Admission Requirements

6. must have taken TASP or be TASP exempt.

Students are encouraged to take the TASP test in the Spring semester of their senior year.

Admissions Basis

High School Graduate: A high school transcript showing date of graduation and signed by the authorized official of a high school accredited by the Texas Education Agency must be presented.

College Transfer: Southwest Texas Junior College will accept for admission those students transferring from a regionally accredited institution. Transfer work from these institutions will be accepted upon receipt of an official transcript bearing the school seal and signature of the registrar. Students transferring to SWTJC with 12 or more semester hours do not have to fulfill ORIE 0100 requirement.

GED: An applicant who has successfully completed the General Education Development testing program will be accepted. A copy of the GED certificate and/or an official report of test results must accompany the admissions application.

Individual Approval: An individual 18 years of age or older may be admitted upon approval by the Dean of Admissions and Student Services. The student has to demonstrate that he/she has the ability to benefit from the desired course of study. Home-schooled students will be considered under individual approval. Students must have acceptable scores as determined by the Dean of Admissions and Student Services on one or more of the following: TASP, ACT, SAT, TABE.

Dual/Concurrent Enrollment of High School Students: A student meeting the following criteria may apply for early enrollment to Southwest Texas Junior College:

1. Must have written permission from high school principal;

2. The class load of a high school student shall not exceed two college credit courses per semester.

3. Credit will be granted only when a transcript showing date of high school graduation is received;

4. Must pay all required fees;

5. Must have taken and passed TASP in areas related to course enrollment or be TASP Exempt (p. 35)

Readmission: A student seeking readmission to Southwest Texas Junior College, after a semester or more of non-enrollment, must complete an application for readmission. If a student has attended another college since last enrollment at SWTJC, an official transcript from the other college will be required. Proof of current residency may be required.

Applicants not eligible for admission under one of the above categories should contact the Dean of Admissions and Student Services.

Specialized Admissions

International Students: All international students must meet regular admission requirements. They must show adequate proof of competency in English. They must present a letter from their bank that the family will provide full financial support during the student's stay in the U.S. After the student has met all the above requirements, the college will issue an I-20.

Technical Programs: A number of technical programs have additional admission requirements. Students planning to enroll in these programs should consult the college catalog or contact a SWTJC counselor.

Resident Status

It is the student's responsibility when registering to use the proper residence classification. If there is any question as to right of classification as a resident of Texas or the Southwest Texas Junior College taxing district, it is the student's obligation, prior to or at the time of registration to raise the question with appropriate administrative officials of the institution. Any change in residency status should be reported to the Dean of Admissions and Student Services. A student classified as a non-resident will remain in that status until such time as he or she has made written application for reclassification and the Admissions Office has officially approved the request. All questions concerning residency status should be directed to the Dean of Admissions and Student Services located in the Joe Richarz Memorial Building.

Residence for tuition purposes is determined by state law and is subject to change by the Texas Legislature. The following is furnished to explain and clarify questions concerning residency under the present law:

1. The residence status of a student under 18 years of age is considered to be the same as his/her parents. If parents are divorced, a minor has the same residency status as the parent with whom he/she is residing.

2. A student 18 years of age or older who comes from out of state is considered a non-resident for tuition purposes as long as he/she remains in Texas for educational purposes.

3. Residence for tuition purposes is established by domicile residence in the state for 12 months and actions unequivocally indicative of a fixed intention to become a Texas resident.

4. Persons in the military service and their dependents are classified residents provided they are assigned to a permanent duty station in Texas or maintain their official home of record in Texas with the military service. Non-resident military personnel must submit certification of active duty in Texas at each registration to be eligible for resident tuition rates.

5. An alien is considered to be a non-resident unless he/she is in the United States on an immigrant visa. Students on immigrant visas are classified in reference to resident status the same as United States citizens.

Aliens Who Are Residents of Texas

Texas law states that an individual can be considered a resident of Texas if the individual resided with a parent, guardian, or conservator at least part of the time while he or she attended a public or private high school in this state, and:

1. Graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this state;

2. Resided in this state for at least three years as of the date the person graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma;

3. Registers as an entering student in an institution of higher education not earlier than the 2001 Fall Semester; and

4. Provides to the institution an affidavit that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity the individual is eligible to do so.

The following documents have been found acceptable for determining Texas residency by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Senate Bill 1321 (Barrientos) entitles residents of this state to seek admission to public institutions of higher education without consideration of courses undertaken ten or more years prior to enrollment. This bill has been called the "Right to an Academic Fresh Start." This bill gives students the option of electing to have coursework, taken ten or more years prior to the starting date of the semester in which the applicant seeks to enroll, either counted as usual or ignored for admission purposes. Applicants who elect to apply for admission under this law and who are admitted as students may not receive any course credit for courses undertaken ten or more years prior to enrollment.

The college accepts military credit through the ACE Guide. There is no limit placed on the number of credits accepted. However, students who plan to graduate with an A.A. or A.A.S. degree must complete 25 percent of the required semester hours at Southwest Texas Junior College.

Other than credit for military experience, the college does not accept any other form of experiential credit.

SWTJC awards advanced placement credit (grade “P”) to students who are currently certified in fields for which there is an equivalent technical program curriculum in place. In order for credit to be granted, learning outcomes of the course must directly parallel the competencies designated in the certification process. Described below are the advanced placement course options available to SWTJC students:

1. In the Career Pilot program, students take a series of courses based on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulated curricula. A student already certified by the FAA in a related area may apply for advanced placement credit in the appropriate courses. See Career Pilot Advanced Placement Policy.

2. In the Computer Information Systems program, students take four courses as part of the Local Cisco Academy regulated curriculum that prepare them to become a Certified Cisco Network Associate ( CCNA). A student already certified as a CCNA may apply for advanced placement credit for the four courses. See Computer Information Systems Advanced Placement Policy.

3. In the Homeland Security program, students take two courses based on curriculum of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy Training Academy and two courses based on Basic Emergency Medical Technician Certification (EMT). A student already certified as a U. S. Border Patrol Officer and/or certified as an EMT may apply for advanced placement credit for the appropriate courses. See Homeland Security Advanced Placement Policy.

4. In the Law Enforcement program, students take up to five courses with curriculum regulated by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education (TCLEOSE). A student already licensed as Texas Peace Officer, certified as a Texas Jail Guard, and/or certified as a Telecommunications Operator may apply for advanced placement credit for the appropriate courses. See Law Enforcement

5. In the Vocational Nursing program, students take one course in basic nursing skills based on a curriculum regulated by the State Board of Nursing Examiners. Certified Nurse Aid (CNA) training contains an identical basic skills component. A student already certified as a CNA may apply for advanced placement credit for the basic skills course. See Vocational Nursing Advanced Placement Policy.

Transfer of credit from another institution to Southwest Texas Junior College involves consideration of accreditation, comparability of coursework and applicability of that coursework to a SWTJC degree, diploma, or certificate. Only credits from institutions accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or its parallel associations will be accepted.

A student transferring from an accredited public junior college or university has the same choice of catalog, designating degree requirements, that would have been possible if the student's dates of attendance at Southwest Texas Junior College had been the same as the dates of attendance at the other colleges. However, the student's choice of baccalaureate major and receiving institution major may affect whether or not transferable coursework may be counted toward a degree.