Academic Support and Opportunities

Academic Resource Center (ARC)

SCF.edu/ARC

The ARC is a multipurpose learning facility in Building 5 at SCF Bradenton and in Building 400 at SCF Venice. These large, well-staffed study centers offer drop-in tutoring in many subject areas, including anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, reading, writing and more. Writing Centers also are housed in each ARC. Group study rooms, academic success workshops, study skills assessments, computer-assisted study, and tutorials on video are available as are multiple learning tools, including reference materials, textbooks and solution manuals, practice tests, mathematics manipulatives, microscopes, anatomical models and bones, and computers. The ARC at SCF Lakewood Ranch is a collaborative effort of the ARC with the SCF Library and is housed in the Learning Commons. Many of the services offered at the ARCs in SCF Bradenton and SCF Venice also are available at Lakewood Ranch.

Library Services

Bring your SCF ID to access all of the library services and resources. 

The SCF Libraries provide access to print and electronic sources, including reference materials, journal articles, e-books, streaming movies & documentaries, digital and print magazines and e-audiobooks. Our collections support the curriculum and includes Popular Fiction, Young Adult and Graphic Novel genres. All items are searchable at scf.edu/Library. 

To login for online resources, use your MySCF ID as the Borrower ID and password. 

Librarians are available in person and online for research and citation questions. They will save you time and help you to get better grades on your assignments. Walk-ins or appointments (in person or online) are welcome. 

All three locations have group study rooms, wireless access and charging stations. A limited number of laptops, MacBooks, scientific calculators, cameras, microphones, headphones, dry erase kits, Lego kits & games and select course textbooks are available on a first come first served basis.

Bradenton has large and small group study rooms, media and sound editing rooms, open collaboration spaces and MS Hubs. It also has additional collaboration, presentation and exhibit spaces, 3D and large format printers, a 3D scanner and houses the Digital Cinema Production Studio, the Library Starbucks Café, the Family Heritage House and the Together Manatee Community Rooms.

Venice has small group study and editing rooms, a TruTouch presentation screen, a MakerSpace available for collaboration and group projects.

The Lakewood Ranch Learning Commons has small group study rooms, a TruTouch collaboration screen, A & P models available for study and a limited number of nursing kits.  Bone kits available for checkout in Bradenton & Venice.

Group study rooms are a combination of specialty uses and open first come first served; Rooms which are reservable vary depending upon student demand during the semester.  To check room descriptions, policies and availability go to https://scf.libcal.com/. 

Inter-campus requests and Inter-Library Loan services are available. Your MySCF ID card is your library and printing card.  Use it to check out items and for b/w or color copying, printing and scanning.

Food and drinks may be brought into all Library locations, with the exception of the Bradenton Visualization Classroom and the College Archives.

Community patrons must obtain an ID card from the Department of Public Safety once they have a Manatee or Sarasota public library card. Cross College Alliance students attending SCF classes have the same library privileges as SCF students. SCFCS students in the sixth-10th grades must be accompanied by a parent if after collegiate school hours.

College Readiness and Developmental Education

The Florida Department of Education defines a college-ready student as one who has the knowledge, skills and academic preparation needed to enroll and succeed in introductory college level courses.

Because of changes in Florida Statutes, some incoming students no longer have to take a college placement test or enroll in readiness courses to prepare them for college-level work. Florida Statute 1008.30 gives students who meet certain criteria the option of exercising an exemption to placement testing and developmental education. “Developmental education means instruction through which a high school graduate who applies for any college credit program may attain the communication and computation skills necessary to successfully complete college credit instruction” (Florida Statute 1004.02). These changes may affect recent Florida high school graduates or active-duty military members.

Refer to “Requirements for Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Status ” to check eligibility.

Educator Preparation Institute

SCF’s Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) provides a quality teacher training option for bachelor’s degree holders. At the completion of these modules, the student will have successfully demonstrated the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices and will have provided documentation of mastery in a comprehensive professional portfolio. This limited access program requires potential candidates to acquire a statement of eligibility for certification from the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), to be of good moral character and to possess the disposition suitable for becoming a teacher. Candidates need a passing score in the General Knowledge Test (GKT) and their Subject Area Exam (SAE).

The FLDOE has identified this program as part of the state-legislated EPI. It was designed to assist persons with bachelor’s degrees (other than in education) in completing the requirements for K-12 teacher certification. It is competency-based and provides a quality certification option in addition to state-approved degree programs and district-delivered alternative certification programs. Courses will be delivered in blended format and will carry institutional load hour credit.

Online Learning & Distance Learning

SCF.edu/OnlineLearning

Conduct of Online Courses

Online Learning provides an opportunity for students to take online courses that earn academic credit toward existing SCF degrees or certificates. SCF Online Learning classes allow for instructor-led learning at a time and place convenient to the student.

Although delivered in an online environment, SCF students enrolled in online instruction are subject to the same expectations of behavior and consequences of violations of College policy and disciplinary sanctions that are outlined in the SCF Student Code of Conduct.

SCF support services are available to online students, including computer labs, tutorial centers and the SCF Library. Courses offered through the Online Learning program are comparable in quality to traditional courses offered in SCF classrooms and follow the same learning objectives. Some online courses also may require some on-campus work, orientation, review sessions and exams, with details specific to each course listed in the notes on the course schedule.

Types of Online Learning

Fully Online Courses

Fully Online Courses are delivered via the internet using the Canvas learning management system. These courses use a variety of tools, including discussion boards, email, electronic drop boxes for submitting papers and other assignments, as well as other components to deliver course content as determined by the course instructor. Online courses follow a schedule throughout the semester with structured lessons and assignments, and specific due dates. Some online courses may require meetings for orientation and testing purposes that are listed in the notes section of the online class schedule. Check the schedule notes for more information about required meetings, and for alternatives to face-to-face sessions.

Blended Courses

Blended Courses include regularly scheduled face-to-face sessions as well as online sessions. The online sessions use the same tools as the online courses, supplemented by in-class sessions. The main difference between the online and blended courses is the increased number of required classroom sessions in blended courses that will vary from course to course. See the specific course schedule for more information about the class meeting sessions that are listed for each online section. Check the schedule notes for more information about required meetings, and for alternatives to face-to-face sessions.

Testing Requirements for Students Taking Online/Blended Courses

Some instructors or departments may require students taking online and/or blended courses to take tests in a proctored environment. Instructors and students need to make arrangements for such testing as part of the course because, in general, proctored testing services are not available on campus for students in online/blended courses. For SCF students taking online courses who are unable to attend on-site testing, arrangements need to be made in advance at an approved testing facility. Most independent testing facilities charge for proctoring services, and they are the responsibility of the individual student.

Students Taking Online Courses from Out-of-State

Enrollment of students seeking online programs or courses at SCF who reside in a state other than Florida may be subject to restrictions under NC-SARA agreement that governs students taking online courses from out-of-state. Students enrolled in a state other than Florida who intend to enroll in a degree program that results in licensure from that state should confirm with the program coordinator for that program on any restrictions, limitations or other requirements that may be placed on their completion of the student’s program of study.

Weekend College

Created for working adults who want or need a college degree, SCF’s Weekend College allows you to earn an Associate in Arts degree taking only weekend classes. You’ll finish your degree in two years and have the option to continue in one of SCF’s bachelor’s degree programs or be eligible for guaranteed transfer to any Florida public university. Classes are offered Friday night and Saturday on the SCF Lakewood Ranch Campus.

Nontraditional Learning Methods

Directed Study

Directed Study provides opportunities for students to earn college credits in a regular course by working with an SCF instructor on an independent basis. Students enrolling for courses under Directed Study are expected to accomplish the goals and performance standards specified in the course syllabus. Courses are scheduled on a flexible basis with the understanding that final exams will be taken and all work completed at a date mutually agreed upon by the instructor and the student.

Because of the readily available courses offered in the traditional and Online Learning formats, Directed Study classes are offered to students in specific circumstances only, such as:

1. Student needs a specific course to graduate at the conclusion of the current term and the course is not offered;
2. Student has had a class cancelled and the College needs to offer an alternative; or
3. Schedule conflicts prevent a student from attending both lecture and the laboratory of a specified course.

Applications for Directed Study are available in the respective academic department office at each campus and Faculty Office Building 800 at SCF Venice. The faculty member and the department chair must approve the application before the student enrolling under a Directed Study. The fees applicable are the same as for courses taken in regular class sessions.

Work Experience Courses

Work experience courses are an integral part of the educational process within the Associate in Science (A.S.) degree programs. The intent is to assist students in exploring careers, developing skills for future advancement and obtaining job placement within their chosen major. Work experience courses provide on-the-job experiential learning in the public or private sector and augment theoretical content with practical learning in the workplace. The student, instructor and worksite supervisor work collaboratively to determine specific learning objectives for each student. The student is then evaluated based on documentation of satisfactory completion of the learning objectives and work assignments. Four, eight or 12 hours of work experience are required, depending on the credit hour requirements.

Work experience courses document supervised work experience within a student’s major and are designed to provide him or her with an opportunity to combine classroom instruction with work experience and on-the-job training related to career goals. The courses provide broad exposure to the selected career-related industry.

There are two types of cooperative work experience courses:

1. The Career Decision work experience is designed to provide broad exposure to the dynamic labor market and to allow the student to discover and experience actual job requirements of his or her career interest.
2. The Internship course is a capstone work experience that allows the student to apply all of the classroom theory, knowledge and skills obtained from the degree program to actual work situations.

A.S. degree students interested in a work experience course should contact their program manager.

Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree students should contact the faculty member responsible for internships within the A.A. content area or may reach out to College and Career Success.

Credit for Experiential Learning (CEL) Program

The SCF Credit for Experiential Learning (CEL) program gives individuals an opportunity, upon completion of an appropriate assessment, to convert knowledge gained from prior learning experiences into college credits toward an A.S. degree program or certificate.

The CEL program is tailor-made for people who already have worked and gained knowledge in the field and want to “ac-CEL-erate” the time it takes to obtain their degree. This knowledge may have been gained through employment experiences, volunteer work, intensive self-directed studies, military experiences or advanced technical training and industry certification.

Prior learning is evaluated by the appropriate faculty member who assesses students in approved courses to validate their specialized knowledge. Methods of assessment include written, oral and performance tests, portfolios that describe and document learning and how it was acquired, interviews with faculty members and evaluation of certificates and/or licenses. The procedures for applying for CEL credits and a list of program managers may be found at SCF.edu/CTE.

For further information, contact the appropriate program manager, listed in the program contacts section of the Career and Technical Education website, SCF.edu/CTE or call the CTE office at 941-363-7205.

Special Scheduling

Summer Scheduling

Summer credit courses are offered in two six-week sessions (Summer Term A and Summer Term B) or over one 12-week session (Summer Term C). The summer sessions give students the opportunity to complete requirements ahead of schedule, to offset lost time or deficiencies, or to pursue research or special courses. The second summer session, beginning in mid-June, makes it possible for recent high school graduates to begin college-level work immediately.

Short-Term Flex Start Classes

SCF offers classes in a condensed, accelerated format for those students who find it convenient to attend classes during times other than those in the traditional full semester term. Often such classes may be in a blended format, where students do some onsite classes coupled with online lessons. Students should check the SCF schedule of classes and consult with a College and Career Success Coach to determine which accelerated courses will best meet their academic needs.

Evening Scheduling

The College offers students the opportunity to attend a wide range of classes within a convenient evening schedule. Classes in the evening program traditionally run one or two nights a week. Academic advising is available on selected evenings until 6 p.m. to assist students with the advisement process and help them develop an area of study.

Weekend Scheduling

Weekend courses allow students to attend classes on Saturdays. Students can combine weekend classes with day, evening or distance learning courses to accelerate their program of study. Weekend classes may be a semester-long face-to-face class or may be presented in a blended format, combining classroom instruction with online learning. Weekend College at Lakewood Ranch provides students with an option of earning their A.A. degree by taking a combination of Friday and Saturday classes.

Off-Campus Credit Courses

As an additional way to meet the educational requirements of the community, credit courses are offered off-campus at locations justified by adequate enrollment. All of the courses listed in the Catalog will be considered, and appropriate new courses will be developed as required. Off-campus locations may include industrial plants, public service institutions, schools, medical centers, professional sites and business offices as well as web-based courses.

Middle and High School Programs and Opportunities

Career Pathways

SCF.edu/CareerPaths

Career Pathways is a program designed to provide a seamless transition between high school career and technical education programs and postsecondary education.  Toward that end, in the spirit of partnership, collaboration and communication, SCF, the School District of Manatee County, and the Sarasota County School District agree to provide, at no cost to eligible students, college credit for the Associate in Science (A.S.)/Certificate programs according to the current articulation agreement as outlined at SCF.edu/CareerPaths.

In order to be eligible for articulated credit, students must continue within the same program of study in which the high school credit was earned. For more information, students can contact their Career Pathways representative at their school district or call Career and Technical Education at 941-752-5290 and speak to the SCF Manager for Business and Student Engagement. 

College Enrichment

SCF.edu/EarlyCollege

The College Enrichment Program is designed to provide an opportunity for qualified high school students to enroll in degree credit courses. Credits earned will apply toward an associate degree but may be applied toward high school credit only with high school approval. Students are responsible for all college-related costs, which include tuition, fees and books. Florida residency documents must be submitted prior to the class start. SCF.edu/Residency.

College Reach-Out Program (CROP)

SCF.edu/CROP

CROP is a statewide program designed to increase the number of low-income students successfully completing a postsecondary education. The primary objective of CROP is to strengthen the educational motivation and preparation of low-income middle and high school students who otherwise would be unlikely to seek a postsecondary education without special support and recruitment efforts. The program recruits students and provides them with academic enrichment activities as well as career and personal advising. CROP is funded through a grant from the Florida Department of Education. SCF provides a cash and in-kind match.

During the academic year, CROP programs are directed by site coordinators who serve as mentors at schools in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Programs include motivational speakers, study-skill strategies, choosing a college, financial aid information, college tours, career information, cultural activities, college requirements, field trips, career development activities and FSA/SAT/ACT/PERT preparation. CROP offers selected students an opportunity to reside on a university campus during the summer.

CROP students who choose to attend SCF are eligible for CROP and Summer Bridge Program scholarships.

Summer Bridge Program

The Summer Bridge Program serves selected low-income high school seniors from Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The goal of the program is to transition these students to college success by having them begin their college experience during the summer following their senior year. Students get a jump-start by completing two courses before the Fall term begins.

Each student receives a Summer Bridge Program scholarship valued at more than $1,000. Upon completion of the program, students will have earned three to six college credits and, if necessary, completed a reading class. In addition, students are supported and guided by staff throughout their pursuit of a degree from SCF.

Dual Enrollment

SCF.edu/EarlyCollege

Dual Enrollment enables qualified high school students to enroll in selected college courses to satisfy high school graduation requirements and the associate degree. Students interested in the dual enrollment program at SCF should contact their high school counselor for eligibility and information about the process. Students must adhere to all published deadlines as reflected on the Early College webpage. 

Early Admission

.SCF.edu/EarlyCollege

Early Admission is a form of dual enrollment that enables qualified 12th grade high school students to enroll at SCF on a full-time basis.  Early Admission students must enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester but may not exceed 15 credit hours per semester.  Students interested in the Early Admissions program at SCF should contact their high school counselor for eligibility and information about the process. Students must adhere to all published deadlines as reflected on the Early College webpage.

Accelerated Dual Enrollment

SCF.edu/EarlyCollege

Accelerated Dual Enrollment program is open to Sarasota and Manatee County public high school students only.  The Accelerated Dual Enrollment program allows qualified juniors to gain college credit and high school credit by attending SCF full time. The students will continue full-time at SCF as Seniors and are on track to graduate with their high school diploma and potentially an AA degree from SCF.  Students interested in the dual enrollment program at SCF should contact their high school counselor for eligibility and information about the process. Students must adhere to all published deadlines as reflected on the Early College webpage.

Technical College Articulation Opportunities

SCF offers diverse opportunities for students to pursue course work toward Certificate and Associate in Science degree programs in conjunction with local technical colleges and high schools. More information may be obtained about these programs at SCF.edu/CareerPaths or by contacting the Workforce Outreach Specialist at 941-363-7216.