Early College Program Highlights
The Early College Program [ECP] at Suffolk County Community College provides an opportunity for academically talented high school junior and senior students to begin earning college credit by taking courses on Suffolk’s college campuses, sitting alongside college students, taught by college professors, and interacting with college staff. The program is rigorous, yet supportive, a perfect combination for individuals driven to achieve academic success and who desire to engage in studies that expand upon high school offerings.
Classes are scheduled at designated times (dependent upon the campus and high school agreement) to meet the needs of the students and partnering school districts during the fall, spring and second summer-session semesters. Participants may earn up to seven credits each semester in a variety of liberal arts and science courses related to a curriculum of interest or to satisfy core liberal arts college requirements. Advisement and program coordination are provided by campus ECP counselors/liaisons, where students are responsible to share current and prior college courses that they have taken to ensure students receive sufficient guidance and personal attention.
Participation in Suffolk’s Early College Program affords a multitude of benefits to enrich the high school student’s academic experience; providing advanced-learning opportunities with an effective transition from high school to college-level learning, and use of select College resources. The program is designed to provide curricular opportunity and enhancement of the high school experience, but not its replacement. Therefore, students may enroll in no more than seven college credits earned through the Early College Program per semester.
Enrollment in courses offered through the Early College Program generates an official Suffolk academic transcript for each student. The college credits earned may be applied towards a degree at Suffolk or transferred to many other colleges and universities with general acceptance within State University of New York (SUNY) institutions. Acceptance of credits for college-level courses is determined by the receiving college or university. Courses offered through the Early College Program are offered at a special reduced tuition rate with minimum course fees, however students are responsible to purchase any required course textbooks/learning resources.
To apply to the Early College Program, academically eligible high school sophomores or juniors from participating school districts are recommended by their high school guidance counselor and complete an application form through their high school guidance office. View the "Student Eligibility" tab above for eligibility requirements. Specific due dates and requirements apply. Parents and students are invited to an informational session on the College campus to discuss the program and the process to qualify and enroll.
Navigate through the tabs above and on the left to acquire additional Early College Program information.
Partnering School Districts
| CAMPUS | PARTNER DISTRICTS | ECP COUNSELOR/LIAISON | CONTACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammerman (Selden) |
Bayport-Blue Point Comsewogue Connetquot Longwood Patchogue-Medford Port Jefferson Earl L. Vandermeulen Sayville Smithtown Christian Three Village Ward Melville HS |
Karen Poidomani |
(631) 451-4528 earlycollege@sunysuffolk.edu |
| Eastern (Riverhead) |
Eastport-South Manor Hampton Bays Mattituck-Cutchogue Riverhead Sag Harbor Southampton Southold |
Charles Connolly |
(631) 548-2528 connolc@sunysuffolk.edu |
| Michael J. Grant (Brentwood) |
Bay Shore Brentwood Deer Park MDQ Academy North Babylon Upper Room Christian |
Ray Martinez |
(631) 851-6282 martinr@sunysuffolk.edu |
Student Eligibility
Who are Early College Program students?
Early College Program students are high school students who are ready to begin a college academic transcript and earn college credit by taking college-level courses offered through the Early College Program.
Guidelines for student eligibility:
- Students must attend a participating school district/high school and be approved by their high school principal, and their guidance counselor for admission into courses offered through the Early College Program.
- The high school student must be a high school sophomore or junior to apply for admission for the following school year, and a high school junior or senior, to enroll in college courses through the Early College Program.
- The student has demonstrated readiness to take a college level courses by meeting Suffolk’s criteria on its computerized placement test (CPT) or requisite waivers, for college level placements in all areas (Reading, Writing Skills, and Quantitative Analysis Skills-QAS).
- The student has taken the high school and college pre-requisite course(s).
- The student has demonstrated strong performance in previous high school work, the
skills and knowledge necessary to manage college level courses while continuing to
excel in their high school courses. Strong performance is defined as an 85+ unweighted average in high school courses inclusive of those relevant to the course into which
they want to enroll, similar scholarship on at least one Regents examination, a letter
of recommendation from their principal and guidance counselor, and a record of good
attendance and citizenship.
- The student must meet all requirements and requested due dates. All student holds must be satisfied within College policy.
- Students are responsible to purchase any requisite course textbooks/learning resources.
- Some courses offered through the Early College Program may have additional requirements for acceptance. Consult with the campus Early College Program Counselors for more information.
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Students taking courses through Suffolk's Beacon Program or Early College Program may not simultaneously take courses at the College outside either of the programs, during those semester(s).
Maintaining eligibility (participation):
- Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA to remain in the program.
- Students receiving one grade of either a D, F, W or I (Incomplete) or earning a GPA below 2.5 (and above 2.0) in one semester, may only continue in the program by taking a maximum of one course for the subsequent fall, spring or summer semester and earning a minimum 2.75 GPA for that semester.
- Students receiving two grades of either D’s, W’s, I’s or F’s in one semester, should be dropped from the program for at least one full fall or spring semester, with no summer semester courses. They can be re-evaluated six months later for possible re-entry.
- Students who earn a GPA of 2.0 or below for a semester should be dropped from the program for at least one full fall or spring semester, with no summer semester courses. They can be re-evaluated six months later for possible re-entry.
- Extenuating circumstances are referred to the Office for Academic Affairs for review.
Student Benefits
Participation in Suffolk's Early College Program [ECP] allows high school junior and senior students to:
- Enrich their high school academic experience by taking college courses at Suffolk during or after regular high school hours that align with ECP time frames.
- Be challenged during their high school junior and senior years experiencing the high academic standards and increased personal responsibility for learning, characteristic of college-level study.
- Be provided with additional course options and a stimulus to engage in a full course of study throughout high school (courses offered through the ECP supplement, and do not duplicate, high school course offerings).
- Prepare for college learning by starting the transition to college-level work and build motivation and confidence for continued study.
- Enhance their college admissions application with college courses and an additional resource to request college faculty letters of recommendation.
- Enjoy greater flexibility in college by shortening the time to complete a college degree, or taking a lighter course load; affording more time for internships, dual majors, minors, study abroad, etc.
- Earn advanced standing once accepted to college.
- Earn up to 24 college credits through the Early College Program. Courses offered through the program generate an official Suffolk academic transcript, where college credits successfully earned can be used toward a degree at Suffolk or transferred to many of the most respected colleges/universities throughout the country; though every college/university has its own policies governing transfer credit. It is recommended that students confirm with their colleges/universities of interest regarding transfer credit policies.
- Be strong candidates for scholarships and admission into Suffolk’s Honors Program.
- Pay reduced tuition during the fall, spring and second summer-session semesters which is a fraction of the cost of Suffolk’s current tuition and fees, however students are responsible to purchase requisite course textbooks/learning resources.
- Have available select Suffolk services and enjoy a connection to the College.
