1. Academic Policies Committee

It shall be the responsibility of this committee to review all policies pertaining to the academic standards and educational policies of the College and to make recommendations to the Faculty Senate. This shall include, but not be limited to, policies related to advising, admission, registration, scheduling, grading, probation, suspension, student withdrawal from classes, student academic grievance procedures, and the academic calendar.

1.1 Policies on Academic Standards

1.1.1 Classification and Definition of Students (2007)

Matriculated: A matriculated student is one who is accepted for admission to an approved program with specific requirements. (1989)

Non-matriculated: A non-matriculated student is one enrolled in individual courses for which the student (a) has satisfied all prerequisites or (b) has written permission of the instructor. The student has not been accepted for admission to an approved program. (1989)

Any student whose general academic background indicates acceptability to a specific program but lacks specific prerequisites may be accepted with the condition that certain courses are to be successfully completed. Conditions of a student’s admission will be communicated in her/his acceptance notification.
A student may also be admitted on condition that official high school and/or college transcripts are submitted by a specified date.

1.1.2 Student Course Load

The maximum number of student credit hours for a semester shall be 18.

For an extension of the normal course load, a Liberal Arts student must receive a signed approval form prior to registration from Advisement and Transfer Services Office at the Brighton Campus or the Office of Student Engagement at the Downtown Campus. Students in all other programs must receive a signed approval form prior to registration from the department chairperson of the program or designee.

1.1.3 Student Program (1967) (2017)

A matriculated student must follow an approved program as it is set forth in the College Catalog/Student Handbook. Problems arising from periodic revision of the Catalog will be resolved by the Provost and Vice President of Academic Services or designee without penalty to the student. Any substitutions for stated specific course requirements (other than those made by the Admissions Office for transfer students) or deviations from the approved program must be approved in writing by the appropriate department chairpersons or, if applying to a liberal arts program, the appropriate academic dean.

1.1.3.1 Change of Program (1967) (2017)

In order to change a program, a matriculated student must make a request in Banner, either with the student’s academic advisor or independently.

Such a change, however, does not free a student from any requirements or restrictions applicable to the newly elected program. It is encouraged that all requests for changes of program should be initiated either with the academic advisor, or with a counselor. However, this is not required. Program change applications are accepted until the third week of classes for the effective term. Program changes are processed in the Advisement and Transfer Services Office.

1.1.4 Repeating Courses (2007) (2013)

A student may repeat a credit course. All course grades appear in the academic record. In cases where courses are repeated, the official grade will be the highest grade recorded. The official grade earned in the course will count toward the student’s cumulative point average.
A student’s financial aid may be affected by repeating a course; the student is advised to consult the Financial Aid Office concerning his or her full-time status.

1.1.5 Grades (1991) (2017) (2022)

1.1.5.1 Grading System

Grades are issued to students at the end of the semester. The grading system for credit courses[1] is as follows:

Grade	Interpretation	Quality Points
A	Excellent	4.0
A-	Excellent	3.7
B+	Excellent	3.3
B	Above Average	3.0
B-	Above Average	2.7
C+	Above Average	2.3
C	Average	2.0
C-	Average	1.7
D+	Average	1.3
D	Below Average	1.0
D-	Minimum Passing Grade	0.7
F	Failure	0.0
I	Incomplete	*
AU	Audit	*
W	Withdrawal	*

*Semester hour credit and quality points shall not be granted.

Standard Recommended Grading Scale:

Letter Grade	Numeric Value Range
A	93 – 100
A-	90 – 92
B+	87 – 89
B	83 – 86
B-	80 – 82
C+	77 – 79
C	73 – 76
C-	70 – 72
D+	67 – 69
D	63 – 66
D-	60 – 62
F	below 60

The grading system for noncredit courses continuing education units (CEUs) is as follows:

Grade	Interpretation
S	Satisfactory
U	Unsatisfactory

1.1.5.2 Incomplete Grades Policy (1999) (2017)

The grade of “I” may be assigned by faculty in special circumstances in which the course requirements have not been completed by the students. Grades of “I” are given at the discretion of the faculty member. Student eligibility will depend on academic standing in the course and the percentage of work completed, as determined by the instructor. A written statement of requirements for completing the course must be signed by the faculty member, student, and appropriate department chair and filed with the department chairperson by the faculty member prior to the due date for submission of final grades. A copy of this contract should also be sent to the Office of Registration and Records. When final grades are submitted, the faculty member must also indicate the alternate letter grade that the student receiving the “I” shall receive in the future if these requirements are not completed. Credit hours and quality points are not assigned for an “I” grade, until it is converted to another grade.

When the requirements have been completed, but no later than one year from the date of issuance, the faculty member (or department chairperson, if the faculty member is not available) will submit a grade change from “I” to another letter grade. If no grade change is submitted within one year, then the “I’ grade will be converted to the alternate grade indicated previously by the faculty member.

1.1.5.3 Change of Grade (2007) (2017)

If for any reason a faculty member finds it necessary to change a grade after the grades have been submitted to the Office of Registration and Records, the faculty member shall submit reasons in writing to the Department Chairperson on the academic record change form which shall be subsequently approved by the Department Chairperson and then forwarded to the Office of Registration and Records.
A student who wishes to contest a grade should follow the Academic Grievance Policy, which is outlined in the Catalog/Student handbook under “Rights and Freedoms of Students”.

1.1.6 Schedule Adjustment and Withdrawal Policy (2007) (2017)

1.1.6.1 Schedule Adjustment

For full term courses, the schedule adjustment period is as follows: the Add period lasts through the first week and the Drop period lasts through the first three weeks of the fall and spring semester. The schedule adjustment period for summer sessions, intersessions, and variable length courses will be computed on a proportionate basis. This will be considered sufficient time for students to make course changes. In order to add a course after the schedule adjustment period, the student must follow the admission to closed courses (green slip) procedure. Courses dropped during the first 20% of the course (the first three weeks of fall or spring semester) are not recorded on a student’s academic record.

1.1.6.2 Student-Initiated Withdrawals after Schedule Adjustment

A grade of “W” for withdrawal may be assigned for courses under a number of circumstances outlined below. Since withdrawal from courses may affect financial aid, graduation, scholarships, veterans benefits, etc. it is recommended that the student consult with an academic advisor and/or financial aid counselor before deciding to withdraw.

Withdrawal from an individual course. Withdrawal from individual courses must be initiated by students after the schedule adjustment (drop/add) period, but before 80% of the course has been completed as designated by the official Academic Calendar (or a proportional amount of time for courses less than 15 weeks in length). A student can withdraw from an individual course using the student self-service system.
Complete withdrawals from the College. If a student wishes to withdraw completely from the College, the student must initiate the complete withdrawal by the last day of the semester. A student is not officially withdrawn until the necessary withdrawal procedure is completed, and the student risks receiving “F” grades for all current courses if this procedure is not completed. If a matriculated student has completely withdrawn from the College and subsequently wishes to continue course work, the student must apply for readmission to the College through the Office of Admissions if the student has stopped out for more than one (1) semester.

1.1.6.3 Catastrophic Illness or Medical Event

In cases of catastrophic illness, injury, or medical event requiring hospitalization, students may request a withdrawal from the College through the Office of Health Services. Students must submit medical documentation, which includes the date of the illness, injury or event, the type and severity of disability, and the medical treatment received. The student will have a maximum of 20 working[2] days beyond the completion of the semester to submit the documentation to the Office of Health Services. If approved, a grade of “W” will be assigned. No request for “W” for health reasons will be accepted after 20 working days unless there are extraordinary circumstances.

1.1.6.4 College-initiated withdrawals

Withdrawal for unsatisfactory attendance. A grade of “W” may be assigned for individual courses due to unsatisfactory attendance. This withdrawal must be initiated by a faculty member before 80% of the course has been completed as designated by the official Academic Calendar.
Withdrawal for non-compliance with immunization requirements. The Office of Health Services may assign a grade of “WI” to any student not.

1.1.7 Academic Standing (2007) (2016) (2016) (2017)

Monroe Community College expects students to remain in good academic standing. MCC reviews satisfactory academic progress (SAP) by term (fall, spring[3], summer). Students are expected to earn a GPA of 2.0 or higher and maintain progress towards degree completion. Cumulative GPA is defined as the average of a student’s course history at MCC and only includes credit-bearing course work. When reviewing academic progress for SAP, however, remedial and repeated courses are included. A student who falls below satisfactory academic progress standards and/or does not complete the required percentage of courses for the term, will be placed on Academic Warning. Persistent SAP concerns will result in students being placed on Academic Restriction. Students who appeal may be placed on Academic Probation.

1.1.7.1 Satisfactory Academic Progress

Monroe Community College’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy stipulates that

Students must have a minimum cumulative SAP GPA of 2.0, including remedial and repeated courses
Students’ credit completion must equal 67% of credit-bearing courses in the current term
Students must complete their educational program in no longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program

1.1.7.2 Evaluation of Academic Standing

The College calculates academic standing at the end of fall, spring, and summer terms based upon the student’s progress towards degree completion:

Completed credits include grades of A, B, C, and D (+/-)
Attempted credits include, but are not limited to, developmental credits, ESOL credits, and all credit-bearing courses
All courses, including repeats, and grades of F, count as attempted (except drops).
Incomplete Grades (I) and Withdrawals (W, WI) will count as attempted hours, but will not count as successful completions
Repeated courses count as earned only once
A student placed on Academic Warning, Probation, or Restriction at the end of the semester will be notified via MCC email by the Office of Registration and Records.

1.1.7.3 Academic Warning

When students fail to meet SAP, they are placed on Academic Warning for a period of one semester. Students placed on Academic Warning have a registration key placed on their account, are placed on an academic warning list, and are required to receive academic advisement prior to registering for the next semester. Academic support is documented on an academic improvement plan completed by an advisor. It is to students’ advantage to repeat a course(s) in which they received a “D” or “F” in order to raise their cumulative GPA. Graduation at MCC is based on an overall 2.0 GPA of MCC credits.

After the warning semester, the warning status is removed if students successfully meet SAP.

If students fail to meet SAP after the warning period, they will be placed on Academic Restriction.

1.1.7.4 Academic Restriction

Students who have been placed on Academic Restriction have two options for continuing their studies at Monroe Community College:

Students may “Appeal” to the Academic Appeals Committee for consideration to continue their studies without any registration restrictions. Appeals can only be made based on extraordinary circumstances that occurred during the term(s) in which the student failed to meet SAP requirements. The appeal must be submitted in writing on the appropriate form and must indicate to the committee the reason(s) for unsatisfactory achievement during the past semester, how those circumstances are now resolved, and plans for improvement. A minimum of one representative from Academic Services will be on the committee. Students will be notified via MCC email of the committee’s decision. If the appeal is approved, students will be moved to Academic Probation and allowed to continue their studies without any restrictions and with eligibility for federal financial aid.
Students who choose not to appeal or the appeal is denied will remain on Academic Restriction; after a certain date, will be de-scheduled and notified via MCC email. Students are then required to seek advisement to continue their studies with a maximum of eight credits). Students placed on Academic Restriction have a registration key placed on their account, are placed on an academic restriction list, and are required to receive academic advisement prior to registering for the next semester. Students will be given an academic plan to support moving towards satisfactory academic progress. It is to students’ advantage to repeat a course(s) in which they received a “D” or “F” in order to raise the cumulative GPA. Graduation at MCC is based on an overall 2.0 GPA of MCC credits. Students on Academic Restriction are not eligible to receive financial aid through the Federal Student Aid programs.

1.1.7.5 Academic Probation

Students who have their appeals approved will be placed on Academic Probation and allowed to continue their studies with possible credit restrictions, as determined by the Appeals Committee. They will be required to seek advisement to create an academic plan to move towards SAP. They will be eligible to receive financial aid through the Federal Financial Aid programs. The student’s academic progress will be reviewed to evaluate if the student is in good academic standing. If the student does not meet SAP, the probation status will be extended for another semester if they meet the following criteria:

Complete successfully 100% of the credits attempted for the semester, and
Earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 during that semester.
If the student fails to meet the requirements after the probation period on appeal, the student will be placed on Academic Restriction.

1.1.7.6 Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students who have been placed on Academic Restriction and have not had an appeal approved will remain in that status until they make up their academic deficiencies to regain good academic standing. As part of the intervention plan, students may be dismissed from the College for a specific period of time. Students can regain good academic standing by successfully completing additional credits at their own expense for as many terms as needed for the student to rehabilitate their academic record. Students who accrue additional credits for the intent to regain good academic standing, will still be evaluated for pace in the educational program. Students who regain good academic standing will also regain their eligibility to receive financial aid through the Federal Aid Programs.[4]

1.1.7.7. Dean’s List (2006)

Matriculated students who complete a semester (fall or spring) with 6 or more credit hours, attain a Quality Point Average of 3.50 or higher for the semester, and have no grades of “I” or “F” in that semester are cited for their achievement by being placed on the Dean’s List. A letter of recognition, signed by the Provost/Vice President for Academic Services and the Vice President for Student Services, is sent to these students after the completion of the fall and spring semesters.

1.1.7.8 Fresh Start Policy (1999) (2015)

This policy allows the removal of “D+, D, D- and F” grades from inclusion in the computation of the Grade Point Average (GPA) for individuals who have previously attended Monroe Community College. The courses and grades will remain on the transcript in the semester taken, but will show as “excluded from GPA.” The following criteria must be met and followed in order to use the “Fresh Start Policy”:

A minimum of three years must have elapsed since the student last completed a semester at MCC.
The student must apply for readmission to the College and meet all entrance requirements.
Students eligible for a Fresh Start will be notified.
The student must submit a written request for “Fresh Start” to the Office of Records and Registration. This request must be submitted prior to the last day of classes of the semester that the student returns to MCC.
The “Fresh Start” will only take effect if the student’s semester GPA is 2.0 or higher in the first returning semester.
The Fresh Start can only be approved once.
All coursework excluded will not count toward degree requirements and may not be reinstated.
All other requirements for graduation which are in effect at the time of readmission continue to apply.
Courses Excluded from a student’s GPA[1] are not excluded when calculating Satisfactory Academic Progress and Financial Aid Course Eligibility (FACE).

1.1.9 College Orientation Policy (2007)

COS 133 (Introduction to College Studies), a three-credit course or COS 101 (College Orientation Seminar), a one credit course, will be required for all full-time matriculating students assessed to be academically at-risk. At-risk will be defined as those students who are required to register for a Transitional Studies course after having completed the College’s placement testing program. COS 133 is highly recommended for TS01 students. COS 133 or COS 101 must be taken during or before the first semester the student is a full-time matriculated student. A waiver of this policy will be the administrative responsibility of the Admissions office or assigned academic advisor in accordance with program guidelines.

1.1.10 Entering Student Placement Policy (2007) (2012) (2017)

Philosophy and Rationale. An important element of student success is satisfactory course completion, and placement testing is a tool to help determine the courses in which a student has the greatest chance of succeeding. The more information that is available about any given student, the better and more accurate the prediction of that student’s success. Assessing a student’s basic English and mathematics skills using a single, well-validated instrument such as the Accuplacer allows the same measurement tool to be applied to all entering students. This standardized measurement of skills can then be used, along with other indicators of a student’s aptitude and ability, such as high school and college courses and grades, other test scores, life experience and maturity, or writing samples, to evaluate potential for success in entry-level college or developmental courses. Prior to registering for courses at MCC, an entering matriculated student must demonstrate readiness to learn the course material successfully. Non-matriculated students must also demonstrate readiness to learn course material successfully before registering for courses with stated prerequisites. Readiness can be demonstrated via placement test scores or other appropriate indicators of aptitude or achievement.
Placement Testing Committee. A Placement Testing Committee, functioning as an ad hoc subcommittee of the Faculty Senate Academic Policies Committee, will meet regularly to consider issues relating to the effective implementation of the College’s placement testing program and to propose recommendations to enhance the program. The Placement Testing Committee consists of at least one voting representative: English, Mathematics, Transitional Studies, Admissions, Advisement, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Financial Aid and the Downtown Campus Office of Student Engagement and one non-voting representative from Computing, Institutional Research and Placement Testing. Placement score guidelines and other placement issues and policies will be determined by the Placement Testing Committee, and be subject to the approval of the Academic Policies Committee, with input from the college community. Score guidelines for entry-level courses are established based on continuing research regarding minimum skill levels necessary for success in these courses.
Waiver Criteria. Placement testing will be required of all entering matriculated students unless waived. Non-matriculated students who wish to register for mathematics courses and do not otherwise meet the prerequisites must also test. Granting of a waiver is not automatic and will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Generally, Admissions will consider the following items when determining if a waiver will be granted. High school graduates or GED recipients may qualify for the following exceptions:
For Mathematics:
1. Students who have completed an MCC-equivalent college mathematics course at the College Algebra level or higher with a grade of C or better will be exempted from the mathematics section of the placement test. A mathematics placement level will be determined based on the student’s academic transcripts and noted in the student’s record. Even if not required, testing is strongly recommended for students without recent mathematics experience to obtain estimates of current skill levels for advisement purposes.
2. Students who have completed a high school mathematics course within the past three years ending with a grade of 85 or higher or 5 on the Regents Geometry exam, 70 or higher or 3 on the Math B or Algebra II/Trig Regents exam, or 83 or higher in a high school Precalculus course, may be exempted from the mathematics section of the placement test. A mathematics placement level will be determined based on the student’s academic transcripts and noted in the student’s record.
3. Students who have scored a minimum of 620 on the quantitative section of the SAT or a minimum of 26 on the math section of the ACT within the last three years may be exempted from the math section of the placement test.
  For English:
4. Students who have scored a 76 or higher on the Regents English 11 exam within the last three years may be exempted from the reading and sentence skills sections of the placement test.
5. Students who have scored a minimum of 500 on the critical reading section of the SAT or a minimum of 21 on the English section of the ACT within the past three years may be exempted from the reading and sentence skills sections of the placement test.
  High school graduates applying for readmission to the College, who have completed placement testing within three years prior to reapplication, may be placed by applying current placement guidelines to their original test scores.
Testing Accommodations
1. Appropriate ESOL testing for English will be available for students whose first language is not English.
2. Students with documented disabilities will be provided with testing accommodations to which the College determines they are entitled, consistent with the appropriate laws.
Revision of Placements. Initial course placements made on the basis of test scores and/or transcripts will serve as a beginning step in the placement process. Placement revisions are subject to the following criteria:
1. Mathematics placements of level 5 and below will not be revised.
2. Reading recommendations or placements will not be revised.
3. Writing placements may be revised according to the following process:
  1. Students will first consult with professional staff authorized to revise placements by the Director of Advising and Transfer Services or Dean of Student Services at the Downtown Campus.
  2. Students may then consult with the chair of the department offering the course into which they wish to be admitted. The chair may designate a faculty member to review the placement.
  3. ESOL students will consult with the ESOL program coordinator.
Enforcement of Placements. Faculty and staff are expected to enforce and abide by the placement process as defined by this policy. Students must begin mathematics and English course sequences at or below the level determined by the placement process described above. Because basic reading and writing skills are essential for success in almost every type of course, students who are placed in developmental English courses must complete these courses with a grade of C or better before beginning any course designated as writing-intensive (WR).

1.2 Policies on Credits and Related Matters

1.2.1 Transfer and Prior Learning Credits (2010) (2015) (2016)

Monroe Community College, through Admissions and in consultation with Academic Services and departments, awards transfer and prior learning credit in accordance with the State University of New York transfer credit policies. Transfer and prior learning credit is defined as college credits from other sources such as another post-secondary institution, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), CLEP and DANTES, military experience, and college credits earned in high school. All prior learning credits are transcribed by MCC as transfer credit. Students are notified of prior learning credits received.

A student is eligible for only one method of prior learning credit per course. For example, a student who has already received prior learning credit through CLEP/DANTES, AP/IB or ACE, is not eligible for credit through portfolio.
MCC does not guarantee the transferability of credits awarded through prior learning.
Prior Learning Credit does not count toward the 24-credit hour residence requirement.
Prior Learning Credits may not be used to acquire or maintain full-time status.
Those students wishing to receive transfer and/or prior learning credit must follow the published Transfer Credit and Prior Learning Credit Procedure.
Monroe Community College will review and evaluate the following credit types

- Credits from Post-Secondary Institutions
- Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, CLEP and DANTES
- Military experience
- Transfer Credit Awarded by an Institution Outside the United States
- Credit by Examination
- Work Experience/Portfolio Assessment

Because credits accepted by MCC may not be transferable to other institutions, students should meet with a representative of the transfer institution regarding the status of these credits.

The academic department chairperson, or designee, who has the oversight for the subject will evaluate courses for equivalent learning outcomes.

1.2.1.1 Transfer Credit and Prior Learning Credit Procedure

Transfer Credit and Prior Learning Credit may be awarded under the following methods.

1.2.1.1.1 Credits from Post-Secondary Institutions

Credit is granted for courses completed at another post-secondary institution which is recognized by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or Council of Higher Education Accreditation, (e.g., Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, American Council on Education, etc.). All other credits from post-secondary institutions that are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved regional accrediting association will be accepted if they apply to the established curricula of Monroe Community College.

Acceptance or denial of transfer credit is not determined exclusively on the basis of the mode of delivery. MCC will consider course equivalencies by reviewing if expected learning outcomes are substantially equivalent to MCC’s curricula and standards.
All courses with grades of C or higher may be considered for transfer credit.
Courses bearing less credit at a previous institution than the equivalent course at MCC will only be awarded the number of credits earned at the previous institution.
One quarter hours of credit will be transferred as two-thirds of one semester hour; g., 9 quarter hours equals 6 semester hours.

1.2.1.1.2 Military Credits

Students may be eligible to earn transfer credit for military experience. Credit hours completed in the military are granted as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) or Department of Defense (DOD) and are accepted up to the number of hours required by the degree program minus 24 residency credit hours required at MCC. Those who have served in the military, prior and current students, should request official transcript through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) web site; or if Air Force, through the Community College of the Air Force transcript request system and submit to the Career and Veterans Services who works with the Admissions Office in the awarding of credit. If a student is unable to produce an official military transcript, a DD-214 may be submitted for review and evaluation by the Veteran Service Office.

1.2.1.1.3 Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, CLEP and DANTES

The College recognizes the Advanced Placement Program, CLEP and DANTES offered through the College Board. International Baccalaureate scores are also eligible for transfer credit. Students must submit official examination score reports to the Admissions Office. Specific scores and minimum scores required follow the College Board recommendations and SUNY Policy as detailed on our website.

1.2.1.1.4 MCC Departmental Exams

Academic departments may offer exams for proficiency or credit. In those departments choosing to offer departmental exams, an exam for proficiency may be used to fulfill prerequisites for advanced courses or satisfy other requirements. An exam for proficiency does not yield any course credit or grade. The academic department giving the examination will determine the minimum standards for successful completion of an exam for proficiency. Additionally, a departmental exam for credit may be used to earn credit for a course. The academic department giving the examination will determine the minimum standards for successful completion of an exam for credit.

Credit(s) earned by departmental exam do not earn grade point average (GPA) points and are reflected only within the student’s cumulative credit totals on the transcript (not within the term in which the student completed the exam).

Credit(s) earned by departmental exam count in the credit total, but do not count toward the minimum number of credit hours student must earn in residence at MCC.

Please contact the department chairperson to determine if credit by examination is available for specific courses.

1.2.1.1.5 Converted Credit from Non-Credit Training

Examples include non-credit training through MCC’s Economic Development and Innovative Workforce Services Division or from other community college non-credit programs. Credit will be assessed by the related academic department.

1.2.1.1.6 Transfer Credit Awarded by an institution outside the United States

Transfer Credit Awarded by an institution outside the United States: All credits earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a third-party credential evaluation service. Students are responsible for having their credits evaluated by a third party. MCC will award credit from evaluations from the World Education Services (WES) and Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).

1.2.1.1.7 Work Experience/Portfolio Assessment

Documents prepared by a student that support a claim of prior knowledge of specific MCC courses. Examples include learning gained through work experience, professional licenses and certificates, voluntary experiences including community activities and youth organizations. Portfolio Credit is a recommended method of awarding prior learning credit in A.A.S programs.

Portfolio Credit will be reviewed on an individual basis for verifiable college level learning acquired other than at MCC and may be granted under the circumstances below.

Students who have matriculated into a degree or certificate program, with at least three to five years of work experience.
Students may request an evaluation any time after acceptance into an MCC degree or certificate program.
Individual academic departments will determine which courses are available for portfolio assessment. Courses must be applicable to the degree or certificate program desired at MCC.
A fee will be charged for the portfolio course(s). Once the fee has been processed by Student Accounts, the portfolio review process will continue with the student’s department faculty advisor.
The mechanism to assess a student’s portfolio for prior learning will be determined by the department granting the credit.
1. The student will first meet with a departmental faculty/advisor from whom credit is being sought to examine the student’s portfolio and determine the best method to assess the student’s credentials. The academic department faculty must be acknowledged as having the appropriate subject matter expertise. (A department may choose to either empower a “discipline expert” or establish a review committee.)
  1. The evaluating faculty member will review the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for the course for which credit is being sought, and determine whether the student’s portfolio documentation demonstrates that 75% of the CLOs for the course have been met through the student’s prior learning experience.
  2. Similar to the process of granting credit for AP/IB, CLEP, ACE or Military (DOD transcript) credit, approved portfolio credit will be noted on the transcript with a “T.” No grade will be recorded, nor is the grade point average affected.
A student selecting the portfolio evaluation method to earn credit is required to enroll in a Portfolio Development Course (course needs to be developed).
Portfolio credit will not be awarded for a course in which a student is currently enrolled in, or in which he/she previously earned credit or audited.
Portfolio Credit will be awarded only for active MCC courses.
A student must be enrolled in a degree or a certificate program at MCC and in good standing.
A student selecting Portfolio as a means to earn Prior Learning Credit must first complete ENG 101 or ENG 200 or equivalent.
Students who are denied credit for a course following portfolio evaluation may not petition for credit again for that course by portfolio evaluation unless there has been significant change/addition of documentation.
Evaluation of Transfer Credit and Prior Learning Credit
1. Course credit for all competitive admissions programs (e.g., Nursing) may have an expiration date for the grade to be considered when the applicant is accepted for admission.
2. Transfer and prior learning credit will not be removed from a student’s record.
3. When an MCC prerequisite course grade does not meet MCC transfer credit standards (C or better), the prerequisite course will not be accepted for credit even if the next course in the sequence may be accepted.

1.2.2 Course Audit

Any student (matriculated or non-matriculated) may audit a course with the permission of the instructor or the appropriate department chairperson, if seats are available after the first week of classes. No credit will be granted for an audited course. Fees for auditing will be computed on the same basis as if the course were taken for credit. To audit a course, the appropriate audit form must be completed by the end of the schedule adjustment (add) period. Courses for which students register for credit may not be assigned a grade of “AU”.
Senior Citizen Audit Policy-Anyone age 60 or over may audit MCC courses without tuition cost providing their presence in class does not deny enrollment to a student registered for credit. Permission to audit will be granted by the Office of Registration and Records based on appropriate prerequisite(s) and available space.

1.2.3 Course Prerequisites (2008)

Prerequisites shall be established to ensure the necessary knowledge base so that every student has the opportunity to be prepared to begin a given course.
Recommended preparatory courses shall be listed in the College Catalog/Student Handbook separately from the prerequisites. In many cases, a student’s performance in a course could be improved if the student had certain prior preparation; however, the lack of such preparation would not prevent the student from successfully completing the course. Such preparation would enhance the student’s performance in a given course.
Students having academic work or other experiences resulting in preparation comparable to listed prerequisites may request waiver of the prerequisite requirement. Such waivers shall be granted by the appropriate chairperson or designee. Written record of prerequisite waivers shall be entered in the student file.
It shall be the responsibility of each department to establish prerequisites and “recommended” preparatory courses, subject to review by the Curriculum Committee.

1.2.4 Registration Policy (1967)

The registration policy should allow the student to select, insofar as possible:

Class-time schedule
Instructors
Modality

1.2.5 Awarding of Degrees (1967) (2009) (2018)

Forms and deadline dates, as well as information concerning degree or certificate requirements, may be obtained from the Graduation Certificate Office, the Advisement and Transfer Services Office, or the Office of Student Engagement at the Downtown Campus.
Degree Requirements
A degree candidate must fulfill these general requirements:
1. Complete the course distribution and credit hour requirements as prescribed by his/her program of study.
2. Complete 24 credit hours at Monroe Community College. Exceptions to the credit residency for MCC degree requirements are made at the discretion of the Provost/Vice President of Academic Services.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 upon completion of his/her program.
4. Satisfactorily meet all College obligations.
5. In accordance with section 3.47 of the rules of the New York State Board of Regents, in order to graduate from MCC, students must have completed one of the following:
  1. A high school diploma from a state recognized high school.
  2. An equivalent four-year high school course of study as certified by the superintendent of schools of the candidate’s school district of residence at the time such course was completed.
  3. A legally valid high school equivalency diploma.
  4. 24 semester hours or equivalent of college course work distributed in subjects in accordance with the requirements set by the New York State Education Department and verified by MCC.
  5. A college degree from a degree-granting institution accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education.
Certificate Requirements
The College is also authorized to award a certificate to a student fulfilling these general requirements:
1. Complete the course distribution and credit hour requirements as prescribed in the Certificate Program.
2. Complete a minimum of 50 percent of the credit hours at MCC. Exceptions to the credit residency for MCC certificate requirements are made at the discretion of the Provost/Vice President of Academic Services.
3. Attain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 upon completion of his/her program.
4. Satisfactorily meet all College obligations.
The Committee recommends that degrees and certificates be awarded by mail when earned; that candidates be listed by date of completion in the next Commencement program and that such students be invited to participate in the next Commencement activities.
College Policy Governing Conferral of Two Associate Degrees (2007)
A student may be awarded two degrees upon completion of the requirements of two essentially different areas of study. The guidelines for conferral of a second Associate Degree are as follows:

1. The second degree must be in a substantially different area of study from the first degree.
2. Earning the second degree must result in academic and/or employment advantages for the student.
3. Twelve additional degree credits must be completed at MCC in the curriculum in which the student seeks to qualify for the second degree.
4. A student interested in earning a second degree should contact the Admissions Office or the Office of Student Engagement at the Downtown Campus for an application for readmission as a second-degree candidate. The advantages for obtaining a second degree should be explored with a counselor in the Admissions Office or the Advisement and Transfer Services Office.
5. Students pursuing a second degree will follow the degree requirements as listed in the Catalog/Student Handbook at the time of matriculation into the program.
6. Students who have completed the requirements for a second degree in their last semester of attendance should contact the Graduation Certification Office.

1.2.6 Information on Diploma (1969)

Date of Graduation

A diploma awarded to a graduate of Monroe Community College will be dated as of the thirtieth of May, August or December for the term, in which the student completed the final requirement(s) for graduation.

With Distinction

Each graduate who, at the time of completing the requirements for graduation, has earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or above will be considered an honor graduate. The diploma and the permanent college record of such graduate will be inscribed with the words “With Distinction”.

Curriculum Completed

The diploma awarded to graduates of Monroe Community College will include the name of the program as approved by the New York State Department of Education.

1.2.7 Registration Overrides (Green Slips) (2006)

Departments shall establish a policy on registration overrides and communicate it to their faculty. The individual faculty member assigned to teach a course may perform a registration override for his or her section(s) in accordance with department policy.

1.3 Policies on Examination (1991)

End of Semester Examination Policy

Departmental Policy Should Define:
1. Which course will have final exams and if these will be common exams.
2. Which courses, due to their nature, will have final exams at the discretion of the instructor.

Examination Period

All comprehensive final exams must be given as scheduled during the comprehensive exam period.
Faculty who find they must deviate from the above shall request permission form their Department Chairperson to change the time, place, or format of their examination. This request, stating the reasons and the Departmental response, shall be forwarded to the Dean of the Division by the last week of classes.
1. Students should not be excused from any class to take or prepare for hourly or unit exams given during the last week of classes.
2. Departments shall clear all proposed changes to the published comprehensive examination schedule with the Office of Registration and Records before any changes are authorized.

Communication of Policies

These policies will be distributed to the College faculty each semester at the time when the faculty is requested to indicate its requirements for the final examination period.
Each faculty member should clearly state on his/her Course Information Sheet, all evaluation procedures, including all types of examinations. The information should be available to all students at the beginning of each course.

1.4 Class Attendance Policy (1988) (2014)

Faculty shall submit attendance records for all students after 20% of the term has passed and the last date of attendance for all students who receive a grade of “F” or “W” due to a Faculty Initiated Withdrawal.
Prompt and regular attendance at all class sessions is expected. Faculty members are asked to report students for excessive absence when such absence is adversely affecting the student’s academic coursework (even though the student may not necessarily be failing).
When excessive absences occur, the faculty member may submit a warning letter to the student or submit a Faculty Initiated Withdrawal. The student will be informed in writing of the recommendation.
In the event the student is withdrawn from the course, the grade to be recorded will be in accordance with the withdrawal policy.
Attendance information held in Banner serves as our official record for legal retention. Daily attendance records assist in addressing situations wherein a student disputes the official attendance information/record, which may not be reflected in Banner. Instructors shall therefore retain their own detailed attendance records in the department for a minimum of two academic years to validate and supplement the information supplied in Banner.

1.5 Academic Calendar (2002)

The Academic Policies Committee will receive and review a proposed two-year academic calendar from the Provost/Vice President of Academic Services by September 30^th, two years prior to the year to which the academic calendar refers.

All recommendations from the APC shall be presented to the Faculty Senate, and upon approval, forwarded to the President’s office during the fall semester two years prior to the year to which the academic calendar refers.

1.5.1 Calendar Guidelines ( 2004)

Provide at least 15 calendar weeks of instruction exclusive of final exam days.
Strive toward 75 days of instruction exclusive of final exam days and holidays.
Have at least one break in instruction during the fall semester.
Begin the fall semester after Labor Day when possible.
Complete the fall semester before December 24.
Begin the spring semester after Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Have two one-week breaks during the spring semester, preferably coordinated with area public schools.
Complete the spring semester prior to Memorial Day.

1.6 Section Deleted (2007)

1.7 Student Representation

Based on the belief that college students can make significant and meaningful contributions in developing educational policies, the faculty accepts student representation on various faculty committees.
Student representatives will sit on each of the following committees of the Faculty Senate: Academic Policies (two voting students), Curriculum (two students, one voting, one nonvoting), and Planning (two students, one voting, one nonvoting).
The student representatives will be appointed by the Student Center in a predetermined manner, with special emphasis on a cross section of the student body.

1.8 Statement on Academic Honesty[5] (2000) (2017)

In the academic process, it is generally assumed that intellectual honesty and integrity are basic responsibilities of the student. However, faculty members should accept their correlative responsibility to regulate academic work and to conduct examination procedures in such manner as not to invite violations of academic honesty. Such violations consist mainly of cheating and plagiarism.

1.8.1 Definition (2011)

Cheating is defined as the unauthorized use or exchange of information by students or others for the purpose of achieving unfair advantage in the classroom or assessment process.

Plagiarism is using someone else’s work as if it were one’s own, whether or not it is done intentionally. This includes, but is not limited to: using the exact language, using nearly the exact language, and using ideas without showing they originated in another’s work. The work taken from another person or source (including publications, websites, speeches, etc.) may be as little as an isolated formula, portions of a speech, a simple sentence, an idea, or as much as entire paragraphs, papers, or writings of professionals or other students; however, well-known, common knowledge is generally an exception. Omitting quotation marks when using language copied from another’s work, failing to use citations for ideas or language taken from other authors, or failing to use one’s own style of writing when summarizing and paraphrasing someone else’s work constitute plagiarism. Any form of plagiarism is essentially an act of cheating. Specific concerns should be directed to your professor.

The academic honesty policy pertains to all instructional delivery methods offered at the College, including but not limited to classroom and online instruction, and self-study.

Some examples of academic dishonesty include but are not limited to the following:

Taking an exam for another student.
Having another student take an exam for you.
Paying someone to write a paper to submit as your own work.
Arranging with other students to give or receive answers by use of signals.
Arranging to sit next to someone who will let you copy from his or her exam.
Copying from someone’s exam without his or her knowledge.
Writing a paper for another student.
Allowing another student to copy from you during an exam.
Obtaining answers, information, or material from a source (e.g. Internet) without appropriate citation.
Getting questions or answers from someone who has already taken the same exam.
Working on homework with other students when the instructor does not allow it.
“Padding” – adding items on a works cited page that were not used.
Unauthorized use of information stored in the memory of an electronic device (e.g., programmable calculator, cell phone) on a test or assignment. No information stored in any electronic devices may be used without explicit permission.
Altering or forging an official document.
Submitting the same paper for grading in two different courses without permission.

1.8.2 Disciplinary Action (2008) (2017) (2017)

Cheating or plagiarism may be an individual transgression of one student unabetted by anyone else, or it may involve the complicity of others. All students who are involved in a group action which makes cheating or plagiarism possible may be considered equally responsible for the transgression and may be subject to the same penalties as though they themselves had cheated or plagiarized.
A faculty member who has evidence that a student is responsible for academic dishonesty shall initiate the appropriate disciplinary action. However, no penalty shall be imposed until after the student has been informed of the charge and of the evidence upon which it is based, and been given opportunity to present whatever statement or evidence the student desires in his/her defense.
Thereafter if the student is found to be responsible for academic dishonesty, the faculty member shall assess a penalty within the course, consistent with the magnitude of the transgression. Such penalty may consist of a warning, reduction in grade for the course, or a grade of “F” for the course.
If a student who commits an act of academic dishonesty withdraws from the course and would have earned a grade of “F” due to the academic dishonesty, the instructor has the right to change the grade from “W” to “F.” Such grade changes will be made by submitting an Academic Record Change Form to the Office of Registration and Records indicating the reason for the grade change as academic dishonesty. The student will be notified in writing by the Office of Registration and Records that the “W” grade has been changed to a grade of “F” due to academic dishonesty. Additionally, a faculty member must present the board hearing option to a student at the time the charges and evidence are discussed.
Every case of academic dishonesty which affects a student’s grade shall be promptly reported in writing to the appropriate department chairperson and the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities using the online BIR (Behavioral Incident Report) form. The Office of Students Rights and Responsibilities will inform the dean of the student’s pathway of the charge of academic dishonesty. The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities may initiate further disciplinary action in any case of repeated infractions, or in cases of complicity on a large scale. Such further disciplinary action shall be the discretion of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities and may result in college disciplinary probation, suspension or expulsion. A record of the offense and the disciplinary action taken shall remain in the student’s file. Please note that students who are suspended or expelled from the institution will be subject to a transcript notation, as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
To report a violation of academic honesty, faculty members are required to use the form on the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities website, under “Policies and Procedures.” within three (3) business days. The faculty member will provide appropriate documentation regarding the infraction as an attachment to the form.

1.8.3 Procedures for the Determination of Academic Dishonesty Via Board Hearing (2008) (2016) (2017)

Once a charge of academic dishonesty has been made and a board hearing selected, every means will be taken to guarantee “due process” to both the Respondent (student) and Complainant (the faculty member). Should the student dispute the facts constituting evidence of their alleged infractions(s), or object to the severity of the penalty, they may submit an appeal in writing to the Vice President of Student Services, within three (3) business days of the faculty member’s decision, requesting a hearing before a Judicial Board. Such hearing shall be scheduled by the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, in partnership with Academic Services, within the following ten (10) business days after receipt of appeal. Extension of this date may be permitted by mutual agreement of all concerned. However, no hearing shall be held later than thirty business days after the close of the semester in which the case arose.

Up to five (5) business days prior to the hearing, the Respondent and Complainant shall receive hearing materials and the names of each committee member. The Respondent has the ability to ask for a replacement of one committee member.

The Respondent and Complainant have the right to be accompanied by an advisor of their choice during the hearing. Involved parties should review the Student Code of Conduct Judicial Board Hearing information for the hearing process and procedures. Advisors serve as personal supports and are not active participants in the hearing.

Per the Student Code of Conduct, a Judicial Board will be convened. Each Board will consist of five voting and two non-voting members, comprised of:

A Chairperson, who shall remain impartial throughout the proceeding; this person may be a member of the Academic Policies Committee and is not a voting member of the hearing. The Chairperson is responsible for submitting the hearing board determination to the Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities who will inform the student of the decision.
At least one but no more than two students, as appointed by the Student Government Association, approved by Student Services, and trained by the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities;
At least two but no more than three faculty members, approved by both Student Services and Academic Services, and trained by the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities;
No more than two other members-at-large, who can represent faculty, staff, or students, who are approved by both Student Services and Academic Services, and who are trained by the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities;
An Academic Services Representative or a Student Code of Conduct Officer, who shall remain impartial throughout the proceeding, but who may advise the Board.
The five voting members of Judicial Board will not consist of more than two students. The student will receive a decision of the hearing board within three (3) business days by email and will have the option to appeal within three (3) business days of effective notice of a decision.

1.8.4 Appeal of a Board Hearing Decision (2017)

In following with the guidelines set forth in the Student Code of Conduct, the Complainant or Respondent may appeal a finding/sanction of a Judicial Board based upon the criteria listed below. All appeals for Academic Dishonesty are to be written to the Provost or a designee and must be submitted within three (3) days of effective notice of a decision. For just cause, the Provost may waive the three (3) business day requirement. The Provost and/or his/her designee(s) will review the appeal based upon the following:

The written appeal must contain the reason for the appeal. Appeals must meet one of three criteria:
1. New evidence exists, which was not presented at the hearing because it was not reasonably known to the student at that time, and which is sufficiently relevant such that it could alter the College Conduct Officer (CCO) or College Judicial Board’s decision.
2. The College’s failure to follow its own processes and procedures.
3. The sanction imposed was not appropriate in light of the evidence presented.
The Provost or designee (i.e., appeals officer) may accept, reject, or modify the Judicial Board’s decision or sanction.
The appeals officer’s or designee’s decision is final.
The Provost or designee will notify the Director of Student Rights of Responsibilities of the final decision and provide the decision letter to be on file.

All information, including supporting evidence, decision letters, and appeals for academic dishonesty are to be kept on file in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Office for six (6) years in accordance with item 10.[1040] of the Records and Retention Disposition Schedule CO-2 for use by counties, revised 2006.

1.9 Student Rights/Academic Grievance Procedure (2005) (2016) (2017)

1.9.1 Joint Statement of Rights and Freedom of Students

In June 1967, a joint committee, comprised of representatives from the American Association of University Professors, U.S. National Student Association, Association of American Colleges, and National Association of Women Deans and Counselors, met in Washington, D.C., and drafted The Joint Statement of Rights and Freedoms of Students, excerpts of which are published below. Since its formation, this document has been endorsed by each of its five national sponsors, as well as by a number of other professional bodies.

1.9.1.1 Preamble

Academic institutions exist for the transmission of knowledge, the pursuit of truth, the development of students, and the general well-being of society. Free inquiry and free expression are indispensable to the attainment of these goals. As members of the academic community, students should be encouraged to develop the capacity for critical judgment and engage in a sustained and independent search for the truth. Institutional procedures for achieving these purposes may vary from campus to campus, but the minimal standards of academic freedoms of students outlined below are essential to any community of scholars. Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The freedom to learn depends upon the appropriate opportunities and conditions in the classroom, on the campus and in the larger community. Students should exercise their freedom with responsibility.

1.9.1.2 In the Classroom

The professor in the classroom and in conference should encourage free discussion, inquiry, and expression. Student performance should be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards.

Protection of Freedom of Expression. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students have the right to file a formal complaint and seek resolution in their Protection of Freedom of Expression.
Protection against Improper Disclosures. Information about student views, beliefs and political associations which professors acquire in the course of their work as instructors, advisors, and counselors should be considered confidential. Protection against improper disclosures is a serious professional obligation. Judgments of ability and character may be provided under appropriate circumstances, normally with the knowledge or consent of the student. Students have the right to file a formal complaint and seek resolution in their Protection against Improper Disclosures.
Protection against Improper Academic Evaluation. Students should have protection through orderly procedures against prejudiced or capricious academic evaluation. At the same time, they are responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance established for each course in which they are enrolled. Students have the right to file a formal grievance in their Protection against Improper Academic Evaluation following the procedure listed below.

1.9.2 Introduction

We at Monroe Community College subscribe to the Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students and with regard to this document, emphasize the Preamble and Section 2 related to the rights and freedoms of students in the classroom. To protect the rights and freedoms of students and faculty members in keeping with this Joint Statement, we establish these procedures to provide for the orderly, fair, prompt resolution of perceived student academic grievance. These procedures are established to insure the due process, and the equitable treatment and protection of all parties involved in the perceived grievance.

1.9.3 Definition and Jurisdiction

The term academic grievance as used in these procedures shall mean a complaint by a student of Monroe Community college against a teacher of the College. An academic grievance may be filed on the grounds that:

The rights and freedoms of the student in the classroom as described in the Joint Statement have been violated, or
Any of the academic regulations of the College have been violated, misinterpreted, or inequitably applied. In keeping with the intent and spirit of these statements, it is incumbent upon all parties involved to show respect, restraint, and responsibility in their efforts to resolve perceived grievances. It is incumbent upon faculty members to arrange meetings and conferences with the student in good faith and to communicate decisions to the student promptly.

1.9.4 Grievance Procedures (see 1.9.5 for summary table)

When the student believes there are grounds for an academic grievance, these procedures shall be followed by all parties. The failure of any College personnel at any level to communicate a decision to the aggrieved student within the proper time limits shall permit the student to proceed to the next step of the process. The failure of the student to appeal the grievance to the next step within the proper time limits shall constitute a withdrawal of the grievance and shall bar further action.

Students cannot grieve a grade in a course from which they have completed a student-initiated withdrawal. Once the student-initiated withdrawal has been completed it cannot be revoked. Students may file a Grievance regarding a faculty-initiated withdrawal. Students have the right to remain in class during the grievance process and are responsible for attending class and completing assigned work.

For due cause, the Provost/Vice President for Academic Services (hereafter “the Provost”) may extend the withdrawal deadline for a student initiating an academic grievance.

Initial Informal Procedures
The student shall initiate the informal procedure within 10 working days[6] after the student has received information about a condition on which the grievance is based. For due cause, the Provost may extend this time requirement. The student is responsible for assuring that pertinent contact information is updated on the college system.
The student shall meet with the faculty member to discuss and to attempt to resolve the grade dispute. If the faculty member is unavailable or if the conference with the faculty member did not resolve the problem to the satisfaction of the student, the student shall discuss the disputed grade in a meeting with the faculty member’s Department Chairperson. Students should be prepared to verify that they attempted to contact the faculty member via a dated email or contact with the department office. If still not satisfied, the student may institute a formal academic grievance procedure.
Formal Academic Grievance Procedures
Within 20 working days after the student has received information on which the grievance is based, the student shall meet with a College Academic Grievance Advisor[7] assigned by the Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Services (A2VP) to discuss the disputed grade. The student can only institute the formal academic grievance procedure after the conferences with the faculty member and the Department Chairperson. For due cause, the Provost may extend this time requirement. The Academic Grievance Advisor shall counsel the student regarding the grounds for the grievance and shall explain the formal academic grievance procedures. Faculty members may also choose to meet with an Academic Grievance Advisor for guidance and advice regarding the grievance procedure.
Academic Grievance Submission
Should the student desire to pursue the grievance, the Advisor shall assist the student in completing the necessary forms.
The Academic Grievance Advisor shall promptly distribute copies of the completed, written grievance to the:
1. Aggrieved student
2. Faculty member being grieved
3. Faculty member’s Department Chairperson
4. Faculty member’s Academic Grievance Advisor (if applicable)
5. Faculty member’s Academic Dean or other Academic Dean hearing the grievance case
6. Provost via the A2VP
7. The academic status of the student, pending the outcome of the grievance, shall be determined by the Provost designee.
Formal Academic Grievance Meeting
Academic Deans will hear the grievance case unless it is determined that the grievance case is a conflict. If the grievance is deemed a conflict, the Provost will select another Dean to hear the case. Within 10 working days, the Academic Dean or the other Academic Dean hearing the case shall:
1. Arrange one meeting in which the Academic Dean (acting as a mediator), Chairperson, student and faculty member(s) will discuss and attempt to resolve the grievance.
2. Prepare a written report which describes the steps taken and the rationale for the Dean’s decision rendered regarding the student’s grievance, and
3. Distribute copies of this written report to:
  1. Aggrieved student
  2. Student’s academic grievance advisor
  3. Faculty member
  4. Faculty member’s academic grievance advisor (if applicable)
  5. Faculty member’s chairperson
  6. Provost (via the A2VP)
Appeal of Dean’s Decision
If the grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student, the appeal paperwork and process is provided by the student’s Academic Grievance Advisor. The Grievance Advisor will provide copies of the appeal form to the same parties listed in step III via email and interoffice mail within 72 hours after the Dean’s decision has been communicated in writing. For due cause, the Provost may extend these time requirements.
If the student makes a written appeal, the status of the student shall not be altered except for reasons related to the student’s physical or emotional safety and well-being, or for reasons relating to the safety and well-being of students, faculty, or College property.
Grievance Hearing
The College Academic Grievance Hearing Committee (hereafter referred to as the Committee) shall be appointed by the Provost within five working days of receipt of the appeal paperwork. For due cause, the Provost may extend this time requirement. In addition to the student and the named faculty member (the principals), the committee shall consist of:
1. one full-time teaching faculty member with experience in the Grievance Hearing process to serve as a committee chairperson
2. one full-time teaching faculty member from a School managed by the Academic Dean who heard the grievance case in step IV
3. one full-time faculty member from a School not managed by the Academic Dean who heard the grievance case in step IV
4. one full-time faculty member from the Student Services division
5. two student members (all attempts will be made to include students from multiple campuses)

The principals have the right to review the membership of the Committee before the hearing begins and to request the replacement of any one member of the Committee. Any additional request for the replacement of any other member of the Committee requires that either principal submit the reasons in writing to the Provost via the A2VP. The Academic Dean who previously rendered a decision during step IV and the faculty member’s chairperson will also be invited to the hearing.

Both principals have the right to the presence of one advocate from within the college community during the formal hearing.[8] The college community is defined as the employees and students at the institution currently or within the last 12 months. These persons shall not include anyone trained in the law. Such persons will act as a support person to the student or faculty member, and during the Hearing, and will be present to offer personal guidance and support as the need arises. Such persons are not present to argue the student or faculty member’s case.

The A2VP shall arrange for the selection of a meeting date, provide grievance-related materials, and set the agenda for the committees but shall not serve on the Hearing. The Committee has the responsibility of rendering a decision about the grievance. To this end, written and oral statements may be initiated and/or solicited from the principals in the grievance, and/or from other observers who can provide pertinent information about the matter. If new evidence has been identified, it may be presented at this time.

Within 12 working days of the student’s written appeal in step V, the Committee shall complete its business. The final recommendations of the Committee are to be presented in writing to the Provost within 2 working days after the completion of the deliberations of the Committee. Copies of any meeting notes and all documents submitted shall be retained for six years after the decision is rendered in the Provost’s Office.

Final Decision
The Provost shall review the recommendation(s) of the Committee. If the Provost/Vice President of Academic Services finds the recommendation(s) and the proceedings complete, reasonable, and just, the results shall be binding upon both principals. If there is some cause to question the recommendation or proceedings of the Committee, the Provost shall send any statements of concern in writing back to the Committee for deliberation and resolution. The Committee shall promptly submit its response in writing to the Provost who shall make the final decision. The final decision and supportive rationale shall be communicated in writing within five working days (which may be extended for due cause) by the Provost to the principals, the appropriate Academic Dean, and to the Chairperson of the Committee. This written decision constitutes the final step in the resolution of the grievance within the institution.
Statement of Record
After receiving the final decision, either principal shall have the right to file statement with the Provost/Vice President of Academic Services for purposes of record only.

1.9.5 Timeline Summarizing Grievance Procedures

Initial Informal Procedures (must be completed within 10 working days of receiving the disputed grade)
1. The student will attempt to reach a resolution by discussing the issue(s) with the faculty member after the disputed grade is received. This attempt should occur as soon as possible and be documented by email.
2. If dissatisfied with the outcome or if the faculty member is unavailable, the student will discuss the issue(s) with the Department Chairperson.
3. If the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of the meeting with the Department Chairperson, the student may institute formal academic grievance procedure.
Formal Academic Grievance Procedure (must be completed within 20 working days of receiving the disputed grade)
1. The student will contact the Assistant to the Provost/Vice President of Academic Services (A2VP) to be assigned a College Academic Grievance Advisor.
2. The student will meet with the assigned College Academic Grievance Advisor.
Academic Grievance Submission (must be completed within 25 working days of receiving the disputed grade)
1. After meeting with the Academic Grievance Advisor, the student can make an informed decision to pursue the formal grievance.
2. The student will submit necessary paperwork to the Academic Grievance Advisor within 5 working days of meeting.
3. The student’s Academic Grievance Advisor will promptly distribute copies of completed grievance paperwork.
Formal Academic Grievance Meeting (must be completed within 10 working days of submission of the grievance paperwork)
1. The Academic Dean will hold a meeting to attempt resolution.
2. The Academic Dean will prepare and distribute a written report.
Appeal of Dean’s Decision (must be completed within 72 hours of Dean’s decision)
1. If dissatisfied with the Academic Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal of the decision.
2. The written appeal must be submitted to the Academic Grievance Advisor within five working days of the Academic Dean’s decision.
3. The student’s Academic Grievance Advisor will promptly distribute copies of completed grievance paperwork.
Grievance Hearing (must be completed within 12 working days of the Dean’s decision)
1. The Provost will appoint members of Hearing Committee.
2. The Hearing Committee will complete its business.
3. The Hearing Committee will submit a report to Provost (via the A2VP) within 2 working days from the date of the hearing
Final Decision (must be completed within 5 working days of the Hearing Committee’s decision)
1. The Provost will review recommendations and communicate any concerns to the Hearing Committee.
2. The Hearing Committee will respond to Provost’s concerns promptly.
3. The Provost will communicate a final decision to the student, faculty member, Academic Dean, and Hearing Committee Chairperson.
Statement of Record (must be completed within 5 working days of the Provost’s Decision)
1. After the final decision, either principal may file statement of record to the Provost via the A2VP. This statement is for informational purposes only.

1.9.6 Student Grievance Appeal Form

Instructions: This form must be submitted to the Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Services within 72 hours of the Academic Dean’s decision. Please attach to this form copies of:

A statement of the basis of the grievance and the reason(s) for the appeal
The Academic Dean’s decision

1.10 Course Information Sheet Policy (2010) (2016) (2017)

It is required that all faculty utilize a Course Information Sheet (CIS). A copy of the CIS should be sent to the department office by the end of the first week of class. Each CIS must be uploaded to Blackboard by the department secretary, or other staff member as designated by the department chair, to a college-wide repository following provided instructions. Faculty teaching on-line courses will submit a collection of the segments that provide the same information as the CIS provide for traditional classes. The CIS will be made available in hard copy or electronic form during the first week of class and will include items numbered 1-11 below.

Course Title: Course abbreviation and title.
Instructor Information: Name, Room Number, Departmental Extension Number and Office Hours.
Required Course Materials: Textbooks, materials, instruments, special fees and expenses.
Email Address: May include indication as to whether you will accept messages from non-monroecc.edu accounts and/or assignments via email.
Course Description and Learning Outcomes: Instructor’s description of course, learning outcomes to be obtained by students, course prerequisites.
Attendance and Withdrawal Policies
Course Requirements: Classroom participation, projects, class work, readings, and outside assignments.
Examinations: Comprehensive or not, number and type of tests.
Make-up Policy: Exams, assignments, classes.
Grading: Percentage or emphasis placed on exams, quizzes, etc.
This statement must be inserted on all Course Information Sheets: Students are required to read and acknowledge college-wide policies each term. They are found in “College Wide Policies” on Blackboard under Student/My Courses.

1.11 Student Opinions of Course and Faculty (2003) (2009) (2015)

Statement of Principles

The faculty of Monroe Community College recognizes the right of students to express their opinions on the quality of courses and the quality of instruction presented to them, and the value these opinions may serve for making improvements in instruction and courses.
1. Feedback on course quality may include such areas as course design, resources used, course rigor, achievement of learning outcomes, or other related content;
2. Feedback on instructional quality may include such areas as instructional methodology, workload required by instructor, communication skills, pace and clarity of instruction, teaching pedagogy, or other related characteristics of instruction.
Results and information collected and derived from the standardized electronic Student Opinions of Course and Faculty survey form are the property of the College and are managed by Institutional Research. Results obtained by alternate evaluation instruments are managed by the faculty.
Each department has the responsibility of utilizing a common College-wide standardized instrument designed for the purpose of surveying student opinion. Each department may choose to create and implement an additional instrument in concert with the College-wide standardized instrument, for the purposes of collecting supplemental student opinion.
Student feedback using the electronic Student Opinions of Course and Faculty survey shall be collected in May and December of even-numbered years to ensure that courses taught in only one semester in a given academic year are covered. Flex paced and varied length courses will administer the survey upon completion of the course in the designated semesters.
The faculty of Monroe Community College reserves the right and responsibility to its various academic departments for utilizing student feedback in constructive ways to improve or validate course design, content, and instruction; and, at the discretion of academic departments, such feedback may be used for purposes of evaluation and program review.
Student feedback should be shared with respect for the privacy of the students expressing their opinions. This underlying principle implies that student feedback should be provided with a guarantee of anonymity for the student.
1. When sharing feedback, students will not be required to provide their names or student ID numbers on any form used to review teaching or courses.
2. For the electronic Student Opinions of Course and Faculty survey, students will receive an email in their MCC account requesting their participation in the survey at least three weeks prior to the end of the semester.
3. For an alternate version created by departments, students may be asked for feedback either electronically or in paper format. These alternate feedback forms will adhere to the College’s survey protocol.
4. The College should take steps to ensure that student feedback for online courses be provided without revealing the student’s identity.
Aggregate student feedback about courses may be incorporated into assessment projects as a measure of student satisfaction with courses and programs, as deemed appropriate by individual academic programs or departments.
1. The Curriculum and Development Office should ensure faculty anonymity in the review of information and data collected from students when applied to assessment projects.
2. Faculty use of student feedback as assessment data is subject to the guidelines established by the Faculty Senate resolution, “Academic Assessment of Student Learning and Program Evaluation: Faculty/Department Rights and Responsibilities.”
Survey information is shared in the following ways:
1. Faculty shall receive summative results for each section they teach and combined summative results for multiple sections they teach. Additionally, they will receive a departmental summary of the results for each course that they taught, provided that at least three instructors taught that course. Instructor specific summative results are shared solely to the instructor. These results may not be posted on publicly-accessible forums, such as (but not limited to) the College website, individual web pages, the College catalog, or other publicly-distributed publications.
2. Department chairpersons shall receive category summative results for each course taught in the department and combined summative results for each course taught by each instructor in the department. Summative results by each course are shared solely to the department and instructor. These results may not be posted on publicly-accessible forums, such as (but not limited to) the College website, individual web pages, the College catalog, or other publicly-distributed publications.
3. The student governments shall receive category summative results for each course taught by each instructor, provided that the number of responses is at least N=12. The categories are: instructor’s presentation skills, instructor’s course management skills, course design, and student outcomes. A hard copy of these results will be held by the Student Government at a campus location of their choice.
4. Retention of Survey Results
  The College will retain electronic copies of the results of the student opinion survey for a minimum of three calendar years from the end of the semester in which student opinion survey was administered. Electronic Records will be maintained by Institutional Research. Hard or electronic copies of the alternate survey created by departments will be maintained by the faculty. All records, whether electronic or hard copies, will be kept on file for the minimum time that is required by the Records Retention and Disposition Schedule CO-2.

1.12 Academic Freedom and Tenure

The faculty of Monroe Community College hereby adopts the AAUP 1940 Statement on Academic Freedom and Tenure and subsequently approved Interpretive Comments (1970), as a fundamental guide for future deliberations and actions pertaining to academic freedom and tenure at this College.

1.13 Institutional Review Board (2008)

Any research conducted at the College involving human subjects, by person acting either in their employment capacity or as part of their educational pursuits, must adhere to the guidelines of the College’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) and file appropriate forms with the IRB. Most course activities are exempt from full IRB review and only require IRB notification. This notification can be completed at the department or course level rather than the individual activity level.

Footnotes

[1] “Working day” is defined as any day (Monday-Friday) that the College is officially open.

[2] Spring evaluation includes intersession courses

[3] Academic eligibility for NYS Financial Aid Programs is determined by New York State regulations. Regaining good academic standing for MCC may not automatically reestablish academic eligibility for NYS Financial Aid Programs.

[4] Developmental courses are graded on the same scale but offer only imputed credit; the hours are included for billing purposes but not in the cumulative grade point average.

[5] Certain passages appearing in this section were adopted from those appearing in publications of the University of Indiana and other colleges and universities.

[6] “Working day” is defined as any day (Monday-Friday) that the College is officially open.

[7] For the names and email addresses of the Academic Grievance Advisors, the student or faculty member should contact the Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Services (1-309).

[8] Academic Grievance Advisors will explain how to select a support person.