Admissions

South Plains College’s admissions program is based on an open door philosophy which accepts all students for enrollment regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability or age. To be eligible for admission to SPC, you must have graduated or received a diploma from an accredited high school, have successfully completed a nontraditional secondary educational program, including home school, have successfully completed the General Education Development (GED) Test, or be admitted by individual approval.

Students wishing to transfer to South Plains College from another college or university will be considered for admission based on their previous college record. International students seeking admission should contact the Registrar directly for specific application information and forms.

The Dean of Admissions and Records is responsible for administering the admissions policies and procedures of the college. Questions pertaining to admission to South Plains College should be directed to the Admissions and Records Office.

In all cases, students seeking admission to South Plains College should follow these steps in the process.

1. APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

New and transfer students must submit an ApplyTexas Application for Admission at www.applytexas.org.

2. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT

An official transcript of the student’s academic record in high school or the record at each college attended since leaving high school must be filed with the Admissions and Records Office. The applicant is responsible for having these records forwarded to the Admissions and Records office. Transcripts should be sent immediately following the close of the last semester of attendance in high school or other college. Students who have successfully completed a non-traditional secondary educational program that meets all Texas Education Agency (TEA) standards must provide an official transcript, along with a notarized statement indicating the student has completed all high school requirements.

Students applying for scholarships must provide ACT or SAT scores in order to meet scholarship eligibility requirements.

3. COLLEGE PLACEMENT TEST

Students who are entering college for the first time and who are not waived from Texas Success Initiative (TSI) are required to take the TSI Assessment test prior to registering for classes. The student’s placement test scores are utilized in advising and placement in appropriate course work. Students with prior college-level work and those entering specified certificate programs may be waived from TSI requirements. 

The TSI Assessment test is administered at South Plains College and at other Texas colleges. Registration can be made online at www.southplainscollege.edu/testing. 

4. CERTIFICATE OF RESIDENCE

Certificate of Residence is part of the admission application.

5. IMMUNIZATIONS

MENINGITIS: As required by Texas Law, all entering students under the age of 22 must provide proof that the meningitis vaccination was administered at least 10 days prior to the first day of the term.  Proof must be received by the Admissions and Records Office before the student is allowed to register for classes. Meningitis vaccinations must have been received or renewed within the last five (5) years. SPC offers the meningitis vaccination to all new and currently enrolled SPC students at a discounted fee. For detailed information, go to www.southplainscollege.edu/admissions.

Immunization is an integral part of your health care and the disease prevention program at South Plains College.  While the following are not a requirement for admission, all new or transfer students, especially those born on or after January 1, 1957, should have received immunizations for the following diseases:

RUBELLA: One dose of rubella vaccine administered on or after the first birthday.
TETANUS/DIPHTHERIA: One dose of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid administered within the last 10 years.
MEASLES: Two doses of measles vaccine administered on or after the first birthday and at least 30 days apart.
MUMPS: One dose of mumps vaccine administered on or after the first birthday.

More information can be obtained from the Student Health Coordinator or from the SPC website.

1. If you are a Graduate of an Accredited High School or Equivalent

An applicant who is a graduate of an accredited high school or who has successfully completed a nontraditional secondary educational program, including home school, will be admitted upon the presentation of a properly authenticated high school transcript.

2. If you are NOT a Graduate of an Accredited High School

An applicant who is not a graduate of an accredited high school or who has graduated from a private, non-accredited educational program, may be admitted as follows:

1. Successful completion of a non-traditional secondary educational program that meets all Texas Education Agency (TEA) standards and high school requirements. A notarized statement from the non-traditional high school, along with a notarized statement from the student verifying completion of the high school program must be submitted.
2. Successful completion of the General Education Development (GED) test by an applicant who meets the age requirement for taking the GED test.
3. An applicant who is 18 years or older and who is not a graduate of an accredited high school or private school, or who has not earned a GED certificate, may be considered for admission by individual approval. In order to be considered for individual approval, the applicant must:

• complete and submit the ApplyTexas Application for Admission
• provide an official transcript from the last school attended
• take the TSI Assessment test, regardless of TSI-waived certificate program selected, and
• provide documentation verifying the completion of high school diploma or equivalent when completed.

The applicant’s TSI Assessment test scores will determine the student’s eligibility and course placement.  General admission to the college does not guarantee admission to some technical education and health occupation programs, which have additional admission requirements. Please contact the appropriate program advisor for information.

3. If you are seeking Readmission

Former students of South Plains College who are not on suspension and have not attended another college since they were last enrolled at South Plains College, will be readmitted to South Plains College during any scheduled registration period. Former students who have attended another college or university since leaving South Plains College should refer to Methods of Admission 4.

4. If you are a Transfer Student from another College or University

A new student who has begun work at another accredited college or university and is not under disciplinary or academic suspension at the last college attended will be considered for admission to South Plains College. However, performance at the other institution must meet the minimum academic standards of the College.

A student from another college seeking admission to South Plains College must submit an official transcript from each college previously attended. All transcripts must be sent directly to the Admissions and Records Office and must be on file prior to registration. A student is not officially enrolled until all transcripts are on file.

A student who has been enrolled in another college for only a summer term or session will be admitted to South Plains College on the basis of the high school record.

5. If you are an International Student

General Requirements

1. The application must be submitted at least 90 days, and the file complete at least 30 days prior to the first scheduled day of registration for a given semester.
2. There will be a quota imposed on the total number of international students accepted for admission by South Plains College for any given semester. The college reserves the right to change the quota at any time without prior notification.
3. A $100 application fee (in U.S. currency) is required before consideration of an application can be made. The fee should accompany the application when it is sent to the college. Cash or money order is accepted or the student may contact the Business Office and pay with a credit/debit card.

Specific Requirements

1. Evidence of proficiency in the English language is required and can be satisfied by submitting results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 550 (paper exam), 213 (computer exam), or 79 (internet exam).
2. An official copy of a transcript from the last four (4) years of secondary school must be submitted. The official transcript must be an original copy translated into English and must show each course completed and the grade earned. A minimum grade average of “B” is required.
3. Proof of financial ability to remain in South Plains College long enough to complete degree requirements must also be submitted with the application. This proof can be in the form of a bank statement and letter from the person responsible for providing financial support for the international student.
4. Proof of the meningitis vaccination.

Specific Requirements for International Transfer Students

1. Transfer students from other colleges and universities within the United States must meet all general and specific requirements as outlined.
2. An official college transcript from every United States college or university attended must be submitted in place of the high school transcript.
3. Transfer students must have completed at least 12 semester hours but not more than 40 semester hours with a minimum 3.25 GPA to be eligible for consideration.

THE FORM I-20 WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNTIL ALL SPECIFIED REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN SATISFIED.

Students may appeal their academic suspension to the Admissions Committee in writing by completing an academic appeal form. Students will not have an opportunity to meet with the committee in person or by telephone.  Please follow the required procedures. The following must be included in the appeal and submitted by the established deadline for the semester:

a.) ApplyTexas Application for Admission, if your are a transfer student;

b.) all official college transcripts, including the transcript that indicates the academic suspension;

c.) your completed and signed academic appeal form with supporting documentation relevant to your situation, an immediate contact telephone number, email address, and your declared major.

Information about the appeals procedure and appeal form can be obtained from the Admissions and Records Office or online at www.southplainscollege.edu/admissions. The Dean of Admissions and Records chairs the Admissions Committee.

Texas Education Code Section 51.931 entitles Texas residents to seek admission to institutions of higher education without consideration of courses undertaken 10 or more years prior to enrollment. Students may not pick and choose what is to be ignored and what is not. Either all college courses 10 or more years old are ignored or they are counted. If you choose the Academic Fresh Start option, you will not receive any credit for any courses you took 10 or more years ago. This means that:

• Courses taken previously cannot be used to fulfill new prerequisite requirements.
• Courses taken previously cannot be counted towards your new degree.
• Courses taken previously will not be counted in your new GPA calculations.

Academic Fresh Start clears only your academic record. However, when deciding your eligibility for financial aid, the college must consider all prior college credits earned or attempted.

For courses taken at South Plains College for which Academic Fresh Start is applied, the official transcript will continue to show all courses taken. Grades and grade points will be shown, however, the credit hours attempted and cumulative grade points will total zero for the Academic Fresh Start courses and will not be computed in the overall GPA. A notation will be placed on the transcript showing the semester which the student began to take courses after the Academic Fresh Start.  Once approved and posted, an Academic Fresh Start may not be reversed.

All requests for Academic Fresh Start must be made in writing by completing the Academic Fresh Start application.  The completed application should be sent to the Associate Registrar prior to enrollment. A completed application for admission and ALL official college transcripts must be on file in the Admissions and Records Office.

In addition to the general admission requirements for South Plains College, certain instructional programs offered by South Plains College have additional admission requirements that students must meet before entering the program. These selective admissions programs include the following:

Associate Degree Nursing
Cosmetology
Emergency Medical Services
Fire Technology Academy
Law Enforcement Police Academy
Physical Therapist Assistant
Radiologic Technology
Respiratory Care
Surgical Technology
Vocational Nursing

Admission requirements to these programs may be found in the program listing in this Catalog or on the SPC website. Contact the coordinator of the program in which enrollment is desired to obtain additional information.

The early admissions program allows high school students to enroll in college courses while still in high school. Students may also enroll in approved courses at South Plains College and receive credit toward high school graduation. Such dual credit programs are part of a cooperative agreement between local accredited high schools and South Plains College through which a student may earn high school credit for successfully completing a college course that provides advanced academic instruction beyond, or in greater depth than, the required knowledge and skills for the corresponding high school course. Dual credit students may not enroll in remedial or developmental classes. 

• The student must complete a South Plains College Application for Admission. The student must also complete a Dual Credit Early Admission Approval Form and have it approved and signed by his/her principal and parent/guardian once per academic school year. The student must include an official high school transcript with the application for admission prior to admission and an updated official high school transcript every academic school year thereafter. 
• The student must comply with all Texas Success Initiative testing requirements.
• Upon acceptance by South Plains College, the student will be admitted under the conditional entrance policy.
• The student must have at least fourteen (14) high school credits and will be limited to the following:
  1. Two (2) Dual Credit courses per semester.
  2. Two (2) Early Admission courses per semester.

However, under special circumstances that indicate a student with exceptional academic abilities is capable of college-level work, based on such factors as grade-point average, ACT or SAT scores, and other assessments, the high school principal and the Vice President for Academic Affairs may grant exceptions to this requirement.

• Students taking Dual Credit courses should contact the high school counselor regarding UIL (NO PASS/NO PLAY) regulations. Students who drop a college course may be subject to forfeiting UIL eligibility. Please consult with your high school counselor.
• By signing the Dual Credit Early Admission Approval Form, the student and parent/guardian give South Plains College permission to release the student’s academic record to the student’s high school.

While attending South Plains College, the student will be expected to adhere to all policies and procedures of the college.

The Admissions and Records Office should be contacted for a Dual Credit Early Admission Approval Form which must be signed by the parent, principal and student. Once approved for the program, the student should follow the regular admission and registration procedures. The major state and private colleges and universities in Texas have agreed to accept early admission hours from South Plains College. It is the responsibility of the student to verify out-of-state institutions’ requirements.

The Early Admission Program is available to home-schooled high school students. Students are required to adhere to the Early Admission Program requirements, and must provide an official transcript which meets all Texas Education Agency (TEA) standards. The student should be at least 16 years of age and be classified as a junior or a senior. The Vice President of Academic Affairs may make an exception to this requirement.

For more information about early admissions to SPC or opportunities for dual credit enrollments, contact the Admissions and Records Office or visit www.southplainscollege.edu/admissions.

STUDENTS WHO PLAN TO COMPETE IN UNIVERSITY INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE EARLY ADMISSIONS PROGRAM COULD AFFECT THEIR ELIGIBILITY.