fcc-catalog

173 / 209

2018/2019 fcc catalog
168 • 301.846.2400
9. Dean's List
Students who have earned twelve (12) or more
credits at the College are eligible to be considered
for the Dean’s List. At the end of the fall and spring
semesters, the Provost/Vice President for Academic
Affairs will publish a list of those fulltime and
part-time students who have completed at least
six credits during the semester and have earned a
semester grade point average of 3.500 or better.
10. Graduate with Honors
Students who have accumulated a grade point
average of 3.500-3.7490 are awarded a degree with
“Honors.” A degree with “High Honors” is awarded
to those students who have accumulated a grade
point average of 3.750 or better. A Certificate will
be awarded with “Distinction” to those students
with a grade point average of 3.750 or higher.
11. Honors College
Students who complete twelve (12) honors credits
(3 honors credits must be at the 200-level with an
honors research project or completion of an honors
independent study project) with an overall grade
point average GPA of 3.250 or higher are eligible
to graduate from the Honors College. Graduates
receive a notation on their transcripts recognizing
this achievement
12. Commencement
Commencement is conducted each year in the
month of May, but diplomas are awarded in
August, December, January, and May. Diplomas
may also be awarded at additional times for special
programs at the discretion of the Registrar.
H. Course Substitutions
1. Substitutions of course requirements within
degree and certificate programs may be
considered under special circumstances;
however, no substitutions of course requirements
within letters of recognition are allowed.
2. Examples of circumstances which may warrant
a course substitution include those instances
when:
a. a required course is no longer offered at the
College;
b. a student has taken a course so similar to a
required course that completing the required
course would be redundant; or
c. a required course has been cancelled or is not
scheduled to be offered soon enough that a
student’s ability to graduate in a timely manner
is compromised.
3. A non-general education course may not be
approved as a course substitute for a general
education requirement. In all cases, students
must meet the minimum requirements for
graduation as determined by the MHEC and as
approved by the College in the catalog year in
which the student was assigned his/her major.
4. The number of course substitutions should
be limited in order to maintain the academic
integrity of the program. In no case may course
substitutions constitute more than 33% of the
program as this constitutes a substantial change
in the curriculum as defined by MHEC.
5. Program Managers and/or Department
Chairs must complete a Course Substitution
form identifying the recommended course
substitution which is submitted to the Registrar
for review and final approval. In the event that
the recommended substitution does not fall
within the course substitution guidelines, the
Registrar will consult with the appropriate
Department Chair.
6. Students requesting a course substitution
based on the presence of a disability may
do so through the Services for Students with
Disabilities (SSD) program. Information on the
course substitution protocol is available from the
SSD department.
7. Approved course substitutions are stored in
students’ PeopleSoft records and are reflected
in the appropriate curricular requirement in
students’ degree audits.
8. Course substitutions should be requested,
approved, and recorded prior to the last date to
apply for graduation.
I. Academic Clemency
Academic Clemency provides students returning
to the College an opportunity to address prior
unsatisfactory academic performance. Academic
Clemency expunges a limited number of “D” and “F”
grades previously earned at FCC. Students will be
made aware of the Academic Clemency procedure
through the re-admission letter provided to them
upon re-application to the College. Students who
wish to apply for Academic Clemency will meet
with a member of Counseling and Advising to
discuss the procedure.
1. The following are conditions for requesting
Academic Clemency:
a. A student may only request Academic
Clemency once.
b. A student must have not attended FCC for two
(2) years before he/she is eligible to request
Academic Clemency.
c. A student must demonstrate that he/she has
the ability to benefit from college. Therefore,
upon re-admission to the College, a student
must achieve a minimum 2.000 GPA in all
courses attempted by the end of the semester
in which the student reaches at least twelve
(12) attempted credits (6 of which must
be general education credits) before being
eligible to apply for Academic Clemency.
Exceptions to this provision may be granted by
the College Registrar.
d. Only courses in which a grade of
“D” or “F” has been earned will be
considered for Academic Clemency.
e. Developmental courses will not be considered
for Academic Clemency.
f. Courses that are required for the student’s
major are not eligible for consideration
under the Academic Clemency procedure,
therefore, students must repeat those courses.
In accordance with the College procedure on
repeating courses, the higher grade will be
used in the calculation of GPA.
2. When a student has met the conditions of
Academic Clemency, he/she will meet with a
member of Counseling and Advising to develop
an Academic Clemency plan and complete the
Request for Academic Clemency form.
a. The number of credits that may be considered
for Academic Clemency will be determined
on a case by case basis by a Counseling and
Advising staff member working with the
student. In no case can the number of credits
exceed twenty-four (24) credits.
b. The Counseling and Advising staff member
will sign the completed Request for Academic
Clemency form and forward it to the Registrar
for final approval and recording.
c. All course attempts will remain on the
transcript. Courses that have been approved
for Academic Clemency will be designated
with the grade of “FX” or “DX.”
The College’s official version of the Residency
Policy & Procedures is on its website (www.
) and may be revised annually.