2025-2026 Student Handbook

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General Information

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)

SFSC seeks to ensure that programs, services, and facilities are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. If you are a qualified student with a disability, the College will make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations. 

If you are a person with a documented disability, this Student Handbook is available to you in hard copy. Telephone or written requests should include your name, address, and telephone or TDD number. Your requests should be made to the ADA student coordinator, SFSC, 600 West College Drive, Avon Park, FL 33825, 863-784-7176 at least two weeks prior to the time you need the publication.  

The following College staff members have been assigned to assist in ensuring that you have access to the College’s programs, services, and facilities. If you require assistance or have general questions/concerns, contact:

DRUG-FREE CAMPUS

SFSC is committed to having drug-free campuses and centers. Illegal use of drugs or alcohol will not be tolerated at any SFSC campus or center or at any SFSC-sponsored event off campus.

Any student who uses illegal drugs on any SFSC site or SFSC-sponsored event off campus will be suspended. The student may apply for readmission consideration only after becoming drug free and after at least one academic term of suspension is completed.

Any student who sells or manufactures illegal drugs on any SFSC campus or SFSC-sponsored event off campus will be suspended. The student may apply for readmission consideration only after at least a full year of suspension is completed.  

The College will refer for prosecution anyone engaging in illegal drug or controlled substance activity on our campuses or at our events. Students who are convicted of any drug offense must report it to the vice president of student services within five days. Students may contact the same office for an explanation of appeal rights for each step of the disciplinary process.

SFSC encourages any student with an addiction problem to seek help by contacting the TriCounty Human Services, Inc. To seek help, contact 863-452-0106 and/or BayCare 1-800-878-5470.

TOBACCO-FREE COLLEGE

SFSC is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for its employees, students, and visitors. The use, distribution, or sale of tobacco, or any object or device intended to simulate that use, is prohibited in all indoor and exterior areas (including roadways, trails, and pathways) of each campus, center, and other property under the control of the College.

College employees, students, visitors, contractors, and all others are expected to comply with SFSC’s Tobacco-Free College policy and the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act (FCIAA) under Rule: 64I-4.001 Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) at all times.

EQUAL ACCESS/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY (EA / EO)

SFSC pledges to provide equal access to education and employment opportunity to all regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or genetic information in admission to, or employment in, any of its educational programs or activities. The College adheres to federal and state laws that control equal access/equal opportunity. This pledge covers all aspects of the educational and employment relationship with our students and employees. If you have concerns regarding this pledge, address them to the EA/EO student coordinator at 863-784-7107. Nothing contained within this Student Handbook is intended to discriminate on the basis of the previously mentioned factors.

The following staff members have been assigned to assist in ensuring that you have access to the College’s programs, services, and facilities. Contact these individuals, if you require assistance:

I. Purpose

To ensure that no applicant, employee, or student is illegally discriminated against because of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or genetic information in admission to, or employment in, any of its education programs or activities.

II. Procedure

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

SFSC will allow students with infectious diseases, including, but not limited to, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), AIDS Related Complex (ARC), Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aurous (MRSA), COVID-19, Meningitis, influenza, or those testing positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), to participate in any student programs unless it can be demonstrated that such students are a direct threat to other students, employees, or the public. The College recognizes that such diseases represent significant public health threats and will provide up-to-date information aimed at prevention for all students and employees, to include appropriate curriculum, services, and counseling. Circumstances may dictate significant alterations to class scheduling, mode of delivery, on-campus housing assignments, and other restrictions (e.g., the wearing of facial coverings/masks, social distancing, contact tracing, isolation/quarantine, and other appropriate guidelines mandated by College officials). 

The president of the College or designated representative(s) is/are authorized to review the facts and recommend whether or not action should be taken. “Reasonable accommodation” will be considered if it is determined that some type of action is needed. Each student/employee case will be evaluated to determine risk of transmission. Student or employee response to each known case of AIDS, ARC or positive HIV, COVID-19, or MRSA will be according to the individual known facts. Any student/employee with such diseases should notify the College of any changes in his/her medical condition. No person, group, agency, insurer, employer, or institution will be provided medical or other information without written consent from the affected person. Policies related to transmission of any communicable disease will be followed. Reasonable measures will be taken to safeguard the confidentiality of medical records or other information obtained. The College will work cooperatively with the community, health/mental health agencies, and other organizations to provide programs responsive to this policy. For updated information, visit southflorida.edu.

STUDENT RECORDS AND PRIVACY GUIDELINES

The Office of the Registrar maintains permanent educational records for all students who ever enrolled at SFSC. Your educational record may contain an application for admission, high school and/or college transcripts, the SFSC academic record or transcript, authorized changes to the record, and other documentation appropriate to your enrollment at the College.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) - is a federal law that applies to educational agencies and institutions that receive funding under a program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The statute is found at U.S. Code (20 U.S.C. Section 1232(g)) and the regulations are found at Code of Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Section 99). Under FERPA regulations, colleges must generally grant you, if you are attending a postsecondary institution, access to your educational information, an opportunity to seek and have your records amended, and some control over the disclosure of information from the records. FERPA requires the College to protect the privacy of your record information with regard to access to your college records, the release of such records, and the opportunity to challenge records should they be inaccurate, misleading, or inappropriate.

No information, other than the data determined to be “directory information” can be provided to a custodial parent, non-custodial parent, or other third party without your written permission unless very specific criteria have been met. FERPA requires the College to establish a policy with regard to the data items that can be released to third parties upon request, and to establish the procedures for the release of such information. You have the option of making your “file” and “data” confidential. If you choose to have your data marked as confidential, you are identified in the student information system, and your information is excluded from the College’s directory information.

Disclosure of Education Records

The College must:

1. have your written consent prior to the disclosure of education records; and

2. ensure that the consent is signed and dated and states the purpose of the disclosure.

Schools are generally prohibited from disclosing personally identifiable information about a student without written consent. Exceptions to this rule include:

1. disclosures made to school officials with legitimate educational interests;
2. disclosures made to another school at which the student intends to enroll;
3. appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
4. organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
5. accrediting organizations;
6. to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
7. appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies;
8. disclosures made to state or local education authorities for auditing or evaluating federal- or state-supported education programs, or enforcing federal laws that relate to those programs; and
9. disclosures including information the school has designated as “directory information.”

When a student turns 18 years old or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, all rights afforded to the parent under FERPA transfer to the student (“eligible student”). However, FERPA provides ways in which a school may, but is not required to, share information from an eligible student’s education records with parents, without the student’s consent. For example:

• Schools may disclose education records to parents if the student is claimed as a dependent for tax purposes.
• Schools may disclose education records to parents if a health or safety emergency involves their son or daughter.
• Schools may inform parents if the student, if he or she is under age 21, has violated any law or policy concerning the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.
• A school official may generally share with a parent information that is based on that official’s personal knowledge or observation of the student.

Students may choose to have your records provided to a parent, or other third party, on a one-time or one-year basis by completing the student Release of Academic Information form. 

Health or Safety Emergency - The College is allowed to disclose without your consent education records, including personally identifiable information from those records, to protect your health and safety and that of other individuals. At such times, records and information may be released to appropriate parties such as law enforcement officials, public health officials, and trained medical personnel. This exception to FERPA’s general consent rule is limited to the period of the emergency, and generally does not allow for a blanket release of personally identifiable information.

Disciplinary Records - While your disciplinary records are protected as education records under FERPA, there are certain circumstances in which disciplinary records may be disclosed without your consent. The College may disclose to an alleged victim of any crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense the final results of a disciplinary proceeding conducted by the College against the alleged perpetrator of that crime. 

The College may disclose to anyone the final results of a disciplinary hearing, if it determines that you are an alleged perpetrator of violence or non-forcible sex offense and with respect to the allegation made against you, you have committed a violation of the College’s rules or policies.

Law Enforcement Units and Records - For enhanced security, a Highlands County Sheriff’s Office College Resource Deputy Officer has been assigned to the Highlands Campus (service hours vary). Investigative reports and other documents created and maintained by law enforcement  are not considered to be educational records subject to FERPA. Accordingly, institutions may disclose publicly obtained information from law enforcement records to anyone, including outside law enforcement authorities.

Directory Information - Directory information may be released to the public without your consent following specific request procedures. Directory information will not be released if you requested in writing to keep your information confidential. At any time, you may complete a form in the Admissions, Registration, and Records Office to mark your records as confidential.  

The SFSC directory information includes:

• Your name
• Date of attendance
• Academic program
• Honors received (president’s and vice president’s lists, cum laude, etc.)
• Degree received and date conferred
• Lists of prospective graduates/graduates
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of athletic team members
• Identification card, digital photographs

SFSC reserves the right to provide additional information, such as street address and telephone number, where there is a signed articulation agreement with another postsecondary institution for purposes of recruitment, and in cases that are superseded by the Solomon Amendment giving military recruiters access to your recruiting information.

Any other information is considered to be personally identifiable information and cannot be released to a third party, including parents, without your written consent.

Directory Requests - The procedure to request SFSC directory information is indicated below. Directory information requests are not recorded in your individual records.

1. The request must be made in writing on the letterhead of the company, agency, or school requesting the information.
2. If the request is being made by an individual, the request needs to indicate the name, address, and phone number of the requestor and the reason for the request.
3. Requests for the entire student directory, requests from any military sources under the Solomon Amendment, or requests for a “class” of students, such as all students in any one major, should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.

Student Access to Educational Records - The College is required by FERPA to: 

1. provide you with an opportunity to inspect and review your education records within 45 days of receipt of the request;
2. provide you with copies of education records or otherwise make records available to you if you, for instance, live outside of commuting distance of the College; and
3. redact the names and other personally identifiable information about other students that may be included in your education records.

Amendment of Educational Records - Under FERPA, the College must:

1. consider your request to amend inaccurate or misleading information in your education records;
2. offer you a hearing on the matter, if it decides not to amend the records in accordance with the request; and
3. offer you a right to place a statement to be kept and disclosed with the record, if as a result of the hearing, the College decides not to amend the record.

The College is not required to consider requests for amendment under FERPA that:

1. seek to change a grade or disciplinary record; and
2. seek to change the opinions or reflections of a College official or other person reflected in an education record.

You have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Questions about the administration of FERPA at SFSC and the release or amendment of any of your records, should be addressed to the registrar.

Student Requests

Change in Records - A written request to change your record. Typical changes include name, address, telephone number, social security number, and program code (major). Most changes require you to present appropriate documentation.

Enrollment Verification - An official College statement indicating term of enrollment and your status (e.g., full or part time).

Transfer Credit Evaluation - A statement of all coursework and grades accepted from another postsecondary institution.

Non-Release of Directory Information - A request submitted for non-release of directory information by completing a form in the SFSC Office of the Registrar. This non-release request will remain in effect until you request a removal of the non-release hold.

Official Transcripts - Transcripts are processed through the National Student Clearinghouse’s website StudentClearingHouse.org. Once you are on the National Student Clearinghouse homepage, you need to select the “For Students and Learners” tab from the main page, and then select “Order a transcript” and follow the instructions provided by National Student Clearinghouse. All you need to know is your name and Social Security Number (SSN).

SFSC PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEOGRAPHY USAGE DISCLAIMER

SFSC reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken on College property or during any event sponsored by or participated in by the College without the express written permission of those attending and/or included within the photograph/video. College events include, but are not limited to, award ceremonies, athletic events, cultural events, field trips, tours, and graduations.    Photographs/videos may be used in publications or other media materials produced, used, or contracted by SFSC including, but not limited to, viewbooks, catalogs, handbooks, newspapers, newsletters, television, websites, research documents, social media, etc. for the purposes of instruction or promoting SFSC and its programs. All SFSC images/videos are the exclusive property of the College, and as such, they represent the authority and backing of the College.

These images are used by members of the College community to inform its public of the College’s role in the sponsorship of its services and products. Individuals or organizations that would like to download or reproduce these images and demonstrate affiliation or partnership with SFSC may request permission by contacting the SFSC Office of Community Relations and Marketing on the Highlands Campus at 863-784-7379 or 863-784-7250. 

Any person who desires not to have his or her photo taken and reproduced or distributed must contact the Office of Community Relations and Marketing in writing of his or her intentions and include a photograph. Send to: Director of Institutional Communications, South Florida State College, 600 West College Drive, Avon Park, FL 33825. The photo will be used for identification purposes only and will be held in confidence by the Office of Community Relations and Marketing. 

Any individual, organization, or company wishing to engage in still photography, videotaping, or filming for production, broadcast, or public dissemination by any means on or in property owned by SFSC must obtain permission in advance from an appropriate College official. A member of the Community Relations and Marketing staff may accompany the photographer.

NOTIFICATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN) COLLECTION AND USE

In compliance with Section 119.071(5), Florida Statutes (F.S.), under Rule 6A-1.0955(3)(e), State Board of Education (S.B.E.),  SFSC issues this notification regarding the purpose of the collection and use of your SSN.

SFSC collects your SSN for use in performance of the College’s duties and responsibilities. To protect your identity, SFSC will secure your SSN from unauthorized access. SFSC will never release your SSN to unauthorized parties, and each student at SFSC will be issued a unique student identification number (GID). Your GID number is used for all educational purposes at SFSC including registration and access of your online record.

Federal legislation relating to the Hope Tax Credit, Section 25A, Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.), requires that all postsecondary institutions report the SSNs of all postsecondary students to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This IRS requirement makes it necessary for colleges to collect the SSNs of every student. A student may refuse to disclose his/her SSN to the College, but refusing to comply with the federal requirement may result in fines established by the IRS. 

In addition to the federal reporting requirements, the public school system in Florida uses the SSN as a student identifier. This use is authorized in Section 229.559, Florida Statutes (F.S.), and in Section 1008.386, School Code Section (S.C.S.). In a seamless K-20 educational system, it is beneficial for postsecondary institutions to have access to the same information for purposes of tracking and assisting students in the transition from one educational level to the next. All SSNs are protected by federal regulations and are never released to unauthorized parties.

Athletics Office - If you are awarded a scholarship through the Athletics Office but have not yet been officially admitted to the College and assigned a College ID, your SSN will be used to report the scholarship award.

Corporate and Community Education/Driver Education Program - According to Florida state education reporting requirements, you must submit your SSN when enrolling in Corporate and Community Education Driver Education classes. In addition, the Driver Education Program is required to provide your SSN to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor 

Vehicles after completion of specific courses. For professional development and licensing classes, your SSN is used for state licensure reporting requirements. For adult education and workforce grant-funded programs, your SSN is used as an identifier for program enrollment and completion. 

Financial Aid Office - The Financial Aid Office at SFSC requires that you submit your SSN on various forms to correctly identify you, match your financial aid record with your student record, and to help coordinate state and federal aid programs. The Financial Aid Office collects SSNs as mandated by the following:  U.S. Code (20 U.S.C. Section 1078); Education Service Center (20 E.S.C. Sections 1090, 1091 and 1092); Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Collection of SSNs of Students and Parents); and Codes of Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Section 668.16 (Standards of Administrative Capability), 34 C.F.R. Section 668.33 (Citizenship and Residency Requirements), and 34 C.F.R. Section 668.36 (Verification via FAFSA^®)).

Human Resources and Payroll Offices - The College’s Human Resources and Payroll Offices collect your SSN for the following purposes: classification of accounts; identification and verification; credit worthiness; billing and payments; data collection, reconciliation, tracking, benefit processing and tax reporting; and for fingerprint submissions to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Your SSN is also used as a unique numeric identifier and may be used for search purposes. Providing your SSN is a condition of employment at SFSC.

Institutional Effectiveness Office - The College’s Institutional Effectiveness Office uses your SSN for data collection and required state and federal reporting.

SFSC Foundation - The SFSC Foundation collects your SSN for the following purposes: as a unique numeric identifier and for reporting scholarship recipients to the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Community College Foundation. Your SSN is also required by certain scholarship donors in accordance with their trust or scholarship agreements.
 

PANTHER CENTRAL AND D2L BRIGHTSPACE^®

Students may register, view class schedules, view grades and courses credits, browse the current Schedule of Classes, view financial aid status, and update address and telephone numbers online through Panther Central. D2L Brightspace^® is SFSC’s learning management system. Students may access D2L Brightspace^® through the student tab in Panther Central. Through D2L Brightspace^® students may access course content, email instructors, participate in discussion boards and complete online quizzes and exams. Computer stations are available in the Welcome Center and Career Development Center on the Highlands Campus and in all College library locations.

In addition to Panther Central and D2L Brightspace^®, several technology services are available to SFSC students: 

• Degree Works^™ is a web-based tool that helps you monitor your progress toward degree completion. You may access Degree Works^™ by visiting the “Student” tab in D2L Brightspace^®.
• Everbridge^™ is used by SFSC to send students emergency or time-sensitive information by email or text message. All students are automatically enrolled in Everbridge^™ during the application process.
• National Student Clearinghouse allows you to print enrollment verification certificates, view your enrollment history, view processed loan deferments, obtain an individualized list of your lenders, and order transcripts. This service is available 24/7. The National Student Clearinghouse is the official provider of enrollment verification and degree certifications for SFSC. Certifications and verifications can be used by insurance companies, court officials (for jury duty waiver requests), employment agencies, credit card companies, lending agencies, housing providers and other entities who require proof of enrollment at or having received a degree from SFSC.

You also have the opportunity to stay connected with SFSC on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter).

ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND ACCEPTABLE USE

SFSC makes no warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, for the electronic access services it is providing. SFSC is not responsible for damages which include, but are not limited to, delays, computer viruses, non-deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions of any kind. SFSC specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its electronic access services.

Student User Responsibility - Students using SFSC’s technology and/or its electronic access services are expected to:

• Comply with all existing College policies as they may be interpreted to apply to technology resources, including but not limited to student discipline, religious, racial, and sexual harassment/violence policies
• Respect the privacy of other users and not intentionally seek information about, obtain copies of, delete, or modify files or other data belonging to other users
• Comply with legal protection provided by copyright and license to programs, data, and documents
• Maintain the security of SFSC technology resources by adhering to all campus-wide and site-specific rules and policies
• Comply with the acceptable use policies of all technology resources to which SFSC has access

Acceptable Use - Acceptable use of SFSC’s technology and/or its electronic access services:

• Is consistent with the mission of SFSC
• Encourages efficient, cooperative, and creative methods to perform the user’s educational tasks
• Is related to instructional and/or other support activities considered consistent with the mission of the College
• Permits authorized and appropriate access to voice, video, and data systems and software or data on all SFSC campuses and other remote locations

Unacceptable Use - Unacceptable use of SFSC’s technology and/or its electronic access services occurs if a user attempts to:

• Provide, gain, or assist in gaining unauthorized access to technology resources, including any type of voice, video, or data information
• Interfere with the ability of students or staff members to use SFSC’s technology resources or other connected services effectively
• Access other users’ work without instructor or system administrator permission
• Tamper with or vandalize the College’s hardware, software, or security systems
• Distribute any material which may cause congestion of the College’s information systems
• Use SFSC’s technology resources for the distribution or collection of obscene, abusive, or threatening material via telephone, video, email, internet, or other means
• Use SFSC’s technology resources for a commercial, political, or profit-making enterprise
• Download or install any commercial software, shareware, or freeware onto SFSC drives, or disks, without written permission from the instructor or system administrator

Any student action that is determined by an instructor or system administrator to constitute an inappropriate use of technology resources is a violation of these acceptable-use guidelines. Failure to comply with this policy may result in failure of the course, administrative withdrawal from the College, or other disciplinary and/or legal action as appropriate.