Student Services

The Office of Student Services coordinates the delivery of outstanding services and activities which enhance a student’s academic experience. Services include Athletics, Campus Life, Accessibility Services, EOF, Student Success Center, Testing Services, International Students, Adult Basic Education Program and Veterans Services.

Athletics

Academics and Athletics (E) Building • 973.300.2230
Name: Skylanders
Mascot: Skylor the Skylander

Sussex County Community College enhances the academic college experience with a wide array of extracurricular activities, including a competitive intercollegiate athletics program. SCCC’s intercollegiate sports include:

Sussex offers scholarship opportunities for athletic participation in Football, Wrestling, Men’s Lacrosse, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Softball, and Men’s Baseball. 

The College is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and the Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). Athletic participation eligibility is determined by the NJCAA and adopted by the GSAC. The College adheres to all the rules set forth by the NJCAA and the GSAC.

The Campus Fitness Center is open Monday-Friday, 8 am to 9 pm.

Campus Life

Student Center (D) Building, Room D105a  •  973.300.2200

Campus Life at Sussex is the living and learning that takes place outside of the classroom, and it’s a big part of a student’s college experience. The skills a student will learn through co-curricular involvement and classwork will help develop their potential to get a job upon completion of their degree. The Office of Campus Life and Student Engagement works to develop programming that enriches student’s educational experience by providing opportunities to engage in social, cultural, intellectual, recreational, and civic pursuits that will augment their academic pursuits.

Student Ambassadors

Selected students represent the College as Student Ambassadors. Applications for the Student Ambassador Program are available in the Office of Campus Life located in the Student Center (D) Building. Ambassadors are selected based on their academic performance and commitment to Sussex. They serve the College in recruitment and public relations activities. They also conduct campus tours and provide assistance at various college events and activities. Ambassadors are awarded tuition aid for their service to the College.

Student Clubs and Organizations

Student clubs and organizations are a major part of campus life at Sussex. The College encourages the active formation of and participation in departmental and/or interest clubs and organizations. Campus clubs will be chartered by the Student Government Association and approved by the Senior Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs. Clubs are organized by and for students. A complete listing of student clubs and organizations is posted online at sussex.edu/campuslife.

Student Government Association (SGA)

The SGA is a formal student group that provides the College with input on the college experience and is committed to enriching the campus life at Sussex. All enrolled students at Sussex are members of the SGA and have the rights, privileges and responsibilities as set forth in the by-laws. SGA meetings are open to all students and are typically held on the 1st Thursday of every month during College Hour from 10:50 am-12:05 pm.

Student Publications

The College Hill is the College’s online student newspaper. The College Hill is committed to providing a vehicle for the exchange of ideas, opinions and perspectives about events and activities affecting Sussex students. The College Hill is available at: sussex.edu/collegehillnews.

Learning Resources

The College’s Learning Resources are designed to enhance the pursuit of academic excellence for the entire College community. This is accomplished through a variety of special programs and services.

ABE/HSE Study Programs

Administration (B) Building, Room B101  •  973.300.2158

The ABE/HSE program provides individualized instruction tailored to the specific needs of each student and designed to improve skills in reading, writing, math, social studies and science. Students have the opportunity to increase their basic skills in these academic areas and to continue learning more advanced skills in order to prepare for the High School Equivalency (HSE) Exam. Assistance is also provided to connect students with information and resources for college enrollment, workforce development, employment and training services.

Accessibility Services

Administration (B) Building, Room B206 • 973.300.2153

The Student Accessibility Services Program provides services for students who require academic and facilities accommodations to fulfill their higher education goals. The SAS Advisor works collaboratively with Academic Departments and Student Services Offices to engage and support the intellectual and social development of students with disabilities. A student with a disability who is qualified for admission will have the same access to programs, services, and activities as all other students.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Administration (B) Building, Room B101 • 973.300.2158

Non-native speakers of English will find a variety of courses in our program designed to fit the needs of English language learners in achieving academic, career, and personal goals.

Incoming students meet personally with the program coordinator and are administered the Accuplacer for ESOL to assure proper placement.

Academic ESOL classes in grammar, writing, reading and vocabulary development, and listening and speaking are offered in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Students are taught in small groups to enhance the learning experience and focus on preparing for transition into college courses.

The ESOL program also offers free life skills English classes in “American Language and Civics” in four levels; literacy, beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

Tutoring

Tutoring is offered in most in-demand subjects either online or in person. Tutoring services are offered in the College Library (Library & Science Building), in the Writing Center (Student Center, Room D111), in Degree UP, (Academic & Athletics Building) and online through Thinkingstorm (accessed through Canvas). Schedules for tutoring are posted on the website at sussex.edu/tutoring.

Online Tools for Students

Student Email - All registered students are issued an official Sussex email account. The account details are sent to new students in the mail prior to the start of the semester. Students will receive all College communications, including messages from faculty, to their college email address.

Student Portal: my.sussex.edu - The student portal is a password-protected website where Sussex students can view grades, unofficial transcripts, schedules and financial aid records. Students can also register for classes and pay tuition through the portal.

Regroup Alert - Sussex utilizes a broadcast alerting service, Regroup Alert, to communicate timely information to students, faculty, staff and other campus community members by sending text alerts, email and/or recorded voice messages to participating students, faculty and staff. Sign-up is required by the individual.

Pay Online and E-refund - Students are encouraged to pay tuition online with their student-assigned ID and password. There is an interest-free payment plan for the spring and fall semesters. E-refund offers a convenient way for students to receive electronic refund checks back into their bank accounts.

Canvas Learning Management System - All students enrolled in online and blended (hybrid) classes will use this site for communication with instructors and to have access to online course content.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

The central functions of an academic community are learning, teaching, research and scholarship. By accepting membership in the College, an individual joins a community ideally characterized by free inquiry, intellectual honesty, respect for the dignity of others and openness to constructive change. The rights and responsibilities exercised within the community must be compatible with these qualities.

The College places emphasis upon certain values which are essential to its nature as an academic community. Among these are freedom from personal force and violence and freedom of movement. Interference with any of these freedoms must be regarded as a serious violation of the personal rights upon which the community is based. Furthermore, the administrative processes and activities of the College cannot be ends in themselves, as such functions are vital to the orderly pursuit of the work of all members of the College. Therefore, interference with members of the College in performance of their normal duties and activities must be regarded as unacceptable obstruction of the essential processes of the College. Theft or willful destruction of the property of the College or its members must also be considered an unacceptable violation of the rights of individuals or the community as a whole. Physical violence or the threat of same is also considered to be an unacceptable violation of rights.

Moreover, it is the responsibility of all members of the academic community to maintain an atmosphere in which violations of rights are unlikely to occur.

All students accepted at Sussex County Community College acknowledge with their enrollment an obligation to abide by the College regulations and policies as established by the Board of Trustees, by the faculty and administration of the College.

Students are responsible for their own actions and are expected to maintain the highest standard of conduct at all times and in all places. Each must, of course, respect the rights and privileges of all instructors and other students.

The essential and unavoidable condition of the mutual commitment to personal and academic integrity must be respected at all times and in all situations. Implicit in this mandate is the expectation that all work submitted by the student as his/her own is the result of independent effort. Any attempt to plagiarize or copy another’s work, during examinations or in class work, will render the record of the student suspect and may warrant academic penalty or other disciplinary action.

The College reserves the right to dismiss any student whose continued attendance, in the judgment of the administration, is detrimental to the College or its students. Rules and regulations pertaining to student behavior are provided in the Student Code of Conduct which is appended to this statement.

Furthermore, Sussex County Community College respects the rights of students in its firm commitment to a policy of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action and will implement this policy to assure that the benefits, services, activities, programs and employment opportunities offered by this institution are available to all persons regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, handicap, marital or veteran status and in accordance with state and federal laws: Title VI, Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964; Executive order 11246, as amended; Title IX, Educational Amendments of 1972; section 503 and 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; Veterans Assistance Act of 1972 as amended.

Sussex County Community College also respects the rights of students in its firm commitment to the provisions of the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) which gives students the right to inspect educational records maintained about them by the College, the right to a hearing to challenge the contents of these records and the right to make explanation for challenged information. The College will maintain the confidentiality of student records except with respect to those special cases noted in the legislation.

Finally, all students at Sussex County Community College have attendant financial rights and responsibilities.

Students have the following financial rights:

1. To know what financial aid programs are available at the school;
2. To know the deadlines for submitting applications for each of the financial aid programs;
3. To know how financial aid is distributed; how distribution decisions are made and the basis for these decisions;
4. To know how the financial need was determined, including how costs for tuition and fees, room and board, travel, books and supplies, personal and miscellaneous expenses, etc., are considered in student budgets;
5. To know what resources (such as parental contribution, other financial aid, student’s assets, etc.) were considered in the calculation of their needs;
6. To know how much of the financial need as determined by the institution has been met;
7. To request an explanation of the various programs in the student aid package;
8. To know the school’s refund policy;
9. To know what portion of the financial aid received must be repaid and what portion is grant aid. If the aid is a loan, students have the right to know what the interest rate is, the total amount that must be repaid, the payback procedures, the length of time available to repay the loan and when repayment begins;
10. To know how the school determines whether students are making satisfactory progress and what happens if they are not.

Students have the following responsibilities:

1. To complete all application forms accurately and submit them on time to the appropriate office.
2. To provide correct information. In most instances misreporting information on financial aid application forms is a violation of law and may be considered a criminal offense which could result in indictment under the U.S. Criminal Code.
3. To return all additional documentation, verification, corrections and/or new information requested by either the Financial Aid Office or the agency to which the application was submitted;
4. To read and understand all forms they are asked to sign;
5. To accept responsibility for all agreements they sign;
6. To perform the work agreed upon when accepting a college work-study award;
7. To be aware of and comply with deadlines for application or reapplication for aid;
8. To be aware of the school’s refund procedures;
9. To consider this information carefully before deciding to attend a school. All schools must provide information to prospective students about the schools’ programs and performance.

Student Success Center

Administration (B) Building, Room B206   •  advising@sussex.edu  •  973.300.2207

The Student Success Center provides a supportive and professional environment promoting the exploration and development of individual strengths that encourage academic success and personal growth.

The Center is dedicated to furthering the educational mission of Sussex County Community College by assisting students to be academically successful. Students can take advantage of the knowledge and resources available at the Student Success Center for the following:

Academic Planning and Advising

Academic Planning and Advising is an essential part of a student’s education and goal planning.

• Explore programs of study
• Select a program that matches your professional goals and create an academic plan
• Choose the right courses each semester
• Find the services and support needed

Students should seek advisement in advance of the upcoming registration dates. Advising is ongoing and students should connect with their advisor to map out their academic plan early.

Following the Program Course Sequencing will help students to keep track of which courses they have taken and which courses are still required. Program Course Sequencing is available under each specific program in the College Catalog and on the College’s website.

The Center provides a supportive and professional environment promoting the exploration and development of individual strengths that encourage academic success and personal growth. The Center is dedicated to furthering the educational mission of Sussex by assisting students to be academically successful.

Students can get assistance with:

Career Services

Finding a career path is a process that requires self-awareness and self-assessment. The Student Success Center can assist students with career exploration to help identify a career path and the occupations and majors in that path.

Personal Counseling

Short-term personal counseling is available to assist students in addressing non-academic problems that can adversely impact their ability to achieve personal and academic growth. All personal Sussex counseling sessions are confidential and free.

Relationship issues, anxiety, concern over alcohol or drug abuse and abusive situations are examples of the kinds of issues addressed. Referrals to community services or private practitioners may be made. All personal Sussex counseling sessions are confidential and free. Counselors abide by the Code of Ethics for the American Counseling Association and the National Association of Social Workers.

Transfer Counseling

Transfer information, including applications, transfer articulation agreements, catalogs and videos, transfer scholarships, and internet access to U.S. college sites, is available in the Student Success Center. Transfer Fairs of tri-state four-year colleges and universities are held on campus. Local colleges provide Instant Decision Transfer Days on our campus. Counselors use njtransfer.org, a web-based articulation system, for transfer within NJ. Students can view all transfer services on the College website.

Students should work closely with their counselor to ensure they are following the guidelines of the NJ Statewide Transfer Agreement.

Textbooks

Textbooks can be ordered from the eCampus online store. sussex.edu/campus-store.

Veterans Affairs

Student Center (D) Building, D110B • 973.300.2385

The Veterans Services Coordinator is available to assist veterans and their dependents in the application and processing of requests for veterans’ benefits and to provide support and resources in the transition to civilian and campus life.

A Veterans Resource Center and Lounge, the Student Veterans Organization (SVO), and SALUTE - the national honor society for Veterans are some of the services offered. Contact the Veterans Services Liason at (973) 300-2385. Information on the Post 911/GI BILL® is also available at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/post911_gibill.asp