Transfer & Second-Degree Student Orientation

Tuesday-Wednesday, August 27-28
Check-In begins at 8 a.m
Ends at 5 p.m.
San Francisco campus (both days)

CCA has an established tradition of serving transfer and second-degree students. You bring rich educational and life experiences to your education, and that in turn contributes much to the CCA community.

With the beginning of your journey as a CCA student approaching quickly. With great anticipation, your families, friends, and campus community are preparing to welcome and support you with this milestone. Use this checklist to ensure you start orientation on the right foot.

Ten Steps to a Successful Orientation

Step 1: Read CCA's Enrollment Guide
The Enrollment Guide contains comprehensive information regarding financial aid, academic advising, health insurance, and more. Within the guide there is a new student checklist that provides instructions leading up to new student orientation.

Step 2: Take the English Placement Exam
All incoming undergraduate students must take the English Placement Exam, or confirm they are eligible to waive the exam requirement.

The English Placement Exam at orientation will be held:
Monday, August 26
8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Nahl Hall, Oakland campus

Be sure to visit WebAdvisor, an online tool that allows you to review your academic and financial information, search for courses, and update your emergency contacts and address, to see if your credit has been transferred by either completing the equivalent of CCA's English 1 or provided the college with official standardized test results.

If you have questions about your current English placement, please contact the Student Records Office at 415.703.9579 (SF) and 510.594.3651 (Oak).

Step 3: Prepare for Advising and Portfolio Review
Students who have completed extensive college-level studio coursework may be eligible to waive Core Studio and major courses. Faculty will be available to review portfolios for placement in advanced courses. Only students who can demonstrate proficiency in equivalent coursework may receive a waiver.

Please bring a copy of your portfolio and current work that may be equivalent to the required courses you wish to waive.

Accepted formats include the following:

• digital disks -- with images saved in a universal format (e.g., jpg, aiff, mov, pdf)
• digital works on your personal laptop
• original works (beyond sketchbooks)

Note: Students must submit their official AP scores to Enrollment Services. First-year students who have completed AP Drawing and received a score of three or higher will receive 3 credits for Drawing 1. These students do not need a portfolio review, and should bypass enrolling in Core Studio: Drawing 1.

Step 4: Activate your CCA email and WebAdvisor
Once you have made a deposit, set up your CCA email address. Contact Educational Technology Services for technical assistance, if needed.

With your deposit made and your CCA email activated, you will now have full access to WebAdvisor.

Note: Your emergency contacts must be completed prior to attending orientation. To do so, access WebAdvisor and select “User Account” within the “Students Menu". See “Emergency Contacts” at the top left-hand corner of the page.

Step 5: Read CCA Laptop Initiative & Recommendations
The Student Computing Recommendations and Requirements outlines the Educational Technology Services department’s computing recommendations for all incoming students.

Note: Graphic Design and Architecture students are required to comply with the CCA Laptop Initiative. Retail and discount opportunities are also available online at the CCA CCA Computer Store.

Step 6: Determine Health Insurance Eligibility
All full-time students (enrolled in 12 or more units) must have health insurance coverage. The college has secured a group health insurance policy (a Kaiser Permanente HMO) that provides year-round coverage.

Part-time students (enrolled in fewer than 12 units) are ineligible for CCA student health insurance. See Health Insurance and Health Insurance Eligibility for more information.

Health Insurance Waiver
You may waive CCA’s coverage by submitting a waiver form and proof of existing medical coverage (an insurance ID card with a policy number) to the Student Accounts Office before the end of the add/drop period. Waivers issued in the fall extend for the entire academic year unless you notify Student Accounts that you wish to void the waiver for the spring semester.

Please save a copy of your completed Health Insurance Waiver form.

Step 7: Register on CCA's Job Board for Work-Study Positions
The Federal Work-Study Program affords students the opportunity for part-time employment to help defray educational costs. Funds are awarded on a need basis to students applying for financial aid.

CCA Works

Step 8: Read the Student Handbook
The Student Handbook serves as a guide to the programs, policies, procedures, requirements, and resources of CCA. Students are expected to read the entire handbook.

Step 9: Join Chimera Council on Facebook
Chimera leaders are fellow students who play an integral role in helping students transition to college life. Add Chimera Council to your Facebook page and get connected with other current CCA students.

Step 10: Take the Pre-Orientation Survey
Share what you know about CCA, so we can improve orientation! Students who complete both the pre- and post-surveys will receive a gift and an opportunity enter into a drawing!

Pre-Orientation Survey

Fall New Student Orientation Only

These additional steps take place during fall new-student orientation.

Step 11: Exhibit in the Annual New Student Exhibition
All incoming undergraduates are invited to participate in the annual New Student Exhibition. This exhibition is an opportunity to introduce yourself and your work to our talented and diverse community -- which includes other new and returning students as well as faculty and staff.

We hope you will participate, as the exhibition is a fun and welcoming way to start showing your work at the CCA campus galleries.

New Student Exhibition participation form

Step 12: Fashion Sewing & Graphic Design Skills Test
The following tests are offered for transfer students only:

Fashion Sewing Test
Transfer students with established sewing skills may waive the Garment Structures course by taking the Fashion sewing test. Students who would like to take the sewing test must contact Pam Zahedani to receive an instruction packet, which includes a pattern and fabric. Packet may be picked up or mailed. Students will complete the three-hour test by sewing their precut pattern pieces of a shirt on an industrial sewing machine.

For more information about the test, please contact Pam Zahedani, at pzahedani@cca.edu.

Graphic Design Software Skills Test
Transfer students who plan to enter Graphic Design Level 1 courses must pass this skills test. Those who possess strong knowledge of Adobe software should bring examples of previous work in order to be waived from Graphic Design Tools (GRAPH-108).

Keep in mind that while a well-designed project is important, the skills test is conducted to examine existing software knowledge and application, so please select appropriate work.

You must have the Adobe Creative Suite of applications installed on your computer. Additionally, you may be asked to produce work while onsite.

For more information please contact Vicki Del Rosario at vdelrosario@cca.edu.