also administered at the College. Photo identification is required prior to testing. For more information, visit www.raritanval.edu/testing.
High School Equivalency Testing
The College offers High School Equivalency testing to qualified applicants who wish to gain a high school diploma. The test is given by appointment. For additional information, visit www.raritanval.edu/ged.
Veteran Services
Raritan Valley Community College is approved for the enrollment of veterans and survivors or dependents of veterans under Title 38 of the U.S. Code and selected reservists under Title 10 of the U.S. Code.
Raritan Valley Community College provides current and prospective service members with the tools they need to succeed. From the application process to graduation, we take a proactive approach to the educational process and help students connect with the necessary campus and off-campus resources, as well as other service members. Academic Advising, personal counseling, and veteran benefit administration are among the services provided. More information about Veterans Services can be found on the RVCC website or by calling (908) 526-1200, extension 8452.
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