Rock Valley College
Rockford, Illinois

Getting Started

Rock Valley College offers a wide variety of courses that lead to a college degree or certificate program in a transfer or career area. If you will be a new student (attending Rock Valley College for the first time) who will be taking courses in order to complete a transfer/career degree or certificate (i.e., credit courses), you will need to follow the checklist below.

New Student Checklist

1. Submit the Enrollment Information Form. Enrollment Forms can also be obtained and filled out in person at the Information Center in the first floor of the Student Center. There is no fee to enroll. Some programs have limited enrollments and will require additional materials.

2. Submit high school transcript or GED completion certificate to the Records and Registration Office.

3. Complete placement testing at our Testing Center. Walk-in testing is available from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For an appointment, call (815) 921-2380. All new students are required to test in the areas of English, mathematics, and reading unless they meet one of the following waiver requirements:

  • Have completed a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Have successfully completed college-level coursework in the areas of math and/or English
  • Received a specific ACT/SAT in Reading, English or Math - See the Testing Center page for required scores

If you meet any of the above criteria, you must submit appropriate documentation to the Records and Registration office for verification as soon as possible. Students must have a valid photo ID to complete testing.

4. Register for and attend an Educational Planning Session. The session will assist you with your transition to Rock Valley College. You will receive information regarding the registration process, residency, tuition options, prerequisites, deadlines, and other essential Rock Valley College information. You will receive a course catalog with information on our transfer and career education programs. You will also learn about our course schedules and Online Services. Learn more about Educational Planning Sessions. You can register for a session online or by calling (815) 921-4080.

Attending an Educational Planning session is mandatory for all new students. All students must have a valid photo ID to complete the Educational Planning Session.

5. Register and Pay for your classes.

Information for Transfer Students

If you have attended another college or university, and will be transferring credits to Rock Valley in order to complete a Rock Valley degree or certificate program, you should contact us to request to have your prior credits evaluated. This will help us determine what, if any, of your courses meet our requirements. Request your college/university send your transcripts to Rock Valley College, Attention: Records and Registration Office, 3301 North Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61114. Call us for an evaluation at (815) 921-4250.

Information for Summer Only Enrollment

We welcome students attending other colleges and universities to take courses at Rock Valley during the summer semester. Students who have never attended Rock Valley before should follow these steps:

Students who have never attended RVC before should follow these steps:


1.
Fill out an Enrollment Form online or in person at the Information Center located on the first floor of the Student Center.

2. Meet placement requirements by:

  • Taking the placement test OR
  • Submitting ACT/SAT scores *(ACT/SAT Scores cannot be more than three years old) OR
  • Submitting college transcripts *
* ACT/SAT scores or college transcripts can be submitted to the Records and Registration office. Mail or fax to:

Rock Valley College
Attn: Records & Registration
3301 North Mulford Road
Rockford, IL 61114

(815) 921-4269 (fax)

3. Verify course transferability with your currently enrolled institution.

  • If the course in which you are wanting to enroll has a prerequisite that needs to be met contact the Records & Registration office at 815-921-4250 or rvc-records@rockvalleycollege.edu

4. Complete an Educational Planning Session (EPS). Please e-mail First Year Experience from your current college e-mail account to complete the EPS dedicated to visiting summer students only and set up your RVC technology (Online Services, RVCmail, and Eagle).  If you have any questions, contact the First Year Experience office at (815) 921-4080.

5. Meet, if needed, with an Academic Advisor regarding Rock Valley College courses.

6. Register and Pay for your classes.

 

Concurrently Enrolled High School Students

High school students, ages 16 and over, may enroll concurrently at the college, if they obtain written approval of their high school principal or counselor. These students will need to follow the enrollment procedures listed on the Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment Getting Started page of the website. For information on Dual Credit courses, students should contact their high school guidance counselor or the Rock Valley College High School Connections office at (815) 921-4080.
 


To receive more information about Rock Valley College, complete an Information Request Form. If you are not sure who to ask or where to go, contact the Recruitment & Admissions office by e-mail or by calling (815) 921-4250.