FCC Academic Catalog 2016-2017

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2016/2017 fcc catalog
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F. Individuals are allowed to retest only one time
per assessment, no sooner than 24 hours after the
initial test.
G. Students who are continuously enrolled
will not be allowed to retest once enrolled in a
developmental course sequence.
V. Prerequisites
The FCC Academic Catalog designates courses
with prerequisites and/or corequisites. Prerequisites
are expectations that must be completed before
enrollment in a course is allowed. Corequisites are
courses that can be taken concurrently.
VI. Exceptions and Exemptions to Required
Placement Testing
A. Individuals who transfer from accredited
institutions of higher education who present
unofficial transcripts indicating successful
completion (2.00 GPA or higher) of the equivalent
of at least 12 college credits will be exempted from
the reading placement test if six credits are general
education courses.
B. Individuals will be exempted from the reading
and writing placement tests if they provide
evidence of successfully completing:
1. The equivalent of FCC course EN 101 at an
accredited U.S. institution or credit through DSST,
CLEP, or International Baccalaureate exams.
2. The Advanced Placement (AP) test with a
score of three or higher in English Language
and Composition or English Literature and
Composition. AP test scores are valid for five
years.
C. Individuals will be exempted from the math
placement tests if they provide evidence of
successfully completing:
1. A general education math course, at the level
of college algebra or higher, at an accredited
U.S. institution or credit through DSST, CLEP, or
International Baccalaureate exams.
2. The Advanced Placement (AP) test with a score
of four or higher in Calculus or Statistics. AP test
scores are valid for five years.
D. Individuals from Frederick County Public Schools
(FCPS) who have taken Algebra II or higher in their
junior or senior year and received a grade of A or B
are exempt from taking the math placement test
only. This exemption is valid for one year after the
student’s date of graduation from high school.
E. Individuals who have provided a copy of their
SAT/ACT scores that meet the exemption criteria
set by Maryland Community College placement
guidelines will be exempted from individual
placement tests. SAT and ACT scores are valid for
five years.
1. Individuals with an SAT math score of 500
or above or an ACT score of 21 or above, are
exempted from the math placement test.
2. Individuals with an SAT reading score of 500 or
above are exempted from both the reading and
the writing placement test.
3. Individuals with an ACT reading score of 21 or
above are exempt from the reading placement
test.
4. Individuals with an ACT writing score of 21 or
above are exempt from the writing placement
test.
F. Individuals who provide an official copy of the
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
score transcript and who score a 575 or higher
on the paperbased test, a 233 or higher on the
computer-based test, or a score of 90 or higher
on the internet-based test are exempted from
the reading, writing and ESL placement tests.
TOEFL scores are valid for two years.
G. Individuals who provide a copy of their official
Accuplacer, Compass, or alternative placement
test score(s) and meet the placement criteria
that exempts them from developmental reading,
writing and/or mathematics will also be exempt
from the corresponding FCC placement tests
(scores are valid for two years). The Associate
Vice President for the Center for Teaching and
Learning or his/her designee will evaluate the
scores and assign course placement(s) based on
FCC standards.
H. Individuals who have provided an unofficial
transcript indicating satisfactory completion of
the highest-level developmental course work
in reading, writing, or mathematics at another
Maryland community college or accredited
Maryland four-year college/university are
exempted from corresponding placement tests.
Reading and writing placement exemptions do
not apply to ESL course work.
I. Individuals from other institutions who present
a “Permission to Enroll” form will be exempted
from corresponding placement tests.
J. Individuals who have provided an official
transcript indicating they have been awarded
an associate, bachelor’s, or higher degree from
an accredited U.S. college or university will be
exempted from placement testing.
K. Individuals who are otherwise exempted by
the Associate Vice President for the Center for
Teaching and Learning or his/her designee.
L. Individuals enrolled in Frederick County Public
Schools or another school with a dual enrollment
agreement with the College who wish to
participate in dual enrollment or open campus
may take the placement tests twice. Within six
months of graduation from their K-12 institution,
individuals may be granted the opportunity to
retake the placement test a third time, if they
provide the Testing Center with an unofficial
transcript or report card indicating successful
completion of grade 12 English and/or math,
and their placement testing records can be
verified by the Testing Center.
The official version of the College Academic
Assessment and Placement Policy and Procedures
is on its website ( and may be
revised annually.
Student Information
FCC considers the following to be essential elements
of a student record:
• Legal name
• Permanent address
• Birth date
• County and state of legal residence
• Phone number
Frederick Community College accords to students
all rights under the Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act as amended. No one outside the
institution shall have access to, nor will the institution
disclose any information from, a student’s educational
record without the written consent of the student,
except when prior written consent is not required by
the act or the implementing regulations. A complete
text of the college’s compliance procedures is
available upon request from the Welcome Center.
Change of Student Information
Students who change their address during the year
are responsible for completing a“Change of Address”
form in the Welcome Center or at
Proof of residence will be required.
Students who change their name during the
year must fill out a change of name form in the
Welcome Center and provide documentation (list
of appropriate documents available in the Welcome
Center).
Ways to Earn Credit at FCC
Standard Format Classes
Most day classes are offered in a twice-a-week format,
e.g., MW, TTh, for 1.25 hours each. Some day classes
are offered in 2.5 hour blocks for one day only (e.g., F,
8:00-10:30 a.m.). Evening classes are generally offered
in 2.5 hour blocks, at 5:00 and 7:45 p.m.
Non-Standard/Accelerated Format
Classes
Some classes are offered in an accelerated format,
from two to eight weeks in length. These classes will
meet for up to four hours at a time. Many accelerated
format classes also require outside-of-class online
assignments or group meetings.
Course Blackboard Requirements
Some course sections may require access to the
course Blackboard website. Students enrolled in
those courses are expected to participate through
the Blackboard format using their own or appropriate
college-available computers.