Academic Standards and Regulations

Attendance

Procedures governing class attendance at LCCC allow each faculty member to establish attendance regulations which she or he deems necessary for her/his particular course. If attendance becomes impossible, students must officially withdraw from the course. Withdrawal procedures are described in the registration section of this catalog.

When severe weather strikes the area, students are advised to consider the conditions in their immediate area concerning the safety of travel. Conditions can vary significantly within the service area of the College and decisions regarding College operations are made on the general status of the overall service area. Students are responsible for their own safety and travel decisions. All coursework is also the continuing responsibility of students. A choice to be absent from a course for any reason does not exonerate students from the full responsibility to complete all prescribed coursework.

Students receiving Veterans benefits are required to attend classes. Please refer to Veterans Standards of Progress (below) or contact the Veterans Affairs Officer in Enrollment Services for further information.

Students receiving Title IV Financial Aid (Federal Pell Grant, Federal Family Education Loan Program, Federal Work Study) are required to attend classes and will have their attendance verified by their class instructor. Please refer to the Financial Aid section or contact the Connections Center for further information.

Faculty Absence
In the event that a faculty member is not present at the usually scheduled class session, students must remain in the classroom for 15 minutes. At the end of that time, if the faculty member has not arrived and no special instructions have been received, students are permitted to leave class without penalty and should report to the division office for information.

Grading System

The quality of coursework at LCCC is indicated by letter grades. Each letter grade carries “credit points” which are used in computing the student's cumulative grade point average.

Students must declare S/U grade option by the end of the eighth scheduled week of the semester. Students must declare Audit grade option by the end of the second scheduled week of the semester. Written declarations must be completed in the Connections Center. Incompletes must be arranged prior to the final examination by written contract with the course instructor.

Deadlines for credit courses offered differently than the traditional semester calendar will be calculated proportionately to and consistent with institutional policy.

Grade Point Average Cumulative
A student's cumulative grade point average is computed at the conclusion of each semester by dividing the total number of credit points earned by the number of credit hours the student has attempted up to that time. The following example will illustrate:

30 divided by 13 = 2.31

Students considered in good standing must maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average.

Grade Reports
Grade reports are available to students at the end of each semester and are recorded on the student's permanent academic record. Suspected errors must be reported to the Records Office within three weeks of the last official day of the semester. Transcripts will be withheld from students with outstanding obligations to the College.

Grade and Course Expectation Appeals
It is the responsibility of faculty to exercise professional judgment in the conduct of courses to which they are assigned, to evaluate the student's performance, to assure fair and equitable treatment of all students and to strive to communicate requirements and expectations to students in a clear and timely manner. It is the responsibility of students to carry out the requirements and assignments of the course, to recognize that variation in teaching techniques and styles are an integral part of the learning process and to understand that they have an equal share of responsibility for their individual success in the course.

Students who are concerned about unfair treatment have the responsibility to raise the question with the faculty member to obtain clarification of the situation. If the student feels that further review is necessary, she/he may appeal to the academic division director responsible for the course, who will review all the facts and viewpoints surrounding the matter in an attempt to reach a satisfactory agreement. The director's decision may be appealed to the Vice President for Learner Services and Chief Academic Officer who will review the matter and render a decision. The review by the Vice President will include communications with other areas of the College (see Student Grievance Procedure) and/or the President's Office.

At all levels of review, the rights of a student will be given consideration; however, equal recognition will be given to the need for faculty to contribute to a student's learning and development using a variety of techniques and approaches.

Incomplete
A faculty member and a student may agree to enter into a contract whereby a grade of Incomplete (“I”) is reported for a specific course. A contract between the faculty member and student must be negotiated and signed prior to the final exam and the reporting of a grade of “I”.

Conditions under which an Incomplete contract can be formed: The student was unable to complete the course due to circumstances and conditions beyond her/his control and there is a reasonable possibility that the student will be able to complete the course requirements within the contracted time.

Conditions of the contract: The student must meet the conditions of the agreed upon and signed contract.

A. In such cases the student and faculty will sign a contract stating materials and activities the student must successfully complete and the date by which the student must complete those.

B. Faculty member will set the date to complete the course requirements considering the work to be done, her/his professional schedule and the schedule of the student.

C. If the student does not complete the course requirements within the contracted time, an “F” will be recorded for the course in the permanent record of the student.

Course Load and Credit Hour Limitation

The course load of a full-time student is 12 or more credit hours and may exceed 18 credit hours of coursework in a regular semester under the following conditions:

1. Prescribed curriculum requires more than 18 credit hours per semester exclusive of physical education;
    
2. Newly admitted, recent high school graduates whose cumulative average for four years of high school work is of “B” quality (3.0) or higher;
    
3. Students with the immediately preceding 30 credit hours of coursework of “B” quality (3.0) or higher, completed at LCCC or another accredited college or university.
   These rules also apply to a student taking six or more credit hours during the term.
   The course load of a part-time student may not exceed 11 credit hours of coursework in a regular semester or five credit hours in an eight-week term or three credit hours in a five-week term.

Exceptions
Due to the unique demands of clinical laboratory courses, practica and co-ops, enrollment status will be determined by the number of contact hours required rather than the credit hours to be earned. Twelve (12) contact hours per week in a regular semester will constitute full-time enrollment. Eleven (11) contact hours or fewer will constitute part-time enrollment. These definitions do not apply to financial aid recipients.

Dean's List

Full-time
The full-time Dean's list recognizes students who successfully complete a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours of credit courses and earn a GPA of 3.5 or above for a semester's work. The Vice President for Learner Services and Chief Academic Officer will recognize students annually at the completion of the Spring Semester.

Part-time
The part-time Dean's list recognizes students who: enroll part-time (11 hours or fewer per semester); are continuously enrolled (summer is optional); successfully complete a minimum of fifteen (15) credit hours; and earn a GPA of 3.5 or above.

At this time the student will be considered for the Dean's list. Then, at the end of each semester in which a student accumulates an additional fifteen (15) semester hours or more of continuous enrollment, she/he will again be considered for the Dean's list. If an interruption in continuous enrollment occurs, the accumulation of hours begins again when the student returns. The Vice President for Learner Services and Chief Academic Officer will recognize students periodically.