Catalog 2012-2013 - Iowa Lakes Community College

Academic Policies & ProceduresCredit for Extra-institutional and ExperientialLearningIowa Lakes may grant credit for formally structured coursesoffered by non-collegiate sponsors such as businesses, corporations,governmental agencies, unions and professional groups.College credit recommendations published by the NationalProgram on Non-collegiate Sponsored Instruction (through theRegents of the State University of New York) and The NationalGuide to Educational Credit for Training Programs (through theAmerican Council on Education) are used as guidelines for theawarding of credit.Credit may be granted to an Iowa Lakes student for learninggained through work experience or personal study, if the studentcan document that this learning meets the competencies of thecourse for which credit is requested. Credit may be awardedonly for a course listed in the current college catalog.• The student, upon recommendation of the instructor and advisor,presents a written proposal to an instructor responsible forteaching the course in question, requesting credit for thatcourse. Supporting materials must accompany that request,including a complete description of the prior learning, supervisoryverification if available and a description of the competenciesachieved.• If the instructor evaluates the proposal as having merit, theinstructor will present the proposal to an Executive Dean or thedean’s designee for permission for the student to contract for thecourse credit.• The student and instructor will develop a performance contractto document competency in the course objectives, define a timeline for completion and the student will pay the appropriatecharges.• Instructor verification that the student is to receive credit forthe course is submitted to the director of records and registrationand a grade of ‘L’ is recorded on the academic record.Credit by ExaminationCredit may be earned by examination at Iowa Lakes throughthe following methods:• the ACT PREP examinations• selected DANTES examinations• “challenge” examinations for specific Iowa Lakes courseswhich are developed and graded by the appropriate academicdepartment.Certain requirements must be met and Iowa Lakes specifiesacceptable scores for each examination. For further information,contact the testing personnel at one of the Iowa Lakes SuccessCenters.• the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) for generaland certain subject examinations.Other InformationA minimum of 12 semester credits must be earned in residencebefore military experience credit or credit by examination will beposted on the permanent record. A maximum of 30 semestercredits may be accepted for military experience, experientiallearning, and credit by examination. Some forms of earningcredit may incur Iowa Lakes fees and charges for test administration,evaluation, and/or posting. Some standardized testsrequire payment of examination fees as well.14Academic, Financial Aid and Residency AppealsProcessInformal: It is the desire of the college that any difficulties orconfusion a student may encounter with the policies or regulationsof the college be handled in an informal manner whenever possible.Students are encouraged to talk to their advisors, instructors,Director of Distance Education, or the campus dean toresolve issues as they arise. Questions about financial aid may beasked of the director of financial aid. Questions about academicrequirements, policy or procedures may be asked of the registrar,who also handles changes of residency.Formal: If a student feels that extenuating circumstancesmight justify the waiver of a particular college policy, application,procedure or regulation as interpreted by a college employee, anappeal may be made to the Academic Review Committee. TheAcademic Review Committee considers all initial appeals to waivethe application of college policies and procedures concerningacademic actions, financial aid or residency decisions. (Academicactions include, but are not limited to, academic probation or suspension,procedures, program or degree requirements, or gradesallegedly given in error by faculty members.)Appeal ProcedureA. A student initiates an appeal by making a written statementto the Academic Review Committee, delivered to the registrar.The appeal must be filed with the Records Office no later than24 months from the end date of the semester in which the grievanceoccurred. The statement should provide a description ofthe problem as well as the desired solution, along with any supportinginformation the student believes will be helpful. The studentmay request written involvement by faculty members, advisors,or others in support of the case.B. If the student is dissatisfied with the committee’s decision, afurther appeal may then be made in person before the committee.The student may have others appear in support of the petition.If a personal appeal is not requested within thirty (30) daysof the previous committee decision, that decision becomes final.C. If a student has completed both the written and personalappeal processes above, the decision of the committee may beappealed to the campus dean. If the campus dean’s decision isconsistent with the Academic Review Committee’s decision, thestudent may then appeal to the chief academic officer. If the studentcontinues to be dissatisfied, he or she may appeal to thecollege president or designee, whose decision will be final.Failure to initiate this level of appeal within thirty (30) days of thenotification of the committee’s action shall result in the committee’slast decision becoming final.PRIVACY OF RECORDSThe Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)affords students certain rights with respect to their educationrecords. They are:1. The right to inspect and review the student’s educationrecords within 45 days of the day the college receives a requestfor access. A student should submit to the director of recordsand registration/registrar or other appropriate official a writtenrequest that identifies the record(s) the student wishes toinspect. The registrar will make arrangements for access andnotify the student of the time and place where the records maybe inspected. If the records are not maintained by the registrar,the registrar shall advise the student of the correct official towhom the request should be addressed.2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s educationrecords that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.A student may ask the college to amend a record that thestudent believes is inaccurate or misleading. The student shouldwrite to the college official responsible for the record, clearlyidentify the part of the record the student wants changed, andspecify why it is inaccurate or misleading. (Note: FERPA was not