Academic Information

Attendance

All students enrolled in the College are 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 and 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Students may be Administratively Withdrawn by their instructor for excessive absences if students are absent for more hours than the credit hours of the course.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 Enrollment Services and Student Success office, located on the second floor of the Student Union.

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, an e-mail will be sent notifying the student of his or her status, and a student success adviser will contact the student to discuss the student’s academic performance.

Academic Probation

Students who do not make satisfactory progress a second term will be placed on academic probation. In order to be eligible for registration for another term, the student will be required to meet with a student success adviser to develop a success plan and may be required to enroll in a specific course or courses in an attempt to correct the problem(s). Students on probation 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 will be posted on the academic transcript.

Academic Suspension

Students who do not make satisfactory progress while on academic probation will be placed on suspension and may not be allowed to enroll at the College for one full term. While on academic suspension, students will be provided information on vocational opportunities and/or remediation options that could assist them in developing job and academic skills.

In order to be eligible to register after the suspension, students must contact the Enrollment Services and Student Success office before the beginning of any term for which they want to petition for re-enrollment and must meet with a student success adviser to develop an academic success plan. Students on academic suspension may be limited in the number of credit hours they may register for per semester. Special consideration may be given due to extenuating circumstances. Academic suspension will be posted on the academic transcript. Students re-entering after a term on suspension will be placed back on academic probation, and they must make satisfactory progress during the term in which they return. Failure to do so will result in academic dismissal.

Academic Dismissal

Students who do not make satisfactory progress while on returning-from-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 contact the Enrollment Services and Student Success office 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 a student success adviser before registration. The student may be required to enroll in a specific course or courses and will be limited in the number of credit hours he or she may register for per semester.

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 Group established in the Enrollment Services and Student Success office, 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 division of Academic Support houses the Developmental Studies Program, College Success courses and the Learning Commons, which provides learning assistance to all TCC students. (See 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.

Developmental Studies Program

The Developmental Studies Program provides opportunities for students to improve performance in the college-entry skills of English/writing, reading and mathematics. Any student who scores below the state-adopted minimum college placement test score in any of these three skill areas must register for the developmental courses indicated for that skill area.

Full-time students who register for at least 12 credits must begin developmental courses immediately based on placement test results. Part-time students must begin developmental courses prior to accumulating 12 credits. Students enrolled in developmental courses may also enroll in college credit courses that do not require the skills addressed in developmental courses. Students must successfully complete the required developmental courses by the time they have accumulated 12 hours of college credit coursework. Students may continue enrollment in college credit coursework provided they maintain enrollment in developmental coursework for each subsequent semester until developmental coursework requirements are satisfactorily completed. Students must also demonstrate satisfactory performance in their college credit coursework (s. 1008.30, F.S.). Students who have accumulated 12 hours of college credit may not withdraw from developmental courses unless they are withdrawing from the College.

Learning Commons and Library

The William D. Law, Jr. Learning Commons is a comprehensive center providing resources, learning support and technology support across the curriculum. (See Learning Commons .)

The library, which shares a building with the William D. Law, Jr. Learning Commons, provides state-of-the art resources and services that support the academic missions of the College and the personal enrichment of TCC students, faculty and staff. (See Library .)

Classification of Students

A freshman 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

Credit is a unit of measure assigned to courses or course-equivalent learning. Credit is awarded if the learning activity it represents is part of, or preparatory for, an organized and specified program leading to a postsecondary certificate or degree.

College credit is assigned to courses or course-equivalent learning that is part of an organized and specified program leading to an associate degree. 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 by the proportion of direct instruction to the laboratory exercise, internship hours or clinical practice hours.

Career credit is assigned to courses or course-equivalent learning that is part of an organized and specified program leading to a career certificate. It applies to postsecondary adult vocational courses (PSAV). One career credit is based on the learning expected from the equivalent of 30 hours of instruction.

Developmental credit is assigned to courses that provide pre-college-level academic preparation as determined by State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.0315. One developmental credit is based on the learning expected from the equivalent of fifteen 50-minute periods of classroom instruction, with credit for laboratory instruction and individualized study determined based on the proportion of direct instruction to the laboratory exercise or individualized program.

Course Guidelines

Dropping/Adding

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 Enrollment Services and Student Success office 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

TCC has one withdrawal deadline, which is equivalent to the midpoint of the term for each session. The withdrawal policy applies to all credit students, including distance learning students. The withdrawal process before deadline must be initiated by the student. For information, please contact the Enrollment Services and Student Success office 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 Enrollment Services and Student Success office 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 the Withdrawal After Deadline section below. 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 want to withdraw from the term must submit an official Complete Withdrawal Form in the Enrollment Services and Student Success office. For information, please contact the Enrollment Services and Student Success at (850) 201-8555.

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. Students who have accumulated 12 hours of college credit may not withdraw from developmental courses unless they are withdrawing from the College.

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

Before seeking a withdrawal, students should follow these guidelines:

1. Communicate with your faculty member on a consistent basis throughout the semester to discuss the expected outcomes of your progress in the course.
2. Familiarize yourself with TCC’s academic resources.
3. Contact your adviser or a Student Affairs staff member to discuss the consequences of a withdrawal and to request additional assistance with regard to your current and future personal and career goals.
4. Contact a Financial Aid staff member regarding your financial aid status. Students 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.
   • Withdrawals may affect an international student’s required visa status.
   • Withdrawal from a course may affect a student’s intent to apply to a limited-access program.
   • Withdrawals may affect a student’s graduation timeline.
   • 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 catalog section on 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 or incapacity due to accident of the student
   • Death, serious illness or incapacity due to accident of a member of the immediate family
   • Other extreme emergency or catastrophe, such as
     • Medical/psychological trauma of the student as evidenced by a physician’s letter
     • Military orders to report
     • Natural disasters affecting student/immediate family

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%).

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 complete the paperwork in the Enrollment Services and Student Success office.

Fees for courses audited are the same as for those courses taken for credit. Courses taken as an audit 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 midterm, 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 choir, 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 Enrollment Services and Student Success office at (850) 201-8555 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. Contact the Enrollment Services and Student Success office at (850) 201-8555 for information.

Appeal for Change of Grade

Ordinarily, an instructor’s grades are permanent once they have been released to Enrollment Services and Student Success on the final day of the term. Grades may be changed only when a clerical error has been made or when new information indicates that a change be made. In certain instances, a student may have just grounds to appeal for a change of grade. All grade appeals must be initiated within one calendar year after the disputed grade was awarded. In proving grounds for a change of grade, the responsibility is on the student.

The procedure for appealing for a change of grade is as follows:

1. The student confers with the instructor.
2. If the problem is not resolved, the student confers with the appropriate dean/director.
3. If the problem cannot be resolved at that level, the student may then petition the vice president for academic affairs. The vice president will require the student to put all of the pertinent facts in a written petition and submit a signed copy to the vice president within a time period agreed to by both parties.
4. If the student does not provide the written petition within the agreed time period, the procedure shall terminate.
5. If the student provides the written petition to the vice president for academic affairs within the agreed time period, the vice president will investigate.
6. If the problem cannot be resolved at this level, the vice president for academic affairs will forward the petition to the Student Services Committee via the vice president for student affairs. This Committee, which may request additional information from both parties via the vice president for student affairs, will then inform the student and the faculty member of the date of the hearing and request their presence.
7. The Committee shall hold the hearing and consider the facts stated in the petition.
8. The Committee shall make a recommendation, and the chairman will notify the vice president for academic affairs via the vice president for student affairs, in writing, of the committee’s recommendation.
9. Notification will be mailed within 10 working days following the hearing.

Absence from Final Examination

A final examination is required in all courses except those specifically exempted by the Academic Affairs Curriculum 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 about distance learning, contact the Center for Distance Learning at (850) 201-9400 or cdl@tcc.fl.edu, or visit the Center for Distance Learning website.

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: A course that is offered in an independent study format. Students are not required to attend on-campus classes; however, students have 20 weeks to complete all coursework,

TCC Online

Through TCC Online, students are afforded 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 the areas of outcomes, content, credit and transferability. Currently, students can earn the following degrees entirely through distance learning:

• A.A. Degree
• A.S. Degree in Early Childhood Development and Education
• A.S. Degree in Office Administration
• A.S. Degree in Paralegal and Legal Studies

Online courses are typically conducted totally through the Blackboard Learn Classroom Management System, with few or no campus visits. Faculty and students communicate with one another through chat, e-mail, 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 desiring to take hybrid, online or Web-assisted courses should have regular access to a computer and the Internet. In addition, students may be required to purchase software for selected courses. There are open computer labs available on campus for students’ use in completing their coursework. These labs are equipped with the hardware and software necessary for student success.

• Technical Requirements
  http://www.tcc.fl.edu/about_tcc/academic_affairs/center_for_distance_learning/about_distance_learning/web_orientation/technical_requirements
   
• Browser Requirements
  http://content.tcc.fl.edu/courses/browsercheck.asp
   
• Blackboard 9 Browser Compatibility
  www.tcc.fl.edu/about_tcc/academic_affairs/center_for_distance_learning/blackboard_9_information/blackboard_9_browser_compatibility

For assistance with technical problems, please 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. For assistance with Blackboard, please contact the Blackboard Help Desk at (850) 201-8545 between 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.

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 admissions process, complete the Student Introduction to Online Learning successfully, and then contact the academic adviser (distancelearn@tcc.fl.edu) to help with course registration and other related questions at.

Bookstore

Students can purchase textbooks and course-related materials by contacting the TCC Bookstore at tccfl@bkstr.com or at (850) 575-9200. Local students can 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 multi-media 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, e-mail 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. Please 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/TV course testing. Please contact the Distance Learning Testing Office at (850) 201-6440 for more 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 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 C) 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. Academic permanent records will not be released without a written request from the student. A photo-bearing identification is required to receive records in person. 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 e-mail. 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, and students are notified through TCC e-mail.

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.

Alternative Credit Programs

TCC may award credit through the following methods:

Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB), military service school credits, correspondence credits from regionally accredited institutions, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), Excelsior College Examinations and TCC Institutional Exemption Exams. Section 1007.27(2), F.S., requires the Articulation Coordinating Committee (ACC) to establish passing scores and course and credit equivalents for AP, AICE, IB and CLEP exams, which are subject to change every year. The DANTES/DSST and Excelsior College exam equivalents on the list are not part of that requirement, but are authorized by State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.024.

No more than 45 alternative study credits may be earned toward graduation in an A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. degree. No more than 75 percent of the credits in a certificate program may be earned by alternative study.

A complete list of the courses and requirements to earn credit as adopted by the Articulation Coordinating Committee is available in the Enrollment Services and Student Success office, (850) 201-8555, on the TCC Web page (www.tcc.fl.edu) or through the Florida Virtual Campus (www.FLVC.org) system:

1. Go to www.FLVC.org.
2. Click on Counselors & Educators.
3. Click on College Credit Programs and Exams (under Advising Manuals).
4. Click on Articulation Coordinating Committee (ACC) Credit-By-Exam Guidelines.
5. Browse required course equivalents

Military Service

Any veteran who has completed at least one year of active duty service with an honorable discharge is entitled to seven hours of college credit, as follows:

• HSC 1100
    Concepts of Positive Living (3 credit hours)
• PEM 1101
    Theory and Practice of Adult Fitness (2 credit hours)
• MSL 1001
    Basic Officership (1 credit hour)
• MSL 1002
    Basic Officership (1 credit hour)

In order to receive the seven hours of credit, the veteran must submit a copy of his or her DD214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), along with a written request for the credits to be posted to his or her academic record. The veteran must complete at least one semester at TCC before these credits can be posted.

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

• Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS)
• Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcripts (SMART)
• Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)

Generally, college credit is awarded based on ACE recommendations. The College awards only those credits appropriate to the student’s degree program.

Students are advised to submit their documents in a timely manner in order to avoid taking a course in which they may be eligible to receive credit. Reservists and dependents do not qualify for these credits.
 

Credit by Exam

Currently enrolled students may earn credit by examination. A maximum of 45 semester hours may be earned toward graduation. No grades are assigned to credit earned by this method, and hours are not included in computing a student’s GPA.

Students earning credit through any recognized credit-by-examination program must, in addition, meet the requirements specified in State Board of Education Rules 6A-10.30 (Gordon Rule) and 6A-10.31 (College-Level Skills Program Rule) prior to the receipt of the Associate in Arts degree.

Students may not earn dual credit through credit by examination. For example, a student may earn credit on the CLEP general examination in English Composition, or on the subject matter examination in English Composition, or on the institutional examination in English Composition, but not on more than one examination. Likewise, students may not receive credit by examination in any course in which they have already earned credit at the college level.

Students are permitted to earn credit by examination for any mathematics course for which examinations are offered, provided they have never registered for that same course or received credit in a higher-level mathematics course. For information, contact the Division of Science and Mathematics at (850) 201-8499.

All students who plan to earn credit by examination should discuss their plans with the Enrollment Services and Student Success office before taking any examination to prevent any misunderstanding as to what credit may be earned and how it may be used in their programs.

Postsecondary Adult Vocational Certificates

Students who receive a certificate indicating completion of a postsecondary adult vocational program at a Florida community college or technical center may be eligible to receive exemption credit in a related career program. Students should consult the section of this catalog that describes career programs for information.

Institutional Exemption Examinations

TCC students may earn TCC credit in several courses through Institutional Exemption Examinations. Students who want to pursue exemption options in Associate in Science and certificate programs should contact the Division of Technology and Professional Programs at (850) 201-8352. A fee is charged for each examination.

Exemption Credit by Certification

Upon submission of the appropriate certificate, students may be awarded a specified number of credit hours toward a degree program. Exemption credit will be awarded only for certificates issued within five years of the date such exemption is requested. Please see the following list for the appropriate credit hours to be awarded toward a degree at TCC. Students must be enrolled in the degree program indicated. Exemption credit will be awarded only after successful completion of nine credit hours of coursework at TCC in the specified degree program.

Exemption Credit for Individual Courses

Students who produce original documentation for any of the following industry-recognized certifications can receive credit for the indicated TCC course.

See also: www.fldoe.org/workforce/dwdframe/artic_indcert2aas.asp

Note: Certifications must be current; retired or expired certifications will not be considered.

Career Pathways

Career Pathways is a national program that combines secondary education with postsecondary education (2 + 2). Through an articulation agreement with area high schools and TCC, Career Pathways programs allow students to get a head start on their college education.

A series of statewide articulation agreements based on industry credentials ensures a seamless academic transition from high school to college. The articulation agreement allows Career Pathways students to earn college credit in an A.S. degree, A.A.S. degree, or certificate program at TCC. Articulation credit is free and is awarded when the student matriculates to TCC. See www.fldoe.org/workforce/dwdframe/artic_indcert2aas.asp for a complete list of statewide articulation agreements.

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 your degree program to apply for graduation.
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 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 address in the student database is the correct one for mailing your degree after graduation. You may change your address through TCC Passport or at the Enrollment Services and Student Success 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, please call the Enrollment Services and Student Success 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 of each year. Information regarding 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 office of the vice president for student affairs at (850) 201-8490.