How to be Successful at Cabrillo College...
Matriculation is an umbrella of services that helps you reach your college goals in a reasonable amount of time and in a way that meets your particular needs and life circumstances. The Matriculation Office works with other services and programs on campus to coordinate services that support your goals and progress at Cabrillo.. All community colleges provide Matriculation services in similar ways.
A student who “matriculates” identifies a specific educational goal when she or he attends college, identifying a particular purpose and outcome such as transfer to a four-year university, career preparation, upgrade of job skills, or to improve basic skills for success in life. The student follows an education plan that helps her or him accomplish that goal. These students are called "matriculated students." Some students are taking one or two classes for personal enrichment. They are referred to as "non-matriculated students."
Matriculation is a commitment between you and the college:
We commit to provide the following services:
- A clear and accessible Admissions process.
- Assessment of your academic skills through placement testing in math, English, reading and ESL.
- An Orientation to college, the services we provide, and the policies in place that support your success.
- Counseling, Advising and Educational Planning so that you enroll in the correct courses and complete your academic program in the way that meets your unique needs.
- Follow-up Services when you are having academic difficulties and need some additional support.
Your part of the partnership is to:
- Submit an application to attend college. See the Cabrillo College catalog, the Class Schedule or go to www.cabrillo.edu for information on enrollment and registration
- Complete the assessment (placement test) before enrolling in classes
- Participate in an orientation to college (online).
- Declare an educational goal (AA degree, certificate, transfer agreement, etc.) in a reasonable amount of time after applying
- Meet with a counselor to develop an Education Plan and continue to meet with the counselor to keep on track
- Make reasonable progress toward your stated goal
- Meet with staff and utilize college support services when needed
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In addition:
1. Admissions
Matriculation requires that you have an accessible admissions process. We want it to be easy and clear. Applying is done online. This is the initial step in the matriculation process. Once your application has been processed, you have been admitted to Cabrillo College. Congratulations.
You hopefully will identify an education goal (transfer to a university, complete a career certificate, earn an Associates Degree,etc.) and select a major (business, dental hygiene, liberal arts,etc.) on your application. This makes you a matriculated student.
2. Assessment (for Course Placement)
Assessment is needed for all new students who intend to:
- Enter their first college English or math course
- Enroll in more than six units
- Satisfy math/English prerequisites
To a large degree, success in college is dependent upon you enrolling in courses that match your abilities and skills. The skills that are officially measured are English comprehension, reading and math. Some science classes also want you to have a certain level of math skills in order to enroll. These knowledge and skill requirements are called "prerequisites" and "corequisites" and are discussed in more detail below.
The assessment tests can be taken on the computer or in a paper and pencil version in the Assessment Center or the Watsonville Center.
The assessment tests are conducted in a group setting in an official test environment and are timed. Additional indicators of your skills and knowledge that may have been gained elsewhere than in a classroom will be taken into consideration in the final placement score. These additional skills are referred to as “multiple measures” and are given a numerical value in the final score. Your assessment scores are loaded into the computer. They indicate your placement level and show whether you have satisfied the math and English prerequisites that some courses require. If you have not "placed into" the desired class, you may reassess. If you still do not score where you had hoped, you must take the class indicated on the score sheet.
The assessments are scheduled months in advance and are offered on a range of mornings, afternoons, evenings and weekends. Check the schedule online for times in Aptos and Watsonville. Practice tests are available at the Assessment Center and online.
Assessment needs to be completed before registering for classes. You are able to re-assess one more time during a six month period. There is no fee for the assessment test.
If you have a verified disability through a 504 Plan or you think you may have a learning disability that needs assessing and verification, please contact the Learning Skills Program. With a verifiable disability, you may be eligible for extended time on the assessment. For more information about any support services related to disabilities, contact Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS).
Students for whom English is a Second Language (ESL) and want to take English classes, Cabrillo has a self-placement assessment process -ESL students take a placement test in order to enroll in classes. Back to Top
3. Orientation
An orientation is required for new students. Orientation provides general information regarding Cabrillo College’s services and programs. It also describes your rights and responsibilities as a college student. You will learn about transfer and degree requirements, career programs and student services. The orientation requirement can be satisfied online. A counselor-led orientation follows a few of the assessment sessions.
4. Counseling and Educational Advising
An "education" plan is a multi-semester plan that combines general education, courses for the major, electives and other classes you might want to take. It is co-designed with you and a counselor taking your work and family commitments into consideration. Counselors are aware of the cycle of classes offered at Cabrillo and will factor the timing of those offerings into the education plan. If you are planning to transfer to a four year university, the counselors are aware of the special requirements of the many different universities. These can be overwhelming and confusing without the assistance of a counselor. These requirements change frequently. Working with a counselor also allows you to revise your plan when circumstances change. Counselors can also assist you with the critical deadlines needed for transfer agreements, transfer applications and financial aid. An education plan allows you to register easily without consulting staff every semester. This is a critical component of the Matriculation process. See www.cabrillo.edu/services/counseling/
5. Follow-Up Services
Helping you stay in college and reach your goal is important to us. There are many reasons students fall behind: enrolling in too many units, not balancing college, work and family responsibilities, the increasing cost of attending college, and many more realities of life. Falling behind can result in two types of probationary categories that can impact your status at Cabrillo.
- Academic Probation is triggered when your grades fall below a 2.0 GPA. This moves you from satisfactory academic standing. Two semesters of probation will lead to dismissal.
- Progress Probation is triggered when you have dropped courses wiht a W or I or have not completed courses (NC) for more than 50% of the total number of units in which you have enrolled as a student at Cabrillo. Two semesters of probation will lead to dismissal.
- Dismissal is triggered after two semesters of academic or progress probation. It requires meeting with a counselor to determine whether you should continue or take a leave from the college.
We want to work with you before you reach this point and definitely once you have. See the catalog, Class Schedule or the Cabrillo web site www.cabrillo.edu for more information.
Prerequisites, Corequisites, and Recommended Preparation
A prerequisite is a course or body of knowledge that must be satisfactorily completed before a student may register in another course. Cabrillo College enforces prerequisites. Satisfactory completion is defined by a "C" or better grade or a "Pass" grade. A corequisite is a course that must be taken concurrently with another course. When a student registers for a class, she/he must register for both classes at the same time. If she/he does not register for both classes, neither class will be processed during registration. All other classes not requiring corequisites will be processed.
Challenging a prerequisite or corequisite
A student has the right to "challenge" a pre or corequisite. Challenging course requisites requires written documentation that explains the alternative course work, background, and/or abilities that adequately prepare a student for the course. Students may obtain a Requisite Challenge Form from the Matriculation Office or online www.cabrillo.edu/matriculation "PDF forms." The College shall resolve the challenge within five academic calendar workdays for the Fall and Spring semesters. Winter and summer sessions have different timelines. Check with the Matriculation Office for additional information, (831) 477-3242.
Learning Skills
Learning Skills classes are designed to assist students who have learning disabilities to succeed in programs of study offered by the College. Placement in these classes is preceded by individual diagnostic testing. An Individual Education Plan will be developed for each student. www.cabrillo.edu/academics/learningskills/
Disabled Student Services Program (DSPS)
Cabrillo College provides support services for all eligible students with special needs. Students with learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, psychological disabilities, vision, health, hearing, speech, acquired brain injury, or other documented disabilities can find the services they require though DSPS. See www.cabrillo.edu/services/dsps/
Exemption from Matriculation Services
Some students are exempt from matriculation requirements. They include students who:
- are enrolled in less than six (6) units;
- have an AA/AS degree or higher;
- have already satisfied the required pre or co-requisite through other documented means. See additional information in this catalog, the Class Schedule and on the Cabrillo web site www.cabrillo.edu
For additional support services and programs at Cabrillo, check out these links:
CalWORKS
Transfer and Career
Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS)
Financial Aid
Fast Track to Work
Migrant Education
Academic Community for Educational Success (ACES) (Formerly "Digital Bridge Academy")
Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS)
Learning Skills
