Academic Information

Attendance

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
• Documented medical emergency/injury

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Students may be administratively withdrawn by their instructor for excessive absences if students are absent for more hours than the credit hours of the course.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. Each instructor’s syllabus describes his or her attendance 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 procedure.

Students may appeal an administrative withdrawal, as with other withdrawal appeals. See the Appeals section. 

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 TCC Advising Center at (850) 201-8440 or 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 EagleNet, 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 to discuss their academic performance. Students on academic warning are 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 advisor in the TCC Advising Center to develop a success plan and may be required to enroll in a specific course or courses in an attempt to correct the problem. Students on academic probation are 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, and an email will be sent notifying the student of his or her status.

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 submit an online Suspension-Dismissal Appeal Packet via their TCC EagleNet account to the Suspension Appeals Committee 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 Advising 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, and an email will be sent notifying the student of his or her status.

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 apply for readmission, then submit an online Suspension-Dismissal Appeal Packet via their TCC EagleNet account to the Suspension Appeals Committee 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 their 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 by submitting the online Suspension-Dismissal Appeal packet via their TCC EagleNet account to the Suspension Appeals Committee, 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. 

Academic Support

Academic support for students is provided through the Learning Commons and through the Transitional Studies Division.

The Transitional Studies Division houses the developmental reading, writing and mathematics courses, as well as the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program. The division is supported by the Learning Commons. 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 is 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 progression through the program. The different offerings take into account 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. The College offers courses that are contextualized in the meta-majors, module-based 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 Transitional Studies Division.

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 credit 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 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 TCC District 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 online courses, variations in direct faculty instructional time are determined based on 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 session 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., express schedules or variable starting dates) have different deadlines. View the Academic Calendar for exact dates.

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 TCC Online 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. View the Academic Calendar for published withdrawal dates for each term and session.

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 EagleNet by the official withdrawal deadline.

Students seeking a withdrawal who submit their request before the withdrawal deadline will receive a grade of W recorded on their permanent record for each course in which they were enrolled at the time of withdrawal. No instructor signature is required.

However, 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:

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 may 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). Faculty members publish their AW criteria in the course syllabus.

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

The AW may also be employed to remove student(s) from the class roster as a disciplinary measure imposed as a result of student judicial hearings by action of the vice president for student affairs. Students may appeal the AW as with other withdrawal appeals as noted below.

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. The College has two processes for consideration of withdrawal after the deadline:

• For academic reasons
• For major extenuating circumstances

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.

Appeal Process for Late Withdrawal Due to Extenuating Circumstances

The student has the responsibility to prove that there are grounds for a withdrawal after deadline. 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 or 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 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 or his or her immediate family

Appeal Process for Grades and Late Withdrawal Due to Academic Reasons

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.

A grade may only be changed by the instructor of record or by the provost after an academic appeal has been settled. An academic appeal will be considered if there is evidence that one or more of the following conditions exist:

• Error in calculation of grade
• Deviation from the syllabus or college policies
• Academic disparate treatment of student that is not addressed by the College’s equity and civil rights policies
• Inappropriate penalties for an academic honesty violation or programmatic progression

An appeal will not be considered because of general dissatisfaction with a grade, penalty or outcome of a course. Disagreement with the instructor’s professional judgment of the student’s work and performance is also not an acceptable basis for an appeal.

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 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 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 or if the appeal requires a hearing by the Academic Appeals Committee.
6. If the provost determines that the appeal meets the criteria, he or she will convene the Academic Appeals Committee to consider the complaint. The provost will notify the student of the Academic Appeals Committee meeting date, his or her rights, and the next steps in the process.
7. 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 Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (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.

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. 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. Approval of the dean is 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 Admissions and Records office.

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. 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 for 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 meet an advisor in the TCC Advising Center 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/activity 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 may not change the final examination schedule without prior approval from the provost. Student requests for alternate time to take the exam may be considered by the instructor in consultation with the dean. Such requests must be submitted to the instructor in advance. 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 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.

TCC Online Learning

TCC Online supports on-campus education by providing students the opportunity to pursue programs of study in alternative formats. Staff partners with TCC academic and student affairs units, the Workforce Development Division, and the Florida Public Safety Institute to ensure that high-quality online 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 TCC Online at (850) 201-9400 or TCCOnline@tcc.fl.edu.

Learning formats offered by TCC include hybrid and online instruction. These 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 College’s course learning management system. 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.

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 online 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)  

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 TCC Online webpage.

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, and then contact the academic advisor (TCConline@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 online courses. This is a free, noncredit online orientation 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)  

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 William D. Law 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.

The Virtual Learning Commons is also available to provide services comparable to those provided in the Learning Commons to students working online. All of the online resources, online tutoring, workshops and virtual study rooms are available in the Virtual Learning Commons. 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 online courses may come to the main campus to take exams. Visit the Testing Center website (www.tcc.fl.edu/testingcenter) for information.

Online learners who reside outside of Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla counties may use proctor services for web course testing. Please contact the testing office at (850) 201-6440 for details.

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 a grade of 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.

Degree Verification

TCC has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide degree verification for students who need to provide this information to potential employers, lenders or others. To obtain degree verification, go to National Student Clearinghouse Verification Services and follow the prompts. The student, company or agency requesting the verification may be assessed a convenience fee.

Enrollment Verification

Students who need enrollment verification for a specific time period (e.g., current term or academic year) for potential employers, lenders or insurance companies, will contact the National Student Clearinghouse, which provides enrollment verification for students who request it. 

Verification of enrollment for a term will be certified only after the fifth day of classes (i.e., the last day to drop a class) for that term. Certification is calculated on the date the request is made. If a student withdraws from courses in the current term, before the verification request, those courses will not be included in the total enrollment hours reported. 

To obtain enrollment verification, go to National Student Clearinghouse Verification Services and follow the prompts. The student, company or agency requesting the verification may be assessed a convenience fee.

Grade Reports

Final grades will be posted to TCC EagleNet. Official college transcript cannot be released if the student has any outstanding financial obligations to the College.

Transcripts

TCC partners with Credentials Solutions to provide official transcript order processing services. Students can order transcripts online 24 hours a day/7 days a week with customer service provided Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. E.S.T. The combination of services includes online transcript ordering, electronic delivery of transcripts in PDF format and paper transcript delivery. The TranscriptPlus transcript ordering system uses an authentication process that is FERPA compliant and is able to electronically authenticate both current students and alumni, check for holds (transcripts will not be released for a student who has any outstanding financial obligation to the College), release transcript records once holds have been satisfied, and communicate with students via email and cellular text messaging throughout the process. 

To initiate the ordering process, students should log in to their TCC EagleNet account, go to the My Records tab and select the Transcript Request option. They will then be directed to the Credentials Solutions ordering system. Former students who do not have a TCC EagleNet account may go to Admissions and Records on the TCC website and select the Transcript Request link.  

TCC does not charge for transcripts; however, Credentials Solutions assesses a processing fee of $2.25 per transcript order being delivered electronically. Transcripts delivered via first class mail incur a charge of $4.50 (including the $2.25 processing fee). There are additional charges for transcripts requested to be delivered via other domestic or international rush delivery options.

Students may print an unofficial transcript by logging in to their TCC EagleNet account, going to the My Records tab and selecting the View Unofficial Transcript option.

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’s Statewide Course Numbering System. 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 Advanced International Certificate of Education (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 Silny & Associates (www.jsilny.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 Business, Industry and Technology Division. 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 Career and Technical (Clock Hour) Certificate

Students who earn a Career and Technical 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 list of all state articulated agreements, visit the Florida Department of Education website. 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 Business, Industry and Technology 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 Business, Industry and Technology Division.

Experiential Credit

To receive credit for past noncollege experience, students are required to complete a request for an evaluation of noncollege learning. Once the request is submitted to the Associate Vice-President of Academic Affairs, 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

Graduation Requirements and Year of Entry

Students must complete the requirements shown in the College catalog for the year in which they enter the College. If graduation requirements change during a student’s attendance, the student may elect to satisfy either the new requirements or the ones in force at the time of enrollment, provided the student has maintained continuous enrollment. Continuous enrollment may be claimed if the student satisfactorily completes at least one course during the Fall or Spring term. If a break in enrollment of more than 12 months occurs, the student may be required to complete requirements for graduation under the catalog in force at the time of re-entry. Upon re-admission to the College, please see an academic advisor to determine whether you have satisfied the General Education requirements and/or foreign language competency under a previous catalog.

Students enrolled in healthcare programs will be required to fulfill graduation requirements specified in the catalog for the year in which they enrolled in their first healthcare program course. If a student withdraws before completing the program and is later re-admitted, the student must fulfill the requirements in force at the time the student returns to the program.

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.

Awarding of Certificates and Degrees

Tallahassee Community College reserves the right to award a certificate or degree if a student has completed all requirements for the certificate or degree. Once the certificate or degree has been awarded, all coursework leading to that degree is considered final and not subject to change unless there is a documented College error. (District Board of Trustees Policy 10-25)

Steps to Apply for Graduation

1. Sign on to TCC EagleNet. Under the advising tab at the top, select “Graduation Application” on the drop down menu. 
2. Select the program objective for which you wish to apply for graduation. If you have multiple objectives, you must submit a graduation application for each objective.
3. Review your graduation status information or click on Degree Audit at the bottom of the page to determine your graduation status.
4. Register for and complete the online graduation workshop.
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 Admissions and Records office.
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 Admissions and Records office 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.

Honors Designations Earned by Graduates

Students with outstanding cumulative academic grade point averages at the time of graduation receive special designation on their diplomas. The cumulative grade point average includes TCC credits earned as well as transfer work. Special designation is also noted in the annual commencement program at the Spring ceremony. The criteria for these recognitions are as follows:

• Students who graduate with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0-3.49 are considered Honor Graduates. This honor is denoted in the commencement program by a single asterisk and on the diploma by an honor seal.
• Students who graduate with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5-3.99 are considered Honor Graduates/Dean’s List. The denotation in the commencement program is two asterisks and the diploma will include an honor seal.
• Students who graduate with a cumulative grade point average of 4.0 are considered Honor Graduates/President’s List. The denotation in the commencement program is three asterisks and the diploma will include an honor seal.
• The names of students who graduate from the Honors Program will show in bold italics in the commencement program. 
• The diploma for a graduate who is a member of Phi Theta Kappa will include a PTK seal if the student graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.35 or higher. 

Commencement Ceremony

A formal commencement ceremony is 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 the ceremony with the Spring semester graduates. For information, contact the Division of Student Affairs at (850) 201-8490 or visit the commencement webpage.