Midlands Technical College is committed to multiculturalism and student awareness of the global community. A growing number of international students are choosing to attend the college. The following information has been compiled by MTC’s International Committee as information for international students:
What courses can I take to improve my English language skills?
MTC has courses in English as a Second Language (ESL) reading, writing, speaking/listening, and intensive pronunciation. For ESL students, the ESL reading and writing courses can fulfill the requirements for ENG 035/100 and RDG 035/100.
Where do I go if I have personal problems, such as homesickness?
Contact Counseling Services and ask for Phil Morris on Airport Campus (822-3559).
Who do I see if I have questions about my visa or I-20?
Contact MTC’s international admission coordinator, Mrs. Susan Vinson, at 738-7811.
What are the employment opportunities for international students at MTC?
See the detailed list of contacts later in this section.
How do I get permission to work off campus?
Students cannot work off campus until they have been in F1 status for one academic year or unless they are in a visa status that specifies work eligibility. The international admissions coordinator, Mrs. Vinson, can discuss work eligibility conditions with interested students. Also, see the section on “International Students Seeking Employment at MTC” for information about on-campus job possibilities.
Must I have health insurance?
It is a good idea to have health insurance either from home or from an insurance company in the US. The college does not provide health coverage for students, but Ms. Vinson has information on insurance plans for internationals. In addition, the college provides accident insurance that covers students who may be injured while on campus or at a college-sponsored event.
Do I qualify for any kind of scholarship?
International students do not qualify for federal or state grants but they may apply for scholarships offered by the Midlands Technical College Foundation after they have been a student at MTC for one semester. Please see Mrs. Vinson for details.
May I drop a class if I am not doing well in it?
Students may not drop a class during the fall or spring terms if by doing so they will be less than full-time students (12 credit hours). Maintaining a full-time credit hour course load is required by US federal USCIS regulations. This is the most important responsibility that international students must fulfill.
Is there anything I need to do before traveling outside the United States?
Students should bring their passport and I-20 to Mrs. Vinson to verify that both are still valid for re-entering the United States.
What do I need to do when I am ready to transfer to another college?
Students should apply to the new college, have an official transcript from MTC sent to the new college, have the new college’s transfer clearance form filled out by Mrs. Vinson and have the new college send Mrs. Vinson a copy of the new I-20. Mrs. Vinson will notify USCIS of the transfer, and this notification will complete the transfer process.
As an international student do I have to file income tax returns each April?
Yes. Mrs. Vinson will send students a letter in March explaining what to do.
When will I be assigned to an academic advisor?
You will be assigned to a faculty advisor during your first semester at MTC. If you do not know who to contact to schedule an advisement appointment, call the Beltline Advisement Center at 738-7810.
Can I register for my courses over the Internet?
Continuing students in some programs are automatically approved for online registration. In other programs, academic advisors determine a student’s eligibility for online registration. Your advisor will let you know if you are eligible for online registration. The MTC Online Student Menu has a link, “Check if I can register online,” that will show whether you have been enabled to register online.
If I have been approved for online registration, when can I register for my courses?
The dates for online registration are the same as for regular on-campus registration. Those dates are published in the Class Schedule and on the MTC Web page at www.midlandstech.edu.
How can I learn to use the MTC Online system?
There are links to two tutorials on the Student Menu of the MTC Online system. From the main MTC Web page, click on the “Enrolled Students” tab. Then click on “MTC Online.” From there, click on “How to register online,” “Registration information/instructions,” or “How do I log in?”
The MTC International Committee gathered this information as a service to MTC’s F1 students.
In general, international students may not be employed by businesses or accept federally funded work-study positions. International students with F1 visas may be employed as part-time temporary employees by college departments. Below is a list of departments and areas at MTC that traditionally hire students as temporary employees in various capacities. Contact information and job descriptions are given also.
Student Support Services hires academic mentors to assist students in preparation for success in particular courses (i.e., math). The international student must have an F1 visa, completion of 24 credit hours, and 3.0 GPA. For application and job description, contact Alfie Baker at 738-7841 or 822-3032.
Academic Success Center hires academic tutors to assist students in various courses. Positions are often available for math, science, Spanish, French and accounting courses. Tutors are sometimes needed in other courses. Pay starts at $6/hour. Contact: Alfred Pritchard at 822-3071.
Science Department occasionally hires one or two students as lab assistants - washing glassware is a primary activity. Pay is $7/hour. Contact: Renee Weber at 822-3501.
Counseling and Career Services hires students as note-takers for MTC students with disabilities in various courses and sections as needed. Contact Emily Burns on Beltline Campus at 738-7636 (BSC 239) or Phil Morris on Airport Campus at 822-3559 (ASC 237).
Campus Bookstore hires students to work both at the Beltline and Airport locations. Ten to twenty students might be hired during the “start of semester” weeks. A few students are hired to work throughout the year. Contact: Bernice Holley or Mr. Brown on BC at 738-7783 and Dave Hammond on AC at 822-3522.
Veterans Affairs hires tutors for various courses, especially for math, accounting, and computer courses. Contact: Deborah Godfrey in BSC 132 at 738-7615 to be added to the list of VA tutors.
Humanities Department needs foreign language tutors. If French or Spanish is your native language and you’d like to apply, contact Contact Elena Martinez-Vidal, Department Chair at 738-7684.
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Whether you have an assignment, research paper or just need the answer to a question, the MTC Library is here to help. During our operating hours, the library staff offers personal assistance with your information needs. The library’s online resources, including online reference assistance, are available anytime via the web. In addition to our print collection, the library provides online access to a large collection of e-books, plus an extensive list of general and specialized databases covering numerous subject areas. Visit the library’s web site for more information, www.lib.midlandstech.edu.
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Students who have lost or found any items should check with the Student Life Office on the appropriate campus. A description of items found, as well as those reported missing, is located in the Student Life Office on Airport and Beltline campuses.
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Midlands Technical College does not discriminate in admissions or employment on the basis of race, sex, national origin or ethnic group, color, age, religion, disability or military service. In compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992, Midlands Technical College offers access and equal opportunity in its admissions policies, academic programs and services, and employment of disabled individuals in that no otherwise qualified person will be denied these provisions on the basis of a disability. Dr. Ronald L. Rhames has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Section 35.107 of the Department of Justice regulations, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title VII and Title IX regulations. Information concerning the provisions of the American with Disabilities Act and the rights and privileges thereunder are available from Dr. Rhames in his position as the ADA/EEOC coordinator. He can be reached at Midlands Technical College, P.O. Box 2408, Columbia, SC 29202, (803) 822-3261.
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Staff in the college’s Online Services Centers help students develop their class schedules for registration and assist students in using the college’s online registration system and other MTC OnLine services. The college’s Airport Online Services Center is located in the Airport Student Center, room 222. The Online Services Center on Beltline Campus is located on the second floor of the Student Center. Center staff assist both current and new students in planning and developing short-term and long-range course schedules.
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(See Student Life.)
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Midlands Technical College offers a variety of orientation services for college students. Entering students receive an individualized internet-based orientation to familiarize them with college services and procedures. Students without Internet services can request an alternative version of the orientation. To provide greater orientation support to students who are entering college for the first time, first-time college freshmen are encouraged to enroll in COL105, The Freshman Seminar. This course provides intensive college orientation and success strategies designed to help students meet their academic goals. Many academic programs also have program-specific orientation activities for their students, and the College provides college information sessions for students and family members.
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Students are not required to register their vehicles to park on campus property. All students may park in areas not reserved for permit holders, visitors, people with disabilities, loading zone vehicles, or other specially designated purposes. (See the maps in Appendices V through IX.)
The college is not responsible for theft, vandalism or other damage to vehicles (or their contents) while these are on college property. Students are advised to leave valuable possessions at home.
Vehicle owners will be held responsible for any violations involving the vehicle, even if someone else was driving it. When five or more violations are issued for one vehicle, the car may be towed and impounded at the owner’s expense until all fines are paid.
All members of the college — students, faculty and staff — are subject to the same traffic and parking regulations.
Fines may be paid in person at the Cashier’s Office on each campus or mailed to: Midlands Technical College, Post Office Box 2408, Columbia, South Carolina 29202. The ticket number should accompany payment to help ensure payment is properly credited.
A fine that is not paid within 10 days is considered delinquent and the owner of the vehicle will have his or her name placed on the college’s delinquent list. Those individuals on this list are prohibited from registering, graduating or receiving copies of records.
| Parking Improperly | $ 5.00 |
| Parking in No Parking Zone | $10.00 |
| Parking in Visitor’s Reserved Parking | $10.00 |
| Parking in Permit Zone | $10.00 |
| Loading Zone Violation | $10.00 |
| Parking in a Handicapped Zone | $25.00 |
| Parking at a Fire Hydrant | $25.00 |
If students wish to appeal a ticket, they should submit the appeal in writing to the Director of Security within three days after receipt of the ticket. The appeal can be mailed to Midlands Technical College, Post Office Box 2408, Columbia, SC 29202.
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Animals are prohibited on campus. Exempt from this prohibition are guide dogs for the blind, visually and/or hearing impaired.
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(See Academic Progress.)
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The English Department publishes an annual student literary magazine, Stylus, which is online at www.midlandstech.edu. The office of Student Life publications include: an online student newspaper, The Pony Express, the Student Planner/Handbook, MTC Club Manual and a child-care referral database. All of the aforementioned student publications are found at www.midlandstech.edu/studentlife.
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(See Admissions.)
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All students must officially withdraw from classes in order to receive a full or partial refund. To officially withdraw, a student must complete a Drop/Add/Withdrawal form and turn it in to the Student Records Office located on the Airport or Beltline campus. After processing the Drop/Add/Withdrawal form, the yellow copy must be turned in to the Cashier’s Office. The Drop/Add/ Withdrawal forms may be obtained at the Student Information Centers and the Student Records Office on each campus or online at the Student Records Website.
Web-enabled students may officially drop courses via MTC Online through the end of Schedule Change. Courses dropped after the official Schedule Change period are considered grades of withdrawal and must be processed personally.
Payment will be required if a student does not attend class(es) (no show) and does not officially drop or withdraw. Students will be billed for these classes and the debt will be processed through the College’s collection procedures, if payment is not received. Midlands Technical College employs third party agencies to collect delinquent student accounts. By registering for classes, students acknowledge responsibility to pay any expenses incurred by the college to collect on the account, should it become delinquent.
Refunds will take approximately 3-4 weeks to process. The amount of the refund will be based on the date the completed form is received by the Student Records Office, according to the Institutional Refund Schedule below. All fees are nonrefundable.
| Withdrawal or Net Reduction of Credit Hours |
Percent of Refund |
| 1st - 5th instructional day of the term |
100% |
| 6th - 10th instructional day of the term |
50% |
| 11th - 15th instructional day of the term |
25% |
| After 15th instructional day of the term |
0% |
Refunds for terms that vary in length from the semester term will be in proportion to the semester-term refund schedule.
Students who receive federal financial aid will earn the entire award after 60 percent of the term has been completed.
In the case of complete withdrawal, any student who completely withdraws prior to 60 percent of the term will owe a portion of tuition and fees to the college, based on the length of time the student was enrolled. Immediate repayment is required.
A student may also owe the federal government a portion of the federal funds disbursed. Immediate repayment may be required.