Parents

For Parents, Families, or Guardians

As parents, family members, or guardians of college students, the academic success of your children is of utmost importance. We want them to reach their educational goals and succeed as well. We developed this page to give you easier access to information you need. From tuition to financial aid, admissions process to academic programs, we hope you find answers to your questions.

Family Sessions for New Students

Parents, family members, guardians, and close-friends are a critical support network for new students making the transition to college. You are in this process with them and the more you know about Pitt Community College, the more guidance you can provide in making your students’ college experience a positive one. Pitt Community College is excited to partner with you and we look forward to answering your questions through our virtual New Student Orientation Family Sessions.

Video Topic: Seven Tips for Online Learners

Video Topic: How to Obtain a Parking Pass and ID Card

Video Topic: How to Order Textbooks

Video Topic: FAFSA Tips for Parents

Parent FAQ’s

1. What is FERPA and why won’t people talk to me?
2. What is the “Health and Safety Exemption” for FERPA?
3. What is financial aid and why is it important?
4. Why is the placement test important?
5. How can we get a copy of the College catalog?
6. How can my son/daughter best prepare for his/her meeting with an advisor?
7. When is registration and how does my son/daughter register for classes?
8. What tutoring services are available at PCC?
9. Why is the College Student Success (ACA 111 or 122) class required?
10. How can my son/daughter make the most out of his/her college experience?
11. How do I contact my son/daughter in the event of an emergency?
12. Where can I go to find important dates?
13. Want more information about PCC and the surrounding area?

1. What is FERPA and why won’t people talk to me?
If your child is 18 years of age or older, faculty and staff of PCC cannot release information about your child to others or talk to you specifically about your child’s academics, financial aid, attendance, discipline issues, etc. without the written consent of your child, even if you are the one funding your child’s education. These guidelines fall under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974.

We understand this law can be both helpful and frustrating at times. We’re sure it’s comforting to know that information about your child will be protected by PCC. And we know it can also be frustrating if you need to know information and no one is able to release it to you. The best way to combat these issues is to know more about FERPA and your child’s rights. Learn more about FERPA (This link leaves the PCC web site and is not considered as being endorsed by Pitt Community College). FERPA release forms, which authorize the release of information to a designated person or persons, can be completed by the student in the Registrar’s Office located in the Craig F. Goess Student Center. Students must bring a picture ID when completing this form. This form need only be completed once and remains on file as long as the student is enrolled at PCC. The faculty member or staff person may call the Registrar’s Office at (252) 493-7208 to verify that the release has been completed.

2. What is the “Health and Safety Exemption” for FERPA?
Under the FERPA guidelines, an educational agency or institution may disclose personally identifiable information from an education record to appropriate parties, including parents of an eligible student, in connection with an emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals. If PCC determines that there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals, we may disclose information from education records to any person whose knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals.

3. What is financial aid and why is it important?
Most students do not realize that they may be eligible for financial aid. Financial aid consists of both federal and state options including scholarships, grants, student loans, and student work study programs. Your son/daughter must reapply for financial aid each academic year (fall-spring-summer) they wish to receive it. If your student is listed as a dependent on your tax income information, it will be necessary for you to have this information available for them when they apply. It is extremely important that your son/daughter apply for financial aid as early as possible to qualify for the maximum award amount available. For more information on financial aid, how to apply, and other important things you and your son/daughter need to know, please visit this link.

4. Why is the placement test important?
To ensure student success, it is important for new students to start in classes that reflect their abilities. We use placement testing to determine the best English and math class for students to begin their college coursework.

All students entering a North Carolina Community College must submit their high school transcript to the college. The unweighted Grade Point Average is used in deciding the math and English course in which to register the students:

Students with a 2.8 or higher GPA may register for college level courses without mandatory additional support.
Students with a 2.2-2.799 may register for a gateway course with a mandatory support course
Students with a 2.2 or less will be required to enroll in a one-semester transition course.

These areas are critical to success in any program at PCC. Starting students in the correct classes enables students to reach their academic goals. More information on placement testing, in addition to details for the placement of students who graduated from high school more than 10 years ago, is available here.

5. How can we get a copy of the College catalog?
The PCC catalog is the ultimate resource guide for your child and is a vital tool that can aid in the success of your child’s time at PCC. The catalog contains information your child needs to know from major course requirements, financial aid, tuition and fees, grading policies, student services, etc. You name it, it’s in there! Lots of questions that students have can be answered simply by opening the catalog and locating the correct information. The catalog serves as an excellent resource for you as well. The catalog allows you to gain a better understanding of how life at PCC works and other important information that may pertain to your child as well. Although we no longer print copies of the catalog, you can view or download the current PCC catalog.

6. How can my son/daughter best prepare for his/her meeting with an advisor?
When a student meets with the advisor initially, it is a good idea to ask the advisor for a complete educational plan. Many classes are not offered every semester and pre-planning can be critical to a timely graduation. Once this pre-planning is complete, students should have a firm understanding of the classes they need to complete their educational goal. Prior to each semester, students should then review the course offerings for that semester and have an idea of what courses they need before meeting with their advisor. View the current class schedule.

If your son/daughter is unsure of his/her advisor assignment, he/she may contact the Student Success Advising office at (252) 493-7578, or visit them in the Craig F. Goess Student Center room 120 during regular business hours.

7. When is registration and how does my son/daughter register for classes?
Students should always consult with their advisor before registering to ensure that they are taking the correct courses for their program of study. Registration periods are listed annually on the Academic Calendar, found here.

Priority registration refers to the first available registration period and allows currently enrolled students to register based on their credit hours. The more credit hours a student has, the earlier he/she can register. Students can create their Student Educational Plan prior to conferring with their assigned advisor before registering through myPittCC. New students and readmitted students have designated days to register at the conclusion of the priority registration. Registration remains open through the start of a given semester until late-start courses have begun.

Students are encouraged to register and pay for classes as early as possible. Classes do have a maximum number of seats available and can fill up the closer it gets to the start of the semester. Depending on when your student registers for their classes, tuition and fees must be paid by the deadline listed on the Academic Calendar or your son/daughter’s schedule will be deleted. Students may check their balance by logging into their myPittCC account. Check out the Registration Information page for more information on dates and deadlines for the upcoming semester.

Still have questions about the registration process? Please visit our Web Registration frequently asked questions section.

8. What tutoring services are available at PCC?
There are a number of valuable tutoring services available at no cost to PCC students currently enrolled in curriculum courses. Students can visit our Tutorial and Academic Success Center (TASC) located in T-19 next to the Everett Building. Students can receive tutoring in various core subject areas. Please contact (252) 493-7258 or visit their office for more information. Online tutoring is also available through the SMARTHINKING online tutorial service within the Moodle link.

9. Why is the College Student Success (ACA 111 or 122) class required?
Student success courses help students learn to be more effective in school and improve student performance and retention. Upon completion, students should be able to function effectively in the college environment to meet their college objectives.

Students are encouraged to take one of these required courses during their first semester. Students who do not take the appropriate ACA class during their first semester, must complete it by the time they have earned/attempted 12 credit hours or met the qualifications for exemption. Please see the college catalog for more details.

We offer both ACA 111, College Student Success, and ACA 122, College Transfer Success. ACA 122 has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement for transferability as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.

10. How can my son/daughter make the most out of his/her college experience?
Students who are integrated academically as well as socially are more likely to reach their educational goals. All students are encouraged to join clubs and organizations that reflect their interests. Joining clubs and organizations can lead to excellent networking opportunities, resume building, and can help students make their transition to college more enjoyable. Visit PCC’s clubs and organizations.

Most majors also have an organization or club. Please contact an advisor or a department chair for more details.

11. How do I contact my son/daughter in the event of an emergency?
Cell phone usage during class can be distracting to other students. Most instructors request students to shut off cell phones during class.

In the event of an emergency, family members who need to contact a student can call Campus Police at (252) 493-7777. Once Campus Police determines an emergency exists, an officer will make contact with the student in class.

12. Where can I go to find important dates?
Knowing the “when’s and where’s” of academic and non-academic related events can also be a vital part of your student’s success inside and outside the classroom. For important academic-related dates, see PCC’s events calendar. Simply select the semester you wish to review.

Note that individual calendars for athletics, financial aid deadlines, on-campus events, etc. can also be accessed on this page by clicking the Full Events Calendar link at the bottom of this page.

13. Want more information about PCC and the surrounding area?
Map of the Pitt Community College campus.
Directions to campus and to off-campus classroom locations.
For assistance finding off-campus housing, please visit http://offcampushousing.pittcc.edu.