Academics

Student Standards

College Credit Standards for Student Success

Florida Community College is dedicated to providing students with a high quality educational experience in an environment supportive of intellectual and personal development. The Standards for Student Success were formulated to help assure this quality and to clearly communicate the College’s minimum expectations of reasonable academic progress.

Students Who Will Be Affected

The standards described below took effect at the beginning of fall term 2003. These standards supersede the previously published standards and will be applied to all college credit students who have enrolled in a Florida Community College with a cumulative total of six or more credits. A student’s cumulative Florida Community College course work will be used in the determination of academic status.

New students (and returning students with fewer than six credits of enrollment) will be evaluated initially at the end of the term in which they enroll in a Florida Community College cumulative total of six or more credits.

Returning students who have enrolled for six or more credits will be evaluated according to the new standards at the end of the first term in which they re-enroll.

Transfer students entering Florida Community College will be evaluated once their records indicate six or more Florida Community College credits of enrollment. Transfer credit will not be included in the determination of status.

*Please note that these standards are not the same as those applicable to financial aid. See the Financial Aid section of the catalog for financial aid standards.

Specific Standards

In order to maintain satisfactory academic progress, students must maintain the following minimum cumulative standards:

Florida Community College Cumulative Enrollment	Percentage of Term Credits Successfully Completed (“W,” “F” and “FN” grades count as unsuccessful)	Required Florida Community College Cumulative Grade Point Average
__________	__________	________________
six or more credit hours	50 percent	2.0

Satisfactory Progress

Students who meet or exceed the established cumulative standards will be considered to be making satisfactory progress. Students who are placed on academic warning or academic probation will be returned to clear academic standing as soon as they meet or exceed these standards.

Returning to a clear academic standing can be achieved by the following: 1) re-taking courses in which the student earned a grade of “D” or “F” (see “grades forgiveness and course repeats” policy under “Grading Systems” section) and replacing them with earned grades of “C” or better or, 2) earning an average term grade point average of 2.5 or higher until the student raises his or her Florida Community College Cumulative Grade Point Average to a “C” (2.0) level or higher.

Standards for Students on Academic Warning, Academic Probation and Academic Suspension

Academic Warning

Students who do not make satisfactory progress based on the standard will initially be placed on academic warning. Students who make satisfactory progress (i.e., 2.0 GPA or greater and 50 percent successful term course completion) during the term they are on academic warning will remain in this category for two terms rather than being placed on academic probation.

Academic Probation

Students who do not make satisfactory progress based on the standard while on academic warning will be placed on academic probation. Their enrollment will be limited to 13 credits during fall, spring and summer terms. Students who make satisfactory progress (i.e., 2.0 GPA or greater and 50 percent successful term course completion) during the term they are on academic probation will remain in this category for two terms rather than being placed on initial academic suspension.

Initial Suspension

Students who do not make satisfactory progress based on the standard while on academic probation will be placed on initial academic suspension and limited to seven credit hours. Students who make satisfactory progress (i.e., 2.0 GPA or greater and 50 percent successful term course completion) during the term they are on initial academic suspension will return to academic probation status.

Final Suspension

Students who do not make satisfactory progress based on the standard while on initial academic suspension will be placed on final academic suspension and must wait one academic year before reinstatement is possible. Students who make satisfactory progress (i.e., 2.0 GPA or greater and 50 percent successful term course completion) during the term they are on initial academic suspension will return to academic probation status.

Students on final academic suspension should contact a counselor approximately two months prior to the beginning of the term they wish to re-enter Florida Community College to initiate a formal request for reinstatement.

Notification of Status

All students placed on academic warning, academic probation or academic suspension will be formally notified of their status by mail. Students placed on warning, probation, or suspension should meet immediately with a counselor or advisor to determine what action can be taken to return to satisfactory progress.

Reinstatement Process

1. Students on final suspension will be required to wait one academic year before reinstatement is possible.
2. Following the required one-year suspension, students who wish to re-enter Florida Community College must complete an application for reinstatement available at any campus student success office. Students should complete the process on the campus they were attending at the time of suspension.
3. Suspended students who apply for reinstatement will be reinstated and allowed to register for a maximum of 4 credit hours.
4. Students may request additional credits based only on documented extenuating circumstances (death in the family, illness, family crisis or accident) or educationally sound reasons. The loss of Social Security, veterans assistance, insurance or other benefits is not included in the definition of extenuating circumstances. Students must also have shown progress in the terms preceding suspension, and the extenuating circumstance must have occurred in the term immediately prior to suspension. Only the exceptions will be required to be reviewed by a counselor with final approval by the campus dean. If the student was receiving financial aid, this must be adjusted to reflect the additional credits.
5. Students approved for reinstatement may be eligible for financial aid. To determine their financial aid status and eligibility, students need to contact the enrollment services office.
6. Once the student has been approved for registration (reinstatement), those credits will permit student to register for the subsequent term (if the standard is met) until they meet the standard or the campus dean of student success approves additional credits. Reinstated students who do not meet the standards based on final grades will be disenrolled and restricted from registration for one term.
7. Previously suspended students who do not meet the standard will be suspended for one term and must request reinstatement based on the criteria stated in item 3. Extenuating circumstances may occur, and will be reviewed based on the same criteria and process in item 4.
8. Immediate Reinstatements — Students will be immediately reinstated if a grade change restores them to satisfactory progress.
9. The campus dean of student success or the dean’s designate will enter the approval for all reinstatements.
10. Application Process — All students requesting reinstatement must make an appointment with the campus dean of student success or the dean’s designate.

Postsecondary Workforce Training Standards for Student Success

The same standards and procedures for college credit students also will apply to students in postsecondary adult vocational programs with one exception: the 50 percent completion requirement will not apply to students in PSAV programs. At the end of each term, instructional program managers will evaluate students for academic progress and apply appropriate interventions.

Adult Basic Education Standards for Student Success

Standards of Academic Progress

Florida Community College is dedicated to providing students with a high quality educational experience in an environment supportive of intellectual and personal development. The adult basic education Standards of Academic Progress were formulated to help assure quality and to clearly communicate the department’s minimum expectations of reasonable academic progress for our students. All students enrolled in an adult basic education course at Florida Community College must meet the minimum requirements of the Standards of Academic Progress. A thorough review of these standards will be presented to each student during the orientation/enrollment process.

Adult High School Standards for Student Success

Standards of Academic Progress

Florida Community College is dedicated to providing students with a high quality educational experience in an environment supportive of intellectual and personal development. The adult high school Standards of Academic Progress were formulated to help assure quality and to clearly communicate the department’s minimum expectations of reasonable academic progress for our students. All students enrolled in an adult high school course at Florida Community College must meet the minimum requirements of the Standards of Academic Progress. A thorough review of these standards will be presented to each student during the orientation/enrollment process.

Students Who Will Be Affected

The standards described below took effect at the beginning of summer term 2000. These standards will be applied to all students who are enrolled in an adult high school course beginning summer term 2000 or later.

Full-term enrollment	Completion requirement
1-3 courses	minimum 1 course
4-6 courses	minimum 2 courses

(“NG,” “W,” “AW,” “IW” and “I” grades count as enrollments and non-completions.)

Students who do not meet the standard outlined above will initially be placed on academic warning. Students who are placed on warning or probation may avoid being placed into the next stage of the standard (i.e., probation or suspension) by maintaining the standard for the next term which they enroll.

Notification of Status

All students placed on warning, probation or suspension will be formally notified of their status by mail. Such students should meet immediately with an adult studies advisor to determine what action can be taken to return to satisfactory progress.

Satisfactory Progress

Students who meet or exceed the established standards each term will be considered to be making satisfactory progress. Students who are placed on warning or probation will be returned to satisfactory progress as soon as they meet or exceed the standards.

Academic Warning

Students who do not make satisfactory progress based on the standard will initially be placed on warning. Students who make satisfactory progress during the term they are on warning will return to satisfactory status.

Academic Probation

Students who do not make satisfactory progress based on the standard while on warning will be placed on probation. Their enrollment will be limited to two courses during the next term they enroll. Students who make satisfactory progress during the term they are on probation will return to satisfactory status.

Academic Suspension

Students who do not make satisfactory progress based on the standard while on probation will be placed on suspension and will not be allowed to enroll in the College for one full term. The second and subsequent time students are suspended two full terms must pass before reinstatement is possible. Students on suspension should contact an adult studies advisor at least two months prior to the beginning of the term they wish to re-enter Florida Community College in order to initiate a formal request for reinstatement.

Reinstatement

Students placed on suspension must complete a formal request to be re-enrolled. Information regarding reinstatement procedures and deadlines can be obtained from the campus adult studies office or the student success office. No requests will be accepted after the established deadlines.

Students seeking a clarification of any part of this policy should contact an adult studies advisor or the adult studies campus program coordinator.

Reinstatement Process

1. Students who are academically suspended for the first time will not be allowed to enroll in any courses for one full term.
2. Following the required one-term suspension, students who wish to re-enter Florida Community College must complete an application for reinstatement at any campus student affairs office. Students should complete the process on the campus they were attending at the time of suspension.
3. Suspended students who apply for reinstatement will be reinstated and allowed to register for a maximum of two courses on the first suspension, or one course on the second and subsequent suspensions.
4. Students may request additional courses based only on documented extenuating circumstances (death, illness, family crisis or accident) or educationally sound reasons. The loss of Social Security, veteran’s assistance, insurance or other benefits is not included in the definition as having extenuating circumstances. Students must also show progress in the preceding terms, and the extenuating circumstance must be in the term prior to suspension. Exceptions can be reviewed by a counselor with final approval by the campus dean of student success.
5. Once a student has been reinstated (approved for registration), completion of the courses taken during the semester of reinstatement will permit the student to register for the subsequent term if the standard is met. Reinstated students who do not meet the standards based on final grades will be disenrolled and be restricted from registration for two terms.
6. Previously suspended students who do not meet the standard will be suspended for two terms and must request reinstatement based on the criteria stated in item 3. Extenuating circumstances may occur and will be reviewed based on the same process in item 4.
7. Immediate Reinstatements Students may request immediate reinstatement based on the following criteria: A grade change that removes students from the standard.
8. The campus dean of student success will submit to the registrar the appropriate documentation of all students approved for reinstatement. Once students are cleared for registration by the office of enrollment services, they are eligible to register at any adult studies office.
9. Application for Reinstatement Process All students requesting reinstatement must complete an application for reinstatement.
1. If the application request meets the standards in item #3, the application is directed to the campus dean of student success for approval/processing.
2. If the application includes a request for additional courses (extenuating circumstances or educationally sound reason), students must make an appointment with an adult studies advisor. Once completed, the application is then sent to the campus dean of student success for approval/processing.

Diploma

A minimum of 24 unduplicated credits, grades nine through 12, is required for an adult high school diploma. The credit requirements are as follows.

1. English, four credits
   1. English courses must include major concentration in composition and literature
2. science, three full credits
   1. laboratory courses, two full credits
   2. non-laboratory courses, one full credit
3. mathematics, three credits
   1. mathematics courses must include credit in Algebra I or an equivalent series of courses
4. social studies, three credits
   1. American history, one credit
   2. world history, one credit
   3. American government, one-half credit
   4. economics, one-half credit
5. study skills, one-half credit
6. career research and decision making, one-half credit
7. life management skills, one-half credit
8. practical arts, vocational education/exploration vocational education, one-half credit and performing fine arts, one-half credit or one credit in either area
9. electives, eight and one-half credits

Graduation Requirements

To graduate students must:

1. complete 24 credits: 15.5 credits of general course requirements and eight and one-half credits of approved electives,
2. complete a minimum of two full credits at Florida Community College,
3. receive a passing score on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), or equivalent state-approved assessment,
4. acquire a minimum cumulated GPA of 2.0 (see state student performance standards),
5. be classified as admission status “A,”
6. apply for graduation with adult studies advisor

Graduation and course requirements may change. Please be sure to check with your adult studies advisor and refer to the state student performance standards listed in this section.

State Student Performance Standards

All students must pass the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and/or other state-mandated tests prior to graduation.

No student shall be granted credit toward a high school diploma for enrollment in the following courses or programs.

1. more than nine elective credits in remedial programs as provided for in FS* 236.0841 and remedial programs as provided for in FS* 232.246(8)(a) (Students entering the ninth grade in 1997–98, or thereafter, may not use level one courses to meet graduation requirements.)
2. more than one-half credit in exploratory vocational courses as defined in FS* 228.041(22)(a)(2)
3. more than three credits in practical arts home economics as defined in FS* 228.041(22)(a)(4)

Students enrolled in the adult high school program in pursuit of the high school diploma after the beginning of the 1978–79 school year and before the 1984–85 school year are required to meet only those requirements for graduation that were in effect at the time of their enrollment when such enrollment has been continuous except for summer terms.

Students enrolled prior to the 1997–98 school year in the adult high school program may use one of the following two options to satisfy the GPA graduation requirement until the end of Spring Term 2003.

Option 1:	Earn a cumulative 1.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale in those courses taken prior to July 1, 1997, and earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for courses, which are taken after July 1, 1997, that apply to the 24 credits required for high school graduation as specified in subsection (1) of section FS* 232.246, or
Option 2:	Earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for courses that apply to the 24 credits required for high school graduation as specified in subsection (1) of section FS* 232.246.

For students entering the ninth grade for the first time in the 1997–98 school year and thereafter, and for all students graduating after Spring Term 2003, a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale is necessary to graduate from high school as specified in subsection (1) of section FS* 232.246.

It is the students’ responsibility to schedule and participate in an exit interview with an adult studies advisor and make application for graduation after they have completed requirements. Before students may graduate, they must have fulfilled all financial obligations to the College.

*Florida Statutes

High School Equivalency Standards for Student Success

Standards of Academic Progress

Florida Community College is dedicated to providing students with a high quality educational experience in an environment supportive of intellectual and personal development. The High School Equivalency Standards of Academc Progress were formulated to help assure quality and to clearly communicate the department’s minimum expectations of reasonable academic progress for our students. All students enrolled in a high school equivalency course at Florida Community College must meet the minimum requirements of the Standards of Academic Progress. A thorough review of these standards will be presented to each student during the orientation/ enrollment process.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Non-Credit Standards for Student Success

Standards of Academic Progress

Florida Community College is dedicated to providing students with a high quality educational experience in an environment supportive of intellectual and personal development. The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL non-credit) Standards of Academic Progress were formulated to help assure quality and to clearly communicate the department’s minimum expectations of reasonable academic progress for our students. All students enrolled in an ESOL course at Florida Community College must meet the minimum requirements of the Standards of Academic Progress. A thorough review of these standards will be presented to each student during the orientation/ enrollment process.