Academic Standards and Policies

Academic Regulations

You may register for classes each term according to published dates. The College may refuse permission to register for such reasons as: unpaid fees, overdue loans, non-returned library books and audiovisual materials, academic suspension or dismissal, incomplete admission records, and disciplinary action. If you have academic difficulties, you may be limited in the number and type of courses for which you may register.

Academic Amnesty

Academic Amnesty allows you to request that all your college coursework (SFSC and transfer) that is at least 10 calendar years old be excluded from your GPA calculations.

Academic Amnesty is a one-time, non-reversible option so you should carefully consider your decision to implement it. Before you apply for Academic Amnesty you should discuss the program with your academic advisor.

Your petition for Academic Amnesty applies only at SFSC. If you plan to transfer to another college or university, you are strongly cautioned that the receiving institution may use grades for all courses you’ve attempted when computing your GPA for admissions eligibility or for other purposes.

Academic Amnesty has no effect on your student financial aid. It also has no effect on the calculation of course attempts related to the multiple course attempt surcharge.

It is important to note that individual courses may not be retained when you apply for Academic Amnesty. ALL your coursework is excluded.

To be considered for Academic Amnesty, you must submit a completed Academic Amnesty Petition to the Office of the Registrar during the first term of enrollment. The Academic Appeals Committee evaluates all Academic Amnesty petitions and recommends those who demonstrate potential for success.

To be eligible for Academic Amnesty you must complete a minimum of 15 earned credits at SFSC while maintaining a GPA of 2.5 or higher. College developmental courses are not included in these 15 earned credits.

When Academic Amnesty is granted, all college coursework (SFSC and transfer) that is at least 10 years old is excluded from calculation of your SFSC GPA and use in meeting SFSC graduation requirements. All coursework taken, whether old or new will remain on your permanent record (transcript) and the following statement is added to your transcript: “Academic Amnesty Applied Terms XXXXXX - XXXXXX.”

Academic Appeals

Course Attempts (Withdrawal and Forgiveness Policy)

You will not be permitted to register for a course as a credit student more than three times.

NOTE: You may not withdraw from the third or fourth attempt of any course.

Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism

The faculty of SFSC is committed to a policy of honesty in academic affairs. Conduct for which you may be subject to administrative and/or disciplinary penalties, up to and including suspension or expulsion, include:

In case of cheating or plagiarism, the instructor may take academic action consistent with College policy that may range from loss of credit for a specific assignment, examination, or project to removal from the course with a grade of F. You and your instructor should seek to resolve the problem to mutual satisfaction. Failing this, your instructor or you may request action from the appropriate instructional supervisor, dean, and the vice president for academic affairs and student services (see Grade Appeals in this College Catalog) who adjudicates on the basis of College policy.

Copyright

In accordance with College policies, you must respect copyrighted material, in whatever medium or technological application you may find them. You must document sources appropriately when using any copyrighted material. NOTE: You should be in compliance if you use a recognized documentation system such as Modern Language Association (MLA) or American Psychological Association (APA) documentation guides.

Intellectual Property

If you develop a product (of any sort) that could earn revenue and the product is developed on SFSC’s campus/center using SFSC’s facilities or in conjunction with SFSC employees, the College may own some or all of the product. Ownership of the product is negotiated between you, the College, and any other interested parties and stated in a written contract. If you have questions regarding product ownership, contact the vice president for administrative services at 863-784-7218.

Auditing Classes

You may register to audit a course once prior to registering for credit (college developmental courses cannot be audited as outlined in Section 1001.02, Florida Statutes (F.S.) under Rule 6A-14.0301, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). Courses taken on an audit basis do not count for credit. Regular fees are charged and you must abide by the instructor’s audit policy. Audited courses are recorded on your academic record with a grade of X. You may not change your registration for a course from credit to audit after the end of the Drop with Refund Period.

Class Attendance

Absences from class may result in your being withdrawn by the instructor and possible loss of financial aid. Instructors will explain their class attendance policies (this policy must be provided to you during the first week of class). If you are not registered for the class, you are not permitted to attend. There are additional attendance requirements for veterans in Career Certificate programs and financial aid students.

Course Requirements

You are responsible for checking the admission requirements of limited admission programs. You are also responsible for knowing the prerequisites and/or corequisites of each course in which you plan to enroll (see Course Descriptions ). If you have not met all requirements, you will not be permitted to register for courses.

Course Load

Credit for work completed in college credit courses is shown as credit hours. One credit hour course generally meets one hour per week during the 16-week term. Generally, laboratory type courses are required to meet twice that length of time or number of hours.

If you are an unemployed full-time student, you could carry an academic load of 12 to 18 credit hours during fall and spring terms. The normal load is 6 to 8 credit hours during summer term. If you are employed or have other major responsibilities, you should enroll in fewer courses. Approval must be obtained from the vice president of student services to enroll in more than 18 credit hours in the fall or spring term, and 8 credit hours in summer term.

If your GPA is below 2.0, you should register for 12 or fewer credit hours. A counselor’s approval of your class schedule prior to registration is required.

Digital Badge

During the 2021 Florida Legislative Session, House Bill 1507 amended section (s.) 1007.25, Florida Statutes (F.S.) to require public postsecondary institutions to award students a nationally recognized digital badge upon completion of general education core courses that demonstrate career readiness, beginning with students who initially enter a postsecondary institution in fall 2022 for the 2022-2023 academic year. A student that earns a C or higher in ENC 1101 , in Fall 2022, or later, will be eligible to receive the “Fundamentals of Written Communication” digital badge.

Grading System

College and occupational credit students receive final grades at the end of each term. The College grades according to the following Grade Point Average (GPA) system:

The GPA is computed by adding the total quality points for all courses in a term and dividing by the total number of credits earned. For example: If you take 16 hours (five courses) during fall term and earn the following grades:

Divide 33 grade points by 16 credits = 2.062 GPA
 

Accelerated/Alternative Education

SFSC offers many programs to help you meet your individual educational goals and needs. The College also provides specialized services for business and industry.

SFSC provides a number of options to assist you in accelerating your program of study or gaining credit through alternative methods. A maximum of 45 credit hours may be earned toward graduation requirements through independent study, challenge exams, and other accelerated/alternative education mechanisms. (Writing and computation course requirements must be met.) These options include:

Advanced Placement Credit (AP) - is awarded upon submission of the AP test results from the College Entrance Examination Board with scores of 5, 4, or 3. (Send an official copy of AP scores to the Office of the Registrar.)

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) - You may earn college credit by scoring above minimum required levels on CLEP tests. No more than 6 credits can be transferred in each of the following areas: English, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social science - history.

You may receive credit for courses with a letter grade of S indicating satisfactory completion. Earned CLEP credits are not computed in GPAs. CLEP application fees and additional information are available in the Testing and Assessment Center.

International Baccalaureate (IB) - is a highly rigorous secondary program of study offered at high schools throughout the United States and globally that have chosen to be affiliated with the IB diploma program. Students participating in an IB diploma program are required to take courses in six subject areas: language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, and arts. Refer to the International Baccalaureate Equivalency Guide for more information at southflorida.edu/future-students/registrar/international-baccalaureate-ib.

Advanced Placement (AP) Credit-by-Exam Equivalencies

CLEP Examinations

*Eligible for use with Bright Futures Scholarship students

Minimum acceptable scores are subject to change without notice.

Credit Awarded for Armed Services Educational Experiences

In recognition of the advanced academic and technical content of many military education experiences, SFSC will grant credit for military education that has been evaluated and recommended as suitable for postsecondary credit by the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. After enrollment in the College, you may initiate the request for such credit by providing appropriate documentation as determined by the College. Recommendations in the ACE Guide are advisory in nature and are not binding upon the College.

Credit for Accelerated/Experience Learning

You may have gained knowledge and skills through life experiences which are equivalent to those taught in college courses. The academic advisor will assist you in identifying applicable knowledge and skills, assess the skills, and award credit as appropriate up to a maximum of 30 hours of college credit or half the length of the program, whichever is less, or 600 clock hours (20 occupational credits), or half the length of the program, whichever is less. All graduation requirements must be met. If a faculty evaluation is required, a fee will be assessed.

Only degree- and certificate-seeking students who are currently enrolled at SFSC are eligible to receive accelerated learning credit based on noncredit coursework or experience. A written request from the student, identifying the courses that are to be reviewed and the reason for credit consideration is required. An accelerated learning course fee for each course may be required prior to evaluation. The student must submit the request and documentation or materials for the determination of credit to the Office of the Registrar.

Directed Independent Study (DIS)

Directed Independent Study (DIS) courses are specially designed to allow you to pursue particular topics within a specific academic discipline under the guidance of a qualified instructor.

Special Independent Study (SIS)

Special Independent Study (SIS) is a way to complete an existing course through independent study under close supervision of a faculty member. A SIS is permitted when you are unable to register for a needed course because of documented reasons beyond your control, a course required for graduation is not offered, or a course was canceled due to insufficient enrollment, and you are in your last term before graduation.

If you wish to take a course (except for college developmental courses) by Directed or Special Independent Study (DIS)/(SIS), you must secure a request form from the Office of the Registrar and submit it to the appropriate chair and dean for approval. Upon approval, an instructor will be assigned.

The maximum number of hours allowed by independent study is 15 hours. Once properly documented, independent study status is begun only upon approval of the division dean, instructional supervisor, and the College instructor selected to supervise the study. The instructor specifies the requirements to be completed including tests, periodic class attendance, term papers, etc. The regular grading system applies to all Independent Study students. Grades earned by independent study have the same status as those acquired through regular class attendance. If you take a course through Independent Study, you must register for the specific course section in the regular manner.

Excess Hours

Section 1009.286, Florida Statutes (F.S.), establishes an “excess hour” surcharge equal to 100% of the tuition rate for a student seeking a baccalaureate degree at a state university. It is critical that students, including those entering Florida colleges, are aware of the potential for additional course fees. “Excess hours” are defined as hours that go beyond 110% of the hours required for a baccalaureate degree program. For example, if the length of the program is 120 credit hours, the student may be subject to an excess hour surcharge equal to 100% of the tuition rate for any credits attempted beyond 132 credit hours (120 x 110%).

Graduation Procedures for All Programs

If you are in anticipation of degree and/or program completion at the end of the term, you are to complete the following pre-graduation procedures:

The SFSC Commencement ceremonies are held in May and December of each year (see College Calendar). If you have completed graduation requirements in the fall or spring term, or have applied early for graduation for the summer term, you are invited to participate.

However, if you have applied for graduation, but have not completed all graduation requirements, you cannot be recognized for honors or high honors during the Commencement ceremony.

Money-Back Guarantee

Due to industry demand and strong confidence in our students, SFSC offers a refund for tuition paid for programs that serve high-demand professional fields to students not hired after meeting program and professional requirements.

Students eligible for the guarantee may receive a reimbursement of tuition based on the following formula: tuition assessed minus institutional scholarships or grants received. Please note: only tuition is included in this guarantee; any fees, other expenses, and/or charges are excluded.

A student is considered eligible if they are unable to obtain employment in the occupation in which the student was trained within six (6) months of successful completion of one of the following three workforce programs and obtained the associated licensure and/or certifications:

For more information or to enroll in the Money-Back Guarantee Program, please email SFSCStudentServices@southflorida.edu.

Eligibility Criteria:  

Incomplete I Grade

If you have participated throughout the term but are unable to complete all course requirements (such as a term paper, project or final exam) because of illness or other extenuating circumstances, you may request a grade of incomplete. If you receive an I grade, you should make arrangements to complete the work prior to the end of the next academic term. If you do not complete the assigned work, the grade is automatically changed to an F or to the grade assigned by the instructor. Incomplete grades in competency-based programs are governed by the appropriate departmental policies.

Schedule of Classes

The Schedule of Classes for each current term is available on the internet at southflorida.edu/current-students/class-schedules. SFSC offers a variety of courses at convenient times and locations. However, the College, at times, may be required to change or cancel a scheduled class. Changes are posted at all registration locations and online.

Student Classification

You are full-time college-credit student if you enroll in 12 or more hours of credit each term during the fall or spring term. You are a part-time student, if you register for fewer than 12 credits. Full-time enrollment during the summer term is considered to be 6 or more hours. NOTE: A total of 12 credit hours must be taken during the summer term to qualify as a full-time student for financial aid and veterans’ purposes.

You are a full-time career and adult education student, if you are enrolled in 480 contact hours during the fall and spring terms and 180 contact hours during summer term.

Standards of Academic Progress

Student Responsibilities

When you register at SFSC, you agree to accept the rules and regulations of the College (refer to the Student Handbook Student Rights and Responsibilities).

Veterans Educational Benefits Recipients

Standards of Progress for Veterans and Other Eligible Persons. If you receive veterans’ benefits, you must adhere to the following Standards of Progress. None of the following policies/procedures affect your right to attend SFSC. They pertain only to receiving U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational benefits. For more information, contact the Veteran School Certifying Official at 863-784-7128.

Attendance Standards - VA regulations require that attendance records be kept if you receive veteran’s benefits and are enrolled in programs not leading to a standard college degree. This includes all approved certificate and adult education programs. If you receive veteran’s benefits and accumulate three or more unexcused absences during any calendar month, you will have your VA educational benefits terminated. Three tardy days may count as one day of absence and two partial days absent may count as one day of absence. If you are terminated for excessive absences, you may be reinstated once during a given term upon written permission of the program director. Any further termination for the same reason will be considered unsatisfactory progress.

Academic Standards - The VA Regional Office is notified immediately whenever you receive a grade or grades of X, N, or W, and credit hours for benefit purposes are adjusted accordingly. These are considered non-punitive grades and unless extenuating circumstances prevail, you will be in over-payment for any benefits paid for such a course or courses from the first day of the term to the day the grade was assigned.

Program Length - You are certified VA and paid by the VA only for those courses required for their particular program of study. All degree programs are approved for a specific number of credit hours. You are not certified to the VA or paid by the VA for any courses above and beyond the approved length of the course. Career Certificate programs are measured in clock hours rather than credit hours, but the same rule applies.

Unsatisfactory Progress (VA Students) - When you fail to make satisfactory academic progress, the payment of VA educational benefits is suspended until the cause of the unsatisfactory progress has been removed, and your program of education is determined to be suited to your aptitudes, interests, and abilities.

Following the first term with a GPA below 2.0, you will receive a notice that you are on academic probation. If you have two or more consecutive terms with a GPA below 2.0 for each term, you will have educational benefits terminated for failure to maintain satisfactory progress.

You are cautioned that while you need to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 to continue receiving VA benefits, you must also achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 to graduate.

All courses attempted are used to compute the GPA. The GPA is computed by dividing the sum of the quality points by the total number of hours for that particular term. GPA computations are done three times each school year, following fall, spring, and summer terms. If you attend only one summer flex session, your GPA will be computed after that session.

Career Certificate Programs Attendance Standards

Federal regulations require that attendance records be kept if you receive federal funds. Vocational students earn aid by attending classes. Therefore, your attendance is crucial to continue receiving future aid.

Withdrawals

If you are registered for a course for the third time, you cannot withdraw or be withdrawn by an instructor with a grade of W. A letter grade must be assigned.

College Withdrawal - To officially withdraw from the College, you must complete a Withdrawal form and submit it to the Advising and Counseling Center. However, withdrawing from the College may not be the best or only solution for you.

SFSC advises that you discuss the situation with a counselor/advisor before beginning withdrawal procedures.

If you are enrolled in a third or fourth attempt of any course, you cannot withdraw. A grade must be assigned and will be included in the cumulative GPA.

Student Withdrawals (First and Second Attempts Only):

College Credit - If you enroll in college credit courses, you may drop any course with a full refund until the Drop with Refund Period ends and withdraw without a refund from your first or second attempt until the last day for withdrawal. (See College Calendar in the front section of this College Catalog.) If you withdraw from a developmental course, you must first consult a counselor/advisor. (See College Developmental Course Rule .)

NOTE: Failure to withdraw or withdrawals made after the voluntary withdrawal/drop date may result in a grade of F. Requests for withdrawal without grade penalty and/or refund after deadline must be in the form of a petition to the Academic Appeals Committee.

Occupational Credit - If you enroll in a certificate program (150-480 contact hours), you may drop a course with a full refund up to one week after your registration. You may withdraw from your first or second attempt in an occupational credit course at any time prior to the end of the course with the instructor’s approval without grade penalty. A withdrawal is counted as registration and only three registrations of any course are permitted except for the required lab courses that are repeatable.

NOTE: Failure to withdraw, or withdrawals without instructor approval, will result in an automatic grade of F. Requests for refund after the deadline must be in the form of a petition to the Academic Appeals Committee.

Withdrawal for Academic Reasons - An institutional withdrawal for academic reasons may be issued by your instructor up to the last date for withdrawal specified in the SFSC College Calendar. Exception: If you enroll in a college credit or developmental course for the third time, you may not be withdrawn. A grade must be assigned.

Drop for No-Show (NS) - If you do not attend classes during the MANDATORY ATTENDANCE PERIOD, you will be reported to the Office of the Registrar as a “NS” and will be dropped. If you enroll in an online class and you do not participate in the online class during the MANDATORY ATTENDANCE PERIOD, you may be reported as a “NS” and may be dropped.

Withdrawal for Lack of Attendance - Your instructor has the authority to withdraw you for lack of attendance up to the last date for withdrawal specified in the SFSC College Calendar provided it is not your third or fourth attempt in a college credit or developmental course. Attendance expectations should be clearly specified in the course syllabus and covered by the instructor during the first week of class in a format appropriate to the class (written, oral, electronic). College credit and clock hour programs differ in the amount of time you must attend in order not to be dropped from the class. The instructor may withdraw you for lack of attendance in the following ways:

1. If you do not attend classes during the MANDATORY ATTENDANCE PERIOD, you may be reported to the Office of the Registrar as a “NS.”
2. If you stop attending class after the last day to withdraw with a W, your instructor may award the grade of F prior to the end date of the class.
3. If you are taking Online (W), Hybrid (HB), or Hybrid-Flexible (HF) courses, the Educational Technology Department will be notified by the registrar to remove you with a grade of W or F and from access to the D2L Brightspace^® course(s).
4. If extenuating circumstances beyond your control occur after the withdrawal date, you may petition the Academic Appeals Committee to request a withdrawal from the class with a grade of W.

Student Directory Information

Federal regulations require each institution to determine directory information that may be released without the student’s consent, unless the student has specifically requested that some or all of the information not be released. SFSC has identified the following as directory information:

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

NOTE: Although SFSC has designated student directory information, it will appear only in SFSC-generated information such as the Commencement ceremony programs, SFSC publications, student IDs (ID Card), and news releases of awards. In addition, students’ names and addresses will be given to selected institutions of higher education for recruiting purposes and to branches of the U.S. military in accordance with federal guidelines.

Student ID Card

When requesting a new SFSC Student Photo ID, you must present one form of government issued photo identification (e.g., State Driver’s License, State Identification Card, or passport) at the time the ID card is made. You may obtain a Student ID Card at the Highlands Campus (Welcome Center, Building B), Hardee Campus, or DeSoto Campus. The initial card is FREE. If lost or stolen, you may obtain a replacement card for a fee. Returning students do not need to obtain a new Student ID.

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. Your unique student identification 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, IRC Section 25A, 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 1008.386, Florida Statutes (F.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: 20 U.S. Code, Section 1078; 20 Education Service Center Sections 1090, 1091 and 1092; Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Collection of SSNs of Students and Parents); and 34 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Section 668.16 (Administrative Use), Section 668.33 (Verify Residency), and Section 668.36 (Verify with 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.

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)

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 20 U.S. Code, Section 1232g and the regulations are found at 34 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Part 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 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 Educational Records

The College must:

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

When a student turns 18 years old or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, all rights afforded to you, as a 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 Records - 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 offender 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 College Resource Deputy 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, digitized photographs

SFSC reserves the right to provide additional information, such as street address and phone 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:
 

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901

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, phone 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-time or part-time).
• Transfer Credit Evaluation - A statement of all coursework and grades accepted from another postsecondary institution. Transcript evaluation summary is available through Panther Central.
• 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 “Students” tab from the main page and then select “order or Track a Transcript” and follow the instructions provided by National Student Clearinghouse. All you need to know is your name and Social Security Number (SSN).