Frequently Asked Questions

Log into ALEKS, click the down arrow to the right of your name, click on Settings, scroll down to Accessibility and click on the button to turn on the feature. You will see options for Color Contrast and Color Blindness, select desired option.

Cisgender/cis or Cissexual is a person who by nature or by choice conforms to gender-based expectations of society. Cisgender individuals tend to have a gender identity that is aligned with their birth sex, and thereby have a self-perception and gender expression that tends to match behaviors and roles considered appropriate for their birth sex. Cisgender people are also on a continuum of gender identities, and there is no one way that a cisgender person must be. It is important to recognize that even if two people identify as men (one being cis and the other being trans*+), they may lead very similar lives but deal with different struggles pertaining to their birth sex. The prefix cis is of Latin origin, meaning “on the same side (as),” and evolved from the use of the term transgender as a recognition and signifier that there are different types of gender identities.  (sM)

Anti-Racism is defined as the work of actively opposing racism by advocating for changes in political, economic, and social life. Anti-racism tends to be an individualized approach and set up in opposition to individual racist behaviors and impacts. (MPA)

Inclusion is the active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity- both within and outside the curriculum, and in communities (intellectual, social, cultural, geographical) where which individuals might connect in ways that increase awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathetic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and units. (MPA)

Disablism is a set of assumptions (conscious or unconscious) and practices that promote the differential or unequal treatment of people because of actual or presumed disabilities. (stopableism.org)

• Culturally responsive assessment  is mindful of the student populations the institution serves. It draws from language that is appropriate for all students when developing learning outcomes, acknowledging students’ differences in the planning phases of an assessment effort, developing and/or using assessment tools that are appropriate for different students, and being intentional in using assessment results to improve learning for all students. It calls for student involvement throughout the entire assessment process including the development of learning outcome statements, assessment tool selection/development process, data collection and interpretation, and use of results 

(Montenegro,  & Jankowski, 2017, p. 10). It is  “an action-based, urgent need to create contexts and curriculum that responds to the social, political, cultural, and educational needs of students; it is affirmative and seeks to identify and institutionalize practices that affirm [Indigenous]; and,  authentic cultural practices of students” (Khalifa, Gooden, & Davis, 2016, p. 1278).

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy draws from  aspects of students’ cultures in an asset-based approach as opposed to deficit-based to make the course material relevant to them, and to increase their skill acquisition, engagement, and learning outcomes (Ladson-Billings, 1995).

CRP is grounded in three tenets and three goals for which teachers should strive: “an ability to develop students academically, a willingness to nurture and support cultural competence, and the development of a sociopolitical consciousness” (Ladson- Billings, G., 2005, p. 483).

Claimed Names and Pronouns refers to names and pronouns that one feels most comfortable identifying with or being used when spoken or referred to. Names and pronouns can change over time and based on context, and should be honored. Names and pronouns are ever-expanding and indeterminate. sM

“Accessible” means a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use. The person with a disability must be able to obtain the information as fully, equally and independently as a person without a disability. (United States Office for Civil Rights)

Ableism is a set of dominant practices and beliefs that assign inferior value (worth) to people who have developmental, emotional, physical or psychiatric disabilities. (stopableism.org)

(A)pronoun is an extension to the rejection of gender as a biological or social construct and thereby a refusal to use or be identified with or by a pronoun. sM

This refers to the rejection of gender as a biological or social construct altogether and the refusal to identify with gender. sM

• If you go by a name that is different from your legal name you can fill out this form here and submit it to enrollment-admissions@sfcc.edu. By doing this, the name you go by will be displayed on Canvas, Office 365, Outlook, Teams, Course Rosters for faculty to view, and can be put on the front of your student/employee ID. Do keep in mind that it will take us time to upgrade and change technology to contain preferred names. Below is more general information about the process and the policy can found here with more detailed information.
• Can I change my email address and username to match my preferred name? Yes. You should fill out the Student Change of Personal Information form listed above. Once this is completed a ticket will be submitted on your behalf to make the change. This will impact your ability to login, therefore, OIT suggests requesting this in between semesters or early in the semester if possible. If you have any issues use this link to start a ticket: Use this link to start a ticket: https://w3.sfcc.edu/oit/support/request. Alternatively, call us at (505) 428-1222.
• What are the rules?
  • Preferred name only refers to first name.
  • Your preferred name can’t be vulgar or offensive.
  • Your preferred name can’t be intended to cause confusion or be a misrepresentation.
  • You can only request one preferred name per calendar year.
• Where will my legal name continue to be visible?
  • Many Ellucian banner pages or forms.
  • Student surveys
  • Rave  
  • Back of Student ID
• SFCC is required to use your legal name on many documents. These include, but are not limited to:
  • Transcripts
  • Diplomas
  • Tax Documents
  • Student Billing
  • Paychecks
  • Financial Aid documents

SFCC is offering courses in the following modalities:

Traditional
Traditional, in-person, in-class instruction.  Both students and faculty meet in a designated/assigned classroom on campus.

Online LIVE Classes (Synchronous)
These classes are completely online with your instructor and your classmates meeting together at the same time. You attend live interactive class meetings facilitated by your instructor in Canvas. Meetings and communication are through chat, email and/or videoconferencing. You do additional work on your own schedule outside of class, just as you would your homework. These classes are indicated as Synchronous in the sixth column in Look for Credit Classes.

Traditional Online Classes (Asynchronous)
These classes are completely online without mandatory class meetings. You don’t have to be online at a fixed day and time with your fellow classmates and instructor. Your instructor and your classmates will communicate through Canvas and you can interact with them and access class resources on your own time. You complete all the assignments and meet the requirements of the class on your own schedule, meeting the deadlines set by your instructor. Your classmates and instructor are not necessarily online at the same time unless an appointment is scheduled. These classes are indicated as Asynchronous classes in the sixth column in Look for Credit Classes.

Blended Classes
Blended Classes are a mix of in-person and online. Your courses are held both in traditional face-to-face classrooms and online (e.g. video lecture, online discussions, or activities) in Canvas. Due to covid, classes at SFCC are primarily online. If you are taking a blended class, you are required to follow the Student On Campus Protocol when you need to be on campus for class.

Attend Anywhere (HyFlex)
These courses have flexible class delivery that can integrate in-class instruction, online synchronous video sessions, or asynchronous content delivery. Students may attend in person or online or a combination of both. While most courses listed as HyFlex are in-person or online synchronous, some courses can be completed asynchronously. The instructor for the course can give more specific information about the options for their course.