Student Affairs Policies Printed Version

Student Rights and Responsibilities (Policy 3.010)

Policy:

1. Student rights and responsibilities are set forth in College rules, policies and procedures and published in the College Catalog in effect, the student handbook, and other College publications.
2. Students are expected to respect the rights and welfare of other members of the College community and its guests and shall not intentionally act to impair, interfere with, or obstruct the orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the College.
3. Students shall abide by all rules, policies, and procedures, including but not limited to the Student Code of Conduct (Procedure 3.0900.) The College may impose sanctions, penalties and take disciplinary action if the student engages in any prohibited behavior.
4. Students are expected to abide by local, state, and federal laws and regulations. Violations may result in penalties by civil authorities as well as the College.
5. Students are responsible for meeting the requirements of graduation or program completion as set forth in the College Catalog in effect and for coordinating their program at Seminole State College with that of the senior college or university of their choice.
6. The President will cause procedures to be developed and established to implement this policy.

Admission Requirements (Policy 3.020)

Policy

Seminole State College (the “College”) is an open access institution as governed by Florida Statutes, Florida State Board of Education administrative rules, and College policy. The College admits students without discrimination based on race, color, age, national origin, religion, gender, marital status, veteran or military status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected class, in accordance with federal law. The College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities as mandated by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as well as applicable College policies. Applicants are required to submit specific information, records, forms, and a non-refundable application fee.

• Admission is open to degree-seeking students if any of the following criteria are satisfied:
  • Possess a standard high school diploma from an institution accredited by a regional accreditation agency; 
  • Hold a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) as defined in Section 1003.435, Florida Statutes;
  • Have a high school equivalency diploma from another state recognized as equivalent by the State Board of Education, based on assessments recognized by the U.S. Department of Education;
  • Have a Certificate of Completion (College Placement Test Eligible) from a Florida public high school; 
  • Have completed home school education requirements according to Section 1002.41, Florida Statutes;
  • Have completed coursework at another postsecondary institution (college or university).
    
    
• Students enrolled in dual enrollment or early admission programs as per Section 1007.271, Florida Statutes, are exempt from degree-seeking admissions requirements.
  
  
• Applicants to Baccalaureate degree programs, continuing education programs, technical certification, and limited access programs must meet specific program requirements for admissions. Detailed admission requirements for these programs will be outlined in the College catalog.
  
  
• Applicants for International students (F-1 or M-1 vias) are required to complete an International Student application and pay a non-refundable application fee in U.S. dollars. All international applicants must hold the appropriate visa as specified by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations.

In accordance with Section 1001.64, Florida Statutes, the College reserves the right to limit enrollment in certain programs due to facility constraints. Additionally, the College may deny or rescind admission to any applicant or student whose behavior is deemed likely to disrupt the orderly operation of the College's programs or infringe upon the rights and privileges of other students. This includes cases of falsifying admissions applications or submitting fraudulent documents.

Rulemaking Authority and Law(s) Implemented: §§ Florida Statute 1001.64, 1001.65, 1007.263, .264; 1009.26, Policy 1.020 

History- Adopted   1/1989 , revised 7/1992, 1/1993, 2/1993, 6/1994, 1/1998, 2/2002, 12/2004, 5/2005, 10/2009, 02/2013, 03/2014, 07/2016, 11/2024

Transfer Credit from Non-regionally Accredited Institutions (Policy 3.021)

Acceleration for Program Completion (Policy 3.022)

Financial Aid Information (Policy 3.030)

Policy:

It is the policy of the Board to provide financial assistance to qualified students.

1. Financial aid may consist of scholarships, loans, grants, waivers of fee, and employment awarded singly or in various combinations. All aid awards are based upon individual need or merit and availability of funds.
2. Information and forms may be obtained in the Financial Aid Office or by visiting the College website.
3. The President is authorized to establish procedures to implement this Policy.

Student Records (Policy 3.040)

Policy:

1. Seminole State College protects the privacy rights of its students and the integrity of student records. The College complies with all appropriate authority regarding the confidentiality and management of student records including but not limited to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The College also adheres to guidelines recommended by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions (AACRAO), the professional association encouraging best practices in such areas as enrollment management, information technology, instructional management, and student services.
2. The President shall cause procedures to be developed to implement this policy.

Student Activities (Policy 3.050)

Policy

Pursuant to Florida Statute 1001.64, the Board of Trustees has authority to implement policies related to students and the following policy shall apply to Student Activities at the College:

1. Student Activities
   
   As Seminole State College recognizes the importance of learning both inside and outside the classroom, the Office of Student Life, has responsibility for the planning, oversight, and implementation of the student activities program of the College. The Office of Student Life shall be responsible for supervising all student success services, including, but not limited to, the following: Student Government Association (SGA), Student Leadership Programs, Co-Curricular Programming, Clubs and Organizations, Service Learning/Volunteer Programs, Campus Entertainment, and The Scribe (student newspaper.)
2. Student Government Association
   
   The Student Government Association is an alliance of students working together to create a campus environment that supports the teaching-learning process and to provide a forum for students to participate in institutional decision-making. The Student Government Association approves campus clubs and organizations, provides appropriate leadership activities for students, sponsors co-curricular events, and recommends students for membership on campus committees. The Student Government Association is an active participant of the Florida College System Student Government Association.
3. Admission to Activities
   
   The student identification card, available to all students, admits students to programs held on or off campus.
4. The President will cause procedures to be developed and established to implement this policy.

Student Attendance (Policy 3.060)

Policy

1. The College recognizes the correlation between attendance and both student retention and achievement. A successful college experience requires a student’s regular class attendance and active engagement. Any class session or activity missed, regardless of cause, reduces the opportunity for learning and may adversely affect a student’s achievement in the course.
2. Students are expected to attend all classes, actively participate and complete all assigned course work for all courses for which they are registered. For online courses, attendance is determined by consistently logging in and accessing the course content and completing courses in accordance with the syllabus.
3. Faculty will establish and describe in the course syllabus specific policies on class attendance at the start of the term.
4. The President shall establish procedures to implement this Policy.

Career Resources for Students (Policy 3.070)

Policy

1. It is the Policy of the Board to support the career development of its students by providing career services including, but not limited to:
   1. Career Exploration
   2. Internships/Cooperative Education
   3. Academic Transfer Research
   4. On-campus recruiting by potential employers
   5. Career Link Online Career Center
   6. Job and career placement assistance
   7. Career resources
2. The President is authorized to establish procedures to implement this policy.

Student Code of Conduct (Policy 3.090)