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2020 - 2021 FCC Academic Catalog
180 • 301.846.2400
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/Executive Vice President for Academic
Affairs, Continuing Education, and Workforce
Development (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 Catalog” refers to an annual
publication that serves as the official record of
the requirements for admissions, registration,
policies/procedures, and program content.
B. “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.
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 they may attend the
class and participation must align with the
course syllabus. 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.
Students must visit Registration and Records
to change their grading status to audit by
the last day to withdraw for the session.
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 Registration and Records
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. Students may also earn credit for
prior learning and experience to be used
toward degree completion at FCC. Students
should start with their Program Manager to
determine if there are approved agreements
available in their program of study.
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 stand-alone 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, or 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
stand-alone degree for employment.
L. “Block of Classes” refers to the group
of courses that is being awarded in
transfer toward the degree requirements
of the student’s declared major.
M. 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.
N. “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.
O. “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.
P. “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.