Consumer Information


General Information Notices and Access

Each year a school must distribute to all enrolled students a notice of the availability of the information it must provide in these general categories:

  • General Disclosures
  • Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report
  • Equity in Athletics Data
  • Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) information. This notice will be mailed to each enrolled student.

Southern Union State Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award the Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science and Associate in Occupational Technologies Degrees. Inquires related to the accreditation status of the College may be directed to:

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097
Telephone: (404)679-4501

Southern Union State Community College instructional programs have received individual professional accreditation/approval from the following organizations:

Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) - accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (61Broadway, New York, NY 10006; telephone (212) 363-5555 extension 153; fax
(212) 812-0390; website: www.nlnac.org) and approved by the Alabama State Board of Nursing.

Computer Science Certified Internet Web Professional (CIW) - Authorized academic partner. Pearson VUE authorized Testing Center.

Cosmetology - Approved by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology.

Emergency Medical Services - accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for EMS Professionals (CoAEMSP) (1248 Harwood Road, Bedford, TX 76021-4244; (817) 283-9403).

Nursing Assistant - approved by the Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Healthcare Facilities.

Practical Nursing (PN Program) - approved by the Alabama State Board of Nursing.
Radiologic Technology Program - accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) (20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182, (312) 704-5300).

Surgical Technology Program - accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

Therapeutic Massage - Approved as a licensed Massage Therapy School by the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy. State of Georgia Board Recognized Massage Therapy Educational Program.

Welding - American Welding Society (AWS), Certified Test Facility Southern Union State Community College

Information regarding accreditation is available in the College Catalog/Student Handbook and on the College website.

As part of The Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, information on annual participation rates and financing of men's and women's sports in intercollegiate athletic programs is available upon request to students and the general public. For additional information or to receive a paper copy of the report, contact the Athletic Department, (256) 395-2211.

Information about the College’s policy related to the use of copyrighted material, including peer-to-peer files sharing, may be found under the Acceptable Use Policy heading as outlined in the College Catalog and Student Handbook. Click here for a detailed outline of this policy and sanctions that may be imposed for violations. Students and others are also reminded that copyright infringement is a federal offense punishable by law.

1.Examinations

Students will be expected to take their final examinations at the regularly scheduled times.  No exceptions will be made without the permission of the instructor of the course and the appropriate Dean. The request for an early exam must be made three weeks in advance of the final examination period.  Makeup examinations or early examinations are not permitted unless the student satisfies the faculty member and the Dean that the absence involves an official college trip, a return or responsibility to another educational institution, or an emergency such as illness (doctor’s statement), death in the family, or court appearance.

W-Withdrawal

Grade reports-At the end of each term

Under the Federal Family Educational and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g, Southern Union State Community College may disclose certain student information as “directory information.” Directory information includes the names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and major fields of study of students, as well as information about students’ participation in officially recognized activities and sports, the weight and height of members of athletic teams, the dates of attendance by students, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by a respective student. If any student has an objection to any of the aforementioned information being released during any given term or academic year, the student should notify the Dean of Students through written communication.

Notification of Student rights under FERPA - FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights are:

  1. The right to inspect and to review the student’s education records.
  2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights.
  3. The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
  4. The right to file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by Southern Union State Community College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
  5. The right to obtain a copy of Southern Union State Community College’s student records policy, which is available at the Records Office.

In carrying out their assigned responsibilities, officials at the Southern Union Community College collect and maintain information about students. Although these records are property of the College, both College policy and federal law accord students a number of rights concerning their records. The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) establish the rules and regulations regarding access to and disclosure of student records.

To fulfill FERPA requirements, the College has established policies regarding student records. These policies outline a student's rights regarding his/her records, where records about the student may be kept and maintained, what kinds of information are in those records, the conditions under which the student or anyone else may have access to information in those records, and what action a student can take if it is believed that the information in his/her record is inaccurate or that the student's rights have been compromised. Policies and procedures for privacy of student educational records are published by the Office of the Director of Enrollment Services/Registrar and are included in the College Catalog and Student Handbook and on the College Web site.

The College is also required to annually notify students of their rights under FERPA. Students are provided an annual notice via email.  Interested parties may obtain a paper copy of information regarding FERPA.

 

Southern Union State Community College, located in east central Alabama, is an open-access, public, two-year college operating as a part of The Alabama College System. The mission of the College is to provide quality academic, technical, and health science programs which are affordable, accessible, and responsive to the needs of the community, business, industry, and government. As an open-door institution, the College provides an educational program that compliments the various ability levels of a diverse student population. In support of these efforts, the College employs a highly qualified staff which is active in the planning and evaluation of all programs. The education offered allows for successful transfer entry into upper-level study at a senior college or university, trains for immediate employment upon completion of a technically-oriented program, and provides educational opportunities for those students interested in careers in the health care field.

Southern Union State Community College seeks to offer courses that address the diverse needs of the students and the community. It is the belief of the College that education is a lifelong process; thus, the College seeks to provide effective and relevant programs which assist students in recognizing and more fully utilizing their capabilities. The College seeks to provide students a wide range of opportunities to attain personal fulfillment and to prepare for their responsibilities as citizens. It is the intent of Southern Union to develop and maintain partnerships with business and industry, labor, government, professional organizations, and other academic institutions in order to ensure high quality educational programs and better serve students, employers, and the community as a whole. Through such partnerships, the College is attempting to meet the needs of the existing and future workforce. The College also strives to contribute to the intellectual and cultural activities of the community.

The mission statement is further defined through the institutional goals of Southern Union State Community College which follow:

  • Provide a comprehensive and accessible program of instruction which offers opportunities for lifelong learning through pre-baccalaureate, technical, occupational, health science, and continuing education programs.
  • Assist students in overcoming deficiencies and acquiring skills fundamental to further academic and career achievement.
  • Provide a broad range of services to students which enhance the effectiveness of educational offerings and include academic advising, counseling, career planning, financial assistance, and extracurricular activities.
  • Maintain the pursuit of excellence as the guiding principle for staffing and programming.
  • Maintain cooperative relationships with other educational institutions and agencies at all levels to facilitate smooth articulation to and from college programs.
  • Maintain cooperative relationships with public and social agencies, area businesses, and industries through close communication and provision of services and programs as needed or requested. 
  • Maintain systematic participation of the college staff in comprehensive institutional planning, management, and evaluation of college operations. 
  • Promote educational, cultural, and recreational enrichment of the community by extending college facilities and offering resources to the community.

Through institutional, state, and federally subsidized assistance programs, Southern Union State Community College provides financial aid to students of academic promise and financial need. Part-time employment, scholarships, loans, and grants assist students who have difficulty meeting the financial obligations of college. All students are encouraged to apply. Southern Union Community College is required to communicate the availability of financial aid programs to students and prospective students. Information regarding financial aid programs is included in the College Catalog and Student Handbook and on the College web site. Individuals may also contact the Office of Financial Aid at the following locations:

Wadley Campus
750 Roberts Street
Wadley, AL 36276
Phone: (256) 395-2211

Opelika Campus
1701 LaFayette Parkway
Opelika, AL 36801
Phone: (334) 745-6437

Valley Campus
321 Fob James Drive
Valley, AL 36854
Phone: (334) 756-4151

The College is required to communicate its policy on transfer credit. Information regarding the College’s policies regarding transfer of credit is outlined in the College Catalog and Student Handbook and has also been included in this section. Students or prospects with questions regarding transfer of credit may contact the Registrar at (256) 395-2211 ext. 5155 or alovelace@suscc.edu.

General Principles for Transfer of Credit:

Course work transferred or accepted for credit toward an undergraduate program must represent collegiate course work relevant to the formal award. Course content and level of instruction must result in student competencies at least equivalent to those of students enrolled in College undergraduate formal award programs. In assessing and documenting equivalent learning and qualified faculty members, the College may use recognized guides that aid in the evaluation for credit. Such guides include those published by the American Council on Education, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and the National Association of Foreign Student Affairs.

Courses completed with a passing grade at other duly accredited institutions are accepted for transfer as potentially creditable toward graduation requirements. Transfer grades of D are accepted only when the transfer student’s cumulative grade point average is 2.0 or above. If a student has a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above, the grade D is accepted the same as for native students.

Transfer Credit from Foreign Institutions

Students who have attended academic institutions outside the United States must submit an official translated copy of their high school transcript and college transcript translated by World Education Services, Inc. or Lisano International Foreign Education Credential Evaluation. Course descriptions must be included with the evaluation/transcripts. Transfer credit is not guaranteed and will be subject to the following conditions:

  • Transfer credits must fall within the school’s guidelines and are subject to approval by the registrar, dean and/or program chair. 
  • Courses must be germane to a program/degree/certificate at Southern Union State Community College. 
  • A transfer grade of “D” will only be accepted when the transfer student’s cumulative GPA is 2.0 or above at the institution where the “D” grade was earned. If the student has a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above, the grade “D” will be accepted the same as for native students.

The federal government mandates that students who withdraw from all classes may only keep the financial aid (federal "Title IV" grant) they have "earned" up to the time of withdrawal. Funds that were disbursed in excess of the earned amount must be returned by the College and/or the student to the federal government. The repayment policy is available on the web and in the College Catalog and Student Handbook. Questions regarding the calculations of refunds may be directed to the Financial Aid Office.

When a student receiving federal financial aid withdraws from school, federal regulations require the application of a strict repayment formula. The student is eligible for a percentage of financial aid in relation to the percentage of the term he/she was enrolled.

Any amount of financial aid in excess of that percentage earned must be repaid to the federal Title IV fund. If according to the percentage formula the student has earned financial aid that has not been disbursed, the student may be eligible for those funds even after withdrawal. If a student is the recipient of Title IV funds, he/she must attend classes to receive aid. If a student fails to attend classes for which he/she is enrolled, no financial aid will be awarded for those courses, and the student will be administratively withdrawn or dropped from those classes not attended. Students who stop attending classes during the semester also may be reported for nonattendance, and may be administratively withdrawn or dropped from those classes. Students who withdraw or are administratively withdrawn from all of their classes prior to completion of 60% of the semester may have funds that must be returned to Title IV funds. A calculation will be performed at the time of withdrawal. A copy of the “Return of Title IV Funds” calculation worksheet is available in the Financial Aid Office. Students who owe a repayment due to withdrawal will be placed on hold and will not be allowed to register or receive transcripts until the repayment is made.

Southern Union Community College offers activities, programs, and services that promote academic support, leadership, and social and cultural experiences. An outline of student activities is included in the College Catalog and Student Handbook and on the College web site. Inquiries regarding student activities may be directed to the Office of the Coordinator of Student Life, at 256-395-2211

Withdrawal from a single course

A student who wishes to drop a single course may do so online or by obtaining a “Drop/Add Form” from the Records Office.  Prior to the deadline date specified in the college calendar, the student will receive a grade of “W” for any course dropped.  Withdrawal after the date specified in the calendar is permitted only under extenuating circumstances and requires the approval of the appropriate instructional dean.  A grade of “W” is assigned if the student is doing satisfactory work and approval is given.  Otherwise, a grade of “F” is assigned. Courses in which a final grade has been earned may not be dropped. A student may also drop a single course via the internet.

Note: Students may not drop a course in which a final grade has been earned prior to the published date to withdraw.

Catastrophic Withdrawal Policies and Procedures

A Catastrophic Withdrawal may be granted in circumstances that are outside of the student’s control in which a serious catastrophic personal life situation prevents the student from attending classes or completing required classwork.  A Catastrophic Withdrawal is intended to be considered on a case-by-case basis, and it is not intended to be used more than once per academic year.  Catastrophic Withdrawal consideration is for a complete withdrawal from a given term.  Students that have requested and received an Incomplete in a class will not be considered for a Catastrophic Withdrawal.  All requests for Catastrophic Withdrawal require thorough, original, and credible documentation.  If approved, a Catastrophic Withdrawal will be noted on the transcript with a symbol of “W.”

*For additional information refer to administrative withdrawal policy of the college catalog.

Refund for Summer Term

Specific dates are in the term schedule. Each refund period is approximately three days during summer term.

All refunds, other than 100% withdrawals, are subject to a 5% administrative fee, not to exceed
$100. Refunds are made at mid-term. Financial aid students are subject to the “Financial Aid Return of Title IV Funds Policy” found in the Financial Aid section of the Catalog.

Reduction in Credit Hours

Students who reduce their credit hours during the drop/add period will receive at mid-term a tuition adjustment at the applicable rate. After the end of the drop/add period, students who reduce their credit hours without withdrawing from the College will receive no tuition refund.

Room and Board

Room and board will be refunded as follows:

  1. Withdrawal prior to the published first day of class: full refund.
  2. Withdrawal prior to the end of first week of class: 75% less 5% administrative fee.
  3. Withdrawal prior to the end of second week of class: 50% less 5% administrative fee. 
  4. Withdrawal prior to the end of third week of class: 25% less 5% administrative fee.
  5. Withdrawal after the end of the third week of class:

No Refunds will be issued for room & board. Residents will be responsible for the entire semester. In case of residence hall suspension, only advance payments for food will be refunded.

Short Courses

Full refunds for short courses will be given if students withdraw prior to the beginning of the class. After the class meets, no refund will be given.