| Frequently Asked Questions |
| How
often do classes meet? A semester is usually 16 weeks in length; however, short session and flex learning courses are also offered. The hours a class meets per week usually equals the number of credit hours the class is worth. The hours can be in a block or spread out in a variety of combinations. The most common time arrangement is for a 3 credit class to meet for 50 minutes, 3 days a week. What's a "CREDIT HOUR"? Credit for college classes is measured in units. A credit unit relates to the amount of time spent in a class during a 16 week semester. For example, a 3 credit class will meet for 3 hours per week. Classes with labs will meet for additional hours and very often the class is worth additional credit hours. How many CREDIT HOURS make me a full-time student? Taking 12 credit hours in one semester is considered a full-time load. To be eligible for athletics a student must be considered full-time. Full-time load is different in the summer. What about attendance? Attendance is the responsibility of the student. Each instructor determines the attendance policy for their class. Because attendance may seem unstructured, the student has to make attending classes a priority. The official attendance policy of the college is printed in this handbook. Absences begin with the first class meeting. What if the class I want to take is closed? Your first option is to select an alternative section. You may also request your name to be placed on a waiting list that is available for certain course sections. Overrides may be available for some courses, please consult the staff of the EC for more information. How do I add a class? If you meet the course prerequisite you may add a class. Obtain and fill out an "Add" slip (available at the EC) then return the approved "add" slip to the EC by the deadline date. Remember to pay the fees at the time the slip is processed. Do I have to declare a major? It is not necessary to declare a major the first semester you enter. However, it is beneficial to spend time exploring educational options. We recommend you take advantage of the Enrollment Center (EC), and its advisors. We also suggest you contact our Counseling department to obtain career counseling and consider enrolling in a Career and Personal Development class listed in the class schedule under CPD. An educational goal is required for financial aid. Do I have to repeat a class in which I received a "D" or "F" grade? There is no college regulation requiring you to repeat courses in which you received a substandard grade. However, certain programs of study, such as your major, may require a grade of a "C" or higher. Also, repeating a course can raise your GPA. Check with an advisor if you are unsure of the requirements that apply to you. If you elect to repeat a class, notify the Admissions and Records Office to have the lower grade removed from your GPA. The "higher" grade will appear on your permanent record and the higher grade will be used for computation of your grade point average (GPA). The substandard grade will remain on your transcript but an annotation will be made that the class was repeated. How do I withdraw from a class? In order to request withdrawal from a class, you must complete the class withdrawal form obtained from the EC. Please be informed that it is NOT the instructor's responsibility to drop you from the class. Check the academic calendar listed in this handbook for the correct deadlines in order to drop a class. A "W" is guaranteed for those who withdraw by the seventh week of classes. A “W” is not calculated into your grade point average. (Please refer to the section of this handbook regarding more information about withdrawal policies). WHAT IS A "GPA"? GPA stands for "grade point average." Letter grades are given the point values shown below. Each class has a specific credit unit value. Multiplying the letter value by the credit unit value equals the grade points total value for that class. Then, divide the total credit units into the grade points to determine your GPA. Example Letter Grade/ Units/Point Values = Point Values Quality Points A=4 grade points -3 credits of A X 4 points = 12 B=3 grade points -3 credits of B X 3 points = 9 C=2 grade points -3 credits of C X 2 points = 6 D=1 grade points -3 credits of D X 1 points = 3 F=0 grade points -3 credits of F X 0 points = 0 To figure your total GPA, divide your total number of quality points by your total number of credits. TOTAL Quality points 30 points DIVIDED by your TOTAL credit units 15 units EQUALS your GPA 2.00 |