ctcLink Help Resources for Students
This page provides information for students about using ctcLink, including helpful tips and links to other resources.
Where do I log in?
Seattle Colleges students can find links to all systems and tools they need, including ctcLink, on the Student page of their college's website:
Students can log in to ctcLink by clicking the:
- Class Schedule icon on the Students page to access ctcLink HCX
- ctcLink icon on the Students webpage to access ctcLink classic.
- Select the term you want to see (North and South Seattle Colleges)
- Click the login icon at the bottom of the left navigation menu.
More Resources Available
In addition to the guides and resources on this page, the ctcLink Reference Center's Student Homepage has guides for all WA state community and technical college students about:
- Admissions
- Managing Classes
- Academic Progress
- Academic Records
- Profile
- Tasks
- Financial Account
- Message Center
- Okta Account Information
- and more!
Managing your ctcLink Account
Students manage their ctcLink accounts, including signing financial responsibility agreements, adding preferred names, updating contact information, changing passwords, and setting other security and privacy preferences. Most importantly, all new students must activate their ctcLink account to get started and set up multi-factor authentication. Please review the resources below for the basics of managing your ctcLink account.
If you received your ctcLink ID number via email, you still need to activate your ctcLink account. You only need to do this once for all WA state community and technical colleges.
Please review this guide to Activating your ctcLink Account (language translations available via browser translation tools).
More tips:
- Go to gateway.ctclink.us and select "Activate Account" to get started, or click the ctcLink icon on any of the Students pages: North | Central | South.
- Be sure to write down your new ctcLink ID number when you get it and keep it in a safe place. It's your student ID, and you will need it to manage your student account and access various systems and tools while you're a student at Seattle Colleges and all WA state community and technical colleges).
If you encounter problems activating your account, contact the IT HelpDesk.
The SFRA is an important agreement that outlines financial obligations and responsibilities for attendance at any of our Seattle Colleges. You will be asked to review and accept the SFRA once each academic year before registering for classes. By signing it, you acknowledge that you understand your financial responsibilities.
Note: Students who are under the age of 18, as well as Department of Corrections and Continuing Education students, are excluded from this requirement.
The SFRA is located in your student account in ctcLink, where you manage your college-related tasks.
How to complete your SFRA (opens in new tab to instructions in the ctcLink Reference Center)
Learn more about the SFRA at the links below:
Students can manage the basic information in their ctcLink accounts, including their contact information and setting privacy settings. This information should be reviewed every quarter to make sure it's up to date.
| Task | ctcLink HCX | ctcLink Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Update Contact Details | Update Contact Information (HCX) | Update Contact Details/Email and Phone (classic) |
| Update Privacy Settings (FERPA Block) | Update Privacy Restrictions (FERPA Block) (classic) |
Impacts of a FERPA Block
Before applying the FERPA Block on your account, know that it will restrict:
- The information registration and enrollment services staff can provide to you, as the student, via phone or email. You may have to come to the college with valid identification to get any academic information for your account.
- Degree and enrollment verification to employers.
- Your name and degree from being published in a program or in a press release without your written consent.
Please contact the registration and enrollment services office with questions or concerns about applying the FERPA block on your account. Students who want to give permission for the college to share information with a third party, such as a parent or guardian or another college, must submit a FERPA release form to each college they attend.
Students can add or update their Preferred/Chosen and Degree/Diploma names in ctcLink on their own, but must contact Enrollment Services to change their Primary/Legal name. Review your college's website for more information.
- North Seattle College - Name Changes
- Seattle Central College - Name Changes
- South Seattle College - Name Changes
| Task | ctcLink HCX | ctcLink Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Add or Update Names | Biographical Information (HCX) | Update Personal Details/Names (classic) |
Registration and Enrollment
Searching for, enrolling in, and managing your classes and schedule information can be found in the Schedule, Class Search, and Enrollment dropdown menus in ctcLink HCX and in the Manage Classes and Academic Progress tiles in ctcLink classic.
| Task | ctcLink HCX | ctcLink Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Class Search | Class Search (HCX) | Class Search (classic) |
| Find Enrollment Date | Enrollment Dates (HCX) | Enrollment Dates (classic) |
| Enroll in a Class | Enroll in a Class (HCX) | Enroll in a Class (classic) |
| Enroll by Class Number | Enroll by Class Number (HCX) (needs to be updated | |
| Enroll with Permission Number | Enroll with a Permission Number (classic) | |
| Enroll from Shopping Cart | Enroll from Shopping Cart (classic) | |
| Enroll by Degree Requirements | Enroll by Degree Requirements (HCX) | Enroll by Degree Requirements (classic) |
| View Class Schedule | View Class Schedule (HCX) | View Class Schedule (classic) |
| Swap Classes (join a waitlist and select back-up class) | Swap Classes (HCX) | Swap Classes (classic) |
| Drop Classes | Drop Classes (HCX) | Drop Classes (classic) |
Academic Records and Progress
Degree progress, grades, placement test scores, course records, unofficial transcript, and other records and progress information can be found in the Academics dropdown menu in ctcLink HCX and in the Academic Records and Academic Progress tiles in ctcLink classic.
| Task | ctcLink HCX | ctcLink Classic |
|---|---|---|
| View Grades | View Grades (HCX) | View Grades (classic) |
| View or Print Unofficial Transcript | View or Print Unofficial Transcript (HCX) | View or Print Unofficial Transcript (classic) |
| View Degree Progress | View Degree Progress (HCX) | View Academic Progress (classic) |
| View Advising Notes | View Advising Notes (classic) |
Funding, Financial Aid, and Payment
Funding, Financial Aid, and balance and payment information can be found in the Financials dropdown menu in ctcLink HCX and in the Financial Aid and Financial Account tiles in ctcLink classic.
| Task | ctcLink HCX | ctcLink Classic |
|---|---|---|
| Accept or Decline Financial Aid Award | Accept or Decline Financial Aid Award (HCX) | Financial Aid Services (classic) |
| Check Account Balance | What I Owe (HCX) | View Charges Due (classic) |
| Enroll in a Nelnet Payment Plan | Enroll in a Nelnet Payment Plan (classic) | |
| Make a Payment | Make a Payment (classic) | |
| Upload Requested Documents | Upload Documents (classic) |
Reporting Time Worked by Student Employees
Student employees need to use ctcLink to report their time worked so they can get paid. Get step-by-step instructions.