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Admissions Policy
STC maintains an open-door admissions policy, accepting students aged 16 or older who have completed high school or obtained a GED. Students under 18 without a high school diploma must consult an Admissions Specialist. The college does not accept international students on student visas but admits U.S citizens and permanent residents with foreign transcripts evaluated by accredited agencies.
Application Process
First Time students
Applicants new to STC must submit an application along with one of the following: a high school transcript with graduation date, GED certificate, recognized high school equivalency, an associate’s degree, or evidence of college credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree. ACT/SAT scores may be required depending on the program. After acceptance, students must submit immunization records and final transcripts.
Continuing and Returning Students
Continuing students must reapply with updated ACT/SAT or Accuplacer scores and complete program-specific requirements. Returning students, who have not attended for one term, must submit an application and verify that their documentation is on file. Immunization updates and final transcripts are also required after acceptance.
Transfer Students
Transfer students must submit an application and official transcripts from accredited post-secondary institutions. Transfer credit acceptance depends on course equivalency and grades. Immunization and final transcript submission requirements apply post-acceptance.
Foreign and International Students
STC admits U.S citizens and permanent residents with foreign credentials evaluated by reputable agencies but does not accept international students on F1, J1, or M1 visas, except for limited dual credit participation. English language proficiency may be required for non-native speakers.
Home Schooled and Non-Accredited High School Students
Admission for these students requires meeting minimum academic course requirements with a “C” average or higher, or achieving specific ACT/SAT scores.
The STC Admissions office processes appliactions on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to apply in advance of the semester they wish to attend in order to arrange housing, apply for financial assistance, and to pay their $75 registration fee and attend Academic Advising and Registration (AAR).
Health and Human Services Program Requirements
All applicants for admission into the Health and Human Services Programs at STC need to refer to the additional Academic Handbook for Healthcare Programs. Due to procedures covered in and the physical participation requirements of the Health and Human Services labs, students are required to sign release forms that provide them with a description of the required lab experiences, student lab responsibilities, and/or release of liability to the college. For more information, see the Academic Handbook for the Health & Human Services Programs or discuss the liability notice with your program instructor.
Math & English Placement Testing
Students are required to complete a STC-determined placement assessment prior to attending an Academic Advising and Registration Day. These assessments are used to ensure students begin English and Math courses at the appropriate level.
STC accepts ACT, SAT, Smarter Balance, TABE, and Next-Generation and historical ACCUPLACER scores for placement testing.
Students may also use the placement tests to “Test Out” of some courses at STC. Please talk to an Academic Advisor, Student Success Advisor, or the STC Testing Center for assistance with placement scores.
English Considerations:
ENGL 094 - Students who place into ENGL 094 must successfully complete this course with a “C” or higher to progress to ENGL 101. Students who receive a “D” or “F” grade must repeat ENGL 094.
ENGL 100 - Students requiring non-transferable communications as part of their program will take ENGL 100 dependent upon placement scores. If a student has a placement test score that meets the requirement of ENGL 101, they have the option to take ENGL 101. The course presents the elements of oral and written communication necessary to succeed in today’s workplace.
ENGL 101- Students may be placed directly into ENGL 101 if they have achieved the designated placement testing score, pass ENGL 094 with a “C” of higher, or qualify through the ENGL 100 to 101 pathway.
Although ENGL 100 is not a writing course and is not a traditional prerequisite for ENGL 101, the following pathway is an option for students:
Contact an ENGL instructor or a Student Success Advisor for more information about this pathway.
See also: General Education English Placement Table
Math Considerations:
MATH 100 - This course satisfies the college’s general education requirements for mathematics for many programs, but it is not a transferable course.
MATH 101/MATH 103/MATH 114/MATH 116/MATH 120 - Students may place directly into one of these courses based on a placement assessment score. If students have a placement assessment score that meets the requirements of a higher-level MATH course than their program requires, they have the option to take the higher-level MATH course.
See also: General Education Math Placement Table
Transfer of Credits Within Southeast Tech
Courses are transferable from one program to another with associate of applied science degree courses generally transferable to other associate of applied science degree programs or to vocational diploma programs, and vocational diploma courses are transferable to other diploma or certificate programs. Students considering such credit transfer should consult the Registrar’s Office to determine which credits will or will not transfer between programs. An audit course cannot be used toward graduation.
Transfer of Credits to Southeast Tech
STC will accept credits from any post-secondary college accredited by one of the major institutional accrediting associations (e.g., Higher Learning Commission). Acceptance of transfer credits is contingent upon students having completed a course or courses with a grade of “C” or better, and, that in the judgment of the Registrar, the course credit and content is similar to that contained in the STC course for which advanced standing by transfer is being requested. Granting of such credit is at the discretion of STC’s Registrar.
Prospective students wanting to know if their college credits will transfer to STC can refer to the online transfer credit equivalency calculator or may submit their unofficial transcripts to registrar@southeasttech.edu for a preliminary evaluation of their unofficial record. Transferred credits will not be used in determining grade point averages. The maximum number of credits granted for any course cannot exceed the STC credit standard for a similar course.
STC will register students for required courses based upon receipt of students’ official transcripts and the transfer credits having been approved by the Registrar.
*Students not providing official transcripts prior to their first semester at STC may find themselves taking and paying for courses that could have been transferred and may experience delays in program completion. Students who remain in a course that would have transferred beyond the drop period will be required to pay for the course.
In some cases, credit may be granted for military service school courses. Students must submit official documents containing specific credit recommendations for their service school training at the time of admission.
Graduation Requirement
A minimum of 25% of a total program must be earned at STC and the student must complete 25% of the major courses in the program at STC in order to receive a STC certificate, diploma, or degree.
For international credit to be accepted, transcripts are evaluated by a third party.
Prior Learning Credit
Students may receive credit for past experiences or coursework in lieu of taking comparable STC courses. Prior Learning Credit may be obtained through the following methods:
NOTE: Courses completed through Department Evaluation or Credit by Examination do not count toward Financial Aid full/part-time enrollment requirements. Students who are awarded credit will be required to pay a $50 per course transcription fee.
Department Evaluation
A person who wishes to obtain Prior Learning Credit by Department Evaluation should first discuss the option with the Registrar’s Office. The appropriate department will review previous coursework accomplished and/or documentation of experiences to determine whether credit may be granted. Documentation should include statements from work supervisors (or the company’s human resources department), work project examples, explanations of work, and/or training experiences.
The applicant will be notified of the results of the evaluation, and credits awarded will be listed on the student’s transcript. No grade will be recorded. Credits granted through evaluation will not be used in the calculation of the student’s grade point average and cannot be used in full-time/part-time Financial Aid calculations.
In cases where students are granted prior learning credit, it will be necessary to complete only those additional requirements of the program in which they plan to enroll. However, at least 25% of the credits for a program must be earned at STC, and the student must complete 25% of the major courses in the program at STC.
Credit by Examination
A person may be eligible for credit by examination if:
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Courses taken in a vocational diploma program, which cannot be directly transferred to an associate of applied science degree program, may warrant examination of the person’s competency, or
Examinations are available for most courses at STC. They may be oral or written. In addition to the exam, a skill demonstration may be required. Persons who wish to obtain credit through a formal STC exam can obtain information by contacting the STC Testing Center. A nonrefundable fee of $50 per test-out must be paid in the Business Office prior to testing. All testing must be completed within a week of payment.
Students are not required to enroll in a course in order to take the test-out exam. If students would like to test out of a class they are not currently enrolled in, they may do so throughout the year. Those who are enrolled in a course and are interested in testing out of it must do so before the end of the first week of the semester. Students remaining in the class beyond the first week of the semester are no longer eligible for a test-out exam in that class. Test-outs cannot be retaken, and students may not attempt to test out of classes that they have previously failed. Credits granted by examination are not used in determining grade point averages and cannot be used in full-time/part-time Financial Aid calculations.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Students may also be eligible for credit through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams, either the General Exams or the Subject Exams. No grade is granted when an exam is passed, and credits granted by CLEP are not used in determining grade point average and cannot be used in full-time/part-time financial aid calculations. Students wishing to obtain credit through CLEP exams should visit https://www.southeasttech.edu/student-life/registrars-office/clep-testing.php
Advanced Placement Courses (AP)
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are typically offered at the high school level. Students take these courses while in high school and then complete the AP test at the end of them. Students who score “3” or higher and are degree-seeking students at STC may be eligible to receive credit.
Students’ AP score reports will be sent to STC when they place our school code (7054) on their test registration application. When STC receives AP score reports, they are notified in writing of the allowable credits. There is no cost to transcribe AP courses on students’ transcripts. No grade is granted when AP courses are transferred in, and credits through AP are not used in determining grade point averages and cannot be used in full-time/part-time Financial Aid calculations.
Dual Credit
Dual credit is an opportunity for high school students who meet admissions standards to enroll in public postsecondary colleges in South Dakota and simultaneously earn credits for both their high school diploma and postsecondary degree or certificate.
Dual credit courses are offered by the postsecondary institution’s faculty members, are governed by the postsecondary institution’s policies, and follow the postsecondary institution’s established processes for admissions, registration, billing, and grade reporting. Courses include college-level content and subject matter; students choosing to participate will be held to the same expectations and standards as college students.
Through a program approved by the South Dakota Legislature, dual credit coursework is available to high school students in grades 11-12 at the rate of $48.33 per credit. Students are able to choose from a number of on-campus and online classes, including general education and career and technical education courses.
High School-Based Concurrent Enrollment
Courses are college courses taking place in the high school, during the high school day, being taught by high school faculty who have been approved (as per STC Faculty Qualifications Policy) to instruct said college-level courses as part of their duties as a school district employee. High school students participating in concurrent enrollment will earn a grade on the permanent college and high school transcripts. These courses have been approved as having equivalent course content, learning objectives and outcomes and work assignments as an on-campus college course. The high school student will be treated equal to any college student on the same campus-based course.
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