Academic Policies and Procedures

Academic Assessment for Course Placement

Several levels of communications and math courses are offered to meet the needs of students. The ACCUPLACER will measure current abilities in reading, writing, math, and Algebra so that students can begin their work in these subjects at the appropriate level. All new full-time students and part-time students planning to register for an ENG or a MTH course must take the test prior to registration. Selective programs may have college level ENG/MTH requirements for admission to technology courses. Contact the Student Success Center in College Hall, Room 148 or the Willett-Pratt Training Center to arrange an appointment. Test exemptions are granted to students who have:

• Credit for a college-level ENG or MTH course with a grade of D or better within the last five years; or have

• An associate’s degree or a higher degree. College transcripts must be submitted to the Zane State College Registrar’s Office prior to the planned semester of enrollment.

Potential students must demonstrate minimum competency levels in reading, writing, and math for placement into the first level of basic skills courses. After enrollment in basic skills courses, a student must demonstrate progress toward college-level work.

Catalog in Force

Requirements to earn a degree or certificate are based on the catalog which is in force at the time of the student’s initial enrollment. Students have five years to complete their degree program from initial enrollment under the catalog in force at the time of initial enrollment. However, the College reserves the right to change course offerings and academic requirements without notice. In this regard, the following guidelines determine which catalog a student must follow in meeting program requirements:

• Students may elect to complete their coursework under the most recent catalog and must comply with all of the new requirements for their program.

• Students who change majors or are admitted to selective programs must meet requirements of the catalog which is in force at time they make said change.

• Students who transfer to another college or university and return to Zane State College will be readmitted under the catalog which is in force at the time of readmission.

• Students who do not earn any credit hours toward their degree requirements in two calendar years must satisfy requirements of the catalog in force at the time of re-enrollment.

• Dismissed students are readmitted under the catalog which is in force at the time of readmission.

Exceptions to the above may be necessary when changes in certification, accreditation, or licensure standards and changing technology mandate changes in academic requirements or in College programs.

Students who take longer than five years should meet the requirements of the most recent college catalog.

Questions concerning this policy should be directed to the Registrar’s Office.

Health Studies Core

The Health Studies Core is designed for the student who is interested in pursuing studies in the health field but whose level of academic preparation needs to be raised to meet admission criteria in specific health technologies. The Health Studies Core is also designed for those students interested in exploring health career options. The student and his/her advisor will identify those courses necessary to meet individual student needs. Students in health core will enroll for 12-14 credit hours per semester in general, basic, and technical courses. Students preparing to enter a particular health technology must meet specific program admission criteria.

Pre-Engineering Technology Studies Core

The Pre-Engineering Technology Studies Core program is designed for the student who is interested in pursuing studies in the engineering technologies area but whose level of preparation needs to be raised to be able to enroll in entry-level courses.

The student will follow a curriculum of 12-14 credit hours per semester in the initial year of enrollment in basic, general, and technical courses to lay a foundation on which to build the technical program. The following two Start HERE. 12

years the student may complete the associate degree requirements while enrolling for approximately 14-17 credit hours per semester. This enables the student to elect other non-required courses without having too heavy a load if that choice is desired. Recommendation for enrollment in this program is based on preregistration testing information plus an academic advising session with the program advisor or College counselor in which an outline of the semester-by-semester schedule of courses is reviewed.

Academic Course Load & Student Credit Hour Overload

The minimum load for a full-time student is 12 credit hours. The average load of a full-time student is 16-18 credit hours which consists of 4 or 5 courses. Information concerning class loads for students on probation is found on page 20 of this catalog.

Students wanting to take more than 19 credit hours during any given semester are required to obtain appropriate Department Chair approval.

Prerequisites

Certain courses assume that all students enrolled have completed another course or courses upon which the content of the course is planned. The term "prerequisite" designates courses, experiences or permission which must be satisfied before a student may enroll in that course. The Programs and Curricula section of this catalog lists prerequisites at the end of each course description. Students who enroll without having satisfied all prerequisites will be administratively removed from course work.

Course Substitution

A student may receive permission from his/her respective Department Chair to substitute up to 16 credit hours or 5 courses, whichever is greater. Students whose transcripts show course credit at higher levels than program requirements may have those courses applied without counting toward substitution limits, including prerequisite math courses credited to his or her transcript as credit by examination. Determination of such credit awarded and applied toward program requirements is at the discretion of the Department Chair responsible for the degree program in question.

Adding Courses

Students may add courses to their schedules during the first week of classes by properly completing the Class Drop/Add Authorization Form. In situations where students wish to add a first or second term course, this addition must be made within two days from the beginning of the term.

During the second week of classes, courses may be added with the approval of the faculty member teaching the course.

Dropping Courses

During the first two weeks of a semester, or first week of a summer term, classes may be dropped by properly completing the Class Drop/Add Authorization Form in the Student Success Center, and no entry will be made on a student’s transcript. From the third week of classes through the seventh week of classes, a "W" (withdrawn) will be shown on the student’s transcript for each course properly dropped. If a student ceases to attend a course or courses without completing the Class Drop/Add Authorization Form, the grade of "F" is recorded for each of these courses.

Withdrawal from the College

Students who elect to withdraw from the College are required to complete an Exit Questionnaire Form available in the Student Success Center. Official withdraw status is dependent upon completion of this form by the final date of withdrawal according to the academic calendar on page 8 of this publication. Failure to follow this procedure will result in the grade of "F" for each course being entered on the student’s transcript and forfeiture of any tuition refund. Go ANYWHERE!