Programs of Study
Gateway
What is the Gateway Program?
"Going through the Gateway program was a great experience for me. Living on campus at Texas Tech and going to class at South Plains College helped me transition to college. I got to experience meeting new people through the dorm, yet I was able to get a better classroom environment at SPC. In and out of the classroom I got more one-on-one time and was able to learn what college was all about. "
Shannon Arledge - Gateway Fall 2005
The Gateway Program is a "pathway" program offered by Texas Tech University in partnership with South Plains College. Students who apply for admission into Texas Tech University but have not met the admissions requirements are offered the Gateway Program as a transfer admission option. The Gateway Program is designed to transition students into Texas Tech University by beginning their college career at South Plains College.
The Gateway Program offers students a unique opportunity to blend the smaller, more structured classroom environment of a community college with the excitement of socially participating at the university. Students may purchase a variety of Activity Packages from Texas Tech University which allows them to utilize resources at the university, attend all the TTU athletic events, participate in the activities offered through the TTU Recreation Center including intramural sports, and take part in many social clubs and organizations. It is important to note that students may not participate in any Greek organizations until they have been accepted into Texas Tech University.
"Gateway students have the best of both worlds, they connect with Texas Tech University's culture and Red Raider spirit yet benefit from the supportive environment that builds a student's academic foundation."
Gateway students are encouraged to live in the TTU Residence Halls and attend classes at South Plains College Reese Center. The Reese Center is a former air force base located about 10 miles west of the Texas Tech University campus and is situated just outside Lubbock. There is no public transportation serving the Reese Center so students choosing this option should have their own transportation or consider enrolling in classes at the Levelland Campus where residence halls are available.
South Plains College at the Reese Center is home to the Gateway Program. Daytime transferable courses are reserved for the Gateway students making scheduling of classes most convenient. Gateway students from all over Texas and the United States find themselves building new relationships through the close knit living arrangements and the shared classroom experience.
Students may choose to attend the South Plains College campus in Levelland, Texas where they can live in Residence Halls and attend classes in the same location. Students choosing this option will have the activities and events of South Plains College at their fingertips. We strongly recommend this option for students who do not have their own transportation.
South Plains College will provide the following services and benefits:
College Level Courses that will meet transfer requirements to Texas Tech University are chosen from a diverse selection of academic courses. For Gateway students it is highly recommended and encouraged that you enroll and successfully complete one of South Plains College's HUDV 1100 Learning Frameworks sections. Counselors and faculty advisors work with Gateway students to assist with course selection that meets their educational goals. SPC maintains a strong academic transfer relationship with Texas Tech University.
Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Compliance. Developmental courses in Mathematics, English and Reading are available for students and are required for Gateway students who are not in compliance with TSI requirements. South Plains College's developmental education program has been recognized as one of the best in the state. Student retention and completion rates in developmental education exceed state performance averages for peer institutions.
Extra Help with Courses is available through a wide variety of learning resources that include the Testing and Learning Center and the SPC Library. Free tutoring programs, computer-aided instructional labs, study skills seminars and multimedia learning aids allow students to become lifelong learners. South Plains College also offers the services of an on-campus learning specialist to work one-on-one, or in a small group, with students wanting additional skills in learning strategies, test taking, etc. This service is offered free of charge for South Plains College students.
The South Plains College Library supports the Gateway instructional program by providing information services and instruction in the use of library resources. Students have access to online databases and Internet resources, as well as traditional printed materials to support research projects and course assignments.
"Thank you for getting me ready to go to a big university. For giving me the tools to be successful in the classroom and also in everyday life. Also giving me important information about Texas Tech. Again, I just want to say thank you for helping me so much; in my transition to Texas Tech, and never letting me settle for less than my best."
Gateway student
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE GATEWAY PROGRAM?
Gateway participants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the detailed information about the many aspects of the Gateway Program through the various Directories of the Gateway Program link.
The Gateway Program is a special admission program designed to allow students the opportunity to meet certain requirements and be guaranteed admission to Texas Tech University. In order for students to take advantage of this program, the following criteria must be met:
- Students must graduate from high school during the 2007-2008 school year.
- Students must not have any college-level coursework beyond high school graduation. Students may take DEVELOPMENTAL course(s) only in Reading, English and/or Math in order to improve skills in those areas of TSI (Texas Success Initiative). Dual credit courses taken as a part of the high school curriculum will not disqualify a student from the Gateway Program.
- Students must have applied to and been denied admission from Texas Tech University.
- Students must be in TSI compliance. Compliance means that students must either be exempt from the placement assessment or they must have taken all THREE parts of the assessment. Your high school counselor or your local community college can assist you in determining your status. (ONLY SUMMER I GATEWAY PROGRAM participants MUST be exempt from TSI or must have taken and passed all three areas of the THEA, ACCUPLACER, ASSET, or COMPASS.)
- Students must enlist online in either the Summer I or the Fall/Spring Gateway Program with Texas Tech University. Students may NOT choose both.
- Students must follow the enrollment procedures and enroll at the partner college. Fall Gateway students will follow the enrollment procedures of South Plains College.
- Students must complete the requirements listed below for the chosen Gateway Program.
SUMMER I GATEWAY PROGRAM
Requirements and Benefits
ONLY students who are exempt from the TSI assessment or have taken and passed all THREE parts of the assessment are eligible to participate in the Summer I Gateway Program at South Plains College.
- Students must enlist with TTU in the Summer I Gateway Program by May 19, 2008.
- Students must submit a completed Application for Admission for South Plains College.
- South Plains College MUST have an official high school transcript verifying date of completion of high school. Students need to submit an official high school transcript as soon as they complete the SPC application. This will provide the admissions office with information. After high school completion, students must have AN OFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT DESIGNATING COMPLETION DATE SUBMITTED TO:
RECORDS AND ADMISSIONS OFFICE
SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE
1401 SOUTH COLLEGE AVE.
LEVELLAND, TX 79336 - Students must take six hours minimum (2 - 3 hour courses) and attain a 2.5 GPA to be eligible for transfer admission to TTU for the fall 2008. Foreign language courses are 5 hour credit and science courses are 4 hour credit so if a student chooses one of these courses they may enroll in more hours but should limit enrollment to two courses.
- Students must take college level (course numbers that begin with a 1 or 2, ie. Engl 1301). Courses that begin with a 0 (zero) are not college level.
- Students must take core curriculum courses. For information on core curriculum, visit: TTU Core Curriculum.
Recommended courses include: English, Government, History, math, and Psychology. Students will early register for summer courses through Campus Connect.
- Summer I classes begin June 2 and end July 2, 2008.
- Daytime classes are offered at the Reese Center, located 10 miles west of the TTU campus.
TTU must receive an official transcript from South Plains College by July 21, 2008.
Students may choose from a variety of housing options. See Housing directory on the Gateway Program directory.
Students choosing to live in the Residence Halls at TTU will pay the following TTU fees and have access to the associated services.
- ID Maintenance Fee
- Student Recreation Fee
- Student Services Fee
- Student Transportation Fee
- Student Union Fee
- Information Technology Fee
- Library Fee
To promote student success, it is recommended that students without transportation live in the Residence Halls at South Plains College, in Levelland, Texas and attend classes offered on that campus.
The partnership between TTU and SPC allows for students to have a smooth transition into the university.
TTU has extended the transfer admission deadline (July 21st) for Gateway students to have the official transcript in to the admissions office for consideration for the Fall 2008 semester.
SPC will automatically send Gateway student transcripts to TTU at the end of the Summer I session. If there are any holds on a student's record with SPC, a transcript WILL NOT be sent to TTU until the hold has been cleared. Students are responsible for checking with the Admissions and Records office at SPC to determine clearance of their record.
FALL/SPRING GATEWAY PROGRAM
"My daughter had the opportunity to experience relocating and living independently and establishing study skills that work for her."
Gateway parent, Fall 2007
Requirements and Benefits
- Students must enlist with TTU for the Fall/Spring Gateway Program by June 16, 2008.
- Students must submit a completed Application for Admission for South Plains College.
- Students will attend one of the Texan to Techsan - Gateway to Success Summer Conferences and Early Registration.
- Students MUST be exempt from the TSI assessment or MUST have taken one of the approved assessments: THEA, ACCUPLACER, ASSET, COMPASS prior to registering for coursework. Students do not have to pass all three parts of the assessment prior to enrolling into courses but MUST have taken the assessment and provide SPC with the assessment scores.
- Students MUST be enrolled as a full-time student. This requires 12 hours of coursework each semester which may include developmental courses that are required if assessment indicates a deficiency.
- South Plains College MUST have an official high school transcript verifying date of completion of high school. Students need to submit an official high school transcript as soon as they complete the SPC application. This will provide the admissions office with information. After high school completion, students must have AN OFFICIAL HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT DESIGNATING COMPLETION DATE SUBMITTED TO:
RECORDS AND ADMISSIONS OFFICE
SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE
1401 SOUTH COLLEGE AVE.
LEVELLAND, TX 79336 - Students must take core curriculum courses. A menu of approved courses will be provided during the early registration opportunity of the Texan to Techsan - A Gateway to Success Summer Conference and Early Registration.
- Daytime classes offered at the Reese Center, located 10 miles west of the TTU campus, are reserved for the Gateway students through July 28, 2008.
- South Plains College will submit student transcripts to TTU at the end of the fall semester and at the end of the spring semester. Students will have two opportunities to meet the transfer admission requirements with TTU.
Transfer admission requirements:
The student must enroll at South Plains College and complete 12-23 hours of college level coursework that meets the TTU core curriculum requirements with a minimum 2.5 GPA or 24 hours of college level coursework with a minimum 2.25 GPA to be considered for admission for the Fall 2008 semester.
If a student successfully completes 12 transferable core curriculum courses with a 2.5 or greater at the end of the Fall 2008 semester, then that student will be offered admission to TTU for the Spring 2009 semester. If the student wishes to stay at SPC for the spring, they must meet the above transfer requirements.
SPC will automatically send Gateway student transcripts to TTU at the end of the Fall and at the end of the Spring semesters. If there are any holds on a student's record with SPC, a transcript WILL NOT be sent to TTU until the hold has been cleared. Students are responsible for checking with the Admissions and Records office at SPC to determine clearance of their record.
Students may choose from a variety of Housing options however, students are encouraged to live in the Residence Halls at TTU. If students transfer into TTU after the fall semester, they will be required to live in the Residence Halls at TTU. See Housing directory.
Students living on the TTU campus will pay the following TTU fees and have access to the associated services
- ID Maintenance Fee
- Student Recreation Fee
- Student Services Fee
- Student Transportation Fee
- Student Union Fee
- Information Technology Fee
- Library Fee
- Athletics Fee
To promote student success, it is recommended that students without transportation live in the Residence Halls at South Plains College, Levelland, Texas and attend classes offered on that campus.
Gateway participants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the detailed information about the many aspects of the Gateway Program through the various Directories of the Gateway Program link.
For admission information into the Gateway Program follow the steps listed under the Admission directory.
