Admissions
LWTech.edu/admissions
West Building 201 | (425) 739-8104 | admissions@lwtech.edu
Admission to Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) is open to anyone who:
- has a high school diploma, or General Education Development (GED®) certificate or equivalent
- OR -
- is at least 18 years old and is able to benefit from the college’s curriculum
The application for admission is available online at our website, LWTech.edu. Additionally, applications may be found in the Enrollment Services Office either by calling the college at (425) 739-8104 or by emailing admissions@lwtech.edu.
To assure the highest quality education and training, the number of students who may enroll in a program may be limited. Admission to the college does not guarantee that all classes or all programs can accept new students. Because of the demand for programs, those interested in attending the college are encouraged to apply early.
Some programs, such as baccalaureate degrees, Nursing, and Physical Therapist Assistant, have additional procedures and requirements that must be met before enrollment.
Underage Enrollment
The lowest age eligible for admission is 18 unless the student possesses a high school diploma or GED® or equivalent. Students who qualify as high school juniors or seniors are referred to the high school programs office. Underage students interested in classes not specifically designed for a younger student may be considered in cases of exceptional circumstances. Persons requesting this exception consideration must be at least 14 years of age and in the ninth grade at the time of enrollment at the college. The student must request special enrollment for each course, each quarter. This does not constitute admission to the college. Please contact the high school programs office at (425) 739-8107 for more information.
Degree- or Certificate-Seeking Students
LWTech requires that persons seeking admission to a degree or certificate program of study demonstrate the ability to perform entry-level reading, writing and math skills before enrolling in a technical training program by completing a placement assessment. Additional testing in math, reading, writing, and listening skills for Basic Education for Adults (BEdA) and English as a Second Language (ESL) placement is administered by the basic skills program using a different assessment tool. The purpose of these placement measures is to assess each student’s academic strengths and weaknesses, help determine proper course placement, and to determine possible learning needs before enrollment. Assessment results are used by students and advisers to select appropriate basic skill, academic and technical courses.
An official college transcript indicating satisfactory completion with a 2.0 or better in English and/or math from an accredited college may be accepted in lieu of placement tests. An evaluation of official transcripts from an accredited college may also result in transfer of other college credits to LWTech. Students must submit official copies of transcripts from all former colleges to Enrollment Services for an official evaluation. For math placement, students may also provide transcripts from high school documenting a 3.0 or higher in pre-calculus or higher. For both math and English placement, students may also submit Smarter Balanced test scores or ACT or SAT scores. For more information about the requirements for these measures of placement, go to LWTech.edu/admissions/assessment/tests-services.
The college requires a minimum placement score in English and/or math for enrollment in many technical courses and programs. Placement score requirements for English, math, and technical programs are available in student services, and the student assessment center where tests are administered.
Exceptions to the published requisite scores for enrollment into specific courses and, in extraordinary cases, programs of study are made by the Dean(s) of the area of study or designee.
Students who place into Basic Education for Adults (BEdA) or English as Second Language (ESL) classes must satisfactorily complete those courses at an appropriate level before enrolling in a technical program or college level course that has basic skill minimum requirements. Students who have not completed courses or placement tests in all subject areas (math, English) need to be tested or have placement scores in those areas for appropriate placement into courses.
Placement assessment tests are administered regularly at no charge. Drop-in and scheduled times are posted at the assessment center or on the assessment center web page, LWTech.edu/assessment.
Transferring Courses to LWTech from Domestic Institutions
If you have completed classes at other colleges or universities, you may transfer those credits to LWTech. The easiest way to transfer your credits is to contact the transcript office of your previous college(s), and have your official, sealed transcripts sent to:
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Enrollment Services
11605 132nd Avenue NE
Kirkland, WA 98034
Note: If you would like to go over your transcripts with an adviser, bring the sealed transcripts or an unofficial copy to room W207. An adviser will unofficially evaluate your credits. Based on this unofficial evaluation, the adviser can help you choose your classes.
Transferring Courses to LWTech from International Institutions
Students who wish to transfer courses from institutions outside of the United States must have a course-by-course evaluation of their transcripts performed by an international credential evaluation agency. A list of agencies is available online.
Once the agency evaluation is complete, submit the officially sealed evaluation along with the English translation of your international transcript to Enrollment Services W201 (see address above). A copy of your transcript will be made and the original will be returned to you. In order to match courses with specific LWTech courses, students may be required to obtain course descriptions in addition to submitting the agency evaluation.
Transfer Credit Process
Enrollment Services Staff will evaluate your transcript based on your current program of study, specifically looking for courses that satisfy LWTech General Education requirements and/or prerequisite requirements for one of our Selective Admissions Programs (Bachelor’s Degrees, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Nursing).
Due to high demand for evaluation services students are encouraged to submit official transcripts at the time they apply to LWTech. Evaluation results will be available 2-4 weeks after the receipt of official transcripts. The total number of credits transferred in and the institution from which the credits were transferred from will be posted to your LWTech transcript. The results of the evaluation can be viewed by clicking on “Transfer Credit” from the Academics tab dropdown in LionsLink.
If you would like to go over your transcripts with an adviser, bring the sealed transcripts or an unofficial copy to Student Development (W207). An adviser will unofficially evaluate your credits and help you with course selection. For additional information about advising, course selection, and creating an academic plan please visit our Advising page at LWTech.edu/advising.
Advanced Placement
Students who complete college-level work in high school may receive credit at LWTech based on scores on the Advanced Placement examination administered by the College Board. In most subject areas credit is awarded for scores of 3 or higher. Information on transfer credit awarded for AP exams can be found online.
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
CLEP provides students the opportunity to earn college credit for knowledge obtained in non-traditional settings (self-study, job training, internships, personal interest, etc.). Additional information about CLEP exams can be found at the College Board website: clep.collegeboard.org.
International Baccalaureate
Lake Washington Institute of Technology recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) program as a challenging course of study and responds individually to each participant’s request for award of college credit. Students may be awarded credit for completing individual areas of study within the IB program. IB students should submit official IB transcripts to the Enrollment Services office (W201). Information on transfer credit award for IB exams can be found online.
Prior Learning Assessment
Prior learning is the knowledge and skills gained through: work and life experience; military training and experience; and formal and informal education and training from in-state and out-of-state institutions, including foreign institutions. Identifying credit for prior learning can be accomplished by an assessment process conducted by qualified faculty and may result in a course or several courses being posted to your transcript.
Up to 25% of the credits for a degree or certificate may be earned through the PLA process. Awarding of PLA credits by Lake Washington Institute of Technology does not guarantee or imply that other institutions will accept such credit.
Forms are available in the Enrollment Services Office and online.
Transfer Rights & Responsibilities
LWTech.edu/admissions
Military Credit
LWTech welcomes military veterans on campus and encourages students to submit official copies of their Joint Services Transcript (JST) or other official record of military training (such as AARTS, SMART, or CGI) for review to the enrollment services office. If you believe your military training allowed you to gain competency in areas not listed on your JST, consider speaking with your faculty member about the college’s Prior Learning Assessment process: www.lwtech.edu/pla.
Transferring Courses from LWTech
General education and technical courses may transfer to other community and technical colleges or four-year universities. The receiving institution should be consulted to determine which courses will be accepted. Academic courses with an & (ampersand) in the title (e.g., ENGL& 101) are part of Washington State’s Common Course Numbering system and transfer to all state public two-year colleges and are accepted by most public universities. The receiving institution should be consulted to determine which courses will be accepted.
Many Washington colleges and universities accept Associate in Applied Science degrees into specific baccalaureate programs. For more information, please refer to the transfer website at www.lwtech.edu/transfer.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
- Students have the right to clear, accurate, and current information about their transfer admission requirements, transfer admission deadlines, degree requirements, and transfer policies that include course equivalencies.
- Transfer and freshman-entry students have the right to expect comparable standards for regular admission to programs and comparable program requirements.
- Students have the right to seek clarification regarding their transfer evaluation and may request the reconsideration of any aspect of that evaluation. In response, the college will follow established practices and processes for reviewing its transfer credit decisions.
- Students who encounter other transfer difficulties have the right to seek resolution. Each institution will have a defined process for resolution that is published and readily available to students. At LWTech students should first seek resolution with the College Registrar. If that does not resolve the concern, students should follow the formal appeal process as listed in the student handbook.
- Students have the responsibility to complete all materials required for admission and to submit the application on or before the published deadlines.
- Students have the responsibility to plan their courses of study by referring to the specific published degree requirements of the college or academic program in which they intend to earn a bachelor’s degree.
- When a student changes a major or degree program, the student assumes full responsibility for meeting the new requirements.
- Students who complete the general education requirements at any public four-year institution of higher education in Washington, when admitted to another public four-year institution, will have met the lower division general education requirements of the institution to which they transfer.
College and University Rights and Responsibilities
- Colleges and universities have the right and authority to determine program requirements and course offerings in accordance with their institutional missions.
- Colleges and universities have the responsibility to communicate and publish their requirements and course offerings to students and the public, including information about student transfer rights and responsibilities.
- Colleges and universities have the responsibility to communicate their admission and transfer related decisions to students in writing (electronic or paper).
- Colleges and universities have the responsibility to communicate their admission and transfer related decisions to students in writing (electronic or paper).
Registration
LWTech.edu/admissions
Enrollment Services Office
West Building 201 | (425) 739-8104 | registration@lwtech.edu
Registration is the process of enrolling in classes. Dates for classes are announced in the online quarterly Class Schedule. Course updates are distributed frequently to campus staff.
How to Register
New students seeking a degree or certificate make an appointment with staff advisers to complete registration forms and learn about online registration. Continuing students register online or complete registration forms with the assistance of a faculty advisor. There are a number of ways to register for classes. See the current Class Schedule for all options.
PLEASE NOTE: LWTech registration procedure allows you to register for one section of a course. If you register for more than one section of a course, the college will drop you from all sections except the most recent registration transaction. The college will notify you by email after making schedule changes.
Also see the Programs by School section for information about program start dates. These are subject to change.
Full-Time Status
The college considers students to be full-time if they are registered in 12 or more credits.
Currently Enrolled Degree- and Certificate-Seeking Students
- Meet with a faculty adviser to review courses for next quarter.
- Register for courses (students may register for most courses online or in person). See the Class Schedule or Enrollment Services for methods of registration.
- Students pay tuition and fees online or at the Cashier’s Office.
- Textbook and supply costs are in addition to tuition.
To register online, go to the LionsLink Portal. You must be logged in to your LionsLink account in order to add classes to your shopping cart and enroll. Online registration may not be available for all students or classes. The cut-off date for registering online is one day before the quarter begins. See Enrollment Services for details.
To register in person, go to Enrollment Services during business hours.
Monday-Friday 7:30 am-4:30 pm
Evening Tuesday and Wednesday (except before a holiday) 4:30 pm-6:00 pm
First Two Days of the Quarter 7:30 am-6:00 pm
First Saturday of the Quarter (except summer quarter) 8:00 am-1:00 pm
Priority Registration
Priority Registration, as set forth in Chapter 5 of Administrative Procedures, for qualified continuing students begins one day prior to each quarterly Advising Day. The following groups receive priority registration at LWTech:
- Military Veterans
- Students Graduating in the next quarter
- Students enrolled with Worker Retraining or Work First
- Students enrolled with Disability Support Services
Priority Registration Dates for 2022-2023:
- October 21, 2022
- May 8, 2023
Change of Registration (Add/Drop)
Students must add or drop courses online or at Enrollment Services to make the change official. Students may also add/drop classes using their LWTech email account (s-firstname.lastname@lwtech.edu) by emailing registration@lwtech.edu. All requests sent via LWTech email accounts are considered official.
A refund will occur only when a student officially withdraws or drops within the refund period. See Tuition and Financial Aid for refund policy.
Late Adds
Courses added after the first day of the quarter require instructor approval. Adding courses after the 10th day of the quarter requires payment of a $50 late registration fee and may require special petitions.
Payments
Tuition and fees are due by the first day of the quarter. Students who have not paid tuition and fees or made the first payment of the Student Payment Plan may be dropped from their classes. Students who owe tuition and fees will not be able to register for future quarters until their account has been paid.
Waiting Lists
If a class is full, students have the option to be put on a waiting list. This list automatically adds students to openings as they appear prior to the first day of each quarter. Students should check online, with Enrollment Services, or with the course instructor during the first week of classes to see if they are enrolled in the class. Students should remove themselves from the waiting list if they decide not to enroll in the class.
PLEASE NOTE: You may not register for a course (example: ENGL& 101 item # XXXA) and hold a place on the wait list for another section of the same course (ENGL& 101 item # XXXB).
Complete Withdrawal (Drop All Courses)
A student may withdraw from all courses through the eighth week of the quarter, or the equivalent proportion for shorter courses or courses with irregular start and end dates. It is the student’s responsibility to drop all classes. For more information, email registration@lwtech.edu.
Official withdrawals occurring after the tenth instructional day of the quarter are posted with a W on the student’s transcript. A grade of W does not count in GPA calculations. Not attending a class does not withdraw a student or create refund eligibility.
After the eighth week, an unofficial withdrawal from the college will result in each instructor assigning the appropriate grade. Depending on the start date and length of the class, an early withdrawal during the first two weeks will not be recorded on the transcript.
Administrative Withdrawals
Students may be administratively withdrawn from an individual class or all classes in a particular quarter for the following reasons. In all cases, tuition refunds will follow LWTech’s posted refund policy.
Failure to meet prerequisite requirements: Many classes require completion of prerequisite coursework to ensure students are prepared for course content and rigor. Students must meet the requirements of a class either by grade, transfer coursework, placement score, or faculty permission.
Conduct sanctions: When a student is found in violation of one or more of the student conduct codes published in the student handbook, administrative withdrawal may be selected as an appropriate sanction.
Non-attendance: In order to maximize enrollment opportunities for all students, instructors may request the Enrollment Services office to administratively withdraw students who (1) Do not attend the first and/or any subsequent class meetings AND (2) Do not notify the instructor in advance of the absence.
Student Records
FERPA
Lake Washington Institute of Technology has adopted procedures to comply with Public Law 93-380, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).
Directory Information under FERPA for Postsecondary Institutions
The law permits the college to make available to the public directory information:
- Student name
- Dates of enrollment
- Degrees or certificates earned
- Program of study
- Honors awards received
- Full or part-time enrollment status
- Eligibility for participation in official activities and organizations
- College assigned email address
Students who choose to be excluded from the student directory as defined in Public Law 93-380 are requested to file a petition with Enrollment Services, West Building, W201. Please note two important details regarding placing a “No Release” on your record:
- The College receives many inquiries for directory information from a variety of sources outside the institution, including friends, parents, relatives, prospective employers, the news media and honor societies. Having a “No Release” on your record will preclude release of such information, even to those people.
- A “No Release” applies to all elements of directory information on your record. LWTech does not apply a “No Release” differentially to the various directory information data elements.
Notification of Rights under FERPA for Postsecondary Institutions
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:
- The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day Lake Washington Institute of Technology receives a request for access.
A student should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The Lake Washington Institute of Technology official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the Lake Washington Institute of Technology official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
- The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
A student who wishes to ask Lake Washington Institute of Technology to amend a record should write the official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed.
If Lake Washington Institute of Technology decides not to amend the record as requested, Lake Washington Institute of Technology will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
- The right to provide written consent before Lake Washington Institute of Technology discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. Lake Washington Institute of Technology discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is:
- a person employed by Lake Washington Institute of Technology in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff);
- a person or company with whom Lake Washington Institute of Technology has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using University employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or
- a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the College.
Upon request, LWTech also discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901
A copy of the Act, more details about your rights, and any College policies related to the Act are available in the Policies and Procedures Manual, Chapter Seven. Questions concerning FERPA should be referred to Enrollment Services, West Building room 201.
Gainful Employment Disclosure
For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of our students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at LWTech.edu/GEdisclosure.
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