2-20: Admission to Santa Fe Community College Policy

Policy Overview

This policy establishes the conditions under which applicants are accepted as students into Santa Fe Community College (SFCC or College).

Scope and Applicability

This policy applies to all applicants for admission to SFCC as students, including credit and noncredit classes, degree- and non-degree seeking students. SFCC publishes its admission requirements in the College catalog.

Policy Statement

SFCC shall maintain an open-admissions policy to maximize community members’ opportunities to participate in the College’s programs, services and activities. Anyone shall be admitted to the College’s credit programs, though some restrictions based on age may apply to specific courses or certain facilities requiring designated levels of physical maturity. SFCC promotes equal educational opportunity and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin or citizenship, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability or handicap, serious medical condition, veteran’s status, spousal affiliation, and any other basis prohibited by law.

Definitions

1. Degree Student/Certificate Student Degree status is granted to applicants who have declared an intention to pursue a particular degree or certificate by following a prescribed program of study.
2. Non-degree Student Non-degree status is granted to applicants who wish to take courses for their own purposes without intending to seek any degree or certificate.

Policy Process

A. Degree Students

1. Students seeking degree status submit a completed SFCC application form.
2. Students seeking transfer of credits from other postsecondary institutions must submit official transcripts from those institutions (Policy 2-6 Admission of Transfer Students).

B. Non-Degree Students

1. Non-degree students must submit a completed SFCC application form.
2. Non-degree students may convert to degree status by completing and submitting a declaration of major form and meeting requirements for the major being declared.

C. Acceptance to SFCC shall 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 admissions criteria.

Statement of Accountability and Responsibility

The President, through the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and the Academic and Student Affairs Office, shall be responsible for enforcing student-focused policies and procedures. The Academic and Student Affairs Office shall work with the different departments and offices to comply with this policy and to develop procedures that will enforce this policy regarding awareness, prevention and remediation.

Authority

NMSA 1978, 21-13-10: It is the duty of the governing board to determine all educational policies of the College, including establishing admission requirements.
Policy 2-6 Admission of Transfer Students

APPROVAL
SFCC Governing Board approved: 11/29/01
Revised and SFCC Governing Board approved: 7/28/03
Revised and SFCC Governing Board approved: 12/2/15

Associated Procedures

• Admission to Santa Fe Community College – Procedures