High School Students: We will need your official transcript from your high school.
College Students: If you attended another college, we won’t need your high school transcript. We’ll need official transcripts from each of the colleges you’ve attended.
Transcripts are considered official (gigh school also) if delivered through a Parchment account to the SWCD registrar’s email or directly from the school electronically. Transcripts received from students (in person/through mail) are considered unofficial unless delivered in a sealed envelope.
When using a Parchment account you will create an account, choose Howard College Big Spring, then input our registrar’s email for “where to send the transcript” based on the campus you plan to attend.
Transcript requests from other schools or colleges are typically made by:
- Calling the school or college
- Going in person to the school/college – if choosing this option, the transcript must remain SEALED.
- Submitting a web request from the school’s website.
Each school does this differently. Some may have a form to fill out while others require creating a Parchment account.
The SouthWest College for the Deaf Registrar’s email for sending transcripts: swregistrar@howardcollege.edu
Each undergraduate student entering Howard College / SWCD, unless exempt or under exceptional circumstances, will be required to be tested for reading, writing, and math skills before enrolling in college-level courses. Check the Howard College Catalog or a Howard College / SWCD Admissions office for a list of exemptions.
TSIA/TSIA2 Update
An updated TSIA exam will launch on January 11, 2021. The TSIA2 will take the place of the current TSIA exam. If you meet the college readiness benchmarks with the current TSIA exam, the scores will be valid for five years from the date that you took the exam. The same will apply to the new TSIA2 exam. The TSIA2 will differ from the TSIA by having reading and writing combined into one section which will be called the English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) section. The TSIA2 will still have an essay portion and the mathematics section.
The Pre-Assessment (PAA) will still be required before taking the TSIA2. On January 11, the new Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) will be updated for the new exam.
College-Level Classes Taken Without Testing
If you were placed into college-level classes only without taking the TSIA due to COVID restrictions, you may be required to take the TSIA/TSIA2 before the start of the spring semester.
- Students who passed the college-level classes do not have to take the TSIA.
- Students who did not take a corequisite class and did not pass the college-level class will need to take the TSIA or TSIA2 before the start of the spring semester..
Please check with an advisor if you have questions.
Texas law requires new or returning former students to be immunized for meningitis. This law applies to students entering college as of January 1, 2012. Update: Effective October 1, 2013 the exemption age has been lowered from 30 to 22.
The 82nd Texas Legislature approved Senate Bill 1107, which requires all students entering a public, private, or independent institution of higher education in Texas as of January 2012 and thereafter to provide documentation that they have had a meningococcal (bacterial meningitis) vaccine or “booster” dose- within the last five years and at least 10 days prior to the first day of class
The meningitis vaccination requirement applies to:
- All first time students at Howard College/SWCD
- All students who are transferring from any institution of higher education to Howard College/SWCD
- All students who previously attended Howard College/SWCD, and who are enrolling following a break in enrollment of at least one fall or spring semester. (Students, who complete a spring semester at HC/SWCD, are not enrolled for the summer at HC/SWCD, and who returns in the fall are considered “continuing students” and are not included in this requirement.)
Students who fail to submit required meningitis vaccination documents will be restricted from registering for classes.
MENINGITIS IMMUNIZATION FORMS
Students EXEMPT from this requirement:
- You will be age 22 or older on the first day of classes of the semester in which you are enrolling at HC/SWCD
- You will be enrolled only in online or distance education courses.
- Students who present an affidavit signed by a licensed physician stating that the vaccination would be injurious to the health or well-being of the student.
- Students who decline the vaccine due to reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. A copy of the internet-based Department of State Health Services form to claim an exemption for reasons of conscience must be submitted to the Admissions office at the institution the student will be attending. This form can be found at https://co-request.dshs.texas.gov/.
- Students enrolled in a dual credit course which is taught at a public or private K-12 facility not located on a higher education institution campus.
- Continuing Education students attending courses or programs that are less than 360 contact hours.
- Students incarcerated in a Texas prison.
Acceptable documentation to prove that you have met the meningococcal vaccine requirement
- The signature or stamp of a physician or his/her designee or public health personnel on a form that shows the month, day and year of your most recent meningococcal vaccination or booster dose;
- an official immunization record generated from a state or local health authority that includes the same information as above; or
- an official record received from school officials, including a record from another state, which includes the same information as above.
Contact the following office for more information
SWCD Campus
- Candace Anderson
Associate Registrar
(432) 218-4045 (VP / V)
(432) 264-3729 (Fax)
canderson@howardcollege.edu
If you are a deaf/hard of hearing Texas resident, you should submit an application (Form 3900) to HHS ODHHS in Austin, TX. If you need help completing your application let us know!
https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/disability/deaf-hard-hearing/tuition-waiver