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Admissions

READMISSION

A student must reapply to the college if non-enrollment exceeds two calendar years. All readmitted students must meet current admissions requirements (see "Admissions"). Decisions on admission and readmission rest with the director of enrollment services and with the Appeals Committee.

RESIDENCY

It is important to understand that living or attending college in Florida is not tantamount to establishing a legal residence. Living or attending school in Florida merely indicates physical presence--not legal residence. Legal residency in Florida is established when certain legal ties to the state are made.

All applicants who are residents for tuition purposes are required to make a statement as to the length of residence in the State of Florida and submit it with their application for admission. Applicants who are not residents for tuition purposes may attend GulfCoast Community College but are required to submit a statement of residency. Non-Florida residents for tuition purposes will pay higher fees than Florida residents.

Listed below are the documents established by the State Department of Education Rule as items required for classification of residency for tuition purposes. A student, or the dependent student's parent/guardian, must be able to present two of these documents:

• A Florida drivers' license issued over 12 months prior to the first day of classes.
• A Florida voter's registration issued over 12 month prior to the first day of classes.
• A vehicle registered in the State of Florida for more than 12 months prior to the first day of classes.
• A Declaration of Domicile filed with the Clerk of the Court more than 12 months prior to the first day of classes.
• Proof of purchase of a permanent home (to include homestead Exemption) more than 12 months prior to the first day of classes.
• A professional or occupational license in the State of Florida
• Florida incorporation
• Proof of full-time employment or part-time employment for more than 12 months prior to the first day of classes.

A dependent student is any student who is eligible to be claimed as a dependent for Internal Revenue purposes. Therefore, any student who is under the age of 24 will be considered a dependent student, and the dependent student's status will be based on the residence status of a parent or legal guardian. A parent or legal guardian must complete the Residence Statement.

The Residence Statement for the independent student must be completed by the student and submitted with the appropriate documentation.

Any student who is under the age of 24 and can document independent status by presenting evidence that he/she is not claimed as a dependent by another person and is filing his/her own income taxes with an annual income that indicates the ability to be self-supporting may be considered as an independent student.

Florida Statues allow some applicants who have not met the 12 -month residence requirement to be classified as Florida residents for tuition purposes. These exceptions are listed below:

• A student who intends to make Florida his/her permanent home and is married to an individual who meets the requirements for classification as a resident for tuition purposes. (marriage certificate required).
• Active duty service members of the United States stationed in Florida or residing in Florida (spouse and dependent children included).
• Active duty service members of the United States not stationed in Florida but whose legal state of residence certificate (DD2058) is Florida (spouse and dependent children included).
• Full-time instructional and administrative personnel employed by the public school system, community college system, or university system (spouse and dependent children included, copy of employment record required).
• A dependent child who has lived with an adult relative (who is not a parent or legal guardian) for at least five years (relative documentation required).
• Persons who were enrolled as Florida residents at a state institution of higher learning, but who abandon Florida residency for less than a year.
• Latin American/Caribbean Scholars
• United States citizens living on the Isthmus of Panama who have completed 12 consecutive months of college level coursework at the FSU Panama Canal Branch (spouse and dependent children included).
• Full-time employees of state agencies of political subdivisions of the state when the student fees are paid by the agency or subdivision for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or corrections training.
• Qualified beneficiaries under the Florida Pre-paid Postsecondary Expense Program (documentation required).

A student's residency is determined at the time of admission. A non-resident may request reclassification in writing after establishing residency in Florida as determined by law. The non-Florida resident must produce evidence that he/she is a legal resident and has resided in the state for 12 consecutive months. A dependent child must provide evidence that he/her parents are legal residents of the state of Florida.

Out-of-state students who attend GCCC as a full-time student while establishing residency mush show intent to reside in Florida and not as a mere temporary residence incident to enrollment. The claimant must provide the necessary two documents to show instate and one of the following documents to show intent to reside in Florida: full-time or part-time permanent employment in Florida, purchase of permanent home in Florida, family ties (children/parent).

The law allows a United States citizen or permanent resident alien to be classified as a Florida resident if the student, or dependent student's parent or legal guardian, has been a legal resident of the state of Florida for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes for the term in which classification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes is sought. Only non-resident aliens classed in Visa categories A,E,G, I, or K may be eligible for classification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes.

Information on residency is available at the Registrar/Admissions Office. Students may also review the residency guideline at www.facts.org and click on residency.

SPECIAL SCHEDULING OPPORTUNITIES

E-Learning

GCCC continues to increase your opportunity to access our courses and programs through E-Learning. E-Learning refers to the delivery of learning through electronic means. Over 1,000 of our courses place lessons and resources online through the latest course management system called Angel. GCCC offers you one of the state's largest selections of distance learning courses. Whether you're looking for completely online courses, or prefer a "hybrid" class mixing online and on-campus sessions, be sure to check out Distance Education and E-Learning portion of our class schedule.

You can locate a listing of our online (Web-based) and E-Learning courses at http://de.gulfcoast.edu. There you will find out how to start these classes, who to contact for support, and complete course outlines from each instructor. Keep in mind that such courses require a high degree of self-motivation and organization on the part of the student. An additional fee per credit/vocational hour is charged for these courses. Your course instructor and the dedicated E-Learning staff at GCCC are ready to help you succeed. For more information, visit the website above, or call us at 850-769-1551, ext. 5807 (Toll Free at 1-800-311-3685, ext. 5807).

Weekend College

Weekend College is an alternative format to the traditional academic semester. Students can complete courses in a blended format combining online instruction with a traditional face-to-face classroom experience. The traditional classroom component is offered on nonconsecutive weekends. For example, a 3-credit-hour course would combine 25 hours of online instruction with 20 hours of traditional classroom instruction delivered one Saturday a month (9 a.m. - 2 p.m.) for a total of four Saturdays during the semester. Exact weekend days and times vary—please check the schedule of classes.

Military Services Program

Gulf Coast offers on-site classes at Tyndall Air Force Base and the Naval Support Activity PanamaCity. These classes are also open to the civilian population.

Aside from stated and traditional means of obtaining credit, special policies, procedures and services are available to active-duty personnel.

The college follows the recommendations of the American Council on Education concerning credit awarded for the successful completion of military service schools and training programs. Division chairs determine whether or not military credits apply to specific programs.

Official copies of appropriate military transcripts and/or documentation are required to award applicable credit.

• Credit must be applicable to the student's current degree program.
• Gulf Coast must offer a course comparable in content and credit value.

It should be noted that most credits apply to the Associate in Science degree programs. For additional information visit the college website (www.gulfcoast.edu) and click on the TAFB Center option.

Sites

In addition to course and program offerings at the main campus of Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, the college maintains additional sites at Tyndall Air Force Base Education Center, the North Bay Center, including the Charles H. Abbott Criminal Justice Training Academy, and the Gulf/Franklin Center in PortSt. Joe. Information on course offerings at these sites can be obtained from the schedule of classes for each term and through brochures and press releases.

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