Student Information

Norris Mechanical may grant credit from other institutions, including post-secondary institutions, high school career and vocational centers, and high schools offering in-house welding programs. Credit may be awarded upon successful completion of Norris Mechanical’s hands-on evaluation, which is established in accordance with applicable AWS welding codes for the process being assessed.

Policies and procedures for acceptance of transfer credit from outside institutions are as follows:

1. An official transcript from the originating institution is required for the evaluation of transfer credit. Additional documentation—such as school handbooks, syllabi, course outlines, or similar materials—may be required to determine whether the coursework is comparable in objectives and content to courses offered at Norris Mechanical.

2. Students must complete a hands-on welding evaluation to determine their skill level. To receive credit for prior education or training, the student must earn a minimum grade of “C.” The cost of the evaluation is $100 per welding process, and students are allowed one attempt per process.

3. Students whose course length is reduced due to accepted transfer credit will have their tuition prorated based on the remaining clock hours. This adjustment will reduce the total cost of tuition. A revised shopping sheet or financial plan reflecting the new award amounts will be provided. The student or eligible individual, along with the Department of Veterans Affairs or any outside funding agency that has agreed to fund the training, will be notified.

   Example: 120 clock hours of transfer credit × $20.83 per clock hour results in a tuition reduction of $2,499.60.

    

No official evaluation of transfer credit will be made until the student has been accepted into Norris Mechanical, the President has reviewed and approved the transcript from the institution awarding the credit, and the student has successfully completed the required hands-on evaluation administered by the instructor.

All Norris Mechanical students are expected to understand and comply with the Student Code of Conduct. Violations of the Code of Conduct include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Alcohol and Drugs:

   Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, and drug paraphernalia are strictly prohibited at the training facility. Any individual who brings alcohol or illegal drugs onto school property will be asked to leave the premises.

   Examples include, but are not limited to: open containers, drug distribution, and drug possession.

2. Disorderly Conduct:

   Unreasonable noise or behavior that causes disruption or annoyance to others.

   Examples include: horseplay, classroom disruption, and use of vulgar or abusive language.

3. Lewd or Indecent Conduct:

   Behavior involving exposure or attempts to observe, record, or interfere with others during private activities.

   Examples include: public urination or photographing or recording a person undressing in a restroom.

4. Harassment:

   Unreasonable insults, gestures, or abusive language directed toward another individual that could reasonably cause emotional distress.

   Example: sending an email containing profanity to an instructor.

5. Weapons:

   Possession, use, or threatened use of weapons, ammunition, or any object or substance used as a weapon is prohibited. A concealed weapons permit does not constitute authorization to carry a weapon on campus.

   Example: bringing a weapon into a classroom or lab.

6. False Information:

   Knowingly providing false or misleading information.

   Examples include: using false identification or providing false information regarding citizenship.

7. Physical Contact:

   Physical contact that endangers, threatens, or harms the health or safety of another person, or behavior that causes a reasonable fear of such contact.

   Example: placing hands on another student in an aggressive or sexual manner.

8. Sexual Misconduct:

   Any sexual contact or behavior without explicit consent for each form of activity.

   Examples include: making sexualized comments or bringing pornographic material into a classroom or lab.

9. Property Use:

   Damage to, destruction of, theft of, or unauthorized access to or use of property.

   Examples include: throwing chairs, stealing office supplies, or damaging equipment or machinery.

10. Unwanted Contact:

    Repeated or persistent contact, or attempts to contact another person, when the individual knows or should reasonably know that such contact is unwanted.

    Example: asking others to contact someone on your behalf after being instructed not to make further contact.

Violations of the Student Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action, including suspension, dismissal, or expulsion.

Academic Probation and Suspension Policy

Suspension or expulsion may result from violations of the Student Code of Conduct. Disciplinary action will be determined based on the severity of the misconduct.

• Suspension consists of a two-day removal from class. A meeting with school administration is required prior to the student’s return.

• Expulsion consists of withdrawal from class for a minimum period of 60 days. Depending on the severity of the misconduct, a student may be eligible for reinstatement or may be permanently expelled.

To be considered for reinstatement, a student must:

• Complete the required 60-day waiting period

• Attend a meeting with the owner of the facility

• Complete the re-admission process

Students who are permanently expelled are not eligible for reinstatement.

Academic probation or suspension may also result from academic performance issues, including failure to complete required makeup work or failure to successfully pass required NCCER modules after three (3) attempts. Tutoring is available to all students at no additional cost.

Academic progress will be measured at the end of each evaluation period.  Failure by the student to maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 for any evaluation period will result in that student being placed on academic probation for the following evaluation period.  Failure by the student to attain a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 during the probation period will result in academic suspension (termination of veteran’s benefits) for one month.  The interruption will be reported to the Veterans Administration within 30 Calendar days of the change in status. 

Veterans who are reinstated for benefits after academic suspension who fail to attain a GPA of at least 2.0 during the evaluation will be placed on academic dismissal.  Reinstatement after termination/dismissal will be granted only if mitigating circumstances exist.

Mitigating Circumstances: Mitigating circumstances are those which directly hinder the pursuit of a course, and which are judged to be beyond the student’s control.  The following are some general categories of mitigating circumstances.  This list is not all-inclusive.

• Serious illness
• Serious illness or death in the immediate family
• Emergency financial obligations or change of place of employment or work schedule
• Unanticipated changes in child-care responsibilities
• Active-duty military service, including active duty for training.
• Appointments for the student or an immediate family member for serious illness, injury, or conditions with reoccurring appointments. Students with document ongoing medical conditions may need to attend the required medical appointments repeatedly, which could result in potential course failure due to attendance.  Often, this pertains to students with serious ongoing medical conditions or veteran students with appointments.  These students may qualify for an Attendance Accommodation, which should be approved by Norris Mechanical President.
• Act of nature
• Religious holidays (Verified by documentation from the student’s religious leader)
• Students with documented transportation issues
• Exceptions-Other situations not noted in this policy approved by the President of Norris Mechanical.

The grading system is based on NCCER modules, hands-on performance tests aligned with each module, a hands-on final exam, and safety requirements. Norris Mechanical does not award an “I” (Incomplete) grade. Students are given two weeks to complete any assignment or test. If the assignment or test is not completed within two weeks, the student will receive an “F” for that lesson or test. Additional time may be granted at the discretion of the school when extenuating circumstances exist.

Course Grading Breakdown

• Fundamental Welding 101:

  90% hands-on tasks, 10% safety test

• Fabrication Welding 101 – Extended:

  80% hands-on tasks, 10% safety test, 10% blueprint class

• Pipe Welding 102:

  100% hands-on tasks

• Advanced Pipe Welding 103:

  100% hands-on tasks

• Specialized Pipe Welding 104:

  100% hands-on tasks

• Advanced TIG and Stick Welding 105:

  100% hands-on tasks

Letter Grade Scale

• 90–100: A

• 80–89: B

• 70–79: C

• 60–69: D

• 0–59: F

Minimum Score Requirement

Students must score 70% or higher to receive recognition from NCCER. If a student does not achieve the minimum score of 70% on an assessment, they may retest after a minimum waiting period of 48 hours. Students are allowed up to three retests per module.

Students may access their grades through the NCCER website using their assigned NCCER number.

Graduation Requirements

Students must successfully complete all required clock hours of their enrolled course at Norris Mechanical in order to receive a certificate of completion.

Maintenance of Progress Records

Student academic records will be maintained for a minimum of six (6) years from the date of graduation or termination, or longer if required by the Commission. Student transcripts will be retained for fifty (50) years from the date of graduation or termination, as deemed appropriate by the Commission.

Progress Reports

Each student will be issued an objective sheet at the beginning of their course. This sheet lists all required assignments. Upon completion of each assignment, the instructor will assign a grade and sign the sheet. It is the student’s responsibility to maintain and track this document.

Job Placement Assistance

A job board will be maintained within the classroom to display employment opportunities for which students may be qualified upon certification. Job postings will be updated weekly.

Student Complaints

Students may submit a written complaint using the school’s complaint form. All complaints will be kept on file at the school, and students will receive a copy for their records.

If a complaint cannot be resolved at the school level within 30 days through the school’s complaint procedure, students may file a complaint with the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

Complaint Submission Information:

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education

Academic Affairs – Attn: Student Complaint

1122 Lady Street, Suite 400

Columbia, SC 29201

Email: submitcomplaint@che.sc.gov

Complaint form link: click here

1. Students must notify the school if they will be late or absent.

2. Students are expected to be in their assigned work area at the scheduled start time and remain there until the scheduled end time.

3. Office phones are for training purposes only. Personal calls are discouraged. In the event of an emergency, students will be notified. Otherwise, messages will be taken, and calls may be returned during breaks or lunch periods.

4. Students are required to clean the welding shop daily, including grinding the tables and poles in their booth.

5. Tobacco products are prohibited in the welding shop and may only be used in designated outdoor areas.

6. Clear safety glasses (Z87+ approved safety glasses or prescription safety glasses) are required at all times in the shop.

7. All shop tools must be used safely. Students should ask the instructor for assistance if they have any questions.

8. Flow meter gauges in welding booths are fragile. Do not hang any items on them.

9. TIG torches must be rolled up and kept out of walkways.

10. Welding supplies must be conserved, including pipe, plate, rods, TIG wire, and gases. Do not waste materials.

11. Welding rods and TIG wire must be used down to a minimum 3-inch stub.

12. Rod stubs and TIG wire stubs must be placed in designated stub containers, not on the floor or in trash cans.

13. Trash must be disposed of in trash cans, not in stub containers.

14. Scrap metal must be placed in the designated dumpster.

15. Students may not leave the classroom or lab during training hours without instructor permission.

16. Newspapers, magazines, radios, or similar items are not permitted in the welding lab.

17. Students are not allowed in the instructor’s office unless accompanied by the instructor.

18. Proper welding attire is required at all times. This includes long pants and long-sleeve shirts made of denim or other flame-resistant materials. Ragged or frayed clothing and sagging pants are considered safety hazards and are not permitted.

    Eight-inch leather boots that cover the ankles are required. Tennis shoes are strictly prohibited. Students wearing improper footwear will be required to change before entering the welding lab.

19. All machines, argon valves, and cylinders must be turned off when not in use.

20. Horseplay is strictly prohibited in the shop.

21. Running in the shop is not permitted.

22. Vulgar or profane language will not be tolerated.

23. Proper goggles must be worn when using cutting torches. Face shields and safety glasses must be worn when grinding or chipping slag.

24. Bottled gases must be chained at all times and transported only with protective caps in place. Empty cylinders must be capped and stored in designated areas.

25. Butane lighters are not allowed in the welding shop.

26. Possession or use of intoxicants or narcotics on school property is strictly prohibited. Students may not report for training or enter the welding lab under the influence of any intoxicant or narcotic.

27. Outside welding projects are not permitted.

28. Unsafe equipment must be reported to the instructor immediately. No student may operate shop equipment or power tools without proper instruction regarding use and safety hazards.

Disciplinary Action

• First Offense: Verbal warning

• Second Offense: Written warning

• Third Offense: Two-day suspension (a meeting is required before the student may return to class)

Note: If a student is withdrawn from class for any reason, refunds will be issued in accordance with the school’s refund policy.

The student will receive a refund in the case of a program that is measured in clock hours, by dividing the total number of clock hours comprising the period of enrollment for which the student has been charged into the number of clock hours remaining to be completed by the student in that period as of the last recorded day of attendance by the student plus the days the weld booth is held for the student not to go over 48 hours.

The date of notification to the student if the student is terminated by the institution.

The date of receipt of notice from the student.

If tuition is collected before any lessons have been completed, and after expiration of the seventy-two-hour cancellation privilege, the student fails to begin the program.

An institution is considered to have made a good faith effort to make a refund if the student’s file contains evidence of the following attempts: 

1. Certified mail to the student’s last known address.
2. Certified mail to the student’s permanent address.
3. Certified mail to the address of the student’s parent or listed next of kin if different from the permanent address.

Tuition must be paid in full before starting classes.

If a student cancels within three (3) days after initiating a contract agreement or enrolling in courses, a full refund of monies will be paid to the student or scholarship donor.  This applies to students prior to starting classes.

The refund does not include supply costs once a student begins courses and utilizes materials.  These funds will be retained by the school or by the scholarship donors.

Norris Mechanical does not offer remedial courses.

Completion of all classes and obtaining a certificate does not guarantee employment.

The credit received from this institution is not guaranteed to be accepted at any other institution.