Academic Programs
The updated list of academic programs offered by Southern Careers Institute, facility information and current listing of faculty and staff can be found in the current catalog under the sections entitled “Programs, Facilities and Equipment, Southern Careers Institute Staff and Faculty
Accreditation, Approval, and/or Licensure
Southern Careers Institute is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education 7840 Roswell Ridge, Bldg. 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, Georgia 30350, www.council.org.
APPROVING BODIES
Texas
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulating (TDLR)
Texas Health and Human Services (HHS)
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Texas Workforce Commission, Career Schools and Colleges
LICENSING INFORMATION
The following programs have been determined to meet the requirements to sit for the profession’s licensure exam in the state of Texas:
Cosmetology
Nurse Aide
Pharmacy Technician
No determination has been made about whether these programs meet the licensure exam requirements in any other state.
Annual Security Report
Southern Careers Institute is strongly committed to crime prevention and the safety of the campus community. Safety helps to ensure a productive learning environment for students, faculty, and staff. In accordance with the Campus Security Act, SCI releases security reports to keep you well-informed about campus security.
More information regarding campus safety and security and the current Annual Security Report can be found here.
Arbitration Agreements
SCI requires each student to agree to a pre-dispute arbitration agreement and a class action waiver as a condition of enrollment (“Arbitration Agreement”). The Arbitration Agreement does not, in any way, limit, relinquish, or waive a student’s ability to pursue filing a borrower defense claim, pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 685.206(e) at any time. The Arbitration Agreement does not require that the student participate in arbitration or any internal dispute resolution process offered by SCI prior to filing a borrower defense to repayment application with the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 685.206(e). Any arbitration, required by the Arbitration Agreement, tolls (pauses) the limitations period for filing a borrower defense to repayment application pursuant to 34 C.F.R. § 685.206(e)(6)(ii) for the length of time that the arbitration proceeding is under way. Questions about the Arbitration Agreement or a dispute relating to a student’s Title IV Federal student loans, or the educational services for which the loans were provided should be directed to [email protected].
Career and Placement Services
Career Services are available for both graduates and active students. Attention is given to matching graduates with prospective employers and positions that are compatible with their entry-level career goals, qualifications, and experience. SCI does not guarantee employment or a starting salary upon graduation, completion, or withdrawal from SCI.
Career Services staff:
- Strive to meet with every student prior to graduation for an exit interview that includes the development of a customized job search profile, creation of a marketable entry level resume and a mock interview assessment
- Provide resume writing assistance, interview preparation, and advising on professional development and job search skills
- Maintain an engaged presence in the local community and positive relationships with employers to be an advocate for students and graduates and assist in the interview and hiring process.
- Share best practices for establishing a professional identity in social media which includes professional networking sites, job boards, and affinity groups with an emphasis on quality content and ethical conduct.
After graduation, graduates not yet employed in their field of training are expected to actively search for training-related employment, and to remain in close contact with Career Services. SCI reserves the right to contact a graduate’s employer through telephone calls, e-mail, social media, texting, or postal mail to verify graduate employment information. Securing employment upon graduation remains the responsibility of the student.
Complaint Policy
Southern Careers Institute is committed to creating a positive experience for all students. The SCI grievance procedure is available to any student who believes that a school decision or action has adversely affected his/her status, rights, or privileges.
The SCI grievance procedure provides a prompt, equitable, and impartial process for resolving student grievances. It is available to any student who believes that a school decision or action, or the action of another student or third party, has adversely affected his or her status, rights, or privileges at SCI.
Student grievances will be addressed confidentially, unless maintaining confidentiality would impede the ability to investigate the attempt to address the student’s concerns. Information will be shared only with those necessary when attempting to resolve the concerns. No reprisals of any kind will be taken by any party or by any member of the SCI administration against any party involved.
During this grievance procedure it may be determined that discrimination, retaliation, or a code of conduct violation has occurred, or an inappropriate academic decision has been made. If so, the adverse academic decision may be reversed, and appropriate corrective and remedial action may be taking up to termination of employment for an SCI faculty or staff member, dismissal of a student, or termination of the relationship with a third party. Additional remedial actions, such as training for supervisors, employees, and/or students, may be implemented to prevent a reoccurrence of the verified issue.
This process will be followed to resolve the grievance reasonably and impartially. The e-mail addresses to be used for reporting grievances to the Directors of Education and Campus Directors are as follows:
* Fully online students included
- Students may notify the Director of Education of grievances/complaints involving another student or a third party by using the email address above. The Director of Education will investigate the claim and attempt to resolve the issue. Resolution may include a mediated conversation between involved parties.
- If the student has attempted unsuccessfully to resolve a grievance/complaint directly with a school employee, the student should then bring the concerns to the Director of Education. The Director of Education will investigate the claim and attempt to resolve the issue. Resolution may include a mediated conversation between involved parties.
- Grievances/complaints not resolved with the Director of Education may be escalated to the Campus Director by submitting a written statement to the Campus Director email address above. The written statement includes:
- The student’s specific concerns or allegations
- The date that the student met with the SCI faculty or staff member as outlined in Step 1 above (if applicable)
- The outcome of the meeting with the SCI faculty or staff member as outlined in Step 1 above (if applicable)
- The date that the student met with the Director of Education as outlined in Step 2 above
- The outcome of the meeting with the Director of Education or staff member as outlined in Step 2 above
- The outcome that the student seeks
Within five (5) calendar days of receipt of the student’s written statement, the Campus Director will:
- Meet with the student to discuss the grievance, and
- Investigate, including a hearing, to give all parties involved an opportunity to present evidence and provide statements relevant to the matter
The Campus Director will provide a written decision providing findings, conclusions, and reasoning within three (3) calendar days after the hearing. A written copy of the decision will be provided to the student in person or by email. The student’s original written complaint and the Campus Director’s decision will be retained in the files of all parties involved (faculty files for faculty and academic files for students).
If, after following the process above (or when circumventing the process) a student remains unsatisfied with the outcome, and wishes to escalate their concerns further, the student may then direct their grievance and requests to:
Southern Careers Institute
Attn: Compliance
1700 Directors Blvd, Ste. 800
Austin, TX 78744
(512)-437-7500
[email protected]
The student may also contact:
The Council on Occupational Education
7840 Roswell Road
Building 300, Suite 325
Atlanta, GA 30350
(800) 917-2081
A student in a certificate or diploma program may also file a complaint with:
Texas Workforce Commission
Career Schools and Colleges
101 E. 15th Street
Austin, Texas 78778-0001
(800) 628-5115
https://www.twc.texas.gov/partners/career-schools-colleges-resources
A student in a degree program may also file a complaint with:
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Office of General Counsel
P. O. Box 12788
Austin, Texas 78711-2788
[email protected]
All submitted complaints must include a student complaint form, a signed Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Consent and Release form, and a THECB Consent and Agreement Form. Submitted complaints regarding students with disabilities shall also include a signed Authorization to Disclose Medical Record Information form.
Completion/Graduation and Transfer-Out Rates
The overall graduation rate is also known as the “Student Right to Know” or IPEDS graduation rate. It tracks the progress of students who began their studies as full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking students to see if they complete a degree or other award such as a certificate within 150% of “normal time” for completing the program in which they are enrolled.
Some institutions also report a transfer-out rate, which is the percentage of the full-time, first-time students who transferred to another institution. Note that not all students at the institution are tracked for these rates. Students who have already attended another postsecondary institution, or who began their studies on a part-time basis, are not tracked for this.
Graduation rates can be measured over different lengths of time. “Normal time” is the typical amount of time it takes full-time students to complete their program. For example, the “normal” amount of time for many associate degree programs is 2 years. Not all students complete within the normal time, so graduation rates are measured by other lengths of time as well, including “150% of normal time” (e.g., 3 years for a 2-year program) and “200% of normal time,” or twice as long as the normal time (e.g., 4 years for a 2-year program).
Information about the Completion/Graduation and Transfer-out rates at SCI is available on the College Navigator website here.
Constitution Day
Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who are born in the U.S. or who by naturalization have become citizens. Each year on September 17, SCI celebrates Constitution Day through activities and educational programming. If the event falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, Constitution Day activities are held during the preceding or following week.
Contact Information Regarding Institutional or Financial Aid
SCI’s knowledgeable team of education finance specialists are dedicated to each student’s educational goals and are familiar with financial aid programs available. For assistance with completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or to determine eligibility for loans, grants, and/or scholarships, please contact a Financial Aid team member who will assist with any questions you may have.
Austin [email protected]
Brownsville [email protected]
Corpus Christi [email protected]
Pharr [email protected]
San Antonio South [email protected]
San Antonio North [email protected]
Waco [email protected]
Online [email protected]
Copyright Infringement Policies and Sanctions
Southern Career Institute’s policies prohibit use of the SCI institutional equipment and/or computer network to engage in illegal copying or distribution of copyrighted works. A violation of the prohibition on use of SCI’s information technology system can result in termination of network access for the student or employee and/or other disciplinary action including removal of the student from the institution or termination of the employee.
The unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material, including unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing and photocopying, may subject students and individuals to civil and criminal liabilities. Almost all the music, movies, television shows, software, games, and images found on the Internet are protected by federal copyright law. The owner of the copyright in these works has the right to control their distribution, modification, reproduction, public display, and public performance. It is generally illegal therefore to use file sharing networks to download and share copyrighted works without the copyright owner’s permission unless “fair use” or another exemption under copyright law applies.
Fair use under the federal Copyright Act allows the use without permission of copyrighted material for the purpose of criticism, comment, and news reporting or teaching under certain limited circumstances. There is no blanket exception from liability for students or employees of educational institutions, however, and whether the use of copyrighted material without permission falls within “fair use” or one of the other exceptions in the Act depends on a very detailed, case-by-case analysis of various factors. Students should be aware that sharing music, videos, software, and other copyrighted materials is likely not to be considered a ‘fair use” and may be a violation of the law.
A violation of the institution’s policy for use of its information technology system can result in termination of network access for the student and/or other disciplinary action including removal of the student from the institution. Moreover, there are severe civil and criminal penalties for copyright infringement under federal law. A copyright owner is entitled to recover actual damages and profits resulting from an infringement, but also may recover statutory damages ranging from $750 to $30,000 per work for a non-willful infringement and up to $150,000 for a willful infringement, even if there is no proof of actual damages, in addition to court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. The government also can file criminal charges that can result in fines and imprisonment.
SCI’s policies regarding copyright infringement via the Internet prohibit the illegal downloading or unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials using the institution’s information technology system. SCI’s policies prohibit use of the SCI computer network and instructional equipment to engage in illegal copying or distribution of copyrighted works such as by unauthorized peer-to-peer file sharing (i.e., the sharing of copyrighted works, typically in digital or electronic files, without permission).
Cost of Attendance
Per federal regulation, the Financial Aid Office uses a cost of Attendance (COA) to process financial aid for each period of enrollment in a program.
The COA is an estimate of total direct and indirect costs, Students are charged only for direct costs (tuition and fees). Indirect costs (room and board, travel, and personal) are those expenses that may incur while attending school. Indirect costs vary from student to student and are based on personal living style and arrangements. Indirect costs are not charged to the student.
In order to determine the maximum amount of aid allowable during the period of enrollment, the college includes tuition and fees as well as an estimate of additional expenses that may be incurred while attending school. All sources of aid that a student may qualify for (such as federal, state, scholarships, agency, and other types of aid) are applied toward the maximum amount of aid.
**The COA is not the actual cost to attend SCI
2021-2022 Cost of Attendance can be found here
Disability Services and Facilities
Southern Careers Institute is committed to providing full academic access to all qualified students, including those with disabilities. For the purposes of ADA considerations, a disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of a physical or mental impairment that substantially limited one or more major life activities, or a condition which causes an individual to be regarded as having an impairment, whether they have the impairment or not. If a student wishes to have accommodations during their enrollment at SCI, they should follow the ADA Accommodation/Section 504 request process outlined in the catalog.
SCI will provide reasonable accommodations and/or auxiliary aids/services to qualified students with identified physical or mental limitations, although the student is not required to accept some or all accommodations provided. Requests for accommodations and/or auxiliary aids/services are considered on a case-by-case basis and will vary depending on the individual’s circumstances.
More information on the accommodation request process and SCI’s disability policies can be found in the current catalog
Questions regarding ADA/Section 504 accommodations should be directed to:
ADA/Section 504 Coordinator:
Jody Cohen
Vice President of Compliance
[email protected]
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program
Southern Careers Institute (“SCI”) is committed to providing a safe, drug- and alcohol-free environment for students, employees, and visitors. The Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program (DAAPP) articulates SCI’s approach to maintaining this safe environment, with resources for students and employees. The DAAPP is distributed annually to all enrolled students and all employees, and can be found here
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program Review
Southern Careers Institute conducts a biennial review of its Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program (DAAPP) in even-numbered years to determine the program’s effectiveness and ensure that sanctions imposed for violations of the standards of conduct identified in the DAAPP are consistently enforced. The review also identifies any proposed revisions for implementation during the next biennium. A copy of the 2022 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program Biennial Review Report can be found here
Federal Student Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations
Beginning with the 2021-2022 award year, having a drug conviction will no longer impact a student’s federal financial aid eligibility. The content below is referencing the regulation prior to July 1,2021.
As indicated in HEA Section 484(r), 34 CFR 668.40, a federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student from receiving Federal Student Aid Funds.
Self-Identification
Students who are interested in federal student aid must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA includes a question that asks, “Have you been convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, work-study, or loans)?” Students must answer this question. If the answer is “yes” to this question, the student will be provided with an additional worksheet to determine if they are currently eligible for federal student aid.
Not all drug convictions should be reported on the FAFSA
- Students should only report drug-related convictions for offenses that occurred during periods of enrollment for which they were receiving federal financial aid. Students should answer “No” to this question for any convictions that occurred during times when they were not receiving federal financial aid.
- Students should not report convictions that were reversed, set aside, or otherwise rendered invalid.
- Students should not report convictions while they were a juvenile (under 18) unless they were tried as an adult.
- Alcohol and tobacco are not considered illegal drugs under this regulation.
Periods of Ineligibility
The length of time that a student is ineligible due to drug-related offenses depends on the type of offense and the number of convictions. Students become ineligible for federal student aid from the date of conviction through a scheduled timeframe. The following chart outlines the timeframes for which students become ineligible for federal financial aid due to drug convictions.
Offense | Possession of Illegal Drugs | Sale of Illegal Drugs |
1st Offense | One year from date of conviction | Two years from the date of conviction |
2nd Offense | Two years from date of conviction | Indefinite period of ineligibility |
3rd Offense | Indefinite period of eligibility | Indefinite period of ineligibility |
Students that have additional drug-related convictions after filing the FAFSA may have extended periods of ineligibility or may lose their eligibility indefinitely.
Regaining Eligibility
Students with suspended federal eligibility may regain their eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility expires (one year plus one day, two years plus one day).
Students may shorten their period of ineligibility or regain eligibility from an indefinite timeframe by meeting at least one of the following means:
- Having a conviction reversed, set aside, or otherwise rendered invalid
- Successfully completing an acceptable drug rehabilitation program that includes two unannounced drug tests
- Passing two unannounced drug tests administered by an acceptable drug rehabilitation program
Acceptable Drug Rehabilitation Program
An acceptable drug rehabilitation program must include two unannounced drug tests, and at least one of the following:
- Be qualified to receive funds from a federal, state, or local government program, or from a federal- or state-licensed insurance company, or
- Be administered or recognized by a federal, state, or local government agency or court, or by a federal- or state-licensed hospital, health clinic, or medical doctor.
Not all drug rehabilitation programs administer unannounced drug testing. Students who contact a program for potential admission should explain the need for unannounced drug testing and inquire if the program can meet this requirement.
Many programs do not provide drug tests to individuals that have not been admitted to treatment. To meet the drug testing requirement without going through a drug rehabilitation program, students must arrange with an acceptable drug rehabilitation program to administer the unannounced drug tests.
Other Drug Laws
The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 includes provisions that authorize federal and state judges to deny certain federal benefits, including federal financial aid, to persons convicted to drug trafficking or possession. The Department of Education maintains a hold list for applicants that have had such a judgment against them. Students will be notified that they are not eligible for federal financial aid and to whom they may inquire if they have questions.
Should I file a FAFSA if I have a drug-related conviction?
Yes, Southern Careers Institute encourages all students to submit at FAFSA. If you have been convicted of a drug-related offense while you were receiving federal financial aid, you may still be eligible for institutional, state, and privately funded financial aid. If your ineligibility period expires or you complete an acceptable drug rehabilitation program, inform the financial aid office so that a determination of available aid options can be completed on your behalf.
Additional Questions
For more information on this subject, current and prospective students should contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
Fire Safety Report
Information regarding Campus Emergency Response can be found here
Information for Crime Victims About Disciplinary Proceedings
Information regarding disciplinary proceedings for crime victims can be found here
Job Placement Rates
The placement rates for each program, as reported in the 2020 annual report to SCI’s accreditor, can be found below.
Programs | Austin (Main) | Brownsville | Corpus Christi | Harlingen | Pharr | San Antonio North | San Antonio South | Waco |
Associate of Applied Science |
Management (T/D) | 93.00% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Diploma |
Administrative Assistant (T/D) | N/A | 100.00% | N/A | N/A | 87.00% | N/A | 86.00% | N/A |
Business Accounting Specialist (T/D) | 100.00% | 97.00% | 100.00% | 89.00% | 98.00% | 90.00% | 76.00% | N/A |
Business Administration (T/D) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator (T/H) | 100.00% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 94.00% | N/A | N/A |
Computer Support Specialist (T/D) | 91.00% | 91.00% | | N/A | 87.00% | 84.00% | N/A | N/A |
Cosmetology Operator (T/H) | N/A | 92.00% | 87.00% | N/A | N/A | N/A | 83.00% | N/A |
Cyber Security (T/D) | 94.00% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Data Science (T/D) | 89.00% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Electrical Technician (T/H) | N/A | 86.00% | N/A | N/A | N/A | 73.00% | N/A | 73.00% |
HVAC (T/H) | 89.00% | N/A | N/A | 88.00% | N/A | 90.00% | N/A | N/A |
Medical Assistant (T/H) | 88.00% | 84.00% | 85.00% | 88.00% | 81.00% | 77.00% | 86.00% | 76.00% |
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist (T/D) | 74.00% | 85.00% | 85.00% | 88.00% | 95.00% | 84.00% | 84.00% | 100.00% |
Medical Office Specialist (T/D) | N/A | 83.00% | N/A | N/A | 74.00% | N/A | 83.00% | 80.00% |
Mobile Application Developer (T/D) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Pharmacy Technician (T/H) | N/A | 78.00% | 88.00% | N/A | 100.00% | N/A | 86.00% | N/A |
Software Developer (T/D) | 72.00% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Welding (T/H) | 79.00% | N/A | 86.00% | 89.00% | 81.00% | 85.00% | N/A | N/A |
Certificate |
Nurse Aide (T) | N/A | 82.00% | 94.00% | N/A | 80.00% | N/A | 88.00% | N/A |
Net Price Calculator
https://prospect.studentaidprocess.com/saintprospect/(S(zvqmwvarai5nvt4uzt5h1qrk))/netpricecalculator?corpid=64
Privacy of Student Records-Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS UNDER FERPA WITH RESPECT TO STUDENT RECORDS
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or one who attends a postsecondary institution. These rights include:
- The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day SCI receives a request for access. A student should obtain a Request to Inspect and Review Education Records form from the portal and submit to the Campus Director, a written request that identifies the record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The school official will arrange for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. Students are not entitled to inspect and review financial records of their parents. If the records are not maintained by the school official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
- The right to request an amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the school to amend a record should write to the Campus Director, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested, the school will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
- The right to provide written consent before SCI discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
The school discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the institution in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of directors; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of SCI who performs an institutional service of function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of the education records, such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, or a student volunteering to assist another school official in performing their tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill their professional responsibilities for the institution.
Parental access to a student’s record will be allowed by SCI without prior consent if: (a) the student has violated a law or the institution’s rules or policies governing alcohol or substance abuse, if the student is under 21 years old; or (b) the information is needed to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals in an emergency.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by SCI to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
U.S. Department of Education
Student Privacy Policy Office
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-8520
https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/file-a-complaint
FERPA permits the disclosure of education records, without consent of the student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in the FERPA regulations. Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the student, FERPA regulations requires the institution to record the disclosure. Eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures. A postsecondary institution may disclose education records without obtaining prior written consent of the student in the following instances:
- To other school officials, including teachers, within SCI whom the school has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions.
- To officials of another school where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer.
- To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U. S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as a State postsecondary authority that is responsible for supervising the institution’s State-supported education programs. Disclosures under this provision may be made, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf.
- In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.
- To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction.
- To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions.
- To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena.
- To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency.
- In compliance with FERPA and the Buckley Amendment, SCI gives notice that the following types of “directory information” may be released to the general public and agencies without the written consent of the student: the student’s name, address (es), telephone number(s), e-mail address, birthdate and place, program undertaken, dates of attendance, honors and awards, photographs and credential awarded.
If a student does not want their directory information to be released to third parties without the student’s consent, the student must present such a request in writing to the Campus Director within 45 days of the student’s enrollment or by such later date as the institution may specify. Under no circumstance may the student use the right to opt out to prevent the institution from disclosing that student’s name, electronic identifier, or institutional e-mail address in a class in which the student is enrolled.
- To a victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense. The disclosure may only include the results of the disciplinary proceeding with respect to that alleged crime or offense, regardless of the finding.
- To the public, the results of a disciplinary proceeding if the school determines the student is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense and the student has committed a violation of the school’s rules or policies with respect to the allegation made against them. To parents of a student regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or of any rule or policy of the school, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the school determines the student committed a disciplinary violation and the student is under the age of twenty-one.
Refund Policy, Withdrawal, and Return of Title IV Financial Aid
The current institutional and accreditor refund policies along can be found in the current catalog under the section entitled “Refund Policy.”
Withdrawal Procedure
Enrolled students wishing to withdraw from school will notify the Director of Education or Registrar, either verbally or in writing. The withdrawal will be effective as of the date of the verbal request, the postmark date on a mailed request, or the send date of an electronic notification. Only the student may request to be withdrawn unless express written authorization is provided to a third-party representative.
Return to Title IV
Federal Law specifies how the school must determine the amount of federal financial assistance that a student earns when the student withdraws. The law requires that when a student withdraws during a payment period, the amount of student financial aid program assistance that is earned will be determined by a specific formula. If a student received (or the school received on the student’s behalf) less assistance than the amount that is earned, the student may be able to receive additional funds. If more assistance was received then was earned, the excess funds must be returned. This process must be completed within 45 days of the date of determination and returns will be made according to federal guidelines. The amount of assistance that is earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. That is, if a student completes 30 percent of the payment period, the student earns 30 percent of the assistance originally scheduled to be received. Once a student completes more than 60 percent of the payment period, all of the assistance for the period is earned.
Refunds are processed automatically, and students are not required to request a refund for the refund to be made.
Retention Rates
Information about retention rates at SCI is available on the College Navigator website College Navigator is maintained by the U.S. Department of Education National Center for Educational Statistics. The Enrollment section contains information about the gender and race / ethnicity distribution of students. The most recent information for SCI campuses can be found here
Student Body Diversity
Information about the composition of students at SCI is available on the College Navigator website. College Navigator is maintained by the U.S. Department of Education National Center for Educational Statistics. The Enrollment section contains information about the gender and race / ethnicity distribution of students. The most recent information for SCI campuses can be found here
Student Financial Aid Information
Financial assistance may be a combination of grants and loans that supplement the student’s contribution to funding their education. As an accredited post-secondary institution, SCI has various federal financial assistance programs available for qualified students enrolled in SCI programs. This does not apply to seminar students.
SCI participates in the following Federal Student Aid programs, eligibility determined by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“FAFSA”):
- Federal Pell Grant
- Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- William D. Ford Direct Loan Program
Grant aid is available to students who qualify, and it does not have to be paid back.
SCI will assist students in developing financial plans to pay for their education through a combination of student/family contributions, financial aid, if eligible, and finance plans. Eligibility for financial assistance is determined by using standard, federally approved methods of needs analysis. Students will be interviewed individually to determine a financial arrangement that suits their needs and personal situation, and which meets the requirements of the school.
Students may be required to make monthly payments while attending school, the amounts based on the program and the amount of financial aid the student may be receiving. Failure to keep all payments current may result in dismissal from school.
Textbook Information
Textbook charges are included in tuition. Students attending SCI can locate textbook, eBook and related information for each course on their course outline. Questions related to the textbook information may be directed to Campus Director or Director of Education at the enrolled campus.
Transfer of Credit Policies
Students may transfer course credit for up to 75% of the total credits in a program from other post-secondary institutions accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education. Transfer of credit will be awarded based on an evaluation of the official academic transcript(s). It is strongly recommended that students request transfer credit when starting their programs.
Credit may be provisionally granted for financial aid packaging using unofficial transcripts but verified only upon receipt of official transcripts no later than the 21st calendar day of the student’s enrollment. If official transcripts are not received, the transfer credit determination will be rescinded. Students may be required to provide the previous institution’s course syllabus or school catalog containing course descriptions. SCI does not offer remedial courses and will not accept transfer credit for these courses. Transfer credit evaluation determinations are final. Transfer courses receive a grade of “TR”.
Courses will be eligible for transfer consideration if:
- The student has not taken the course at SCI with any grade posted,
- The final grade is the equivalent of “C” or better,
- Credits were completed within the past five (5) years (excluding General Education courses),
- Credits were completed for General Education courses within the past 10 years,
- The transfer course content matches the SCI course objectives and is comparable in nature, and
- The course applies to the graduation requirements of the program.
Foreign Transcripts
Prospective students who wish to submit academic coursework completed outside of the U.S. for transfer consideration must have their transcripts evaluated by an educational credential evaluation service. Students must have official copies of evaluations sent directly to the SCI Registrar’s Office from the credential evaluation service.
Credit for Military Training and Experience
SCI utilizes the Joint Services Transcript (JST) that provides documented evidence to colleges and universities of professional military education, training and occupation experiences achieved by service members and veterans.
Standardized Testing
Proficiency credit may be awarded for specific courses to students who achieve acceptable scores on specific nationally recognized exams such as College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP), and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES.) The American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations are used when awarding CLEP or DANTES credit. Credit for AP coursework is based upon the student’s score of three (3) or better on the AP examination. The student must provide an official transcript showing their test scores for credit to be awarded. Credit for military training or standardized testing classes receive a grade of “PR”.
Program Transfers Within the Institution
Students who wish to change their program or who have previously withdrawn from SCI and wish to return in a different program, must request a program transfer. Program transfers cannot occur during a course. Previously attempted SCI courses that apply to the new program will be applied to the student’s new academic record, including all academic grades earned (A, B, C, F, and W).
Transfer of Credit to Other Institutions
Acceptance of credits earned at SCI is determined solely by the receiving institution. Students who may wish to transfer after attending SCI are encouraged to contact the school they wish to attend to determine if their credits, certificate, diploma, or degree will transfer. SCI does not guarantee transferability of credits earned at SCI.
Vaccinations Policy
SCI does not generally require specific immunizations beyond those requirements that may be imposed by federal or state laws. Some programs may have specific requirements. For externship, students must comply with all health and safety requirements established by the facility hosting the externship. Please visit the admissions pages in the catalog for specific programmatic admissions requirements. Students are encouraged to consult with their health care provider to discuss obtaining or updating their vaccinations.
Voter Registration Forms
SCI students are encouraged to register to vote in state and federal elections. Voter registration information can be found here.
