Open Door Policy

TOCC admits students by an “open door policy,” which means that anyone can be accepted. Tohono O’odham Community College encourages all students to further their education.

Overview

TOCC has separate admissions requirements for ABE/GED, for apprenticeships, and for regular college classes. Click on your choice to learn the requirements.

Admission to TOCC (for regular college classes)

Adult Basic Education (ABE) and General Equivalency Diploma (GED) classes

Apprenticeships

Application for Admission to TOCC
Download, print and submit the 16-page application according to the instructions below. You may also contact TOCC for a paper copy.

Admission to TOCC

Who can enroll?

You are eligible for admission if you are

· A high school graduate or GED recipient.

· A transfer student from an accredited college or university.

· A student currently attending another higher education institution.

· A non-high school graduate who is at least 16 and can benefit from instruction.

· A current high school student who has received permission from your school and parents or legal guardians.

Some programs have limited admission and may have additional requirements for those students under the age of 16. Call the Admissions Office at (520) 383-8401 for details. All students have the opportunity to prepare themselves to meet requirements for entry into any program they choose. For more information, see an advisor or counselor.

HOW TO ENROLL

Applying for admission is easy and can be done year-round. There is no application fee.

Any applicant who wishes to be considered for admissions must submit the following documents:

TOCC Application for Admission
Official high school transcript or G.E.D.
Certificate or Ability to Benefit Document (if required)
Certificate of Documented Indian Blood or Tribal enrollment card
Social Security Card

In addition, any students who are members of the Tohono O’odham Nation and who reside outside of the boundaries of the Tohono O’odham Nation will be subject to standard TOCC admissions policy.

APPLICATIONS CAN BE SUBMITTED

· In person at the College

· By fax at (520) 383-8403

· By mail to Tohono O’odham Community College

P.O. Box 3129

Sells, Arizona, 85634

REQUIRED USE OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENT ID NUMBER

TOCC is required to collect the Social Security Numbers of ALL students who are U.S. citizens, resident aliens or non-citizens (who have been issued a Social Security Number) on the Application for Admission, all local state or federal student financial aid applications and forms, or any forms required for college employment. Students are not required to use their Social Security Number as their Student Identification Number.

All new students admitted to TOCC will be automatically issued and ASSIGNED a Student Identification Number. New students may use their Social Security Number as their assigned student identification number by submitting a written request with photo ID at any PCC campus or at TOCC admissions.

Continuing and returning students who are using their Social Security Number as their Identification Number may request an Assigned Student Identification Number by using the procedure on the next page:

REQUESTING AN ASSIGNED STUDENT ID NUMBER

You may request a student ID number that is not your social security number. Bring your photo ID or include a copy of it if mailing or faxing a request

Tohono O’odham Community College (TOCC) offers Adult Basic Education (ABE) and General Equivalency Diploma (GED) classes to help individuals upgrade their skills to qualify for better jobs or for a college degree program. Classes are offered free of cost.

ABE and GED classes cover the subjects needed as a foundation for career and educational advancement: language arts, reading, science, social studies, and mathematics. The General Equivalency Diploma is awarded to students who pass the GED test. This credential is accepted across the United States as the equivalent of a high school diploma.

Admission to ABE and GED

ABE and GED classes are offered on a continuous basis, and they are open entry/open exit. An individual may apply and enroll in the classes any time during the year when the College is open. A student will be allowed to take the GED test when he or she and the instructor agree that the student is prepared.

Anyone 18 years of age or older may apply to enter the ABE or GED classes. To enroll, applicants must do the following:

1. Submit a completed ABE/GED application to TOCC’s Occupational Programs Office at the West Campus.

2. With the application, submit a copy of birth certificate, Social Security card, and Tribal Enrollment card.

3. Attend an orientation for new students in the Occupational Programs. The orientations include an overview of the ABE and GED classes and expectations. Orientations are provided by Occupational Programs staff and are scheduled monthly.

4. Complete the Test of Adult Basic Education (the TABE Test) for placement in ABE or GED.

Fees for Classes

There are no fees to enroll in GED/ABE classes. The GED/ABE courses are offered as a service to the Tohono O’odham Nation to assist members of the Tohono O’odham Nation to earn a GED and to possess a GED for employment and for continued educational and training opportunities. However, students will need to be prepared to

Program Schedule

1. TOCC’s Main Campus in Sells on Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM;

GED Testing

The Official GED test consists of five sections: language arts, reading, science, social studies, and mathematics. Official GED testing is conducted at Tohono O’odham Community College, with priority for testing given to TOCC’s GED students. The Occupational Programs Office maintains an official test list, and a student’s name must be on the list in order for her or him to take the test. The test is administered monthly at the Main Campus.

To make arrangements to take the GED Test, call the Occupational Programs Office at tel. (520) 383-8401.

Fees for GED Testing

§ In person at the TOCC Finance Office, Main Campus, Room 202, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The $75, which covers all five test sections, should be paid separately in two portions, as follows:

Retaking the Test

Each of the five sections of the test may be re-taken at $10 per section. Payment for the retake must be paid in the form of a money order payable to Pima Community College.

The Apprenticeship program has provided workforce development to the Tohono O’odham Nation since 1980. The mission of the program is to train and certify Tohono O’odham people who seek a vocation in the skilled trades. Classes are offered free of cost.

The program is guided by Apprenticeship Standards approved by the Tohono O’odham Community College, the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Apprenticeship Advisory Committee, the Arizona Apprenticeship Advisory Committee, and the Bureau of Apprenticeship Training within the U.S. Department of Labor. The Tohono O’odham Nation’s Apprenticeship Advisory Committee is a member of statewide and federal apprenticeship agencies. Tohono O’odham Community College provides facilities and cooperates with the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Apprenticeship Advisory Committee.

Apprenticeships are competency-based training programs designed to provide trainees with the learning experiences that will equip them with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for success in their chosen occupations. For each trade, classroom instruction, referred to as Apprentice-related Training (or simply “related training”), is combined with on-the-job training (OJT) under the supervision of a certified journeyman who has mastered the trade. Trainees gain further experience through community projects supervised by instructors.

TOCC’s Apprenticeship program requires a high degree of responsibility and commitment. Attaining journeyperson status usually takes 2-4 years, with several thousand hours of training along the way.

Admission to the Apprenticeship Program

Anyone 18 years of age or older possessing a high school diploma or a G.E.D. certificate may apply to enter the Apprenticeship program. Applicants are required to take the following steps:

1. Complete and submit the Apprenticeship application form to TOCC’s Occupational Programs Office.

2. With the application, submit a copy of birth certificate, Social Security card, Tribal Enrollment card, and income verification for the past six months.

3. An interview with the instructor for the student’s program will be scheduled at the time the application is submitted.

4. Take the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE Test). Test results will be shared with the instructor to give him or her information about the student’s level of basic skills.

5. Complete the interview with the appropriate instructor. Applicants must arrive promptly for the interview.

6. Attend an orientation session provided by Occupational Programs staff of TOCC. Orientation sessions, which include an overview of the ABE and GED classes, are scheduled monthly.

Requirements

1. Be physically fit; a physical examination and/or drug testing may be required.

3. Meet all trade-related requirements for training and possible employment during training.

Financial Information

The apprenticeship program is free to enrolled students. Students do not pay tuition for the college courses nor for related training. Textbooks are paid for by the program.

Scholarships are not available at this time, but steps are being taken to develop scholarships for the future.

Apprentices on OJT are paid wages by the contractor; wages are a percentage of journeyman wages. The percentage is dependent upon the status of the apprentice with the program, and it ranges from 55% to 95%.

TOCC can help apprentices individually by providing assistance to attain federal student financial aid. Since the apprenticeship program operates out of a certified Work Skills Center, apprentices are eligible for the same financial assistance as other students.

Program Schedule

Classes are held at TOCC’s West Campus (formerly the Career Center), while OJT is performed in the field or on community projects. The program is year round when the College is open. Generally, the hours of operation are 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. When apprentices are on OJT, they work with the contractors’ schedules.

For More Information

See pp. 119-125 for a description of the Building and Construction Technologies (BCT) apprenticeships. See p. 159 for the Management Information Systems (MIS) apprenticeship. To learn more, contact Mr. George Miguel, Department Chair of Occupational Programs, at tel. (520) 383-0013 or 383-8401.