Senior Audit/Observer Program
Please read through this webpage thoroughly as the Senior Audit/Observer program has made changes effective Spring 2025.
STEPS TO TAKE:
1. COMPLETE SENIOR AUDIT/OBSERVER APPLICATION:
What Classes are restricted to Senior Auditors/Observers?
Classes not available to senior auditors/observers include those with a lab (including integrated), hands-on classes, non-credit courses, honors and foreign language classes. Only lecture style classes are permitted. All courses must be held during the 15-week session, which means they must start on the first day of school listed below, no later. Please visit the Academic Calendar for any questions. All applications are subject to instructor’s final approval. Please note, there is a maximum of 2 senior auditors per class.
Please see program overview section below for directions on how to search for credit classes.
Application Information and Review Timeline:
The next senior audit session will be for Fall 2025. Senior Audit applications for fall will be accepted through our online application form here. This form will open on August 28 and close on September 5. Courses begin on September 2.
While your application is important to us, we must ensure that degree-seeking students are able to register into the courses required for graduation. Because of this, we will begin to review and process applications no earlier than September 9th. We know you are eager to attend your classes, so we will reach out to you directly once we have an update on the status of your application. While we do our best to reach out to you on the review date, this may not be possible if we receive many applications. We thank you for your patience and understanding!
2. WAIT FOR PHONE CALL FOR PAYMENT
** Please note the change to this step as in the past we called approved applicants for payment.**
Beginning this semester, you will receive an email on or after the date listed above that you have been approved for senior audit and can call us at 914-606-6830 to process your payment. A more detailed email including your approved classes and class specific information will be sent later that day.
If you were denied, you will receive an email explaining why with options on how to move forward.
Please note: Your name will not appear on the instructor’s roster and the class(es) approved for auditing will not appear in your MyWCC student portal. Your MyWCC account will reflect that you are enrolled in Senior Audit only. This will not change at any point during the process.
3. SET UP YOUR MYWCC (only if you are a new student and have not done so already)
After this phone call, you will receive an email (to the email address you listed on the application) from SeniorAudit@sunywcc.edu with your user ID, student ID, class information and directions on how to activate your MyWCC account. You must activate your MyWCC account for IT to be able to grant you access to Brightspace. Please visit this webpage for directions on how to activate your student profile and email.
Please see next step for Brightspace access information.
4. ATTEND YOUR CLASS
You are still able to attend your class even without access to Brightspace, though you will not have full access to the course materials until this has been completed. Please see program overview section for information on obtaining a student ID and parking pass.
5. WAIT FOR ACCESS TO BRIGHTSPACE
A WCC representative will send your information to your course instructor(s) and the IT department to permit you access to Brightspace.
Please visit this website for directions on how to login to Brightspace for the first time, and all Brightspace FAQs. Remember, you must first activate your MyWCC account. Your course(s) will not appear in Brightspace until access has been granted by IT.
Please note: The process to grant you Brightspace access can take anywhere up to 2 weeks. Please know this is a priority and we are working as fast as possible to grant you access to the course(s). If you experience any issues after being granted Brightspace access, please contact the student help desk at MyWCCHelpdesk@sunywcc.edu for assistance.
SENIOR AUDIT/OBSERVER PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
Who is eligible for Senior Audit?
As a senior citizen (60 years of age or older) you may audit credit courses on a space-available basis at Westchester Community College. Senior auditors are required to provide a valid driver’s license as proof of age.
What is the difference between being an auditor/observer and being an active participant?
Auditing a course means you will not receive college credit for completing the course. As a senior auditor, you typically do not complete class assignments, take tests, or participate actively in class discussion (unless the instructor proposes an alternate arrangement). Classes not available to senior auditors include those with a lab, hands-on classes, foreign language classes, and others. There must be sufficient room in the class in order to participate as a senior auditor and the professor has the final approval.
Can my application be reviewed early?
Applications will be reviewed in the order which they were received no earlier than the date listed above. While your application is important to us, we must ensure that degree-seeking students are able to register into the courses required for graduation.
What happens if the class I want to audit is full?
In order to audit a class, there must be 6 seats available at the time of review. If there are not 6 available seats in the class, you will be notified via email that your request has been denied. We encourage all applicants to apply for multiple options. If your application is denied, we invite you to apply again the following eligible semester (either fall or spring).
What is the cost to audit?
The cost to audit is a non-refundable $52.50. Senior auditors may take two courses per semester for this fee. Fees are payable by Visa, Discover, Mastercard or Check/Money Order each semester. (Sorry no cash accepted.)
How do I look up available credit classes?
- In the top right corner of sunywcc.edu, click “Main Menu”
- Click the yellow “MyWCC” towards the top of the page.
- When the new page loads, please make sure the black toolbar reads “Welcome to MyWCC”. If it reads “Continuing Education” please click on it and switch to “Welcome to MyWCC”
- Click the tile that reads “Class Search – Credit Classes”, and a new page will load.
- Change the term (right side of toolbar) to the term you are searching for.
- In the toolbar, you can type any class you might be looking for. If you would just like to browse all course offerings, leave toolbar blank. Click “Search”.
- A list of classes will populate for your search. You can see more classes at the bottom of the page by clicking “Load More.”
- Once course is found, click on the name of the course and the following will appear:
- Class #, Instructor, Mode of course (In Person or Online), day(s) of the week, time, dates running, and # of seats available. Note: If a course does not appear, it is unavailable.
- To audit a course, there must be at least 6 available seats.
- To return to the class search and look up another subject, click the “Class search” button at the top of your browser screen.
How and when do I obtain a student ID and parking pass?
Please contact the Mainstream Office with any questions regarding Senior Audit:
Email SeniorAudit@sunywcc.edu or call 914-606-6830.