Welcome to Sandhills Community College

ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 95
External Instruction
The College maintains full responsibility for the academic requirements and
standards of students who participate in credit courses that require work-site
experiences, such as clinical or internship courses. Each program using such
courses will provide written policies and requirements to students and will
maintain reporting and monitoring procedures that are consistent with
program standards.
Course Load
Depending on the program, the usual course load for students is 12 to 18
semester hours during fall and spring terms. The usual course load for
students during any entire summer session (two five-week sessions or one
ten-week session) is 6 to 12 semester hours. Registration for more than 18
hours in the fall and spring or 12 hours for the entire summer (7 semester
hours for a single five-week session) must carry the approval and signature
of the Advisor and the Dean of Instruction. Mini-Mester registration is
limited to 2 online courses per semester. No exceptions will be made to this
procedure. Students are able to take additional Mini-Mester classes offered
through classroom or hybrid delivery.
Classification of Students
For purposes of administration, excluding financial aid, the following
student classifications have been specified:
Full-time student: The student is enrolled in 12 or more credit
hours. During the summer semester, a full-time student must be
enrolled with 9 or more credit hours.
Part-time student: The student is enrolled in fewer than 12 credit
hours. During the summer semester, a part-time student is enrolled
in fewer than 5 credit hours.
Freshman: The student has successfully completed 32 or fewer
semester hours.
Sophomore: The student has successfully completed more than 32
semester hours.
Attendance Procedures
Entry into Courses
Students must attend a seated or hybrid course (meeting in a traditional
classroom setting) or must complete an assignment/activity as directed by
the instructor for an online course during the first 10 percent of the semester
to be considered entered into the course for academic and financial aid
purposes. If a student does not meet this criterion, the student will be