Admission Information Procedures

Potential students must complete an admissions application before Placement Testing/Orientation.

Testing

The College provides a variety of measures to ensure proper placement in Reading, English and Mathematics for applicants pursuing a degree or certificate. In addition to the Aleks PPL math placement test, Reading ACCUPLACER placement test and English writing sample, students may be exempt from Placement testing based on ACT/SAT/GED/PARCC testing, Transition English/Math courses, unweighted cumulative high school GPA, or previously completed college credit. For math placement, all measures are valid for 18 months from the test date or date of course completion. For English and Reading placement, measures are valid for 3 years from test date or course completion.

If the results indicate it is necessary, Developmental courses should be completed during the first semester and continue in subsequent semesters until all required courses are completed.

Orientation

SSC Online Orientation is a great resource for all incoming students and available at orientation.ssc.edu using the students’ login. Registration-Most registration functions can be processed through SSC Self Service.

A student may attend and earn credit as a student-at-large. This status is provided primarily for occasional students, but is not necessarily limited to them. Students attending under this status are not eligible for financial aid. Students who plan to attend SSC on a consistent basis for the purpose of attaining a specific educational objective should apply for admission to the College and submit official high school and/or college transcripts as soon as possible. Students in a non degree status should contact the Admissions Office in order to determine the proper admissions procedures.

All students interested in earning a certificate, credential, or a degree from South Suburban College, or seeking admission to a specific curriculum must complete the requirements for one of the five application categories listed below:

1. For all Associate Degree and Certificate programs, students who have not attended another Illinois college or university must submit official high school, HSE/GED® transcripts.
2. Students who have attended other colleges or universities will be required to submit an official high school or (HSE/GED®) transcript and/or official college or university transcripts. Students who have earned an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree at an accredited Illinois college or university are only required to submit official college transcripts.
3. Students currently attending South Suburban College who are changing their curriculum to that of an Associate degree or Certificate must submit official high school/HSE/GED® transcripts indicating graduation, and college/university transcripts, if they have attended another college or university.
4. Students who have previously submitted an admissions application and all transcripts, and whose attendance at SSC has been interrupted for a period of two years or more, may be readmitted to the College by completing a new admission application form. Students who are reapplying and have attended another college since they were last enrolled at SSC must submit official college transcripts.
5. Students who were academically dismissed from the College must petition for readmission and see a counselor. (See regulations regarding probation and dismissal.)
   • Official transcripts consist of documents sent directly from the educational institution or agency to SSC, or transcripts hand delivered in an official envelope sealed at the prior institution(s), indicating a graduation date.
   • Students applying for admission to a baccalaureate transfer program must meet certain minimum high school course requirements under Illinois Public Act 86-0954.

AGS Admissions
All students interested in earning an Associate in General Studies (AGS) degree from South Suburban College must complete the requirements for one of the five application categories listed below:

1. For all Associate Degree programs, students who have not attended another Illinois college or university must submit official high school, HSE/GED® transcripts.
2. Students who have attended other colleges or universities will be required to submit an official high school or HSE/GED® transcript and/or official college or university transcripts. Students who have earned an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree at an accredited Illinois college or university are only required to submit official college transcripts.
3. Students currently attending South Suburban College who are changing their curriculum to that of an Associate degree must submit official high school/HSE/GED® transcripts indicating graduation, and college/university transcripts, if they have attended another college or university.
4. Students who were academically dismissed from the college must petition for readmission and see a faculty counselor.
   • Official transcripts consist of documents sent directly from the educational institution or agency to SSC, or transcripts hand delivered in an official envelope sealed at the prior institution (s) indicating a graduation date.
   • Students applying for admission to a baccalaureate transfer program must meet certain minimum high school course requirements under Illinois Public Act 86-0954.

South Suburban College offers six types of associate degrees which are transferable to four-year colleges and universities:

1. Associate in Arts-Designed as a degree to enable a student to transfer to a four-year college/university, this degree emphasizes student completion of 37-41 hours of general education and *21-25 hours in area of concentration/electives. Areas of concentration include: Art, Communications (Radio and TV), Drama (Theatre), Economics, Education (Elementary and Secondary), English, History, Journalism, Liberal Arts, Music Business, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, Spanish and Speech.
2. Associate in Science- Designed as a degree for students
   intending to transfer to a four-year college/university in a math-science related major, this degree includes 31-35 hours of general education and *21-25 hours in area of concentration/electives. Areas of concentration include: Astronomy, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Economics, Education (secondary), Forensic Science Technology, Geography, Geology, Health Science/Physical Education, Mathematics, and Physics.
3. Associate in Fine Arts- Designed for students intending to transfer to a four-year college/university to pursue completion of a Baccalaureate of Fine Arts degree in art or music. This degree replicates the coursework required in the first two years of a four year art or music degree.
4. Associate in Engineering Science- Designed for students intending to transfer to a four-year college/university to pursue completion of a baccalaureate degree in engineering. This degree requires 46-52 credit hours of general education and 10-16 credit hours of coursework in engineering.
5. Associate in Applied Science- This degree is available to students in career-oriented programs. The degree
   is designed to prepare a student for immediate employment upon graduation. For a listing of courses required for an individual AAS program, refer to the Career Programs section beginning on page 91 of this catalog. Through current articulation agreements, some AAS degrees may transfer to four-year colleges and universities; check current catalog listings.
6. Associate in General Studies- This degree is a highly individualized degree that provides students with
   the opportunity to have a hand in designing their own associate degree program that may include both transfer and occupational courses. This degree has minimal general education requirements thus allowing considerable flexibility in designing and pursuing a course of study that meets individualized learning goals.

Further information on Transfer Programs and Graduation Requirements.

South Suburban College awards the Associate in Arts degree, the Associate in Science degree, the Associate in Fine Arts degree, the Associate in Engineering Science degree and the Associate in Applied Science degree. In addition, Certificates of Completion may be earned by students enrolled in designated curricula. General requirements for the Associate degrees are:

1. 1. All general and specific requirements in one of the Associate degree curricula listed in the catalog must be fulfilled.
2. An overall cumulative college-level grade point average of 2.0 (on a 4.0 point scale) must be achieved.
3. A student seeking an Associate Degree from South Suburban College must complete a minimum of 25% of the required college-level credit hours at SSC with a minimum cumulative college-level grade point average of 2.0, exclusive of any combination of ECEP, CLEP, AP, military experience or transfer credit.
4. Students earning an Associate degree must meet the requirement for coursework on improving human relations as defined in Public Act 87-581.
5. All students completing degree requirements must apply for graduation for the term in which the degree will be completed. The graduation application is available on SSC Self Service. Graduation application deadlines are October 1 for Fall; February 1 for Spring; and July 1 for Summer. Students who do not submit an application may not be awarded their degree.
6. All qualified students who have completed the requirements for a degree will be sent a letter acknowledging their status. After the final grades for the semester have been recorded and the final degree audit check is completed, the degree will be posted on the student’s transcript. One annual commencement is held in the Spring; however, the Associate Degree or Certificate may be granted and issued at the end of the Summer and Fall terms following the same process. (No commencement ceremony is held at these times.)Students who have completed the Degree Verification Form will be mailed their degree approximately six (6) weeks after the end of the term. The dates for the end
   of the term are: December 31 for Fall; May 31 for Spring; and August 31 for Summer. A student must complete the form to receive the actual degree; however, all
   degrees will be listed on the student transcript.
7. In order to be eligible for more than one Associate degree, 15 semester hours of credit, in addition to the minimum 62 hours required for the first degree, must
   be earned at the college. Credits for the first degree or certificate may apply toward the second degree. All requirements must be fulfilled for each degree earned.
8. As a result of many changes required by State and Federal agencies, curriculum requirements may vary under specific catalogs. If a student discontinues attendance for a full year or more, he or she will be held to the requirements of the current catalog.
9. The responsibility for proper registration each semester rests with the student. The student is responsible for satisfying all graduation requirements for degree/certificate completion.
10. South Suburban College reserves the right to rescind the awarding of associate degrees and certificates if the College discovers that the degrees and certificates were awarded in error, such as an incorrectly listed degree or in a situation where it was found that a student had not actually fulfilled all graduation requirements under the criteria approved by the Illinois Community College Board or as otherwise established in the South Suburban College catalog.

Requirements for GECC Credential

The General Education Credential (GECC) represents completion of the GECC as part of a transferrable degree and is not a workforce certificate nor industry-recognized credential. This credential emphasizes student completion of a minimum of 37 credit hours across five academic disciplines, which satisfy the General Education Core Curriculum of the Illinois Articulation Initiative.

1. The GECC Credential requires completion of a minimum of 37 credit hours and all of the requirements listed in the catalog must be fulfilled.
2. An overall cumulative college-level grade point average of 2.0 (on a 4.0 point scale) must be achieved.
3. A student seeking a GECC Credential from South Suburban College must complete a minimum of 50% of the required college-level credit hours at SSC with a minimum cumulative college-level grade point average of 2.0, exclusive of any combination of CLEP, AP, military experience or transfer credit.
4. Students earning an Associate degree must meet the requirement for coursework on improving human relations as defined in Public Act 87-581.
5. As a result of many changes required by State and Federal agencies, curriculum requirements may vary under specific catalogs. If a student discontinues attendance for a full year or more, he or she will be held to the requirements of the current catalog.
6. The responsibility for proper registration each semester rests with the student. The student is responsible for satisfying all graduation requirements for GECC Credential completion.
7. South Suburban College reserves the right to rescind the GECC Credential if the College discovers that the credential was awarded in error, such as an incorrectly listed credential or in a situation where it was found that a student had not actually fulfilled all requirements under the criteria approved by the Illinois Community College Board, or as otherwise established in the South Suburban College catalog.

Further information on Transfer Programs and Graduation Requirements.

1. A Certificate requires completion of a minimum of thirty (30) credit hours and all of the requirements listed in the catalog must be fulfilled. All requirements in one of the Certificate curricula in the catalog must be fulfilled.
2. At least 50% of the program-specific courses must be completed at South Suburban College with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0, exclusive of any combination of ECEP, CLEP, AP, military experience or transfer credit.
3. All students completing Certificate requirements must apply for graduation for the term in which the Certificate will be completed. The graduation application is available on SSC SELF SERVICE. Graduation application deadlines are October 1 for Fall; February 1 for Spring; and July 1 for Summer. Students who do not submit an application may not be awarded their Certificate.
4. All qualified students who have completed the requirements for a certificate will be sent a letter acknowledging their status. After the final grades for the semester have been recorded and the final certificate audit check is completed, the certificate will be posted to the student’s transcript. Students who have completed the Certificate Verification Form will be mailed their certificate approximately six weeks after the end of the term. The dates for the end of the term are: December 31 for Fall; May 31 for Spring; and August 31 for Summer. The student must complete the form to receive the paper certificate; however, all certificates will be listed on the student transcript.
5. An overall cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (on a 4.0 point scale) must be achieved for the specific Certificate.
6. South Suburban College reserves the right to rescind the awarding of associate degrees and certificates if the College discovers that the degrees and certificates were awarded in error, such as an incorrectly listed degree or in a situation where it was found that a student had not actually fulfilled all graduation requirements under the criteria approved by the Illinois Community College Board or as otherwise established in the South Suburban College catalog.

1. A Basic Certificate is defined as a certificate of less than thirty (30) semester credit hours.
2. At least 50% of the program-specific courses must be completed at South Suburban College with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0, exclusive of any combination of ECEP, CLEP, AP, military experience or transfer credit. They are automatically generated the semester after they are earned.
3. Basic Certificates do not require a high school diploma or HSE/GED® to be on file in order to be issued to the student.
4. All students completing Basic Certificate requirements must apply for graduation for the term in which the Basic Certificate will be completed. The graduation application is available on SSC SELF SERVICE. Graduation application deadlines are October 1 for Fall; February 1 for Spring; and July 1 for Summer. Students who do not submit an application may not be awarded their Basic Certificate.Basic Certificate students do not participate in the commencement ceremony.