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Grading System
and Policies

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Grading Symbols	Auditing a Course	Credit by Exam	Incomplete Grade	Satisfactory and Unsatisfactory Grading Option	Grade Point Average	Grade Forgiveness
Grade Contesting Policy	Grade Changes	Academic Progress Policy and Procedure	Satisfactory Progress in Academic Degree Progrmas	Satisfactory Progress in Diploma Programs	Academic Warning	Academic Probation
Repeat of Courses	Course Substitution	Student Change of Program	Recalculation of GPA for Program Change	Recalculation of GPA for Repeat Courses	Class Attendance	Withdrawal from the College
Withdrawal from Programs	Withdrawal from Courses	Student Withdrawal from Courses	Instructor-Initiated Withdrawal	Independent Study	Cooperative Education	Special Credit

GRADING SYMBOLS

Since the RCC grading system operates on the firm belief that each student has the right to know the basis on which he/she will be evaluated, every effort is made to identify and define symbols used in the institution and in each course. A total of sixteen different symbols have been identified and defined for use in the RCC grading system. Open-ended courses and courses which may be taken on the S/U or C/E basis are identified in the course syllabi. All courses, except those designed open-ended or C/E will utilize the other eleven symbols.

NOTE: Grades given in developmental courses do not earn quality points.

When the letter "R’’ follows a letter grade it indicates that the grade is being received in a developmental course.

AUDITING A COURSE

Students wishing to audit courses must officially register for such courses. Auditors receive no credit and the grade symbol "AU’’ will be recorded on the student’s transcript. Auditors are encouraged to attend class, participate in discussions, and take examinations.

Students may audit a course one time prior to taking the course for credit. Once academic credit has been awarded for a course, students may audit the class one additional time.

To audit a course, the student should officially register for the course in the normal registration process as required of any other course before the final date for adding courses in any given semester. Fees for auditing a course are the same as for taking a course for credit.

Students taking classes for Audit may not receive financial aid.

CREDIT BY EXAM

Credit by Exam may be defined as an evaluative procedure whereby a student professing adequate competence in a particular subject area may undertake an examination designed to measure his/her competence within that given subject area. Upon completion of such examination and the scoring on such tests at or above a predetermined minimum score, the individual shall be given credit for such course. Such credit shall be recorded on the individual’s transcript as hours earned only. The student must apply, register, pay the required fee, and take the Credit by Exam "examination’’ administered by Rockingham Community College.

Students taking classes for Credit by Exam may not receive financial aid.

1. Credit by Exam "examinations’’ will be prepared by appropriate dean in cooperation with individual instructors within departments.
2. Students will be charged a registration fee for Credit by Exam courses at the same rate as for any other course.
3. Only those courses listed in the current catalog which are approved for Credit by Exam may be taken for such credit and only in the amount of credit listed. Each department has determined which of its course offerings may be completed through Credit by Exam.
4. Credit by Exam "examinations’’ for approved courses may be taken during any semester regardless of whether such courses are listed on the Schedule of Courses to be taught within any given semester, and such examinations may be taken beginning with the first day of classes but not later than two weeks prior to the end of the semester.
5. Rockingham Community College may accept credit that is granted via Credit by Exam at other colleges but such credit will be included in the maximum allowed via Credit by Exam at Rockingham Community College.
6. The symbol "Credit by Exam’’ or equivalent abbreviation will be printed on the student’s transcript if he/she completes a course through such proficiency examination. However, this credit will not be included in the student’s grade point average.
7. No more than one-half of the required credits for a degree or diploma may be earned through Credit by Exam unless otherwise approved by the Executive Vice President.
8. Students are urged to inquire into the regulations of the college or university to which they intend to transfer relative to such institution’s policy regarding the acceptance of Credit by Exam course credits.
9. Credit by Exam may be granted to Rockingham Community College students who are registered in college at the time the Credit by Exam course is taken and are eligible to take the class under college regulations.
10. To attempt a course via Credit by Exam, the student must:

1. Secure an application from his/her advisor.
2. Furnish proof to the satisfaction of his/her advisor, instructor, and Dean of the department involved that his/her previous experience or training will insure a reasonable measure of success on the examination.
3. Have the Credit by Exam application endorsed by his/her advisor, instructor, and appropriate Dean of the department involved.

Information concerning which departments offer Credit by Exam courses may be obtained from the Records Office.

THE INCOMPLETE GRADE

The following definition and procedure govern the use of the "I’’ grade.

1. Definition: The student has completed the major portion of the course and due to extenuating circumstances has not been able to complete all the requirements. The student should be able to complete the course with minimal assistance from the instructor. This symbol does not count as hours attempted or hours earned.
2. The instructor will make a listing of what is needed to remove an "I’’ grade. This should be turned in to the instructor’s supervisor by end-of-grades due period.
3. If the "I’’ grade is not removed by the end of the twelfth week of the semester following the one in which it was given, the instructor will receive a notification from the Records Office and the instructor should assign a grade (A, B, C, D, F, S, U, NC) as appropriate to the course by the end of the fourteenth week or request through the Executive Vice President’s Office a specific time extension. This procedure should be followed regardless of whether or not the student is enrolled. If the instructor does not remove the "I’’ grade nor requests a time extension, the "I’’ grade will automatically be changed to a "NC’’.

SATISFACTORY/UNSATISFACTORY GRADING OPTION

This grading system encourages the student to explore areas of study for credit outside his primary field. Because these courses will not count in the GPA but will count toward credits earned, the possibility of failure, strong competition, etc., is removed. The student could use this option in choosing electives where he/she has some interest but little or no previous experience or skill in taking courses outside his/her program.

POLICY:

1. Courses may be taken on S/U basis only with the approval of the student’s advisor and the instructor of the course.
2. A student may earn not more than 6 credit hours of "S’’ toward the total credit hours required for a diploma or a degree. Any course which is offered only on a S/U basis will not be included in the 6 hours of "S’’ limitation.
3. A student may take only one course per semester on the S/U option. Exception must be approved by the student’s advisor.
4. A grade of "S’’ indicates that the student has satisfactorily met the objectives of the course. The "S’’ does not count as hours attempted but does count as hours earned. A grade of "U’’ indicates that the student did not successfully complete the course. The "U’’ does not count as hours attempted or as hours earned.
5. The student must declare his intention to take the S/U option prior to the end of the drop/add period. In order to declare the S/U grading option, the student must:

1. Report to his/her advisor, discuss the S/U option, complete the proper form, and obtain his/her advisor’s approval.
2. Report to the instructor, discuss the S/U option, and obtain the instructor’s approval.
3. Submit the form to the Records Office before the end of the drop/add period.

6. To assist a student in registering to take a course under the S/U grading option, the advisor should:

a) Provide the student with the S/U option application form.

b) Assist the student in completing the form by dating and endorsing the application in the blank marked "advisor’’.

c) Instruct the student to list the course on the registration form (or drop/add form in the case of an added course).

d) Instruct the student to contact the appropriate instructor involved to secure his/her signature of approval.

e) Provide the student with the name of the Dean involved and instruct him/her to secure the signature of approval.

f) Instruct the student to turn in the S/U Grading Option application form during registration.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE

Grade Point Average (GPA) is defined as the total quality points earned divided by the total number of credit hours attempted. Quality points are the numerical equivalents of the letter grades and are used to determine academic honors.A minimum GPA of 2.0 in the program of study is necessary to meet grade requirements for graduation.

GRADE FORGIVENESS

A student’s official transcript is a record of the student’s entire academic history within this institution. Alteration of a student’s transcript is never permissible without proper authority. If it can be clearly established and defended that a mistake has been made in placing a student in a given course or program, or that any other error has been made that is beyond the student’s control, then the Executive Vice President may authorize such a change. The procedure by which such a change is made is very carefully described and will be implemented as follows: a counselor or a student’s advisor will initiate the request for grade forgiveness. This person will prepare a file in writing supporting the proposed change. This file will be examined by and discussed with the instructor(s) and the appropriate Dean. If the instructor approves of this change, he/she will indicate in writing that he/she has been consulted and has given his/her approval. All of the persons listed will be involved prior to the delivery of the case to the Executive Vice President. The Executive Vice President will not give approval without the concurrence of the instructional staff. In cases where the instructor cannot be consulted, the appropriate Dean will act in the instructor’s place. In cases where a grade is forgiven, the Executive Vice President will send the Records Office a memorandum to that effect and a completed Change of Grade Form. The memorandum will be attached to the student record. The change will be made by printing the word "audit’’ with an asterisk beside it; the asterisk referring to the footnote "see attached authorization for change.’’

GRADE CONTESTING POLICY

All students enrolled in classes at Rockingham Community College have the right to contest grades assigned to them. The following procedure will be followed by the student who desires to contest a grade:

1. Schedule an appointment with the instructor who has assigned the grade. Discuss the matter with the instructor, asking him/her to review the basis for assigning the grade. If the disagreement about the grade is resolved in this discussion, grade change action, where needed, should originate through the instructor.
   
2. If not resolved here, schedule an appointment with a counselor or advisor, who will aid the student in the writing of the case, and schedule an appointment with the instructor’s Dean.
   
3. If the matter is not resolved, a final review will be made by the Executive Vice President in consultation with all individuals involved. Upon recommendation by the Executive Vice President (after all steps have been followed), the grade in question may be set aside and declared invalid in which case the student will be given a comprehensive examination by the department involved to establish a grade of record.

The right to contest a grade expires at the end of the semester following the one in which the grade is assigned. The time limit will be waived only in unusual circumstances. When a student contests a grade assigned by an instructor no longer employed by the college, Step One (1) above does not apply.

GRADE CHANGES

Awarding grades to students is the responsibility of the instructor of the course in which the student is registered. Once awarded, grades may be changed, lowered, or raised only when a written explanation and authorization for the change is submitted by the instructor and approved by the Executive Vice President.

ACADEMIC PROGRESS POLICY AND PROCEDURE

The policies governing academic progress at Rockingham Community College are intended to assist students in successfully completing their programs of study. Procedures are designed to identify students experiencing academic difficulty and to ensure effective corrective action. These procedures are designed to:

1. Inform all students of minimum academic standards and grading procedures.
2. Identify and alert students displaying signs of academic difficulty as early in the semester as possible.
3. Notify all students of their grade point averages immediately following the semester grading term.
4. Provide opportunities for corrective action to such students.

Students enrolled in degree and diploma programs are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of the requirements for their program. Since a 2.0 minimum grade point average in the program of study is required for graduation from all programs, students are expected to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.

For the purpose of determining academic progress, final grades on all courses within the student’s program will be considered. The following scales are used to determine satisfactory academic progress:

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS IN ACADEMIC DEGREE PROGRAMS

CREDIT HOURS ATTEMPTED	MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE
0 - 19	1.25
20 - 30	1.50
31 - 40	1.75
41 - 50	1.90
51 - COMPLETION	2.00

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS IN DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

CREDIT HOURS ATTEMPTED	MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE
0 - 10	1.25
11 - 20	1.50
21 - 30	1.75
31 - COMPLETION	2.00

Note: Allied Health programs of study may require a higher GPA for satisfactory progress.

ACADEMIC WARNING

Because a period of adjustment to college life is often necessary for new students, an academic warning will be issued to students who do not achieve the appropriate minimum average shown above in the beginning semester of their program. The warning advises students of their academic status and encourages them to meet with their academic advisor/counselor to discuss success strategies.

ACADEMIC PROBATION

After their initial semester, students who do not achieve the appropriate minimum average shown above will be placed on academic probation by the Dean of Student Services. Students will be required to consult with their academic advisor and a Student Services Counselor to assess the problems impeding success and to identify possible corrective measures.

Students who are placed on academic probation must demonstrate progress toward removing the probationary status. Progress toward removing probationary status is defined as enhanced grade point average from the previous semester. Students who do not demonstrate progress toward removing themselves from probationary status must meet with their advisor and/or counselor and will be required to do one or more of the following:

1. Reduce their academic course load

2. Schedule preparatory (ACA 115) or remedial courses as needed

3. Schedule repeat of courses

4. Transfer to another curriculum

REPEAT OF COURSES

Repeat of courses is governed by the following policies:

1. If a student receives a grade of D or F in a credit course (but not A, B, or C), he/she will be permitted to repeat that course for credit. In so doing, the student will accept the condition that the grade he/she makes the second time will become the grade of record. This policy will be maintained whether the second grade is higher or lower than the first.
   
2. If a student has taken a course twice with grades of D or F he/she may take a course a third time only with the permission of his/her advisor (after advisor consultation with the instructor(s) and with approval of the Executive Vice President). In some cases a student may be allowed to take a course for the third time on an audit basis only. If a third or subsequent enrollment for credit is permitted, the grade earned by the student enrolled a third time will be the grade of record in this course.
   
3. A course in which a grade of A, B, C, or S has been earned may not be repeated except for audit purposes. If a student does repeat a course in which he/she earned a grade of A, B, C, or S, the original grade is the grade of record and the second will be entered as an "AU’’. In exceptional cases a repeat of a grade of B, C, or S for a higher grade may be permitted with written approval by the Executive Vice President. If a repeat in this case is allowed, the grade earned in such repeated course will be the only grade used in grade point calculations. This policy is retroactive to September, 1966.
   
4. A grade point average will not be recalculated unless the student completes a repeat card which is approved by the student’s advisor and delivered to the Records Office during registration. Recalculation will occur only if the student makes A, B, C, D, or F in the repeated course.
   
5. All grades received will remain on the student’s transcript, but when a course is repeated, the grade(s) of previous enrollment(s) will not be used in the grade point calculation at Rockingham Community College.

COURSE SUBSTITUTION

Under extenuating circumstances, a student may apply to his/her advisor for approval of a course substitution. A course substitution requires final approval by the appropriate dean and the Executive Vice President. The approved document must be on file in the Records Office (student file) for audit purposes for graduation.

STUDENT CHANGE OF PROGRAM

Students desiring to change their programs of study should contact a counselor at least two weeks before registration to allow ample time for any necessary placement testing and evaluation of previous course work.

When a student decides to change programs (e.g. business administration to college parallel, machine shop to welding, etc.) the procedure officially begins with a conference with a counselor. The counselor will assist the student in preparing the appropriate forms which will be processed through the Admissions Office.

The new advisor will be sent a new advisement sheet and copy of the student’s transcript.

The Records Office will record the change of program and forward the transcripts to the Evaluations Coordinator to be evaluated into the new program. The GPA will be recalculated on the basis of the new program and copies of the evaluation will be sent to the advisor and to the student.

RECALCULATION OF GPA FOR A PROGRAM CHANGE

The GPA will be recalculated on the basis of the following guidelines when a program is changed:

1. If a student has made a grade of A, B, C, D, or S in a course that is normally considered to be a part of the new program, the student will receive full credit for that course.
   
2. If a student made a grade of F or WF in a course that is normally considered to be a part of the new program, the student will receive no credit for that course, but the course will be included as an F in the new GPA calculation.
   
3. If a student has made a grade of W, NC, OE, WP, or U in a course that is normally considered to be a part of the new program, this grade or course will not in any way be included in the recalculation of GPA.
   
4. Courses that are not applicable to the new program will not be included in the recalculation of GPA.
   
5. If a student transfers out of a program into another and then transfers back to the original one, the recalculation of GPA will be done on the same basis as outlined above, i.e., it will include all applicable courses taken at any time.
   
6. The responsibility for deciding which courses (other than those specifically appearing in both programs) are transferable rests upon the Registrar. The advisor, the Dean and others may be consulted in making this decision.

(Special Note to Veterans): Because of specific Veterans Administration policies regarding benefits, questions concerning program change, repeat courses, and the academic probation policy should be referred to the RCC Veterans Affairs Officer.

RECALCULATION OF GPA FOR REPEAT COURSES

A grade point average will not be recalculated unless the student completes a repeat card which is approved by his/her advisor and delivered to the Records Office during registration. Recalculation will occur only if the student makes an A, B, C, D, F, or S in the repeated course. All grades received will remain on the student’s transcript but when a course is repeated, the grade(s) of previous enrollment(s) will not be used in the grade point calculation of Rockingham Community College.

1. If a student receives a grade of D or F in a credit course (but not A, B, or C), the student will be permitted to repeat that course for credit. In so doing, the student will accept the condition that the grade he/she makes the second time will become a grade of record. This policy will be maintained whether the second grade is higher or lower than the first.
   
2. If a student has taken a course twice with grades of D or F, he/she may take a course a third time only with the permission of the student’s advisor after advisor consultation with the instructor(s) and with the approval of the Executive Vice President. In some cases a student may be allowed to take a course for the third time on an audit basis only. If a third or subsequent enrollment for credit is permitted, the grade earned by the student enrolled a third time will be the grade of record in this course.
   
3. A course in which a grade of A, B, C or S has been earned may not be repeated except for audit purposes. If a student does repeat a course in which he/she earned a grade of A, B, C, or S, the original grade is the grade of record and the second will not be recorded. In exceptional cases a repeat of a grade of B, C, or S for a higher grade may be permitted with written approval by the Executive Vice President. If a repeat in this case is allowed, the grade earned in such repeated course will be the grade used in grade point calculations. This policy is retroactive to September, 1966.

CLASS ATTENDANCE

The determination of class attendance expectations is considered to be the responsibility of the instructor in consultation with others as appropriate. Students may be dropped from a course for attendance reasons (see Instructor-Initiated Course Withdrawals).

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COLLEGE

A student must see a counselor and complete the necessary forms in the Student Services Office before the student may officially withdraw from the college. Failure to do so may be damaging to the student’s academic record. Grades will be assigned as outlined in the Student Initiated Course Withdrawal Policy.

Official withdrawal procedures are as follows:

1. The student reports to the Student Services Office for a withdrawal interview with a counselor and completes an application to withdraw.
   
2. The student obtains clearance on the Application to Withdraw form from the following:

• Instructors who will assign grades according to course withdrawal policy
• Gerald B. James Library
• Financial Aid Office (when applicable)
• Veterans Affairs Office (when applicable)
• Business Office
• Records Office

3. The student must leave the form with the Records Office. The student’s withdrawal is not official until the form is accepted by the Records Office.
   
4. The Records Office notifies each instructor and the student’s advisor of the completed withdrawal.
   
5. When applicable, the Records Office will notify such agencies as Social Security, Veterans Administration, Vocational Rehabilitation, etc., of the completed withdrawal.

WITHDRAWALS FROM PROGRAMS (Transfer to a New Program of Study)

Students desiring to withdraw from a program of study should discuss the possibility of transferring to another more appropriate program of instruction within the college with their counselor. Procedures for transferring courses common to the old and the new programs assure the student of a minimum loss of course work.

WITHDRAWAL FROM COURSES

In all cases of withdrawals from courses, a student or instructor must complete the appropriate forms through the Records Office at the time of withdrawal. A student who has withdrawn from all courses is no longer considered a registered student.

STUDENT WITHDRAWAL FROM COURSES

RCC recognizes that there are situations when students need to withdraw from a course; however, students should be encouraged to explore other options before withdrawing and should remain in the course long enough to make a sound determination of the appropriateness of the course to their needs.

It is the student’s responsibility to initiate a withdrawal from a course. Students may withdraw from a course through the end of the 60th percent point of the semester or its equivalent in a shortened session. Students are not allowed to initiate drops beyond this point. After the thirteenth week of classes or its equivalent in a shortened session, students are required to have instructors initiate withdrawals for justifiable reasons.

In order for a student to initiate a withdrawal, all the following steps must be completed.

Students will:

1. Obtain the withdrawal form. Forms are available from either area secretaries or Student Services.
2. Discuss the intention to withdraw with the course instructor. Obtain the instructor’s initials on the appropriate place on the withdrawal form.
3. Discuss intention to withdraw with his/her advisor and obtain signature in the appropriate place on the withdrawal form.
4. Return the completed form to the Records Office. Withdrawal is not complete until the form is returned to the Records Office.

Instructors will:

1. Discuss ramifications of withdrawal and other options available with students before approving withdrawal.
2. Assign grade of "W’’ and indicate last date of attendance.
3. Initial the drop form if drop is approved.
4. Notify the Veterans’ Affairs and Financial Aid offices if a student receiving VA or financial aid has missed two weeks of classes with no contact from the student.

Advisors will:

1. Discuss the ramifications of withdrawal on a student’s program progression and other options available to them before approving withdrawal.
2. Sign the drop form if the drop is approved.
3. Remind the student to return the withdrawal form to the Records Office.

INSTRUCTOR-INITIATED WITHDRAWALS

Instructor-initiated course withdrawals are governed by the following policies:

1. Absences

Rockingham Community College does not have a policy on student class attendance which covers the whole institution. Rather, the determination of class attendance policy is considered to be a responsibility of the instructor. There are three rules about class attendance, however, that must be followed by all:

1. The regulations require that the College maintain an accurate record of class attendance for all students.
2. Withdrawal and readmission are left to the discretion of the instructor. Notice should be sent to the Records Office at the time of withdrawal or readmission.
3. Each instructor is required to describe his/her policy on absences. If a student misses a class for any reason, it is his/her responsibility to confer with the instructor at his/her earliest opportunity. When a student is withdrawn for excessive absences, the grade normally assigned will be a "W’’, "WP’’ or "WF’’. The grade assigned will depend upon when in the semester the withdrawal occurs and the nature of the student’s work. (See grade symbol definitions.)

B. Disruption of Class

Students who disrupt class may be withdrawn from a course only after the instructor has taken corrective measures such as conferences with the student in question and/or referral to other appropriate faculty or staff. When a student is withdrawn for disruption of class, the grade assigned will be a "W’’, "WP’’, or "WF’’. The grade normally assigned will depend upon when in the semester the withdrawal occurs and the nature of the student’s work. (See grade symbol definitions.)

C. Student Achievement Limitations

In cases where student achievement limitations hamper the instructional effectiveness of a course, the instructor may initiate a withdrawal with the approval of the appropriate dean and the Executive Vice President. A grade of "W’’ will be assigned to students withdrawing for achievement limitations.

INDEPENDENT STUDY

Independent Study at Rockingham Community College is provided to permit flexibility in the development of students’ program of study, to enhance students’ breadth of learning, and to develop within students a high degree of self-motivation toward academic pursuits. Such courses are equivalent in terms of quality and quantity to regularly scheduled courses appearing under course designations in the catalog.

If the student wishes to engage in the study of subject matter for which a comparable course is offered at RCC but under special circumstances needs to meet the course requirements through Independent Study, the student would complete the Independent Study Approval Form and register for the course according to the registration procedures outlined in the catalog.

Special circumstances under which a student may need to attempt a course through Independent Study under this second plan are:

1. To take a course out of the normal scheduling sequence but which is needed to meet graduation requirements.
2. To engage in Independent Study because of the nature of a learning disability.
3. To take a course which conflicts with a regularly scheduled course.
   When the student engages in an Independent Study course with a regular course description (i.e., MAT, ENG, HIS), the grade symbols adopted and approved for that particular course will be awarded.

No student may apply more than two independent study courses to meet graduation requirements.

Approval of independent study depends upon the availability of qualified instructors to direct the study. Faculty should not agree to offer independent study unless they have the time and expertise to direct the student in a meaningful learning experience.

A student wishing to take an Independent Study Course should:

1. Report to his/her advisor, discuss the option of taking a course through Independent Study, verify that the student will not exceed the limit of two independent study courses, and obtain the Independent Study Approval Form.
2. Report to his/her instructor, discuss the option of taking a course through Independent Study, complete the appropriate sections of the Independent Study Approval Form, and secure the instructor’s signature.
3. Have the Independent Study Approval Form endorsed by his/her advisor and the appropriate Dean of the department involved.
4. Officially register for the course by completing the normal registration process as required of any other course before the final date for adding courses.

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION

Cooperative Education offers students the opportunity to apply classroom and laboratory/shop instruction to supervised work experience related to the student’s career goals. In this way local business and industry become laboratories offering students a glimpse into the realities of their chosen fields. The program is designed to provide the necessary tools to further prepare students for the transition from community college to career.

Eligibility

Any student enrolled in a program approved for cooperative education is eligible to enroll in Cooperative Education courses provided he/she meets the following requirements.

1. Has approval from the supervising instructor
2. Has a 2.00 grade point average (overall)
3. Has completed six semester hours of major courses
4. Has agreed to the rules and regulations of the employing firm during the time enrolled in the Cooperative Education course
5. Possesses the abilities, interest, and maturity to benefit from the Cooperative Education experience.

Academic Credit

Credit hours for Cooperative Education courses are listed in the back of the catalog. Credit for work experiences may not exceed the number of credits approved for the program in which the student is enrolled. No more than two credits of Cooperative Education should be taken per semester.

Grading Policy

A letter grade (S, U) will be assigned for a Cooperative Education course at the end of the grading period. Grades will assigned to the student based on:

1. The employer representative’s evaluation of the student’s work while on-the-job.
2. The supervising instructor’s evaluation based on student interviews, employment site visits, and evaluation of the student’s goals and objectives for the course.
3. Student’s self-evaluation/end-of-term report.

How to Apply

If a student is interested in a Cooperative Education course he/she should obtain an "Approval for Cooperative Education’’ form from their faculty advisor and/or the supervisory instructor. The student will complete the form and return it to the instructor. The faculty member will then review the form and conduct an interview with the student regarding career interests and possible cooperative work assignments.

If a student is already employed, continuing employment may be approved for Cooperative Education if the employment meets program requirements. Cooperative Education credit will not be given for previous employment held prior to registration for the course.

Registration

Students must have the "Approval for Cooperative Education’’ form and "Cooperative Education Agreement’’ form signed by the appropriate individuals before registering for a Cooperative Education course. Students who are approved and have a position must register before going on assignment.

Student Responsibilities

The student enrolled in a Cooperative Education course will act as a good will ambassador for Rockingham Community College. Therefore, it is very important that the student maintain a professional attitude while on the job. Energy, enthusiasm, interest, and a willingness to do the best work possible are vital components of the cooperative education experience.

Students interested in Cooperative Education courses should contact their advisors and/or supervising instructors for complete details of the program.

SPECIAL CREDIT

Special credit student must meet pre and corequisites for curriculum courses to include placement tests for reading and English or for math courses as indicated in the catalog. Placements tests will be waived for individuals having completed appropriate English/math courses at another college or university with a grade of "C’’ or better.

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