Admission & Registration

Admission to John A. Logan College

John A. Logan College is an open-admissions institution and applicants are accepted year-round. All applicants who are 18 years of age or older, or who hold a U.S. high school diploma or recognized equivalency (GED/HiSET), are eligible to enroll, regardless of prior academic performance. Prospective students must submit one of the following for admission and financial aid purposes: an official high school transcript from an accredited institution, a homeschool transcript, or a GED/high school equivalency diploma or transcript. Students should submit official copies of high school transcripts with a graduation date. Home-school transcripts must be submitted in a typed format and include the following: the student’s full name (first, middle, and last), date of birth, address, course titles, units of credit, semesters completed, grades, a description of the grading scale, the signature of the parent or home-school administrator, and a graduation date if the transcript is final. John A. Logan College reserves the right to evaluate the validity and accreditation of all high school transcripts submitted for admission and financial aid purposes.

Students must also provide residency verification to determine eligibility for in-district tuition rates. Students must submit proof of residency within the first 14 days for courses lasting 9 to 16 weeks, and within the first 7 days for courses lasting 4 to 8 weeks. For courses shorter than 4 weeks, residency must be established by the first day of the course. If a student is enrolled in multiple courses with varying lengths, the College will determine residency based on the course that starts first. If documentation is submitted after the specified deadlines, any residency changes will apply to the following semester.

Refer to Board Policy 8110 for additional criteria related to full admission, including requirements for transfer and international students. New students should fill out the applicaiton for admission to begin the enrollment process. 

High school students may enroll in dual credit or early college courses with prior written authorization from their high school after completing their sophomore year.

Program/Course Admission

Admission to the college does not guarantee entrance into particular courses or programs of study. The college reserves the right to establish selective admission procedures and give preference to residents of Community College District 530. For information on restricted programs of study, please see Restricted Allied Health Admission.

Baccalaureate Transfer Program

New students planning to enroll in transfer programs at John A. Logan College must meet the admission requirements of the college. Admission to transfer programs also requires new students to meet the high school course pattern requirements specified by the Illinois Board of Higher Education:

Students who do not meet the requirements may satisfy a course pattern deficiency by:

• Providing SAT or ACT scores that demonstrate proficiency in the required course patterns, or
• providing acceptable CLEP scores, AP credit, placement scores, or
• successfully completing appropriate developmental courses. These courses may not be used toward graduation credit and cannot be used to fulfill general education requirements, or
• successfully completing any college-level deficiencies.

Acceptable placement scores will be determined by college policy through communication with each academic discipline. Required CLEP and AP scores are available in the Office of Admissions and Records and elsewhere in this Catalog. High school units above the required number of units in mathematics, social studies, or science may be redistributed among the other categories by applying no more than one unit to any of the following categories: mathematics, social studies, science, or an elective. Elective subjects cannot be substituted for required courses in English, mathematics, science, or social sciences.

The following transfer program applicants are exempt from the high school-subject requirements:

• students whose class rank and ACT or SAT scores are at or above the 75th percentile.
• veterans who have not been enrolled in any college course since discharge. Veterans must have an overall C average or better for college courses taken since separation.
• transfer students who have earned 26 or more hours of transferable credit with an overall C average or better.

Math and English Course Placement

The main goal of the placement process for students is to gather information about current academic skills. This process will not prohibit students from entering college, but determines math and English competency levels. Many courses require specific math and/or English competencies to enroll. Math and English are disciplines that require thinking and reasoning skills. Enrolling in appropriate courses is essential for academic success.

The JALC placement test is available at the main campus and remote options are available upon request. Once students have been accepted, they may contact the Testing Services Office to schedule the Accuplacer Placement Test. Since the results of this test may determine future course placement, it is important to prepare to maximize scores.

Some of the JALC Health Sciences programs may require additional testing before acceptance into restricted programs.

In addition to the placement test, ACT and SAT scores, high school courses and grade point average, and GED scores may be used for placement into math and English.

Following the placement process, it is recommended that students meet with an academic advisor to discuss the results and engage in academic planning and course scheduling.

Who is required to take the college placement test?

• Students taking math or English courses for the first time.
• Students wishing to enroll in classes that require specific English and/or math competency levels.

Who may be exempt?

• Students who have successfully completed approved college-level math and English courses at another college or university.
• Students enrolling in certificate programs or classes that do not require math or English competencies.
• Students who meet the requirements through one of the other multiple measures listed above.

International Student Admission

International students will be considered for admission after all required materials are received by a designated school official by the deadlines listed at International Students - John A. Logan College | John A. Logan College. Required materials vary based on the student’s visa or other non-U.S. citizen classification. Requirements are listed at International Students - John A. Logan College | John A. Logan College. For more information contact a designated school official at internationalstudents@jalc.edu. 

Student Identification Information

While John A. Logan College primarily uses student ID numbers to manage student records, applicants are strongly encouraged to provide their Social Security number (SSN) when completing the application for admission. Students should enter their full legal name and SSN exactly as it appears on their Social Security card.

The SSN is stored in a secure field within the student information system and is used only for purposes required by law or necessary for processing certain services. Submission of the SSN is required for the following:

• Student Record Matching: When creating or updating a student record, the SSN-along with the student’s name and date of birth-is used to help prevent duplicate records in the system.

• Enrollment Verification: The National Student Clearinghouse, a nonprofit organization used by colleges nationwide, requires SSNs to verify enrollment and degree status. These verifications are used by lenders, employers, insurance companies, and government agencies. SSNs help ensure accurate matching of student records during these reporting processes. John A. Logan College must also comply with Illinois state audit and reporting requirements, including data submissions to the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).

• Financial Aid Processing: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) requires a SSN for processing federal and state financial aid. SSNs are also required for participation in veteran benefits and government-sponsored tuition assistance programs.

• IRS 1098-T Tax Forms: The College is required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to collect a valid SSN to report qualified tuition and related expenses via Form 1098-T. Without a valid SSN, the student will not receive this tax document. Additionally, students may be subject to an IRS penalty for failing to provide their SSN and legal name as it appears on their Social Security card. The College may also be penalized for submitting incomplete records.

Readmission

Students who have not been enrolled for two consecutive academic years must reapply for admission. Those who maintain continuous enrollment have up to five years to complete the degree or certificate requirements as outlined in the catalog from their original term of entry, or any subsequent catalog in effect during their continued enrollment.

Due to ongoing updates and enhancements to academic programs, students returning after a break in enrollment that exceeds the five-year period must be advised under the requirements of the most current catalog year.

Transferring Credit to John A. Logan College

College credit may be granted for courses completed at other regionally accredited institutions. (See Administrative Procedure 803, Transfer Credit)

Transfer credit may be accepted from institutions accredited by any of the following U.S. Department of Education-recognized agencies:

• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC - WASC)

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Official transcripts must be sent electronically from the issuing institution via Parchment or the National Student Clearinghouse directly to the Admissions and Records Office at John A. Logan College. If electronic submission is unavailable, official transcripts may be emailed to admissions@jalc.edu. Transcripts hand-delivered by the student will only be considered official if they remain in a sealed envelope provided by the issuing institution. Unofficial transcripts will not be used to award credit.

To initiate transcript evaluation, students must complete the Transcript Evaluation Form. Only coursework that applies to the student’s current degree or certificate program will be transcribed. If a student changes their program of study, transfer credit may be re-evaluated; however, previously awarded credits will remain on the transcript.

Courses must meet the minimum grade requirement to be eligible for transfer. Courses graded as pass/fail or credit/no credit will not be accepted unless clearly defined on the transcript key and approved by the Registrar. Developmental or remedial coursework from other institutions is not accepted. Students must follow John A. Logan College’s placement procedures for enrollment in English and Math courses.

Upon request, students may be required to provide course syllabi, textbook information, or other supporting materials to ensure accurate evaluation of transfer coursework.

College coursework completed outside the United States must be evaluated by a credential evaluation service recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Evaluations must include translated course descriptions, and students are responsible for any associated fees.

Prior Learning Credit

John A. Logan College awards credit through a variety of avenues including military credit, credit by examination, and prior learning assesment through work experience or prior workforce certifications. Students requesting prior learning credit must be enrolled at John A. Logan College. All prior learning credit(s) awarded will not carry a grade or grade points and are not included in the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA). John A. Logan College will not accept prior learning credit(s) from other institutions. Students may not exceed 30 hours of combined prior learning. Additionally, each type of prior learning credit has specific limitations. For a complete list of credit options, see Administrative Procedure 804, Prior Learning Credit.

Military Credit

Eligible veterans must submit their DD-214 to the Office of Admissions and Records to be evaluated for transfer credit. All veterans will receive one CPR credit, two Physical Education credits, and two Health Education credits. These credits are not applicable to all degrees and certificates.

Additional credit hours will be granted for military service according to the guidelines established by American Council on Education (ACE). Decisions concerning acceptance of military credit as equivalent to John A. Logan College courses will be determined by the Admissions and Records Office. When necessary, a military course may also be reviewed by a faculty member responsible for instruction in the appropriate academic discipline to determine equivalency and award credit. The student must send official military transcripts from The Community College of the Air Force or Joint Services Transcript (JST) to the Admissions and Records Office. 

State Seal of Biliteracy

The State Seal of Biliteracy posted to a student’s high school transcript will be evaluated as equivalent to one year of foreign language coursework at the college level. Credit granted will be based on foreign language course equivalencies. The student must formally request credit be awarded and applied to the college transcript within three academic years of high school graduation.

Credit by Examination

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) will be awarded based upon the American Council on Education’s (ACE) CLEP credit granting recommendations. These exams allow students who have acquired knowledge outside the traditional post-secondary classroom setting to gain recognition for mastering college-level material by receiving introductory course credit. Students will not be eligible to receive CLEP credit if the student has received a grade (including a W or Audit) or has enrolled in college-level work in any discipline included in the CLEP exam. The required scores and credit awarded for CLEP can be found in the College Catalog. Contact the Office of Admissions and Records to verify receipt of scores and posting of credit. CLEP credit will not exceed 15 hours.

John A. Logan College does not offer CLEP exams. To schedule a CLEP exam, the college recommends contacting Southern Illinois University Testing Services.

Advanced Placement Credit

Advanced Placement (AP) credit will be awarded when a student earns a minimum score of 3, 4, or 5 on an advanced placement examination and sends official scores from the College Board to the Admissions and Records Office. Please view the Advanced Placement (AP) credit table for a list of AP exams and required scores. Contact the Admissions and Records Office to verify receipt of scores and posting of credit. Credit for Advanced Placement (AP) will not exceed 15 hours. The following exams will be accepted for credit:

International Baccalaureate (IB)

After completion of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program, examinations may be accepted for course credit. Students who have completed the Diploma Program and taken the subject-specific examinations may submit their scores from the International Baccalaureate organization to the Office of Admissions and Records for evaluation by appropriate departments. For scores of 4 or higher, credits will be accepted and evaluated to determine applicability toward degree requirements as elective, general education, or major credit.

Proficiency Examinations

Students who have obtained prior knowledge and experiences outside of the formal classroom setting and are seeking a degree or certificate at the College may be eligible to apply for proficiency by examination. A student wishing to test for proficiency credit should initiate the request with the Registrar and complete the Proficiency Examination Request and Authorization Form.

After the Registrar has confirmed the student meets requirements for examination, the student should meet with an Academic Affairs representative (e.g., the subject Lead Instructor, Department Chair or Dean) to furnish evidence they have met the necessary background, knowledge, and/or experience to sit for the examination.

Once the Academic Affairs representative has evaluated the prior knowledge and/or experiences, the student must pay the appropriate fee at the Bursar’s Office. After paying the fee, the student should return the form to the Academic Affairs representative. The student will be notified when to take the examination(s) in the location and modality (e.g., in-person or online) determined by the Academic Affairs representative. If a student passes the examination with a “C” or higher, the credit will be awarded by the Registrar.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Credit

Students who have obtained prior work experience (e.g.; related employment, training, certificates, or licensure) and are seeking a degree or certificate may be eligible to receive prior learning credit for a course if the experience is reflective of the learning outcomes, knowledge and skills reflected on the approved syllabus. A student requesting prior learning assessment credit should initiate the request with the Registrar and complete the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Request and Authorization form.

After the Registrar confirms the student meets requirements for prior learning assessment credit, the student should meet with the Lead Instructor or Department Chair to submit evidence of the learning experience for evaluation. At the discretion of the Lead Instructor or Department Chair, up to 15 credit hours of program specific or major courses may be awarded from PLA. If awarded, the credit will become part of a student’s permanent academic record. An assessment service fee will be placed on a student’s account and must be paid prior to the credit posted on their transcript.

Re-Entry Nursing Students (Associate Degree or Practical Certificate)

Nursing students eligible to return to the nursing program must request a meeting with the director of nursing to develop a Success/ Re-entry Contract per the Nursing Handbook. Program prerequisites will be followed per the program guide (ADN or PN). Nursing students may return as space permits. Re-entry students may not bump regular full- and part-time students from class slots. These students do not have any scheduled graduation date since there is no guarantee as to the sequence in which slots in classes will be available.

Nursing Transfer Students

Transfers will be accepted into the nursing programs on a case-by-case basis as follows: students wishing to transfer into the program must request, in writing, to the director of nursing; students must provide official transcripts from all previous schools from which they wish to transfer credits; students must have the director of nursing from the previous nursing program submit a letter of recommendation directly to the director of nursing at John A. Logan College; and students must meet with the director of nursing to have transcripts reviewed, as well as program curriculum and requirements explained. The director will consult with faculty, review all materials, make a decision related to the request for transfer into the program, and notify students in writing of the decision. The following considerations will also determine if students are accepted for transfer: students must be willing to take a placement exam at John A. Logan College if requested to do so; students must be willing to take courses “as available” with no specific projected completion date; students must meet all of the guidelines outlined in the Nursing Handbook including health requirements and other meeting documents; transfer students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Release of Student Information and Access to Student Records

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Under FERPA, students have specific rights regarding the access to, and release of, their education records. Institutions are legally required to comply with FERPA regulations to safeguard student privacy.

Non-directory information is any educational record not considered directory information. Non-directory information must not be released to anyone, including parents of the student, without the prior written consent of the student. Further, faculty and staff can access non-directory information only if they have a legitimate academic need to do so. Non-directory information may include: social security numbers, student identification number, race, ethnicity, gender, transcripts, grade reports, GPA, and financial aid and billing information.

Students who wish to grant a third party (such as a parent, guardian, or outside agency) access to their education records must complete and submit a FERPA Consent Form. This form must be submitted in person to the Admissions and Records Office (Room C201) or emailed from the student’s official Volmail address to admissions@jalc.edu.

Directory Information

The following items of student information have been designated directory information and may be released by John A. Logan College officials upon request without prior written consent: name, address, enrollment status, dates of attendance at John A. Logan College, awards, honors, degree(s) conferred, past and present sports participation, and physical factors of athletes. 

Under the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, you have the right to request that any or all of your directory information not be released to non-institutional persons or organizations. Please consider very carefully the consequences of a decision to withhold directory information. Should you decide that your directory information is not to be released remember that any requests for such information as verification of a degree earned or enrollment for possible employment or insurance purposes will be refused. Use this link provided to fill out the Request to Prevent Disclosures of Directory Information form. The completed form can be submitted to Admissions and Records Office, C201. 

Register for Classes

All students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor when they enroll in classes at JALC to ensure applicability toward program requirements and achievement of educational goals. New students are restricted from self-advising. After applying to the College, students are assigned an advisor based on their selected program of study.

Before meeting with an Academic Advisor, students must:

1. Apply for Admissions to John A. Logan College and receive a student ID#.
2. Fill out the Application for Change of Residency to receive in-district tuition
3. Send final high school or GED transcripts to admissions@jalc.edu or drop off in Admissions and Records, Office C201.
4. Send official college transcripts to John A. Logan College and fill out the Transcript Evaluation Request form.
5. Take the Accuplacer placement test if students wish to enroll in college level English and Math courses and no prior courses have been successfully completed.
6. Accept terms of the Registration Agreement by clicking on Registration on the MyJALC portal for the correct term in which you plan to enroll.

Once steps 1-6 have been completed, students can meet with an Academic Advisor to enroll in classes. Students may contact Academic Advisement at 618-985-2828 Ext. 8070 or email registration@jalc.edu to schedule an appointment with an Advisor.

After successful completion of 15 credit hours and 2.0 GPA or higher, students can register for classes on myJALC using the Registration portlet. Course Registration Instructions can be found on MyJALC under the Students tab. Meeting with an Advisor beforehand is highly recommended to maintain degree requirements for graduation and financial aid eligibility.

Prerequisites

A prerequisite is a course or other enrollment requirement that must be completed prior to registration. Before registering for any course with a listed prerequisite, students must have already satisfied the prerequisite or be currently enrolled in the prerequisite course. Advisors may use unofficial transcript records to verify eligibility for courses requiring prerequisites.

Advisors are responsible for reviewing prerequisite completion for their assigned advisees at the end of each semester. If a student fails to meet a prerequisite by earning a failing or insufficient grade, they will be dropped from the subsequent course and required to re-enroll in the prerequisite before progressing.

Developmental Coursework

Developmental coursework refers to classes designed to help students build foundational skills necessary for success in college-level courses. These courses are aimed at students who are not yet prepared for the academic rigor of credit-bearing courses due to gaps in their knowledge or skills. Developmental courses do not usually count toward a degree or graduation credits but are essential for ensuring that students are academically ready for the courses that will. They are often offered at the beginning of a student’s academic journey, serving as a bridge to higher-level coursework. 

Request for Credit Hour Overload

Registration for more than 18 semester credit hours during fall and spring semesters and 10 semester credit hours during the summer term must be approved by the Manager of Advising & Student Transitions or Director of Testing Services. Students who have completed at least 12 credit hours with a grade point average of 3.0 or better are considered for such approval. The student must meet with their Academic Advisor to complete the Request for Course Overload Form. An email will be sent to the student’s Volmail regarding the final decision.

Probation, Dismissal, and Successful Course Completion

Satisfactory Academic Progress

To stay in good academic standing at John A. Logan College, students must:

• Attend class regularly, as required by each instructor.

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Academic standing at John A. Logan College is essential to student success. It can affect a student’s ability to remain enrolled, affect eligibilty status for financial aid or GPA-based scholarships, graduate on time, and be accepted into a transfer institution.

Academic Probation

If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 after one semester, the student will be placed on academic probation. Probation serves as a warning status, allowing continued enrollment and eligibility for financial aid, scholarships, and veteran benefits while the student works to improve academic performance.

If the cumulative GPA increases to 2.0 or higher in the following semester, the student will return to good academic standing. If the semester GPA is at least 2.0 but the cumulative GPA remains below 2.0, the student will be placed on continued probation. However, if both the semester and cumulative GPA remain below 2.0, the student may be placed on academic dismissal.

While on academic probation, students are required to meet with an academic advisor to schedule classes and may not enroll in more than 15 credit hours per term.

Academic Dismissal

Students who do not make satisfactory academic progress while on probation may be placed on academic dismissal. Specifically, if a student’s cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, the student will be dismissed from the College. Academic dismissal is an involuntary separation from the institution for a period of one calendar year. An academic hold will be applied to the student’s account, preventing registration for future courses. 

After the one-year dismissal period, students can return on academic probation and must meet satisfactory academic progress requirements to continue enrollment at the College.

Academic dismissal is separate from financial aid suspension. However, if you are on dismissal from the College for academic or behavioral reasons, you automatically become ineligible for financial aid.

Academic Dismissal Appeal Process

Students who are subject to academic dismissal will receive official notification via their student Volmail account from the Admissions and Records Office. This notice will inform the student of their academic standing and explain the next steps in the dismissal process.

After receiving the dismissal notification, students will be contacted by the Office of the Assistant Provost for Student Affairs to schedule an individual meeting. During this meeting, students will have the opportunity to discuss the circumstances that led to their academic challenges, explore support resources available through the College, and establish a improvement plan for the upcoming semester.

Students who are approved through the appeal process will be readmitted immediately, waiving the one-year dismissal period, and will return on academic probation to the College.