A. Yes, if it is a college level “core” course, it transfers to Texas Tech.  The difficulty arises when students change their major of study.  Different majors may require different courses.  To try and safeguard this from happening, a list of General Education Courses has been provided, at classes.

A. We recommend that students take very general courses during the first semester.  If a student is confident of their academic focus, degree plans may be in either the Tech catalog or the South Plains College catalog.  Students may wish to look at the following web site for degree plans from Texas Tech University that has the transferring South Plains College courses identified: Degree plans

A. We usually recommend that incoming students take between 12 and 15 hours of classes and no more.

A. TSI stands for Texas Success Initiative.  The Texas Success Initiative is a statewide program for public education.  Public school students are evaluated in their academic performance every year. For colleges and universities the State law requires all students, BEFORE enrolling in college level course work, to either be EXEMPT from assessment or to have completed one of the state approved assessments. Students who are required to take the assessment do not have to PASS all three areas before they may enroll in college but they do have to take all three sections. Advising guidelines are established and required by law to address the academic readiness of students in three areas: reading, writing and math.  Students MAY NOT enroll in college level courses without meeting the TSI requirements.  To learn more check with your high school counselor, your local community college or visit the Gateway Program directory “Placement Testing (TSI)” link: Testing

A. No.  Students may choose to attend either of the two South Plains College locations: Levelland, Texas or the Reese Center located just outside of Lubbock.  The Gateway Program encourages students to live in Lubbock and become a part of the Lubbock community as well as participate in the “Red Raider” spirit of Texas Tech University.  Most Gateway students prefer to attend the Reese Center.  The daytime General Education courses at the Reese Center are reserved for the Gateway students thus allowing them first priority registration.  There may be specific courses that a student wishes to take that would only be offered at the Levelland campus, for example, some fine arts courses, some of the lab sciences, and agriculture.  Since all class enrollments have a limit, students may be required to attend the Levelland campus for available classes.  This should not be a concern for the Gateway students attending the Gateway to Success Summer Conferences and Registration events.

A. Gateway students are invited to live in the Residence Halls on the Texas Tech University campus.  Students need to contact TTU Housing for information and reservations.  Some students may choose to live in the residence halls and attend classes at the Levelland campus. We STRONGLY encourage students that do not have transportation to consider living and attending classes in Levelland!

A. All Summer I Gateway Program students must be TSI complete.   This means that they must be EXEMPT from assessment requirements or they have taken and PASSED all THREE parts of the THEA (or an approved alternative) assessment.  They must take 2 college level classes during the first summer session and receive a 2.5 GPA in order to gain admission to TTU by the fall.  Fall/Spring Gateway is designed to give students more time to complete the transfer admission requirements into TTU.  They may qualify for admission into TTU at the end of the fall semester or at the end of the spring semester. 

A. Yes.  Once TTU has notified SPC of your intent to participate in the Gateway Program, the Admissions and Records Office at SPC will email or mail you a letter of invitation which will instruct you to complete an online application for admission.  Fall/Spring students will be mailed a large white envelope with information about the Texan to Techsan...A Gateway to Success Summer Conference and Early Registration.  The large white envelope will contain a Texan to Techsan...A Gateway to Success Summer Conference Registration form, hotel accommodations, TSI Status form, where to go for information handout and a map of the SPC Reese campus.  (We will begin to mail out the large white envelopes on April 2, 2007.)

A. No.  Each student will need to either have their own  transportation or will have to car pool with someone else.  To encourage student success, we recommend that if a student does not have transportation they strongly consider living in the Residence Halls and attending classes at SPC in Levelland, Texas.

A. No.  You will need to go online: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and identify South Plains College as your preferred institution.  This DOES NOT happen automatically.   Be advised that it can take 3-6 months for financial aid to be completed.  It is recommended that you check with your South Plains College financial aid advisor on a regular basis to verify all necessary documentation has been received.  See the Gateway Program directory “Financial Aid” for your advisor.

A. The THEA test is a state-wide test administered assessment that is given on the same day at colleges and universities across Texas.  Please allow 3 weeks for scores to be available.  You can check with your high school counselor and get a THEA bulletin to look up your nearest location to you is.  You can also go to http://www.thea.nesinc.com/.

A. There are several state approved assessments. South Plans College will accept any of the following:  THEA, Quick THEA, ACCUPLACER, COMPASS, or ASSET.  If the approved test is given online, results may be immediate.  Test are often given several times a week.  Check with your local community college for available testing dates and times.

A. At the summer conference you will be given a great deal of information about SPC and TTU.  We will help you develop your schedule, answer questions about financial aid, housing, parking, special services and more.  At the end of the day you will be allowed to register for your classes.  This is a HIGHLY recommended conference for students and their parent(s)!

A. You will be a South Plains College student.  You will be allowed to live on the TTU campus.  Your Housing fees will include the purchase of an activities package from Texas Tech that will enable you to participate in activities on the Tech campus.   For those not living on the TTU campus, an Activities package may be purchased through the Associate Dean of Student Services at SPC.

A. Yes, if it is a college level “core” course, it transfers to Texas Tech.  The difficulty arises when students change their major of study.  Different majors may require different courses.  To try and safeguard this from happening, a list of General Education Courses has been provided, at classes.

A. We recommend that students take very general courses during the first semester.  If a student is confident of their academic focus, degree plans may be in either the Tech catalog or the South Plains College catalog.  Students may wish to look at the following web site for degree plans from Texas Tech University that has the transferring South Plains College courses identified: Degree plans

A. We usually recommend that incoming students take between 12 and 15 hours of classes and no more.

A. TSI stands for Texas Success Initiative.  The Texas Success Initiative is a statewide program for public education.  Public school students are evaluated in their academic performance every year. For colleges and universities the State law requires all students, BEFORE enrolling in college level course work, to either be EXEMPT from assessment or to have completed one of the state approved assessments. Students who are required to take the assessment do not have to PASS all three areas before they may enroll in college but they do have to take all three sections. Advising guidelines are established and required by law to address the academic readiness of students in three areas: reading, writing and math.  Students MAY NOT enroll in college level courses without meeting the TSI requirements.  To learn more check with your high school counselor, your local community college or visit the Gateway Program directory “Placement Testing (TSI)” link: Testing

A. No.  Students may choose to attend either of the two South Plains College locations: Levelland, Texas or the Reese Center located just outside of Lubbock.  The Gateway Program encourages students to live in Lubbock and become a part of the Lubbock community as well as participate in the “Red Raider” spirit of Texas Tech University.  Most Gateway students prefer to attend the Reese Center.  The daytime General Education courses at the Reese Center are reserved for the Gateway students thus allowing them first priority registration.  There may be specific courses that a student wishes to take that would only be offered at the Levelland campus, for example, some fine arts courses, some of the lab sciences, and agriculture.  Since all class enrollments have a limit, students may be required to attend the Levelland campus for available classes.  This should not be a concern for the Gateway students attending the Gateway to Success Summer Conferences and Registration events.

A. Gateway students are invited to live in the Residence Halls on the Texas Tech University campus.  Students need to contact TTU Housing for information and reservations.  Some students may choose to live in the residence halls and attend classes at the Levelland campus.  We STRONGLY encourage students that do not have transportation to consider living and attending classes in Levelland!

A. All Summer I Gateway Program students must be in full TSI compliance.   This means that they must be EXEMPT from assessment requirements or they have taken and PASSED all THREE parts of the THEA (or an approved alternative) assessment.  They must take 2 college level classes during the first summer session and receive a 2.5 GPA in order to gain admission to TTU by the fall.  Fall/Spring Gateway is designed to give students more time to complete the transfer admission requirements into TTU.  They may qualify for admission into TTU at the end of the fall semester or at the end of the spring semester. 

A. Yes.  Once TTU has notified SPC of your intent to participate in the Gateway Program, the Admissions and Records Office at SPC will email or mail you a letter of invitation which will instruct you to complete an online application for admission.  Fall/Spring students  will be mailed a large white envelope with information about the Texan to Techsan...A Gateway to Success Summer Conference and Early Registration.  The large white envelope will contain a Texan to Techsan...A Gateway to Success Summer Conference Registration form, hotel accommodations, TSI Status form, where to go for information handout and a map of the SPC Reese campus.  (We will begin to mail out the large white envelopes on March 1, 2006.)

A. No.  Each student will need to either have their own  transportation or will have to car pool with someone else.  To encourage student success, we recommend that if a student does not have transportation they strongly consider living in the Residence Halls and attending classes at SPC in Levelland, Texas.

A. No.  You will need to go online: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/and identify South Plains College as your preferred institution.  This DOES NOT happen automatically.   Be advised that it can take 3-6 months for financial aid to be completed.  It is recommended that you check with your South Plains College financial aid advisor on a regular basis to verify all necessary documentation has been received.  See the Gateway Program directory “Financial Aid” for your advisor.

A. The THEA test is a state-wide test administered assessment that is given on the same day at colleges and universities across Texas.  Please allow 3 weeks for scores to be available.  You can check with your high school counselor and get a THEA bulletin to look up your nearest location to you is.  You can also go to http://www.thea.nesinc.com/.

A. There are several state approved assessments. South Plans College will accept any of the following:  THEA, Quick THEA, ACCUPLACER, COMPASS, or ASSET.  If the approved test is given online, results may be immediate.  Test are often given several times a week.  Check with your local community college for available testing dates and times.

A. At the summer conference you will be given a great deal of information about SPC and TTU.  We will help you develop your schedule, answer questions about financial aid, housing, parking, special services and more.  At the end of the day you will be allowed to register for your classes.  This is a HIGHLY recommended conference for students and their parent(s)!

A. You will be a South Plains College student.  You will be allowed to live on the TTU campus.  Your Housing fees will include the purchase of an activities package from Texas Tech that will enable you to participate in activities on the Tech campus.   For those not living on the TTU campus, an Activities package may be purchased through the Associate Dean of Student Services at SPC.