College Policies Academic and General

Student Responsibilities

We believe that students are responsible for their learning. Similarly, student rights accompany exercise of responsibility for learning.

• Selecting a program of study that is consistent with his/her abilities and interests.
• Selecting coursework that corresponds with his/her program of study and readiness level.
• Enrolling in a schedule of classes appropriate to the time and effort that he/she will allocate to academic requirements.
• Being attentive and participating in class activities.
• Completing all class assignments as directed by the instructor or course syllabus.
• Complying with all college announcements and requirements found in the catalog and official publications.
• Seeking appropriate support services to improve his/her level of academic achievement and to enhance the quality of college life.
• Behaving in a humane and ethical manner both in the classroom and in all communication and contact with the instructor, other staff members and other students.
• Students are expected to attend all class sessions and report to each session on time. If an absence occurs, students are responsible for all work missed. Excessive absences that jeopardize successful completion of the course (as outlined in the course syllabus) may result in a lowered or failing grade in the class.

Student Conduct Code

Students enrolling at SCC are to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the educational purposes of the college. If you fail to do so, the college will institute appropriate disciplinary action, which may include dismissal. Specifically, students are expected to comply with federal, state and local laws concerning activities prohibited on public school property and at college-sponsored functions. Civil disobedience, assault, forgery, gambling, immoral conduct, libel, theft, use and sale of alcoholic beverages and other dangerous drugs, vandalism, or possession of firearms, explosives, dangerous chemicals, or other weapons are prohibited while on college property or at a college-sponsored event. Students who hold a conceal and carry permit or endorsement may not bring firearms on campus. The full student code of conduct policy and procedures can be found at www.stchas.edu/about-scc/administration/board-policies/410studentonductdisciplineanddueprocess

Graduation Requirements and Procedures

Graduation Requirements

The requirements for graduation at St. Charles Community College are those specified in the college catalog at the time a student enrolls or of any subsequent catalog as long as the student enrolls in at least one fall or spring term each academic year (August-May). If you change programs, you will be expected to meet the graduation requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of your program change. (See sections on Graduation Requirements in the chapter on Academic Programs - Degrees and Certificates in this catalog.)

In the case of curriculum changes, academic deans may make adjustments to your educational plan to meet program requirements. Every effort will be made to count earlier course work in a way most beneficial to the student in fulfilling current requirements. Students are subject to all policies/regulations stated in the most recent catalog.

Applying for Graduation

Students who will complete requirements for a degree must apply for graduation. “Apply to graduate” means you want your degree conferred and officially recorded on your academic transcript.

To be eligible for graduation from SCC, you must adhere to the following:

• Check the current academic calendar for priority application deadlines. The calendar can be found online a www.stchas.edu/events.
  1. Please note, the priority deadline allows the Office of Admission Registration and Records ample time to review applications, to ensure that all requirements for graduation have or will be met, and to allow students the time to make course adjustments before the close of registration of their final semester.
     
     Application received after the priority deadline will be processed, however you may not have ample time to make course adjustments in order to meet program requirements.
  2. Spring and Summer graduates who wish to participate in the May commencement ceremony must file an application for graduation by March 1.
• Apply for graduation by login into my SCC Portal > SCC Connection > Student > Student Self-Service > Apply for Graduation.

In order to graduate students must:

• Meet all requirements of the degree/certificate program as outlined in the college catalog, with at least 15 of these credit hours earned at SCC.
• Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and be in good academic standing.
• Resolve all financial obligations to the college and return all library and college materials.
• Students who plan to earn a degree at SCC will need to meet the requirements of the catalog in effect when they first enrolled or of any subsequent catalog as long as they enroll in at least one fall or spring term each academic year (August-May).
• If you decide to postpone your graduation to a future semester please email enrollment@stchas.edu before your original anticipated date of graduation.

Issuance of Diplomas

Diplomas earned for December and May graduates will be mailed in June based on the address provided on the Graduation Application. August diplomas will be mailed in September. Degrees earned will be posted on the student transcript at the time all degree requirements are verified as met. Students may request a transcript by accessing the National Student Clearinghouse link at www.getmytranscript.com (a third-party website).

Commencement Exercises

Commencement exercises are held annually in May. Students who are graduating in May and graduates from the previous December may participate in the exercises, along with those who have applied for and been tentatively accepted to graduate in the coming August.

Earning More Than One Degree

• A separate application must be filed for each degree or certificate whether they were earned at the same time or during different semesters.
• The specific requirements of each degree or certificate must be completed.
• If two degrees or certificates are earned at the same time, the graduation fee for the second is $10. If the second degree or certificate is earned in another semester, the $30 graduation fee must be paid each semester that a degree is awarded.

Repeat of a Course

You may repeat one time any credit course for which you did not receive at least a “C” for graded courses, or a grade of “P” for pass/fail courses. Exceptions to this rule include PE activity courses and some music courses. If the course can be repeated and have multiple attempts count toward graduation hours, then all attempts count in the cumulative GPA. “Ws” or withdrawals from a course are treated as an attempt. All grades from each attempt are recorded on the transcript, but SCC will use the higher grade to calculate the grade point average (GPA). Some colleges and universities will recalculate the grade point average for admissions purposes and include both grades earned. Students wishing to attempt a course for the third time must speak with an advisor or the department chair to obtain permission to enroll. In general, courses may not be attempted a fourth time. Where courses are a part of a sequence (English, math, reading), students may enroll in or audit the prerequisite course in order to acquire the prerequisite skills necessary for a successful fourth attempt. For financial assistance eligibility, all attempts will count towards maximum hour limits and completion ratio.

Auditing a Course

If you wish to attend a course without taking an examination or receiving credit for the course, you may register on an audit basis. Students who register on an audit basis will pay the regular tuition rate and must meet the course prerequisites or receive special permission from the instructor. Audit students must adhere to the same policies and procedures as all students. If you wish to change from audit to credit or from credit to audit after the course is under way, you must request the change. Email the Office of Admissions Registration Records at enrollment@stchas.edu from your SCC email within the first four weeks of classes (prorated for different parts of term). Students cannot count audited courses to establish fulltime status and will not fulfill degree/certificate requirements.

Change of Academic Program

Students wishing to change their degree/certificate must complete a Change of Degree form. It can be found at www.stchas.edu/academics/academic-advising.

Attendance

General Policy

The college has no plan of recognized class absences. You should attend all class meetings in which you are enrolled. Excessive absence may be sufficient cause to fail the course. For distance classes, “attendance” will be
defined as active participation in the course as described in the individual course syllabus. The final decision as to what constitutes excessive absence from a class is left to the instructor and will be outlined in the course syllabus. Students should discuss any absences with their instructor. Students who are absent from classes while participating in collegesponsored events or activities will not be automatically penalized for the absence. It is the expectation that students will normally be excused from class except under extraordinary circumstances.

Students must complete the following procedures to determine the outcome of their absence for each missed class:

1. Students are responsible for notifying their instructors in advance of the absence. When possible, contact your instructor at least two weeks before the event/activity. Face-to-face interaction between student and instructor is preferred.
2. In advance of the activity, students must provide their instructor(s) a completed Event Form for each missed class. Student Event Forms are available to student athletes in CC 104 and for members of clubs and organizations in CC 102. This form will help you discuss the potential effects of the absence with your instructor.
3. Students are expected to make up any classwork in a time frame to be determined by the instructor. When a test is scheduled for the day of the expected absence, students should discuss with their instructor how to make other arrangements to take the test. You should use the Assessment Center for make-up tests.
4. If you fail to inform the faculty in advance of the expected absence, the absence may or may not be accommodated at the instructor’s discretion.
5. Absences for the student-related activity may be reflected in your attendance record.

​Withdrawal From Courses

Students who wish to withdraw from a course or courses may do so within the mySCC Portal > SCC Connection > Student Planning or by emailing advising@stchas.edu for assistance. Please review the www.stchas.edu/events calendar for deadlines. Please contact the Financial Aid office to determine how withdrawing from the course may impact your financial aid award.

Discontinuing a course will affect your transcript (permanent record) as follows: A student who withdraws officially from a course before the end of the 12th week of class meetings will receive a “W” for the course. If you
simply stop attending class and do not officially withdraw from the course, you will receive an “F” grade for the course. The approved withdrawal dates are prorated for courses fewer than 16 weeks in length and for interim and summer sessions. The Veterans Administration may interpret the withdrawal from courses differently, so veterans should check with the Financial Aid Office.