OPEN ADMISSION STATEMENT
Santa Fe Community College maintains an open-admission policy to maximize community members’ opportunities to participate in the college’s programs, services and activities. Anyone may be admitted to the college’s credit programs, though some restrictions based on age may apply to specific courses or certain facilities that require designated levels of physical maturity. Otherwise, equal educational opportunity is provided without regard to gender, marital status, sexual orientation, color, race, religion, age, national origin or citizenship, or physical disability.
ADMISSION STATUS
An applicant’s admission status is determined by his or her primary objective in taking courses. Degree status is granted to applicants who have declared an intention to pursue a particular degree or certificate by following a prescribed program and sequence of study. Nondegree status is granted to applicants who wish to take courses for their own purposes without intending to seek any degree or certificate.
SFCC students who enter the college in nondegree status may subsequently apply for degree status and apply appropriate credits earned toward the selected degree or certificate program.
Note that nondegree status provides admission to college courses, but it will not satisfy eligibility requirements for financial aid, veterans’ educational benefits or other assistance programs. Any student who is to be considered for federal/state financial aid must meet all regulation requirements, which include proof on file that the student completed high school or earned a GED diploma.
GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants shall satisfy either the degree or nondegree status requirements prior to admission or initial enrollment.
Degree Status
To be admitted to Santa Fe Community College, applicants must do the following:
1. Complete an application for admission.
2. Provide proof of residency.
In addition, students who are seeking a degree at Santa Fe Community College and who have earned credit from another college or colleges must request that each previously attended college or university send an official transcript directly to the SFCC Records Office. Under no circumstances will SFCC accept any college transcript from students themselves.
Note that acceptance to SFCC does not ensure admission to all programs. Student enrollment in certain curricula is limited by available physical facilities, clinical spaces, student/faculty ratio, an applicant’s academic preparation or other factors. Certain programs have competitive entrance requirements and selective admission criteria.
Declaring a Major
The catalog that is in effect on the date that a student declares his or her major determines which degree or certificate requirements apply. The student must either 1) complete those requirements within five years of the date of declaration, or 2) elect to meet the requirements of any subsequent catalog published during the five-year period. Such an election must be made when the student files a petition to graduate.
If more than five years have passed since the date of declaration, the student must redeclare a major under the current catalog. If the college discontinues a degree or certificate program in which students have declared majors, every attempt will be made to redirect those students’ credits toward alternate degrees.
College Transfer Students
Applicants may be admitted in transfer from an accredited university, college or other post-secondary institution. At the time of application, degree-status applicants must provide official transcripts from all institutions attended.
Applicants under disciplinary suspension from another institution will not be considered for admission during the period of suspension. Applicants currently on academic probation will be admitted on a probationary status.
Students who conceal prior attendance at other institutions or who falsify information will be subject to immediate suspension.
