Admission & Registration

Admissions Policy

Admission is open to all in-district residents of Community College District 518 who are high school graduates or the equivalent (GED), or non-graduates who are at least 18 years of age. Admission to the College does not ensure admission to a particular course or program of study.

Admission is also open to people in the following categories:

1. Out-of-district, out-of-state, and international residents.
2. Students whose connection with a secondary school is severed. Any student who is 16 or 17 years of age and has severed connection with a secondary school, as certified in writing by the chief executive officer of the secondary school in which the student has legal residence, is eligible to attend Carl Sandburg College.
3. Students currently enrolled in a secondary school program. Students currently enrolled in a secondary school program may be accepted into college course(s). If such courses are offered during the regular school day established by the secondary school or are offered for secondary school credit, prior approval of the chief executive officer of the secondary school must be received.
4. Admission of students in programs for special groups.
5. Students less than 16 years of age who have the approval of the chief executive officer of their school and/or the chief student services officer of Carl Sandburg College.

Should it be necessary to limit enrollment, priority will be given to residents of Carl Sandburg College District 518 or to residents of a community college district involved in a cooperative agreement with Carl Sandburg College. The College reserves the right to establish selective admission requirements for any or all programs. All programs and their respective admission requirements will be identified in the College catalog.

An eighth grade reading level as demonstrated by a standardized test approved by the college is required for admission to developmental and credit classes. This requirement does not apply to Corporate and Leisure classes.

Carl Sandburg College will not discriminate in the admission of students on the basis of the student’s sex, color, race, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity or other protected group status.

Admission to AA/AS/AFA Programs

Students enrolling in the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, or Associate in Fine Arts degree programs must have completed the following college preparatory courses as outlined in the Illinois Public Act 86-0954:

College preparatory course requirements for admission to the AA/AS/AFA degree programs as outlined above will be waived for students who have completed 32 semester hours of college coursework (100 level or above) with grades of “C” or better.

The Illinois State Board of Education requires that students who wish to enter into a transfer program (AA/AS/AFA) must meet the requirements listed in the above chart (Illinois Public Act 86-0954). Carl Sandburg College is an open admissions community college, students will be admitted to the college without these courses. Students who enroll in certain programs will be required to meet prerequisites to enroll in some courses.

Health Career Program Admissions

Admission to many of Carl Sandburg College’s Health Career programs (Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Dental Hygiene, Mortuary Science, and Paramedic) is limited and, therefore, competitive. Selection is based on candidates’ overall academic performance. The most qualified applicants who are residents of the Carl Sandburg College District or of community college districts involved in a cooperative agreement with Carl Sandburg College will be given preference for admission to these programs. Students who have not fulfilled these requirements when they initially enroll at Carl Sandburg College will be admitted on a provisional basis to the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, or Associate in Fine Arts degree programs. Carl Sandburg College will incorporate in those students’ curriculum courses to compensate for course deficiencies.

International Admissions

International students are welcome at Carl Sandburg College. The College is authorized under federal law to enroll students who require an F-1 VISA. Prospective international students should contact the director of admissions and records (309.341.5234) to discuss their eligibility for admission.

Each student is encouraged to consult with a professional counselor at Carl Sandburg College in the selection of a program consistent with the student’s interests and abilities.

International Student Admission Steps

New full-time international students need to obtain a Form I-20 to receive a student visa through the U.S. Consul or Embassy in their country. The I-20 indicates that all admission requirements have been met to enter the College. This document is issued through SEVIS, the Student Exchange Visitor Information System. The U.S. Consulates make the final decision regarding whether students will be allowed to enter the United States to study.

All international students must report to Carl Sandburg College on or before the date stated on the Form I-20. Late-arriving students will not be able to register for class.

International students requesting admission and issuance of a Form I-20 must provide:

• A completed Carl Sandburg College Application for Admission.
• A Financial Resource Statement verifying the ability of the student or the student’s sponsor to meet all educational and living expenses for one year while attending Carl Sandburg College. This must be signed and sealed by a notary public and accompanied by a letter or bank statement dated within six months of the application. Financial support of approximately $21,000 (USD) is needed per year.
• An official transcript that provides evidence of graduation from a secondary school and transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended. Photocopies may be accepted if they are properly notarized as true copies. Transcripts must be translated into English.

Official evidence of English proficiency. All full-time and part-time students whose native language is NOT English are required to complete one of the following:

• Take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and earn a score of 68 on the Internet-based exam or 520 on the Paper-based exam. Official test results must be sent directly from ETS.
• Submit official transcripts from an accredited United States college or university showing successful completion (‘C’ or better grade) of a college-level writing course and 6 hours of college-level academic course work requiring reading
• Complete ACT with a score of 19/ SAT 890 or higher in Reading and Writing Completion of any additional entry requirements for the program of study.

The College will issue a Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility form after students complete the steps above and qualify for admission.

Readmission

If you have previously attended Carl Sandburg College and want to return after an absence of one semester or more, you must notify the Admissions and Records Office of any changes in name, address, phone number, academic program, etc. Some academic programs have special readmission policies and procedures.

Steps to Enroll

Step 1: Submit an application

• Complete and submit your application online.
• There is no application fee.
• Once you have been admitted, accept your offer of admission to gain access to your Admissions Checklist.

Step 2: Apply for financial aid

• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at FAFSA.ed.gov. This will qualify you for federal and state aid (Carl Sandburg College’s code is 007265).
• Funding is need-based and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If possible, submit the FAFSA prior to December 1 to ensure the aid you qualify for is available.
• Non-Dual Credit Students: There is a separate online scholarship application. For more information contact the Carl Sandburg College Foundation at 309.341.5215.

Step 3: Provide course placement documentation

In order to register for classes, student must meet one of the following three requirements:

• Send official or unofficial high school/college transcripts from all institutions attended, or high school equivalency exam results (GED/HiSET), which show sufficient coursework for college placement.
  • Transcripts can be sent to transcripts@sandburg.edu.
  • Note, college credit will not be granted from an unofficial transcript.
• Send official ACT or SAT scores from the testing agency (ACT or College Board) which meet our minumum score requirements. Note, scores must be from an ACT/SAT test that was administered within the past five years.
• Sit for placement testing (Accuplacer) and meet our minimum score requirements.
  • Practice tests and sample questions are available on our website.
  • If you require testing accomodations, please contact Disability Support Services at 309.341.5262 (TTY 309.341.5400).
  • To make an appointment, register on our website or call 309.345.3500 for the Main Campus in Galesburg or 217.357.3129 for the Branch Campus in Carthage.

Step 4: Register for classes

• You must satisfy Step 3 prior to meeting with an advisor.
• Schedule an appointment with an advisor to register for classes. To make an appointment, call 309.341.5237 for the Main Campus in Galesburg or 217.357.3129 for the Branch Campus in Carthage.
• Dual Credit Students: Contact your Dual Credit Coordinator to register for classes.

Online/Blended Courses

Online courses offer the same high quality instruction as their equivalent on-campus counterparts. These instructor-led courses are delivered through the Internet. By using the Internet students are able to link to faculty and other students in the class.

With Sandburg Online, learning can be accessible and flexible. If students have a busy schedule, they are able to “attend” class at times that best fit their schedule.

While the courses begin and end on specific dates and the course work has assigned deadlines, you can work at your own pace within the deadlines. For more information, please check our website at http://www.sandburg.edu/Academics/Online-Learning/index.html.

Blended learning combines both traditional (face-to-face) classrooms with online coursework. This type of class can be structured a variety of ways, but typically it meets in the classroom once a week, and then the student completes the rest of the week’s activities online. This provides a more flexible schedule, but keeps the personal touch of face-to-face meeting time. Because of the added online coursework, students can finish the same hours and the same course rigors with half the time or less being spent in the classroom.

Dual Credit Opportunities for High School Students

Carl Sandburg College works cooperatively with the high schools within the Sandburg district who wish to provide college-level courses for their students. Dual credit allows eligible students to receive both high school and college credit for successfully completing college-level courses. These college courses may be offered at the high school location, online, or the student may attend at one of the Carl Sandburg College campuses. Students must have the permission of the high school and obtain sufficient scores on a placement test to enroll in college courses. For detailed information, please contact the Welcome Center 309-345-3500 or welcomecenter@sandburg.edu.

Sandburg Partnership Agreements/Guaranteed Admission Agreements

C.A.R.E.E.R. PROGRAM (FORMERLY CHARGE BACKS)

Carl Sandburg College participates in the Comprehensive Agreement Regarding the Expansion of Educational Resources (C.A.R.E.E.R.)., which is an agreement signed by all of the Community Colleges districts in Illinois (as of March 2017). Under the terms of the agreement, students may take advantage of career and technical education (CTE) programs at any other Illinois Community College if the program is not offered in their home district. The students benefit by paying the resident tuition and fee rates, despite living outside the Community College district.

Additional paperwork will need to be completed in the Student Services office on the Galesburg campus (E100).

To learn more about Guaranteed Admission Agreements, please click the following link: http://www.sandburg.edu/Academics/University-Studies/ Partnerships.html.

To learn more about Sandburg Partnerships, please click the following link: http://www.sandburg.edu/Academics/University-Studies/ Partnerships.html.