The quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra, MCV4, or Menveo) protects against 4 serotypes (A, C, W and Y) of meningococcal disease and is the one required for all full time college students 16 through 21 years of age. It’s routinely recommended at age 11-12 years with a booster at age 16.  Students receiving their first dose on or after their 16^th birthday do not need a booster.

Individuals in certain high risk groups may need to receive the Meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (Bexsero and Trumenba) to protect against serogroup B meningococcal disease based on their doctor’s recommendations.  It is not required for college students at this time.

A hold will be placed on your account and you will not be able to register for for classes. For health occupations students, missed deadlines jeopardize placement in the intended program.

Yes, you must meet all of the state immunization requirements but cannot use exemptions for age or history of disease. You must also have documentation of immunity to Hepatitis B by BOTH the series of 3 vaccinations, or the 2 dose HeplisavB series, AND a positive blood test. A seasonal Flu vaccine is required each year that you are in the program, and Tuberculosis testing is required annually. Additionally, a physical exam is required to be obtained within the specified time frames. You may also be required to provide a negative drug screening and will be contacted accordingly. Refer to your specific health program’s information packet for deadlines and details. Please contact healthrecords@gcc.mass.edu for more information.

GCC Health Records Office will only send emails regarding health records to students at their GCC email address. This system provides an added level of security beyond commercial email accounts. You should routinely check your GCC email to stay informed. CastleBranch, our health screening company, has accreditation from the Professional Background Screening Association and follows industry standard best-practices for data security. Information can be found here. For students who provided information prior to our partnership with CastleBranch, paper records are secured in locked files and locked storage with restricted access.

A Health Records hold indicates that your health records are incomplete. Students will receive emails to their student email from the Health Records Office outlining missing or outdated health requirements, and the steps needed to meet those requirements. The hold will be removed in a timely manner once the Health Records Office has received your information and verified that you meet all requirements. If you have additional questions, please email us at healthrecords@gcc.mass.edu

Records submitted are kept for 10 years for most students and for 5 years for health occupations students per the Massachusetts Statewide Records Retention Schedule. At the end of that time period, physical records are destroyed. Electronic records may be kept longer but may not include all the information you may need. You should always make copies of your health documents for your own records before submitting them.

You must meet all requirements before the next registration period. You should read immunization requirements before that time as there are some immunizations that require that you receive a series. If you do not submit the required documentation by the deadline, a registration hold will be added to your record that will prevent you from doing any additional class registrations.  Documents should be submitted showing that you have started a vaccination series even if it hasn't been completed. Students in health occupations programs have additional deadlines described on their program specific documents. Please contact healthrecords@gcc.mass.edu if you have questions about when your individual records are due.

It is best to see your primary care provider for vaccinations or proof of immunization. If you do not have a healthcare provider you may visit a community health center to become a patient there or visit an urgent care clinic or pharmacy location that provides vaccinations.  Call ahead to determine if an appointment is necessary and verify that your insurance covers the service. Bring a photo ID and insurance information with you to the clinic and ask for a copy of your vaccine administration record to submit to us showing your vaccination or laboratory proof of immunity. Below is a sample of sites in our area:

Vaccinations & lab tests for immunity

• Convenient Care
• AFC Urgent Care
• ClearChoice
• Community Health Center of Franklin County
• MedExpress
• Travel Medicine- University Health Services
• MinuteClinic
• Hospital-affiliated urgent care centers such as Baystate, Mercy & Cooley Dickinson

Vaccinations only – check the store first to ensure they provide this service

• Big Y Pharmacy
• CVS Pharmacy
• Walgreen’s Pharmacy
• Rite Aid Pharmacy
• Stop & Shop Pharmacy
• Walmart Pharmacy
• Costco Pharmacy

The HealthMap Vaccine Finder shows locations that offer immunizations near you.  You can limit your search by location and/or the vaccine you need.

It depends on your program and credit hours. The state requirements apply to full time (12 credits) college students and all international students under thirty years old. However the requirements apply to all health occupations students regardless of age or credit load. Meningococcal vaccination is not required of anyone over 22 years of age.

If you know you’ve had immunizations in the past but can't find documentation, you can have blood tests (titers) for measles (rubeola), mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox) and Hepatitis B to prove immunity. If you fail to prove immunity you will have to receive the immunizations. Titers must be done by your medical provider or a clinic and documentation of the test results must be submitted to the Health Records Office.

Records may have been given to your or your parents when the vaccines were administered. They may also be kept by facility where they were given. There are several places to look for your records:

• Check with your primary care provider or public health clinic
• Contact your state’s health department to request a copy of your information on their registry. In Massachusetts this is the MIIS – Massachusetts Immunization Information System
• Ask parents or other caregivers if they have records from your childhood doctor’s visits
• Check your baby book or other childhood documents
• Check with your high school, however they may only keep records for 5 years
• Check with your employers as they may have required immunizations
• Check your military records

If you are unable to find all of your records, you may be able to get a blood test to see if you have immunity to some of the vaccine-preventable diseases.  You may also need to get some of the vaccines.

Here are Tips for Locating Old Immunization Records from the Immunization Action Coalition.

Massachusetts State law requires all full-time students under thirty years old (12 credits or more), all international students on student visas under thirty years old, and all students in a health occupation program, regardless of age or credit load, to provide proof of immunization for MMR (measles, mumps, rubella); Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis); Varicella (Chicken Pox) and Hepatitis B.

All full-time college students 16 through 21 years of age will be required to provide documentation of a conjugate type meningococcal vaccine administered on or after their 16^th birthday.  This vaccine protects against diseases like Meningitis. Trade names include Menactra, MCV4, Menveo or it may be referred to as a conjugate or MenACWY vaccine type.

Health occupations students will need to meet additional requirements. Please contact healthrecords@gcc.mass.edu for additional information.

Follow our transcript request instructions to request an official (or unofficial) copy.

If you have been given a registration PIN from your advisor, you can drop a class using your MyGCC account through the end of the 100% refund period (check the academic calendar for dates). If you do not have a PIN, see your advisor or the Advising Center, or complete a "Drop a Class" form by logging into your MyGCC account.

If you want to drop all of your classes for a semester, including summer, you must submit a “Request for Withdrawal” form by logging into your MyGCC account.

If you have been given a registration PIN from your advisor, you can add a class using your MyGCC account through the end of the add period (check the academic calendar for dates). If you do not have a PIN, contact your advisor or the Advising Center.

When you repeat a class, the original class still shows on your transcript with the grade that you received. It does not count in your GPA. The grade for the latest taking of the class is what will be counted into your GPA, even if it is lower than the previous attempt at the class.

The most up to date information is found in the class listing available on the GCC website. Class listings are generally posted about two weeks before the start of registration for each semester. For a listing of all courses that GCC offers, download or browse our course catalog. Note that not all courses listed in the course catalog are offered each semester.

For classes that meet for the entire semester, consult the academic calendar. For classes that are not meeting for the full standard term, check the Registrar's website for non-standard class deadlines. For any additional information either call Enrollment Services, 413-775-1801 or send an email to registration@gcc.mass.edu.

Refunds are based on the date of a drop or withdrawal. All classes have a 100% refund time and a 75% refund period. Consult the Student Billing (Bursar's) website for more information.

A medical withdrawal is a withdrawal from classes due to a severe medical condition, either physical or emotional. It is intended for use only in extraordinary circumstances in which unanticipated serious illness or injury prevents a student from continuing to attend or participate in one or more classes.

Withdrawal Process

1. Consult with an advisor and, if applicable a member of the Financial Aid Office and/or Veterans Services staff, as well as Designated School Official (DSO) for international students regarding visa status, to ensure that all ramifications of a medical withdrawal are clear.
2. Complete and submit the online Medical Withdrawal form within 60 days of the date of the incident or start of the medical condition. To access the form, log into MyGCC, click on the green "Submit a Form" button, and select "Medical Withdrawal Request."
3. Download the Health Care Provider Endorsement form, and submit to your medical provider. This form must be received by our office within 60 days of the date of the incident or start of the medical condition in order for your medical withdrawal request to be considered complete. Health Care Provider Endorsement forms may be submitted by regular mail, or by fax using the information below:

Mail
Attn: Dean of Students
Greenfield Community College
One College Drive
Greenfield, MA 01301

Fax
Attn: Dean of Students
(413) 775-1827

Once complete, the request is reviewed and the decision will be sent to the student via email. Incomplete forms will not be processed.

For questions about the medical withdrawal process, contact Shelley Nicholson, Dean of Students, nicholsonm@gcc.mass.edu, or (413) 775-1845. If not available, contact Thalia Reynolds, Administrative Assistant, reynoldst@gcc.mass.edu or (413) 775-1866.

The first step is to have an official transcript sent from your previous college to GCC. If you are sending an e-transcript, send to admissions@gcc.mass.edu. If sending the transcript, use the address below:

Greenfield Community College
ATTN: Office of Admissions
One College Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301

Our transfer credit evaluator will determine what classes will transfer based on your current major. Your transfer credit will then be added to your GCC record and will show on your transcript. You can check your transcript in your MyGCC.

If your credits are not showing, contact Enrollment Services at registration@gcc.mass.edu or by calling 413.775.1801. It may be we did not receive your transcript or that not all your classes transferred as equivalent GCC classes. If you have changed your major, a new evaluation may be needed. Please consult the academic catalog for more information on the transfer credit evaluation criteria.

Enrollment verifications maybe requested using the "Enrollment Verification Request" form in your MyGCC portal. There is no charge for enrollment verifications. Be sure to sign the request form!

If you have a form that must be filled out and included with the verification, you must attach it to the online form. Be sure to fill out and sign the form per the instructions on the form.

The graduation ceremony (Commencement) is held once per year, generally the third weekend in May. Check the academic calendar or the Commencement website for the exact date and times. Each year’s Commencement covers three graduation dates—the previous September and January as well as the current spring semester. In order to participate you must have received an email from the Registrar's office confirming you have been cleared to graduate. Information about commencement will be published on the GCC website in late spring. Detailed information will be provided to all graduates who have indicated that they are participating in Commencement a few weeks before the ceremony date as well.

The Registrar's office will notify you that you have been cleared to graduate, so no action is required on your part. However, you are welcome to contact our office and request an audit, or meet with your advisor/success coach if you are unsure. Students degrees/certificates are conferred three times a year: September, January and May/June.

When you receive your email confirming you have been cleared to graduate, you should fill out the attached form in the email and provide your name as you would like it to appear on your diploma, and also indicate if you are planning on participating in the Commencement ceremony in May. If you do plan to participate in Commencement, you must also specify your cap and gown size. There is a mandatory commencement rehearsal for those who are participating in graduation. Further instructions are sent out several weeks before commencement with details about the ceremony itself.

All diplomas are mailed approximately 4-6 weeks after the graduation date. Students participating in the commencement ceremony will be given a diploma cover at the ceremony. If you do not participate, you can email registration@gcc.mass.edu to request that one be sent to you. Make sure that the address that we have for you is a current address where you will still be receiving mail after graduation.