Lake Area Technical Institute is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the South Dakota Division of Workforce and Career Preparation and by numerous agencies governing the quality and accreditation of the many programs at Lake Area Tech.
All instructors have many years of successful practical experience in the job areas they teach, as well as having professional education and academic training. All instructors are certified by the South Dakota Division of Workforce and Career Preparation.
Students are expected to meet standards of progress as determined by general school policy and department policy. Each department sets its minimum standards based on industry requirements.
All departments have attendance requirements. Attendance is important to both the mastery of course skills and development of proper work habits.
Lake Area Tech has had formal articulation agreements with several public and private universities in South Dakota for a number of years. There is currently system-wide articulation between the six state universities and the four technical institutes. Several general education courses can be transferred directly.
A student who needs information about transferability of specific courses should consult the registrar or the curriculum specialist, for the status of these courses can change.
The Lake Area Tech graduate can, of course, negotiate individually with many universities in this context. Lake Area Tech encourages students to explore this possibility if they decide to continue their education at a four-year institution.
Advanced Placement (AP) is available in Keyboarding classes. The programs which instruct keyboarding will do a placement test with students and register the student for the most appropriate course for the skill level demonstrated. The student will be granted credit for any keyboarding course he/she tests out of at no charge.
Prior Learning (PL) is granted in cases where a student may have work experience or other experiences where technical credit may be granted. This decision is made by the program department head. Certain types of verification may be requested.
Tech Prep credit may be granted to students who graduated from high schools with articulation agreements with LATI. This option and the conditions that apply are explained in the registration information that each student receives prior to attending LATI.
LATI will transfer one to two credits in computers for students who have taken high school computer classes and graduated from high school within the last three years under the following conditions:
LATI will transfer two credits of Accounting for students who have taken two or more semesters of high school accounting or bookkeeping and graduated from high school within the last three years. The student must have earned a minimum grade of a "B" or better in these courses. LATI programs requiring Accounting have a three credit course in place. Students will be registered for that course but pay for only one credit or the student may elect to test out, as described below.
ACCT 210 Principles of Accounting I - Students who have had two or more semesters of Accounting on the high school level and who received a grade of B or better may elect to try the Accounting I test out. The test consists of an accounting simulation and takes approximately five hours (this may be completed over several days).There is a fee of $30.00 to take the test. A minimum score of 80% is needed to pass. Should the test out be successful, the student does not pay for ACCT 210 and their transcript will reflect the credit earned.
CSC 100 Introduction to Computers - Several LATI programs require a one credit computer course. An opportunity to test out of this course is available.
Math - Students may request to test out of any general math course. The test must be done during the first week of the semester. A fee of $30.00 is required for the test.
Any credits being transferred to Lake Area Tech must meet the following criteria:
In addition to the preceding criteria, the following policies apply:
In addition to the preceding criteria, the following policies apply:
Lake Area Tech graduates who have previously received a diploma and desire to receive an A.A.S. degree will be subject to the following conditions:
Student records include the following information:
Any student objecting to information being released by Lake Area Technical Institute may block such release by notifying the Registrar's Office.
All student's records are the property of Lake Area Tech. Upon written request from the student, a copy of the student's admission test results and high school transcript will be provided to a student.
In 2000-2001, the completion or graduation rate for students who entered Lake Area Technical Institute on a full-time basis was 74.5%. This figure includes students who received a degree or diploma at Lake Area Technical Institute, and students who transferred to higher level programs.
Copyright ©2011 Lake Area Technical Institute | Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission
1201 Arrow Avenue - PO Box 730 - Watertown, South Dakota - 57201 | General Information: (605) 882-LATI or 1-800-657-4344 - Fax 1-605-882-6299
