Academic Regulations
The catalog of Rockingham Community College is intended to
describe the operations and programs offered by the College.
Students generally may expect to earn a diploma or degree in accordance with the
curriculum requirements outlined in the catalog published at the time of initial
enrollment. However, the College reserves the right to make changes in the curricula
and/or schedule when it is deemed to be in the best interest of the students and/or
College.
When changes occur students must adjust to these changes unless special permission is
granted.
If a student withdraws and then re-enters the same program, the catalog in effect at
the time of re-entry will be the catalog used to determine diploma or degree requirements.
Variation in Degree Requirements
In exceptional cases, variations in degree requirements can be approved by the
Executive Vice President. In cases where institutional error or oversight is believed to
have occurred or exceptional circumstances need to be considered, requests for variation
in graduation requirements can be made in writing to the Executive Vice President. The
request should include a rationale and justification for variation in requirements. The
decision of the Vice President will be based upon appropriate consultation with faculty
and staff and will be final. Copies of the request, documentation of the review process
and the decision shall become part of the student’s permanent record.
Scholastic Standards
Rockingham Community College students are expected to maintain satisfactory scholastic
standards. At the end of each semester an assessment shall be made of each student’s
total scholastic record. The academic policies are directed toward (1) prevention of
failure, (2) remediation, and when other methods do not succeed, (3) exclusion from a
program or the college.
Graduate Competencies
Students meeting the requirements for graduation from Rockingham Community
College’s associate degree and diploma programs should:
- Demonstrate effective speaking, writing, and reading.
- Gather and analyze information to make logical decisions.
- Demonstrate positive interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrate appropriate mathematical skills.
- Demonstrate appropriate computer skills.
- Perform technical skills applicable to their chosen program.
RCC Academic Honesty Policy
Students are expected to maintain high academic standards. To ensure these standards,
academic honesty is a crucial and basic aspect for student success. Cheating,
plagiarizing, falsifying results of study, or facilitating academic dishonesty are
prohibited and can result in sanctions as extreme as suspension from class(es) and/or from
RCC.
For further information, please refer to the RCC Student Handbook and the RCC Faculty
Staff Handbook.
Grading
Philosophy
Operating under the "OPEN DOOR’’ policy, Rockingham Community College
accepts all adults who make application and can benefit from any of the programs offered
(see admission procedures and requirements). It is believed that, given the proper program
and circumstances, most students can perform satisfactorily. The overall objective is to
work with students at their present levels of achievement and ability and help them reach
their optimum potentials insofar as possible within the capabilities and limitations of
the institution. To accomplish these goals the faculty and staff seek to help students to
understand clearly what level of achievement is expected of them and how that level may be
reached. The grading system is designed to provide students with constructive feedback
about their progress and goal attainment.
In order to fulfill their primary purpose of enhancing learning, grades must serve a
communicating and motivating purpose. RCC’s grading system seeks to fulfill this dual
role. It is designed to reflect the belief that students learn better when motivated by
success rather than failure and that they should, therefore, be informed of good
performances and successful results. Likewise, it is designed with the belief that
students should be provided with knowledge of mistakes and how to correct them. In
addition, the system attempts to accommodate the fact that different students require
different time spans to master given subjects.
Rights
and Responsibilities
Involved in any grading system are certain rights
and responsibilities of students, instructors, administrators, advisors, and counselors.
The following list represents only those rights and responsibilities which relate directly
to the Rockingham Community College grading system. Other rights and responsibilities are
outlined in appropriate sections of this catalog and in other College publications such as
the
Student Handbook and the Faculty-Staff
Handbook.
Students
The student has the responsibility to put forth sincere, conscientious effort to fulfill
the objectives of courses in which he/she is enrolled.
The student has the responsibility to meet with his/her instructors, advisor, or
counselor if the student feels he/she is in academic difficulty.
The student has the right to know the basis on which he/she will be evaluated.
The student has the responsibility, with the aid of his/her instructors and counselors,
to set realistic goals.
The student has the responsibility to pace himself/herself in an open-ended course (a
course in which the time allowed for completion of the objectives is flexible.)
The student has the right to appeal a grade and the responsibility to know the correct
procedure for appeal.
The student has the responsibility to contact his/her instructor regarding the grade of
"I’’ and to make arrangements to complete the necessary work to remove the
"I’’ within the time allowed.
The student has the responsibility to follow the established procedures when withdrawing
from a course or from the institution.
When repeating a course, the student has the responsibility to complete a Repeat Card
and deliver it to the Records Office during registration. If a Repeat Card is not
submitted to the Records Office, the grade will be changed to an audit (AU) grade.
The student has the responsibility, prior to filing a notice with the Records Office for
a degree, diploma, or certificate to review his/her record in consultation with his/her
advisor to assure that all graduation requirements will be met before the proposed
graduation date.
The student has the responsibility to be familiar with the Student Handbook, the RCC
Catalog, any additional academic policies and procedures not specifically outlined in
Items 1 through 10 listed above, and to plan his/her program accordingly.
Additional rights and responsibilities for students as outlined in appropriate sections
of this catalog and in other college publications such as the Student Handbook.
Instructors
The instructor has the right to define performance requirements for specific grades.
The instructor has the responsibility to state the course objectives and grading system
early in the semester.
The instructor has the right and the responsibility to continue his/her efforts in
learning new and different ways to facilitate student instruction and evaluation.
The instructor has the right and responsibility to determine the best methods of
presenting material in his/her courses.
The instructor has the responsibility to evaluate his/her grading procedures
periodically.
Additional rights and responsibilities for instructors are outlined in appropriate
sections of this catalog and in other college publications such as the Faculty-Staff
Handbook.
Administrators
The administrator has the responsibility to recommend the employment of faculty and
other professional staff whose philosophy is consistent with that of the institution.
The administrator has the responsibility to provide the time, resources, and facilities
necessary for the teaching and learning process.
The administrator has the responsibility to provide a process for grade appeals.
The administrator has the responsibility to provide in-service training for the faculty.
The administrator has the responsibility to provide appropriate counseling and advising
services.
The administrator has the responsibility to provide services for effective placement of
students in courses.
The administrator has the responsibility to provide leadership in the development and
continuing evaluation of a standard grading system.
Additional rights and responsibilities for administrators are outlined in appropriate
sections of this catalog and in other college publications such as the Faculty-Staff
Handbook.
Advisors
- The advisor has the responsibility to consult with the
student’s instructor and/or counselor in cases where the student’s
progress in a course or program is in question.
- The advisor has the counselor-shared responsibility to assist the
student in preparing grade contesting requests.
Counselors
- The counselor has the responsibility to consult with the
student’s instructor and/or advisor in cases where the student’s progress in a
course or program is in question.
- The counselor has the advisor-shared responsibility to assist the
student in preparing grade contesting requests.
