Consumer Information

Southern Union State Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the Associate degree. Southern Union State Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Southern Union State Community College may be directed in writing to:

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097

(404) 679-4500

(www.sacscoc.org).

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

Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) - The ADN program at SUSCC located in Opelika, AL is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education and Nursing, 3390 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30326; telephone (404) 975-5000. The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the ADN program is continued accreditation (2021). View the public information disclosed by ACEN regarding this program at https://www.acenursing.org The Associate Degree Nursing program is 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 - The Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Education Programs for the EMS Professionals (CoAEMSP). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs1361 Park Street Clearwater, FL 33756 Phone: (727) 210-2350; Website: www.caahep.org

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).

Physical Therapist Assistant Program - Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA, 22305; phone: 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Southern Union State Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Jeff Leatherman, DPT, MS, PT, Program Director at 334-756-4121 x 5254 or email jleatherman@suscc.edu.

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.

Machine Shop Technology - The Machine Technology program is accredited by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS). National Institute for Metalworking Skills 10565 Fairfax Blvd. Suite 203 Fairfax, Virginia 22030, www.nims-skills.org

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

The current listing of all programs offered by SUSCC - https://www.suscc.edu/programs/officeofdean

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.

General Policies

• Students must pay tuition and fees in full by the published due date in order to have their names placed on class rolls and to attend classes. Payment may be in any combination of cash, check, Visa or MasterCard, Discover Card, grants, and scholarships. Sponsored students, i.e., Vocational Rehabilitation Service, Alabama Veterans Affairs, etc., must have written authorization from the appropriate agency to complete registration.
• Students who fail to pay tuition and fees are not registered and should not attend class.
• Southern Union State Community College reserves the right to revise fees, price schedules and terms of payment, and other financial elements listed in this catalog at any time without notice.
• Tuition is waived for Alabamians age 60+ through the Senior Adult Scholarship Program if enrollees concur with program guidelines in course selection. Fees must be paid by the senior adult student.

The following Additional Fees are Charged When Applicable:

Late Registration Fee: $25.00 (incurred if registration is not completed on published regular registration date) Note: Students utilizing VA education benefits shall not be charged a penalty, including assessment of late fees, denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities or be required to burrow additional funds because of the individual’s inability to meet their financial obligations due to the delayed disbursement of a payment to be provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Returned Check Fee: $30.00 for each returned check

Diploma Fee: $25.00 (nonrefundable) for diploma and cover. Cap and gown are rented for an additional fee from the bookstore.

ACCUPLACER Retest Fee: $8.00

Other Fees: Various PED courses are submitted to fees payable to the facilities used in these classes. For health science and technical programs, various program fees are charged for liability insurance, assessment fees, lab fees, and drug testing fees based on the individual program of study.

Online Fee: $35.00 Proctor U Fee (per online class)

To view the annual cost of attendance sheets and individual program costs, click the link below: https://www.suscc.edu/admissions/tuition-and-fees.

To review our College Refund Policy, click here.

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

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against any qualified person regardless of his or her disability. The College strives to create a welcoming environment and will work in good faith to meet the needs of all populations. All reasonable and appropriate accommodations for qualified disabled students, applicants, or employees, will be met unless to do so would present an undue hardship to the College.

To request accommodations, students with disabilities should provide documentation of the disability to the ADA Coordinator on their campus. The documentation should address the specific accommodation and should be dated within three years of the enrollment date. Once the documentation is filed with the ADA Coordinator, the student’s instructors will be notified of the requested accommodation. Students should update their information with the ADA Coordinator by the courses for which they are seeking accommodations each semester.

For additional ADA accommodations, forms, and links click here.

Information on facilities and services for disabled students is outlined on the College web site. individuals may also contact the following Compliance Officers:

Opelika Campus:
 Joseph Halsey
   Phone: (334)745-6437 ext. 5354 Email: jhalsey@suscc.edu

Valley Campus:
   Robin Brown
   Phone: (334)756-4151 ext. 5204 Email: rbrown@suscc.edu

Wadley Campus:
   Tiffanie Character
   Phone: (256)395-2211 ext. 5154  Email: tcharacter@suscc.edu

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, U.S.C. 20 § 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 the athletic teams, the dates of attendance by students, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the 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 Registrar through written communication.

Notification of Student rights under FERPA

FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights are listed below.

1. The right to inspect and to review the student’s educational records.
2.  The right to request the amendment of the student’s educational 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 educational records, except to the extend 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.

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.

Click Here for FERPA Form

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 for federal aid at studentaid.gov. 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 website. 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
301 Lake Condy Road
Opelika, AL 36801
Phone: (334) 745-6437

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

Contact the Financial Aid Office for questions and concerns at financialaid@suscc.edu.

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.

A Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) calculation is processed for a student who meets the following conditions: receives grant funds (or who meets the conditions that may entitle the student to a late disbursement), begins attending classes, and completely withdraws his/her period of enrollment. The Return of Title IV Funds calculation is a policy of the United States Department of Education that determines the amount of grant funds SUSCC and/or the student are to return to a federal financial aid program. The term “Title IV Funds” refers to the Federal Financial Aid Programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) that at SUSCC include the following programs: Direct Student Loans, Direct Plus Loans, Federal Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grants (FSEOG).

The student’s recalculated award amount is used in the Return of Title IV Funds calculation. The percentage of Title IV aid earned is found by dividing the number of calendar days completed by the time of withdrawal date by the number of calendar days in the term. If the student has completed more than 60% of the term, the student is considered to have earned 100% of the Title IV aid. The amount of Title IV aid earned is found by multiplying the amount of aid disbursed for the term plus what could have been disbursed by the percentage of Title IV aid earned. If the amount earned is less than the amount of aid disbursed, the difference must be returned. If the student earned more than what was disbursed, a late disbursement may be due. If the amount earned equals the amount disbursed, no return and no disbursement are to be made. SUSCC returns the lesser of (a) the total amount of unearned aid or (b) an amount equal to the student’s institutional charges multiplied by the percentage of aid unearned.

Effective Summer 2021 SUSCC opted to early implement the R2T4 Final Rules for modules as instructed by the Federal Register. These rules allow for withdrawal exemptions. Given these are exemptions, no R2T4 calculations are required given students meeting one or more of these exemptions are not considered withdrawn. In the case a return is needed, students are not expected to pay the college any money associated with Title IV calculations. The college will return the funds on behalf of the student with no further obligations due from the student, per college directive.

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

Residence Hall Room and Board