Background

Suffolk County Community College was established and is sponsored by the County of Suffolk, pursuant to the provisions of New York State Education Law, and operates under the policies of the Board of Regents and the supervision of the State University of New York.  Spread over an extensive geographic area with water on three sides, Suffolk County encompasses rural and urban lifestyles and a variety of economies that include farming and high technology. The county is home to a wide variety of socioeconomic and ethnic groups.

College Philosophy

Suffolk County Community College is guided by the philosophy that all students should have the opportunity to realize their highest potential for individual human development–intellectually, socially, culturally, physically and personally. The college believes in encouraging students to come to an understanding of themselves, their society, the physical world, and the lifelong nature of learning itself, and to act upon that understanding and enjoy an enlightened and fulfilling life.

Commitments

In order to accomplish this mission, the college has established comprehensive educational services with the following commitments. A program of institutional assessment will lead to periodic reviews of these commitments and to the ordering of them among the college’s priorities.

A. General

1. To offer programs and services that fulfill the educational needs of the residents of Suffolk County.
2. To provide access without regard to race, color, creed, sex, age or disability, and to encourage those students who might otherwise be unable to pursue a college education.
3. To assure financial access to the residents of Suffolk County through reasonable tuition charges and through institutionally sponsored fundraising efforts in support of both merit and need-based scholarships. 
4. To provide appropriate learning resource instructional programs and resources designed to support the curricula and to encourage student research projects and personal interests.
5. To provide comprehensive student services designed to enhance the college’s cultural, social and aesthetic environment in ways that support the growth and development of all its members.
6. To maintain a program of professional development for administrators, faculty and staff.
7. To encourage applied research that identifies ways to enhance and enrich the teaching-learning environment.
8. To offer programs and services that respond to the ever-changing needs of business, government and community organizations and to support economic development activities in Suffolk County.
9. To provide educational experiences in physical settings and with state-of-the-art equipment that is conducive to student achievement, and to assure full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

B. Degree/Certificate Programs

1. To structure the curricula of the college so that each program includes courses which
• develop oral and written communication skills;
• encourage thinking skills and creativity;
• foster appreciation for scientific methodology;
• promote an understanding of self, nature and society and its historical context, and a heightened awareness of personal, social and aesthetic values;
• enhance occupational skills; and
• encourage physical fitness.
2. To provide associate degree programs designed to serve students who wish to transfer to a four-year college or university.
3. To offer occupational and/or vocational associate degree programs that prepare students for immediate employment.
4. To offer certificate programs designed to serve students who wish to learn new skills or upgrade current skills.
5. To offer developmental and basic skills programs which enable students to achieve the proficiency required to succeed in a collegiate environment.
6. To provide a range of academic experiences to challenge students at various stages of intellectual development.

C. Community Service/Continuing Education

1. To provide lifelong educational experiences for county residents related to their job development, leisure activities, civic responsibilities and physical well-being.
2. To provide public service activities including  workshops, community forums and cultural enrichment programs.
3. To cooperate with other community/governmental agencies to enhance the quality of life in Suffolk County.
4. To serve as a social, intellectual and recreational resource to the residents of Suffolk County.

Campus Role and Scope

Each campus serves the educational needs of its respective geographic area within the county, offering unique programs when and where appropriate.  Together the three campuses and TechniCenter will provide those programs which fulfill the commitments of the college and serve the educational needs of the entire county.

College Professional Associations

Suffolk County Community College is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, Community College General Education Association, National Junior College Athletic Association, and other professional organizations. Members of its faculty and administration are active participants in many learned and professional societies. Faculty are regular contributors to professional journals and are active participants in professional organizations and conferences.

Accreditation of the College

Suffolk County Community College curricula are registered by the New York State Department of Education. The college is authorized to award the Associate in Arts degree, the Associate in Science degree and the Associate in Applied Science degree as established by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York, as well as the one-year Certificate of Completion. 

The college is a member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The Ammerman Campus, the Eastern Campus and the Grant Campus are fully accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association.

Individual Curricula are Accredited As Follows:

Ammerman Campus

Suffolk County Community College • 533 College Road • Selden, NY 11784-2899 • (631) 451-4000

Electrical Engineering Technology A.A.S. degree curriculum: accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

Nursing A.A.S. degree curriculum: accredited by the National League for Nursing.

Paralegal Studies A.A.S. degree and Certificate program: accredited by the American Bar Association.

Physical Therapist Assistant A.A.S. degree curriculum: accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association.

Eastern Campus

Suffolk County Community College • 121 Speonk-Riverhead Road •
Riverhead, NY 11901-3499 • (631) 548-2500

Dietetic Technician A.A.S. degree curriculum: has developmental accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation/Approval for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association (CAADE).

Interior Design A.A.S. degree curriculum: accredited by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER) for training at the preprofessional level.

Grant Campus

Suffolk County Community College • Crooked Hill Road • Brentwood, NY 11717-1092 • (631) 851-6700

Medical Assisting A.A.S. degree curriculum: accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and by the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Nursing A.A.S. degree curriculum: accredited by the National League for Nursing.

Occupational Therapy Assistant A.A.S. degree curriculum: accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Paralegal Studies A.A.S. degree and Certificate program: accredited by the American Bar Association.

Paralegal Studies A.A.S. degree and Certificate program: accredited by the American Bar Association.

Veterinary Science Technology A.A.S. degree curriculum: accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technical Education Activities.