Valencia College classifies students for academic and administrative purposes in the following ways:
A student is considered matriculated when all required admission documents have been submitted, and the student is officially enrolled in classes.
Degree-Seeking
A degree-seeking student is one who indicates on the Application for Admission, or through an update to official records, the intent to pursue a Valencia College degree.
Degree-seeking students are subject to policies and requirements that support academic progress, including:
- Entry testing or placement as required.
- Completion of New Student Orientation, including advising for initial registration.
- Enrollment in mandatory placement courses in reading, mathematics, English, or English for Academic Purposes beginning in the first term of enrollment and continuing each term until satisfied.
- Completion of program-specific requirements.
Non-Degree Seeking
A non-degree seeking student is one who enrolls for personal enrichment, teacher recertification, job improvement, career or technical certificates, transient study, or while participating in Dual Enrollment. Non-degree seeking students are not pursuing a Valencia College degree.
Non-degree seeking students are not required to complete orientation, placement testing, or mandatory course requirements except where needed to meet specific course prerequisites, certificate requirements, or program eligibility. Dual Enrollment students must satisfy entry testing requirements prior to first-term registration.
Non-degree seeking students are generally not eligible for financial aid, except students enrolled in selected eligible certificate programs (See Financial Aid Eligibility.)
Transient Students
A transient student is one who is degree-seeking at another college or university and temporarily enrolls at an institution other than the home institution to earn credit intended for transfer back to the home institution.
Inbound Transient (Attending Valencia College)
An inbound transient student is enrolled at another institution and takes courses at Valencia College for a specified term. Inbound transient students must have approval from the home institution.
- Students attending a Florida public institution generally submit a transient request electronically through FloridaShines and do not need to submit a general Valencia Admissions Application.
- Students attending private or out-of-state institutions must submit a Valencia Admissions Application and are required to provide a Transient Student Form or written approval from the home institution.
Transient admission does not constitute degree-seeking status at Valencia College, and students are responsible for ensuring that coursework taken at Valencia applies to their home institution degree requirements.
Inbound transient students who wish to become degree seeking at Valencia College must update their student status in accordance with College procedures.
Outbound Transient (Attending Another Institution)
An outbound transient student is enrolled at Valencia College and takes courses at another institution for a specified term. Outbound transient students generally must:
- Have an active student record
- Be degree seeking and have completed at least one Valencia College credit
- Meet required course prerequisites
- Be eligible to register at Valencia College
- Have no holds that prevent registration
- Obtain approval through College procedures
Outbound transient requests for Florida public institutions are generally submitted electronically through FloridaShines. Approval guarantees acceptance of approved courses for transfer back to Valencia College, provided official transcripts are submitted.
Active / Inactive
- Active Student: A student who has been enrolled in credit courses at Valencia College within the past three terms prior to the upcoming term.
- Inactive Student: A student who has not been enrolled in credit courses at Valencia College within the past three terms prior to the upcoming term. Inactive status results in the immediate loss of access to the student's MyVC and VC email accounts.
Inactive students who wish to re-enroll must submit a Valencia College Application for Admission as a Readmit Student and pay the applicable readmission application fee. Inactive students may be required to reestablish Florida residency for tuition purposes and will be assigned the governing catalog in effect at the time of readmission.
Enrollment Status
Enrollment status for Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms is defined as follows:
- Full-Time: 12 or more credits
- Part-Time: Fewer than 12 credits
- Half-Time: 6 credits
- Less than Half-Time: Fewer than 6 credits
Level
Student level classification is defined as follows:
- Freshman: Fewer than 30 college-level credits toward a degree
- Sophomore: At least 30 college-level credits toward a degree
- Junior: At least 60 college-level credits, admitted to a bachelor's degree program, and registered for 3000/4000-level coursework
- Senior: At least 90 college-level credits, admitted to a bachelor's degree program, and registered for 3000/4000-level coursework
