Academic Information

Attendance

No one is expected to attend all classes. Attendance and participation are two of the most significant factors that promote student success. Students are responsible for completion of all work assigned in class, whether they are present or not.

The following will not be counted as absences if the student notifies the instructor and provides appropriate documentation before the absence:

• Required military duty
• Court-mandated appearances including jury duty
• College-sponsored activities approved by the College president
• Religious holidays

The instructor must receive prior notification of absences caused by such situations to assure the absence will not be counted. Regardless of the reason for an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to follow the instructor’s policies regarding making up missed assignments and providing any required documentation related to the absence. Students who feel they have been unreasonably denied an educational benefit due to required military duty, court-mandated appearances including jury duty, College-sponsored activities approved by the College president, or religious holidays should contact the appropriate dean/director.

Students may be administratively withdrawn by their instructor for excessive absences if students are absent for more hours than the credit hours of the course. For example, a student who misses more than three hours of class in a three-credit-hour class for any reason except those above is subject to the instructor’s withdrawal policy. If a student registers after the first day of class, official class attendance begins on that day rather than the first day of class. Instructors’ syllabi for Web classes explain how this requirement is applied in the online environment.

Other than the situations described above, faculty requirements for attendance vary but must be clearly stated in the instructor’s syllabus. Students reporting to class late or leaving early may be considered by their instructor to be absent. Each instructor’s syllabus describes his or her attendance policy and course requirements and indicates how an administrative withdrawal (AW) will be applied in the class. Students should refer to their syllabi for specific information on the application of the AW policy.

See also Withdrawal.

Academic Standards

The College has established academic standards and an academic progress system to assist students and to meet legal requirements. The academic progress system assists students who, because of unsatisfactory academic performance, may experience difficulty in achieving their educational objectives at the college level. Academic progress procedures are designed to achieve the following:

• Protect the student from prolonged unsatisfactory performance, since continued low achievement will cause the student to forfeit an opportunity to earn a college degree
• Assist the student in re-evaluating educational goals and in selecting a program of study and/or curriculum appropriate for her or his interests, needs and abilities

TCC’s standards of academic progress consider grades and rate of completion of courses. For a student to make satisfactory progress and continue successfully toward a degree, the student must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA and successfully complete 67 percent of all courses attempted by the time of 30 or more attempted hours. For information about the criteria for and consequences of academic warning, probation, suspension and dismissal, students may contact the Department of Student Success and Retention at (850) 201-8440 or by email at advisingcenter@tcc.fl.edu.

Satisfactory Progress/Good Standing

Students who meet or exceed the established cumulative standards will be considered to be making satisfactory progress. Only students in this status may qualify for inclusion in the President’s List or the Dean’s List. The standards are as follows:

• 1-14 credit hours: must maintain a 1.5 GPA or higher
• 15-29 credit hours: must maintain a 1.8 GPA or higher
• 30 or more credit hours: must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher
• Students receiving financial aid must also maintain a 67 percent completion rate

Academic Warning

Students who do not make satisfactory progress and fall below one of the standards listed above will receive an academic warning the first term. The academic warning will appear on the student dashboard in TCC Passport, and an email will be sent notifying the student of his or her status. Students are strongly encouraged to contact an advisor in the Advising Center within Student Success and Retention to discuss their academic performance. Effective Fall 2013, students on academic warning will be limited to enrolling in no more than 13 credit hours per semester. Special consideration may be given due to extenuating circumstances.

Academic Probation

Students who do not make satisfactory progress a second term will be placed on academic probation. Students are strongly​ encouraged to meet with an Advising Center advisor to develop a success plan and may be required to enroll in a specific course or courses in an attempt to correct the problem. Effective Fall 2013, students on academic probation will be limited to enrolling in no more than eight credit hours per semester. Special consideration may be given due to extenuating circumstances. Academic probation will be posted on the academic transcript.

Academic Suspension

Students who do not make satisfactory progress while on academic probation will be placed on academic suspension and may not be allowed to enroll at the College for one full term.

In order to be eligible to register after the suspension, students must complete a Suspension-Dismissal Appeal Packet and contact the Department of Student Success and Retention before the beginning of any term for which they want to petition for re-enrollment. If re-enrollment is permitted, students must meet with an assigned Advising Center advisor within Student Success and Retention to develop an academic success plan before permission to register. Students re-entering after a term on suspension will be placed on academic probation-after-suspension status and limited to no more than eight credit hours per semester and must make satisfactory progress during the term in which they return. Failure to do so will result in academic dismissal. Special consideration may be given due to extenuating circumstances. Academic suspension will be posted on the academic transcript.

Academic Dismissal

Students who do not make satisfactory progress while on returning from probation-after-suspension status will be placed on academic dismissal and may not be allowed to enroll in the College for a minimum of one calendar year. Students on academic dismissal must complete and submit the Suspension-Dismissal Appeal Packet to the Advising Center within Student Success and Retention before the beginning of any term for which they want to petition for re-enrollment. If re-enrollment is permitted, the student must meet with an assigned Advising Center advisor to develop an academic success plan before permission to register. Students re-entering after a year on dismissal will be placed on academic probation-after-dismissal status and limited to no more than eight credit hours per semester and must make satisfactory progress during the term in which they return. Failure to do so will result in another academic dismissal. Academic dismissal will be posted on the academic transcript.

Appeals Process

A student who is suspended or dismissed at the conclusion of any term may appeal the action through a written petition to the Suspension Appeals Committee in the Department of Student Success and Retention, if the student thinks that the suspension was caused by extenuating circumstances. If the appeal is not approved, full sanctions will apply.

Veterans Standards of Academic Progress

All veterans receiving VA educational benefits for training at TCC fall under an additional qualification beyond the College’s standards of academic progress. Any such veteran who fails to earn a 2.0 GPA at TCC for two consecutive academic terms will be reported to the VA for unsatisfactory progress, and VA educational benefits will cease. This qualification addresses only VA benefits and does not have any direct impact on the student’s academic standing with the College itself. All questions regarding this policy should be addressed to the veterans services coordinator in the Veterans Center. (See Veterans Services .)

Academic Support Programs

The Developmental Studies Program is made up of the Division of Developmental Communications and College Success and the Division of Developmental Mathematics. The Division of Developmental Communications and College Success (DCCS) houses the foundational reading, writing and college success courses, as well as the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program. The Division of Developmental Mathematics (DM) houses the foundational mathematics courses.

Both divisions are supported by the Learning Commons.

College Success Courses

College success courses provide students with instruction and strategies to support success in classroom skills, life-management skills and career planning. Students who place into ENC0015  and/or REA0007  must enroll in SLS0003  in their first semester. Students who place into two or more developmental areas other than ENC0015  or REA0007  must enroll in SLS1510  within the first 12 attempted hours. All students who place into two or more developmental areas, including ENC0015  or REA0007 , must enroll in SLS1510  within the first 15 attempted hours. There are also courses available in leadership (SLS2261 ) and career planning (SLS1301 ).

Developmental Studies Program

Developmental education at TCC has always had the goal of preparing students, in a holistic manner, for the rigor associated with college-level studies. Whether a student needs to develop academic skills, success strategies, or both, the program employs methods designed to help students be successful at TCC. The program uses a variety of measures, such as academic history, standardized test scores, personal motivation and goals, certifications and work history, and specialized diagnostic assessments. Once the student’s readiness has been accurately assessed, the student will be advised on the most appropriate pathway to reach his or her stated goal.

If the advised pathway includes developmental education, students will find a variety of options for movement through the program. The different offerings take into account the varied levels of academic need, learning style, student motivation and time commitment. Whether a student needs support in reading, writing or mathematics, the student will find a class offering that fits his or her academic needs, learning style and life situation. Each subject area of the developmental program offers courses that are contextualized in the meta-majors, modularized for individualized learning experiences, compressed for acceleration, or a combination of some, or all, of these formats. To ensure that students move into the best pathway for their specific situation, they are asked to work closely with an academic advisor or a representative within the developmental program.

Classification of Students

A first-year student is a student who, at the time of registration, has fewer than 30 semester hours of college credit in courses carrying degree credit and who is registered in at least one course for credit.

A sophomore is a student who, at the time of registration, has at least 30 semester hours of college credit in courses carrying degree credit and who is registered in at least one course for credit.

A non-degree student is one who is not seeking a degree or certificate but who is registered in at least one college-level credit course.

A transient student is one who is not seeking a degree from TCC but who takes courses at TCC in order to transfer the credit(s) back to his or her home institution.

The Student’s Program

Twelve credit hours is considered a minimum full-time program during Fall and Spring terms; 15 credit hours is the normal full-time program. Six hours is considered full-time for the Summer six-week terms; for the 10-week Summer term, nine hours is required for full-time status.

Students are expected to spend at least two hours per week in preparation for each hour of class lecture or recitation. Thus, if the student enrolls for 15 credit hours, then at least 30 hours per week should be budgeted for class preparation. Some courses, such as laboratory courses, require students to attend additional contact hours, so students should plan their schedules accordingly. TCC reserves the right to restrict a student’s program to less than the full-time load permitted or to assign a student to a particular course or section of a course. Such decisions may be based on a review of the student’s previous academic record, on results of tests given at the time of registration or on commitments outside of college. The purpose of this restriction is to better meet the needs of the student. Students who are employed and attending school should carefully consider the number of hours they undertake to ensure sufficient study time.

The College reserves the right to select from the courses listed in this catalog those that will be offered during any session. Further, the College reserves the right to change any of its offerings or regulations without previous notice.

Definition of Credit

The College conforms to the definition of a college credit hour established in Florida law when developing the annual academic calendar: one college credit is based on the learning expected from the equivalent of fifteen 50-minute periods of classroom instruction; credits for laboratory instruction, internships and clinical experience are determined based on the proportion of direct instruction to the laboratory, internship or clinical practice hours.

The number of college credit hours to be awarded for a course is initially determined through the academic course-approval process overseen by the Academic Planning Committee and approved by the Board of Trustees. The committee recommends the number of credit hours based on the commonly accepted practice of the student learning achieved by direct faculty instruction, combined with independent study, each week, over a period of 15 weeks.

For distance learning and correspondence courses, variations in direct faculty instructional time are determined based upon a learning equivalency to the 15-week requirement. This equivalency is established through a formal approval process.

Variations in the total number of minutes in a 15-week semester or express session may occur due to calendar dates and holidays. In these cases, equivalent instruction is achieved through alternate modes of delivery, and equivalent learning is assured through clearly defined learning outcomes. A deficiency of more than one contact hour per credit hour in any regular or express semester must be formally approved by the Academic Planning Committee.

The College also awards career credit, preparatory credit and noncredit courses in accordance with Florida law.

Course Guidelines

Drop/Add

The time periods referenced in the following policies pertain to classes that begin and end in accordance with the traditional college term. Classes conducted in a nontraditional format (e.g., Self-Paced Instruction [SPI], express schedules or variable starting dates) have different deadlines. Please contact the Department of Admissions and Enrollment Services at (850) 201-8555 for specific policy information.

All students should carefully consider the consequences of changing their schedules after classes begin. However, it is possible to drop and/or add courses during the period of time set forth in the class schedule for each term.

Withdrawal

The withdrawal policy applies to all credit students, including distance learning students. TCC has one withdrawal deadline, which is equivalent to the midpoint of the term for each session. The process for withdrawal before the deadline must be initiated by the student. For information, contact the Department of Admissions and Enrollment Services at (850) 201-8555. Deadlines for withdrawal from Self-Paced Instruction (SPI) courses or courses taught in an express session will be determined by the Department of Admissions and Enrollment Services and the Department of Student Success and Retention and provided to the student. For information regarding withdrawals after the deadline, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at (850) 201-8490 or see Withdrawal after Deadline.

In accordance with State Board of Education Rule 6A-14.0301, students are permitted a maximum of two withdrawals per course. Upon the third attempt, the student will not be permitted to withdraw and will receive a grade for that course.

Students who wish to withdraw from classes may do so through TCC Passport by the official withdrawal deadline.

Students seeking a withdrawal who submit their request before the withdrawal deadline will receive a grade of W recorded upon their permanent record for each course in which they were enrolled at the time of withdrawal. No instructor signature is required. Special permission to withdraw from a course or courses is required for certain student population types due to particular conditions associated with that population. These student population types must complete a paper withdrawal form and obtain the required permission from the designated authority.

The student population types that cannot withdraw online are:

Note: Withdrawals may affect an international student’s required visa status

Students enrolled in certain course types may not withdraw from those courses online. The course types are:

Faculty members whose policy is to withdraw students by using the AW grade must do so by the College’s established withdrawal deadline.

Before seeking a withdrawal, a student should follow these guidelines:

1. Communicate with the faculty member on a consistent basis throughout the semester to discuss the expected outcomes of the student’s progress in the course.
2. Become familiar with TCC’s academic resources.
3. Contact an advisor or a Student Affairs staff member to discuss the consequences of a withdrawal and to request additional assistance with regard to current and future personal and career goals.
4. Contact a Financial Aid staff member regarding the student’s financial aid status. The student should be aware of the following:
   • Withdrawals after the established refund deadline are not eligible for tuition refund.
   • Withdrawals may affect a student’s financial aid status.
5. Withdrawals may affect an international student’s required visa status.
6. Withdrawal from a course may affect a student’s intent to apply to a limited-access program.
7. Withdrawals may affect a student’s graduation timeline.
8. Withdrawals may be associated with higher educational costs.

TCC faculty members do not automatically withdraw students who stop attending classes. Students who stop attending without withdrawing will receive a grade of F unless the instructor has issued an Administrative Withdrawal (AW). Faculty may choose whether or not to use the AW. The use of the AW to administratively withdraw a student is primarily based upon excessive student absences (see Attendance), but may be secondarily based on student academic progress. Faculty members publish their AW policy in the course syllabus.

The AW may also be employed to remove student(s) from the class roster as a disciplinary measure imposed during student judicial hearings by action of the vice president for student affairs.

Withdrawal after Deadline

In certain instances, students may have grounds to appeal for a withdrawal after the established deadline. Students who miss the official TCC withdrawal deadline and have documented circumstances warranting further consideration must go through an appeals process.

Withdrawal after deadline must be made within one year after the end of the term, unless the student was incapacitated during that time or there is a documented College error.

Proving grounds for a withdrawal after deadline is the responsibility of the student. The procedure for appealing a withdrawal after deadline is as follows:

1. The student must complete the Enrollment Appeals form in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and provide appropriate documentation. All forms clearly state the acceptable parameters and/or conditions for an appeal. Appeals that do not meet these minimum criteria or are not supported by documentation will not be considered.
2. Withdrawal after deadline may be considered as a result of the following extenuating circumstances, provided that the student submits the required documentation supporting his/her inability to withdraw by the published deadline:
   • Serious illness (physical or psychological) or injury to the student
   • Death of a member of the student’s immediate family that prohibits the student’s return to class during the semester being considered (documentation must show proof of kinship)
   • Serious illness (physical or psychological) or injury to a member of the student’s immediate family resulting in the student’s becoming the primary caregiver (documentation must show proof of kinship)
   • Military orders and report date after the established withdrawal deadline and before the end of the semester
   • Natural disasters (e.g., hurricane or flood) affecting the student/immediate family

Grade Disputes in Degree and College-credit Certificate Programs

A grade dispute is a claim levied by a student who believes that his or her course grade is incorrect, either through clerical error or the result of inaccurate grading by an instructor. As a general principle, it is the responsibility of the student to establish the grounds for any change of grade. All grade disputes must be initiated within one year of the disputed grade being first awarded. Once initiated, all student grade disputes will be addressed within the time frame established in the following procedures. Students who wish to appeal for a change of grade based upon withdrawal after deadline should review the policy above. Students should contact the appropriate dean for more information.

The procedure for appealing for a change of grade follows:

1. The student confers with the instructor that issued the grade as soon as possible after the grade is issued, but no later than one year after the grade is posted to the student’s record. If the instructor is no longer at the College or is not working that term, the student may notify the division dean, who will then determine how to proceed in the absence of the instructor.
2. If the appeal is not resolved, the student confers with the Dean within five working days. The dean may ask for documentation as well as a written statement explaining the student’s rationale.
3. If the appeal cannot be resolved at this level, the student may then petition the provost/vice president for academic affairs (provost) within five working days. The provost will require the student to submit in writing all of the pertinent facts and supporting documents. The signed appeal shall be submitted to the provost within 10 working days of the initial meeting with the provost. If the student does not provide the written appeal within the 10 working days, the procedure shall terminate.
4. If the student provides the written appeal to the provost within the agreed time period, the provost will investigate.
5. The student will be notified within 10 working days of the decision of the provost.
6. The decision of the provost will be final.

Excess Hours Advisory Statement

Section 1009.286, F.S., establishes an “excess hour” surcharge for a student seeking a baccalaureate degree at a state university. It is critical that students, including those entering Florida colleges, be aware of the potential for additional course fees.

“Excess hours” are defined as hours that go beyond 110% of the hours required for a baccalaureate degree program. For example, if the length of the program is 120 credit hours, the student may be subject to an excess hour surcharge for any credits attempted beyond 132 credit hours (120 x 110%). The following do not count as excess hours: credits earned through an articulated accelerated mechanism such as AP, IB, AICE, or dual enrollment; withdrawals due to medical or personal hardship; credit hours required for certification, recertification, or certificate programs; credit hours taken by active-duty military personnel; credit hours required to achieve a dual major taken while pursuing a baccalaureate degree; developmental education and English as a Second Language credit hours; and credit hours earned in military science courses that are part of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.

All students whose educational plan may include earning a bachelor’s degree should make every effort to enroll in and successfully complete those courses that are required for their intended major on their first attempt. Florida college students intending to transfer to a state university should identify a major or transfer program early and be advised of admission requirements for that program, including the approved common prerequisites. Course withdrawals and/or repeats, as well as enrollment in courses nonessential to the intended major, may contribute to a potential excess hours surcharge.

Auditing Courses

A student registering in a college-credit course on a not-for-credit basis will be enrolled in an audit status. Upon completion of the course, an X grade will be awarded with no impact on the student’s GPA.

Audit students must meet the same admission standards as credit students. The student is responsible for determining from the instructor what participation, if any, will be required. In special circumstances, approval of the dean/director will be required to audit a particular course. Students registering for credit will have priority over auditing students when class size is a consideration. Students must pick up the audit form, complete and obtain the signature of the academic dean, and return the form to the Department of Admissions and Enrollment Services.

Fees for courses audited are the same as for those courses taken for credit. Courses taken on an audit basis do not qualify for financial aid eligibility. Students who have not successfully completed their developmental courses may not audit those developmental courses. Students who have met developmental requirements through previous satisfactory grades or appropriate test scores may audit developmental classes.

Until the published withdrawal deadline for the session, an instructor may administratively withdraw any audit student who excessively abuses the attendance policy.

A student must declare audit status by the last day to drop courses and receive a refund (fifth day of classes). The enrollment will not be counted as an attempt for purposes of full cost or repeat course regulations.

Repeating Courses

Whenever students repeat a course in which they have received a grade of D or F, only the last grade and grade points earned in the repetitions will be used in calculating the TCC GPA and credits earned. However, forgiveness may not transfer to other institutions; therefore, repeated courses may impact the computation of the GPA when students transfer to other institutions, either public or private. Students should also consider the impact of retaking a course on their specific financial aid package.

Students are not permitted to repeat courses in which they have received grades of C or better, or to earn forgiveness after they receive the Associate in Arts degree. Courses may be repeated if they are designated as repeatable, such as music or journalism, or are individualized courses of study; if they are required to be repeated by a regulatory agency; or if they are being repeated as part of a regulatory requirement for continuing education to stay current in the field, such as teacher certification.

In accordance with State Board of Education Rule 6A-14.0301, students may have only three attempts per course, including the original grade, repeat grades and withdrawals at any point in the semester. A fourth attempt may be allowed only through an academic appeals process based on major extenuating circumstances.

Students should call the Department of Student Success and Retention at (850) 201-8440 to schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor to discuss circumstances and to start the appeals process. Fourth attempt appeals are reviewed by the Enrollment Appeals Committee.

In accordance with s. 1004.93, s. 1004.94, s. 1009.28 and s. 1009.285, F.S., students enrolled in the same developmental or college-level course more than two times shall pay the full cost (100 percent) of instruction, except in approved cases of extenuating circumstances.

Absence from Final Examination

A final examination is required in all courses except those specifically exempted by the Academic Planning Committee. For some courses, departmental policy requires that the student take the final exam before a passing grade can be earned. For all other courses, a student who does not take the final exam and is not eligible for a makeup exam will receive a zero for the exam. The zero will be averaged into the course grade. The faculty will not arrange to give final examinations at other than the regularly scheduled times. A student who reports to and takes any part of a final examination ordinarily will not be allowed to defer or retake that final. A student who is absent from a final examination due to illness, court-mandated appearance or other extreme emergencies must contact the appropriate dean/director immediately and provide reliable evidence of these situations. Final examinations may be rescheduled only for extreme emergencies. All changes to final exam schedules must be approved by the appropriate dean/director.

Distance Learning

The Center for Distance Learning supports on-campus education by providing students the opportunity to pursue programs of study in alternative formats. The Center’s staff partners with TCC academic and student affairs units, Workforce Development and the Florida Public Safety Institute to ensure that high-quality distance learning courses are offered and comprehensive student support services that foster the intellectual, career, academic and personal development of students are available. The guiding principles are student engagement, student development and student success.

For information, contact the Center for Distance Learning at (850) 201-9400 or cdl@tcc.fl.edu.

Distance learning formats offered by TCC include hybrid, online and self-paced instruction (SPI). Distance learning courses are excellent options for nontraditional students and students seeking alternative learning environments.

Hybrid: A course in which the learning occurs both on online and on campus. Some instruction is online and some instruction occurs in the traditional classroom.

Online: A course that is Web-based and delivered via the Internet. Lecture material, assignments and other course materials are available online. All coursework is completed online; tests may be taken at the Testing Center or at an approved proctored site.

Self-Paced Instruction (SPI): A course that is offered in an independent study format. Students are not required to attend on-campus classes. Students have 20 weeks to complete all coursework.

TCC Online

Through TCC Online, students have the opportunity to earn college credit via the Internet. Each online course is fully accredited and meets the same academic criteria as traditional courses. Online courses are equivalent to on-campus courses in regard to outcomes, content, credit and transferability. Students may earn the following degrees entirely through distance learning:

• College and University Transfer, A.A. (1001)  
• Criminal Justice Technology, A.S. (2138)  
• Early Childhood Development, Education and Management, A.S. (2123)  
• Paralegal/Legal Studies, A.S. (2112)  
• Environmental Science Technology, A.S. (2162)  

Online courses are typically conducted totally through the TCC Canvas learning management system, with few or no campus visits. Faculty and students communicate with one another through chat, email, discussion boards, Web conferencing and other tools within the online course environment.

To find an online course, look for the Web-based class designator in the course description.

Additional Fees

Students enrolling in online courses will be required to pay an additional fee of $10 per credit hour. Tests may be scheduled on campus or at an approved proctored site. Additional fees may apply for tests taken at proctored sites. Fees will vary by site.

Technology Requirements

Students may be required to purchase software for selected courses.

Open computer labs are available on campus for students’ use in completing their coursework. These labs are equipped with the hardware and software necessary for student success.

For information regarding technical requirements, including browser compatibility, visit the Center for Distance Learning web pages.

For assistance with technical problems, contact the Help Desk at (850) 201-8545 between 8:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Friday. Limited Canvas assistance is available after 5:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday.

Support Services for Online Students

Advising

Support services are available to assist students in being successful as online learners. Students interested in becoming online learners should first be accepted through the TCC admission process, then successfully complete the Introduction to Distance Learning workshop (register for CDL-STU008 through TCC Passport), and then contact the academic advisor (distancelearning@tcc.fl.edu) to help with course registration and other related questions.

First-time-at-TCC students who will complete their program of study entirely online should register for CDL-STU007, Distance Learning Online Orientation, before registering for Web-based courses. This is a free, noncredit online orientation that meets both the orientation and distance learning workshop requirement and is for first-time-at-TCC students only. CDL-STU007 is required for students in the following A.S. degree programs:

• Criminal Justice Technology, A.S. (2138)  
• Early Childhood Development, Education and Management, A.S. (2123)  
• Paralegal/Legal Studies, A.S. (2112)  
• Environmental Science Technology, A.S. (2162)  

Bookstore

Students can purchase textbooks and course-related materials by contacting the TCC Bookstore at tccfl@bkstr.com or at (850) 575-9200. Students may also visit the bookstore on the main campus.

Learning Commons

The Learning Commons offers students and faculty a broad range of services, including diagnostic assessment, learning materials, and electronic resources; individual conferences; one-on-one and small group tutoring; whole class support; workshops and seminars; success strategies; technology; and multimedia support and assistance in developing and assessing individual learning plans. Contact the Learning Commons at learningcommons@tcc.fl.edu or (850) 201-8193.

Library Services

Students may request library assistance through Ask a Librarian. Through this service, students can text, email or chat online with a Reference Librarian.

Testing Center Services

Students who take distance learning courses may come to the main campus to take exams. Visit the Testing Center website (www.tcc.fl.edu/testingcenter) for information.

Distance learners who reside outside of Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla counties may use proctor services for SPI/WEB course testing. Please contact the Distance Learning Testing Office at (850) 201-6440 for details.

Student Right of Privacy

The College maintains various records to assist students enrolled in traditional, distance learning or correspondence course environments in achieving their educational goals. These records are regarded as confidential and information contained in them can be released only with the written permission of the student.

Grading System

The standing of a student in each course is expressed by one of the following letters:

A Excellent - 4 grade points per credit hour
B Good - 3 grade points per credit hour
C Average - 2 grade points per credit hour
D Poor - 1 grade point per credit hour
F Failure - No grade points
S* Satisfactory - No grade points
U* Unsatisfactory - No grade points
I** Incomplete - No grade points
X* Audit - No grade points
NC* No credit course - No grade points
NR* Grade not reported - No grade points
AW* Administrative withdrawal - No grade points
W* Withdrew - No grade points
AD, AF* Amnesty - No grade points

*Grade not included when computing the grade point average.

**Incomplete: A special circumstance where a student who is passing a course and has completed a majority of the required coursework may, with the permission of the instructor, be allowed to receive an Incomplete. This permission is granted only for exceptional reasons. Grades of “I” are not assigned to any courses if a student withdraws from the College or to avoid an earned grade. It is the responsibility of the student to make the necessary arrangements with the instructor concerned to satisfy the incomplete conditions. An “I” shall be changed to a final grade if the student completes the required work by the end of the next term, whether or not the student is enrolled for that term. An “I” not removed by the end of the next term (Fall, Spring, Summer) will revert to an F. Students called for active military duty will, at their request, be assigned “I” grades that will not convert to F grades for a period not to exceed two terms following the end of the term for which the “I” grade was assigned. Students who receive an “I” grade under this exceptional circumstance may receive a full tuition refund for the course in which “I” grades have not been removed by the end of the second term by requesting such a refund in writing to the vice president for student affairs no later than the last official class day of the second term.

Grade Reports

Final grades will be posted to TCC Passport. Records cannot be released if the student has any outstanding financial obligations to the College.

Honors Recognition

TCC is pleased to recognize the academic accomplishments of its students each semester, as well as at graduation. Students who have satisfied all of their developmental courses, who enroll in at least six credit hours in a term and who complete all college credit hours attempted are eligible for honors recognition for that term. Students are notified of honors recognition through TCC email. President’s and Dean’s recognition is also noted on the official TCC transcript.

Only courses that earn quality points can be used to determine eligibility. If courses graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis are taken in addition to those carrying quality points, grades of “S” must be earned. The removal of an “Incomplete” will not be used in determining eligibility for honors recognition.

Eligible students who earn a 4.0 GPA will receive President’s recognition; students who earn at least a 3.5 GPA will receive Dean’s recognition; and students who earn at least a 3.0 GPA will receive Honor’s recognition for that term.

Merit Recognition

Based on academic performance, TCC also recognizes students who are fulfilling their developmental courses. Students who are in developmental courses, who enroll in at least six hours in a term and who complete all coursework attempted are eligible for merit recognition. Merit recognition is not noted on the official TCC transcript. Students are notified through TCC email.

Only courses that earn quality points can be used to determine eligibility. If courses graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis are taken in addition to those carrying quality points, grades of “S” must be earned. The removal of an “Incomplete” will not be used in determining eligibility for Merit recognition.

Students who earn at least a 3.0 GPA will receive Merit recognition; students who earn a 4.0 will receive Presidential Merit recognition for that term.

Transfer Credit

Tallahassee Community College welcomes transfer students from all environments and accepts a broad range of transfer credit.

Transfer credit is accepted for first-year and sophomore-level coursework and may be evaluated as to level, content, quality, comparability and degree program relevance by the faculty in the appropriate academic unit. In establishing the eligibility for transfer credit, the faculty may ask students to provide additional information, such as the original college catalog, course descriptions, course syllabi, stated learning-outcomes, assessment measures and sample student work.

A maximum of 75% of the required credit hours for degree completion and graduation at the College may be accepted as transfer credit.

The provost, working with the Academic Planning Committee, has institutional authority over all procedures for transfer credit, and the College registrar has the authority to enact these procedures. These procedures are reviewed on a regular basis by the provost and the Academic Planning Committee.

Florida Statewide Course Numbering System

The College accepts transfer credit from all institutions that participate in the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). For certain exceptions to this articulation agreement, students should consult Exceptions to the General Rule for Course Equivalency  in this catalog.

• Regionally accredited institutions that participate in Florida SCNS: In compliance with Florida Statute, students will receive direct transfer credit for any courses taken at these institutions. Students will need to provide official transcripts, but there will be no further review of the transfer credit by faculty.
   
• Nonregionally accredited institutions that participate in Florida SCNS: In compliance with Florida Statute, students will receive direct transfer credit for any courses taken at these institutions. Students will need to provide official transcripts, and the College registrar will establish that the institution and course is listed as transferable on the SCNS website. If so listed, there will be no further review of the transfer credit by faculty.
   
• Regionally/nationally accredited institutions that do not participate in Florida SCNS: Students may receive transfer credit for courses taken at these institutions, but students are required to provide, in addition to the official transcript, documentation as to the level, content, quality, comparability and degree program relevance of the course. This material will be evaluated by faculty in an appropriate academic unit.
   
• Nonregionally/nationally accredited institutions: Students may receive transfer credit for courses taken at these institutions, but students are required to provide, in addition to the official transcript, documentation as to the level, content, quality, comparability and degree program relevance of the course. This material will be evaluated by faculty in an appropriate academic unit.

Credit by Examination

The College accepts credit by examination for the following programs, based on the determinations made by the Florida Department of Education’s Articulation Coordinating Committee:

• Advanced Placement (AP)
• Cambridge AICE Exams
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
• Excelsior College Examinations
• UExcel Excelsior College Examination Program

Students may not receive credit by examination for any course in which they have already earned college-level credit.

Credit for Military Service

Active duty members of the military with one year of experience and veterans who have completed at least one year of active duty service with an honorable discharge are entitled to seven hours of credit for experience gained during service, as follows:

• HSC1100 Concepts of Positive Living
    3 credit hours
• PEM1101 Theory and Practice of Adult Fitness
    2 credit hours
• MSL1001 Basic Officership
    1 credit hour
• MSL1002 Basic Officership
    1 credit hour

In order to receive these credits, students must first complete one semester of attendance at TCC. Students should then submit a written request for the credits to be posted to their academic record, together with either proof of active duty status or a copy of their DD214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).

In addition, credit may be awarded for military training and education in accordance with the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Active or former military service members, depending upon their branch of service, may submit any of the following documents for review:

• Joint Services Transcript (Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Navy)
• Community College of the Air Force

College credit may be awarded based on ACE recommendations, but that recommendation is subject to faculty review to establish equivalency. The College awards only those credits appropriate to the student’s degree program.

Because most credits for military experience will be recognized as electives only, students should seek guidance from a college advisor before requesting this credit in order to understand any implications related to excess hours or other concerns.   

Credit Earned at Non-U.S. Institutions

International students must provide official or certified copies of all postsecondary transcripts and other examination results. All academic records must be issued in the native language and be accompanied by a certified English translation.

Transfer students interested in receiving transfer credit for coursework completed at non-U.S. postsecondary institutions must provide a course-by-course evaluation done by a certified evaluation agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (www.naces.org) or the International Education Credential Services provided by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (www.aacrao.org). Examples of such agencies include World Education Services (www.wes.org) and Josef Silney & Associates (www.jsilney.com). Any costs associated with the evaluation are the student’s responsibility. All evaluations must be in English. Additional documents may be required by faculty in the academic unit chosen to evaluate the credit.

Institutional Exemption by Exam

Students are able to earn three hours of credit for CGS1000 Introduction to Computer Technology  by passing a competency examination administered by the Division of Technology and Professional Programs (TPP). An additional fee is charged for this examination.

Students are able to earn three hours of credit for CGS1060 Computer and Internet Literacy  by passing the IC3 FastTrack competency examination. An additional fee is charged for this examination.

Credit by PSAV (Clock Hour) Certificate

Students who earn a PSAV certificate in certain disciplines may receive college credit toward a program of study (A.S. degree). TCC recognizes a number of agreements, and each agreement outlines the exact requirements for earning credit. Exemption credit will be awarded only after successful completion of nine credit hours of coursework in the specific A.S. degree program at TCC. For a comprehensive listing of all state articulated agreements, please visit www.fldoe.org/workforce/dwdframe/artic_frame_psav2aas.asp. For more information about exemption credit, contact the program division or an academic advisor.

Exemption Credit for Industry Credentials (Gold Standard Career Pathways)

The State Board of Education has approved Gold Standard Career Pathways Articulation Agreements for earned industry certifications that allow students block credit. The College awards block credit for the certifications if the degree is offered at the College and the student meets the requirements identified in the Gold Standard Career Pathway. Contact the dean of TPP for more information.

Local Articulation Agreements

The College has also entered into articulation agreements with area high schools in TCC’s three-county area (Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla) and has pre-approved certain certifications for course credit equivalency without further review. Detailed information about these agreements can be obtained from the TPP Division.

Experiential Credit

Students are required to complete a request for an evaluation of noncollege learning. Once the request is submitted to the dean for curriculum and instruction, the student will self-enroll in a Prior Learning Portfolio Development Course that is offered through the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). At the completion of the course, the student will submit the portfolio to CAEL for faculty evaluation. CAEL will then issue a National College Credit Recommendation Service/Learning Counts transcript. The course recommendation will include lower or higher semester credit equivalencies, the name of the course for which the student should receive credit, and a brief description of the course. This recommendation is then subject to review by faculty to ensure equivalency.

Students must be admitted to the program to which the credit will apply, and students must have earned at least 12 college credit hours. Credits will be held in escrow until this requirement is met.

No more than 25 percent of total credit required for any program may be awarded through experiential credit. Students may not receive credit for prior learning for courses in areas where the student has already received college credit. General Education courses required in the student’s program of study cannot be earned through experiential credit.

Procedures for the assessment of prior learning are developed and regularly reviewed by the provost in conjunction with the Academic Planning Committee.

Graduation

Requirements for Graduation

Residency Requirement

All students who graduate from TCC must complete at least 25 percent of the credit hours required for the degree in residence at TCC.

Courses and Grade Point Average Requirement

Students who graduate from TCC must complete the curriculum prescribed for the program in which they are enrolled.

• Candidates for degrees will be required to achieve a grade point average of at least 2.0 in all applicable courses for their program of study. This includes both transfer courses and courses taken at TCC. In addition, candidates for degrees will be required to achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.0 in all courses taken at TCC.
• Only the final grade received in courses repeated by students shall be used in this computation.
• All courses submitted must be appropriate to the degree program.

Steps to Apply for Graduation

1. Sign on to TCC Passport at tccpassport.tcc.fl.edu.
2. Under the My Records menu, click on Graduation Status.
3. Select the program objective for which you wish to apply for graduation. If you have multiple objectives, you mus submit a graduation application for each objective.
4. Review your graduation status information or click on Degree Audit at the bottom of the page to determine your graduation status.
5. If your degree audit shows that you have completed at least 75 percent of your degree requirements, apply for graduation online by the following deadlines:
   
   Summer: July 1
   Fall: December 1
   Spring: April 1
    
6. Apply for graduation by clicking on the button Apply for Graduation or Update your Application. Note: If you have not met the 75 percent completion point, you will not be given the option Apply for Graduation.
7. Confirm that your name and address in the student database are correct for printing your name on the diploma and for mailing your diploma after graduation. You may change your address through TCC Passport or in the Department of Admissions and Enrollment Services.
8. Once you have clicked on Apply for Graduation, you have successfully completed the steps required to apply for graduation. Note: If you feel that an error may have occurred while applying for graduation, call the Department of Admissions and Enrollment Services at (850) 201-8555 to verify that your application was processed.
9. Purchase your cap and gown in the TCC Bookstore. Commencement ceremonies are held during the Spring term each year. Information about the ceremony will be mailed during the Spring term.

Commencement Exercises

Formal commencement exercises are held once each year at the end of the Spring semester. All graduates of the previous Summer and Fall terms will be invited to participate in these exercises with the Spring semester graduates. For information, contact the Division of Student Affairs at (850) 201-8490.