Academic Regulations

Academic Forgiveness

A student who has not been enrolled in curriculum courses for 36 consecutive months may request the Registrar to evaluate the student’s academic record. Under this policy, the student may request that previous grades of “F” not be used in calculating the cumulative grade point average. Prior to reevaluation, the student must be readmitted to the College and complete at least 12 credit hours of course work. The student must maintain at least a 2.50 GPA on those 12 credit hours. The Registrar, at the request of the student, will reevaluate the cumulative grade point average as appropriate. A reevaluation is provided only once for each student.

Note: Recipients of financial aid or veteran’s benefits may not be eligible for this forgiveness policy based on federal guidelines and regulations. The student should contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

Academic Honors

• President’s List—Students who are enrolled for a minimum of 12 semester hours, have achieved a grade point average of 4.00, and are not enrolled in any class numbered below 100.
• Dean’s List—Students who are enrolled for a minimum of 12 semester hours, have achieved a grade point average from 3.25 through 3.99, are not enrolled in any class numbered below 100, and have no grade lower than a “C.”
• Graduation with Honors—awarded to students with a major grade point average between 3.50 and 3.749 upon completion of any degree or diploma program.
• Graduation with High Honors—awarded to students with a major grade point average 3.75 and above upon completion of any degree or diploma program.

To be eligible for honors or high honors, students must complete 50 percent of their course work at Lenoir Community College. Students receiving an Incomplete (I) for any course are ineligible for the honors list.

Adding and Dropping Courses, Withdrawing from Courses, and Withdrawing From the College

Students who find it necessary to add or drop courses, withdraw from courses, or withdraw from college should confer with their instructors and advisors. Forms are secured from the advisors or the Registrar’s Office, and withdrawals must be signed by an advisor or the Dean of Student Services.Courses may be added during the add period with advisor approval. Adding courses after the add period through the 10% point of the course requires the instructor’s approval. However, after the 10% point of the semester, courses may be added with the recommendation of the instructor and the division dean and with the approval of the Vice President of Instruction.For courses dropped prior to or at the 10% point of the semester, no grade is awarded. The course does not appear on the student’s permanent record. After the 10% point, students who withdraw from a course receive a grade of a “W.”

Attendance

Absences seriously disrupt students’ progress in a course and diminish the quality of group interaction. Students are expected to attend punctually all lecture and laboratory sessions in the courses for which they are registered, beginning with the first session following registration for the courses. Three late arrivals and/or early departures count as one absence, and students must be in attendance for 50% of the class time to be counted for the day’s attendance. Students should notify instructors of planned and emergency tardiness, absences, and early departures.

Although occasional absences may be unavoidable, they in no way excuse students from meeting the requirements of the courses. Absences (excused and/or unexcused) are calculated from the first class meeting following enrollment. “Excessive” absences are defined as absences totaling 15% of the scheduled class meetings. Fifteen percent translates into the following formula: for a 5 contact hour class, 15% =12 hours of absences; 4 contact hours = 9; 3 contact hours = 7; 2 contact hours = 4; and 1 contact hour =2. Excessive absences may result in suspension from the class.

Students who miss two consecutive weeks are suspended from class in the third week. Students with prolonged absences should either contact their instructors so that they are not suspended or officially drop the classes so that attendance is not factored into their final grades.

Health Sciences and Nursing (HS&N) students’ lab and clinical attendance procedure, located in the HS&N Handbooks, differs from the general college attendance policy.  Upon enrollment in HS&N courses, the attendance requirements are provided to students.  Annually, students must sign that the attendance procedure has been reviewed and acknowledged. 

For distance education, attendance/participation directly affects the student’s success in the course. Students in a distance education course will establish an initial enrollment date by completing a course introductory activity determined. The introductory activity, posted in the course management system (Moodle) is to be completed by the end of the add period.

In a distance education course, attendance is assessed by completed assignments. Students not participating for two consecutive weeks or missing fifteen (15%) of the assignments (or three weeks total, whichever is greater), as determined by the instructor, will be dropped from the course. To minimize the chance of being dropped from a distance education course, it is important for students to keep their instructor informed of issues that may affect attendance/participation.

Suspensions for excessive or prolonged absences result in a grade of W (Withdraw) based on the students’ academic standing on the day of suspension.

The classification of absences as excused requires verification and allows students to make up missed work, in accordance with the instructors’ make-up procedures, but they are still computed as absences in the 15% tabulation. Excused absences are identified as follows:

1. Personal illness or illness of dependents or spouse living in the household, if the illness requires a doctor’s supervision
2. Death in the family
3. Participation in authorized college activities
4. Other situations at the discretion of the instructor
5. Religious observances

All instructors adhere to the established procedure as printed in the LCC Catalog, notify students in writing of their make-up procedures, and when possible, confer with students with excessive absences and/or refer those students to counselors. Students’ grades, however, cannot be raised or lowered more than one letter grade based on excessive absences and/or attendance. This does not take into consideration the effects of students’ failure to comply with instructors’ make-up procedures.

Student appeals are made according to the student appeals procedures.

Students may have up to two days of absences excused by the College per academic year for the purpose of observing religious holidays that students are required by their faith to observe. In anticipation of such an event, students must contact the Dean of Student Services in writing at least two weeks prior to the expected absence.  The Dean will work with the students and their instructors to ensure timely make up of class requirements missed because of the absence.

Auditing Courses

Students who wish to audit courses must register through an advisor. Although students auditing a course receive no credit, at the discretion of the instructor, they may be required to attend classes regularly, participate in class discussions, and meet other course requirements. Any student auditing a class who does not meet requirements set by the instructor is subject to suspension from that class. Students auditing a course are charged the same fee as students taking courses for credit. Prerequisite and corequisite requirements must be met in order to audit a course.

Students wishing to audit class(es) must notify their advisors at the time of registration and their instructor(s) upon entry into the class(es). Audit cannot be changed to credit or credit to audit after the deadline for adding courses.

Catalog of Record

Students have the option of graduating under the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of initial enrollment as long as the student remains continuously enrolled, but students must complete requirements within ten (10) years of the catalog selected.

CEEB Advanced Placement Program

Lenoir Community College participates in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). Students who wish to present Advanced Placement Test Scores should have those scores sent directly to the Registrar from the College Board. Students entering a program who have demonstrated their achievement by meeting minimum scores upon taking the Advanced Placement Examinations may receive semester hour credit in the appropriate college course(s) as follows:

Change of Major

Students who wish to change majors must have the signature of a counselor/advisor. Applicants who wish to change majors prior to initial registration should contact the Office of Admissions. A change of major that is requested after the 10% point of the semester is not effective until the next term.

CLEP Placement Program

Lenoir Community College participates in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Contact the Registrar for information on tests accepted, scores, and course credit for CLEP. A CLEP transcript must be forwarded to the Registrar before any credit can be awarded.

College Success

Curriculum students seeking a degree or diploma are required to take ACA 111, College Student Success, or ACA 122, College Transfer Success. These courses are designed to eliminate many of the problems normally faced by new students when they first enroll at the College. Students are acquainted with the College’s environment, policies, courses, staff and transfer readiness when applicable.

1. Students enrolled in certificate programs are not required to take ACA 111 or ACA 122.
2. Students who have transferred from another post-secondary institution, who have not completed a course equivalent to ACA 111 or ACA 122, are required to take either ACA 111 or ACA 122. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in ACA 111 or ACA 122 during their first semester at the College.

Course Corequisites

A corequisite is a course or test score which must be taken simultaneously with the desired course. If a student drops or withdraws from one part of the required corequisite, then both parts must be dropped or withdrawn. For example: CHM 131  and CHM 131A —a student dropping or withdrawing from CHM 131  is required to also drop or withdraw from CHM 131A  since the state corequisite for CHM 131  is CHM 131A .

Course Prerequisites

A prerequisite is a course or test score which must be met prior to entering the desired course. Students must comply with state and local requirements that courses may not be taken until all prerequisites have been met.

Exceptions to this requirement must be requested by the division dean and approved by the Vice President of Instruction and Institutional Effectiveness. Students will be requred to demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills for admission to the course by meeting the following criteria: (1) successful completion of credit by exam, (2) successful completion of a higher level or similar course; or (3) possession of a relevant and current licensure or certification.

Credit Accepted

Credit is awarded for freshman and sophomore courses completed at regionally accredited community colleges and universities provided they parallel work offered at Lenoir Community College, are applicable towards the student’s program of study, and carry adequate credit.  No grade less than “C” will be accepted in any program.  The Vice President of Instruction and Institutional Effectiveness must approve any credits from institution that are not regionally accredited.  The maximum transferable credit from another institution and the total allowable credit from all outside sources is seventy-five percent (75%).  Twenty-five percent (25%) of the credit hours or 9 credit hours (whichever is greater) is required for graduation and must be earned through instruction offered by Lenoir Community Colleges. Students are advised that transfer credits and grades accepted by Lenoir Community College do not infer acceptance by other educational institutions. Students will receive evaluations of all official records submitted before the end of their first semester of curriculum enrollment.

Credit by Articulation

Lenoir Community College participates in the North Carolina High School to Community College Articulation Agreement. This is an agreement between the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the North Carolina Community College System. The agreement provides a seamless process that joins secondary and postsecondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs of study.

To receive articulated credit, students must enroll at the community college within two years of their high school graduation date and meet the following criteria:

• Final grade of B or higher in the course and
• A score of 93 or higher on the standardized CTE post assessment

High school students who enroll in a Career and College Promise pathway may earn articulated college credit as described in this agreement while enrolled in high school if the CTE articulated college credit is part of their Career and College Promise pathway.

Community college officials verify eligibility and acceptance of articulated courses listed on the high school transcript. Students may be asked to submit supporting documentation and/or demonstrate proficiency to receive credit. Colleges must follow the criteria of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in awarding credit.

Credit by Examination

A curriculum student may petition the division dean for credit by examination. The dean coordinates with the instructor regarding the administration of the examination, which is administered in a manner appropriate to the course. The grade earned on the examination will be entered into the student’s record and credits earned will be applied toward graduation requirements. A student must be currently enrolled at Lenoir Community College for credit by examination.

A student is limited to one attempt at credit by examination per course. No tuition is charged for the examination. A student may not attempt credit by examination if enrolled in the course for which the credit by examination is being attempted. This includes courses which have been dropped or withdrawn from during the current term or during the term in which the student is enrolled for the same course. Credit by examination for developmental courses is not permitted. Exceptions to this policy may be recommended by the division dean and approved by the Vice President of Instruction.

Credit for Military Training

Lenoir Community College may recognize and grant credit to active military personnel, reservists, and veterans for military training and experience completed in the armed forces and work taken through the United States Armed Forces Institute. Credit granted is in accord with recommendations of the American Council on Education. Persons desiring credit for military training and experience must petition the Registrar for such credit and present authentic training records.

Active military personnel, reservists, and veterans will be awarded two hours of physical education credit for basic training upon presentation of DD-214 or other documentation.

Developmental Courses

Designated developmental courses should be completed within the first two semesters of enrollment at Lenoir Community College. Developmental courses are offered in English and math each semester to prepare students for required program courses.  Advisors along with the Academic Support Center & Developmental Education Transition Coordinator can advise students concerning the need to register for and complete developmental courses. 

Dismissal from a Program

If at any time during the semester it is determined that a student is not a safe and dependable practitioner in the clinic, shop, lab, or similar area, and that the problem cannot be eliminated with reasonable accommodation, the student may be dismissed from the program with the concurrence of the Dean of Student Services. The student is afforded the right of due process.

Any time during the semester a faculty member determines that a student may be dismissed from the College when the College official determines that a student:

• Expresses an articulable, imminent, and significant threat to the applicant, other individuals, college employees, or the College environment or
• Demonstrates behavior which conflicts with safety essential to the program’s practice, including documented evidence used in assisting the College in making safety determinations. In addition, if at any time a health sciences faculty member determines that a student
• Presents problems in physical or emotional health which do not respond to appropriate treatment and/or counseling within a reasonable period of time or
• Demonstrates behavior which conflicts with safety essential to the nursing practice and other health sciences programs, the student may be dismissed from the program.

Under no conditions will a student possess or use any illicit substances (drugs), alcohol, or substances illegally obtained while at the College. Any student who is found to possess or is found to be a user of such substances or alcoholic beverages will be evaluated for dismissal from any program.

While in the program or on an LCC campus, a student may at any time be required to provide a urine or blood sample for testing to validate or disprove use of illicit/controlled substances/alcoholic beverages. Such testing will be at the student’s expense. Failure to submit to such testing or provide body fluid samples will be interpreted as supportive of impairment. Test values indicating use of illicit/controlled substances/alcoholic beverages will be grounds for dismissal from the program.

ENG/MAT 110 Retake Policy

Students who take ENG 110 or MAT 110 as their first attempt at college-level English or math and do not pass will be required to successfully complete Developmental English and/or Math before retaking the course.

General Education Outcomes

Lenoir Community College has identified general education outcomes directly tied to the college’s mission of meeting the personal, cultural, and professional educational needs of our students through affordable, accessible, and innovative educational programs.  These outcomes were selected to provide collegiate level multi-disciplinary learning for all students that ensures breadth of knowledge in the humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, and natural science/mathematics, and does not narrowly focus on the skills, techniques, or procedures that are specific to a particular occupation or profession.

Associate degree-seeking students at LCC are required to complete general education courses as a core component of their program.  The following are the six general education outcomes expected of all students:

1. Students will be able to apply knowledge of mathematics appropriate to their program of study.
2. Students will be able to apply knowledge of professional standards related to soft skills within courses in their program of study.
3. Students will be able to apply basic concepts of the social sciences to examine relationships among individuals, groups, and social structures.
4. Students will be able to create effective written and oral communication.
5. Students will be able to apply scientific principles to examine subject matter in the natural and physical universe.
6. Students will be able to understand discipline-specific knowledge in the fine arts and the relevance of the fine arts to cultural and personal growth.

In addition to the general education outcomes, the College has also identified individual program and academic and student services outcomes that are published for each program and service area on the college’s website.

GPA Guardrails for Success

Lenoir Community Colleges wants to support student success.  To ensure students are set up for success, and to mitigate withdrawals and potential negative repercussions with Financial Aid and completion, LCC has put in place GPA Guardrails for Success.  As students meet with their Advisor to register for classes, the Advisor will help guide students in enrolling for classes, while abiding by the following guidelines:

• Students with a current LCC Cumulative GPA less than a 2.2, or with a GPA less than a 2.2 from their most recently attended institution prior to LCC, will not be enrolled in more than 9 Non-Developmental Credit Hours at any point in a semester.*
• Students with a current LCC Cumulative GPA less than a 2.8 but greater than a 2.2, or with a GPA less than a 2.8 but greater than a 2.2 from their most recently attended institution prior to LCC, will not be enrolled in greater than 12 Non-Developmental Credit Hours at any one point in a semester.* 
• Traditional LCC students must hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 to be registered in a Holiday Course (HIN).  Note: This does not apply to Special Credit (T90990) students.*

Students enrolled in more than the allowable limit of hours based on current or most recently attended GPA may be dropped from one or more classes at the start of the semester and rebilled.  LCC understands and supports the desire for students to complete coursework successfully and on time. 

Note: Curriculum Dean approval is required to enroll in more than 18 hours in a semester. (This is typically only approved for student GPAs greater than 3.0, with other factors considered.) 

*Approval by the Vice President of Instruction & Institutional Effectiveness is required for enrollment in hours over the maximum allowable limit, and all outside factors will be considered.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation for Graduation

Graduation from Lenoir Community College is based on major grade point average, which includes only courses used to meet graduation requirements in a student’s major. Whenever courses are repeated, only the highest attempt is counted toward graduation.

Note: Where courses are repeated, all attempts are shown on the permanent student record.

Grading System and Quality Point Average

The 4.00 quality point system is used to calculate student grade point averages. Grade point averages are computed by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted. The letter grades used are as follows:

Credit by Exam (CBE) grades, “AE,” “BE,” “CE,” “DE,” and “FE” are awarded in certain instances when approved by a division dean. An exam for CBE may be taken one time per course. Note: A maximum of 75% of credit hours for graduation may be earned by CBE for any credential.

When the grade “F,” “R,” “W,” or “IP” is received in a course, the student must reenroll and satisfactorily complete the course requirements in order to receive credit for the course.

Developmental/Transition courses are numbered 0-99, and letter grades are required. The hours attempted and grade points accumulated for developmental courses are counted in the semester and cumulative totals but do not count toward graduation requirements.

All grade changes other than “I” and “LA” must be approved by the Vice President of Instruction and Institutional Effectiveness.

Graduation

Students graduate at the close of any semester that requirements for graduation are fulfilled. Degrees, diplomas, and/or certificates are mailed as soon as possible following the end of the term.  Summer and fall graduates are encouraged to participate in the formal commencement exercises held at the close of the following spring semester.

A transcript certifying completion of the degree requirements is furnished upon request at the end of a student’s final semester. Student participation in commencement exercises is encouraged.

Requirements for Graduation: General requirements for graduation in any degree, diploma, or certificate program are as follows. Refer to curriculum standard page for specific requirements.

1. All college financial obligations must be met.
2. A minimum of 25% of the credit hours or 9 credit hours (whichever is greater) required for completion of a program must have been earned through instruction offered by Lenoir Community College.
3. Required courses and electives must be completed in accordance with one of the programs listed in the catalog with a major grade point average of at least 2.00.
4. Application for graduation must be made by the deadline shown on the College calendar. Students should obtain a program evaluation (EVAL or PSPR) signed by their advisor. The signed evaluation is to be submitted along with an Application for Graduation to the Registrar.

NC Community College Transfer Plans

North Carolina College Transfer Guides can be found at https://www.cfnc.org/plan-your-future/plan-for-college/transfer-student-planner/to-unc-system-institutions/transfer-guides. These guides assist students with determining which courses may be needed for specific North Carolina four-year Institutions upon transferring.  From their first advising session, students are strongly encouraged to speak with their advisor in determining specific courses that may be needed. Understanding the NC College Transfer Guides is critical to student success both here at LCC and at the next institution the student attends. The College is committed to student success and to help make the transition to the next level of education seamless.

Non-Credit to Curriculum Credit

Lenoir Community College may provide curriculum credit for non-credit coursework on a case-by-case basis via a Request for Evaluation of Continuing Education Non-Credit(s) to Curriculum Credit Form. Approval by the subject matter expert (faculty), the dean of the curricular division, Vice President of Instruction and Institutional Effectiveness, and the Registrar is required.  For approval of non-credit to curriculum credit, the hours of the non-credit course must be equal to or greater than the curriculum credit being granted, and the instructor of record for the non-credit course must be curriculum credentialed in the subject. 

Additional awarding of non-credit to curriculum credit (i.e. student provides verification of approved current certification/licensure and work experience) is determined on a case-by-case basis, and additional documentation is needed (see Request for Evaluation of Continuing Education Non-Credit/s to Curriculum Credit/s Form).

Posting of Grades

As soon as the grades are recorded for each term, grades will be available through myLCC. Faculty may also post grades in a non-identifiable form in convenient places so that students may view them.

Records

Information contained in the student’s permanent record is determined by the NCCCS office. The student’s permanent record is composed of personal information including the student’s name, address, student ID number, date of birth, and gender. Academic information included on the Permanent Student Record includes the title and number of courses taken, grades earned, hours attempted, hours earned, quality points, and grade point average by term and cumulatively. Other information includes secondary school attended, college major, graduation information, honors, membership in Phi Theta Kappa, and credits accepted from other colleges.

Student records are maintained in accordance with the Community College System Public Records Retention Schedule. Transcript, or transcripted academic records, are stored permanently in the College’s database management system. They are backed up hourly to a mirror system and nightly to cloud storage.

Official Academic Record: A report of grades earned is available on myLCC. Any disputes must be appealed through the instructor within two weeks of the official date of the end of the semester. Official records, of all students’ courses, credits, and grades earned are kept in the Registrar’s Office. Students should maintain a record of their courses, credits, and grades each term and check from time to time to see that their records agree with those of the College. The records may also help students determine their eligibility for any activity that requires them to meet specific scholastic standards. Copies of the official records are available to students upon written request

Transcripts: All student records are held in confidence by the College. A student may request from the Registrar’s Office a transcript of his or her academic record. Transcripts shall be made available only upon request by the student. A statement authorizing release must be signed by the student before a transcript will be sent to employers or other agencies. Authorization for release of transcript forms are available in Student Services and online. There is a fee for each transcript requested.

Access to Student Education Records

Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA): Students currently or previously enrolled at the College, parents of dependent students who claim the student as an exemption defined by the Internal Revenue Code, and individuals designated via a completed FERPA Release Form have the right to inspect and review the student’s education records maintained by the College or by an agent acting on the College’s behalf. The College will comply with requests to review education records within a reasonable timeframe, not to exceed 45 days from the date of the request. Requests to access education records should be directed to the appropriate official custodian responsible for maintaining those records. A directory of record types, their locations, and the names of official custodians is readily available upon request through the Admissions Office.

The college may release certain directory information to the public unless a student notifies the Registrar in writing by the end of the first week of the term that they do not wish this information to be shared. Directory information may include the student’s name, major field of study or program, dates of enrollment, degrees, diplomas, or certificates received, college honors, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and weight and height if the student is a member of an athletic team. Additionally, the college designates photographs, videos, or other media containing a student’s image or likeness as “limited-use directory information.” This limited-use data will not be shared with external parties unless they are contractually affiliated with the College. Its use and disclosure are restricted to college-hosted or college-benefiting websites; printed materials for marketing, public relations, outreach, or press releases; college events such as athletic games, fairs, open houses, or student activities; college officials with legitimate educational interest as defined by FERPA; and officially affiliated external parties, including third-party vendors and partner institutions with a memorandum of understanding.

Any student who believes that any right pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act has been violated or that the college policy is not in compliance with the Act, may file a complaint directly with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office (FERPA), Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW), 330 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201. Though it is not required as a condition to filing any complaint with HEW, the student is requested to discuss the grievance with the Dean of Student Services, Administration Building 140C, phone 252-527-6223, prior to filing a complaint with HEW. Strict compliance with the provisions of FERPA is the stated policy of the College. The College, through the Dean of Student Services, takes appropriate action in all cases involving a violation of the Privacy Act.

Registration

Students are urged to register on the days designated in the College calendar. Students who enter after classes have begun are at a disadvantage and are responsible for all work prior to their entrance. New and returning students should begin the process at the Office of Admissions. Continuing students should see their advisors. myLCC online registration is available for admitted students to select and register for classes for the following semester. All students except special/visiting students are required to speak to their advisor before registering online.

Repetition of Course Work

The division dean’s approval is required for students to repeat courses audited or passed with a grade of “C” or better. This includes courses taken at other institutions.

Students who repeat courses at Lenoir Community College will have all attempts shown on their official records, and all credit hours attempted will be computed in the cumulative grade point average. In no case will a Lenoir Community College student be allowed to enroll in the same or equivalent course(s) concurrently either here or at another institution. The required Permit to Repeat Course(s) form, available at the Registrar’s Office, must be completed and returned to the Registrar’s Office at the time of registration.

Satisfactory Progress Policy

To remain in good academic standing, students must maintain a satisfactory cumulative grade point average. Students who have earned a minimum GPA of 2.0 (excluding “I” grades) and maintained a cumulative 67% completion rate are considered for enrollment purposes to be making satisfactory progress. Students remain at this standing unless they fail to achieve a semester 2.0 GPA and maintain a 67% completion rate.

Students who fail to meet the requirements set forth in the Satisfactory Progress Policy are identified for academic warning. All students who fail to meet the requirements set forth in the Satisfactory Progress Policy after two semesters of enrollment are identified for academic probation. Some programs may have a more stringent policy.

Students enrolled in selected Health Sciences and Nursing programs must maintain a grade of C or above in all courses. In addition, students must demonstrate satisfactory emotional and physical health necessary to provide safe care in the clinical area.

The program chairs/lead instructors in the Health Sciences and Nursing programs notify students who are on probation. The probation is based on individual grades and policies concerning probation for Health Sciences and Nursing students.

Semester Course Load

Students taking 12 credit hours or more are considered full-time students; students with 9-11 credit hours are considered 3/4 time, and students with 6-8 credit hours are considered 1/2 time. Students with fewer than six credit hours are less than half time.

The maximum credit hours for students enrolled in AA, AATP, AFA, AGE, AS, ASTP, AAS, diploma, or certificate programs is 18 hours. Students may only enroll in more than the maximum hours with the approval of the division dean.

Special/visiting students normally will not be allowed to take more than 15 credit hours without declaring a major. Exceptions to this must be approved by the Dean of Student Services. Exceptions will be made only with sufficient justification and documentation.

Semester Hours

The unit of measurement for credit purposes is the semester hour. One semester hour represents the credit earned in a lecture course that is scheduled for one class hour per week for 16 weeks. For laboratory work, two class hours per week in the laboratory are required for a single semester hour of credit. For shop work or clinical hours, three hours in the shop or clinic per week are required for a single hour of credit. For Work-Based Learning and internships, ten hours per week are required for a single hour of credit. Generally, a student should spend two clock hours in preparation for one class hour.

Significance of Course Prefix and Numbers

Courses with numbers of 0-99 are designed for students who have not demonstrated the necessary skills to enter the first-year courses in a subject area. These courses give local credit only and do not count toward graduation.

Courses with numbers of 100-199 are freshman level; 200-299 are sophomore level. Courses are designated by a three-letter prefix which denotes the subject area. These courses are designed to fulfill requirements for all degrees, diplomas, and/or certificates.

Student Classification

• Freshman—A student who has earned fewer than 32 semester hours of credit
• Sophomore—A student who has earned 32 or more semester hours of credit
• Full-time Student—A student who is registered for 12 or more semester hours
• Part-time Student—A student who is registered fewer than 12 semester hours
• Special/Visiting Student—A student who is not seeking a degree