2-20: SFCC Admission Criteria Policy

Policy Overview

This policy establishes criteria and processes for admission to Santa Fe Community College (SFCC or College).

Scope and Applicability

This policy outlines the criteria for a student to be admitted to SFCC for purposes of participating in a curriculum of study whether for credit or audit, as a degree or non-degree seeking student, or as a new, returning, dual credit, or transfer student. This policy does not apply to continuing education or workforce training students. Admission to SFCC does not qualify or imply eligibility for financial aid.

Policy Statement

SFCC maintains an open-admission policy to support its community by maximizing opportunities to participate in the College’s programs, services, and activities. 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 status, spousal affiliation, and any other basis prohibited by law.

Definitions

1. Audit The term used for registration in a credit class in which a student bears no responsibilities for completing assignments. Students receive neither grades or credit.
2. Degree-Seeking Status is granted to applicants who have declared an intention to pursue a particular degree or certificate by following a prescribed program of study.
3. Non-Degree Seeking Status refers to the status granted to applicants who wish to take courses for their own purposes without intending to seek a degree or certificate.
4. Transfer Credit is academic credit earned at other postsecondary institutions that is transferred to SFCC.
5. Transfer Student refers to a student who has attended another postsecondary institution and who applies to SFCC to receive credit for coursework completed at the previous institution(s).

Policy Process

1. Application for Admission
   1. A completed Admissions Application must be submitted prior to admission.
   2. An application completed by a third party on behalf of the applicant will not be accepted unless it has the original signature of the applicant.
   3. Former students who have not enrolled in academic courses for more than two full consecutive years (fall and spring) will need to reapply for admission.
   4. An electronic or hard copy application must be completed and submitted with all questions fully answered.
   5. Admission is invalid if granted on the basis of incorrect information or omitted facts, which, if unknown, would have caused the applicant to be classified incorrectly.
   6. Some programs, courses, or facilities may have restrictions based on age or levels of physical maturity requirements.
   7. An official SFCC Student ID number will be assigned to all students upon admission.
2. Transcripts
   1. Applicants who have never attended college or university should have an official high school transcript or an official GED transcript or its equivalent score report sent directly to the Office of the Registrar.
   2. Submitting an official transcript from any college or university previously attended enables students to apply for federal, state, and institutional financial aid and academic alignment.
   3. Students who would like the opportunity to apply for financial support or academic alignment must submit official transcripts to the Office of the Registrar.
   4. Students who do not wish to apply for federal, state, or institutional financial aid, or who do not wish to transfer academic credits are not required to submit official transcripts.
   5. High school and college transcripts will be used primarily for appropriate course placement.
   6. College transcripts are required for the federal financial aid application.
   7. Students may be admitted to the College and allowed to register for courses during the first semester for courses that do not have a pre-requisite pending the receipt of the official high school or college transcript and placement score report.
   8. Registration may be limited to courses that do not have pre-requisites that may be transferring in from another college or university.
   9. High school- and college-level transcripts from foreign countries must be evaluated by a foreign credentialing evaluation agency and be sent directly from the agency to the Office of the Registrar (SFCC Policy 2-7 Admission of International Students).
   10. Evaluations for foreign college transcripts must be conducted on a course-by-course basis and are used for placement consideration (SFCC Policy 2-7 Admission of International Students).
   11. Official high school and GED score reports and college and university transcripts should be sent to:
       Registrar
       Santa Fe Community College
       6401 Richards Avenue
       Santa Fe, NM. 87508
       registrar@sfcc.edu
3. Mode of Admission
   1. High School Graduates
      1. An applicant shall be eligible for admission upon graduation from any accredited public high school, private school, or homeschool.
   2. High School Equivalency
      1. An applicant may be admitted on the basis of successful completion of one of the following exams: GED (General Education Development) and HiSet (High School Equivalency Test).
   3. Individual Approval
      1. An applicant who has not graduated from high school and has not received a high school equivalency exam may still be admitted to SFCC.
      2. Students seeking this mode of admission must complete an application of admission student petition form certifying that they are over 18 years of age or that their graduation class has graduated.
4. Early Admission/High School (Dual Credit/Concurrent)
   1. Eligible Courses
      1. College courses that are academic or career technical and that simultaneously earn credit toward high school graduation and a postsecondary degree or certificate shall be eligible for dual credit (New Mexico Administrative Code, Title 6, Chapter 30, Part 7).
      2. Remedial, developmental, and physical education activity courses are not eligible for dual credit.
      3. Dual credit courses may be offered at partner high schools, SFCC campus, and off-campus centers as determined by the high school partner in collaboration with SFCC offering the courses.
      4. Dual credit courses may be delivered during or outside of Local Education Agency hours.
   2. Academic Quality of Dual Credit Courses
      1. College courses eligible for dual credit shall meet the rigor for SFCC credit and be congruent with SFCC’s normal offerings.
      2. Classes offered in partner high school settings shall conform to SFCC’s academic standards.
      3. Faculty for all dual credit courses shall be approved by SFCC.
   3. Student Eligibility
      1. The partner high school and SFCC shall qualify and advise candidates for dual credit from the pool of eligible high school students.
      2. A candidate for dual credit is eligible for consideration for fall, winter, and summer semesters if they:
         1. Are enrolled during the fall and winter in high school in one-half or more of the minimum course requirements approved by the New Mexico Public Education Department for public school students under its jurisdiction or by being in physical attendance at a Bureau of Indian Education-funded high school at least three documented contact hours per day pursuant to Bureau of Indian Education 25 CFR 39.211(c);
         2. Obtain permission from the partner high school representative (in consultation with the student’s individualized education program team, as needed), the student’s parent or guardian if the student is under 18 years old, and an SFCC representative prior to enrolling in a dual credit course; and
         3. Meet SFCC requirements to enroll as a dual credit student.
   4. Course Approval
      1. Approval for dual credit shall be by the partner high school and SFCC representatives on a course-by-course basis each semester based on the student’s prior coursework, career pathway, and/or academic readiness.
      2. There is no state limit to the number of credits a student may earn through dual credit in an academic term; however, the student must meet eligibility requirements.
   5. Course Requirements
      1. The course requirements for high school students enrolled in dual credit courses shall be the same as those of regular college students.
      2. Course requirement information shall include the course prerequisites, course content, grading policy, attendance requirements, course completion requirements, performance standards, and other related course information.
   6. Eligible Semesters
      1. Eligible students may enroll in dual credit courses year-round.
5. Transfer Students
   1. Applicants who have previously attended other colleges and/or universities shall be admitted as transfer students.
   2. Students admitted under this status will be required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended.
   3. Official transcripts or evaluations of foreign transcripts must have a course-by-course evaluation by a credentialed evaluation agency and be sent directly from the agency to SFCC for transfer consideration and program credit.
   4. Applicants under disciplinary suspension from another postsecondary institution shall not be considered for admission during the period of suspension from that institution.
   5. Applicants currently on academic probation or suspension shall be admitted to SFCC on a probationary status.
6. Prohibition on the Use of Incentive Pay in Admission and/or Recruitment
   1. In accordance with Section487(a)(20) of the Higher Education Act and Federal Student Aid regulations 34 CFR 668.14(b)(2), SFCC does not provide any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based in any part, directly or indirectly, upon success in securing enrollments or the award of financial aid to any person or entity who is engaged in any student recruitment or admission activity.
7. Records Retention and Maintenance
   1. Admissions materials submitted to the College become the property of the College and shall not be returned to the student.
   2. The admissions file is a permanent record of the student’s educational record.
   3. Admission requirements are published in the SFCC Catalog each year.

Statement of Accountability and Responsibility

The President, through the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, shall be responsible for enforcing student policies and procedures. The 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

Higher Education Act, Section487(a)(20)
Federal Student Aid 34 CFR 668.14(b)(2)
Bureau of Indian Education 25 CFR 39.211(c)
New Mexico Statutes 1978, Chapter 21-13-10
New Mexico Administrative Code, Title 6, Chapter 30, Part 7
SFCC Policy 2-7 Admission of International Students
records@sfcc.edu 

APPROVAL

SFCC Governing Board approved: 11/29/2001
Updated: 7/28/2003
Revised and SFCC Governing Board approved: 12/2/2015
Revised and SFCC Governing Board approved: 4/26/2023

Associated Procedures

• Admission to Santa Fe Community College – Procedures