Southwestern Student Handbook

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON AS, AGS AND AAS DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES
To earn an Associates degree or Certificate of Completion, students must meet the requirements in the catalog year in which they first declare their major at Southwestern Oregon Community College. Students who are not enrolled in at least one course towards their degree for more than one year will lose the right to complete the degree under the original catalog requirements. A student must then meet the requirements in the program from the catalog that is current at the time he/she re-enrolls at Southwestern.

The application of existing coursework will be evaluated on an individual basis by the transcript evaluator and the appropriate instructors.

Modifications or exceptions may be made in certain circumstances; for example, if the student has been employed in the skill area and has thus been able to keep up with developments in the field or if the time lapse is marginally outside accepted limits. All exceptions will be made with the knowledge and consent of the appropriate instructors.

An edition of the catalog is valid for five academic years. For example, a catalog that takes effect in summer of 2000 is valid only through spring of 2005. Students should regularly consult an advisor in their major field. Failure to complete the requirements within that timeline will require students to move to the current catalog year or to petition the Academic Standards Committee, using the Academic Standards Committee Petition form, for an exception to the policy. Students taking more than five years to complete their degree program must have coursework evaluated by the transcript evaluator and the program department before graduation. Students may have to retake courses or take additional coursework to graduate.

Some programs may impose shorter time limits on accepting credits for degree or certificate requirements. Occasionally, the college may change courses and course numbers within a program. Southwestern Oregon Community College has the right to terminate or reinstate programs. The college will assist students enrolled in these programs to complete the degree or certificate requirements whenever possible.

STUDENT ACCOUNTS
The Business Office policy at Southwestern Oregon Community College is based upon administrative policy #9.032, ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION FOR NON-PAYMENT. The following sanctions may be imposed against students with any delinquent financial obligations.

1. Administratively withdraw a student from class(es) which shall include loss of any tuition and fees paid and the permanent loss of all credits and/or grades for the term in which the withdrawal occurs;
2. Withhold a certificate, diploma, or degree;
3. Prohibit subsequent registrations until debt is paid;
4. Assign the account to a collection agency;
5. Refer the credit record to a credit bureau;
6. May assess necessary charges to reconstruct student enrollment records;
7. Withhold transcripts and/or grade reports;
8. Require full payment (CASH ONLY) of all tuition, fees and books for subsequent registrations.
9. Require that students, as a condition of receiving college services without full payment, sign a payroll deduction authorization and deduct delinquent account balances from a student’s college paycheck.

All tuition and fees are due in full by the end of the first week of the term.

If a student is not able to pay his/her tuition in full, he/she may set up a deferred payment contract. This requires a $25.00 non-refundable contract fee plus 1/3 of the total tuition due as a down payment. The remaining tuition is paid in two (2) equal payments during the term. For students residing in on-campus housing, a year-long payment contract can be established to cover the entire year’s expenses. Please contact the Student 1st Stop Center for additional information.

Any student that has not paid his/her tuition or established a payment contract by the end of the first week of the term will automatically be set up on a deferred payment contract and charged the $25.00 payment contract set-up fee.

All past due accounts will be charged a $25.00 late fee and interest at 15% per annum, 1.25% per month.

The charge for a non-sufficient funds check is $26.

Student will pay all attorney’s fees, collection costs and any other charges necessary for the collection of any amount not paid when due.

PLEASE NOTE: If you withdraw from classes AFTER the refund period, you are not eligible for a tuition refund and you must still pay the balance due on any loans, deferred tuition contracts, and accounts receivable.

COSIGNERS on all student loans will receive a copy of this procedure at the time they sign for the loan. If sanctions are imposed, cosigners will be billed for payment of the loan. The Administrative Action for Nonpayment applies to COSIGNERS.

Students having problems meeting their financial obligation should address their questions to Accounts Receivable and the Student 1st Stop Center Supervisor.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Empire Hall, Room 208 -- 888-7801
Student activities are a part of student development at Southwestern Oregon Community College and are supervised by the Student Life Coordinator. The Office of Student Activities is committed to helping students coordinate and participate in activities and programs on campus. A typical activities/program list includes (but is not limited to):

• Associated Student
• Dances
• Blood drives
• Entertainment
• Intramurals
• Awards convocation
• Guest lectures

The Office of Student Activities works for students. Feel free to stop by to see what Student Activities has to offer you.

STUDENT CLUBS and ORGANIZATIONS
Student clubs and organizations exist to provide services to the College and the community, giving students an opportunity to expand their educational experience beyond the classroom setting. Student groups are always encouraged to organize new clubs and to participate in existing clubs. For more information, drop by the Office of Student Activities or the ASG Offices in Empire Hall. Some of the active clubs on campus are:

• Alpha Beta Gamma (Accounting)
• CPU Club
• Curry Student Activity Club
• Forestry
• Geology Club
• Human Services
• Judo Club
• Nursing
• Phi Theta Kappa (Academic Honor Society)
• Dance/Cheer Team
• Sigma Omega (Criminal Justice)
• Campus Crusade
  

STUDENT HOUSING
Dellwood 7, 888-7635
Southwestern has on-campus housing for up to 387 students. These apartment style units have four bedrooms with designated single and double room availability, two shared bathrooms, and a shared living room, dining room, kitchen, balcony or patio, and storage closets. Each bedroom has a single bed, desk, chair, dresser, and allocated closet space.

Shared areas are fully furnished with one kitchen table, four chairs, a sofa, love seat, end tables, and coffee table. All kitchens have a full-size stove and refrigerator. Each private bedroom includes local phone service, satellite TV, and Internet connection at no additional expense to the student. Students living in campus housing are required to participate in the food service program. Students will also have access to the Lighthouse Depot used for studying, activities, and laundry. All students living in Housing are assigned a personal mail box.

For more information or to apply for a room, please stop by the Housing Office in Dellwood 7, or call 888-7635.

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