Pursuant to the requirements of the Student Success Act of 2012 (SB 1456), the Sonoma County Junior College District reaffirms its commitment to serve all students who can profit from its instructional programs, to ensure them equal educational opportunity, to provide them the necessary services for optimizing their opportunities for success, and to help students obtain the appropriate information/assistance for achieving their educational goals. The District will develop and maintain appropriate procedures to implement this Board policy.

By this statement, the Board acknowledges the intent of the Student Success Act of 2012, and agrees to implement its regulations to the extent possible and as appropriate. This includes implementing the Student Success and Support Program (SSSP). This policy shall be effective starting the Fall 2014 term.

The District is responsible for the provision of student services to support student success. The Student Success and Support Program (SSSP) will include the following core matriculation services: orientation, assessment, counseling, advising, and other student education planning, and follow-up services.

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. All students have the right to the following student success and support services: orientation, assessment; counseling, advising, and other student education planning; and follow-up services 
2. Each student has the responsibility identify an educational goal upon application and declare a course of study after completing fifteen (15) degree-applicable semester units, attend an orientation session; complete the assessment service; attend classes regularly and complete assigned coursework; adhere to all college rules, regulations, and policies, and participate in the development of his or her student education plan (SEP).
3. Each student is entitled to:

A. Participate in the development of his or her student education plan. A student who believes that the District has not afforded him or her the opportunity to develop or implement this plan may file a complaint with an appropriate Student Services Dean or designee;

B. Equal opportunity to engage in the educational process. A student who alleges he or she has been subject to unlawful discrimination may file a grievance with Human Resources;

C. Challenge any prerequisite using established procedures through appropriate channels on one or more of the following grounds:

1. The prerequisite is not valid because it is not necessary for success in the course for which it is required;

2. The student has the knowledge or ability to succeed in the course despite not meeting the prerequisite;

3. The prerequisite is discriminatory or is being applied in a discriminatory manner;

4. The prerequisite or co-requisite course is not reasonably available; A prerequisite challenge must be filed on the appropriate form with the Office of Admissions and Records.

D. Challenge his or her placement results and request to enroll in a course that is not recommended by the course placement through the college process. The District has the authority to drop a student from a course if he/she has not met the requirement;

E. Review the Student Success and Support Program regulations of the California Community Colleges and file a complaint when he or she believes the District has engaged in any practice prohibited by these regulations. These regulations are available and complaints may be filed in the Office of the Vice President of Student Services.

DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of the District under this agreement shall include:

1. The processing of applications for admission in a timely manner;
2. Providing timely orientation;
3. Providing assessment for all non-exempt students;
4. Providing counseling, advising, and other education planning services for non-exempt students;
5. Providing assistance to all non-exempt students in development of a student education plan which identifies education goal, course of study, and the courses, services, and programs to be used to achieve them;
6. Providing follow-up services to evaluate the academic progress of, and provide support services to at-risk students;
7. Referring students to
   1. Support services which may be available, including but not limited to, counseling/advising, financial aid, health and mental health services, campus employment placement services, Extended Opportunity Program & Services (EOPS), and Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS), tutorial services, foster youth support services, veterans support services; and
   2. Curriculum offerings including but not limited to, basic skills, noncredit programs, and English as a Second Language;
8. Conducting an ongoing research program to determine the effectiveness of the Student Success and Support Program to ensure effectiveness in improving student progress toward and completion of educational goals and courses of study;
9. Providing professional development opportunities to help faculty and staff implement Student Success and Support requirements;
10. Developing and regularly reviewing and updating a Student Success and Support Program Plan, which clearly delineates each of the above areas of responsibilities. Compliance with these requirements will be monitored by the state Chancellor’s Office as stipulated by the Student Success Act of 2012 (SB 1456);
11. Investigating and attempting to resolve any challenges and complaints related to the Student Success and Support Program in a timely manner. Records of such complaints will be retained for three years after the complaints have been resolved or longer if necessary.

FULFILLMENT OF REQUIRED STUDENT SUCCESS AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Students who complete the required orientation, assessment, and education planning services will be identified as fully-matriculated. 

Upcoming Changes: Assessment policies will be changing in response to Assembly Bill 705. Please see our website for the most current information and procedures: https://assessment.santarosa.edu/

1. Assessment

Students may fulfill this requirement in a subject area (Mathematics, English, or ESL) through one or more of the following:

A. Completing an equivalent course at a post-secondary accredited institution in that subject area (the course will determine placement).

B. Earning a qualifying Advanced Placement (AP) score or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam score in the subject area.

C. Having obtained a placement result using Chancellor’s Office approved methods. Placement methods will be in compliance with current legislation.

D. Providing placement results from other California community colleges.

E. Having valid Early Assessment Program (EAP) results that satisfy placement conditions determined by the District.

2. Orientation

Students may fulfill this requirement through COUN 270, Online Orientation, and/or in-person group orientation, as well as orientation services provided by other District programs that meet SSSP regulations.

3. Education Planning

Students may fulfill this requirement by meeting with a counselor to develop either an abbreviated education plan (one or two terms in length) or a comprehensive education plan (at least two terms in length and reflecting the number of terms required to achieve the student’s declared course of study).

Students may also fulfill this requirement through other programs, such as DSPS, EOPS/CARE, CalWORKs, or other District programs that provide the education planning services.

Students should work with counselors to update their education plans if their goals and courses of study change.

EXEMPTION CRITERIA

Certain students may be exempted from the SSSP requirements if they meet the exemption criteria described in this procedure. Students may elect to participate in these services to become fully-matriculated regardless of their exemption status.

Students who are exempt and who elect not to participate in the SSSP services will not obtain registration priority.

The following categories of students may be exempt from the SSSP service requirements:

1. Students who have earned an Associate or higher degree.

2. Students who are enrolled in the District for the purpose of personal interest or completion of credits for high school diploma or GED.

3. High school students who are concurrently enrolled in the District.

Policy 8.6 and Procedure 8.6P, Revised March 2014