Currently, all Ohio high school students take the ACT prior to high school graduation. If the ACT scores are below college readiness, the student is encouraged to take the ACCUPLACER®, a test that measures current abilities in reading, writing, math, and algebra so that students can begin their work in these subjects at the appropriate level. To provide students with the all the information they need to make good scheduling decisions, students are encouraged to take the ACCUPLACER prior to meeting with an advisor to schedule for their English (ENGL) or Mathematics (MATH) courses. Selective programs may have college level ENGL/MATH requirements for admission to program courses. Contact Student Services in College Hall to arrange an appointment. ACCUPLACER tests are not needed if students have:
The College schedules classes on a semester system. An academic semester is comprised of fifteen weeks of classes and one week of examinations and registration. The academic year consists of fall and spring semesters and a summer session.
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 in this catalog.
Students who want to take more than 19 credit hours during any given semester are required to obtain appropriate Department Chair or Dean approval.
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:
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 must meet the requirements of the most recent college catalog. Questions concerning this policy should be directed to the Registrar’s Office.
Students who apply for a selective health program at Zane State College will be placed into the Associate of Science degree program as their first major while pursuing acceptance into the health program applied for. If the student achieves acceptance into the health program, the Associate of Science program will automatically move to the student’s second major unless the student submits a Change of Program form to either change the second major or remove it. If a prospective student is not admitted to their desired health program, the student can continue to pursue the Associate of Science degree as their first major or meet with a success coach or program advisor to select another Zane State program to pursue.
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. Courses students are required to take simultaneously in order to enroll in another course are called “co-requisites”. The Programs and Curricula section of this catalog lists prerequisites and/or co-requisites at the end of each course description. Students who enroll without having satisfied all prerequisites and/or co-requisites will be administratively removed from coursework.
Students may add courses to their schedules during the first week of a full semester or term through My ZSC (students who have not earned 30 credit hours must contact their program advisor or success coach in Student Services for registration clearance). Courses offered in a nonstandard term may be subject to prorated dates.
After the last date to add courses, students who wish to make an addition must obtain the written approval of the faculty member teaching the course using the Course Add/Drop/Withdraw Authorization form. Schedule changes may impact billing and/or financial aid status.
During the first two weeks of a full semester or term, classes may be dropped online through My ZSC (online access may not available for students under 30 credit hours earned; students should contact their program advisor or success coach in Student Services for assistance). Courses offered in a nonstandard term may be subject to prorated dates. No entry will be made on the student’s transcript.
Refund percentages for dropped coursework is based on the Refund Time Frame stated on My ZSC (Finances/Refunds). Schedule changes may impact billing and/or financial aid status.
From the third week through the tenth week of a full semester, or the third week through the fifth week of an eight week term, students may withdraw from a course on campus through My ZSC (online access may not available for students under 30 credit hours earned; students should contact their program advisor or success coach in Student Services for assistance). Courses offered in a nonstandard term may be subject to prorated dates. A grade of “W” will appear on the student’s transcript for courses withdrawn. If a student ceases to attend a course without withdrawing, a grade of “FN” may be recorded.
Withdrawals may impact billing and/or financial aid status. Students who have already earned a grade for a course are ineligible to withdraw from that course.
After the last date to withdraw from courses, students who have an extenuating circumstance (such as a serious medical illness or injury that prohibits the student from completing the term due to the student’s incapacitation) may submit a withdrawal request by completing a Late Withdrawal form. Appropriate documentation outlined in the form must be submitted in order to be considered. Contact the Registrar’s Office at 740-588-1280 for assistance.
Certain courses offered at the College are graded on a credit or no-credit basis instead of a letter grade. The College may at its discretion provide a “Passed/Not Passed” option in extreme situations (such as a health pandemic) that may impact students’ successful term completion. A student agreeing to the option of a course being graded on a credit/no-credit basis cannot later change to the option of a letter grade; other parameters may apply.
The grade of “P” will be recorded when a grade of “D” or higher is earned on a credit/no-credit basis. Credit hours earned will count toward graduation requirements (excepting programs that require coursework with a minimum grade policy). The grade point average will not be affected. The grade of “NP” will be recorded to indicate the course was not passed. Hours of “NP” will not count toward graduation and the grade point average will also not be affected.
No grade other than “P” or “NP” will be kept on file and students may encounter difficulty in receiving transfer credit from other institutions for courses taken on a credit/no-credit basis.
The Special Topics courses are designed to provide credit for special projects, workshops, and unique programs which are not listed as credit courses but which contribute substantially to a student’s background or skills in his/her program. A total of nine credit hours may be taken in Special Topics courses toward degree requirements.
A student may receive approval from their program advisor to substitute coursework according to the course substitution guidelines. Such substitutions will be considered within the context of the approved curriculum and should not significantly alter expected program learning outcomes. The College builds curriculum according to business and industry needs and expectations and/or statewide transfer guidelines. Therefore, modifications to the approved course of study should be minimal. The following guidelines will apply:
Course substitution requires the approval of the registrar in consultation with the area dean to ensure compliance with state requirements. If a course being substituted is not the same number of credit hours, the student is still required to meet the minimum hours required for their degree and must meet minimum technical and general/basic credit hours.
Students may take courses at Zane State College without pursuing a degree. This is often done by those interested in learning a subject for personal growth, fulfilling professional goals, updating or gaining new skills, or staying current in a subject area.
If a student later decides to pursue a degree, the credits earned may apply to degree or certificate requirements. Non-degree seeking students are subject to the same registration and academic policies that apply to degree-seeking students. Financial aid is not available for non-degree seeking students.
Persons 60 years and older who have resided in Ohio for at least one year are eligible to enroll in up to four (4) credit hours per semester on a space-available basis without payment of tuition for instructional and general fees. However, some courses may require fees for security, lab supplies, books or other materials. These fees are not covered by the senior citizen fee waiver. For more information, contact Student Services at 740-588-5000.
Zane State College permits any student veteran who receives the GI Bill Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 to attend or participate in courses of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33 and ending on the earlier of the following dates:
Zane State College ensures no penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs under chapter 31 or 33.
