Registration & Student Records

Class schedules for degree programs are available online before the start of the upcoming semester, through Plan & Schedule. Log in to Self-Service.

To view the schedule:

1. Click on the Academics icon (fourth one down) in the left-side navigation
2. Select Course Catalog
3. Look for the desired course(s); you can also click on Advanced Search to search with additional criteria.

For assistance, visit my.waketech.edu.

Students in degree programs begin registration at different times, depending on their status as:

• Newly admitted students
• Returning degree-, diploma- and certificate-seeking students, based on the number of credits completed at Wake Tech
• Non-degree-seeking students
• High school, Career & College Promise and early-admission students

Registration priority dates and other important registration and payment dates can be found on the Registration and Records section of the website.

The state subsidizes tuition at North Carolina public colleges and universities for all students whose permanent legal residence is in North Carolina. Students pay "in-state" or "out-of-state" tuition based on a residency determination process. The statute places the burden of proof on the student to establish, by a preponderance of evidence, that they are a bona fide domiciliary rather than mere residents of North Carolina.

All applicants must complete the online residency determination before they can apply to Wake Tech. Most will be required to complete only the Initial Consideration process. Current students whose circumstances change or who believe their status is incorrect must complete the Reconsideration and Appeal process. Students are responsible for notifying Registration and Records if a change in residency status occurs. Wake Tech can update a student's tuition statement due to a change in residency within a given term; however, adjustments for previous terms cannot be made.

Upon completion of the residency determination process, students will be issued a Residency Certification Number that can be used at all public colleges in North Carolina.

All residency determinations will be made by Residency Determination Service (RDS) and not the college. However, Wake Tech staff may be able to assist students with employer sponsorships, military benefits and other exceptions allowed by the state.

Wake Tech Registration and Records is responsible for all student records and for the protection of student rights as provided by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Transcripts of academic records will be issued only with written authorization by the student.

Official copies of transcripts may be obtained in person at Southern Wake, Scott Northern Wake and RTP campuses with photo identification. Transcripts may also be obtained by mail from Registration and Records, Wake Tech Community College, 9101 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh, NC 27603.

Wake Tech also offers online transcript ordering, including secure PDF transcripts in partnership with National Student Clearinghouse.

Mail and online transcript requests will be processed within two business days. Official Wake Tech transcripts are $10 per copy when ordered directly from Wake Tech. Online requests through the National Student Clearinghouse will incur an additional service fee. Unofficial copies are available at no charge.

Wake Technical Community College complies with the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges Code (1D SBCCC 400.1) when awarding credit, which is in accordance with the US Department of Education semester credit hour definitions. Wake Tech awards course credit as follows, regardless of campus location or modality:

• Contact hour: The actual time of student attendance in a class or lab.
   
• Credit hours: Credit of one (1) semester hour is awarded for each 16 hours of lecture and other instruction provided in a class under the supervision of an instructor.
   
• Clinical practice: Credit of one (1) semester hour is awarded for each 48 hours of clinical practice. Clinical practice provides an opportunity for health science students to apply knowledge and skills in their delivery of care in a health care setting. A qualified faculty member, clinical instructor, or preceptor, as defined by the program-related approving or accrediting body, shall supervise clinical practice to provide the student with learning experiences related to the program and to monitor and assess the student’s application of skills. Clinical practice may utilize experiences that simulate realistic clinical experiences to meet the curriculum and course objectives. The percentage of simulation experiences substituting for traditional clinical practice and the qualifications of faculty providing the simulation experience must comply with the guidelines of the applicable health science accrediting and approving bodies.
   
• Experiential laboratory: Credit of one (1) semester hour is awarded for each 32 hours of "experiential laboratory work." Experiential laboratory work means instruction given to a student by an instructor to increase the student's knowledge and skills without immediate student application.
   
• Faculty-directed laboratory: Credit of one (1) semester hour is awarded for each 48 hours of "faculty directed laboratory." Faculty directed laboratory means instructional activities are demonstrated or conducted by an instructor with immediate student application.
   
• Work-Based Learning: Credit of one (1) semester hour is awarded for each 160 hours of work-based learning (WBL curriculum prefix courses). Work-based learning is the development of job skills by providing the student with employment that is directly related to the educational program and coordinated by a college representative.

Courses offered by Wake Technical Community College, including the amount of credit offered, are approved by the North Carolina Community College System in accordance with the North Carolina State Board Community College Code (1D SBCCC 400.8). The college offers courses, and credit for those courses, as listed in the Combined Course Library of the North Carolina Community College system. The courses approved in the Combined Course Library are the same regardless of campus location or modality.

Prior learning is a means by which students can satisfy graduation requirements by applying transfer work and credits from placement examinations. When granted, students are given an equivalency for the prior learning work, meaning that it is deemed equivalent to a specific Wake Tech course. However, no academic credit is awarded, and thus, the equivalency does not count toward the student’s grade point average.

Equivalencies will be noted on the official transcript as transferred equivalencies or non-course equivalencies. Equivalencies will be taken into consideration for program completion at Wake Tech only. Acceptance of prior learning work at one college does not necessarily mean that acceptance will be given at every college. Students are encouraged to review the prior learning policies at any college where they may be considering to transfer or enroll.

To view Wake Tech equivalencies for prior learning, visit TES, our transfer equivalency library, and type "prior learning" into the Institution Search box.

This policy describes Wake Technical Community College requirements for awarding credit via challenge exams in alignment with North Carolina's State Board of Community Colleges Code (1D SBCCC 800.8) as well as Section 19 of the North Carolina Community College Curriculum Procedures Reference Manual. This policy also provides procedures that allow students to take challenge exams before or after enrolling in a course and, if enrolled, provides a way for students to stay enrolled to earn credit hours without a grade if they pass the challenge exam.

This policy applies to students seeking course credit via challenge exams. This policy does not apply to:

• University transfer courses contained in the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement
• Developmental courses (as defined in 1D SBCCC 400.3(b)), supplemental courses (as defined in 1D SBCCC 400.8(b)(1)) and courses including clinical practice (as defined in 1D SBCCC 400.1(c)(2))

Where applicable, students may request Credit for Prior Learning without completing curriculum coursework by taking a challenge exam before they enroll in a course or, if enrolled, before the census date of the course. To receive credit, students must score a C (70%) or higher on a challenge exam that demonstrates their subject-matter proficiency is equal to or greater than the corresponding proficiency they would have achieved had they completed the actual course.

Procedures and requirements

Admissions requirements: Students must meet all admissions requirements for their program of study and be enrolled in a curriculum program to which the credit will apply.

Prerequisites: Students must meet all course prerequisite requirements before taking the challenge exam.

Prior enrollment: Students may not take a challenge exam for a course if they have:

• Previously withdrawn from the course
• Already received a grade in the course
• Already received transfer credit for the course

Options: Students may choose to take a challenge exam before or after they enroll in a course. If requesting a challenge exam before enrolling in a course, a student must already be admitted to Wake Tech and make the request within a testing window set by the division in the semester prior to the start of the course. If already enrolled in the course, students must request the exam within the first week of class and by the census date.

Requests: Students must request the exam from the division dean when they first enroll in a course or during the semester before the course starts. Requests must be made using Form 610 - Request for Challenge Exam. Requests should be made to the appropriate academic dean or designee within 45 days of the start of the academic term to allow enough time to schedule, take and score the challenge exam. Upon approval, students will be given instructions on how to schedule and prepare for the challenge exam. Students must take all challenge examinations no later than the 10% point of the semester or term and when scheduled by the individual department/division.

Method of delivery: Students may be asked to take proctored exams virtually or in person, as determined by the department, which may or may not require use of the college's testing centers. Some divisions may charge administrative fees, and those fees may be required prior to enrolling in the course.

Success: Students must score a C (70%) or higher to successfully challenge the course. Some divisions have additional challenge examination procedures. Students must check with the appropriate dean to learn about additional requirements.

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers students the opportunity to earn college-level placement for knowledge acquired outside the classroom. All CLEP credit will be evaluated on the basis of the receiving institution's policy. To view Wake Tech equivalencies for CLEP, visit TES, our transfer equivalency library, type "College Board" into the Institution Search box and review the minimum score in the note field for each equivalency.

To learn more, visit the College Board online.

The College Entrance Examination Board sponsors an Advanced Placement program that enables high school students to complete college-level courses and demonstrate college-level achievement through examinations. Wake Tech will award non-course-work equivalency for students who meet minimum scores on AP exams, and these equivalencies can then be applied toward the student's graduation requirements.

Students pursuing associate degrees or intending to transfer courses to UNC System schools should note the following: Advanced Placement (AP) course credits awarded for a score of 3 or higher are acceptable as part of a student's successfully completed general education core under the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement. Credit for two successive courses can be awarded only with a score of 5.

Only one course of credit may be awarded for the AP Calculus AB exam. A score of 3 may award credit for MAT 263 (four credit hours), while a score of 4 or 5 may award credit for MAT 271 (four credit hours). A score of 3 on the Calculus BC may award credit for only MAT 271 (four credit hours). A score of 4 or 5 on the Calculus BC exam may award credit for two courses, MAT 271 and MAT 272 (for a total of eight credit hours). Students who receive AP course credit at a community college but do not complete the general education core will have AP credit awarded on the basis of the receiving institution's AP policy. Transferred-in courses from institutions other than North Carolina community colleges are not a part of this agreement.

To view Wake Tech equivalencies for AP credit, visit TES, our transfer equivalency library, type "College Board" into the Institution Search box and review the minimum score in the note field of each equivalency.

The DANTES (Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support) program is a testing service conducted by Educational Testing Service for the Department of Defense. DANTES’ mission is to help service members obtain credit for knowledge and skills acquired through non-traditional educational experiences. DANTES Subject Standardized Tests provide a way for military personnel to obtain credit by examination for knowledge of material commonly taught in college courses.

To view Wake Tech equivalencies for DANTES visit TES, our transfer equivalency library, type "DSST program exams" into the Institution Search box and review the minimum score in the note field of each equivalency.

Prospective students who have military experience may be able to obtain some equivalencies toward an AAS degree, diploma or certificate for training received in military services. Individuals seeking equivalency for military training must have an official Joint Services Transcript (JST) sent to the college. 

The JST is a uniform transcript of all military training and experiences for service members in all branches and includes Army officer and warrant officer training, joint military training conducted by other services and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)-funded test scores.

The appropriate dean or department head will evaluate the transcript, and equivalency will be awarded as appropriate.

The main objective of foreign language placement exams is to determine the best level for students to continue their French or Spanish language studies at Wake Tech. It is to the students’ advantage to be placed into the appropriate course, allowing them to improve their language skills at Wake Tech, so that, upon transfer, students may successfully continue their studies at a four-year institution.

Even though credits earned through the placement exam count toward graduation requirements at Wake Tech, students are strongly encouraged to meet with an academic advisor to determine how credits earned through placement may affect their transfer status, degree completion and financial aid. The implications of credits earned through the placement exam may vary based on individual student pathways to transfer.

Students may be eligible to take a foreign language placement exam if they fall into one or more of the following categories:

• The student has recently earned a grade of "B" (87%) or better consistently in three courses of high school study of the same language.
• The student has recently lived or studied in a French- or Spanish-speaking country for more than six months.
• The student has interacted and/or communicated in French or Spanish on a daily basis at work or in another formal setting.

Students who have completed a curriculum foreign language course at Wake Tech are not eligible to take placement exams.

Placement exams are free to Wake Tech students, but they may be taken only once. Exams are given using computerized adaptive software. The exam length is five to 40 minutes, and results are given immediately. Students must present photo identification.

Students who successfully place out of FRE and/or SPA 111/181 will need to withdraw from that class and enroll in the appropriate level of language to study. Alternatively, they may enroll in another class that they may need to meet their degree requirements at Wake Tech. If students have questions regarding which classes they should take for their degree program at Wake Tech, they need to consult with an academic advisor.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the North Carolina Community College System have a statewide articulation agreement through which students may be eligible for college credit following the completion of identified Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses in high school. This agreement creates a systemic and seamless process through which students can move from high school to community college without duplicating efforts or repeating courses.

Criteria used to award college credit for identified CTE courses include the following:  

• Final grade of "B" or higher in CTE course
• A raw score of 93 or higher on standardized CTE post-assessment test
• To receive articulated credit, students must enroll at the community college within two years of his or her high school graduation date.
• Credit is not automatically awarded; students must visit the Registrar's Office at Wake Tech to request the credit be applied toward their Wake Tech record.

The student's official high school transcript must include the CTE post-assessment scores.

Community college officials are responsible for verifying and accepting the articulated courses on the high school transcript for college credit.

Students may receive credit for achieving acceptable scores on the International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations. To view Wake Tech equivalencies for IB credit, visit TES, our transfer equivalency library, type "International Baccalaureate" into the Institution Search box and review the minimum score in the note field of each equivalency.

Wake Tech considers courses for transfer equivalency from other colleges or accredited collegiate institutions through a commission whose responsibility is accrediting degree-granting institutions classified as collegiate and that is housed in a regional or national accrediting agency.

Only those courses with a grade of "C" or higher will be considered for transfer. To receive credit for a specific Wake Tech course, the transferring course must be equivalent in content (and in college/university transfer credit hours) to a Wake Tech course. Official transcripts from accredited institutions will be reviewed against established standard equivalencies and transfer equivalency recommended by the appropriate dean or a designee.

All decisions about transfer equivalency are discretionary on the part of the college: whether equivalency will be allowed, how much will be allowed and how it will be applied. In exercising this discretion, the college will apply principles recommended by its accreditor and national higher education organizations that set standards for transfer credit. These principles focus on the level, content, quality and comparability of a course and its relevance to the student’s intended program of study.

It is not necessary for students to request a review of transferred coursework. Students should submit official transcripts to the Admissions Office. Transcripts will be forwarded to the Registrar's Office for initial review against established standard equivalencies. Once the transfer credit review is complete, the accepted credit is applied and noted on the student's academic record. Students may review their transfer credit on their transfer credit summary.

Please note that a granted equivalency does not mean that a course satisfies a graduation or program requirement; that depends on whether the course is listed as a requirement on the curriculum schedule for the specific program (major) in which the student was enrolled when admitted to the college. The academic dean has the option of moving the student to a more current version of the program of study (curriculum schedule). If a student changes programs (major), he or she should speak with an advisor to determine which transfer credits, if any, apply to the new program.

Example: A student may be given transfer equivalency for ACC-101 Fundamentals of Accounting, which the student completed while an accounting major at XYZ College. However, the student is now enrolled at Wake Tech in Nursing, and ACC-101 is not a required course in Nursing. Therefore, the course would not be applicable toward graduation requirements at Wake Tech.

Transfer credit does not factor into a student’s curriculum GPA calculation. A grade of "TA," "TB" or "TC" is awarded for the transferred credit internally to aid with financial aid evaluations. These transfer credit grades do not appear on the transcript. Students must complete at least 25% of the hours required for a degree, diploma or certificate in residence at Wake Tech.

Transfer equivalency practices
As the Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Transfer of Academic Credit position paper states: "SACSCOC remains committed to institutional autonomy in determining standards for transfer of academic credit while also encouraging institutions to avoid barriers to the transfer process unrelated to the academic integrity of educational programs. Many systems and institutions have taken positive action such as negotiating articulation agreements, common course listings, common core curricula and automatic acceptance of credit arrangements to facilitate the transfer of academic credit. Such proactive approaches, involving qualified faculty in the decisions, ease the way toward resolving transfer of credit problems while maintaining curricular coherence and academic and institutional integrity. The accreditation standards of SACSCOC require member institutions to analyze credit accepted for transfer in terms of level, content, quality, comparability and degree program relevance. While an institution may properly consider another institution’s accreditation as an indicator for acceptability of credit, accreditation should not be the only criterion used for acceptability nor should it be represented as a requirement of SACSCOC, which it is not."

The Joint Statement on the Transfer and Award of Credit created by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the American Council on Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation establishes similar standards. These national organizations have identified three fundamental considerations:

• The educational quality of the learning experience which the student transfers
• The comparability of the content, scope and rigor of the learning experience to that offered by the receiving institution
• The appropriateness and applicability of the learning experience to the programs offered by the receiving institution, in light of the student's educational goals

It is Wake Tech's practice to accept the following categories of courses as meeting the considerations outlined above:

• Matching courses from North Carolina community colleges
• Equivalent courses from participants in North Carolina's comprehensive articulation agreements with the University of North Carolina System and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities
• Comparable courses from institutions of higher education accredited by agencies and associations recognized by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

These categories also meet requirements of the State of North Carolina and its agencies; these requirements are detailed in each section. Courses that do not fit into one of these three categories, including foreign transcripts, will be considered individually by the director of the program to which the student is seeking admission.

Matching courses from North Carolina community colleges
In accordance with the State Board of Community Colleges Code (SBCCC 1D SBCC 400.8(j)), which reads, "When a student receives credit for a Combined Course Library curriculum course, this credit shall be transferable to any college in the North Carolina Community College System," Wake Tech will accept:

• All matching courses from other North Carolina community colleges for transfer credit
• Matching courses from other North Carolina community colleges to meet Wake Tech program and prerequisite requirements as stated in the college's current official catalog

Equivalent courses from participants in the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) between the University of North Carolina System and the North Carolina Community College System and the 2015 Independent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (ICAA) between the North Carolina Community College System and Signatory Institutions of North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities
Wake Tech's policy is to accept transfer credit for courses that originate at a UNC institution or independent college or university that is part of the ICAA and that are designated on the CAA Transfer Course List or the ICAA Transfer Course List. This transfer credit will be accepted as part of a student's successfully completed general education core or associate in arts or associate in science program under the CAA.

Wake Tech's policy is to also apply this guideline to Associate in Applied Science programs.

Wake Tech will accept:

• All CAA and ICAA participant college and university courses equivalent to courses on the CAA Transfer Course List or ICAA Transfer Course List for transfer credit;
• CAA and ICAA participant college and university courses equivalent to courses on the CAA Transfer Course List or the ICAA Transfer Course List to meet Wake Tech program and prerequisite requirements as stated in the college's current official catalog.

Comparable courses from institutions of higher education accredited by agencies and associations recognized by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Education
Program directors will, as appropriate, review courses from institutions of higher education accredited by agencies and associations recognized by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Education to establish that their level, content and quality are comparable to a Wake Tech course and to confirm their relevance to a student's intended program.

If a course is found to be comparable, Wake Tech will accept the course for transfer credit or to fulfill program and prerequisite requirements as stated in the current official Wake Tech Catalog.

Notes:

• These practices apply to courses with no differentiation based on delivery method.
• Equivalent or comparable courses, at minimum, must carry the same number of credit hours and the same type of credit hours and the same number of instructional hours; for example, lecture and lab.
• In some instances, a course may transfer in to Wake Tech as elective credit if the course does not meet the comparability criteria stated above.
• Wake Tech may award transfer credits for fewer credit hours than a transferred course carries.

Students wishing to change from one program of study to another or to enroll in a second program of study must initiate the change through an advisor. They are available at Southern Wake, Scott Northern Wake, Western Wake, RTP, Perry Health Sciences and Public Safety Education campuses.

Students receiving veterans' benefits must also file a request for a program of study change (VA Form 22-1995) with the Wake Tech Veteran Services office. Students may not be enrolled in more than two associate degree programs at one time.

This policy has been expanded to include changes to chosen name, pronoun and gender identity.  A chosen name can be an important part of a person’s identity, and the college recognizes that students may want to use a name that is different from their legal or assigned name.

Definitions

Changes in student data must be reported when they occur, either on the appropriate form or through Self-Service. Submit forms to the Registration and Records Office.

Changes in address, telephone numbers, chosen name, gender identity, pronoun or email can be submitted via Self-Service.  

See Section III. Legal or assigned name below for information regarding changing a legal or assigned name.

I. Policy

The college recognizes the need or choice for students, faculty and staff to refer to themselves by a first name other than their legal or assigned first name for identification. This chosen name may be desirable for individuals who use:

• A middle name or a version of their first name instead of their legal or assigned first name
• A frequently used nickname
• A first name that an individual is in the process of legally changing
• A first name that better represents an individual's gender identity or expression

The college also recognizes the need for students, faculty and staff to update their legal or assigned name in college systems and records to match their legal or assigned name when changed for marriage, divorce or other circumstances.

The college acknowledges that a chosen name will be used where possible in college systems and records and in the course of college business and education, except when the use of an individual's legal or assigned name is required by law or state policy, and as long as the use of a chosen name is not intended for the purposes of avoiding legal obligations, for misrepresentation or as otherwise prohibited.

II. Chosen name

Except as set forth in Sections III, IV and VI, students may determine the chosen name by which they wish to be known in college systems and records. The first and middle names may be designated for the chosen name; the last name must remain the same as a student's legal or assigned last name. Thus, a student's chosen full name is their chosen first and/or middle name and their legal or assigned last name.

As it becomes possible to implement the use of chosen names, the college will make a good faith effort to update systems and records designated for use of chosen names in a timely manner. The college utilizes multiple systems, applications and forms to manage its operations, and it is continually updating software and incorporating new electronic and other files. Thus, the process of modifying college systems and records is ongoing.

Specific systems and records where the college may use a chosen name are listed below. Students may also indicate their pronouns and gender identity in Self-Service, but all systems might not display the pronoun or gender identity. Examples include:

• Class and grade rosters
• Online attendance records
• Online learning management and collaboration systems
• Student information system profile
• Diploma

Despite these allowances outlined, not all college systems, databases, processes, records and forms support the display of a chosen name, and many uses require display of a legal or assigned name (see Section III). Thus, students who utilize a chosen name with the college should always be prepared to reference their legal or assigned name and provide corresponding identification, as necessary.

If chosen names are entered after the start of the semester, changes may not be communicated to faculty. It is the responsibility of students using a chosen name to ensure that instructors are able to identify student work for grading and other academic purposes.

III. Legal or assigned name

To change a student's name on certain official college records, individuals must legally change their name.

• Legal or assigned name changes due to marriage are recognized by submitting a copy of a marriage certificate or a signed Social Security card.
• Legal or assigned name changes due to divorce are recognized by submitting a copy of a divorce decree stating the individual may resume the use of her maiden name or use an alternative name confirmed by the court, or a signed Social Security card.
• All other legal or assigned name changes are recognized by submitting a signed Social Security card, driver's license, passport, government-issued visa or applicable court documents.

A legal or assigned name change shall be required for the following purposes:

• Reporting to state and federal agencies
• Federal and state tax forms and reporting, including W2, W4, 1099, 1095C and 1098T
• Immigration and visa records
• International student reporting
• Financial aid records
• Student accounts, billing and cashiering records
• Medical and health records
• Insurance enrollment and other records
• Student conduct records
• Campus police and security records
• Student employment, payroll and benefits records, as applicable
• Official transcripts
• Professional licensures
• National Student Clearinghouse reporting
• Transfer and external credit records
• Other records where a legal or assigned name is required by law or college policy

Additionally, graduates can request an updated diploma with their current legal or assigned name.

Although the college will change a student's legal or assigned name in applicable databases and records once approved, a student's former legal or assigned name may continue to be listed as a previous identity in college systems and records in order to ensure that any searches of a former legal or assigned name will access correct information.

To request a legal or assigned name change, the student will complete a Permanent Record Change form, which can be obtained online or on the Southern Wake, Scott Northern Wake, RTP and Perry Health Sciences campuses. Forms must be accompanied by copies of the legal document authorizing the name change in order for changes to be processed.

Completed forms may be submitted in person, online or by mail to Registration and Records, Wake Tech Community College, 9101 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh NC 27603.

IV. Identification cards

The college understands that it may be important to individuals for their college-issued student identification card to reflect their chosen name. As such, the college allows individuals to have a student ID reissued so that their chosen name can be displayed. However, the college reserves the right to maintain the student's legal or assigned name on the identification cards if college identification cards begin to be used for legal governmental purposes, such as voting.

V. Student privacy

Consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the college allows the release of directory information in certain circumstances, which would include information regarding a student's chosen name. For this reason, use of a chosen name should not be considered "private" for use by the college only.

VI. Acceptable use

The college reserves the right to refuse use of a chosen name. Instances that may result in this prohibition include arbitrary, random or repeated chosen name changes; chosen names used for the purpose of avoiding legal obligations or for misrepresentation or fraud; or chosen names used in any other manner that violates college policy or federal, state or local law.

Chosen names may not include symbols (except apostrophes, periods or hyphens) or numbers or reference illegal activity. Further, chosen names may not include those whose usage may be hurtful to others or may be considered vulgar, offensive, derogatory or obscene, including words and terms commonly perceived as slurs against an individual or group on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, age, disability or other protected characteristics.

The Registrar and other college administrators have the authority to deny any chosen name submission or to suspend or remove a chosen name in extreme cases, including the reasons noted in this policy. In the rare circumstance when such a denial is made, a student may appeal the decision in writing to the Registrar, whose decision shall be final.

Contact information

Ref: C1009

Wake Technical Community College complies fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and informs students of their rights under FERPA three times per year (after census of the Fall and Spring semesters and the Summer term) via their college-issued email accounts. FERPA, as amended, protects the privacy of educational records, establishes the rights of students to inspect and review their educational records and provides guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. To the extent consistent with FERPA, students who seek the correction of inaccurate or misleading data or who have other complaints should follow the grievance procedure found in the college catalog. Students also have the right to file complaints with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office concerning alleged failures by the college to comply with FERPA.

Wake Tech's policy establishing its intent to comply with FERPA and procedures for implementing the provisions of FERPA are published in the college catalog. Questions about FERPA or Wake Tech's policy and procedures should be directed to the Registration and Student Records Office.

Policies and procedures
Wake Technical Community College, in the execution of its responsibilities to students, maintains accurate and confidential student records. The college staff recognizes the rights of students to have access to their educational and personal records in accordance with college policy and FERPA.

Definition of "educational records"
The term "educational records," as defined under the provisions of FERPA, includes files, documents and other materials that contain information directly related to students and that are maintained by an educational institution or an authority on behalf of the institution. The term does not include the following:

• Records of institutional, supervisory and administrative personnel that are in the sole possession of the maker and that are not accessible or revealed to any other person except a substitute for the above-named personnel
• Records and documents of security officers of the institution that are kept apart from such educational records
• Records of students that are made or maintained by physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors or other recognized professionals or paraprofessionals acting in their official capacity and that are made, maintained or used only in connection with a provision for treatment of the student and not available to anyone other than persons providing such treatment, except that such records can be personally reviewed by a physician or other appropriate professional of a given student's choice
• Alumni or former student records

Students may not review or inspect the following:

• Financial records of the parents of the students or other information therein contained
• Confidential recommendations, if the student has signed a waiver of his or her rights of access, provided that such a waiver may not be required of the student

Control provisions on student records and student information
The official student file shall not be sent outside the Wake Tech Admissions Office, the Registration and Student Records Office, the Financial Aid Office, the Placement Office or the Cooperative Education Office, except in circumstances specifically authorized in writing by the president or appropriate vice president.

Students have the right to inspect their own records as covered by FERPA, whether recorded in hard copy, electronic data processing media or microfilm. The registrar has been designated by the college to coordinate the inspection and review of student records. Requests to review records must be made in writing, specifying the item or items of interest. Records will be made available for review within 45 days. Upon inspection, students are entitled to an explanation of any information contained in the record.

Students may have copies of their records except the following:

• When a financial "hold" exists
• When the copy requested is a transcript of an original or source document that exists elsewhere

A fee of $0.50 per page will be charged for copies of records other than the student's transcript(s) of academic records.

Transcripts and other information, except as provided by FERPA, are released only with the written consent of the student. Such written consent must meet the following requirements:

• Specify the records or the data to be released, to whom it is to be released and the reason(s) for release
• Be signed and dated by the student

Disclosure of information without the student's consent
Educational records will be disclosed without written consent of students to properly identified and authorized representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States, the Secretary of Education, state educational officials and the Department of Veterans Affairs for audit and evaluation of federal- and state-supported programs or in connection with enforcement of the federal or legal requirements that relate to such programs. Routine requests for student data from agencies such as the Department of Education, OEO, research agencies and state-reporting agencies may be honored without prior approval of the student only in formats where students are not identified. In the course of fulfilling its contractual obligations with third-party vendors, the college recognizes that the third-party vendor is acting as a legal agent ("school official") of the college and will use the confidential information for the purposes stated in the agreement.

The college has entered into agreements with vendors that include the following:

• BibliU
• Higher One
• National Student Clearinghouse
• Maxient Student Conduct Manager
• College Foundation Incorporated School Services
• Visual Zen
• Academic Works
• Hyland
• Informer
• QLess

Confidential information requested by anyone other than federal or state agencies as specified above will be released only under the following conditions:

• An official order of a court of competent jurisdiction
• A subpoena: Students will be notified immediately by registered mail that their records are being subpoenaed.
• At the request of the parents of a student, upon receipt of a certified copy of their most recent federal income tax form naming the student as a dependent

Requests for confidential information will be honored without prior consent of the student in connection with an emergency, if the knowledge of such information by appropriate persons is deemed necessary (by a responsible person) to protect the health or safety of the student or others.

Faculty and administrative officers of the college who demonstrate a legitimate educational need will be permitted to look at the official student record of a particular student.

Directory information
The college may make the following directory information available to the public unless the student notifies the registrar in writing by the end of the first week of the term that such information is not to be made available:

• Student's name
• Date of birth
• Wake Tech email address
• Major field of study or program
• Dates of enrollment
• Degrees, diplomas or certificates received
• College honors

The college designates photographs, videos or other media containing a student's image or likeness as "limited-use directory information."

As designated, limited-use directory data will not be provided to external parties not contractually affiliated with the college. Use and disclosure of this information shall be limited to publication on websites hosted by, on behalf of or for the benefit of the college; publication in print for purposes including college marketing, public relations, outreach and press releases; at college events such as athletic events, college fairs and open houses, student organization activities, campus atmosphere, etc.; college officials who have access, consistent with FERPA, to such information and only in conjunction with a legitimate educational interest; and external parties contractually affiliated with the college, including official third-party vendors and partner institutions with a joint memorandum of understanding.

Any release of student information for public use or use by the media, except for the specified directory information and limited-use directory information detailed above, must have the prior written approval of the student(s) involved.

Record of access
A record of access to the official student record will be maintained within the record itself. This record will show the name, address, date and purpose of the person(s) who have been granted access. All persons who have access will be included in this record except those institutional employees who, because of the nature of their duties, have been granted access.

Student's rights to question contents of official records
A student has the right to view his official records as maintained by the college. Furthermore, a student may question any inaccurate or misleading information and request correction or deletion of that data from the official records.

All such requests will be sent to the registrar and will become a part of that student's record.

All requests for correction of a student record will be acted upon within 45 days of receipt of that request. If the custodian can verify that such data is, in fact, in error, appropriate corrections will be made, and the student will be notified in writing. In the event that the registrar fails to resolve the request to the student's satisfaction, the student may continue the grievance through compliance with the grievance procedure found in the college catalog. If the outcome of the grievance is in agreement with the student's request, the student will be permitted to review his or her record to verify that the change has been made correctly. If the student's request is denied, he or she will be permitted to append a statement to the record in question, showing the basis for the disagreement with the denial. Such appendages will become a permanent part of the record.

How to file a complaint
Students who feel their rights under FERPA have been violated should submit their concern to the college through the Student Complaint form; more information is available in the college catalog. Eligible students or parents may also file a written complaint on FERPA violations to the U.S. Department of Education at the following address:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave. SW
Washington, DC  20202

Curriculum Admissions
Information is available online or by calling an admissions information specialist at 919-866-5420. 

Registration and Records

• Southern Wake Campus: Student Services Building (Building L), Room 243
  919-866-5700 or [email protected] 
• Scott Northern Wake Campus: Building B, Room 216
• Online

Advising
919-866-5474 or [email protected]