Academic Support

PURPOSE

The goal of the academic planning and support department is to promote learning that enables our students to improve basic skills and study skills essential to realizing their educational goals. The department assesses students' academic needs by administering placement tests to all incoming students. The department then continues to monitor the progress of students at the college. Classes, individual instruction, group workshops, and computer assisted instruction are available to help students to strengthen basic skills and to learn effective study strategies.

SERVICES

Academic planning and advising, study skills instruction, textbook reading, note taking, test taking, college success skills, life balance skills, stress management, time management, math competency building.

DISABILITY SERVICES
 
The college is committed to extending reasonable and appropriate accommodations to students with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students should submit documentation from a medical professional describing the disability and suggested accommodations to the office of academic affairs. Such documentation should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the implementation of any accommodations.

HEALTH CAREER OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM (HCOP)

Academic planning and student support services offers the health career opportunity program with courses in English, reading, math, study skills, and foundations of health careers. This program focuses on teaching the skills necessary for success in nursing and allied health courses.  Read more...course descriptions.

PLACEMENT TESTING

All incoming students are required to complete placement tests except students who hold a college degree. These tests are used to evaluate basic skills in English, reading comprehension, and mathematical computation. Test results are used to match students with appropriate courses and services.  Students who score from the 15th through 49th percentile on the reading comprehension or the sentence skills test are required to enroll in the health career opportunity program (HCOP).

Participation in this program includes enrollment in HCP 100 and any required courses in reading, math, or English. Students must complete required HCOP courses prior to enrollment in ANA 101.

The health career opportunity program is designed to help students succeed in nursing and allied health professional courses.

Course Descriptions: Health Career Opportunity Program

TRANSFER OF CREDITS

Transfer credits are awarded only for courses completed at accredited institutions. Students may not transfer credits from other institutions after enrolling at the college.

Humanities and social and behavioral science transfer credits are determined on an individual basis. Transfer credits in natural and biological sciences generally must have been earned within five years of acceptance to the college for applicants in dietetic technology, electroneurodiagnostic technology, and health information technology. No transfer credit for science courses is awarded to students enrolled in the nursing or radiation therapy programs. “Credit by examination” will be awarded for ANA 101, ANA 112, and MIC 201 (if applicable) to students in nursing and radiation therapy, when the following criteria are met:

· For ANA 101 and ANA 112. A grade of C or better in A & P I and A & P II completed at another college within the past five years, as documented on an official college transcript; AND achievement at the “C” level on the Excelsior College Anatomy and Physiology examination, as documented by official results.

· For MIC 201. A grade of C or better in microbiology, completed at another college within the past five years, as documented on an official college transcript; AND achievement at the “C” level on the Excelsior College Microbiology examination, as documented on official exam results. Courses accepted for transfer must be equivalent to those offered at the college in terms of nature, content, level and number of credits earned. A minimum course grade of C (2.0) is required for transfer credit. Transfer credits are made at the discretion of the vice president/dean of academic affairs.

All students must complete a minimum of 45 credits at the college, regardless of the number of transfer credits awarded.