EST. 1964 - Florence-Darlington Technical College

2020-2021CatalogEST.1964Education for the Real World!

President’s MessageI would like to be the first to welcome you to Florence-DarlingtonTechnical College (FDTC), and I'm excited that you are consideringfurthering your education with us. This year marks the 56th year sinceFDTC first began serving the workforce development needs of theresidents of Florence, Darlington, and Marion Counties by offeringquality educational programs that support economic development. Ourdegree, diploma, and certificate programs (more than 75 of them) leadto careers in business, engineering technology, health care, humanservices, manufacturing, and more. FDTC also offers degreeprograms that makes it easier for students with aspirations oftransferring to a four-year institution. Our Online College gives youthe flexibility to attend classes when it is convenient for you. FDTC’sDual Enrollment Program gives high school students an opportunity toearn college credits while still in high school. All of these educationopportunities are extremely affordable (often free of charge) and offerstudents the opportunity to graduate debt free.When it comes to helping you choose your path or add new skills, we are ready with hands-on learningthat gives you real-world experience. What binds the FDTC faculty and staff together is a concern for thesuccess of each and every student. We believe in helping students to achieve success because we know thata quality education has more value today than at any other time in our country's history. In fact, fiercecompetition in the global marketplace and the emergence of complex new technologies has made a qualityeducation a necessity, not a luxury.Our modern 240-acre campus between Florence and Darlington boasts state-of-the-art technology thatmirrors what students will find in the workplace. The Health Sciences Campus in downtown Florencesupports area hospitals and other healthcare businesses with a steady stream of qualified workers. Oursatellite campuses in Hartsville, Lake City (The Continuum), and Mullins provide access to education forstudents living on the fringes of our service area.FDTC's enrollment now exceeds 4,500 students with an additional 30,000 individuals being served through ourCorporate Workforce Development programs. Join us today and see why so many others have chosen to"experience the technical advantage." We are pleased and gratified that you see FDTC as a part of your futuresuccess.Edward E. BetheaInterim President, FDTCI

Florence-Darlington Technical College2020-2021 CatalogGENERAL INFORMATIONThis catalog is intended to be a detailed listing of our products and services. For information pertaining directly tothe student, please refer to www.fdtc.edu.The information in this Catalog is subject to change based on program and industry needs. Therefore,please consult with your advisor regarding course selections and program requirements.POLICY ON NON-DISCRIMINATIONFlorence-Darlington Technical College is an equal opportunity institution and Florence-Darlington TechnicalCollege does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, creed, marital status,veteran status, disability, sex, or age in its admission policies, programs, activities or employment practices. Incompliance with Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of1973, Florence-Darlington Technical College offers access and equal opportunity in its admissions policies, itsacademic programs and services, and its employment to disabled individuals in that no otherwise qualified personwill be denied these provisions on the basis of a disability. The College’s Title IX and Section 504 coordinator isTerry Dingle, AVP of Human Resources/Internal Relations, (843) 661-8321. This individual can be reached at thefollowing location:Florence-Darlington Technical College2715 West Lucas StreetP. O. Box 100548Florence, South Carolina 29502-0548(843) 661-TECH (8324)Florence-Darlington Technical College operates under an “open door” policy that welcomes all students withoutregard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, creed, marital status, veteran status, disability, sex, or age.Admission to the College, however, does not mean students will be admitted immediately to a program withspecialized admission requirements.This information is provided in compliance with the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1991and the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990.II

ACCREDITATIONThe primary accreditor of Florence-Darlington Technical College is the Commission on the Colleges of theSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, located at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097. Phone:(404) 679-4501. Inquiries to the Commission should relate only to the accreditation status of the College.The College’s accreditation has been reaffirmed through 2026.IMPORTANT NOTEThe information in this Catalog is subject to change based on program and industry needs. Therefore, pleaseconsult with your advisor regarding course selections and program requirements.DISCLAIMERAlthough every reasonable effort has been made to attain factual accuracy throughout this publication, noresponsibility is assumed for editorial, clerical or publishing errors or errors occasioned by mistakes. In addition,this catalog does not constitute a contract between Florence-Darlington Technical College and its students, orapplicants for admission or with any other person. Florence-Darlington Technical College reserves the right toadd or to drop programs and courses, to increase fees, to change the calendar that has been published, and toinstitute requirements when such changes appear desirable. Every effort will be made to minimize theinconvenience such changes might create for students. Consult the College’s website, www.fdtc.edu, for currentinformation.III

TABLE OF CONTENTSGENERAL INFORMATION . IIPOLICY ON NON-DISCRIMINATION.IIACCREDITATI ON .IIIIMPORTANT NOTE.IIIDISCLAIMER .IIIOUR HISTORY .1VISION STATEMENT .1STATEMENT OF MISSI ON .1OUR GOALS .1STUDENT CONSUMER RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITI ES .2HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNI TY AC T (2008) SUMMARY OF PENALTIES.2ADMISSIONS.3OPEN AD MISSIONS .3ADMISSI ON REQUIREMENTS.3ADMISSI ON PROCEDURES.4RESIDENC Y REQUIREMENTS FOR AD MISSION.4PLACEMENT TESTS .4READ MIT APPLICANTS .7HOME SCH OOLED APPLICANTS .7TRANSFER APPLICANTS.7TRANSFER CREDI T POLIC Y.8TRANSIENT APPLICANTS .9UNDECLARED APPLICANTS . 9INTERNATI ONAL STUDENTS .9BRIDGE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS.11TEACH ER REC ERTIFIC ATION RENEWAL .11FINANCIAL INFORMATION. 12STUDENT TUI TION AND FEES .12POLICY FOR STUDENTS WITH OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS .13METHODS OF TUITION PAYMENT .83REFUND POLICY.14FINANCIAL AID FOR STUDENTS . 17FINANCIAL AID STUD ENT RIGH TS AND RESP ONSIBILITIES.17QUICK STEPS - HOW TO APPLY FOR FI NANCI AL AID .18SATISFACTORY AC ADEMIC PROGRESS .18TRANSFERRI NG FINANCI AL AID .22SCHOLARSHIPS .22TYPES OF FINANCI AL AID .23VETERANS PROGRAM .23REGISTRATION AND STUDENT RECORDS . 25REGISTRATI ON PROCESS.25STUDENT REC ORDS .25IV

ACADEMIC RENEWAL POLICY.25DROP/ADD .26DROP/NO-SHOW .26CLASS C ANCELLATIONS .26ACADEMIC PROGRAMS . 27DEGREE PROGRAMS.27DIPLOMA PROGRAMS .27CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS.28CORPORATE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 32FEES .32FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE .32COURSE CANCELLATIONS .32REFUNDS .33REGISTRATION .33COLLEGES WITHIN THE COLLEGE . 34EVENING COLLEGE .34WEEKEND COLLEGE .34FDTC’S ONLINE COLLEGE.34HIGH SCHOOL DUAL CREDIT.35OFF-CAMPUS SITES AND PROGRAMS . 36HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS.36COSMETOLOGY CENTER .36HARTSVILLE SITE - HARTSVILLE, SC .36MULLINS SITE - MULLINS, SC.37FDTC AT THE CONTINUUM - LAKE CITY, SC .37ACADEMIC PROGRAMS FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY .38INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS . 39NON-TRADITIONAL CREDITS . 40ADVANCED PLACEMENT.40INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE .40PROFICIENCY TESTS/CREDIT BY EXAMINATION.40HIGH SCHOOL ARTICULATION.40COLLEGE LEVEL EXAM PROGRAM (CLEP) .41MILITARY SERVICE CREDIT.41MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR DEPENDENTS .41FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEES AND THEIR DEPENDENT CHILDREN AND SPOUSES .41PRIOR LEARNING CREDIT .42OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING . 44ACADEMIC INFORMATION . 45ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OF STUDY INSTRUCTIONAL ORGANIZATION.45ACADEMIC ADVISING.45GRADUATION .46ACADEMIC PROBATION.47ACADEMIC SUSPENSION .47GRADE POLICY .48ATTENDANCE POLICY .52V

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS .53COMPUTER SPECIFICATIONS .55Recommended Configuration . 55Additional Hardware Requirements . 55Software Requirements . 55ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES .55Library Services . 55Computer Labs. 56Child Care . 56Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS). 56Removing Underserved Student Hurdles (RUSH ). 57Services Offer ed to Graduating Diploma, Degree and Certificate Students . 57Services for Students with Disabilities . 57Student Employment Services . 58Student Support Services (SSS) Program. 58Upward Bound . 58COLLEGIATE SPORTS . 60GENERAL EDUCATION. 61GENERAL EDUCATION LEARNING OUTCOMES.61GENERAL EDUCATION CORE COURSES .61COLLEGE TRANSFER AND CO-OP PROGRAMS . 64ADMISSIONS CRITERIA, COURSE GRADES, GPA’S, VALIDATIONS .64SOUTH CAROLINA TRANSFER AND ARTICULATION CENTER (SCTRAC) .65STATEWIDE ARTICULATION OF 86 COURSES .65STATEWIDE TRANSFER BLOCKS.66ASSURANCE OF TRANSFERABILITY OF COURSEWORK COVERED BY THE TRANSFER POLICY .67DEGREES. 69ACCOUNTING .69ASSOCIATE IN ARTS .73ASSOCIATE IN ARTS HONORS PROGRAM .77ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE .82ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE HONORS PROGRAM .86AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY .90AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY – DIESEL OPTION (DAY/EVENING PROGRAM) .93CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY .97COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY - NETWORK SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT.101CRIMINAL JUSTICE TECHNOLOGY .104DENTAL HYGIENE.108DIESEL TECHNOLOGY – CATERPILLAR DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIAN PROGRAM.114EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION .118ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY.123GENERAL TECHNOLOGY .127HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT .129HUMAN SERVICES.134HVAC – HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING TECHNOLOGY .139INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY .142MACHINE TOOL TECHNOLOGY .

Florence-Darlington Technical College is an equal opportunity institution and Florence -Darlington Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, creed, marital status, veteran status, disability, sex, or age in its admission policies, programs, activities or employment practices. In