COLLEGE NOW

Student Handbook

Southwestern Oregon Community College / College Now

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20112012

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contact Information .................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Advantages to College Now ................................................................................................................................................ 3 College Now Requirements................................................................................................................................................. 3 Student responsibilities ............................................................................................................................................................... 4 Getting Started ............................................................................................................................................................................ 5 New student registration ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Forms and Links .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Course Enrollment ................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Register for A Course ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Logging In ............................................................................................................................................................................ 6 Registering Courses ............................................................................................................................................................. 6 Withdrawing from a Course......................................................................................................................................................... 6 Grades and Transferring Credit ................................................................................................................................................... 7 The Transferability of SWOCC Credits ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Grades ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Transferring Credit .................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Transcripts........................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Unofficial Transcripts: ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 College Now Programs................................................................................................................................................................. 9

CONTACT INFORMATION
Coordinator of High School Relations Nathan Helland ph. 541-888-7271 fx. 541-888-1590 [email protected] Dean of Curry Campus Janet Pretti ph. 541-813-1673 [email protected] Administrative Assistant Jen Skoglund ph. 541-888-7328 fx. 541-888-1590 [email protected]

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WELCOME TO COLLEGE NOW!

Congratulations on making a great choice to prepare for your future! This handbook is designed to answer questions about the requirements, expectations, process, and services available to you through the College Now program. Since SWOCC College Now courses are the result of an alignment between high school and college courses requiring college level work, not all high school courses are eligible. Check with your high school counselor to find out which courses at your high school have partnered with the SWOCC Dual Credit program or visit www.socc.edu/highschool/ and get a head start on your own college and career preparation!

VISION OF THE COLLEGE

SOUTHWESTERN LEADS AND INSPIRES LIFELONG LEARNING

THE MISSION OF THE COLLEGE

Southwestern Oregon Community College serves the educational and cultural needs of our students and communities by providing access to quality education in a professional and engaging environment which supports innovation, sustainability and lifelong enrichment. Learning experiences are characterized by excellent teaching, support for student achievement and the enhancement of social and economic opportunities. Southwestern is dedicated to providing a variety of classes that fulfill Oregons Lower Division Transfer requirements, and courses that meet CTE, or Career Technical Education, requirements. These courses, for juniors and seniors, earn you both high school and college credit. Courses offered vary by high school and there is no cost to the student for these dual credits.

ADVANTAGES TO COLLEGE NOW

Through Southwestern, you can earn: Lower Division Transfer credit that counts toward a Bachelor's degree in such subject areas as Literature, Writing, World Languages, History, Science and Mathematics, or Credit in Career & Technical Education, Associate of Applied Science programs, such as Automotive Service Technology, Computer Applications Systems, Early Childhood Education, Welding, Construction and many more! Why you should consider becoming a College Now student: It allows you to earn college and high school credit simultaneously Its a great transition and introduction to university study It allows for more flexible scheduling when you enroll at the university It allows earlier completion of general education requirements Its a demonstration of a commitment to university admissions officials It may lead to early completion of a degree program

COLLEGE NOW REQUIREMENTS

Students must be must be at least 16 years of age, or at a junior or senior level in High School. As a student taking classes you are choosing to complete college level course content. All Southwestern policies pertain to you and no exceptions will be made for you because of your age. Students will refer to the college website for all policies and procedures. Students will use WebAdvisor to register, confirm their schedule, view grades, and for any other information that can be obtained on WebAdvisor.

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STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Southwestern Dual Credit Students are responsible for:

Reviewing and understanding the information provided in the SWOCC College Now Student Handbook. For knowing the Registration, Drop and Withdraw deadlines for the SWOCC Dual Credit program. It is the students responsibility to meet these deadlines. Please make note of the separate calendar dates for Trimester classes, Semester classes and year long classes. Completing the online SWOCC Dual Credit New Student Record form to SWOCC if a new student. Completing an online application generates a SWOCC ID# and is the first step towards registering for credit. Maintaining complete and accurate account information including keeping track of your SWOCC ID#, user name, and password. It is important to update your college account information if you have a change in address or phone number. You can update your account information in WebAdvisor under the User Account tab by clicking on the Students Menu after logging in. Registering for the accurate college credits and within the scheduled registration window. Dual Credit course TLSs will be available to view at www.socc.edu/highschool/ within the Application and Registration window as detailed on the appropriate Trimester, Semester and Yearlong calendars. TLSs will also be made available to you by your high school dual credit instructor. Reading about and selecting a grading system option for each class they take at SWOCC as a condition of completing their registration for classes either on-line or in-person. Reading about and making any permitted changes to their grading system option selection subsequent to their registration. Ensuring the accuracy of their final grades on their Academic Transcripts.

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GETTING STARTED
The first step is to set up a WebAdvisor account at www.socc.edu. Setting up a WebAdvisor account should be completed by a full term before you plan to begin taking a course or as soon as you know you plan to enroll in a College Now course.

NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION

The first part of the application process requires that students create an account at Southwestern. You need only go through this part of the enrollment process the first time you are a College Now student. You may complete the process online; or by completing a New Student Record Form by hand Use your full given name nicknames are not valid You will need to provide a correct social security number You will need to have a valid email address You must complete the entire form After you complete the form, within a few days, you will receive an email with information about your account You will need the ID and password you just created in your WebAdvisor account to work on the next stage.

FORMS AND LINKS

You will find the online student record form at: https://www.socc.edu/forms/nsrform.cfm You may also go to the College Now page: https://www.socc.edu/highschool/ and click on the "Under 18 or in High School" link.

COURSE ENROLLMENT
Your High School College Now Instructor will provide you with a six digit synonym for registration purposes. Enrolling into an actual class takes place according to the Registration Timeline set by the college. Keep in mind, if you are registered in a SWOCC course and do not complete a Withdraw according to the scheduled drop dates, the grade you receive (even if it is a D or F) will be posted on their SWOCC transcript.

Students will register in the SWOCC term that they receive a grade.

If you have difficulties with WebAdvisor, contact the High School Coordinator: Main Campus - Nathan Helland (541) 888-7271 or [email protected]. Curry Campus - Janet Pretti (541) 813-1673 or [email protected]

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REGISTER FOR A COURSE

WebAdvisor is may be accessed through www.socc.edu then click on WebAdvisor in the upper right corner, or directly at

http://lakerlink.socc.edu/WebAdvisor/WebAdvisor
LOGGING IN
Select Log In from the top menu Log in using your WebAdvisor username Enter your password / if you have not used WebAdvisor before, enter your six digit birthdate as your password (no spaces, slashes, etc.) Then click on Submit

REGISTERING COURSES
Click on the Students heading Click on the Register for Classes link If you agree to the Registration Disclaimer click the box and Submit Click on the Express Registration option Enter the six digit course Synonym that was given to you for this class and click Submit Next, select Register option in the dropdown action menu next to your course and click OK This process will register you for your College Now courses

If you have difficulties with WebAdvisor, contact the High School Coordinator: Main Campus - Nathan Helland (541) 888-7271 or [email protected]. Curry Campus - Janet Pretti (541)813-1673 or [email protected]

WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE

WebAdvisor (Accessed through www.socc.edu then click on WebAdvisor) Log in using your WebAdvisor ID Enter your password Click on the Students menu Click on the Register and Drop Classes link Find the course you wish to drop and check the box on the right side of the class Click Submit

Students may withdraw from a course through the end of the second week of the term, according to Southwesterns Academic Calendar, or within the courses refund period without responsibility for a grade. Withdrawing after the refund period will result in W grades on transcripts. Students are strongly encouraged to consult the instructor before withdrawing to ascertain their status in the course.

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GRADES AND TRANSFERRING CREDIT THE TRANSFERABILITY OF SWOCC CREDITS

All institutions in the Oregon State Colleges and Universities system accept Southwestern transfer courses according to the articulation agreements. Although the receiving institution has the final decision on the transfer of credits, generally speaking, Southwestern credits are transferable throughout the state and nation.

GRADES
Students are able to look up grades for any completed class once a professor has entered the course grades through WebAdvisor. Simply access the Southwestern homepage, login to WebAdvisor, and locate the Grades link. Grades will be posted and accessible for students to review for any term, not just the current one in which they are enrolled.

TRANSFERRING CREDIT
Students must request a transcript be sent to the school they plan to attend. Requesting your official transcripts: Online via WebAdvisor In person at the Student First Stop Mail or fax Transcript Request Form Transcripts are confidential; therefore, your request must be signed and dated.

The first seven (7) transcripts requested per academic year are free of charge.
Additional transcripts cost $10 each. Please call the Student First Stop Center to pay by credit card when requesting your additional transcripts via fax or WebAdvisor. You may also record your credit card information on the Transcript Request form, or mail a check with your request. Transcripts requested via WebAdvisor will be processed within two (2) business days. Transcripts ordered by mail or fax may take up to seven (7) business days (During non-peak times). Transcripts will only be processed if your account balance is current, all holds are resolved, and complete and legible addresses are provided. Unofficial transcripts may be obtained by accessing WebAdvisor.

TRANSCRIPTS
A transcript is a chronological listing of ALL Southwestern coursework taken by a student. Also included on a transcript are transfer credit amounts and cumulative credit totals and grade point averages.

UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS:
Unofficial transcripts can be obtained through your WebAdvisor account. Simply log in and click on Unofficial Transcript.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q. Where can I get more information about College Now? A. With your high school counselor and on the Southwesterns website www.socc.edu/highschool. Q. Where can I get more information about College Now at my high school? A. From your high school counselor or from the website www.socc.edu/highschool click on high schools. Q. Are College Now students officially admitted college students? A. Not yet. You are a current College Now student. Once you graduate you need to apply for admission to Southwestern, pay the application fee, take the college placement exam, and pay for tuition and fees. Q. How will I be graded? A. Course grading is explained by your teacher. The Southwestern Grading Policy is applied to all classes. For a complete explanation see the Southwestern Catalog at www.socc.edu, Grades/Academic Standing Q. When will my final grade appear on my transcript? A. As soon as the instructor submits grades to Southwestern. You can access WebAdvisor and view all your grades. See the Southwestern Academic Calendar for dates. Q. Do I need to apply for admission to take a College Now course? A. No: An application for Admission will be required once you graduate from high school and apply to college. Q. How are distance education courses and distance degrees reflected on my transcript? A. Your transcript will not appear any differently for an off-campus course than if you were on campus. Q. What other benefits do I have as a College Now student? A. As a SWOCC student you have a Southwestern email account. Full instructions to access the account are available at www.socc.edu under the IT page in the Student Technology Handbook. You also have access to the on campus computer lab. As a student at Southwestern you can use the computer lab in TIOGA Hall Room 409. For more information go to www.socc.edu/computerlab/.

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COLLEGE NOW PROGRAMS

Dual Credit
With Southwestern's Dual Credit (LDT) Lower Division Transfer and CTE (Career & Technical Education) programs, high school students complete both a high school course and a college course simultaneously. LDT courses are courses that fulfill the freshman and sophomore college level transfer requirements. These academic courses are transferable to four year universities. CTE courses helps students gain the skills, technical knowledge, academic foundation, and real-world experience, they need to prepare to become high-skill, high-demand, high-wage careers The Dual Credit program is perfect for students who want to begin earning college credits without having to leave their regular school routine.

Enhanced Options
High school juniors or seniors may also take a college class on the Southwestern campus or online with the Enhanced Options program. High school students will apply, register, and attend classes just like a regular Southwestern student. Enhanced Options is right for the high school age student who is ready for a challenge and ready for academic work in a college environment.

Expanded Options
Expanded Options, provides eligible high school students another opportunity for early entry into postsecondary education. The Expanded Options student takes college courses, taught by Southwestern faculty, at their high school. This program promotes a seamless education system for students enrolled in grades 11 and 12 to have additional options to continue or complete their education, earn concurrent high school and college credits, and gain early entry into postsecondary education.

Home School
Local homeschooled teens may also earned credits from Southwestern through the College Now program. The Homeschooled student has the option of working with local high schools or directly through the college. Parents and/or students should contact the Coordinator of High School Relations.

Advanced Diploma
There is a final option for high school seniors to get a head start on their college credits. Local high students who graduate with a standard diploma can return for a fifth year of high school, enrolled concurrently as a high school and college student. This option is particularly effective for seniors who might need an additional year of transition before college. The Advanced Diploma program is something the parent and student should first discuss with their high school principal.

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