Catalog 2012-2013 - Iowa Lakes Community College

Academic Policies & Procedurescredits.A student may appeal the credit load restriction by preparing awritten petition stating the reasons for the proposed exception,securing the signed consent of the faculty advisor and presentingthe petition to the director of records and registration at leastthree days before the last day to add a course in a term.Grading SystemGrades are based on students’ levels of achievement in thosecourses in which they enroll. The following scale is used:Grades for courses with attempted credits which counttoward the grade point average:A 4 honor pointsB 3C 2D 1F 0Grades for courses with no attempted credits which donot count toward the grade point average:P passQ not passingT credit for testingL credit for experiential learningOther grade symbols which earn no credits or honor points:I incompleteW withdrawnN auditX repeated course (does not figure into GPA)Grade descriptions:A excellentB above averageC averageD below average.F fail: counts as attempted credit, no honor points.I incomplete: assigned in cases where the student hasnot completed some portion of assigned course work duringa regular term for extenuating circumstances such as illnessfamily emergency, etc. A change of grade will be acceptedup to the end of the next term following the term in whichthe grade is issued.W withdrawn: course formally dropped after the end of thefirst week of a term.N audit: course taken for personal interest only; does notearn credits or grade. Must be elected during the first twoweeks of a term.P pass: course has been elected to be taken on a pass/no credit basis during the first two weeks in a term. Onlyone course may be so elected each term, except that allcourses designated as developmental may be elected aspass/no credit. In addition, some courses are offered onlyon a pass/no credit basis. No more than one-fourth of thetotal credits required for graduation may be earned with Pgrades. A course which is being repeated may not be electedon a pass/no credit basis. Does not count as attemptedcredit.Q not passing: a failing grade which earns no credit; canbe issued only when a course is taken on a pass/no creditbasis. Does not count as attempted credit.T credit granted for testing. Does not count as attemptedcredit.L credit granted by virtue of prior education or occupationalexperience. Does not count as attempted credit.X only the last grade (ABCDF) will count for GPA andcredit. The previous grade is replaced with an “X” to indicateit is a repeat and no longer counts for GPA and credit.Mid-term temporary grades are distributed to students throughadvisors and the online portal system at the middle of each regularsemester. Final grades are available to students through theportal at www.iowalakes.edu. Students who would like gradesmailed must make that request to the Records Office each academicterm. The college may also send grades for PostsecondaryEnrollment Option students to the high school.GraduationCandidates for graduation must complete an application forgraduation in order to receive their diploma. Students who donot complete requirements for graduation in the term for whichthey applied must submit a new application. Students who planto participate in one of the annual commencement ceremoniesmust indicate their intent on the application for graduation. Thereis no graduation fee. Students who plan to receive more thanone degree, diploma or certificate need to complete a graduationapplication for each program. The graduation application is availableonline at https://www.iowalakes.edu/registrar/graduation_application.htmThe graduation application should be completed by the followingdates:Fall October 1Spring February 1Summer June 1Commencement ceremonies are held at the end of the springand summer terms. Students who graduate at the end of fall areinvited to participate in the annual commencement ceremony inMay. Participation in commencement ceremonies is free ofcharge.DEGREES, DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATESIowa Lakes Community College awards degrees, diplomas,and certificates to those individuals who successfully completeprograms in arts and science, career option, vocational, technicalor continuing education areas. The following degrees areawarded for college credit two-year programs: Associate of Arts,Associate in Science, and Associate in Applied Science.Diplomas are awarded for college credit vocational and technicalprograms of less than two years duration.To be eligible for a degree or diploma in a credit program, astudent must complete the last 15 credits before graduation incourses taken at Iowa Lakes. Certificates are issued to studentswho complete program requirements.9