Academic Information

Admissions Information and Policies

• Admission Policy
• Application Procedure
• Entrance Assessment
• Transfer Credit Policy
• VALOR Act Academic Credit Evaluation Policy (for military experience and coursework)
• CLEP, AP and Challenge Credit
• Academic Forgiveness (Fresh Start) Policy
• Dual Enrollment (College Now)
• 2+2 High School-to-College
• Immunization Policy
• Home Schooling Policy
  
• Out-of-State and International Students
• Technical Standards
• Change of Major Procedure

Financial Aid Information and Policies

• Eligibility
  
• Notification
  
• Financial Aid Withdrawal Policy
• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  

 Academic Advising

Disability Services

Registration Policies

• Registration Process
• Class Schedule
• Repetition of Courses
• Change In Class Schedule
• Auditing Classes
• Course Withdrawal
• College Withdrawal
• Students Called to Active Military Duty
• Online Education
• Directed Study
• Cross Registration: CCGS

Developmental Courses

• Developmental Courses (Non-College Level)
• Reading Placement Policy

Academic Progress

•  Academic Standing
• Unsatisfactory Progress

Grading Policies

• Grading System
• Grade Changes
• Incomplete Grades
• Mid-Semester Grades

Attendance and Tardiness

Department-Specific Academic Policies

 Assessment of Student Learning

Examinations

• Challenge Exams
• Final Examination and Assessment
• Make-Up Examinations
• Reading Days

Graduation Policies

• Candidate for Graduation
• Graduation Requirements
• Residency Requirements
• General Education Degree Requirements
• Non-Graduate Participation at Commencement

Recognition of Academic Achievement

• Dean’s List
• Commencement Honors
• Honors Certificate Program
• Commonwealth Honors Program
• Scholarships And Awards
• Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
• Alpha Beta Gamma Society

Transfer Information

• Joint Admission Agreements with Private Institutions
• MassTransfer Program with MA Public Institutions
• MassTransfer Block for MA Public Institutions

Student Records

• Student Information Privacy Policy
  
• Solomon Amendment
• USA Patriots Act
• Transcripts
  
• Replacement of Diploma
• Address or Name Change

The academic policies and procedures contained in this section are necessary reading for all students attending Springfield Technical Community College.

Admissions Information and Policies

Admission Policy

Springfield Technical Community College maintains an open-door admission policy. However, the rapidly increasing number of applicants and the requirements of competitive programs necessitate early application for admission. Applicants should consult the web page relating to their program of choice regarding any potential admissions deadline.

In addition, official transcripts from all colleges previously attended must be submitted to the College. Applications cannot be processed until all transcripts, and SAT1 scores if required, are received.

Application Procedure

Students desiring admission to the College may obtain an application by calling or writing to the Admissions Office, Springfield Technical Community College, One Armory Square, Springfield, MA 01105. They may also apply online at www.stcc.edu. Students attending high schools in the Greater Springfield area may expedite the application process by asking their guidance departments for an application form. Applications should be filled out completely and returned to the STCC Cashiers Office as soon as possible. This application must be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee in the amount of $10 for in-state students or $35 for all out-of-state or foreign students in check or money order payable to STCC. This is a required fee which goes directly into the General Fund of the Commonwealth. It is each applicants responsibility to ensure that an official transcript of his/her high school grades (or GED scores) is sent to the STCC Admissions Office. If an applicant has attended college in the past, official college transcripts should also be submitted.  All documents submitted become property of STCC and will not be returned.  The Admissions Office cannot accept the responsibility for obtaining transcripts.  

Entrance Assessment

STCC is committed to the academic success of all entering students. The college develops an Entrance Assessment Review to provide every student with proper advising and to promote retention. The Entrance Assessment Review is used to evaluate student competency in reading, writing, mathematics, and keyboard skills, and aids STCC students and advisors in planning an appropriate course of study. This testing is required before registering for classes. No credit is awarded on the basis of entrance assessments.

• All incoming students matriculating in degree, certificate, or certificate of completion programs will complete the entrance assessment before registering for classes. If the results reveal a need for a stronger foundation in vital academic skills, students will be directed to appropriate developmental courses and support services.
• Students whose reviews indicate a need to further develop skills in reading, writing, mathematics, or keyboard skills must complete appropriate developmental courses designated to prepare students to succeed in college-level programs. Completion of developmental coursework may extend the time required to complete a degree or certificate program.

Exemptions may apply to:

1. Students transferring equivalent college-level coursework into STCC from an accredited post-secondary institution; course transfer requires a grade of “C” or better.
2. Students having mathematics, English writing, reading or keyboard skills examination scores on STCC Entrance Assessment which are two years old or less.
3. Students who have completed coursework in English, reading, and mathematics at STCC, with a grade level of C or better.

Transfer Credit Policy

Courses taken at other accredited colleges and institutions may be transferable to STCC. Applicants should have copies of their official transcripts forwarded directly from previous institutions to the Admissions Office for transfer credit evaluation. Transfer credit is not reviewed or awarded until an applicant has been accepted into an academic program at STCC. Any applicant with a STCC academic or financial hold on their record will not have any action taken on their admissions application or transfer credit evaluation.

Applicants who have had previous college experience must submit all official college transcripts whether or not they are seeking transfer credit. All submitted transcripts become the property of STCC and will not be returned. In order to meet the residency requirements, a minimum of 15 credits must be taken at STCC to receive a degree. The remainder may be taken at other institutions. Please know that an applicant may be asked to provide a course description to clarify the content of a course before transfer credit can be considered. Only courses in which the student has earned a “C” grade or better, are similar in content to those required in the student’s program at STCC, and have been earned at a regionally accredited institution will be accepted. Please note that some academic programs require a higher earned grade than a C due to curriculum requirements. Some upper level or specialized courses may need to be reviewed by the applicants academic program chairperson in order to determine transfer credit eligibility.

Once college transfer credit, AP credit, Challenge credit or CLEP credit is awarded it cannot be removed from a student’s transcript at a later point.

Transfer applications are usually accepted for admission to the College in both September and January; however, the number of programs open for admission in January is limited. Contact the Admissions Office for further information.

Advanced Standing may also be granted to students who complete any of the following standardized tests:

For students who have recently taken developmental coursework in math at other western Massachusetts community colleges (Holyoke Community College, Greenfield Community College, and Berkshire Community College), it is currently the policy of STCC to consider successfully-completed developmental coursework when determining the placement of incoming STCC students.

Applicants who have successfully completed developmental math coursework from one of the above institutions should have copies of their official transcripts forwarded directly from that institution to the STCC Admissions Office for evaluation (transcripts are generally not reviewed until an applicant has been accepted into an academic program at STCC). Only developmental math courses taken at the above institutions no more than two years prior to transfer and for which a grade of C or better was received will be used to determine math placement at STCC. (For example, a student who has successfully completed a course equivalent to Algebra I will be placed into the Algebra II level at STCC).

The developmental coursework from the previous institution will be used only for placement purposes and will not appear as Transfer credit on the STCC transcript. The final decision of determining math placement based on previously-completed math coursework will rest with the STCC Admissions Office.

VALOR Act Academic Credit Evaluation Policy (for military experience and coursework)

Applicants with previous military experience or coursework seeking transfer credit should supply the Admissions Office with related documentation. Awarding of credit for military training, coursework and experience is evaluated via the American Council of Education Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services or by CLEP testing. Credits would need to be required within a student’s academic program in order to be awarded. The campus contact person for information about the VALOR Act Academic Credit Evaluation Policy is Michael Rossi in the Admissions Office (who may be contacted at 413-755-4412 or at mrossi@stcc.edu)

CLEP, AP and Challenge Credit

The College may award up to 45 credits to persons who successfully complete examinations in specific subject areas given at the College under the aegis of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or a series of Challenge Exams developed by the College.

The CLEP subject examinations cover a wide range of disciplines and allow applicants to demonstrate proficiency in areas where they have acquired knowledge through non-traditional learning situations. Credits earned through CLEP examinations allow the College to waive introductory courses which the student would normally be required to take. CLEP credits will be awarded by STCC if and only if the student is currently registered in a degree or certificate program at STCC.

The College has produced challenge examinations in subject-matter areas not found in the CLEP battery so that people who wish to demonstrate competence in specialized areas may do so. Students who feel that they possess above average competence in a subject area should not hesitate to consult the STCC Testing Coordinator at 755-4689 for further information, consultation and testing. CLEP and Challenge credits cannot be used to replace or improve a grade already on a student’s transcript. Only students enrolled in degree or certificate programs at STCC are eligible to take Challenge Exams.  More information about CLEP exams can be found here.

High scores on the Advanced Placement Examination of the College Entrance Examination Board will be evaluated by Admissions. Specific scores as approved by the College may allow the student applicant to be exempted from certain courses.

Academic Forgiveness (Fresh Start) Policy

Intended to address the needs of students who have had serious academic difficulties, the Fresh Start policy allows students a one-time opportunity to have unsatisfactory grades removed from their official academic record. Only students returning to STCC in a degree or certificate program after a separation from the College of two or more years with a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 are eligible to apply for Fresh Start. Students who have previously earned a certificate or degree from STCC will not be eligible for Fresh Start consideration.

Students must apply for Fresh Start status through the Admissions Office within 12 months of their return to the College. The Dean of Admissions will determine eligibility. If approved, all previous unsatisfactory grades (and associated credits) will be excluded from the student’s official transcript from that point forward. Previous courses (including developmental courses) in which a grade of C or better was earned will remain on the student’s official transcript. Such courses will be indicated with a grade of TS on the student’s transcript, and will not be calculated into the student’s QPA, but may be used to meet prerequisite and curricular requirements.

Fresh Start status does not apply to financial aid eligibility. Financial aid recipients must be making satisfactory progress towards their degree or certificate, and their complete academic history will be reviewed when determining eligibility for aid. Likewise, outstanding financial obligations incurred by the student prior to his/her Fresh Start approval remain the responsibility of the student.  Once a request for Fresh Start is approved, the academic record will be changed accordingly, and these changes cannot be reversed.

FreshStartForm 

Dual Enrollment (College Now)

Eligible high school seniors may enroll in one STCC credit course each semester free of charge. STCC will waive tuition and fees. Students will pay for books, supplies, and must provide their own transportation. Students may take any credit course for which they meet the pre-requisites including day, evening, weekend and on-line offerings. Courses taken must be applicable to the high school diploma. Developmental/remedial or non-credit courses may not be taken. A course can be taken in the summer, fall or spring following the completion of the junior year of high school.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Students must be Massachusetts residents.
• Signature of high school guidance counselor or other official designated by the school system is required as indicated on the participation application.
• A parent or guardian signature is required for students under age 18.
• Students must meet all course prerequisites including, if necessary, the appropriate STCC assessment test prior to registering for the course. Students will be informed during the advising/registration appointment if an assessment test is required.

Procedures:

• Participation forms will be available in the Guidance Offices at each high school (or can be found online) and will require the signature of a guidance counselor or other official designated by the school system to verify current enrollment as a senior in good academic standing.
• High school participants may register for courses according to the regular registration calendar for all new STCC students. (see STCC website for dates)
• After completing the required participation forms with their high school guidance counselor, or other official designated by the school system, a student will meet with an STCC Admissions staff member who will advise and register the student.
• While at STCC, participating students are subject to College policies and procedures.
• Students are responsible for the cost of books and supplies.
• Students must provide their own transportation to and from STCC.
• Information on how to obtain a -free parking decal, or a free PVTA bus pass is available at www.stcc.edu. Click on “Student Services”, then click on “Campus Police”, then click on either “Vehicle Registration” for instructions on obtaining a parking decal or click on “Parking/Transportation” for instructions on obtaining a PVTA bus pass.
• The College reserves the right to cancel courses for administrative reasons.

Enrollment Form

2+2 Articulation

Staff at STCC work closely with high school faculty and guidance counselors to provide a smooth transition for students into their postsecondary program choices. In addition, many students may be able to receive college credit for some of their high school courses under terms of 2+2 articulation agreements between the college and the high school.

Immunization Policy

Chapter 76, section 1SC of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS TAKING 12 CREDITS OR MORE, ALL STUDENTS IN A HEALTH FIELD, AND ALL STUDENTS ON A VISA must present a medical certificate indicating that they are immune to measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, and hepatitis B in order to register for classes.

Any combination of three or more doses of DPT, DT, Td, is acceptable provided the last dose was administered within ten years. If not previously immunized, three doses are required. The time interval between the first and second doses is two months, with a third dose a year later.

Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccine is required if immunity is lacking for any one of these diseases. If vaccine is not given, TITRE must be done to prove immunity. Documented proof of MMR must be after January 1, 1966 for Massachusetts students, and after January 1, 1968 for non-Massachusetts students. Having had rubella, measles, or mumps disease does not prove immunity. It is required that all entering full-time college students should have TWO doses of live measles vaccine or a repeat MMR, the first dose being after 12 months of age.

Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine or proof of immune titre is needed to fulfill the hepatitis B requirement.

All students in the School of Health must be immunized against varicella or show proof of immune titre.

In addition, students in Health are required to submit documentation of a current Tuberculin Mantoux test. NOTE: If Mantoux test is (or has been) positive, a chest x-ray is required. Other tests may be required by clinical affiliations. All immunization requirements must be met for ENTRY or continuation in any clinical component.

Home Schooling Policy

All home-schooled students without a high school diploma or GED are eligible to apply for admission to a degree or certificate program provided they have successfully completed an approved home school program in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, or the laws of their home state. If a home-schooled student has not completed an approved home school program, then the student will not be eligible to enroll in a degree or certificate program. Such students are encourage to take and pass the GED exam.

To determine whether a student has participated in an approved home school program, the student shall submit, with the application for admission, evidence that the home school program was approved by the students school district’s superintendent or school committee. Additionally, if the home-schooled student is under the age of compulsory attendance, which is 16 years old in Massachusetts, a letter from the students school districts superintendent or school committee is required, stating that the student is not considered truant and would not be required to attend further schooling or continue to be home-schooled if the student has completed his or her home school program before the age of 16.

The college reserves the right to limit or deny enrollment of any student under the age of 16 in a course or program based on a case-by-case consideration of a variety of factors, including but not limited to: the students maturity, life experience, placement test scores, prior education, course content, instructional methodology, and potential risks associated with participation in a particular course or program.

Out of State and International Students

Because of the lengthened processing time, out-of-state residents, as well as all non-United States residents, must have all application materials complete and on file with the STCC Admissions Office prior to June 1 in order to be considered for admission to the fall semester (November 1 for admission to the spring semester).

Prospective students who come from a country where the primary language is not English must submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.  STCC requires a score of 525 or higher on the paper-based test or, a score of 80 or higher on the internet-based test.

Technical Standards

The School of Health and Patient and Simulation and the School of Engineering Technologies have established a set of specific technical standards which are required in the profession and which are necessary in order to affiliate in the clinical agencies and ultimately practice in the profession. It should be noted that under the Americans With Disabilities Act, “A qualified person with a disability is one who can perform the essential function of a job with or without reasonable accommodation.”

The technical standards are not conditions of admission to a program of study. They reflect performance abilities that are necessary for a student to successfully complete the requirements of specified programs.

Prior to enrollment within these schools, each student will be required to sign and return a form indicating that he or she has read and understands the technical standards established for the specific program in which he or she is enrolling.

Change of Major

Students wishing to change their program or department should obtain an Intra-College Transfer application from the Admissions Office. Consultation with the faculty advisor, an admissions counselor, or the career counselor is recommended to ensure that prerequisites for admission to the new program have been satisfied, before submitting the application to the Admissions Office. 

A program change is defined as a change of major or department and, though permissible under certain guidelines, should be undertaken only with considerable thought and counsel. Students who are seriously considering a program change should seek immediate advice from their faculty advisor or a counselor. An Intra-College Transfer application must be filed through the Admissions Office to apply for a change of major or program. Students are advised to study carefully special requirements that are established by the program into which they seek admission. Some programs of the College require specific minimum scores to be achieved by the applicant on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT1) of the College Entrance Examination Board or certain prerequisites are met. It should be noted that as a result of changes in a program, a student may find that his or her graduation may be postponed.

Financial Aid Information and Policies

Financial Aid is available for students who need assistance with paying for their college education. Each year, students are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  They can apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The STCC Federal School Code is 005549.  For assistance with completing the FAFSA, please visit the Financial Aid website for a list of available resources at: http://www.stcc.edu/finaid/HelpfulHints.

 The priority deadline for the Fall semester is May 1st.  Students are encouraged to complete the financial aid process as soon as possible so they can be awarded prior to the start of the semester.

For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office at (413) 755-4214 or finaid@stcc.edu.

Eligibility:

 In determining financial aid eligibility, the Financial Aid Office evaluates the cost of attending STCC (such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation, and other general living expenses). Financial aid is determined by a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is calculated based on the FAFSA, as well as the availability of funds at the college. Some students may be eligible only for loans.  Additional eligibility requirements can be viewed at:  http://www.stcc.edu/finaid/eligibility.asp. 

Notification:

 Students will be notified once their financial aid file has been reviewed.  If they are eligible for financial aid they will receive a notification directing them to WebAdvisor to view the Financial Aid Award Letter indicating the type and amount of financial aid offered.  These awards are based on full time enrollment (12 or more credits).  If students enroll for fewer than 12 credits, their awards will be adjusted when their enrollment status is certified by the Registrar’s Office (after the end of add/drop). The STCC email account should be checked for regular updates from the Financial Aid Office as some communications (such as Bookstore Voucher notifications) will be sent exclusively through this method.

Financial Aid Withdrawal Policy:

 If a student withdraws from the college or unofficially stops attending classes, he or she may not be eligible for all of the aid awarded.  Federal law specifies that the school must determine how much aid was earned up to the time that a student stopped attending classes.  If a student received more aid than earned, the excess funds must be returned to the appropriate agencies and may result in an outstanding tuition bill.  While attendance is not mandatory, non-completion of courses may impact any financial aid received.  Additional information about withdrawing from the College can be viewed at: http://www.stcc.edu/finaid/withdrawingRefunds.asp

Satisfactory Academic Policy (SAP):

The following Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is in compliance with federal regulations issued July 1, 2011.

The mission of the U.S. Department of Education is to assist students who are academically progressing towards their goal of attaining a degree or certificate.  To assure this goal is met, the U.S. Department of Education requires colleges to determine whether financial aid is being utilized in the most effective way.  It is the responsibility of the STCC Financial Aid Office to monitor each financial aid applicant’s academic work and to confirm the student’s academic success and continued financial aid eligibility or to determine if a student is not academically progressing toward the goal of degree attainment.  This also includes credits not paid for by financial aid.

Note: If a student is suspended from the college, this issue must be resolved first before financial aid will review an appeal.  Academic standing is administered through the Student Success Center.  The phone number is (413) 755-4715. To view the Academic Standing Policy please go here.  This policy for financial aid purposes is more restrictive than the institution’s academic standing policy.

Requirements

• Rate of Completion (Passing Percentage):
  Students must successfully pass at least 66.66% of all credits attempted.
  • Transfer credits, ESL, and remedial coursework are included in the passing percentage calculation.
  • Only grades of A, B, C, and D are considered successful completion in the percentage calculation.
  • Grades of W, F or I (incomplete) would adversely affect a student’s rate of completion.

Example: The total number of credits attempted is 48 credits.  You must successfully complete at least 32 credits  (48 credits X 66.66% = 32 credits)

• Cumulative grade point average:
  Students are expected to maintain the following minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) for financial aid purposes:
   

All courses attempted with earned grades of A, B, C, D, and F are included in the GPA calculation (see additional information for treatment of fresh start, incompletes, and repeated grades).

• Maximum Time Frame (Length of time):
  Students must complete their program in less than 150% of the published length of the educational program.  Students who do not complete their program within this time frame are no longer eligible to receive financial aid.
  In addition, the following apply:

Example: Liberal Arts Transfer (LTTR) is a 60-credit program.  You cannot attempt more than 90 credits (60 credits X 150% = 90 credits)  In order to maintain an acceptable pace of completion, students should be completing at least 66.66% of their attempted credits in order to complete their program of study prior to the 150% point.
PLEASE NOTE:  Students who have graduated from STCC or have exceeded 150% of their current program may not be eligible for financial aid if only taking pre-requisites for a prospective program.

SAP Review and Appeal Process

• SAP is evaluated annually, at the end of each Spring semester. (With the exception of certificate programs and students on probation in which cases SAP is run at the end of each term of enrollment).
• If a student has reached 110% of their program length, they will be sent an alert notifying them that they are approaching the maximum length of time for financial aid eligibility.  The student is still eligible to receive financial aid at this point in time.
• Failure to meet SAP standards will result in unsatisfactory academic progress; the student will be notified.
• If a student has extenuating circumstances, they have a right to appeal (in writing) explaining why they didn’t make satisfactory progress.  Examples of extenuating circumstances include medical, personal, or family problems, change of major, or military service. Please attach appropriate documentation of support.
• If a student’s appeal is approved, they may be placed on probation for the next semester with the following condition; that the student must make satisfactory academic progress or meet the conditions of probation.  Failure to meet this condition will result in unsatisfactory academic progress.
• At the discretion of the Financial Aid Office, the student may be placed on probation with an academic plan.  If a student is placed on an academic plan, additional requirements will be outlined for students on a case-by-case basis.
• The student will be notified once their appeal is reviewed. Turn around time is approximately 2 weeks; however, due to the limited time between semesters students may not receive notification prior to the start of the following semester. . The student must make their own financial arrangements to pay their bill.
• If a student is currently receiving financial aid or their application is being reviewed, their application and/or aid will be placed on hold until a decision is made on their appeal.  If the student has a tuition bill for the following semester, they must make their own payment arrangements.
• If an appeal is denied, the student must take classes at their own expense.  The student must demonstrate they can successfully complete classes as guided by the Financial Aid Office.  Course work taken at other colleges will not be considered for reinstatement purposes.

Additional Information

• FRESH START: The Financial Aid Office follows the college policy and will recognize your Fresh Start status.  Courses accepted under this forgiveness clause will not be included in the cumulative GPA or rate of completion calculations, but are counted toward total credits attempted.
• INCOMPLETES: If your SAP status was unsatisfactory in part due to an Incomplete Grade, please contact the Financial Aid Office immediately upon receiving your grade change.  We will recalculate your SAP based on the grade change.
• REPEATED COURSES: The SAP policy will follow the college policy on repeated courses.  Students may repeat a course.  Please refer to the STCC academic policy to determine which letter grade will be used.  All repeated courses are included in attempted courses.

Academic Advising

In keeping with the College’s commitment to the success of its students, academic advising services are offered to all students. Critical to academic success, academic advising is a shared process between student and advisor that emphasizes the clarification and achievement of the student’s academic goals.

All students accepted into a degree or certificate program at the College have access to an academic advisor, who is a member of the faculty or professional staff. Students who have identified a field of study are typically assigned to advisors who have expertise in the students’ field of interest, while students who are unsure about their goals are assigned to advisors who can help them define what these goals may be. Academic advisors assist students with academic decisions and serve as a source of information and support to their advisees. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this resource, while understanding that academic and career decisions are ultimately their own responsibility.

Students are notified of their advisor’s name and location soon after classes begin. During every semester, students accepted into a degree or certificate program will be assigned to one of the following for academic advising:

• A specific Advisor
• Their Department of Study
• The Academic Advising Department

Assigned Advisor information can be found in the “My Profile” section of the Academic Profile Menu in WebAdvisor. Please note that many academic transactions require the advisor’s intervention, including a signature for course withdrawals, access to course registration, and applications for graduation. For additional advising information and resources, please visit http://www.stcc.edu/academicadvising/.

Students who are interested in applying to the College and/or have questions about transferring to STCC should contact the Office of Admissions at 413-755-3333 or admissions@stcc.edu.

Disability Services

The Office of Disability Services (ODS) is the central contact point for STCC students with documented disabilities. The goal of ODS is to ensure that STCC programs and services are accessible to qualified students with disabilities. ODS works with faculty and other members of the campus community to provide individualized academic accommodations and support services while promoting student responsibility and self-advocacy. It is the student’s responsibility to make known a need for academic accommodations and services by providing appropriate documentation of the disability to ODS, formally requesting accommodations by  meeting with an ODS accommodations or learning specialist, and by presenting an official ODS accommodation form to each of his or her professors every semester. Guidelines for documentation can be downloaded at http://www.stcc.edu/ods/documentation.asp

For more information about services for students with disabilities, visit http://www.stcc.edu/ods/ or call (413) 755-4474 (voice) or (413) 746-0079(TTY). ODS offices are located in Building 27 on the 2nd floor and are open Monday through Friday from 8am - 4pm.

Registration Information and Policies

Registration Process

Returning students may begin registering for the spring semester during the priority registration period in November, and for the summer and fall semesters in April of each year. After meeting with advisors to discuss course selection, returning students may register for courses online using their individual Web Advisor accounts. It is the student’s responsibility to seek out information concerning departmental course requirements prior to registration. This may be done with the assistance of the faculty advisor, or department chairperson. Returning students are expected to pay their bills and complete the registration process prior to the start of classes.

New students will be sent information regarding registration with their acceptance letter.

Students wishing to change their schedules may do so through the first week of classes. Admittance to a course at this time is, however, dependent upon the seats available.

Class Schedule

A class schedule is published each year along with the academic calendar.

In the majority of cases, with the exception of Directed Study courses, three-credit courses meet three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and are of 50 minutes duration, or are 75 minutes long and meet twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday. Specific times on Tuesdays and Thursdays are reserved as college hours, when meetings and co-curricular activities can occur. Exceptions may be found in career curricula and other special programs.

Repetition of Courses

A student who receives an unsatisfactory grade in a course may repeat the course a maximum of two times unless the departmental guidelines stipulate a fewer number. All grades will appear on the transcript, but only the last grade will be used in calculating the quality point average.

For financial aid purposes, there is a limit to the number of times that students can repeat coursework. A student may repeat a previously passed course one time in an attempt to receive a better grade. A course that was previously not passed may be repeated up to two times.

Change In Class Schedule

Students are permitted to add and drop courses (subject to the approval of faculty advisors) prior to the start of the semester and during the add/drop period without penalty.

Auditing Classes

Students may attend certain classes as auditors (i.e., without receiving credit) under the following conditions:

1. Permission must be obtained from the advisor and/or instructor and submitted to the Registrar during the registration period, no later than the last day of Add/Drop.
2. All established charges for the course must be paid.
3. Priority in registration will be given to students who are registering in the course for credit.
4. Audit courses will be reflected on students’ permanent records as AU.
    

Course Withdrawal

Students may withdraw from a course after the Add/Drop period by submitting a Withdrawal Form, with signatures of the instructor and advisor, to the Registrar’s Office. A final course grade of “W” will be recorded on the student’s transcript and will not be calculated into the GPA. Students should refer to the Academic Calendar for the semester deadline date for filing a withdrawal. Information regarding the STCC refund policy is available from the Student Accounts Office.

College Withdrawal

Students wishing to officially withdraw from the College during the semester must submit a Withdrawal Form to the Registrar’s Office. Final course grades of “WX” will be recorded on the student’s transcript and will not be calculated into the GPA. Students should refer to the Academic Calendar for the semester deadline date for filing a withdrawal. Information regarding the STCC refund policy is available from the Student Accounts Office.

Students Called To Active Military Duty

1. Students who are unable to complete a semester because they are called to active United States military duty shall, upon verification, be granted the option of a refund or credit of tuition and campus fees. The refund policy for health fees is subject to the concurrence of the institution’s insurance carrier.
2. Students shall receive non-punitive withdrawals in all courses from which they are required to withdraw.
3. Verification shall be provided by furnishing the Veteran’s Affairs Officer (located in the Student Accounts Office) with a copy of the Orders to Active Duty within one week (seven days) of receipt of the order. If the Orders are not in writing, the student may sign an affidavit attesting to such Orders, which includes an address, or telephone number where the institution can verify the Orders, and furnish the affidavit within one week (seven days) of the receipt of the Orders.
4. The institution’s President may waive or suspend any institutional policy or regulation that negatively impacts students in their withdrawal or subsequent readmission to the institution due to a call to active duty.
5. The institution, upon receiving the students’ Orders will file mitigating circumstances forms with external federal agencies (for example, Veterans Regional Office) in an attempt to prevent overpayment charges being made to the student.
6. Any student required to withdraw due to being called to active duty shall be given priority in enrollment in the program of his or her choice upon return to the institution for the two semesters immediately following his or her discharge from active duty.

Online Education

Online learning courses are subject to the same policies and processes as all other courses.

Online courses, offered completely via the Web, are a very popular option at STCC. Developed and taught by STCC faculty, the courses offer a learning “any time, any place” convenience. Online courses contain the same content as the on-site courses; the information is simply presented differently. These courses fulfill requirements for elective and general education courses in many STCC associate degree programs. The courses required for the associate degree program in liberal arts/general studies are available as online courses; a general business certificate can be obtained by taking online courses. Additional online course offerings are being developed on a continuous basis. Check here or with the Dean of Continuing Education and Online Learning or the Registrar’s Office for current offerings.

Directed Study

A directed study is an independent study of variable credit conducted during the academic semester by arrangement between the student and the faculty member. A contract is developed between the faculty member and the student usually in an advanced area of study not currently covered by an existing course offered at the College. Directed Studies are 900 level courses and carry the title of “Directed Study in…” and the name of the academic department offering the course. Contract forms are available in the Registrar’s Office. Students register for this course in the usual fashion but a copy of the fully executed contract must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the last day of the add/drop period for the semester. Contracts are kept on file in the Registrar’s Office and may be sent upon request, with official transcripts.

Cross Registration: CCGS

The Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield is an educational consortium composed of the eight public and private colleges in the Greater Springfield area: American International College, Bay Path College, Elms College, Holyoke Community College, Springfield College, Springfield Technical Community College, Western New England College, and Westfield State College. Founded in 1971, the organization fosters the sharing of programs, talents, and facilities, to bring to this area the educational resources of a university while retaining the initiative and vitality of independent institutions.  Cross Registration has been established so that in each semester or term, any CCGS student attempting at least six semester hours in a degree program in the day division may enroll at another college for any regular term course in the day division that is not offered at his or her own institution, as long as the desired course is not over subscribed. This cross registration policy does not apply to continuing education (evening, weekend, summer, and online) courses at STCC. The last day for CCGS students to register is the last day of add/drop. The student is billed by his or home institution. Study at the host institution is scheduled as part of the student’s normal credit load, and all records for such academic achievement are kept by the registrar of the student’s home college. Grades earned in CCGS exchange courses will be reflected on the transcript of the home institution and calculated into the QPA.

Developmental Courses

Developmental Courses (Non-College Level)

STCC offers courses that aid students with deficiencies in specific subject areas. These courses, with course numbers below 100, are intended to raise the student’s skill to college-level. The following policy applies:

• Academic credit will be awarded for developmental courses, but will not count toward graduation credit.
• Developmental courses shall not be calculated into a student’s quality point average on a semester basis, and will not be calculated into a student’s cumulative QPA. However, these courses are calculated along with college-level credit to determine academic standing.
• All developmental courses shall appear on students’ transcripts.

Be sure that you consult your academic advisor to see which of your courses are developmental.

Reading Placement Policy

 Reading I students: Students who place below 50 on the reading placement portion of the Accuplacer Computerized Placement Test (CPT) must successfully complete two courses: Reading I (DRDG-091 ) and Reading II (DRDG-092 ).

Reading I Students Testing out of Reading II: After having successfully completed Reading I (DRDG-091 ), students who score 68 or above on the Accuplacer CPT are exempt from having to take Reading II (DRDG-092 ). In the past few semesters, 25% of students have tested 68 or above, and have been exempted from DRDG-092 .

Reading II Students: Students who place between 51-67 on the CPT and who also place into DWRT-099  on the writing placement test must successfully complete Reading II (DRDG-092 ).

Academic Progress

Academic Standing

Students must maintain a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade point average in all Springfield Technical Community College course work in order to be eligible for graduation from STCC.

NOTE: Incomplete, Withdrawal, and Failure grades are counted as courses at­tempted, but Incompletes and Withdrawals are not factored into the quality point average. Non-graduation credits, from developmental courses which are designated by course numbers beginning with 0 as in DWRT 099 , are not transferable and are not averaged into the graduation cumulative quality point average. However, these credits ARE averaged when calculating Academic Standing.

NOTE: A student may be suspended without having previously been placed on probation if the cumulative average falls below 1.0. 

Required Quality Point Average
The quality point average required to maintain good academic standing is:

A minimum of 1.5 cumulative average for students who have attempted between 12 and 26 credits at Springfield Technical Community College.
A minimum of 1.7 cumulative average for students who have attempted between 27 and 41 credits at Springfield Technical Community College.
A minimum of 1.9 cumulative average for students who have attempted between 42 and 59 credits at Springfield Technical Community College.
A minimum of 2.0 cumulative average for students who have attempted 60 or more credits at Springfield Technical Community College.

Probation and Suspension Students who do not meet the above requirements will be placed on academic probation.
After one semester of probation, a student will be:

Suspended unless the cumulative quality point average is raised to that required for good standing (i.e., 1.7 for 27 hours, 1.9 for 42 hours, 2.0 for 60 hours or more), or
Continued on probation if the semester quality point average is 2.25 or above but the overall cumulative point average remains below the minimum required to remain in good standing, or
Removed from probation if the cumulative point average is raised to or above that required to maintain good academic standing.

Suspension Appeal Process
The Student Success Center staff processes the follow up of the Academic Standing policy and questions may be addressed to the director or designee.

Students who have been placed on Academic Suspension may appeal that suspension in writing in the Student Success Center prior to the start of classes.
Upon review of the appeal the request may be:
Granted subject to participation in the Student Action Program (which involves regular follow up with an Academic Counselor in the Student Success Center) and compliance with their recommendations.
Denied based on failure in the past to comply with the provisions of the Student Action Program and/or the semester QPA falls below a 1.0. Students may re-appeal after a separation from the College for a minimum of one semester.

Unsatisfactory Progress

If you are not doing well in a class or program at STCC, check with your instructor early in the semester to find out how you can improve your work. If you are still unable to perform satisfactorily according to your instructor’s expectations for the course, contact your academic advisor as soon as possible. If you are unable to contact your advisor, or do not know who your academic advisor is, visit the Student Success Center to look up your advisor’s name and contact information. Tutors are available in many subjects and can be accessed in the Student Success Center (Building 27/1st floor), the Math Center (17/425), the Writing Center (13/1st floor) and in individual departments. You are reminded that as long as you are registered in a class, you must make satisfactory progress. The college provides a date each semester in which you can withdraw from a course without penalty. To withdraw from the course, you will need to go to the Registrar’s Office, Bldg. 15, 1st floor for the appropriate paperwork.

Grading Policies

Grading System

* Non-credit courses are not figured into the Quality Point Average.

Grade Changes

Final grades may be changed with written request from the instructor of the course and with written approval of the Academic Dean. Grade Change requests must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office and are limited to courses completed two years or less from the date of the request. Final grades may not be changed to a withdrawn status of “W.”

Upon graduation from the College, a student’s academic record may not be altered.

Incomplete Grades

The grade of Incomplete (I) indicates that a major requirement of the course has not been completed. The following policy applies:

• The Incomplete grade is a temporary grade reserved for those special circumstances when a student, otherwise in good standing in a course, is unable to satisfy all course requirements by the end of the semester.
• The Incomplete grade is appropriate when the student is likely to complete the missing work by the end of the fourth week of the subsequent semester.
• Upon completion of the work, the instructor will change the “I” to a permanent grade; otherwise, the incomplete “I” will change to an “F” four weeks after the beginning of the next regular academic semester.

Mid-Semester Grades

At mid-semester, students will be graded by each of their professors. These grades will be recorded by the Registrar and forwarded to each student’s advisor during registration. These grades will not become part of a student’s permanent record but are used to indicate his/her performance through the first half of the semester.

Attendance/Tardiness and Absences

As part of their responsibilities as learners, students are expected to report to class on time, and to attend classes regularly.  If a student will be absent from class, the student should contact the professor directly to notify him or her of the absence.  If a student cannot reach his or her instructor(s) and has been absent for three or more consecutive days, the student can contact the Dean of Student Affairs Office to have an email sent to the professors alerting them of the absence.  Please note that notifying the Dean of Student Affairs Office does not excuse an absence, but rather serves to communicate to your professor(s) the reason for, and expected duration of, the student’s absence.

Individual members of the college faculty set their own classroom attendance policies, which can be found on the course syllabi, and faculty have the right to withdraw students who fail to comply with their attendance policies.  Alternatively, the Registrar of the College may administratively withdraw students for excessive absences if, at midterm of a Fall or Spring semester, a failing midterm grade is reported and the faculty member also reports that the student has not attended classes since the end of the fifth week of the semester.

Absence due to Religious Belief: Any student in an educational or vocational training institution who is unable because of his/her religious beliefs to attend class or to participate in any examination, study or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination or study or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study or work requirement that he/she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such a makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden on such school.  The institution for making available to the said student such opportunity shall charge no fees of any kind.  No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to the student because of his/her availing himself/herself of the provisions of this section. Section 2B, Chapter 151C, Massachusetts General Law.

Department-Specific Academic Policies

Assessment of Student Learning

Springfield Technical Community College is committed to the achievement of excellence in teaching and learning as we prepare students for success in academic transfer, careers, and lifelong-learning.  The College regularly engages in the assessment of course, program, service, and institution-level learning and success outcomes in order to ensure the continuous improvement of curricula, programs, and services offered by the College and for accreditation purposes.  Students may be asked to participate in assessment activities such as focus groups, surveys, and interviews.  Additionally, student coursework such as written assignments, exams, projects, and presentations may be used for the purposes of assessment and improvement.  Assessment-related data are confidential, analyzed in a method that is separate and distinct from course grades, and presented in aggregate form only.

Examinations

Challenge Exams

Students who wish to demonstrate proficiency in a course may take a Challenge Exam. The College has produced Challenge Examinations in subject-matter areas not found in the CLEP battery so that people who wish to demonstrate competence in specialized areas may do so. For more information, call the Coordinator of the Testing Center at 755-4709.

Final Examination and Assessment

The college provides for a final examination period at the end of each semester. This two or three hour period is considered part of the semester and is included in the calculation of total class hours for the semester. The use of the final examination period is mandatory, however, its nature and content is up to the discretion of the individual Instructor. The final examination schedule is prepared by the Registrar’s Office and is posted at the beginning of each semester. Students who are scheduled for more than two final examinations on one day may make alternate arrangements with their instructors. Any alteration of the final examination schedule must be approved in advance by the appropriate Academic Dean who will forward approved changes to the Registrar’s Office.  Check here for the current semester’s final exam schedule.

Make-Up Examinations

A student failing to take a semester examination may apply in writing to the appropriate academic dean and the instructor concerned, and, subsequently, the Vice President of Academic Affairs, who may give permission to take a make-up examination. If, in their opinion, absence from the regularly scheduled examination was unavoidable, the student may take a make-up examination upon payment of a $5 fee.

If the student’s absence is due to his/her religious beliefs, then the following legislation will apply-Section 28, Chapter 1S1C, Mass. General Laws

Any student in an educational or vocational training institution, who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such examination or study or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study, or work requirement that he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreason­able burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section.

Reading Days

Reading Day(s) for day classes are designated on the Academic Calendar each semester after the last scheduled day of classes. The primary purpose of these day(s) is to provide students with an opportunity to prepare for final examinations. The number of designated reading days each semester varies. Reading days cannot be used for official class meeting time unless designated as snow make-up days. Additionally, Reading Days cannot be used to administer Final Examinations or conduct other formal classroom activities.

Graduation Policies

Candidate for Graduation

A Candidate for Graduation is a student who has completed or is reasonably expected to complete all graduation requirements by the end of the semester in which they have petitioned the college to graduate. This will include students who are currently enrolled in courses at STCC, have scheduled a CLEP or Challenge exam that will be taken by semester’s end, or are currently enrolled at another institution in a course or courses that will complete by the STCC semester end date and will be accepted as transfer credit to satisfy degree requirements at STCC. Courses not yet accepted as transfer credit at STCC at the time the student is petitioning the college to graduate, must have prior approval from the student’s academic department chairperson and the Dean of Admissions to be considered a Candidate for Graduation. A Candidate for Graduation can include a student whose GPA is below the minimum 2.0 required for graduation but is currently registered in courses at STCC that could potentially improve the GPA to the required minimum. Students petitioning the college to graduate must submit a completed Candidate for Graduation form to the Registrar’s Office by the due date specified for that graduation period. Refer to the Academic Calendar for the semester deadline dates to submit a Candidate for Graduation form.

Graduation Requirements

The Springfield Technical Community College Board of Trustees has statutory authority under the Commonwealth’s Board of Higher Education to confer academic degrees. Candidates for Graduation shall have fulfilled the following requirements:

• Candidates for degrees and Board of Higher Education approved certificate programs must meet all departmental graduation requirements. A minimum of 15 credit hours in the major must be earned in residence at STCC.
• Students enrolled in an Associate in Science degree program are required to take a minimum of 20 credits in general education. For those in an Associate in Arts program, the minimum 33 credits in general education. For the Associate in Applied Science, the general education requirement is 16 credits. The configuration of courses is distributed among the math and natural sciences, the humanities and the social and behavioral sciences.
• Candidates for certificates of completion must meet all the departmental graduation requirements. A minimum of 12 credit hours in the major must be earned in residency at STCC.
• The student must have earned a minimum cumulative quality point average of 2.0 for all college level courses. Developmental courses are not credited toward graduation requirements.
• To earn a second degree at STCC, the student must complete a minimum of 15 separate and distinct credit hours in the major at STCC with a minimum GPA of 2.0, and meet all specific requirements for the new program. To earn a second certificate of completion at STCC, the student must complete a minimum of 12 separate and distinct credit hours in the major at STCC with a minimum GPA of 2.0, and meet all specific requirements of the new certificate of completion. Students wishing to complete both a degree and a certificate within the same department may do so as long as they fulfill all above requirements for both the degree and the certificate. When under these circumstances requirements overlap and the same course is required for both the degree and the certificate, students may apply the credit for a course they have taken only once toward both the degree and the certificate.

Residency Requirements

Candidates for Associates degrees must complete a minimum of 15 College-Level credits in their major at STCC while enrolled in their degree program in order to fulfill the residency requirement. Candidates for a Certificate of Completion must complete a minimum of 12 College-Level credits in the major at STCC while enrolled in the Certificate program. In order to be eligible for graduation honors the student must have completed 24 credits while enrolled in the program. The QPA is based on all College Level course taken at STCC prior to graduation.

Students returning upon graduation from an Associates degree program at STCC must fulfill the same residency requirements as stated above while enrolled in the new Associates degree program. While courses and credits from the previous degree(s) may be applied to fulfill degree requirements, the QPA for the new degree program will reflect only those College Level courses taken while enrolled in residence in the new program. An exception will be made for returning students enrolled in a Certificate of Completion program in the same discipline provided that the program is completed and graduation is awarded within one calendar year as the Associates degree was awarded. In such circumstances the requirement of 12 distinct credits in the major may be fulfilled using credits taken while matriculating in the Associates degree. They may also be applied to the QPA for the new Certificate provided that they were not used to meet requirements for the previous degree.

Students pursuing two Associates degrees must be enrolled in both programs at the same time and be awarded the degree concurrently at the same graduation. In those cases the residency requirement as stated in paragraph one will apply with the exception that the QPA will be the same for both concurrent degrees and graduation honors will apply equally to both programs.

Students who first complete a Certificate of Completion and are then enrolled in a Associates degree in the same discipline are treated as native students in that degree program. Courses and credit from the Certificate program may be applied to the degree program and can be used to meet the degree residency and graduation honors requirements for the degree program. The QPA for the degree program includes the courses from the Certificate program.

General Education Degree Requirements

Students enrolled in an Associate in Science degree program are required to take a minimum of 20 credits in general education. For those in an Associate in Arts program, the minimum requirement is 33 credits in general education. For the Associate in Applied Science, the general education requirement is 16 credits. The configuration of courses is distributed among the math and natural sciences, the humanities, and the social and behavioral sciences.

The purpose of general education is to develop in students the capacity for critical thinking; the ability to communicate effectively; to develop a mathematical and logical mode of thinking; and to be both computer and information literate. Additionally, general education aims to assist in the development of people who are educated in mind, responsive to civic and social obligations, capable of adjusting to change and learners for life.

Consult the individual departmental course of study for the specific distribution of general education courses required by each program.

Non Graduate Participation at Commencement

It is to be recognized that permission for a non-graduate to participate in Commencement Exercises is a privilege and permitted only under exceptional circumstances.

Students in Degree, Certificate of Completion programs and 30-credit Certificate programs who are candidates for graduation may petition to participate in Commencement Exercises if they are found by the Department Chair and Dean of the School to be in good academic standing, and deficient in not more than one course totaling not more than four (4) credits. Good academic standing is defined as meeting the following criteria: GPA of 2.0 or better; completion of all Course work required for the degree or certificate with the exception of one course up to four (4) credits; all other departmental or program requirements fulfilled. Permission to participate in commencement may then be granted provided that the Successful completion of these deficiencies within one calendar year will fulfill all requirements for the -awarding of that degree or certificate. The Department Chair and the Dean of the School must sign the student’s record to this effect at the time of certification and authorize the Registrar to permit the participation and to notify the student to this effect prior to the Commencement Exercises. Upon notification the student may petition the Registrar’s Office and be (granted permission to participate at Commencement. The names of these students will not appear on the Commencement program until the next Commencement Exercises provided that all program requirements have been successfully met and a new Intent to Graduate form has been appropriately filed and certified.

In the case of Departments with clinical courses that are taken or completed in the summer immediately following Commencement, upon initial certification, such potential graduates may participate in the ceremony and be included on the Commencement program with a notation indicating the actual date of completion. Honors will also be noted on the program based on the student’s QPA to date. Such students will also be eligible for other Commencement honors and awards with the exception of the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award (4.0) that will be awarded, if merited, after final certification for graduation.

Recognition of Academic Achievement

Dean’s List

In order to recognize above-average academic performance, a Dean’s List is published each Fall and Spring semester and is noted on the official transcript. Any full-time matriculating student carrying 12 college level credits or more within the semester and who earns a 3.3 quality point average is placed on the Dean’s List provided that no grade is less than a “C” (2.0) or an Incomplete grade in that semester. Matriculating students carrying fewer than 12 college level credits in a given semester may be awarded Dean’s List status in the Spring semester if they accumulate a minimum of 12 college level credits during the Fall and Spring semesters and achieve a 3.3 quality point average with no grade less than a “C” (2.0) or an Incomplete grade for that period.

Commencement Honors

Academic Honors are bestowed on those students at Commencement who have distinguished themselves academically at the College.

The awarding of Honors (3.3 to 3.69), High Honors (3.7 to 3.89) and Highest Honors (3.9 to 4.0) will be made at Commencement to graduates in Associate Degree programs who have a minimum of 30 college level credits in residence. The number and GPA of all credits earned at STCC (with the exception of Fresh Start credits) will be evaluated to determine Honors status.

Graduates of Associate Degree programs who have a minimum of 30 college level credits in residence and who have maintained a QPA of 4.0 will be awarded the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award.

Honors Certificate Program

The Honors Certificate Program offers a challenging academic experience for qualified students who wish unique study and research opportunities in their major field of study. Working individually with selected professors, Honors Certificate Program participants receive specialized advising and support services, increased scholarship and transfer opportunities, and a special notation of distinguished academic work on diplomas and transcripts. The STCC Honors Program has been designated a Commonwealth Honors Program, giving our students additional transfer opportunities to Commonwealth College, the state’s honors college.

Honors Certificate Program participants are selected on the basis of their academic potential and motivation. Entering freshmen with a 3.5 QPA from high school, or a 3.0 QPA from a high school honors program (or its equivalent), or a 1000 combined SAT score are eligible to apply for admission. Currently-enrolled students at STCC are eligible after completing 12 college-level credits, if their QPA is 3.5 or higher. Students whose QPA’s do not meet these standards, but who feel they have the ability and interest necessary to participate in the Honors Certificate Program may apply for admission by submitting

There are three levels of honors within the Honors program. For further information and an Honors Certificate Program application, contact the Office of Academic Affairs or the Honors Program Coordinator, at 755-4244.

Commonwealth Honors Program

Responding to the needs of its many highly motivated and gifted students, Springfield Technical Community College offers Honors-level courses, an Honors Certificate and Scholarship Program, as well as Designations in Honors for those students of exceptional ability who are seeking an enriched collegiate experience.

Entrance Requirements

Honors Program participants are selected on the basis of their academic potential and motivation. Entering freshmen with a 3.5 QPA from high school, or a 3.0 QPA from a high school honors program (or its equivalent), or a 1000 combined SAT score are eligible to apply for admission. Currently-enrolled students at STCC are eligible after completing 12 college-level credits, if their QPA is 3.5 or better.

Students whose QPAs do not meet these standards, but who feel they have the ability and interest necessary to participate in the Honors Program may apply for admission by submitting a letter of recommendation from a recent teacher and an original piece of writing demonstrating academic competence (for example, a paper for a recent course).

Designations in the Honors Programs

For students interested in participating, but unable to complete the requirement for the Certificate and Scholarship, we have designed designations in Honors. Please note that the scholarship money is awarded only to Certificate Recipients.

Honors Certificate and Scholarship Recipient: A student who has completed satisfactorily all requirements for the Honors Certificate. The scholarship is awarded upon graduation.

The requirements - totaling 15 credits–are:

• 6 credits - Two Colloquia
• 3 credits - Library Research Colloquium
• 6 (+) credits - Add-on Components/Honors Independent Study

Commonwealth Honors Program Scholar: Student must have:

• A cumulative GPA of 3.2/4.0
• Completed three honors courses (nine-credit hours) with a grade of B or better.
• One honors seminar or colloquium (which is interdisciplinary, for honors-level students only and preferably, team-taught).

The program provides students an option to substitute an honors thesis or project involving independent research for one of the three required honors courses.

Springfield Technical Community College Scholar:  A student is required to complete satisfactorily 9 credits worth of honors work, such as add-on projects in three college-level courses or two honors-add ons and one colloquium or two colloquia and one honors add-on.

Scholarships And Awards

There are a wide variety of scholarships and awards available, ranging from departmental achievement to all-College awards, to corporate and organizational awards and scholarships from off-campus sources. The reference librarian can assist students in finding information on many off-campus awards. On-campus awards are publicized through The STCCler in March and April. Individual departments publicize departmental and school awards. 

At the College Commencement Exercises, Outstanding Academic Achievement awards are given to graduating seniors who have achieved a 4.0 Quality Point Average. Other awards and scholarships are given at the Honors Convocation held prior to Commencement, to those students whose academic records in their departments are outstanding, and to those who have contributed significantly to the total college community through their co-curricular participation. In addition to awards by the academic departments and divisions, College-wide scholarships and awards include:

Alumni Association Scholarships; • Amy H. Carberry Scholarship; • Athletic Excellence Awards; • Board of Higher Education Scholarships; • Carl F. Junker Scholarships; • Co-Curricular Award; • Dan Roulier Single Parent Scholarships; Dean of Students Scholarship;• Edmond R Garvey Awards; • Ernest J. Henderson Scholarship; • Eugene A. Pederzoli Scholarship; Evelyn T. and Eugene DiLizia Scholarship;• John H. Dunn Scholarship; • Joseph J. Cooligan Award; • Joseph J. Deliso Sr. Scholarships; • Kenneth L. Bonardi Jr. Scholarship; • Lee Tuthill Scholarships; • Lucille Goodson Parks Award; • Mary E. O’Leary Scholarship; MassPower Scholarship; • Ray M. Di Pasquale Scholarship; • Robert M. Pasini Memorial Scholarship; • STCC Non-Traditional Scholarship; • Springfield Industrial Association Scholarships; • Tazzini Family Scholarship; • Teresina B. Thompson Award; • Trudie David Scholarship; • Virginia M. Smith Scholarship; • William DeRosia Scholarship; • WMECO Scholarship; • Yolande S. Croteau Scholarship

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

The Alpha Psi Sigma Chapter of the International Honor society for two-year colleges offers membership to any student who has earned 12 graduation credits with a quality point average of 3.5. Phi Theta Kappa emphasizes leadership, scholarship, fellowship, and community service, therefore members are required to perform a minimum of 10 hours of documented community service per semester in order to maintain membership in good standing. There is a $80 one-time membership fee. For more information, please contact the PTK Advisor, Susan Askin at sdaskin@stcc.edu.

Alpha Beta Gamma Business Honor Society

Alpha Beta Gamma is the national business honor society for community, technical, and junior college students. The Kappa Alpha Chapter was organized at STCC in 1996 to recognize and encourage scholarship, to provide leadership development, and to promote cooperation among business students who have completed a minimum of 12 business credits and maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Transfer Information

Joint Admission Agreements with Private Institutions (Regional private colleges and university)

STCC has established joint admission agreements with all five four-year private schools in Greater Springfield: American International College, Bay Path College, Elms College, Springfield College, and Western New England University.

The goals of the agreements are to ease transfer of STCC associate degree graduates into bachelor’s degree programs at any of these institutions. The agreements vary by the academic programs available; the grade point average required ensures the possibility of partial scholarships awarded by the institutions. Additionally, STCC students accepted into these institutions would be encouraged to join in some aspects of campus life there.

For information on these agreements, please contact the Admissions Office or the Transfer Office.  For a list of current approved programs, please go to: http://www.stcc.edu/coop/transferAffairs.asp  and look at the Intent to Enroll Form program grid.

MassTransfer Program (Massachusetts public colleges and universities)

STCC participates in the MassTransfer Program with the Massachusetts Public Colleges and Universities. This program guarantees participating students admission to the Massachusetts Public Institution of their choice, provided they graduate from an approved major at STCC with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher. To obtain a list of current approved majors, please go to the Department of Higher Education MassTransfer website/database: http://www.mass.edu/forstudents/admissions/TransferAdmin/PublicList.asp.  At this site you will be able to see the list of all current approved programs that the College has with all Mass Public Colleges and Universities.  Participating students are subject to the program requirements in effect at the senior institution when they matriculate at STCC.

The Tuition Advantage Program (TAP), approved by the Board of Higher Education, is available to all MassTranser students who graduate with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and transfer to a Massachusetts State College or University of Massachusetts campus with which they were participating in MassTransfer. Students are entitled to a reduction in tuition of at least one third of the in-state rate, whether or not they are in-state residents. In some instances, students will qualify for a TAP match which will essentially cover all tuition. However, it is important to note that there are certain instances in which a transfer student may not qualify for MassTransfer status; for example, if the transfer student has attended another College after graduating from STCC and before transferring to a MassTransfer designated institution.  Another example is if the transfer student is planning to return to a four-year Mass State College/University that they have previously attended after graduating from STCC. 

Any questions concerning the Joint Admissions and/or the MassTransfer Program should be directed to the Office of Cooperative Education/Career Services and Transfer Affairs at (413) 755-4464 or careerservices@stcc.edu.

MassTransfer Block (Massachusetts public colleges and universities)

The MassTransfer Block refers to a set of general education requirements, consisting of 34 college-level credits:

These credits, when completed together with a 2.0 or higher GPA, fully transfer to any Massachusetts public higher education institution…even if you don’t have your associate degree. These credits also satisfy the general education/distribution/core requirements at any other Massachusetts public higher education institution, with the receiving institution being able to add no more than six additional credits/two courses.   STCC courses which fulfill the MassTransfer Block are so indicated in their course descriptions on the College’s catalog.

Notes:

·      Completing the MassTransfer Block does not guarantee admission; visit the Department of Higher Education’s website for admissions information. 

·      Certain majors may have additional requirements, which you would need to complete.

·      Students matriculating in fall 2009, as well as currently enrolled students, may accumulate courses leading toward the completion of an associate degree eligible for MassTransfer or the MassTransfer Block. The policy benefits apply to students who plan to transfer for the fall 2010 semester or later.

Any questions concerning the MassTransfer Block should be directed to the Office of Cooperative Education/Career Services and Transfer Affairs at (413) 755-4464 or careerservices@stcc.edu.

Student Records

Student Information Privacy Policy

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 affords students certain rights with respect to their academic records. In compliance with the law the College has established the following policy:

1. All students, current and former, have a right to inspect and review their academic records. Requests to view information that is not available online to students must be made in writing to the Registrar’s Office. No confidential information (for example, students’ schedules, grades, GPA, etc.) is released over the telephone or without positive identification. The College will not release original documents contained within the student’s academic file to the student. When physical distance makes the examination of the records impractical, the College will provide to the student copies of the records. The College will respond to all requests to review records within 45 days.

2. Students have the right to request the amendment of their academic records to ensure they are not inaccurate, incomplete, misleading, or otherwise in violation of their privacy. A student who wishes to ask the College to amend should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the College denies a student’s request to amend his/her record, the student has a right to a hearing.

3. Confidential student information, also referred to as “personally identifiable information,” shall not be released absent a student’s prior written consent unless an exception exists under the federal law. For example, school officials with a “legitimate educational interest” have access to students’ confidential records for a) internal educational purposes; b) routine administrative and statistical purposes; c) instructing and advising a student in an academic area; and d) emergency situations. These individuals include faculty, administrators, clerical and professional staff, and other persons who need student records information for the effective functioning of their office or position. “Confidential student records” include students’ grades, class schedules, disciplinary records, and all other non-directory information contained in a student’s record. No record of access will be kept if the obtained information is considered directory information, is required for normal clerical maintenance of a file, or is seen by College personnel in the normal performance of their responsibilities.

4. Directory (i.e., non-confidential) information includes:

• · Name
• · Address (incl. e-mail address)
• · Certificates/degrees earned (and dates of graduation)
• · Dates of attendance and enrollment status
• · Academic designations and awards (e.g., Dean’s List, academic scholarships, etc)

This information may be released by the College without a student’s prior written consent. Students may elect to withhold directory information by contacting the Registrar’s Office in writing.

5. Generally schools must have written permission from the eligible student in order to release any information from a student’s education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions:

• · School officials with legitimate educational interest
• · Other schools in which a student seeks or intends to enroll
• · Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes
• · Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student
• · Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school
• · Accrediting organizations
• · A person or company with whom the College has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using College employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent)
• · A person serving on the Board of Trustees with a legitimate educational interest
• · A student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks
• · To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena
• · Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies

6. Notwithstanding the College’s definition of directory information, the Department of Defense (the “DOD”), pursuant to the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (the “Solomon Amendment”), identifies the following information as “student recruiting information”: NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE LISTING, AGE, PLACE OF BIRTH, LEVEL OF EDUCATION (e.g., freshman, sophomore), DEGREE AWARDED, MOST RECENT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION ATTENDED, and CURRENT MAJOR(S) If the College receives a request for student recruiting information from the DOD, or one of its affiliated agencies, the College will release the student recruiting information requested. Because the information sought by the DOD may include information not designated as directory information under the College’s policy, compliance with the DOD’s request may result in the release of personally identifiable information. When student recruiting information is released pursuant to a DOD request, notice of the request and the release of the information will be posted in a conspicuous location in the College’s Registrar’s Office for a period equaling one academic year. If a student has exercised his/her right to request that no information be designated as directory information, then no information shall be released to any third party, including the DOD.

7. Students have a right to file a complaint with the US Department for Education concerning alleged failures of the College to comply with FERPA.

Solomon Amendment

STCC complies with the Solomon Amendment, which was contained in the Omnibus Consolidation Appropriations Act of 1997. This requires that the U.S. Department of Defense have access to certain student recruiting information which includes name, address, telephone number, and if known, student’s age, level of education, and major. Schools that fail to comply with a Solomon request may be ineligible to receive funds from certain federal programs. Students should contact the Registrar’s Office to complete a non-disclosure of directory information form if they do not want this information released.

USA Patriots Act

Following the September 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States Congress passed and President Bush signed the U.S.A. Patriots Act. The law institutes a number of measures aimed at strengthening America’s defenses against terrorism. The Patriot Act amends several provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) by providing the United States Attorney General, or his/her designee, with access to student record information when said request is in connection with an investigation or prosecution of terrorism crimes. The Attorney General’s request for student record information shall take the form of a court order authorizing the Attorney General’s access to such information for the purpose stated above. The Act further provides that a College need not make a record of the disclosure in the student’s file, as FERPA ordinarily requires. Contact the Registrar’s Office for additional information on the U.S.A. Patriots Act.

Transcripts

STCC transcript requests must be made in person or in writing to the Registrar’s Office. Transcript requests will not be accepted via email, telephone or fax. Transcripts will only be released to the authorized recipient indicated in the written request and official identification is required to pick-up a transcript. A transcript will not be issued when the student has an outstanding debt owed to the College.

There is a $3.00 fee charged for each official transcript. Allow 2 days for processing. Unofficial transcripts can be obtained at no charge in the Registrar’s Office or from the student’s WebAdvisor account.

Replacement of Diploma

In the event that a student needs to replace a diploma or certificate, the cost is $20 to order the diploma/certificate, and $10 for the cover, plus current shipping costs. The request for replacement must be made in writing to the attention of thw Registrar’s Office; fax, phone, or email requests can not be honored. The replacement will carry the students name at graduation unless there is documented proof of a legal name change.

Address or Name Change

Students are responsible for notifying the Registrar’s Office promptly of any changes in address and/or name. Name change requests must be accompanied by a certified copy of a court order indicating a legal name change has been granted. This requirement is consistent with state law requirements for changing one’s name legally.