2010-2011 student handbook - El Camino College Compton Center

TRANSFER Center
Transfer Services are offered Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Wednesday 8:00 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. and on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in D-29.
Transfer services offer a wide range of activities designed to assist students in transferring
successfully to the four-year college or university of their choice. Among the transfer
services offered are professional transfer counseling and advisement, regularly scheduled
visits by recruiting and admissions officers from four-year colleges and universities, and
workshops on major steps in the transfer process. Other services offered include university
fairs at El Camino College Compton Center and frequent field trips to an array of major
universities. A calendar of center activities is published monthly and is widely distributed.
A transfer guide is published each semester.
Also, information about public and private colleges and universities is available through
Transfer Services.
For more information about the Transfer Center, please call
(310) 900-1600 extension 2764 or visit the office in D-29.
Questions & ANSWERS
What is a Unit?
1 unit = 1 hour per week in class
3 units = 3 hours per week in class
Study rule = 2 hours of study per unit per week
12 units or more = full time student
12 units x 2 hours of study per unit = 24 hours of study
12 units + 24 hours of study = 36 hours per week of class and study time
notE: In the example above, if you are taking 12 units, you need to spend close to
40 hours per week toward class time and study time.
In the chart below is the recommended number of units for students who work, correlated
with the number of hours worked. The recommended units should serve as a
guideline for enrollment.
Work Hours/Week
Number of Units/Semester
0-15 hours............................................... 12-15 units
15-20 hours ...................................................12 units
20-30 hours.....................................................9 units
30-40 hours.....................................................6 units
40 or more hours.......................................3-6 units
How often do classes meet?
All college courses are completed in one semester or less. A semester is usually 16 weeks
in length in the fall or spring. However, four-, five-, six- and eight-week classes are offered
during the regular semesters. The hours a class meets per week usually equals the
number of units the class is worth. The hours can be in a three-hour block or spread out
in a variety of combinations. The most common time arrangement is for a three-unit class
to meet for hour three days a week. In the summer, there are six- or eight-week session
classes, and in the winter, classes are offered in five week sessions.
How many units must someone take to be considered a full-time student?
Taking 12 units in one semester is considered a full-time load. To be eligible for athletics
and certain programs, a student must be considered full-time.
What is the maximum number of units I can take?
The college policy for the maximum number of units per semester is 18. Students wishing
to take more than 18 units in one semester must complete a student petition form
requesting an overload. A counselor must approve this petition.
How long will it take me to complete my goal at El Camino College Compton Center?
It is difficult to answer this question because so much depends on how much time you
have to devote to attending school. Determine how many classes you need to meet your
goal and calculate how many classes you can take per semester. Remember, summer
sessions offer many course selections and can assist in speeding up your education plan.
What is the attendance policy?
Attendance is the responsibility of the student. Each instructor has his/her own method
of accountability for attendance. Because attendance may seem unstructured, the student
has to make class attendance a priority. If your absences and tardiness exceed the
unit value of the course, you may be dropped.
Do I have to declare a major?
It is not necessary to declare a major the first semester you enter. However, under the Matriculation
Plan it is essential that you declare an educational goal. You are also expected
to spend time exploring educational options. We also suggest you consider enrolling in a
Human Development 5 – Career Planning class.
Can students bring children to class?
Children are not permitted in classrooms while class is in session. Attendance in class
is limited to officially enrolled students and authorized visitors or guests. In addition,
students must not allow children to be left unsupervised or unattended anywhere at ECC
Compton Center.
What do I do if the class I want to take is closed?
At the time of registration, if a class that you want to sign up for is closed, you may try to
add the class by attending the first time it meets. If there is space available in the class,
the instructor will give you an add slip. Your next step is to take the add slip to the Admissions
and Records Office, located in the Administration Building, you may also seek
the advice of a counselor who may suggest an alternate class and inform you of other
options available to you.
Do I have to repeat a class in which I received a “D,” “F,” or “NP” grade?
There is not a general college regulation requiring the repetition of courses in which you
received a substandard grade. However, certain programs of study require a “C” grade in
required courses.
If you elect to repeat a class in which you received a “D,” “F,” or “NP,” the “new” grade will
appear on your permanent record. However, the substandard grade will not be removed
from your transcript, but it will not be calculated in your grade point average (GPA). You
are only given two chances to repeat the substandard grade.
How do I withdraw/drop from a class?
It is the student’s responsibility to process an official withdrawal from class at the Admis-
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