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2019 - 2020 FCC Academic Catalog
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2019 - 2020 FCC Academic Catalog
Academic Regulations
Check the college website, , for the
most up-to-date student policies and procedures.
Academic Standards Policy
and Procedures
I. Philosophy and Scope
Frederick Community College (“FCC” or the
“College”), with teaching and learning as its
primary focus, strives to promote academic
excellence in preparing an increasingly diverse
student body to complete their goals of workforce
preparation, transfer, career development, and
personal enrichment with quality, innovative
lifelong learning. In support of this mission,
the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
(Chief Academic Officer) leads the College
community in implementing the educational
goals of the institution, and developing
and upholding the academic standards
and procedures of the institution to ensure
academic excellence in instruction through
the awarding of credit to our student body.
The College will establish academic standards in
accordance with, but not limited to, the Code of
Maryland Regulations (COMAR), the Maryland
Higher Education Commission (MHEC), the Middle
States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE),
and other state and federal statutes or regulations..
II. Definitions for the Purpose of this Policy
and Procedures
A. “Academic credit” refers to the certification of
a student’s successful completion of a unit of a
course of study.
Academic credit does not include credit
associated with developmental education.
B. “Credit Hour,” as defined by the MSCHE, refers
to the amount of work represented in intended
learning outcomes and verified by evidence of
student achievement that is an institutionally
established equivalence that reasonably
approximates not less than one (1) hour of
classroom or direct faculty instruction and a
minimum of two (2) hours of out-of-class student
work for approximately fifteen (15) weeks for one
(1) semester or the equivalent amount of work
over a different amount of time. Instructional time
is calculated using fifty (50) minutes as the“hour
of instructional time.”For example, in a 3-credit
course, students experience at least thirty-seven
and one-half (37.5) hours of in-class instructional
time and should invest a minimum of seventy-five
(75) additional hours of time-ontask.
For hybrid courses, students can expect active
instructional time and“time-ontask”coursework
comparable to face-to-face courses with the same
format and with the same number of credits. For
online courses, students can expect one hundred
twelve and one-half (112.5) hours of time-on-task
coursework with the same number of credits
C. “Add/Drop” refers to the process used prior to
and at the beginning of the term when students
need to alter (ex: add or remove a course) their
schedules after they have initially registered.
D. “Audit” refers to an enrollment option chosen by
the student in which class attendance is required
but no grade or college credit is earned. A final
grade designation of“AU”will appear on the
student’s academic transcript next to audited
courses. AU grades may not be changed to letter
grades (A, B, C, D, F, P, S) after an AU grade has
been posted.
E. “Academic Clemency” refers to the ability
of returning students to expunge prior
unsatisfactory academic performance (D-F
grades only) from their transcript. Academic
Clemency may only be approved one (1)
time per student per academic career.
F.“Advanced Placement (AP)” refers to a program
created by the College Board, which offers
college-level curricula and examinations to
high school students in the United States and
Canada. FCC grants college credit to students
who obtain high scores on selected AP
examinations. Accepted AP exams and required
scores are listed in the Academic Catalog.
Official score reports must be submitted to
FCC for review or awarding transfer credits.
G.“Articulation Agreement” refers to officially
approved agreements that allow students
to apply credits they have earned in specific
programs toward advanced standing, entry,
or transfer into a specific program at another
institution. These agreements outline the specific
courses that count for transfer credit at the
other institution, as well as the grades a student
must earn in order to receive these credits.
H.“Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S)”
refers to programs designed for immediate
employment and career advancement within
a particular area of study. Some A.A.S. degrees
transfer to career baccalaureate programs.
I. “Associate of Arts (A.A.)” refers to a program
of study with a concentration in arts and
humanities which parallels the first two (2)
years of study toward a bachelor’s degree
and is designed to transfer to four-year
colleges and universities, or may be used as
a standalone degree for employment.
J. “Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.)”refers
to a program of study that provides the first two
(2) years of courses and related qualifications
needed to meet the entrance requirements to
colleges of education in the state of Maryland.
K. “Associate of Science (A.S.)” refers to a program
of study with a concentration in science,
technology, engineering, and math which
parallels the first two (2) years of study toward
a bachelor’s degree and is designed to transfer
to four-year colleges and universities, or may be
used as a standalone degree for employment.
L. The “Catalog Year”begins with the summer
term and continues through the spring semester.
Student program requirements are based on
the Catalog Year in effect at the time they are
admitted to FCC and students must follow the
requirements outlined in this catalog unless they:
1) have been readmitted; 2) request a change in
major or program of study, current or previous,
not more than five (5) years old; or 3) request an
assignment to a current Catalog Year. http://www.
M. “Certificate”refers to a program of study at
the freshman or sophomore level requiring a
minimum of twelve (12) credits in a prescribed
curriculum approved by the College. Courses
required in certificate programs may be applied
to the degree program in that area of study.
N. “Certification”refers to a credential granted
by an external entity confirming that an
individual has specific skills in a certain area.
FCC offers programs and/or courses that
prepare students for certifications, but FCC
does not directly grant these certifications.
O. “Class” refers to a specific section of a
course in which a student may enroll
that has a beginning and ending date, a
syllabus, and participation expectations.
P. “College Level Examination Program (CLEP)”
refers to a group of standardized tests offered
by the College Board which assesses college-
level knowledge in several subjects and offers
students the opportunity to receive credit
for certain coursework after demonstrating
their proficiency. A full listing of CLEP exams
and the required scores to earn credit at
FCC are listed in the Academic Catalog.
Official score reports must be submitted to
FCC in order for credit to be awarded.
Q. “Course” refers to a unit of study identified in
the College catalog that is defined by a specific
title, course number, and description, and for
which credit may or may not be awarded.
R. “Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education
Support (DANTES)” refers to a national credit-by
examination program providing students the
opportunity to receive credit for college-level
achievement. Official score reports must be
submitted to FCC in order for credit to be awarded.
S. “Departmental Exam” refers to a comprehensive
departmental examination which allows students
to earn credit by examination in subject areas
where no CLEP exam is available. Students pay an
assessment fee for the exam to be scored prior
to taking the exam. Upon successful completion
of the departmental exam, credit is awarded.
T. “Elective Courses” refers to optional courses
that students may choose to take as part of
their degree/certificate program, which may
count toward graduation requirements.
U. “FCC General Education CORE Requirements”
refers to core courses that are required
for all students in order to earn a college
degree. Based on program, there are specific
general education CORE requirements.
V. “Grade Point Average (GPA)” refers to a numerical
measurement of a student’s overall academic
achievement which is calculated by multiplying
the number value of the grade (or quality points)
by the number of semester hours attempted,
and then dividing the number of quality
points by the number of credits attempted.
W. “Graduation” refers to the receiving or conferring
of an academic degree or certificate. Degrees
and certificates are conferred four (4) times
per year. Commencement is the ceremony
each May which celebrates the conferring
of the degrees and certificates awarded
that academic year. Students completing
degree requirements and graduation at
other times of the year may participate in
the May Commencement Ceremony.
X. “Graduation Application” refers to the formal
application process for all students planning
to receive a certificate, degree, or Letter of
Recognition. Students must complete and
submit a graduation application by the
designated deadlines published by the College.
Y. “Hybrid Course” refers to a course that combines
online and on-campus classroom instruction.
Z. “Independent Study” refers to a course which
permits students to follow individual interests
beyond the limits of a more formalized course.
AA. “International Baccalaureate (IB)” refers
to an international educational foundation
providing education to primary, middle
and high school students. Award of credit
by FCC for IB participation is not automatic.
Students must have official candidate
score results sent to FCC for evaluation.
BB.“Letter(s) of Recognition” refers to a program
of study available in selected career programs
and requiring fewer, more specialized courses
than a Certificate. These specialized courses
may not be substituted, and students must
submit a graduation application in order
to be awarded a Letter of Recognition.
CC. “Major” refers to a student’s chosen field of
study, which requires the successful completion
of a specified number of credit hours.
DD. “Online course” refers to a course
taught entirely online. Instructor-student
communication is facilitated by electronic
technologies. Online classes require one (1)
proctored exam with student picture ID.
Not all FCC courses are offered online.
EE. “Placement tests” refers to a series of
computer-based assessments that measure
the reading, writing, and math skills needed
for college-level coursework. Placement
test scores help to determine what
courses are appropriate for students.
FF. “Portfolio Assessment” refers to a process that
enables students to effectively document prior
learning acquired through employment, training,
self-study, volunteer work, civic activities, etc.
Students must demonstrate that they have
acquired college-level skills directly related to the
core learning outcomes of their program of study.
Students pay an assessment fee for the portfolio
to be reviewed. Upon successful completion
of the portfolio review, credit is awarded.
GG. “Program” refers to a structured and coherent
course of study with clearly defined objectives
and intended student learning outcomes,
requiring the completion of a specified
number of course credits from among a
prescribed group of courses, which leads
to the award of a certificate or degree. All
programs must be approved by MHEC.
HH. “Student” refers to an individual who is
registered at the College, either full or part-
time, in a credit or continuing education
class or classes who has either paid or made
arrangement for payment of tuition and/or fees.
II. “Transcript” refers to a student’s academic record.
JJ.“Transfer Credit”refers to coursework completed
at another college or university, provided that the
other institution is accredited or recognized by
the U.S. Department of Education. Transfer credit
is also awarded through other FCC approved
non-college programs, education and training.
KK. “Withdrawal Period” refers to the period of
time in which students can withdraw from a
course which occurs after the Add/Drop period
and concludes on a specific date as published
in the schedule of classes. When a student
withdraws from a course, a designation of“W”
will appear on his/her academic transcript.
III. Academic Standards
A. Awarding of Credit
FCC believes that learning is a lifelong process and
knowledge is acquired in many different ways.
FCC awards credits for coursework completed at
accredited colleges and universities as recognized
by the U. S. Department of Education. In addition
to the traditional classroom setting, FCC recognizes
that mastery of college-level knowledge and
skills may occur as a result of non-credit training
and non-traditional learning experiences such as
employment, military training and experience,
noncollegiate training programs, and advanced
high school courses.
1. Transfer Credits
a. No more than forty-five (45) credits in
transfer may be awarded toward an
Associate Degree. If the previous institution
was under the quarter system, credits
must be converted to semester hours;
quarter hours are multiplied by two-thirds
(2/3) to equal semester credit hours.
b. Transfer credit awarded is based on the
major a student has declared. Not all
credits may be accepted depending on
the student’s declared major. If a student
changes his/her major after the transfer
evaluation, the student may request that
his/her transfer record be reevaluated.
c. Credits, not grades, are transferred into the
College; therefore, grades from transfer
courses are not calculated into the GPA at
the College. Students submitting a grade of
Pass from another institution must show that
the equivalent of a grade of “C” or better was
attained to have transfer credit awarded.
2. College and University Credit
Credits may be granted for coursework
completed at accredited colleges and universities
as recognized by the U.S. Department of
Education. Students must have submitted an
admissions application to the College along
with official transcripts from previously attended
institutions to have credits evaluated. The
College follows the MHEC General Education
and Transfer Policies. In general, courses will
be evaluated to determine equivalency to
FCC courses. Courses not equivalent to FCC
coursework can be transferred as elective
credit assuming that the student’s chosen
major allows for elective credit. Credits will be
awarded based on the following standards: