Comprehensive Standard 3.4.3

Admissions Policies

The institution publishes admissions policies consistent with its mission.

Judgment of Compliance: Compliance

Narrative/Justification for Judgment of Compliance:


Executive Summary

The mission of St. Petersburg College (SPC) is to promote student success and enrich our communities through education, career development, and self-discovery. One of SPC’s key values, that supports the mission, is to provide transparency in providing access to college policies, processes, and procedures. To this end, admissions policies and procedures are widely published and disseminated to various audiences, including prospective students, current students, the public, and faculty and staff who must administer the policies.

SPC’s admission criteria for specific programs and levels of degrees are driven by Florida Department of Education requirements and accrediting bodies for specific disciplines, which are supported by published SPC Board of Trustee Rules and Procedures. No differentiation in admission criteria exits for students enrolling in online programs/courses. Admission processes are consistently applied, using identified steps and checklists available to applicants based upon their education intentions and applicant type. All prospective student information, both online and print-based, is consistent in its redirection of students to the online application process.

 

Basis of St. Petersburg College’s Admission Policies

State of Florida Requirements

St. Petersburg College follows the admissions guidelines of the Florida State Statutes regarding admission of students to provide opportunities to all while combining high standards with an open-door admission policy with a focus on preparing students directly for careers.

Excerpts from 1004.65 Florida College System institutions; governance, mission, and responsibilities:

 

4) As comprehensive institutions, Florida College System institutions shall provide high-quality, affordable education and training opportunities, shall foster a climate of excellence, and shall provide opportunities to all while combining high standards with an open-door admission policy . . . without regard to age, race, gender, creed, or ethnic or economic background. . .

and

(5) The primary mission and responsibility of Florida College System institutions is responding to community needs for postsecondary academic education and career degree education. . .

Specific Accrediting Body Requirements

Some programs at SPC also utilize recommended guidelines from their specific accrediting bodies in addition to Florida Statute and State Board of Education Rules. Admission to these programs requires the student to complete the College general admissions requirements plus the completion of specific courses or prerequisites. Some programs additionally require licensure, background checks, or drug screening. An example of these program requirements is shown below, and students are made aware of these requirements on the admissions website for each specific program, located both within the course listing on the website or the program admissions checklist linked from the top of each program admissions page.

 

 

 

Limited Enrollment Health-Related Programs

For lower division health-related programs where the number of eligible students exceeds the positions available, students are admitted on a point system based on program GPA (pre-entry requirements, general education, and support courses) and total program credits earned. Minimum program GPA for consideration is 2.75 except Dental Hygiene, which is 3.0. Service area residents are given first priority. Because of clinical agency requirements, a background check and a drug screening are required for each health related program application.

 

Bachelor of Science in Education

For the College of Education, students must have an Associate in Arts degree, or equivalent coursework in a lower-division education-related program of study, with a minimum cumulative grade point average is 2.5, and, by Florida Statute, must pass the Florida Department of Education General Knowledge Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination or a suitable substitute.

Board of Trustees Rules and Procedures

Admissions policies at SPC are codified in several Board of Trustees (BOT) Rules and Procedures. A link to the BOT Webpage is provided via the “About” tab on the SPC Homepage as shown below:

 

 

The following BOT Rules and Procedures provide statutory, administrative, and legal authority underlying admissions policies:

  • 6Hx23-4.01 rule and procedure describe general policies of the College, including Equal Access/Equal Opportunity, but must be read in conjunction with 4.02, Admissions Requirements

  • 6Hx23-4.02 rule and procedure describe general requirements for admissions, accelerated High School programs, and policies for transfer students, transient students, non-degree seeking, international, and students with disabilities.

  • 6Hx23-4.72 rule and procedure describe special admission criteria and progression requirements for the College of Education.

  • 6Hx23-4.53 rule describes special admission criteria and progression requirements for Allied Health, Nursing, Veterinary Technology, and Funeral Services programs.

The College catalog refers students to BOT rules and procedures and lists where students can review these documents online or get access to hard copies at the libraries or provosts’ offices. Links to BOT admissions policies are found on the left hand side, under admission requirements as shown below. This page provides the full text of BOT procedure 6Hx23-4.02, as well as links to both documents.

 

 

Distance Education

Distance education courses are fully integrated into the SPC curriculum, and students are not required to apply separately for admission to take online courses/programs. Prior to registering for distance courses, the eCampus cyberadvising website encourages students to complete a self-assessment to evaluate whether they are good candidates for a distance course. In addition, for those “student choice” programs that offer both traditional and online course sections, counselors at the various campuses evaluate students’ past success in traditional courses and discuss the special requirements for success in distance courses before recommending them to students.

 

Admission Processes

Admission procedures at St Petersburg College, as part of the Florida College System, are categorized into four areas indicative of its 2 plus 2 degree model: 1) General Admission requirements applicable to all first time applicants; 2) Lower Division requirements for those degree programs with specialized accreditation requirements; 3) Upper Division Baccalaureate requirements; and 4) Specialized requirements for certain student groups. Students can apply via the online application system, using a hard copy application, or in person at any campus.

Entry Points into the Admissions Process

 

 

The Admissions website (shown below) linked via the “Admissions” tab on the SPC Homepage (shown above) contains detailed information and categories to help direct the student to the correct process for admission, depending on his/her educational objectives. SPC has different versions of admission applications, depending on whether the student is new to SPC, a transfer student, transient student, high school student, international student, etc. Most applications are available in an online format, and about 95% of student applications are submitted online, the preferred route recommended by college advisors. There is a hard-copy application as well; these applications are available at the various campuses or as a downloadable PDF document online and can be either mailed in with the $40 application fee or dropped off at any campus. A campus representative or Admissions and Records staff member will process applicants using the hard-copy application into the online system, and applicants will receive their SPC ID information via post office mail, enabling them to continue the process in the same manner as all online applicants.

 

 

Prospective applicants can also access the Steps to Get Started from different places, from the How to Apply menu item on the Admissions website as shown above or from the Steps to Apply in the main Admissions tab on the College home page as shown below.

 

 

The Getting Started at SPC site simplifies the general admission requirements into next step action items for becoming admitted to degree-seeking status, including providing evidence of high school graduation, taking a placement test, completing new student orientation, and paying the application fee as shown below:

 

General Admission Process

All first time applicants are required to fulfill the general admissions process, thus the requirements of this process are attributed to the reasonableness and appropriateness to identify qualified students who have the ability to complete programs successfully.

General admissions requirements for credit-seeking students will vary, depending on the intent of the student to earn a credential, and admission to a specific program may require additional steps (e.g., prior degree, licensure, background check). Below is a matrix of the different admissions requirements for credit-seeking students.

 

CREDIT-SEEKING STUDENTS

Stated Intent of Student

Degree-Seeking

High School

International Students

Non-Degree Seeking

Non-Degree Seeking Transient

Examples

New or returning students who wish to earn any credential (AA, AS, BAS, BS, Certificate or ATD)

High school students who wish to enroll as Dual Enrolled, Early Admission, Early Enrollment, or Collegiate High School

Students who wish to come to the US on an F-1 visa to pursue an academic program of study

Students who do not desire to earn a credential but take college credit courses for personal Enrichment, job Enrichment, or audit courses. Student may change to degree-seeking

Students who are degree-seeking at another (home) institution but enroll as a transient student at SPC

Application fee required?

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Orientation required?

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

Placement Testing required?

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

High School Transcript (or GED or home school affidavit) required?

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

College Transcript(s) required?

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

 

Application Fee Requirement

New students are charged a $40.00 non-refundable application fee. There are exceptions, however. High school students are not charged the application fee, nor are certain transient students who apply to SPC through the Florida Virtual Campus portal. Homeless students have this fee waived. International students are charged a $140.00 application fee. The fee is charged only once; therefore, readmitted students do not pay this fee again.

 

Orientation Requirement

New and readmitted students are required to participate in orientation. This has become increasingly important as new requirements and expectations of students have been developed. Students who test into remedial courses must complete face-to-face orientation, while other students may complete an online orientation.

 

Placement Testing Requirement

In an open admissions environment placement testing to assess minimum college-level skills for success is important. Tests including the SAT, ACT, the College Placement Test (CPT), or the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) quantitatively demonstrate students’ preparation and likelihood of success in college-level courses in three areas: reading, writing, and mathematics. College preparatory courses are required for degree-seeking students who score below the SPC College Placement Test cut-off scores prescribed by State of Florida Board of Education Rules and may not enroll in credit courses in those skill areas in which they are deficient until mastery has been demonstrated.

 

High School Requirement

A general admissions requirement to become degree-seeking at SPC is to provide evidence of high school completion. A standard high school diploma, or successful completion of the General Education Development test (GED) or of a Home School Program of Study is required for admission to programs that award associate and bachelor degrees, college credit certificates, and applied technology diplomas. Graduates of regionally accredited institutions and their international equivalents who have been awarded an Associate in Applied Science or higher level degree are exempt from the standard high school diploma/GED requirement.

Further, the high school program that the student completed must be deemed to be “valid” per federal requirements. Consistent with federal guidelines, students who cannot provide evidence of a valid high school (or home school or GED completion) are not able to receive federal financial assistance as of July 1, 2012. SPC, along with other colleges in the Florida State College System, refers to a comprehensive listing of valid and invalid high schools that is maintained by the registrars of the Florida College System. If a student’s high school is not on the list, the student is encouraged to take the GED exam. While the student may be admitted to SPC as a non-degree seeking student, he/she will not eligible for degree-seeking status (or federal financial assistance) until this requirement is satisfied. The list of valid and invalid high schools is posted on a file server hosted by the Admissions/Records Department, and to which advisors and admissions staff members at the campuses have access to view this list. When a high school transcript arrives at campus or is sent to the Admissions/Records Department, it is reviewed at the time of receipt to determine if it meets the criteria of a valid high school.

Below is a description of the criteria for determining whether a high school is valid or invalid. Level I high schools are automatically considered valid; Level II schools require a subjective evaluation by a Florida college registrar. Also included are partial screen shots of the valid list as well as the invalid list of high schools.

 

 

 

 

Waivers

Although College policy is to require a standard high school diploma or GED or evidence of completion of a home school program of study, for admission to degree-seeking status, SPC provides a waiver process for students who have not obtained the above, giving consideration to other factors such as scores on approved placement instruments, evidence of student's life experiences, career/work experience, service occupation, other training, performance in selected academic courses, evidence of an appropriate reading level or appropriate competency indicating the ability to function in college-level classes, and/or recommendations from prior teachers and/or other professionals. This would include students who have earned a Florida Certificate of Completion or Special Diploma. Students who graduate with this type of diploma are not eligible to become degree-seeking, but may be considered on a case-by-case basis through appeal to the Associate Provost at the student’s home campus. Additionally, students with disabilities who do not meet this requirement for admission to degree-seeking status are also given special consideration. These policies are contained in Board Procedure 6Hx23-4.02, a portion is excerpted below, and there is information for students via the Disabilities Resources website.

 

XI. The President is authorized to permit substitute admission requirements for eligible students who have disabilities as defined by State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.041, F.A.C.

A. This Rule is established in compliance with State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.041, to provide disabled students reasonable substitutions for requirements for admission to the College, admission to a program of the College, for course substitutions, and for graduation from the College. To make a determination of appropriate substitutions, the disabled student will be required to provide documentation that:

1. The student has a disability which is evaluated as interfering in a basic life activity. Examples of such disabilities include but are not limited to: vision impairment, hearing impairment, mental or emotional impairment, physical impairments such as cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis, dyslexia, or other specific learning disabilities as defined below; and

2. The disability can be reasonably expected to prevent the student from meeting requirements for admission to the College or a program of the College, for satisfactory completion of a course or courses, or for graduation. The student must identify the specific requirement(s) for which a substitution is sought and furnish documentation from an appropriate source that will support the need of a substitution or accommodation.

 

College Transcript Requirement - Transfer Students

A student who has previously enrolled at another college or university is considered a transfer student at SPC. SPC requires official transcripts from every prior college or university attended. SPC’s webpage for transfer students spells out how transfer credit is awarded, including a tool students can use to determine how courses will potentially transfer, even in advance of the transfer work posting to their record. There are links to information about SPC transfer credit policies; how to petition for credit if not awarded initially; information specific to veterans and military students; and options for accelerated credit.

Lower Division Admission Requirements

For lower division health-related programs where the number of eligible students exceeds the positions available, students are admitted on a point system based on program GPA (pre-entry requirements, general education, and support courses) and total program credits earned. Minimum program GPA for consideration is 2.75 except Dental Hygiene, which is 3.0. Service area residents are given first priority. Because of clinical agency requirements, a background check and a drug screening are required for each health related program application.

Upper Division Baccalaureate Programs

Students currently attending lower division courses at SPC must complete the Baccalaureate application process to be considered for admission to an upper division program. Students applying to SPC for the first time who wish to enter a baccalaureate program or students seeking readmission are required to first submit the standard SPC General Application for Admission.

Admission to the various Baccalaureate programs is specific for each program, and application checklists are included on individual program websites, accessible under the “Academics” tab on the college website.

 

 

For example, the following admissions requirements apply:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing: To be admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, students must have an approved Associate in Science degree with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and the required credit hours in General Education courses. Nursing students also must have a Registered Nurse license.

Specialized Admissions

 

International Students

An international student is one who wishes to enter the United States under any type of visa other than an immigration visa and for whom a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant student must be issued by the College. SPC also offers admission to students who will remain in their home country and pursue online courses offered by the College.

 

Potential international students are directed to an application and this information is downloaded by staff in the Office of Admissions and Records for further data entry into the student data enterprise system.

International students must provide a National Association of Credentialing and Education Services (NACES) approved vendor evaluation of high school and previous colleges attended, if the coursework is outside the United States. International students must also file a Certificate of Financial Ability. To be admitted to college-level courses, international students must demonstrate English language competency to allow them to pursue a full course of study for credit. An I-20 will be issued, by a designated school official (PDSO) only after the college has received and certified all of the required admissions documents.

 

 

Transient Students

A transient student is one who is degree-seeking at a home institution but enrolls at SPC on a temporary or transient basis. Students in this category are non-degree seeking at SPC, although enrolled in credit classes, but do not have to meet the general admissions requirements of the College such as providing transcripts, completing orientation or testing requirements. This is because SPC is accepting the home institution’s attestation that the student has met prerequisites and the courses taken at SPC will apply toward the degree at the home institution.

 

High School Students

SPC offers accelerated high school programs for Dual-Enrollment, Early College, Early Admission, and Collegiate High School students. Admissions requirements for each program are specified in BOT 6Hx23-4.02 rule and procedure, and further detailed on the individual College websites.

The chart of early enrollment options provides an overview comparing programs to assist prospective students in determining the best fit as shown below:

 

 

Returning Students

Returning students who have not registered for six consecutive semesters need to update their contact records and proof of Florida residency. There may be program specific re-admittance requirements as well.

 

Non-Degree Seeking

Consistent with an open-door philosophy of community colleges, students may enroll at SPC for enrichment purposes or as non-degree seeking students using the General Admission process. They must meet any course level prerequisites or required placement testing to determine college readiness.

 

Knowledge of English

For international students with limited English skills, SPC offers a full program of English as a Second Language (ESL). Students placed in the appropriate ESL level based on the Placement Test for ESL and will be permitted to enroll in a maximum of 12 semester hours in the ESL Program and no other courses at the College while in this category.

 

Dissemination and Consistent Application

SPC has created accessible admissions standards through its open admissions policy, and its multiple avenues for admission. SPC has a centralized office for admissions and student records, with admissions personnel at all campuses to assist students in completing the applications. There is just one standard general admission application, regardless of program or whether the application is paper-based or online, and all applications are processed at the centralized office. Furthermore, the requirements in the application set the minimum college-level skills for success in an open admissions environment. All baccalaureate applications are processed through the centralized office, as well, via the MySPC portal.

Publications

All admission policies and procedures are available through the SPC website and are stipulated in the BOT rules and procedures. In order to ensure availability of materials during enrollment fairs or recruitment events, the Department of Marketing and Public Information works with program directors, deans, and advisors to produce program brochures and other recruitment materials that mirror the information found on the SPC website. For example, common open house materials include a copy of a Getting Started at SPC bookmark which mirrors the Getting Started at SPC website. The BS in Biology brochure is typical of the materials made available for student perusal at recruiting events. Their application information mirrors the admission checklist information found on the BS Biology program website.

 

Supporting Documentation

In order to preserve the integrity of the supporting documentation in case of updates occurring between the submission of this document and the review, the narrative above links to pdf versions, whereas live links are included below.