Students will be classified in accordance with the following criteria:
Degree seeking: Students enrolled in credit courses who have provided the Admissions and Student Records Office with all the required admission credentials and have been accepted into their declared programs.
Freshman: Students enrolled in college credit courses who have completed 24 or less credit hours of college work.
Sophomore: Students enrolled in college credit courses who have completed 25 or more credit hours of college work.
Junior: Students enrolled in college credit courses who have completed 60 or more credit hours and are enrolled in a Bachelor’s level program.
Senior: Students enrolled in college credit courses who have completed 90 or more credit hours and are enrolled in a Bachelor’s level program
Unclassified: Students who have enrolled but have not declared a program such as dual enrollment or transient students and those who seek teacher recertification or personal enrichment.
Full‐time: Students registered for 12 or more credit hours in a fall, spring, or summer term.
Part‐time: Students registered for fewer than 12 credit hours in a fall, spring, or summer term.
It should be noted that students receiving benefits from another agency (such as the Veterans Administration) are subject to that agency’s definition of these terms.
Awarded fall and spring terms to students enrolled for 12 or more college credit hours who earn a grade point average of 3.90-4.00.
Awarded fall and spring terms to students enrolled for 12 or more college credit hours who earn a grade point average of 3.70-3.89.
Awarded fall and spring terms to students enrolled for 12 or more college credit hours who earn a grade point average of 3.00-3.69.
Awarded fall and spring terms to students enrolled in 6-11 college credit hours who earn a grade point average of 3.00 and above.
Hours are cumulative and include transfer credit hours.
Summa Cum Laude Grade Point Average of 3.90-4.00
Magna Cum Laude Grade Point Average of 3.70-3.89
Cum Laude Grade Point Average of 3.50-3.69
Students cannot register for courses, graduate, and/or receive transcripts until all fees and fines have been paid.
Honest participation in academic endeavors fosters an environment in which optimal learning can take place and is consistent with the college's mission. Academic misconduct, including cheating and plagiarism, is destructive to the spirit of an educational environment and therefore cannot be condoned. See the Student Handbook for detailed policy information.
Each faculty member will explain the grading system employed in each course. Students are responsible for obtaining a clear understanding of this process. Final grades are available the week after the end of each term. Students may access grades on‐line through GCSC’s Web Registration at www.gulfcoast.edu.
A Excellent - 4 quality points/credit hour
B Good - 3 quality points/credit hour
C Average - 2 quality points/credit hour
D Poor - 1 quality point/credit hour
F Failure - 0 quality points/credit hour
P Passing - 0 quality points/credit hour
S/U Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory - 0 quality points/credit hour S/U grades are used for non‐credit courses for which CEUs are not awarded.
P May be used in certain PSAV courses to indicate whether or not exit level competencies have been met.
W Withdrawal - See Withdrawals
I Incomplete - An "I" becomes an "F" within 30 calendar days from end of term.
X Audit - Audits must be declared before the end of the drop/add period and cannot be changed to credit.
The student’s GPA is used in determining academic standing, graduation readiness, eligibility and other academically related decisions.
Each letter grade has a quality point value on the Grading System/Quality Point Scale. A student may determine the grade points for his/her grade in each course by multiplying the number the number of quality points a grade is worth times the number of semester hours the course carries.
A = 4 quality points, B = 3 quality points, C= 2 quality points, D = 1 quality point, and F and P = 0 quality point
The cumulative grade point average is determined by dividing the total quality points earned by the total semester hours for GPA (including transfer work). Grade quality points are awarded as follows:
CoursesGPA Hours
Grades
Quality Points
ENC11013
A
12
MAC11053
C
6
SYG20003
F
0
SPN11204
B
12
EUH10003
D
3
EGS10021
B
3
Total hours for GPA is 17. Total Quality Points Earned is 36.
17 hours for GPA divided into 36 quality points earned = 2.11 GPA.
Grades of S, P, W, and X do not carry grade quality points. In general, credits for these grades do not count.
All grade changes must be initiated by the instructor and approved by the appropriate division chair and the executive vice president. All grade changes must be made within 30 days of the close of each term. Exceptions for extenuating circumstances must be approved by the executive vice president.
Students may repeat a course when a grade of “D” or “F” has been earned. The last grade counts. However, universities may count forgiven grades in calculating the grade point average. Forgiven grades may also be calculated in determining financial aid eligibility.
Credit students with previous coursework that is ten years old or older may seek Academic Grade Amnesty (AGA), which will remove the effect of those credits on the grade point average (GPA). AGA applies to all credits and grades earned at Gulf Coast State College and any other previously attended colleges or universities that are ten years old or older. Students may not select specific terms, specific courses, or specific grades for removal. AGA will apply to all coursework that is ten years old or older from the point selected in the student’s transcript. All credits completed prior to that semester will be removed.
The student granted AGA would not be permitted to count any of the affected courses for graduation purposes, program completion, or to meet pre‐requisite requirements. All other restrictions relating to repeating courses and maximum attempts will remain in force despite the granting of AGA, and compliance with other applicable college policies will be expected.
All courses and grades affected by AGA will remain on the official GCSC transcript even though the grades are not used in calculating the grade point average. A notation of the Academic Grade Amnesty will be posted to the student’s permanent record and will appear on the official transcript.
This action is permanent and for GCSC academic purposes only. Other colleges and universities may not accept the ruling and count all coursework when calculating the student’s GPA. AGA is granted to currently enrolled students only. Eligible students may inquire about AGA in the Office of Enrollment Services.
Regular class attendance and participation are significant factors that help to promote success in college. Students are expected to attend all class meetings of all courses for which they are registered.
You are expected to know the instructor’s specific attendance policy, as stated in the syllabus for each course. In the event of absence, you should contact your instructor as soon as possible to indicate the reason and to inquire whether make-up work is possible. (Make-up work is offered solely at the discretion of your professor.)
If your absences in a class become excessive, as stated in the course syllabus, your professor may contact you, indicating that further absence may result in your withdrawal from the course. (See entry on Withdrawal in this catalog section.) Your professor can withdraw you from a course for excessive absences without your permission.
Instructors will monitor attendance at the beginning of each semester. If you are not in attendance during this period, you may be withdrawn from the course. You will be financially responsible for the course and a “W” will appear on your transcript. Withdrawal from a course may also have implications for financial aid.
A student should file any change of address, name, marital status, residency or citizenship with the Registrar's Office. Change of major should be initiated in the Admissions and Records Office. It is very important to keep the College informed as to correct addresses, so that important information will be received by the student.
This policy applied to college‐level and college preparatory courses taken for the first time beginning with Fall Semester 1997. Only Gulf Coast State College courses are counted in attempts. Repeatable courses, courses required to be repeated by a regulatory agency, or courses being repeated as part of a regulatory requirement for continuing education to stay current in a field, such as teacher certification, will not be applied to this policy.
A student can only repeat a course with a “D” or “F” grade. There is a maximum of two withdrawals permitted for each course. On the third attempt, a student cannot withdraw and must earn a grade.
A student may enroll three times in each course. On the third attempt and after, a student is assessed full cost of instruction (4 times matriculation). A fourth attempt may be allowed only for students who withdraw or fail due to extenuating circumstances. An exception may be granted only once for each course, provided approval is granted through an academic appeal.
The college has the authority to review and reduce fees paid by students, on an individual basis, due to continued enrollment in a course, contingent upon the student’s financial hardship.
Exceptions may be granted through an academic appeal process for the following:
Students who have successfully completed a college preparatory course with a “C” or better may request, through the appeals process, to audit the same preparatory course. Students will be allowed to audit the course only once. Audits for college and vocational courses declared prior to the end of the drop/add period shall not count as attempts.
Two withdrawals are permitted per credit course. After that, a grade will be assigned. Please be concerned about withdrawals. When admitting students into certain programs, universities may calculate withdrawals as grades. There are two kinds of withdrawals‐‐‐student and administrative.
Students cannot withdraw from developmental studies courses (college‐preparatory classes) after the drop/add period without written permission from the instructor and a developmental academic adviser.
The maximum load for a student is 18 hours for the fall and spring semesters without written permission of the adviser. Students with a "B" average and written permission of their advisers may carry up to 21 hours. The maximum load for the average student for each summer term is seven hours. A student who has a "B" average may carry nine hours. Written permission of the vice president of academic affairs & learning support is required for a student to register for more than 21 hours in the fall or spring or more than 18 hours in the summer session.
Applies primarily to Associate in Applied Science, Postsecondary Vocational, and Certificate programs.
Students receiving VA educational assistance must notify the Veterans Affairs Office.
The Buckley Amendment prohibits the release of academic records without the student’s signature and all requests must be made in writing by the student. To request an official transcript the student must complete the college Transcript Request Form located in the Office of Admissions and Records or go to www.gulfcoast.edu and click on Prospective Students, click on Transcripts, click on Outgoing Transcript Request Form from GCSC for a copy of the form.
All written requests must include:
Requests should be mailed to the Office of Admissions and Records, Gulf Coast State College, 5230 West U.S. Hwy. 98, Panama City, FL 32401 or can be faxed to (850) 913‐3308.
Transcripts cannot be e‐mailed or faxed by the college to the student, individuals, or other institutions. Transcripts can be sent electronically to other Florida schools. All requests must be made by the student. Please allow 2‐5 working days for processing. Gulf Coast State College reserves the right to place a restriction on a student’s record that will prevent official transcripts to be processed if the student has an outstanding financial obligation. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Office of Admissions and Records when all obligations are satisfied in order to have the request processed.
All permanent, official, and final student records are maintained in an electronic format. On a periodic basis throughout an academic year, the College is required by state and federal regulations to submit academic data to the Northwest Regional Data Center.
Up to 45 hours of nontraditional credit (i.e., CLEP, AP, IB, and AICE) may be applied toward a degree. Duplicate credit will not be awarded. Credits earned will not be included on the official Gulf Coast State College transcript until the student has successfully completed 15 credit hours. For more information visit www.gulfcoast.edu/students/testing_center/credit_exam/default.htm.
Students may receive CLEP credit for up to 30 credit hours. Information on credit awarded for subject matter exams is available from the transcript evaluation specialist in the Office of Admissions and Records and online at the GCSC website ( www.gulfcoast.edu) under Prospective Students and click on the testing option.
The college accepts CLEP credit as follows:
Students applying for the RN program with appropriate scores and LPN licenses may receive credit. Contact the Health Sciences Division for additional information.
A list of courses and credits awarded for each examination is available from the transcript evaluation specialist in the Office of Admissions and Records and online at the college website ( www.gulfcoast.edu) under Prospective Students and click on the testing option.
Scores of 5, 4, and 3 may be accepted for credit. Students must submit official AP scores to the Office of Admissions and Records. Information on credit awarded for subject matters exams is available from the transcript evaluation specialist in the Office of Admissions and Records and online at the college website ( www.gulfcoast.edu) under Prospective Students and click on the testing option.
A list of courses and credits awarded for each examination is available from the transcript evaluation specialist in the Office of Admissions and Records and online at the college website ( www.gulfcoast.edu) under Prospective Students and click on the testing option.
Students may request permission to challenge a course in which they are enrolled by taking a proficiency examination. Students passing the proficiency examination will be excused from further class attendance.
Most military credit, prior training, and experience applies to Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Science, or certificate programs. GCSC uses national standard evaluations systems, such as the American Council on Education’s Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, and requires students to submit official transcripts of military credit, prior training, and experience for consideration. Credit will be accepted when it applies to a degree and when it is comparable in content and credit value to a GCSC course. Upon receipt of official copies of military credit, prior training, and experience credit, an evaluation package is prepared for the Chairperson of the discipline for final approval. Prior training and experience is reviewed by the relevant department chairperson for equivalency and must be applicable to the student’s current program of study. Students with documented training certificates may be awarded credit if the training meets the academic standards and is relevant to the College’s instructional program. For those with prior experience, credit may be awarded based on successful completion of the final exam for the course in which the student is seeking credit. Appropriate documentation supporting evidence of credit must be submitted to Enrollment Services for processing.
No credit is extended for military credit, prior training, and experience not applicable to the student’s current program of study or when there is no GCSC equivalent. Students can request a subsequent evaluation of these records if his or her program of study changes. Requests should be placed in the Office of Enrollment Services. Information on credit awarded for subject matters exams (DANTES) is available from the transcript evaluation specialist in the Office of Enrollment Services.
The American Association of Community Colleges has designated Gulf Coast State College as a Servicemen’s Opportunity College (SOC). Under this agreement, GCSC recognizes that service members and their dependents should not be penalized for attending multiple academic institutions due to their military contribution. Students may complete degree requirements at other accredited colleges as a transient student and transfer those credits to GCSC as part of the degree requirements. For information on how to become a transient student see page 14. Students who participate in SOC are still required to satisfy the Gulf Coast residency requirement by completing 25 percent of the degree program at GCSC. For more information, please call (850) 283‐4332.
Transfer courses, courses taken for audit, and courses for which a student receives a refund will not be included in the determination of academic standing.
Academic Probation. A student will be placed on academic probation if any one of the following conditions is present:
Academic Suspension. A student will be placed on academic suspension if any one of the following conditions is present:
Suspension Waiver. A student may appeal an academic suspension by participating in an academic appeals hearing with members appointed by the Vice President of Student Support and Enrollment Management. Through the appeals procedures, the committee will establish re-enrollment conditions and monitor the student's academic progress.
Students who have attempted in excess of 90 credits (including credits transferred in from other institutions) prior to the beginning of an academic year are not eligible to receive federal, state, or GCSC need-based aid at Gulf Coast State College. Students exceeding 90 attempted credits during the academic year will be allowed to receive, through the end of the academic year, any need-based aid for which they are otherwise eligible.
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