General Information In order for high school courses to qualify for the program, SCCC reviews the course outline, assessment methods, textbooks, and the teacher qualifications to ensure that the course and instructor matches the standards for the courses at the SCCC campus. Instructors also receive training at SCCC. To register, students in the approved courses submit a completed registration form, a certificate of residence, and pay a tuition fee. Tuition for the University in the High School program is one-third the cost of other SCCC courses. In the 2006-07 school year, tuition was $37 per credit hour. So a regular SCCC, three-credit course would cost $333, but with the University in the High School program, students could earn those same three credits for $111. The college credits the students earn can be applied to an SCCC program of study or transferred to other postsecondary institutions. Per SUNY agreement, transfer credits of a “C” or higher are accepted for transfer by other SUNY colleges and universities. A majority of other public and private postsecondary institutions also accept the credit, although sometimes requiring a “B” or higher. Advantages for high school students taking these courses include the reduced tuition cost, the reward of obtaining and accumulating college credits, the opportunity to experience college-level courses, and an insight into future career and study options. Because students are considered members of the SCCC community, they have full access to college facilities, including the library, student computer labs, the Learning Center, Language Lab, tutoring services, and athletic activities. When a student is attending an approved UHS course, Schenectady County Community College provides letters to parents and guardians outlining how students can register for the program. Presentations are often made in the classroom as well. Students can participate in the University in the High School program if they are in grade ten or higher. In general, SCCC does not have a minimum grade point average requirement, but does want students to consider carefully whether they have a high probability of successfully completing the course requirements before registering. SCCC also supports any requirements the high schools may impose for UHS courses. In order to register, students need to submit a completed registration form, a check for the tuition, and a county certificate of residence. Students who live in Schenectady County receive a certificate of residence form to be filled out and signed. Students who reside in other counties receive forms that need to be filled out, notarized, and submitted to the local county treasurer’s office or local township clerk’s office in order to receive an official certificate of residence. Students generally can turn in their registration materials to the course teacher. Once registered,
students receive Student Guides outlining the benefits and expectations
for the program, as well as explaining how to transfer the credits. There
is no limit on the amount of credits students can accumulate, although
they are not allowed to register for more than 11 credits in any one semester. Where do I have these credits? Students who have enrolled in the program and successfully complete the courses have the credits at Schenectady County Community College. This credit is immediately accounted to them if they enroll as students at SCCC. If students choose to go elsewhere for their postsecondary education, they can request the credits be transferred. If students do not earn a “C” grade or higher, they will not be able to use or transfer credits. The grade students receive in the UHS program is the same as the instructor gives them in the high school course. How do I transfer the credits? After high school graduation, those students who want to transfer the credits to another institution can make a request with the Office of Academic Services by filling out a form at the college, or by sending the college a letter requesting the transfer, including the address for sending the credits. There is a $3 fee for transcript requests. Students need to remember to request that the credits be transferred – it will not happen automatically. Will other colleges and universities accept my SCCC credit? Every college or university has the prerogative to decide whether or not to accept credit from another institution. SUNY guidelines, however, do provide for acceptance of credit in all two-year and four-year institutions within the SUNY system, as long as the student earned a “C” or higher. SCCC conducts annual surveys of former students in the University in the High School program to gain statistical information about the success of transfer credits. Generally, results indicate that about 90 percent of the courses in the UHS program are accepted as transfer credit at other institutions, including SUNY, private, and out-of-state. SCCC does not offer a listing of institutions that accept UHS credit because when deciding to accept credit, colleges and universities look at the students’ transcripts on an individual basis. For any number of reasons, an institution could choose to accept the credit for one student and not another.
Students should contact SCCC if they do encounter any problems in transferring the credits, and SCCC may be able to contact the institution on the student’s behalf to discuss the transfer of the credits. Also, students need to remember that the credit is not lost, and stays with them throughout their lives. If they should transfer to another institution or go back to school later in life, they can still request the credit be transferred. The experience of taking and succeeding in a challenging course helps prepare students for their future college careers, and this also is not lost. SCCC is an
accredited member of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships
(NACEP). SCCC is the only accredited institution in the Capital Region,
and one of only a few accredited institutions in New York State. In order
to receive the accreditation, SCCC demonstrated that it adheres to national
standards regarding course and faculty approval and program processes.
NACEP oversees the accreditation process, and also serves as a link between
colleges and universities that offer concurrent enrollment programs such
as University in the High School. More information about NACEP and its
standards can be found at www.nacep.org. SCCC also is affiliated with
SUNY-CEP, a partnership of colleges in New York State that mutually promote
and support concurrent enrollment programs. If you have
any questions about the University in the High School program, or would
like to learn more about it, please contact Sandra Gonzalez, Assistant
for Continuing Education, at (518) 381-1318 or gonzalsk@gw.sunysccc.edu.
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