Understanding
Terminology
The Academic Year
The college operates on the semester system. There are two semesters
and a summer session in the academic year.
Academic
Credit
Credit hours are earned when a student spends class hours learning
a skill, such as welding, or an academic body of knowledge, such
as history.
Courses for which credit hours are awarded toward a certificate,
diploma, or degree are called curriculum or credit courses. The
number of credit hours for each course is determined by the number
of hours spent each week in the classroom, in the laboratory,
or in field experience.
Student Classification
Full-Time Student
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a student enrolled for 12 or
more credit hours per semester. |
Part-Time Student
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a student enrolled for less than 12 credit
hours per semester. |
Freshman
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a student who has earned less than 32 credit
hours. |
Sophomore
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a student who has earned 32 or more credit
hours. |
Special Student
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a student taking individual credit courses
but not working toward graduation. When a special student
has accumulated 12 credit hours, he/she is encouraged to
enter an academic program. A special student is generally
not eligible for many types of financial assistance. |
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General Information
Students Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a Federal
law which states (a) that a written institutional policy must
be established and (b) that a statement of adopted procedures
covering the privacy rights of students be made available. This
law provides that the college will maintain the confidentiality
of student educational records.
SCC grants all the rights under the law to students who are declared
independent. No one outside the college shall have access to nor
will the college disclose any information from students’
educational records without the written consent of students except
to personnel within the college, to officials of other institutions
in which students seek to enroll, to persons or organizations
providing students financial aid, to accrediting agencies carrying
out their accreditation function, to persons in compliance with
a judicial order, and to persons in an emergency in order to protect
the health or safety of students or other persons. All of these
exceptions are permitted under the Act.
Within the college, only those members, individually or collectively,
acting in the students’ educational interest are allowed
access to student educational records. These members include personnel
in Student Development Services, the Office of the Vice President
of Curriculum Instruction, and the Business Office as well as
academic deans and directors, instructors and advisors, the President,
members of the Board of Trustees, and other academic personnel,
within the limitations of their need to have access to the records.
At its discretion, the college may provide directory information
in accordance with the provisions of the Act to include student
name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major
field of study, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received,
the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended
by the student, and participation in officially recognized activities
and sports. Students may withhold directory information by notifying
the Registrar’s Office in writing within two weeks after
the first day of class of the term in which they are registered.
Students’ permanent records normally contain the application,
high school transcript or equivalent certification, transfer credit
evaluation (if applicable), test scores, grade change forms, audit
forms, disciplinary information, and any other material that the
institution deems pertinent to students’ records.
Review and Inspection
Those who have the right to inspect and review students’
cumulative records include (1) parents (including legal guardians)
of students who are under 18 years of age, (2) parents who claim
students who are at least 18 as dependents under Section 152 of
the Internal Revenue Code, and (3) students who are at least 18
(hereafter called eligible students).
The college presumes that parents of students who have not yet
reached the age of 21 and who are currently attending the college
claim the students as dependents for tax purposes. Students at
the college at least 18 years of age who do not want their parents
to have access to their cumulative records must so inform the
registrar of the college and prove that they are not tax dependents
of their parents. If parents of students or former students who
are at least 18 wish to inspect and review their children’s
cumulative records, they must prove to the registrar that they
claim the students as dependents for federal income tax purposes.
Parents or eligible students who wish to inspect and review the
cumulative record submit a request in writing to the registrar
of the college. When he/she receives a written request for review
of the records from parents or students who have a right to inspect
the records, the registrar schedules the review. The review date
should be as early as possible but never later than 20 days after
the request was made. The inspection and review are made in the
Registrar’s Office or at another designated location. A
college official competent in interpreting student records is
present to explain the implications of the records that are examined.
Procedures on hearings to correct inaccuracies, disclosure to
persons other than parents or students, and waiver of right are
on file in the Office of the Vice President of Student Development
Services and the Registrar’s Office.
Retention
and Disposition of Student Records
Retention and disposition of records maintained by Counseling/Admissions
and the Registrar’s Office are handled in accordance with
the schedules published in the Public Records Retention and Disposition
Schedules as prepared by the North Carolina Community College
System and the State Board of Community Colleges for institutions
in the community college system.
Student Responsibility
for Program Requirements
All students are responsible for knowing the academic regulations
of SCC, for maintaining their academic standing, and for meeting
all graduation requirements for their program of study. Faculty
advisors and counselors will assist in course planning and program
completion, but the final responsibility rests with the students.
Enrolling
In Classes
Student Course Load
The normal course load for full-time college transfer students
is 15 to 19 credit hours per semester. Vocational and technical
students are limited to the number of credit hours specified in
their program each semester. College transfer students who register
for more than 19 credit hours and vocational or technical students
who want to register for more hours in a semester than the curriculum
specifies must obtain permission from the division dean.
Advising System
SCC students are assigned a faculty advisor on the basis of program
interest. The advisor helps students plan an academic program
and is available throughout the students’ enrollment for
additional advising and guidance.
Faculty Position
on Student Responsibility in Academic Achievement
Earning a college degree, diploma or certificate is an arduous
task that requires mastery of skills and materials, sometimes
on a very sophisticated level. SCC’s faculty are committed,
both personally and professionally, to teach their respective
disciplines in an effective and appropriate manner and to demonstrate
excellence in their profession.
Commitment on the part of the faculty must be accompanied by commitment
on the part of students. Students who are pursuing a college degree
must be aware that this pursuit requires a desire to learn, dedication
to the multiple tasks involved in learning, preparation for class
and lab, and completion of all assigned work in a timely and conscientious
manner. Regular class and lab attendance is also required. Students
must be aware that real learning requires serious effort on their
part. They cannot become educated individuals without active involvement
in the educational process.
The open door policy of the community college system ensures that
all students will have access to a quality education. However,
it must also be recognized that adequate preparation is a prerequisite
in any course or program. Therefore, students who do not have
the appropriate skills may be required to take developmental courses
before being admitted to a particular class or program.
Minimum Class Size for Curriculum Courses
Minimum enrollment in a curriculum class should be ten. Division
deans and directors may offer classes with fewer students under
the following conditions:
1. The nature of the course indicates that a limited number of
students need the course.
2. A course sequence requires the course. (For example, the course
is the second in a required sequence.)
3. The cost is not prohibitive.
The decisions of the deans and directors are subject to review
by the Vice President of Curriculum Instruction.
Course
Prerequisites and Corequisites
Prerequisite courses are courses that must be completed before
students can enroll in subsequent courses. Students must comply
with catalog requirements that courses may not be taken until
all prerequisites have been met. There are occasions in which
exceptions to this regulation may be deemed desirable and necessary.
The Vice President of Curriculum Instruction must approve such
exceptions in writing.
Corequisite courses are courses that must be taken at the same
time as another course or prior to the course to be taken. In
addition, all lecture courses and their corequisite labs must
be taken together during the same semester. There are occasions
in which exceptions to this regulation may be deemed desirable
and necessary. The Vice President of Curriculum Instruction must
approve such exceptions in writing.
Registration
Early and regular registrations for curriculum day, night, and
distance learning classes occur prior to the beginning of each
semester, and registration for night classes continues during
the first week of each semester. Exact times and dates are announced
in advance through campus publications and public media.
Students registering for the first time are required to follow
all admissions processes unless registering as special students
(Admissions section, p. 23).
Additional registration information is available from Counseling/Admissions
or the Registrar’s Office.
Audit Policy
Auditing is taking a course without receiving credit or a grade.
To audit a course, students must first obtain permission from
the instructor, since certain courses cannot be audited. Students
undergo the same registration procedure and pay the same fees
as for credit courses. Individual courses cannot be audited more
than one time.
A change from credit status to audit status may be permitted until
the seventh calendar day of the semester. A notation of the audited
class, represented by AU, will be made on the students’
permanent records. Once students have audited a course, that course
cannot be taken at a later date for credit. There are occasions
in which exceptions to this regulation may be deemed desirable
and necessary. The Vice President of Curriculum Instruction must
approve such exceptions in writing.
Students auditing a course may be expected to complete the same
requirements as those taking the course for credit, so audit students
should speak with the instructor before the seventh calendar day
of the semester.
Regular attendance is required. Audit students who fail to attend
classes on a regular basis may be withdrawn with a grade of W
for exceeding authorized absences. Dropping an audit course is
governed by the same procedures as dropping a course for credit.
Credit by Examination
Students who feel they are already proficient in a required course
may attempt to test out of the course by taking an examination.
Students must be currently enrolled at the college in order to
be eligible; however, students must not be enrolled in the course
for which they are requesting credit by exam. Students should
complete the following steps:
- Request permission from the instructor. The instructor
completes the appropriate form, justifying the request,
and obtains permission from the division dean or director
and Vice President of Curriculum Instruction.
- Complete the examination, and if they pass, take
the form to the Registrar’s Office to have the
fees determined.
- Take the form to the Business Office and pay the
fees.
- Finish the process by taking the form and payment
slip to the Registrar’s Office where the CR is
recorded on the transcript.
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Those who pass the exam receive course credit toward graduation
requirements. A grade of CR is recorded on the students’
transcript in the term in which they complete the credit by
exam. The CR grade and course hours are not included when calculating
students’ grade point averages (GPA), although the credit
hours are applied toward graduation. Financial Aid awards will
not pay for courses in which a grade of CR is given.
Allied Health Admission Requirements
Honors Program
The Honor Curriculum is designed to serve the needs of stronger
students who desire a more rigorous education. Each semester,
the college offers several courses designated by the letter
“H” behind the course number, e.g., ENG 261H 09.
Students who meet one or more of the following criteria may
sign up for honors courses:
- 1000 SAT score
- No developmental placement
- 95 or higher on Accuplacer (or equivalent on ASSET
or COMPASS)
- Completion of 16 credit hours with a GPA of 3.5 or
higher
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Students completing four or more honors courses will receive an
honors designation on their transcripts and diplomas.
Directed Independent Study
All independent study contracts need to be processed in the Registrar’s
Office, along with an official registration/add form. Before enrolling
students in independent study courses, instructors should contact
the appropriate dean to discuss the situation. If both agree that
independent study is the best option, then the following procedure
should be used:
- The instructor for the course should complete the
contract before the advisor and student plan the student’s
schedule. The student should take the schedule and the
independent study contract to the Registrar’s
Office where the staff will key in the entire schedule.
- At the end of the semester, the instructor should
forward to the dean the documented number of hours that
the instructor has spent with the student.
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Credit for Courses Not Completed at SCC
Students seeking to transfer course work should note that they
must earn half of the hours required in their degree program
at SCC. This policy applies no matter how many hours are awarded
through transcript evaluation or other forms of credit. Transferred
credits are indicated by a grade of TR on students’ transcripts.
Credit for Coursework from Other Colleges and Universities
(Transcript Evaluation)
- SCC accepts all courses from a North Carolina community
college for transfer if they are in the Common Course
Library. Transfer of nursing and allied health program
courses have additional requirements listed in Item
2d below. If SCC does not teach the courses, students
receive elective credits, if applicable, toward specific
degrees. If the courses are in a program that the college
does not offer and the courses are not applicable to
a degree offered, students will not receive transfer
credits toward degrees.
- Transfer of credit from any other institution must
meet the following criteria:
a) The courses must be taught by a college or university
that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools (SACS) or one of the five other federally
recognized regional accrediting bodies (North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Commission
on Colleges and Universities, Western Association of
Schools and Colleges, Middle States Association of Colleges
and Schools, New England Association of Schools and
Colleges).
b) The courses must be equivalent in content and credit
hours to courses SCC offers. [In some instances, students
may be granted either general education credit or elective
credit for courses in an area (e.g., science or math)
the college requires specific courses in, even though
the college may not teach those courses. The transcript
evaluator may request syllabi for any courses which
are not clearly equivalent to SCC courses.]
c) Grades for transferable courses must be A, B, or
C. Grades of D, F, S, or P are not accepted. (Numerical
grades will transfer if they are equivalent to A, B,
or C on the transcript legend.)
d) Students desiring to transfer courses into a nursing
or allied health program must meet the following criteria:
• Meet with Dean of Students to verify that all
program admission requirements have been met.
• Have been enrolled in an approved or accredited
program at the former institution within the past twelve
months.
• Have written verification of good academic standing
and consistently safe clinical performance from the
former institution’s program director.
• Have nursing courses evaluated by the Dean of
Allied Health and Director of Nursing Programs. To be
eligible to transfer, the courses must be equivalent
to courses offered at SCC in both theory and clinical
experience.
• Enter the nursing or allied health program at
SCC within twelve months of leaving the former institution.
• Understand that nursing and allied health program
courses over two years old will not be accepted for
transfer.
• May not transfer courses that are in the second
year of the associate degree nursing and medical laboratory
technology programs.
- Credit for study skills or orientation courses from
other than a North Carolina community college are not
automatically accepted as the equivalent of ACA 111
or ACA 115. To receive credit, students must provide
the transcript evaluator with course syllabi.
- Credit hours other than semester hours (e.g. quarter,
unit) are translated to semester hours for transfer
credit.
- Junior or senior level courses may receive transfer
credit for freshman or sophomore level courses if they
are equivalent to lower level courses the college teaches.
No other upper division courses transfer
- Appeals of transcript evaluations must be made to
the Dean of Arts & Sciences. Students may have to
present course syllabi to the transcript evaluator to
challenge denials of transfer credit. The dean may consult
with faculty who teach in specific subject areas to
determine if credit should be awarded. The dean will
then inform students of the decision. Students may appeal
to the Vice President of Curriculum Instruction, whose
decision is final.
- Credit for developmental (or remedial) courses taken
prior to 1997 is not awarded.
- Courses may receive transfer credit but may not be
acceptable in certain programs unless they were taken
within a specific time limit. (e.g. BIO 168, Anatomy
and Physiology taken more than five years before entry
into the ADN program). Students must meet program requirements
for recentness of courses.
- Transcript evaluation usually takes two to three
weeks from the date the college receives the transcript
from the sending institution. Students should check
with the Registrar’s Office to determine if their
transcripts have been received by the college. If students
do not receive an evaluation within three weeks of the
transcripts’ arriving at the college, they should
contact the Dean of Arts & Sciences, the transcript
evaluator.
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Credit for Military Training
Veteran students may receive limited course credit for specialized
and technical training done under the auspices of the United
States armed forces. Such credit is based on a military transcript
and/or Education Experience in the Military, published annually
by the American Council of Education.
Credit for High School Courses
College Tech-Prep. Certain college tech-prep courses
taken in high schools receive credit under articulation agreements
between SCC and the Columbus County and Whiteville City school
systems. Grades of TP rather than TR are recorded on students’
transcripts.
Advanced Placement. To aid students in getting a head
start on their education and in meeting degree requirements,
Southeastern offers credit for Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
High school students who score a 3 or above on an Advanced Placement
Test given through the Educational Testing Service (ETS) will
receive credit for the first semester of the comparable class
upon enrollment at the college. For example, if a student receives
a 3 or higher on the English-Language or English-Literature
Test, that student will receive three semester hours credit
for ENG 111, Expository Writing. If a student receives a 3 or
higher on the Biology Test, that student will receive four semester
hours credit for BIO 111A and BIO 111L, General Biology I and
General Biology I Laboratory. (Granting two semesters of credit
for sequential courses with a score of 5 on an AP test is currently
under study. Students who score 5 should consult with the Dean
of Arts & Sciences to ask about additional credit.)
Proper documentation must be presented to Counseling/Admissions
and the Registrar’s Office to receive AP credit.
College Transfer Guarantee
Upon written agreement, SCC will refund the tuition of college
transfer students for any college transfer course (except ACA
111 and ACA 115) passed at SCC with at least a C grade or allow
students to take an equivalent number of credit hours at no
additional charge, if that earned course credit does not transfer
to a specified university within one year of the students’
leaving SCC. The college will guarantee that the transfer courses
will satisfy graduation requirements for the Associate in Arts
(A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.) or Associate in Fine Arts
(A.F.A.) degree at Southeastern and, at the same time, will
either transfer to satisfy general education requirements or
will transfer as electives at selected universities.
All college transfer students at SCC may participate in this
guarantee based on the conditions described in the SCC Transfer
Guarantee Policy. For more information, students should see
the Vice President of Curriculum Instruction.
Technical/Vocational Guarantee
Southeastern Community College guarantees that SCC graduates
who have passed any SCC technical or vocational course with
at least a C grade will have the skills and knowledge taught
in that course as described in the course syllabus and that
they will be able to apply those skills and that knowledge effectively
in an appropriate work environment. Should graduates not be
able to fulfill the promise of this guarantee within one calendar
year of graduation and within three years of completing the
course, Southeastern will allow the students to either retake
that course or to take an equivalent SCC course at no additional
charge. “Graduates” are defined as individuals who
have received either a vocational diploma or a degree from SCC.
Course Repeat Policy
General. Students who earned a grade below
a C in a course or who completed the course five or more years
earlier are allowed to repeat curriculum courses to improve
the grade received in the course, to refresh their knowledge
of the subject, or to refresh their skills in the subject. The
Vice President of Curriculum Instruction will approve any exceptions
to the above on an individual basis. Students will initiate
the Permission to Repeat Course form. The Department of Veterans
Administration students are not allowed to repeat previously
passed courses and receive benefits.
Audited Courses. Classes taken for audit in
which the students earn the transcript entry of AU may not be
then taken for credit. Students may not audit a course more
than once. There are occasions in which an exception to these
regulations may be deemed desirable and necessary. The Vice
President of Curriculum Instruction must approve such an exception
in writing.
Developmental Courses. Students may repeat
developmental courses under one or more of the following conditions:
• After failing the course.
• After five years.
• After three years if needed for any Allied Health program.
• Within three years if students and/or a faculty member
in the discipline do not feel students’ skill levels are
adequate for the course for which they were preparing.
Students repeating developmental classes must be informed of
the following:
• Remaining in or repeating a course passed with a C or
higher grade may adversely affect financial aid.
• Permission to Repeat Course forms must be completed
for all students repeating courses with previous grades of C
or higher.
Nursing and Allied Health Programs Courses.
Readmission students must reenter the nursing or allied health
program in the academic year immediately following the semester
in which they left the program or else reapply as program first
semester students.
Upon acceptance to the nursing or allied health program, the
readmission students may request permission to repeat for credit
previously taken nursing or allied health courses for which
they earned a grade of C or greater. (This situation occurs
when the student took two or more nursing or allied health courses
in one semester and achieved a passing grade of C or greater
in one or more of the courses and did not pass one or more of
the other courses.)
When students are allowed to repeat nursing or allied health
courses for which they had previously earned a grade of C or
greater, the grade earned for the repeated nursing or allied
health course will be the only grade used in program progression
considerations or program grade point average computations.
The most recent grade earned is most reflective of the student’s
current knowledge and its application to safe healthcare practice.
Biology Corequisite Policy
Students must sign up for both lecture and lab in BIO 111, BIO
112, BIO 168, and BIO 169. If students drop one during the course
of the semester, they must drop both: the courses are corequisite.
If students fail one, they must repeat both. This policy is
not new but rather reasserts the corequisite policy. The college
will work with those who are lacking one or the other from previous
semesters but will apply the policy to everyone else beginning
Fall Semester 2003. Advisors should ensure that advisees signing
up for the courses are aware of this policy.
Physical Education to Meet Degree Requirements
No more than two physical education fitness or activity courses
may be used to fulfill elective requirements in any degree program.
Course Substitution Policy
A course may be substituted for a required course in a curriculum
if the course being substituted is the functional equivalent
of the required course and only if the appropriate division
dean and Vice President of Curriculum Instruction approve the
substitution in writing.
Academic Related (ACA 111/115) Waiver Policy
The ACA 111 (College Student Success) or ACA 115 (Success &
Study Skills) requirement may be waived under the following
circumstances: (1) An equivalent course is granted transfer
credit, and (2) students have completed an associate degree
or more advanced degree at another institution. Since the purpose
of an orientation course, such as ACA 111 or ACA 115, is “to
enable students to function effectively within a college environment
to meet their educational objectives,” having to take
an orientation class would be unnecessary because students have
proved through their degree that they can be successful.
Reading (RED 090) Waiver Policy
If students transfer in the equivalent of ENG 111 with a grade
of C or better, the RED 090 requirement is waived. Students
are not required to take the placement assessment in reading.
If students receive a grade of three or higher on the Advanced
Placement Test in English, they receive credit for ENG 111;
consequently, the requirement for RED 090 is waived. Any other
waivers of reading requirements are on a case-by-case basis.
Academic Fresh Start
Academic Fresh Start is designed for students who have experienced
severe academic difficulty in their initial period of enrollment
at Southeastern Community College, who have resumed their post-secondary
education, and who have made significant improvements in their
academic achievement after a period of re-enrollment.
Students who have not been enrolled in curriculum courses at
the college for 60 months and then re-enroll may request Academic
Fresh Start from the Dean of Students. Returning students must
meet the following criteria: be enrolled the semester prior
to making the request, be in a curriculum program and earned
at least a C grade in every course, and made the request within
12 months of re-enrollment at the college.
Responses to requests for fresh start will be made within five
working days of receipt of the requests. If requests are approved,
the grade point average will be 0.00 for all courses taken 60
months or more prior to re-enrollment as Academic Fresh Start
students, and the students’ new grade point averages will
be calculated beginning at the time of Academic Fresh Start
re-enrollment.
To meet program completion/graduation requirements, students
must complete a minimum of one-half the total credit hours required
in the program after the Academic Fresh Start re-enrollment
period has begun. Previous major courses of C or better will
be treated like transfer courses where grades are not assigned.
In instances where academic fresh start is granted for courses
completed at Southeastern and then transferred to another college
or university, the receiving institution is not required to
disregard those course grades. Academic Fresh Start may not
affect admission or readmission to an allied health program
at Southeastern Community College. Financial aid applicants
approved for Academic Fresh Start are not exempt from the college’s
Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements for Financial Aid
Recipients.
Approval of a request for recalculation of grade point average
under this policy is only granted once for each student.
Making Changes
Changing Program or Advisor
Students wishing to change their program of study or advisor
should see an SCC counselor.
Adding Classes
Students wishing to add a class must complete a Drop/Add/Withdrawal
Form, available in Counseling/Admissions. After the form is
completed, it should be signed by the instructor of the course
being added and the students’ faculty advisor. The completed
form is submitted to the Registrar’s Office. The add period
is usually the first two days of the semester. Beginning the
first day of class, students wishing to add distance learning
classes must obtain the approval of the director of distance
learning.
Students may not add a course after the Add Period on the Schedule
of Courses unless the following procedure is followed:
1. The instructor must submit a written justification, along
with an add form, to allow students to add a class. This justification
must state why it is appropriate for students to enter the class
at the late date and how the students will be able to make up
successfully the lost class time.
2. The appropriate division dean or director will review the
instructor’s recommendation. If the dean or director approves
the addition of the course, the request will then go to the
Vice President of Curriculum Instruction, who will then give
final approval or reject the request.
Dropping Classes
Students wishing to drop a class for which they have registered
must complete a Drop/Add/Withdrawal Form, available in Counseling/Admissions.
After the form is completed, it should be signed by the instructors
affected by the change and the students’ faculty advisor.
The completed form must be submitted to the Registrar’s
Office in order for the drop to be official.
To avoid a transcript entry for the dropped course, students
must drop the class prior to the 10 percent point of the class.
After the 10 percent point, a grade of W will be recorded for
the course until the 80 percent point of the semester. After
the 80 percent point, a grade of F will be recorded unless students
officially withdraw from all courses.
Withdrawing From Classes
Students desiring to withdraw from individual courses with a
grade of W may do so up until the 80 percent point of the semester.
Also, instructors may withdraw students because of excessive
absences with a grade of W up until the 80 percent point of
the semester. After that time, instructors may withdraw students
with a grade of F.
Students desiring to withdraw from the college should contact
Counseling/Admissions for the forms and procedures necessary
for official withdrawal. Students who fail to withdraw officially
will receive a grade of F for each course in which they are
enrolled and may be unable to register in subsequent semesters.
Students may withdraw from the college with a grade of W in
all courses prior to the first day of the final examination
period. If the students’ final examinations are to be
given before the regular examination period, then the students
must withdraw before the examination is administered to that
class.
Removing an Incomplete Grade
A temporary grade of I is assigned when 85 percent of the course
work has been completed. Work must be finished by the sixth
week of the following semester (fall, spring, summer) unless
an earlier completion date is set. Failure to complete the work
by the designated date will result in an F in the course. In
computing the GPA, zero (0) hours and zero (0) quality points
are assigned until the course is completed.
Request for a Grade Change Policy
Students requesting grade changes on their transcripts should
initiate the requests within the semester following the one
in which the grades were received. Students must contact instructors
to initiate the changes.
Two semesters following the grade posting, students must request
approval from both the instructors and the division dean who
supervised the instructors. If the instructors are no longer
employed by the college, students should make their requests
to the dean of the division in which the course was taught.
Students may not receive approval for grade changes five or
more years after the semester in which the grades were posted.
Attending Class
Tests and Final Examinations
Tests and quizzes, oral and written, may be given at the instructor’s
discretion. Final examinations are scheduled at the end of each
semester.
Course Syllabi
Students are given a course syllabus in every class in which
they are enrolled. The syllabus contains an identification of
any prerequisites or corequisites, a course description, the
course objectives, a course outline, the course requirements,
the grading criteria, a statement indicating how student success
will be measured (for example, any pretest and post-test measures),
a general statement on student access to instructors, a statement
relating to students with disabilities, the college policy on
minimum attendance requirements, and a listing of supplemental
resources and additional information. This core syllabus is
the same for any section of a particular course.
Along with the syllabus, students are given an addendum prepared
by the individual faculty member which gives specific information
on student access to the instructor, specific information on
the instructor’s attendance and lateness policy, information
on textbooks and/or other required materials, and other information,
which may include, but not be limited to, a specific course
outline with dates various topics will be covered, the projected
dates for tests and/or examinations, due dates for assignments,
and any other information the instructor wants students to know
at the beginning of the course.
The core syllabus will not change during the course (unless
advances in knowledge on the topics covered necessitate a change),
but the information in the addendum is subject to change. The
instructor will notify students of any changes either orally
or in writing as early as practicable. Instructors will make
every effort to keep changes to a minimum but reserve the right
to adjust the course as circumstances or need dictates. Students
are responsible for learning about changes if they miss a class
period in which a change was announced or given in writing.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all lecture and laboratory sessions
in courses for which they are registered. Absences interfere
with the students’ progress and reduce the quality of
classroom interaction. Instructors are required to drop all
students who never attend a course prior to the 10 percent of
the course. Instructors may elect to drop students whose absences
exceed 5 percent of all scheduled contact hours for the course.
Absences are counted from the first class meeting of the semester.
Students who miss class due to participation in an official
college function must notify the instructor prior to the absence.
(An official college function is one that has been approved
by the appropriate college vice president.) Under normal circumstances,
the absence should not result in the students’ total absences
exceeding the maximum allowed by the course syllabus. If, however,
the absence would result in a violation of the class attendance
policy, then students must obtain written approval from the
class instructor in order to be eligible to participate in the
official college function.
Attendance requirements for each class are printed in the course
syllabus distributed by the instructor. In addition, rules governing
tardiness and leaving class early are addressed in each instructor’s
addendum to the syllabus.
Grading System
Grade reports are issued to students at the end of each semester.
End-of-semester grades become a part of students’ permanent
records.
Grade Explanation
SCC uses a 4.0 point system of grading:
| GRADE |
EXPLANATION |
QUALITY POINTS/CREDIT HOUR |
| A |
Excellent |
4.0 |
| B |
Good |
3.0 |
| C |
Average |
2.0 |
| D |
Poor, but passing |
1.0 |
| F |
Failure |
0.0 |
Note: Developmental courses (courses with course numbers
below 100) do not have the D as a possible grade.
Other grades which may appear on grade reports or transcripts
(No quality points are awarded.):
| I– Incomplete |
Temporary grade (85 percent of course work
completed). Work must be finished by the sixth week of the
following semester (fall, spring, summer) unless an earlier
completion date is set. Failure to complete the work by
the designated date will result in an “F” in
the course. In computing GPA, zero (0) hours and zero (0)
quality points are assigned until the course is completed. |
| I* |
Assigned when grades are not received from the instructor
at the end of the semester or if the class is still in session. |
| AU – Audit |
Grade for those who register and complete a course as
audit students. |
| CR – Credit |
Grade for credit received for a course through a proficiency
examination. |
| RA-F |
Grade resulting from students’ applying for and
being awarded Academic Fresh Start status. |
| TP |
Grade credit awarded for high school courses equivalent
to college courses. |
| TR – Transfer Credit |
Credit through transfer from another institution. |
| W – Official Withdrawal |
Assigned when students OFFICIALLY drop or withdraw from
the college or are OFFICIALLY dropped by the instructor
before the 80 percent point in the semester. |
Computation of Grade Point Average (GPA)
The letter grade in each course is converted to a quality point
equivalent. The quality points are then multiplied by the semester
hours. The total quality points for all courses are then divided
by the total credit hours attempted to give the GPA.
EXAMPLE:
Quality Points Total
| Class |
Grade |
Per Hour |
x |
Hours |
= |
Quality Points |
| ENG 102 |
A |
4.0 |
x |
3 |
= |
12 |
| MAT 110 |
B |
3.0 |
x |
5 |
= |
15 |
OST 101
|
C |
2.0 |
X |
3 |
= |
6 |
| TOTALS |
|
|
|
11 |
= |
33 |
11 = 33
Thirty-three (33) quality points divided by 11 hours = 3.0 GPA
(a B average).
A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better is required
for graduation in all programs. A lower GPA will affect also
financial aid eligibility. Grades of W, I, I*, AU and CR are
not counted as hours attempted in calculating the GPA. If grades
are changed, the GPA will be recomputed.
Statements concerning academic honors, academic high honors,
academic warning, or academic probation appear on the grade
transcript for the appropriate term in which the status was
earned. These statements will not be removed from the transcript
in the event that students improve their grade point average
by repeating a class.
Effects of Repeating a Class
If a course is repeated, the higher grade will be computed in
the GPA; the hours earned/attempted (and quality points, if
any) on the lower grade will no longer be used in the computation
of the GPA. If the same grade is earned on the repeated course,
the hours earned/attempted (and quality points, if any) from
the first class will no longer be used in the GPA computation.
Students must complete the Repeat Request Form obtained from
the Registrar’s Office before a course will be considered
for exclusion from their GPA if the grade in the course to be
repeated is C or higher.
Those students transferring courses to other institutions may
find that the receiving institutions calculate the GPA based
on all grades.
Academic Progress
Students working toward completion of a degree, certificate,
or diploma must complete all required courses in their program
with a minimum cumulative 2.00 GPA (C average). The chart below
describes the minimum GPA that students in a curriculum must
achieve in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress
toward graduation--or to receive D.V.A. benefits or financial
aid.* To assist students in maintaining satisfactory progress,
free counseling and tutoring services are available, in addition
to faculty advising.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Scale:
Cumulative Semester |
Minimum Cumulative |
Hours Attempted |
GPA Earned |
0-16 |
1.25 |
17-30 |
1.50 |
31-45 |
1.75 |
46 or more |
2.00 |
Unsatisfactory progress is defined as follows:
Academic Warning. When students earn below the minimum
cumulative GPA, they are placed on “Academic Warning”
for the semester enrolled. The students, with the assistance
of their advisor, will reassess course load (a 13-15 credit
hour maximum recommendation) and academic goals for the next
term of enrollment.
Academic Probation I. When students earn below the
minimum cumulative GPA for the second consecutive semester,
they are considered on “Academic Probation I” and
are no longer eligible for financial aid or D.V.A. benefits
for the next term of enrollment. Students, with the assistance
of their advisor, will develop a plan to reach a satisfactory
GPA. This plan may consider, among other options, a referral
to a counselor for a change of major/program.
If full-time students earn a semester GPA of 3.0 or better for
the semester in which they are on Academic Probation I but do
not yet meet the required cumulative GPA in the Satisfactory
Academic Progress Scale, they remain on Academic Probation I.
Academic Probation II. When students earn below the
minimum required cumulative GPA for three consecutive semesters,
then they are on “Academic Probation II.” In addition
to receiving no financial aid or D.V.A. benefits, they are no
longer considered regular students and must adhere to the following
during the next term of enrollment:
*Additional measurements of progress are
considered in determining satisfactory academic progress for
financial aid purposes. Students should obtain a copy of “Satisfactory
Academic Progress Requirements for Financial Aid Recipients”
from the Financial Aid Office.
- re-register (If pre-registered, registration is nullified.)
- take no more than six credit hours
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If students earn a semester GPA of 3.0 or better for the semester
in which they are on Academic Probation II but do not yet meet
the required cumulative GPA in the Satisfactory Academic Progress
Scale, they remain on Academic Probation II.
Removal from Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Status
Once students earn the required cumulative GPA, they will be
removed from unsatisfactory academic progress status. However,
academic warning and academic probation statements are a part
of students’ permanent records.
Special Courses
Cooperative Education
The Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program gives students the
opportunity to integrate classroom study with practical work
experience in their major field. Generally, students alternate
study and work periods or work part time while enrolled at the
college.
Student Eligibility Requirements
A. Students must be at least 18 years of age and be enrolled
in a curriculum program that lists Co-op as a course requirement
or elective option.
B. Students cannot be “tuition exempted.” Students
in the following classifications (or categories) may not participate
in Co-op:
1. Huskins Bill Student (T90970)
2. Concurrent Enrollment (T90980)
3. Special Credit Student (T90990)
4. Associate in General Education Student (A10300)
5. Cosmetology Student (A55140)
6. “Gifted and Mature” Student (under 16 years of
age)
C. Students must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA or higher,
if employer requirements exceed 2.0. Co-op students must maintain
the 2.0 GPA throughout the Co-op experience.
D. Students must have completed a minimum of nine semester hours
within the appropriate program of study and a minimum of three
semester hours from core classes within the major.
E. Students must be recommended by their advisors as having
the skills to be creditable employees.
Academic Credit
Credit of one semester hour is awarded for satisfactory completion
of 160 hours of work experience; credit of two semester hours
is awarded for 320 hours of successful work experience. The
Co-op coordinator or faculty advisor will assign a grade for
the Co-op class based on reports submitted by the student, on-site
visits, and employer evaluations.
A maximum of two credit hours may be earned in cooperative education
per student per semester. The total maximum academic credit
that may be earned through Co-op is as follows:
| Associate in Applied Science (AAS) |
8 SHC |
| Diploma |
4 SHC |
| Certificate |
2 SHC |
| College Transfer(AA, AS, AFA) |
1 SHC |
College transfer students may participate in Co-op for the purpose
of career exploration. However, this credit may not transfer
to the University of North Carolina constituent institutions.
Application Procedure
A. Students should obtain a “Cooperative Education Application”
form from their advisors or Co-op coordinator and make an appointment
to review the completed application, along with a current resume
and college transcript.
B. The advisors or Co-op coordinator will conduct an in-depth
interview with students regarding career interests and possible
work assignments.
C. If students are accepted, the advisor or Co-op coordinator
will work with them to locate appropriate training positions.
For further information, students should contact any division
dean or the Co-op coordinator.
Distance Learning
As stated in The Goals of the College section of the SCC’s
purpose statement, the college seeks “to provide appropriate,
efficient, and secure access to technology in support of the
learning college.”
The following goals of distance learning at Southeastern build
upon this statement:
1. To provide accessible educational courses to all potential
SCC students.
2. To provide courses through unique modes of delivery using
the appropriate technology.
Beginning fall semester 1998, SCC began offering distance learning
courses as part of the Associate in Arts and the Associates
in Applied Science in Business Administration and Information
Systems degrees. These courses utilize four forms for the electronic
delivery of instruction:
North Carolina Information Highway Courses
This mode of delivery represents synchronous communication and
emphasizes a simultaneous group learning experience. Instructor
and students communicate in real time through interactive audio/video
conferencing from one classroom to one or more remote classrooms
across the state. Students attend a class at a specific time
and in a specific place. In all cases, local and off-site, students
are able to participate in the class as it is taking place in
real time.
Internet Courses
These classes are delivered over the Internet through the computer.
In order to take an Internet course at SCC, students are required
to have a personal computer at home or access to a computer
elsewhere. (The SCC Computer Lab in Room 110, Building B, and
the SCC Library have Internet/computer stations that may be
used by students.)
In order to sign up for these courses, students must know (at
a minimum) how to use the Internet, how to use Microsoft Word
97 (or higher), and how to save a file to a floppy disk. They
must have an e-mail account and be able to send an e-mail message
with a document attached. In addition, students registering
for specific courses may be required to have additional software
as specified in the course syllabus at the time of enrollment.
If students enter Internet courses without the minimum computer
skills or software, they may be dropped from those courses.
Students enrolling in an Internet course or courses must complete
a required orientation. This orientation can be completed online
by accessing the distance learning web page at www.sccnc.edu.
Telecourses
These classes utilize videotapes for instructional delivery.
Students enrolling in SCC telecourses have three hours of videotaped
instruction each week, a textbook, a study guide, examinations,
interactions with the instructor, and other course requirements
that are determined by the instructor.
Students enrolling in telecourses must complete a required orientation.
This orientation can be completed online by accessing the distance
learning web page at www.sccnc.edu.
TeleWebcourses
TeleWebcourses include use of computers and electronic communication
to supplement the traditional video and course materials. Students
will use computers to help with assignment preparations, notes,
questions, attachments, testing, and communication with faculty
and other students.
In order to sign up for these courses, students must know (at
a minimum) how to use the Internet, how to use Microsoft Word
97 (or higher), and how to save a file to a floppy disk. They
must have an e-mail account and be able to send an e-mail message
with a document attached. If students enter TeleWebcourses without
the minimum computer skills or software, they may be dropped
from those courses.
Students enrolling in TeleWebcourses must complete a required
orientation. This orientation can be completed online by accessing
the distance learning web page at www.sccnc.edu.
Travel Study
At times SCC offers travel study courses involving classroom
study and trips to off-campus locations. When two or more travel
study courses are offered concurrently, students may enroll
in only one of the courses. Students are required to pay all
costs involved in the travel, as well as the regular course
registration fees.
Competency Requirements
One-Year Diploma Students
Communications. Competency in communications is demonstrated
by the satisfactory completion of ENG 102.
Mathematics. Competency in mathematics is demonstrated
when students test out of MAT 060 or satisfactorily complete
MAT 060 or a mathematics course numbered above MAT 060. Students
with a mathematics SAT score of 450 or higher are exempt from
mathematics placement assessment and have met the mathematics
graduation competency requirements.
Reading. Competency in reading is demonstrated when
students test out of or successfully complete RED 080. Students
with a reading SAT score of 480 or higher are exempt from reading
placement assessment and have met the reading graduation competency
requirements. The test is administered as a part of the placement
assessment.
Two-Year Degree Students
Computers. Competency in the use of computers is demonstrated
by the satisfactory completion of CIS 110 or any higher-numbered
course, excluding CIS 113. Competency in Associate in Arts –Nursing
and Associate in Fine Arts – Art may be demonstrated by
test out or satisfactory completion of CIS 070. For other programs,
competency in the use of computers is demonstrated by the satisfactory
completion of the computer course required in the curriculum.
Mathematics. Competency in basic mathematics is demonstrated
when students test out of MAT 070 or satisfactorily complete
MAT 070 or any mathematics course that has MAT 070 as a prerequisite.
Students with a mathematical SAT score of 450 or higher are
exempt from mathematics placement assessment and have met the
mathematics graduation competency requirements.
Reading. Competency in reading is demonstrated when
students test out of or successfully complete RED 090. Students
with a reading SAT score of 480 or higher are exempt from reading
placement assessment and have met the reading graduation competency
requirements. The test is administered as a part of the placement
assessment.
Speaking. Competency in speaking is demonstrated by
one of the following: (a) receiving a passing grade in ENG 114
(Professional Research and Reporting), COM 120 (Interpersonal
Communications), COM 231 (Public Speaking), COM 251 (Debate
I), HUM 230 (Leadership Development), or (b) performing satisfactorily
before a faculty-staff jury, results of which could determine
enrollment in a speech course.
Writing. Competency in writing derives from successful
completion of ENG 111 or from a test-out procedure involving
both the successful completion of a grammar and usage test and
of an extensive series of essays written under supervision.
In ENG 111, students will be evaluated on written assignments,
a common final examination, and other in-class and out-of-class
writing activities by the course instructor and English staff.
ENG 111 classes share a common syllabus, which specifies course
objectives, the number and length of writing assignments, and
the specific criteria instructors use in evaluating those assignments.
Academic Honors
Recognition of full-time students who excel in their academic
work at SCC includes the following:
1. Full-time students who are enrolled in a degree, diploma,
or certificate program and who earn a GPA of 3.25 to 3.59 (with
no I, D, or F grades) will be listed on the semester Honors
list. Students who earn a GPA for the semester of 3.60 or better
under the conditions stated above will be listed on the High
Honors list.
2. Two-year degree students who maintain a cumulative program
GPA of at least 3.50 on 12 or more credit hours per semester
are invited to join Phi Theta Kappa, a national honor society
for junior college students.
3. Students having a cumulative program GPA of 3.5 or above
at graduation are awarded special recognition during graduation
exercises. Various divisions may also recognize outstanding
students during the SGA Awards Day held each year at the end
of spring semester.
Requesting Transcripts
SCC provides grade transcripts (records of all grades earned
at the college) at no cost to students. The Registrar’s
Office will send the copies to the students or directly to another
institution or employer as requested by the students, or the
students may pick up the transcript copies from the Registrar’s
Office. All transcripts should be requested at least two days
prior to mailing or pick-up. Transcripts will not be mailed
if the students have an outstanding indebtedness to the college.
Requests must be in writing (to meet the requirements of the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and include the following:
1. Full Name
2. Social Security Number
3. Current Address
4. Current Telephone Number
5. Address to Which Transcript Should be Mailed
6. Student Signature
Click here to print a copy of the Transcript
Request form.
Graduation Requirements
To receive a degree or diploma, students must (1) complete all
state-approved program requirements with a minimum cumulative
program GPA of 2.0 (a C average), (2) complete the appropriate
degree or diploma graduation competencies (Reading, Math, Writing,
Computer, Speech), (3) complete at SCC a minimum of one-half
the total credit hours required in the program, (4) pick up
an Application for Graduation from the Registrar’s Office,
(5) pay a graduation fee at the Cashier’s Office, (6)
pay any outstanding fees and/or fines, and (7) complete an Application
for Graduation with their advisors.
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