Academic Policies and Procedures - Central Maine Community ...

Academic Policies and Procedures
policies and
procedures
Distance Learning
Central Maine Community College offers some
courses for academic credit via the Internet.
Students communicate with their instructors
through electronic mail and receive their assignments
through course materials posted on
the Web. Some courses may require a textbook
and/or materials on CD.
Course Numbering
CMCC has a group of specialized courses that
may be activated by a department as the need
arises:
Special Topics: 294 This is a class that can
change the topic within the department with
each section. The topic will be a class that is not
part of the normal inventory of classes.
Independent Study: No unique course number.
This is a class that is designed to be delivered
independently of a formal classroom setting.
There are really only 2 scenarios for this class,
either it is an independent study for a class in
our inventory or it is a special topics class taught
in an independent study format. In both cases
the course number of the class used in the
classroom scenario is used, with a section number
in the 80 series and the letters (IS) added to
the course title. Any formal meetings will be in
the instructor’s offi ce.
Prior Learning: 199 See college catalog section
under Academic Credit for Prior Learning
for additional information.
Practicum: 299 This is a college course, often
in a specialized fi eld of study, which is designed
to give students a supervised practical application
of previously studied theory. If more than
one practicum is allowed or required, then this
should be repeatable with adjustments to the
course title.
Field Experience/Internship: 197 and 297 (depending
on fi rst years vs. second year) Field
Experience is application of knowledge and
analysis in professional settings. If more than
one field experience is allowed or required, then
this should be repeatable with adjustments to
the course title.
Capstone: 298 Capstone Experience is an
activity for graduation students that is designed
to demonstrate comprehensive learning in the
major through some type of product or performance.
Transcript of the Permanent
Academic Record
The permanent academic record is main tained
by the Office of the Registrar for all students of
the College. While the grade report is the official
notification to the stu dent and the faculty advisor
of the student’s academic achievements for
a given semes ter, the only true and valid documentation
of academic work and student status
is an official transcript of the academic record,
stamped with the Registrar’s signature and embossed
with the seal of the College. The transcript
is available only with the permis sion and
signature of the student, and will be released to
that student or a designee only if there are no
outstanding charges against his or her account
with the Busi ness Office. Transcript applications
are available from the Registrar’s Office. The
first 10 requests are free.
Academic Conflict Resolution/
Grievance Procedures
Whenever an academic question or differ ence
arises between an instructor and a student, the
following procedure will be followed:
1. The student will discuss the issues with
the instructor; if unresolved,
2. The matter may be discussed with the
Department Chair or Program Administrator;
if still unresolved,
3. The matter may be appealed to the Dean
of Academic Affairs for a final decision.
Appeal procedures have also been developed
for resolving conflicts relating to affirmative
action and discipline matters.
Final Grade Appeals
In accordance with the MCCS Policy 309, Student
Grade Appeals and Academic Misconduct,
the following procedure shall take place for final
grade appeals. There is a basic assumption
that the student will converse with the instructor
to determine the contributing factors that
determined the final grade. If the student is not
satisfied with the result of the a conversation,
the student may then file a formal appeal.
A formal appeal must be submitted in writing
within 30 days of the posted grade. Such an
appeal must state mitigating circumstances that
are supported by documentation and also state
the resolution that is sought.
Mitigating circumstances are objective in nature.
Under most circumstances, disagreements over
the quality of work or instructor competence are
considered subjective and are not subject to
appeal. A student must establish that the fi nal
grade was:
• Based on arbitrary or personal reasons
unrelated to the instructors judgment of the
academic performance of the student and/
or
• Grade was assigned not in accordance
with the course syllabus or related adjustments
of the syllabus that may have occurred
during the semester and/or
• There was an error in calculating or recording
of the grade
Documentation might include test results that
were not used in grade computation. Such evidence
must be attached to the appeal. Falsifi -
cation or fabrication of information provided by
the student may be subject to disciplinary action
under Academic Misconduct of MCCS Policy
309.
Resolution may be a request to recalculate the
final grade based on the evidence provided.
1. The appeal will first be submitted to the
department chair offering the course if still
unresolved,
2. The appeal will then be submitted to the
Academic Dean whose decision is final.
Note: This policy applies only to fi nal grades.
However, course grades which result from alleged
violation of the student code of conduct/
academic misconduct can not be appealed
under this policy. There are separate policies
and procedures that take precedence in those
situations.
Disability Services
Central Maine Community College is committed
to providing the means to enable equal access
to education for students with disabilities. Pursuant
to federal law (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990, and Americans with Disabilities Act
Amendment Act of 2008) individuals with disabilities
(those defined as having “a physical or
mental impairment that substantially limits one
or more of the major life activities of such individual,
a record of such impairment, or being regarded
as having such an impairment”) who are
www.cmcc.edu 2010 ~ 2011 19