COA 09-11 Catalog - Peralta Colleges

188 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND STANDARDSAcademic Regulations, Policies and StandardsScholastic StandardsEach instructor assigns grades to students based onstandards established as appropriate for each class.Written papers, participation in class discussions, midtermand final examinations, and class attendance may be usedby an instructor to determine grades. It is the student’sresponsibility to comply with the criteria used in gradingby instructors. Students should consult with instructorsduring office hours for assistance.Open ClassesIt is the policy of the Peralta Community College Districtthat, unless specifically exempted by statute or regulation,every course, course section or class reported for stateaid, wherever offered and maintained by the District,shall be fully open to enrollment and participation by anyperson who has been admitted to the colleges and whomeets such prerequisites as may be established pursuantto regulations contained in the Model District Policies asset forth by the State Chancellor’s Office.Class Start and End TimesStudents are expected to be in class, prepared forinstruction, at the designated class starting time.Attendance PolicyRegular class attendance is required of all students.Instructors will set attendance policies for each class, andit is the student’s responsibility to know and conform toeach instructor’s policy.Instructors may drop a student from class if the numberof absences exceeds the number of times the class meetsin one week. Absences are to be cleared directly with theinstructor. It is the student’s responsibility to clear alldrops from his/her program. Failure to do this may resultin penalizing grades entered in the student’s record.Leaves of absence may be granted for limited periodsto cover illness, hospitalization or extreme emergencies.Contact each instructor concerned.Student Study LoadIn order to complete an Associate in Arts or Associatein Science degree at one of the Peralta Colleges in twoyears, an average unit load of 15 units per term is advised.Students may not carry more than 18 units (includingcombined total of all Peralta Colleges) without priorapproval of a counselor. Counselor approval is requiredfor enrollment in 18.5-21.5 units. The Vice President ofStudent Services must approve enrollment in 22-25 units.Under no circumstances will approval be granted beyond25 units.The maximum number of units for the Summer sessionis ten (10). Counselor approval is required for 10.5 to11.5 units. The Vice President of Student Services mustapprove enrollment in 12 units or more.For college purposes, Veterans’ benefits, Social Securitybeneficiaries, etc., a full-time student is one who iscarrying 12 or more units during the regular term and six(6) units during the summer. For Financial Aid, a full-timestudent is one who is carrying 12 or more units duringthe regular tern and six (6) units during the summer, 4.5units three-quarter time, and 3 units half time. Studentsenrolled in fewer than 3 units are not eligible for summerPell grants.Students are not permitted to enroll in classes withconflicting or overlapping meeting times.AuditingAuditing of classes is not permitted. No person is allowedto attend a class unless enrolled in that class.Grading PolicyThe Peralta Community College District has adopteda uniform grading policy in accordance with stateregulations.Evaluation through grading is the sole responsibility ofeach instructor. The instructor’s grades are permanent.Once submitted, they are not subject to change by reasonof revision of judgment by the instructor, or on the basisof a second examination or additional work.A grade can be changed only where evidence is presentedthat a clerical error or other mistake, fraud, bad faith orincompetence was involved. No grade will be changedlater than four (4) years after the semester in which thegrade was assigned.GradesThe grades, grade points awarded and symbols used byCollege of Alameda are: (see next page for chart)Pass/No Pass PolicyIn designated courses, students may elect to take thecourse on a pass/no pass basis, rather than receive aletter grade. This decision must be made prior to thefourth week of instruction (30% for short-term courses).Upon successful completion of a pass/no pass course, thestudent earns the specified number of units and the recordwill show “P” (which indicates a “C” grade or better).If the student’s work is unsatisfactory, the record willshow “NP” (which indicates a “D” grade or below). Allunits of “P” will be counted in satisfaction of communitycollege curriculum requirements, but will not be used incomputation of GPA.