Admission & Registration

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Admissions Policy

Admission is open to all in-district residents of Community College District 518 who are high school graduates or the equivalent GED/HiSET, 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 enrollment in developmental and credit classes. This requirement does not apply to Workforce Development & Community Education 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 and minimum placement scores 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, Associate in General Studies, or Associate in Fine Arts degree programs. 

International Admissions

Carl Sandburg College encourages applicants from around the world to apply for our various degree programs. The College is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students. Prospective international students should contact the direct of admissions and records (309.341.5234) to discuss their eligibility for admission.

International Student Admission Steps

International students seeking an F-1 student visa must meet the following admission requirements and submit all required documentation by the published deadline.

• Completed Carl Sandburg College Application for Admission.
• Proof of high school graduation - An official transcript that provides evidence of graduation from a secondary school and transcripts from all post -secondary institutions attended. Photocopies may be accepted. Transcripts must be translated into English.
• Proof of English Proficiency - Students whose native language is NOT English are required to submit one of the following:
  • TOEFL IBT minimum score of 68. Official test results must be sent directly from ETS using school code 1982.
  • Official transcripts from an accredited United States college or university showing successful completion (grade of C or higher) of a college-level writing course and 6 hours of college-level academic coursework that requires reading.
  • Official SAT score with an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sub-score of 480 or higher or an official ACT score with an English sub-score of 20 or higher. 
• Certification of Finances Form 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. International Students do not qualify for federal financial aid.
• ​​​​​​​Bank statement dated within 90 days showing a minimum of $21,000 (USD). 
• Photocopy of a current passport.
• Students transferring from another U.S. institution must submit a copy of their current I-20, I-94 and visa

Carl Sandburg College will issue a Form I-20 after all admission requirements are met.

All international students must report to the College on or before the date stated on the Form I-20.

Students on an F-1 visa are required to abide by the regulations that govern international students in the United States. Failure to do so will result in a visa termination.

During the fall and spring terms, F-1 students are required to enroll full-time which is defined as a minimum of 12 credit hours.

International College Transcripts

Students who have completed college-level coursework in other countries must submit international transcripts for admission purposes only. In order for international postsecondary studies to be considered for transfer credit, students must submit an original course-by-course evaluation completed by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or other College-approved organization.

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

*Note, the steps to enroll for our Limited Enrollment Programs differs from those listed below. Please check our website, or contact Student Services at 309.341.5237 or studentservices@sandburg.edu to speak with an advisor, for more information.

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 or scholarships@sandburg.edu.

Step 3: Provide course placement documentation

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

• 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. *Note, high school equivalency exam scores must be from an exam that was administered within the past two years.
  • 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 minimum 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 accommodations, please contact Disability Support Services at 309.341.5262 (TTY 309.341.5400).
  • To make an appointment, register on our website or contact the Testing Center at 309.341.5323 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, contact Student Services at 309.341.5237 or studentservices@sandburg.edu 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 with the Student Services office. Please contact Lynn Schwab at 309-341.5225 or lschwab@sandburg.edu for more information.

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.