Academic Requirements
at Mayland Community College

Instructional Services is responsible for curriculum programs and classes offered in degree, diploma, certificate and continuing education at Mayland Community College. This section of our online catalog outlines processes and procedures that affect students who attend classes at Mayland. Should you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us.

If you are seeking information on a specific academic program or division at MCC, please visit our Division Websites:

• Arts & Sciences
• Business, Eng. & Public Service
• Health
• Public Safety & Occupational Technologies

Topics covered in this Academic Requirements section:

• Academic Forgiveness
• Academic Honors
• Academic Integrity Code
• Academic Progress System (APS)
  • Academic Warning
  • Academic Probation
  • Academic Suspension
• Attendance
• Selection of Commencement Marshals
• Course Load
• Course Substitutions
• Credit for Experiential Learning
• Credit for Military Training
• Curriculum Course Repetition Process
• Faculty Advising System
• Grade Interpretation
• Grading System
• Honors
• Inclement Weather Policy
• Previous College Credits
• Procedures for Transcript Evaluation
• Proficiency Examinations
• Registration and Late Fees
• Release of Transcripts
• Removal of Incompletes
• Requirements for Graduation
• Schedule Changes
• Transfer of Credits to Other Schools
• Withdrawal Procedures

General Education Core

General education at Mayland Community College is defined as that essential body of knowledge and skills that will enable all degree-level students to perform competently as employees and contributing members of society. The general education core will ensure that competence is gained in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and the basic use of computers. Each degree-seeking student must complete the college-approved core of general education courses and demonstrate competence. Included in this core are the following requirements:

• 3 semester hours credit in the humanities/fine arts
• 3 semester hours credit in the social/behavioral sciences
• 3 semester hours credit in natural sciences/mathematics
• 3 semester hours credit in Expository Writing (ENG 111)
• 3 semester hours credit in Introduction to Communication (COM 110) or Professional Research & Reporting (ENG 114)
• Proficiency in Introduction to Computers (CIS 110) or Basic PC Literacy (CIS 111) or Computer Basics (CIS 113)

Registration

Curriculum students are expected to register for courses on the dates specified on the MCC Academic Calendar. A $5.00 processing fee will be charged if a student registers after these dates.

Faculty Advising System

Each student is assigned to a faculty advisor within the department he/she plans to enter. The student is notified of the name of his/her advisor in the registration instruction letter sent to new students at the beginning of each semester.

The faculty advisor is available to assist the student in planning a program of study and registering for classes at the beginning of each semester.

While enrolled at Mayland Community College, the student is encouraged and may be required to seek out his/her faculty advisor as a continuing source of help.

Course Load

Students enrolled for 12 or more semester hours during the fall or spring semester are classified as full-time students. Students enrolled for 9 or more semester hours during the summer are classified as full-time students. Normal course loads will vary from one curriculum to another and from one semester to another. Normal course loads are outlined, by department, in this Catalog. Students must have the permission of their advisors and the Vice President of Instructional Services in order to carry more than 18 credit hours. Students in the Associate Degree Nursing program are exempt from this maximum 18 credit-hour load.

Attendance

Students are expected to be present and on time for all scheduled classes. Each course has an attendance policy, which will be issued to the student during the first week of classes. In case of inclement weather, students are responsible for making their own decisions about road safety. The student will be held responsible for all academic requirements regardless of class attendance. Students enrolled in mandated law enforcement training must meet attendance requirements as set forth in Title 12, Chapter 9 of the NC Administrative Code.

Inclement Weather Policy

Mayland Community College and the Phillips-Gwaltney Child Development Center will close when prevailing weather conditions are such that travel is deemed to be hazardous. This procedure has been developed to facilitate the communication of information regarding College operations during such periods.

The decision to postpone or cancel any activity at Mayland will be made jointly by the President and the Administrative Council. The decision will be made and communicated as quickly as possible. However, the unpredictable nature of mountain weather may require that changes in schedule be made quickly and on short notice.

In all periods of inclement weather, students, faculty and staff are reminded to use good judgment when making travel decisions. Life and safety are to be the primary considerations. While individuals are expected to give due consideration to their responsibilities for attendance, the College recognizes and expects that adults must ultimately make their own decisions about attendance and accept the responsibility for them.

Depending on weather conditions prevailing in the majority of the College service area, the following options will be employed relative to College operations:

Mayland Community College recognizes its obligation to deliver the instructional services for which its students have paid tuition and fees. Therefore, the College makes a good-faith effort to make up all classes missed due to inclement weather. Adjustments in the College calendar for days missed may be made during or at the end of the academic term.

Schedule Changes

Students may change their schedule of classes during the drop-add period (five days after registration day during the Fall and Spring semesters and three days after registration for the Summer semester) without academic penalty. Course changes must be processed by the advisor.

Withdrawal Procedures

A student who withdraws from the College during any semester should first consult with his or her Admissions Retention Advisor (ARA).

To withdraw from the College, the student will use the following procedures:

1. Obtain a drop-add form from the ARA and complete an exit interview.
   
   
2. Complete the drop-add form by listing each course being dropped and secure the necessary signatures.
   
   
3. Return completed form(s) to the Registrar’s Office by the specified date.

Unconditional Withdrawal:

During the first third of any given semester, students may withdraw from a course by completing a drop form. Students withdrawing during this time will receive a grade of "W," which holds no academic penalty.

Conditional Withdrawal:

During the second third of the semester, students withdrawing from a course must complete a drop form and will be given a grade of “WP” or “WF” at the discretion of the instructor according to the quality of the student’s performance.

No Withdrawal:

During the final third of the semester, students will not be allowed to withdraw from registered coursework. Exceptions to this procedure will be granted only in extreme circumstances (for example, medical emergency) and must be approved by the instructor of the course, Division Dean, and Vice President of Instructional Services.

Administrative Withdrawal Procedures

If a student has not been in contact with the instructor and has not attended class for a consecutive two-week period, an administrative withdrawal must be submitted by the instructor.

Steps for submitting an Administrative Withdrawal:

1. Administrative Withdrawal forms will be available in the Registrar's
   Office.
   
   
2. The instructor must complete the form with the student's name, the course and section number, the grade, the last date attended, and the instructor's signature.
   
   
3. Once completed, the withdrawal form should be returned to the Registrar's
   Office to be documented by the Registrar.
   
   
4. The Registrar will provide a copy to the Financial Aid office.

Students administratively withdrawn during the first third of any semester will receive a grade of "W," which holds no academic penalty. However, a student who received any Title IV funds for that semester may be in a payback situation. During the second third of the semester, students being withdrawn will be given a grade of "WP" or "WF" at the discretion of the instructor according to the quality of the student's performance. Students who are withdrawn during the second third of the semester who have received Title IV funds may also be in a payback situation.

If a student has attended class through the final third of the semester, the student has earned the grade and the financial aid. No administrative drop will be required for the final third of the semester.

Due to financial reporting, once a student is administratively withdrawn from a course, he/she will not be allowed to re-enter the class for that semester.

Curriculum Course Repetition Process

A student may repeat a curriculum course twice for which he or she earned a grade of “C” or higher. This statement means the student can take the course three times. A student wishing to repeat the same curriculum course more than twice (having already taken the course three times) shall enroll on an “audit” basis. Any exception must have the prior written approval of the Division Dean and the Vice-President of Instructional Services.

When a student repeats a course, the last grade is recorded as the final grade for the course, and only the last hours attempted are counted in determining the student’s grade point average. However, the previous grade will remain part of the permanent record. The last grade earned will become the grade of record, even if it is a lesser grade.

Veterans cannot receive VA benefits for repeating courses previously passed with a grade of "D" or higher unless the program doesn't recognize a "C" as passing. Pell Grants will also not pay for a student to repeat a course previously passed with a grade "D" or higher.

Any student failing a prerequisite course must repeat and pass the prerequisite prior to taking the next course in the sequence. Any exception must have the prior written approval of the Division Dean and the Vice-President of Instructional Services. A student must pass all required courses in the selected curriculum to be eligible for graduation.

Course Substitutions

Course substitutions involve only courses in the same discipline, for at least the same credit hours, and where course content is substantially the same. Students may request a course substitution, which must be approved by the advisor, the Division Dean and the Vice President of Instructional Services. After the approval process, course substitutions are sent to the Registrar.

Removal of Incompletes

Learn more about grades here.

An “I,” or “Incomplete,” grade indicates that a student has done passing work in a course but because of unusual circumstances, the student failed to complete some portion of the required work. Unless this incomplete is removed before the end of the succeeding semester, the “I” will automatically be changed to an “F.” This removal period can be extended only by the Vice President of Instructional Services. In the absence of the instructor, the Division Dean will set the criteria for the removal of an “I” grade.

Previous College Credits

Credits transferred from another school may be substituted for MCC courses if the content of the courses to be transferred is substantially the same as that of the required courses. At least one-fourth (25%) of the credits required for a degree, diploma or certificate must be completed at Mayland Community College.

Credit from another school with a grade below a “C” will not be accepted.

Credit for previous educational experiences that happened more than seven (7) years before the date of enrollment is not automatic but may be granted by the Registrar, in consultation with the Division Dean and Vice-President of Instructional Services.

Credits earned at another institution will not be considered in the computation of a student’s grade point average.

Procedures For Transcript Evaluation

1. An official transcript of post-secondary credits earned will be
   requested by the student to be released to Mayland Community College.
   
   
2. The Registrar will evaluate all transcripts of previous education
   according to the above stated policies after receiving all post-secondary transcripts.
   
   
3. Courses determined by the Registrar to be applicable to MCC
   credits will be recorded on the student's permanent record and designated as transfer credit(s). In questionable cases, the Registrar will consult the Division Dean(s).
   
   
4. A copy of the student’s Transcript Evaluation Form listing the
   transfer credit will be sent to the student.

Transfer of Credits To Other Schools

Credits earned in curriculum programs may frequently be transferred to other colleges and universities. Students planning to transfer to another institution prior to or after completion of a degree program at Mayland should consult a counselor in Student Development to determine the transferability of courses from Mayland to another institution.

Any student planning to transfer should obtain a catalog from other institutions to which he or she intends to transfer. By working closely with advisors and counselors at Mayland and other institutions, the student can maximize the likelihood of receiving credit for Mayland courses at another institution.

Release of Transcripts

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, an official transcript of a Mayland Community College academic record will be released by the Registrar to a third party only upon receipt of a written request or a request through Linking Everyone Online (LEO) from the student-owner of the record. A transcript labeled “Student Copy” will be furnished directly to the student. Students should allow a reasonable time for the Registrar to respond to transcript requests.

Mayland Community College’s Privacy of Student Education Records Policy is published in the Student Handbook.

Proficiency Examinations

Credit for past experience and/or education may be allowed if a student can demonstrate, by examination, the level of proficiency required in a particular course. The student has the responsibility of demonstrating to the department head within the first five school days of a semester that a proficiency exam is proper. The test(s) will reflect the objectives of the course to be exempted. The Division Dean has the authority to accept or deny such a request. The credit will be based on a departmental examination administered at the direction of the department head in which the course is offered.

After a student has successfully completed an examination and a determination has been made on credit to be awarded, the Division Dean will forward to the Registrar a copy of the examination for inclusion in the student’s permanent academic record, the course number and the credit to be awarded. This information will be entered by the Registrar on the student’s transcript. No quality points will be awarded.

Credit through College Level Examination for Placement (CLEP) scores or high school Advanced Placement (AP) scores will be assigned on an individual basis. The decision of how many credits and which course(s) can be exempted will be made by the Vice President of Instructional Services.

Credit For Experiential Learning

A student may present a file or portfolio of information to the respective Division Dean for the purpose of justifying academic credit for past experiences. The Division Dean will either forward the file or portfolio to the Vice President of Instructional Services and recommend the number of academic credits to be awarded or require the student to provide additional information on which to base a decision. A final determination on the credit to be awarded to the student will be made by the Vice President of Instructional Services upon receipt of the recommendation from the Division Dean. All documentation leading to the awarding of credit for experiential learning will be filed with the Registrar. Under no circumstances will more than 25% of the required hours for a degree, diploma or certificate be awarded for experiential learning.

Credit For Military Training

The Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services will be used to evaluate military training. The Registrar will consult with the Division Dean and the the Vice President of Instructional Services before awarding academic credit.

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Grading System

Student's work in curriculum courses is evaluated according to the letter-grade system. Course grades are recorded on the student’s transcript at the end of each semester. Grades for courses at the 100-level and above will be averaged according to grade point equivalents to determine the student’s academic standing. Grades for courses below the 100-level will not be calculated in the determination of the student’s overall grade point average for student transcript purposes. When a course is repeated, the last grade recorded is the final grade for the course, and only the last hours attempted are counted in computing total credit hours and in determining the student’s grade point average.

Academic Forgiveness

Academic Forgiveness is available to Mayland Community College students. Academic Forgiveness does not affect work either taken at or transferred to another college. Academic Forgiveness is available only ONCE in a student's career at Mayland Community College.

1. The student must apply for Academic Forgiveness no later than the end of the second term after re-enrollment at Mayland Community College.
   
   
2. The student applying for Academic Forgiveness must make an appointment with a designated academic advisor.
   
   
3. The designated academic advisor will explain the Academic Forgiveness Procedure:
   
   
   1. The student must meet all requirements for readmission to the selected certificate, diploma, or degree program.
      
      
   2. At least five (5) years must have elapsed between the end of the term in which the student was last in attendance and the term in which the student intends to re-enroll. Academic Forgiveness applies only to the course work taken prior to the term of re-enrollment. Academic Forgiveness does not affect the grades earned after re-enrollment.
      
      
   3. The prior academic record will remain a part of the student’s transcript, but only grades “C” or better will be carried forward as a part of new program(s) to which the student is admitted.
      
      
   4. Granting of Academic Forgiveness will not affect a student’s access to financial aid or scholarships from any source unless specific governmental or agency laws and/or regulations prohibit such awards. A student who plans to receive any type of student aid should discuss the impact of Academic Forgiveness on his/her financial resources with the appropriate student aid advisor. It is the student's responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office, if applicable.
      
      
4. The student will then complete the Academic Forgiveness application (available from the Registrar).
   
   
5. The designated academic advisor will make a recommendation concerning the granting of Academic Forgiveness. The application will then be sent to the appropriate Division Dean for review. Recommendations for approval will then be forwarded to the Vice President of Instructional Services for final approval.
   
   
6. The application will be forwarded to the Registrar for processing and distribution to the appropriate academic advisor, financial aid officer, and the student. Grades for courses granted Academic Forgiveness will be in parentheses and will not be calculated in the determination of the overall grade point average for transcript purposes.

Grade Interpretation

Academic Progress System (APS) 

Academic Warning 

A student whose cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) falls below 2.0 will be placed on Academic Warning until a cumulative 2.0 GPA is achieved. The student:

• is required to complete and Academic Progress Plan, which must be signed by the Vice-President of Student Development, the ARA, and the faculty advisor before being allowed to take classes next semester;
  
  
• is encouraged to limit enrollment to fifteen (15) or fewer semester hours;
  
  
• cannot pre-register for the next semester until petitioning a meeting with the Vice-President of Student Development;
  
  
• will be placed on Academic Probation if he/she fails to achieve a 2.0 GPA for any semester.

Academic Probation

Academic Probation is a one semester classification for students on Academic Warning who fail to maintain a 2.0 GPA for any semester. A student on Academic Probation:

• is required to complete and Academic Progress Plan, which must be signed by the Vice-President of Student Development, the ARA, and the faculty advisor before being allowed to take classes next semester;
  
  
• is required to limit enrollment to 13 or fewer semester hours;
  
  
• cannot pre-register for the next semester; and
  
  
• will be removed from Academic Probation after one semester if he/she achieves a 2.0 GPA for the semester. The student will continue to remain on Academic Warning until he/she achieves the cumulative 2.0 GPA
  

if the student fails to achieve a 2.0 for the semester, he/she will be placed on Academic Suspension.

Academic Suspension

A student on Academic Probation who fails to achieve a 2.0 GPA for the semester will be placed on Academic Suspension.  A student on Academic Suspension will be required to withdraw from Mayland for at least one semester.  The second suspension will result in two required semesters of withdrawal.

After the semester of suspension, a student will be allowed to petition for readmission.  The petition must include a justification for readmission statement prepared by the student. Readmission must be approved by the student's ARA, faculty advisor, Vice-President of Student Development and the Vice President of Instructional Services.  Upon re-enrollment, the student will be placed on Academic Probation.

A student on Academic Warning, Academic Probation, or Academic Suspension will be notified of this academic standing by a letter from the Vice-President of Student Development. That letter will explain the steps described above.

Academic Integrity Code

Mayland Community College expects every student, staff member, and instructor at Mayland to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. The right to learn in a community free from academic dishonesty is crucial to the development of a college student. For this reason, the College will impose sanctions for instances of plagiarism or cheating, or any act which violates the academic integrity of the College. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with Mayland’s statement regarding violations of the Academic Integrity Code located in the Student Handbook.

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Academic Honors

In recognition of students with outstanding academic records, the President’s List, Dean’s List, and the Honors List will be published at the end of each semester.

• To qualify for the President’s List, a student must take a minimum course load of 12 semester hours credit and maintain a 4.00 grade point average with no incompletes.
  
  
• To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must take a minimum course load of 12 hours credit and maintain at least a 3.50 grade point average with no incompletes.
  
  
• To qualify for the Honors List, a student must take a course load of 6-11 hours credit and maintain at least a 3.50 grade point average with no incompletes.

Requirements for Graduation

A student is eligible for graduation when he/she:

1. has satisfactorily completed the academic requirements of the curriculum;
   
   
2. has an overall grade point average of 2.0;
   
   
3. has met all financial obligations to Mayland; and
   
   
4. has completed an application for graduation before the deadline set each year by the Vice-President of Student Development.

In order for a student to participate in the graduation ceremony, the student must file appropriate requests by the deadlines set each year by the Vice-President of Student Development. This deadline is to ensure that diplomas, certificates, etcetera may be prepared.

Students who plan to complete their requirements for graduation in the summer will be allowed to participate in the spring graduation ceremonies. It is the students responsibility to complete their required credit hours during the summer session.

Honors

A graduating student who has earned an overall quality point average of 3.50 or higher on all work completed at Mayland will receive his or her diploma or degree with “honors.”

Selection of Commencement Marshals

Marshals will be selected from members of active student organizations. Marshals must have a GPA of 3.25 or higher. The Chief Marshal will be the participating marshal with the highest GPA.

Special Notice

This Catalog contains a current description of Mayland Community College. It may be changed from time to time to carry out the purposes and objectives of the College. Important changes in fees, dates, programs and policies will be publicized to the student body and reflected in the next issue of the Catalog and the Catalog Addendum. It is not a contract.

page updated December 6, 2007

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