General Admissions Policy
Vernon College (VC) has an open admission policy which ensures that all persons who can benefit from higher education have an opportunity to do so. The admission policy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, marital status, religion, disability, or age. VC admission policy, procedures, and decisions are managed by both the administration and faculty. All matters pertaining to admission to VC should be addressed to the Office of Admissions and Records.
Detailed program admissions procedures can be found in the Vernon College General Catalog.
ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES
ALL SEMESTER CREDIT HOUR PROGRAMS
- An Application for Admission should be completed at least three weeks prior to enrollment and returned to the Office of Admissions and Records. Upon receipt of the student’s application for Admission, the applicant will be issued a student PIN and I.D. number unique to Vernon College.
- Official transcripts from the high school of graduation, colleges, or universities attended must be sent to the Office of Admissions and Records in Vernon, Texas. Transcripts should be ordered to arrive at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to registration and should be sent by the transmitting institution.
- General Educational Development Test (GED) scores for students applying for admission by GED certificate should be provided to the Office of Admissions and Records thirty (30) calendar days prior to registration.
- Upon receipt of the appropriate documents listed above, the applicant will be notified of his/her acceptance to Vernon College. If notice is not received within ten (10) calendar days after completion of the steps listed, the student should contact the Office of Admissions and Records.
- Before registration, you may be required to take the TSI exam (Texas Success Initiative) that will assess your reading, writing, and math skills. Results of this assessment are not used for admission; however, the test results will be used to determine eligibility to take specific courses.
- In order to make as smooth a transition to VC as possible, each new applicant is required to attend New Student Orientation. Students should contact any counseling office for dates and times. Student advising for course selection (trial schedules) is provided by Vernon College Student Services’ Counseling Staff and/or Course Schedule Advisors (CSAs).
- Students should obtain a printed registration guide for the dates and times designated for registration. Individuals registering after the final registration period will be charged a late registration fee.
- All applicants and returning students who have questions concerning financial aid should contact the Office of Financial Aid as early as possible. For additional information, please visit the Vernon College General Catalog or the Financial Aid Web Page for more information.
ADMISSION CATEGORIES
Vernon College offers an opportunity for all responsible adults to take advantage of the courses and programs available at the College. In general, any high school graduate or otherwise qualified individual may be admitted to a semester hour credit program of study from which he/she may substantially benefit. A student may be admitted through one of the following categories:
- Graduation from High School
- High School Equivalent
- Transfer
- Concurrent Enrollment
- Foreign Student
- Individual Approval or
- Continuing Education (non-credit) Courses.
NOTE: Admission to the College does not mean admission to programs which have additional requirements, such as cosmetology, nursing, and others. For specific requirements, see specific program outlines in the General Catalog.
If you need assistance with the Admissions process, please contact the Office of Admissions and Records at (940) 552-6291 ext 2226 on the Vernon Campus and (940) 696-8752 ext 3208 at Century City Center.
Bilingual Services (Spanish) are available to assist students and parents with the Admissions process. Please contact Erika Hernandez on the Vernon Campus at (940) 552-6291 ext 2210.
1970 marked the beginning of Vernon College. Throughout this decade the College continued to grow and more students enrolled in both on- and off-campus courses. On January 20, 1970, a majority of the citizens of Wilbarger County voted to create the Wilbarger County Junior College District. Following that decision, Vernon Regional Junior College was established and on April 9, 1970, the newly elected Board of Trustees appointed Dr. David L. Norton as the College’s first president. Campus construction began in May 1971, and included an Academic Science Center, Administration-Fine Arts Center, Applied Arts Center, Library, and Student Center. The following year, on September 5, 1972, classes met for the first time on the Vernon campus with a total of 608 students. On August 1, 1974, Dr. Jim M. Williams became the College’s second president. In the fall semester of that year, combined on- and off-campus enrollment exceeded 800 students. During the 1975-76 academic year, the College expanded its services to include a learning center on Sheppard Air Force Base. During this year, enrollment in credit courses, both on- and off-campus, rose to a level of 1,199. The scope of the Vocational Nursing Program was enlarged during the 1976-77 academic year with the assumption of the Bethania School of Vocational Nursing in Wichita Falls. In August 1976 the Physical Education Center was dedicated in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas A. King longtime benefactors of Vernon College.
Growth and changes continued during the 1980s. In August 1980 a Student Residence Center, designed to house 128 students, opened for occupancy. Further expansion of program offerings in the Wichita Falls area was accomplished through absorption of an existing proprietary school that was renamed the Vernon College Technical Center and the integration of the nursing program from the Wichita Falls Independent School District. On March 22, 1982, Dr. Joe Mills took over the leadership of the College as the third president. That fall, the College fielded its first intercollegiate rodeo team. During 1983-84, the Department of Cosmetology and the Career Development Center (previously known as the North Texas Skills Center) were established in Wichita Falls. On the Vernon campus, the Chaparral Center was completed, and the Pease River farm purchased through a state land trade. The following academic year, 1984-85, Vernon College reached a record credit enrollment of 1,863 and a record continuing education enrollment of 7,056 registrations. A Vocational Nursing Program opened in Seymour, and the Board of Trustees established a college foundation and approved an agreement to allow construction of the Red River Valley Museum on the Vernon campus. In February 1987 the College played its first intercollegiate baseball game on the Vernon campus. During May of that year, the new Natatorium was opened in the King Physical Education Center. A newly constructed Athletic Dormitory opened to house 28 athletes in August 1988. In October, Trustees voted to add women’s volleyball as a varsity sport, effective with the fall 1989 semester. In May 1989 Vernon College moved all Wichita Falls programs to one centralized location—Century City Center. Since the College opened its doors 38 years ago, many individuals, corporations, foundations, and organizations have made an investment in our students through the creation of endowed and annual scholarships. As of this year, more than 100 scholarship funds are available to help students pursue their educational dreams.VERNON COLLEGE PHILOSOPHY: Vernon College is a constantly evolving institution, dedicated primarily to effective teaching and regional enhancement. With this dedication to teaching and to the community, the College encourages open inquiry, personal and social responsibility, critical thinking, and life-long learning for students, faculty, and other individuals within its service area. The College takes as its guiding educational principle the proposition that, insofar as available resources permit, instruction should be adapted to student needs. This principle requires both flexibility in instructional strategies and maintenance of high academic standards. Strong programs of assessment and accountability complement this educational principle. VC accepts the charge of providing a college atmosphere free of bias, in which students can exercise initiative and personal judgment, leading to a greater awareness of personal self-worth. It strives to provide every student with opportunities to develop the tools necessary to become a contributing, productive member of society.
Vision
VERNON COLLEGE VISION: Vernon College will promote a culture of success for our students and communities through learner-centered quality instructional programs and exemplary services.
Values
VERNON COLLEGE VALUES: Vernon College promotes a culture of success through our shared values and commitment to:
Accessibility
Accountability
Building Relationships
Diversity
Inclusion
Innovation
Leadership
Quality
Student Success
Teamwork
Our values define who we are and guide us in conducting our business every day. Our values are our morals – what is important to us at our college.
Mission
VERNON COLLEGE MISSION The mission of Vernon College is teaching, learning, and leading. Vernon College is a comprehensive community college that integrates education with opportunity through our instructional programs and student support services by means of traditional and distance learning modes. Therefore, to fulfill its mission, the College will provide access, within its available resources, to:
Career technical/workforce programs up to two years in length leading to associate degrees or certificates;
Career technical/workforce programs leading directly to employment in semi-skilled and skilled occupations;
Freshman and sophomore courses in arts and sciences, including the curricula leading to associate and baccalaureate degrees;
Ongoing adult education programs for occupational upgrading or personal enrichment;
Compensatory education programs designed to fulfill the commitment of an admissions policy allowing the enrollment of disadvantaged students; ;
A continuing program of counseling and guidance designed to assist students in achieving their individual educational goals;
Career technical/workforce development programs designed to meet local and statewide needs;
Support services for educational programs and college-related activities;
Adult literacy and other basic skills programs for adults; and
Other To help prospective and current students, faculty, and staff locate important information about Vernon College, this webpage provides links to helpful information on a variety of government mandated and consumer information. Examples are academic programs, cost of attendance, financial aid, safety and security, and institutional financial reports. Vernon College’s presentation of this information complies with the Higher Education Act, as amended, and implementing regulations.