2.0 Credit, Loads, and Academic Standards

Academic Standards

2.0.3.1 Attendance

A written statement of the attendance policy will be included within each course syllabus. Attendance may or may not be required. If attendance is required or serves as a criterion for a grade in a course, the policy shall be clearly defined in the syllabus.

Absences from regularly scheduled classes resulting from the activities of a college-sponsored organization or event must be authorized by the president (or designee). The faculty member(s) supervising the activity or event shall notify instructors of the authorized absence. The student shall be responsible for the course work missed as a result of the authorized absence and must make arrangements to complete that work in accordance with the course syllabus. The instructor shall, if feasible, give the student an opportunity to make up the work missed and shall not in any case arbitrarily penalize the student for the absence.

2.0.3.2 Unsatisfactory Scholarship and Excessive Absences

A student who is performing unsatisfactorily or who, in the opinion of the instructor, has excessive absences in any course may be reported to the college president or designee. This student shall be under the special supervision of the college president or designee. If, after a predetermined length of time, it becomes apparent that no improvement in scholarship is being made, the college president or designee may, if the student concurs, withdraw the student from the course under the provisions of Section V, 1.0.2. If the student is to be officially withdrawn, the college president or designee shall notify the instructor and the Student Records Office.

Any student reported to the president or designee because of unsatisfactory scholarship or excessive absences shall be considered for academic suspension under the provisions of Section V, 4.0.3 at the end of the term during which the reporting occurred.

2.0.3.3 Acceptable Standards in English

Instructors in all courses are expected to call attention to proper English usage and may penalize for errors and/or require the rewriting of papers which do not meet acceptable standards in English.

Any instructor who finds the written work of any student seriously defective in English may recommend remedial work or refer the student for additional assistance from local resources.

2.0.3.4 Final Examinations

Each instructor shall determine if a final examination is appropriate to the course. If a final examination is to be given, it will be administered during the examination period as scheduled in the official college calendar for the academic term, i.e. the 16th week of a semester. Except for courses offered on Saturday/Sunday, the first day for final examinations will be preceded by one calendar day during which no classes or examinations will be scheduled.

With prior approval from the Chief Academic Officer, faculty may use the final examination period for regular classroom instruction. If the 16th week of the semester is to be used for instruction, the instructor shall indicate this in the course syllabus.

2.0.3.4.1 Conflict with Three or More Exams

Any student with more than two examinations scheduled on one day shall be entitled to have an examination rescheduled. All petitions for rescheduling must be made in writing to the instructor no later than one week prior to the last class meeting.

Final examinations may be administered other than the regularly scheduled times only with the recommendation of the division chairperson and the approval of the college president (or designee).

If rescheduling of an examination presents a conflict, the student shall be entitled to take the examination at the originally scheduled period or at another time during the examination week by mutual agreement with the instructor. If the conflict cannot be resolved among the instructors, the academic dean will resolve the issue.

2.0.3.4.2 Conflict with Regular Instruction

Scheduled final examinations take precedence over regular classroom work during the final examination period.

2.0.3.5 Participation in College Orientation

Conditions and criteria for an orientation program for first-time freshmen shall be determined by the faculty of the college.

2.0.3.6 Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics

Academic conditions and criteria for a college's participation in intercollegiate athletics shall be determined by the faculty of the college.