Admissions Policy

This policy was posted for public comment from November 9 – 27, 2023

Comments

It would be good to have clarification regarding high school students, those in 9–12th grade, who are eligible to attend SLTC classes and programs tuition free, per 53B-2a-106. Technical colleges -- Duties. (1) Each technical college shall, within the geographic area served by the technical college: (a) offer technical education programs; (b) offer a program described in Subsection (1)(a) at: (i) low cost to adult students, as approved by the board; and (ii) no tuition to secondary students; This, I believe, is different from section E. Early Enrollment (Special Status Student).
I would like some explanation of the following section: G. Selective Admission 1. When developing selective admission requirements and procedures, academic administrators should provide a fair, equitable, and transparent process that ensures each student is properly notified of the acceptance decision. Which academic administrator (AD, or Dean or Program lead)? And it does not seem consistent with H. Selective Admission Standards Selective admission standards shall be developed by an ad hoc committee comprised of academic department faculty members, Student Affairs representation, college administration, and Risk Management. This committee does not have an academic administrator on it.... unless that is what is meant by "college administration"?
General Comments: 1. Does this policy and procedures make it too difficult for students to understand the admissions process in this “open admissions” college? 2. The college should get a student admitted first before it makes a special status determination. 3. It is important to review the admissions webpage to make sure that students will have an understandable resource to navigate when seeking admission to the college. 4. Does Salt Lake Community College need a separate policy for registering for classes? Section 1 Policy Statement 5. First paragraph, second sentence-Delete the words “outside of the workplace.” They are not applicable to students’ seeking admission to college. 6. Second paragraph, first sentence-This should be changed from Utah Code “53A “to “53B.” There is no Utah Code 53A. 7. Second paragraph, first sentence. Change the first sentence to state “Students under the age of eight who have not completed high school or high school equivalency must comply with Utah Code 53B-11-102. Delete the words “or their class has not.”. Add the words “high school equivalency.” 8. Second paragraph, second sentence-Can students who attend private schools or are home schooled be admitted to the college as special status students? As drafted, this is only limited to public school students. This should probably be changed to include private school students and home-schooled students. 9. Second paragraph, second sentence-Should the 10th grade completion requirement be revised so that that this provision can be applicable to students who are home schooled? 10. Second paragraph, second sentence-This sentence is confusing. Would a 15-year petition for special status understand this language? What does exhaustion of all educational resources at the secondary level mean? 11. Second paragraph, second sentence-If only public-school students can obtain special status, consider rewording this sentence as follows: “Only students enrolled in public school can be enrolled can be admitted as special status students.” 12. Third paragraph-Change sentence to “previous academic status at other institutions shall not constitute criteria for acceptance or denial of admission.” Add words “acceptance or”. Section 3-Definitions 13. Section 3.H-Change “Readmit” definition from “period of less than three years” to “period of greater than one year.” This revision will be more consistent with current practice. 14. Section 3.J-A special status student is a concurrent enrollment student. Should we refer to the student being a concurrent enrollment student? It seems like this would be easier for people to understand. 15. Section 4.D.2 sets forth the criteria for a guest student. Shouldn’t guest student be a definition? 16. In the policy statement, the term “educational resources” is used. There should be a definition describing what “educational resources” must be exhausted. Section 4-Procedure 17. General Question-Are the admission requirements set forth in the procedures applicable to Salt Lake Technical College? If so, should we explicitly state this? 18. General Statement-The policy statement refers to special status students, but the procedures don’t set forth the process for how the college makes a special status determination. Perhaps a subsection should be made to explain this. 19. Section 4.A.1-The implemented guidelines referenced in this section should be made a link to the policy. 20. Section 4.A.2 states, “general admission procedure allows admission and registration on a first come, first served basis…” Considering deleting “and registration” because this is an admissions policy. 21. Section 4.B.1- The implemented guidelines referenced in this section should be made a link to the policy. 22. Section 4.D.1- The implemented guidelines referenced in this section should be made a link to the policy. 23. Section 4.D.3 Change sentence to state: A general admissions application for SLCC must be submitted if a student has no previous SLCC college credit. Add “SLCC” before college credit. 24. Section 4.E.1- The implemented guidelines referenced in this section should be made a link to the policy. 25. Section 4.E.2. The appeal process guidelines referenced in this section should be made a link to the policy. 26. Section 4.G-If there are selective admission requirements and procedures, they should be made a link to the policy.

Responses

General Questions

Does this policy and procedures make it too difficult for students to understand the admissions process in this “open admissions” college?

Most students will not read the admissions policy before applying for admission to the school. Students can be guided through the admissions process via instructions on the SLCC website and visits with SLCC admissions advisors and/or high school counselors. Our hope is that by changing the policy this will simplify the process significantly which is what students interact with, few students interact with the policy.

Shouldn’t the college get a student admitted first before it makes a special status determination? (4.E and F).

The special status determination is made as part of the admissions process. We do not admit students as traditional degree seeking students if they meet the definition of a special status student.

Does Salt Lake Community College need a separate policy for registering for classes?

This is a great suggestion; however, this is the not the scope of this policy. Registration is not part of the Admissions Office and is not governed by this policy.

Definitions (sections 1, 3 and 4.D.2)

Re-Admit Definition Concern (3.H) – suggestion to change “period of less than three years” to “period of greater than one year” to be more consistent with current practices.

Additions have been made. Section 3.J. now reads, “Re-Admit: the return to active registration status of a student absent from the institution for a period of greater than one year.” 4.B.3. now reads, “Students who have been away from the college for more than one year must complete an admissions update form.”

Special Status Student Definition Concern (3.J) – should we refer to the special status student being a concurrent enrollment student? It seems like this would be easier for people to understand.

Special Status Students include Early Enrollment Students so that status is used for more than just Concurrent Enrollment Students.

Suggestions to Add Definitions for Guest Student (4.D.2) and Educational Resources (1) – in the policy statement, the term “educational resources” is used. What does exhaustion of all educational resources at the secondary level mean?

Definitions have been added for both Guest Students (3.E) and Educational Resources (3.D).

Clarification Requested Regarding the Policy Statement (section 1)

Can students who attend private schools or are home-schooled be admitted to the college as special status students? Should this be changed to include private school students and home-schooled students? Should the 10th grade completion requirement be revised so that this provision can be applicable to students who are home-schooled? If only public-school students can obtain special status, consider rewording this sentence as follows: “Only students enrolled in public school can be enrolled can be admitted as special status students.” (2nd paragraph, 2nd sentence)

Clarification has been added to that policy that home school and private school students can be admitted as special status students as Early Enrollment Students and in some cases Concurrent Enrollment Students (depending on the school contract).

Would a 15-year-old petitioning for special status understand this language? (2nd paragraph, 2nd sentence)

Clarification has been added to the policy statement (section 1), stating “Special status at SLCC is not meant to replace other educational resources currently available to public and home-schooled students under the age of 15.”

The policy statement refers to special status students, but the procedures (section 4) don’t set forth the process for how the college makes a special status determination. Perhaps a subsection in section 4 should be made to explain this?

Added clarification to the General Admissions Procedures (4.A.3), stating “A student who applies as a general admissions student but would only be eligible for admission as a special status student will be notified by email and given instructions to apply as a Concurrent Enrollment or Early Enrollment special status student.”

Request to Include Clarification in the Policy Regarding Salt Lake Technical College.

Are the admission requirements set forth in the procedures applicable to Salt Lake Technical College? If yes, should this be explicitly stated? What about high school students who are eligible to attend SLTC classes and programs tuition-free, per 53B-2a-106. Isn’t This Different from Section 4.E. Early Enrollment (Special Status Student)?

In response to this suggestion, a section has been added to the policy statement regarding high school students’ admission to SLTC classes and programs tuition free. It reads, “High School students in grades 9-12 are eligible to be admitted to and attend SLTC technical education classes and programs tuition free, per Utah Code 53B-2a-106.” Also added a definition of SLTC Student (3.L.).

Request for Clarification About Academic Administrator Involvement in Sections 4.G.1 and 4.H.

What is meant by an academic administrator in section 4.G.1, “When developing selective admission requirements and procedures, academic administrators should provide a fair, equitable, and transparent process that ensures each student is properly notified of the acceptance decision?” Is it an AD, Dean, or Program lead?

This would be outside of the Admissions Office's purview and would be part of the Curriculum Process, more information on the process is found below.

Section 4.H states “Selective admission standards shall be developed by an ad hoc committee comprised of academic department faculty members, Student Affairs representation, college administration, and Risk Management.” Section 4.G.1 does not seem consistent with 4.H. Also, this ad hoc committee does not appear to have an academic administrator as a member, or is that described by “college administration?”

As an open enrollment institution, selective enrollment programs are very rare. But, when a program would like to be considered selective admission, criteria must be met. As part of the curriculum process, the Academic Administrator over the program provides a rationale for why their program should be considered selective admission. Once it has gone through the curriculum process, that triggers the ad hoc committee to convene, which is comprised of Academic and Student Affairs representatives. The ad hoc committee will determine the process for their specific program needs. Added clarification to the selective admission standard procedures (4.H.).

Technical Changes and Suggestions

Typos – Change References for Utah Code 53A to 53B (section 1)

No, the code is correct: Utah code 53a –11-102. Minors exempt from school attendance outlines when minors can be released or excused from attendance in public schools.

Suggestion deleting “outside of the workplace” from the 1st paragraph, 2nd sentence, as they are not applicable to students’ seeking admission to the college (section 1)

Suggestion was accepted, outside of the workplace has been deleted.

Suggest revising 2nd paragraph, 1st sentence to state “Students under the age of eight who have not completed high school or high school equivalency must comply with Utah Code 53B-11-102.” (section 1)

I am not quite clear on what the suggestion is. But it should say eighteen not eight as listed above. Additionally, and like listed above, the code is 53A not 53B. We did delete “or their class has not” if that was the original suggestion. Additionally, we did add high school equivalency to the policy.

Suggest revising the 3rd paragraph, add the words “acceptance or” to sentence so it reads “previous academic status at other institutions shall not constitute criteria for acceptance or denial of admission.” (section 1)

Suggestion was accepted and wording was changed in the policy.

Section 4.A.2 states, “general admission procedure allows admission and registration on a first come, first served basis…” Consider deleting “and registration” because this is an admissions policy.

Suggestion was accepted and wording was changed in the policy.

Suggest changing 4.D.3 to state: ”A general admissions application for SLCC must be submitted if a student has no previous SLCC college credit.”

Guest Students need college credit from another institution, not previous SLCC credit.

Suggestions for Hyperlinks that Could Be Added to the Policy to Improve Usability. Implemented guidelines in sections 4.A.1, 4.B.2, 4.D.1, 4.E.1, appeal process guidelines referenced in section 4.E.2, and selective admission requirements and procedures in section 4.G.

Hyperlinks were added for all but 4.G. There is not a single hyperlink to link to for selective admissions since it is up to the academic departments, and they have their own policies and procedures depending on the program of study.

General Comment about the Admissions Website

It is important to review the admissions webpage to make sure that students will have an understandable resource to navigate when seeking admission to the college.

We agree and do this on a regular basis. If the admissions policy changes, we will make extensive changes to our website so students can understand the changes to the policy.

SLCC Policies and Procedures