Admission Procedures

The following admission procedures are in accordance with Illinois law. The law requires that programs not having sufficient space and resources to accommodate all applicants will accept those applicants best qualified, using rank, ability and achievement test scores as guides, with preference given to students residing in the district.

1. Applications will be accepted between September 1st and December 1st for entry into the succeeding Fall Semester. Applicants will be notified of their status regarding admission as quickly as is possible given the number of applications received. In the event that there are fewer qualified candidates than there are spaces available, applications will continue to be accepted until the program's maximum capacity has been reached or until the first week of classes during the fall semester. Contact Admissions or the Counseling Center to obtain information on a possible application deadline extension.
2. Applications will be considered when all of the following documents are on file in the Southwestern Office of Admissions:
   1. Official high school transcript(s) or GED
   2. If currently enrolled in high school:
      1. List of courses in progress
      2. Transcript of semesters completed to date
      3. All required course work and testing which is prerequisite to admission to the program must be completed by the end of the student's first semester in the senior year. Official transcripts documenting this work must be on file with the Admissions Office prior to February 1st unless the application deadline has been extended.
   3. Official transcripts from all colleges, universities or accredited schools of Health Information Technology attended.
   4. An ACT composite score of 15 or greater (The most recent test score is used) (ACT test scores more than ten years preceding February 1st are not acceptable. Applicants may either re-test or utilize the option provided in Section IV below.)
   5. Completion of the COMPASS placement test with eligibility for English 101, or greater, and Math 094 or greater.
   6. Meet all the requirements specified in Part III, IV and V below.
3. To qualify as a candidate for admission to the Health Information Technology Program, applicants must have completed then following courses within the ten years preceding February 1st with no grade lower than a "C". Official transcripts documenting this work must be on file with Admissions Office prior to February 1st unless the application deadline has been extended.
   1. Biology-one year high school or one semester college (College Biology must equate with Southwestern's BIOLOGY 100, 101,102, 105, 155, or 156)
   2. Algebra-one year high school or one semester college (College Algebra must equate with Southwestern's MATH 094 or above).
   3. Typing/keyboarding one year high school or one semester college (College Typing must equate with Southwestern's OAT 171, 172, or 273)
   4. Students completing prerequisite courses from high school not recognized by the State Board of Education or homeschooled students may demonstrate competency of the Biology, Chemistry, and/or Algebra requirements by taking a placement test. Questions regarding placement testing can be addressed by our Admissions Reviewer, extension 5541/5542.
   5. College course grades supersede high school grades when both appear on official transcripts for Biology, Algebra and Typing. The most recent grade in courses meeting the Biology, Algebra or Typing requirements are used in determining an applicant's admission qualifications and rank. Biology courses must include a lab component.
4. Applicants not meeting the above ACT requirements:
   1. Must submit an official college transcript indicating completion of at least 12 hours of college-level work within the last five years with a minimum of 2.0 cumulative grade-point average. (For admission purposes only, the determination of points awarded for an applicant’s GPA is based upon those courses required for graduation in this program. GPA’s from other institutions are not utilized; however, courses which apply towards this program’s graduation requirements and which are accepted by the Registrar’s Office for transfer will figure into this GPA option.)
   2. Must incorporate in the 12 hours of college-level courses those general education courses required in the applicant's designated program with no grade lower than a "C".

5. Selection of qualified applicants for the Health Information Technology Program will be based upon a numerical ranking procedure, using ACT scores, G.P.A., high school and/or college grades and the percentage of those general education courses required for graduation completed prior to admission with a grade of “B” or better. Information on the ACT test, the numerical ranking procedure and the admissions process is available from the Southwestern Office of Admissions.

   To arrange a meeting with a counselor or obtain more information on the assessment placement test, call or visit the Belleville Campus, 2500 Carlyle Avenue (235-2700, ext. 5206); the Sam Wolf Granite City Campus, 4950 Maryville Road (931- 0600); or the Red Bud Campus, 500 West South 4th Street (282- 6682).

6. General information
   1. Applicants must complete an application for program admission and submit it to the Admissions Office.
   2. Acceptance to the program is required before an applicant will be permitted to register for program-prefixed courses.
   3. All of the minimum requirements must be met, and all documents must be on file, before an applicant will be considered for admission to the program. Students are required to have automobile insurance.
   4. In the event that there are more qualified applicants than spaces available in this program, those applicants not residing within Southwestern's district or those applicants not residing within the district of a college which has a joint agreement for this program with Southwestern, will not be eligible for consideration or admission.
   5. Applicants accepted to this program must attend all required orientation sessions, meet program specific medical requirements and must be able to perform the essential functions of the job or they will be dismissed from the program.
   6. Applicants should check the location and schedule of classes to ensure their own availability and access. Students are responsible for their own transportation and attendance to classes and clinicals as assigned by the program and should be aware that some clinical facilities may require auto and/or health insurance. Malpractice insurance is provided by the college through assessment of lab fees.
   7. Applicants admitted to the program must follow the requirements for graduation at the time they are admitted and must meet all course, program, degree, and sequencing requirements as specified. Students who fail to meet program specific requirements will be dropped from the program and may be required to re-apply and compete for admission in a succeeding year.
   8. The College reserves the right to fill the program in those years when there are fewer applicants than spaces available by whatever means it deems necessary to assure both academic integrity and fairness in the selection process.

Students enrolling in all Allied Health programs should be aware that some facilities may require a criminal background check and/or drug screens. If so, students will be provided with the appropriate forms/waivers by the clinical facility when necessary. Students will not be allowed to participate in courses when their background check makes them ineligible for work to be performed. Positive drug test results will result in dismissal from the program.