Academic Policies

Academic Standards of Progress

(Notification - Warning, Probation, Suspension)

A term grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 shall be used to determine satisfactory academic standing. Students who fall below this standard will be subject to institutional intervention strategies.

Notification - A student is notified in writing by the Vice President of Student Affairs of his or her academic warning, academic probation and academic suspension status when his/her term GPA falls below 2.0. Under-performing students are encouraged to meet with their advisors or an Early Alert Counselor to develop written strategies to improve their academic performance except when returning from academic suspension where the recommendation is a mandatory requirement.

Academic Warning - Students whose term GPA is less than 2.0 after the academic warning will be placed on academic probation for the next term of enrollment. Students whose term GPA is 2.0 or higher after the academic warning but have a program GPA less than 2.0 will remain on academic warning. Students whose term GPA is 2.0 or higher after the academic warning term and have a program GPA of 2.0 or higher will be removed from academic warning. Note: Academic programs with additional requirements are published in the departmental handbook that is provided to students upon enrollment.

Academic Probation -Students whose term GPA is less than 2.0 after academic probation will be placed on academic suspension. Students whose term GPA is 2.0 or higher after the academic probation term but have a program GPA less than 2.0 will remain on academic probation. Students whose term GPA is 2.0 or higher after academic probation and have a program GPA of 2.0 or higher will be removed from academic probation.

Academic Suspension - Students removed from academic suspension and allowed to register are placed on academic probation and are subject to academic suspension again if they fail to earn at least a 2.0 term GPA during the next period of enrollment.

Academic Week

An academic week is defined as any period of seven consecutive days in which at least one day of regularly scheduled instruction or examination occurs. Instruction time does not included periods of orientation, counseling, homework, vacation or other activity not related to class preparation or examination.

Add/Drop Period

The add/drop period is the first five (5) instructional days of the fall, spring and summer full terms. The add/drop period for the Flex terms in the fall, spring and the summer is the first one-three (1-3) instructional days of the term depending on the length of the term. During the add/drop period students may drop courses without academic penalty and students may add only courses that have not yet met. Admittance to courses that have already met (including hybrid/mixtures and online) is at the discretion of the department chair. Students who register for a course but who do not attend a face-to-face class or log into and actively participate in an online course before the published deadline will be dropped from the course for not attending. No grade will be assigned for courses dropped for not attending and a full refund of tuition excluding the enrollment fee and any late fees will be processed. Courses dropped during the add/drop period will not appear on transcripts. Students may be reinstated in a class at the discretion of the department chair. A grade of “W” will be awarded and transcripted for classes dropped after the census date through the 75% date of the term. Students can drop classes online through Self Service or they can go to the Student Records Office to complete a drop form. A student or an instructor cannot initiate a drop during the last 25 percent of the course except in extenuating circumstances. Documentation must be provided to the Registrar and approval by the appropriate department chair or dean will be requested. Go to the SCC website, https://www.sccsc.edu/services/records/index.php to review the drop procedure for students. All students are encouraged to check their SCC email regularly for important reminders about drop deadlines and other important dates.

Appeals

The Student Grievance Procedure of South Carolina Technical Colleges sets forth the procedure for students to follow to appeal a disciplinary ruling of the institution or to appeal academic matters.

Attendance

Students are responsible for punctual and regular attendance in all classes, laboratories, clinicals, practica, internships, field trips and other class activities. When illness or other emergencies occur, the student is responsible for notifying instructors. Students should also inform the instructor in advance if they know they are going to miss class. Students must take responsibility for completing missed work if approved for late submissions by instructors. Students should not expect that they will be allowed to make up work, such as quizzes or tests, after an absence. Instructors are not responsible for re-teaching materials students miss when they are absent. The College does not grant excused absences; therefore, students are urged to reserve their absences for emergencies.

Tardiness

Students are tardy if not in class at the time the class is scheduled to begin. Students who are tardy are admitted to class at the discretion of the instructor. Students are expected to be in class the entire class time. They should not enter late or leave early. Rare exceptions may be made, particularly in emergency circumstances, but students should be prepared to explain their tardiness to the instructor after class. Likewise, students should explain before class any need to leave early.

Instructors maintain attendance records. However, it is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from acourse. A student who stops attending class and fails to initiate a withdrawal will remain on the class roster. A student who does not complete an assignment, test, or final exam in the course will receive a zero for each missing grade and the final course grade will be calculated accordingly.

Absences for Religious Holidays

Students who are absent from class in order to observe religious holidays are responsible for the content of any activities missed and for the completion of assignments occurring during the period of absence. Students who anticipate their observance of religious holidays will cause them to be absent from class and do not wish such absences to penalize their status in class should adhere to the following guidelines:

• Observance of religious holidays resulting in three or fewer consecutive absences: Discuss the situation with the instructor and provide written notice at least one week prior to the absence(s). Develop (in writing) an instructor-approved plan which outlines the make-up of activities and assignments.
• Observance of religious holidays resulting in four or more consecutive absences:

Discuss the situation with the instructor and provide the instructor with written notice within the first 10 days of the academic term. Develop (in writing) an instructor- approved plan which outlines the make-up of activities and assignments.

Absences for Military Deployment

The College will make every effort to accommodate students who are deployed for military service. Students who are absent from class because they have been deployed (military service or national guard) are responsible for the content of any activities missed and for the completion of assignments occurring during the period of deployment. The student must notify the Records Department of the pending absences prior to deployment, provide written documentation of the deployment prior to being absent, and must request accommodations to minimize the impact of the deployment on their academic record/progress. Accommodations include but are not limited to:

• The student must provide documentation of deployment prior to being absent and request a proposal for making up assignments missed with his/her instructors while deployed.
• The student may receive a grade of Incomplete for the course if the faculty determine that the course content can be made up under the timeline and guidelines for incomplete grades.
• The student may be administratively withdrawn from the course with no penalty to the student if the deployment is too lengthy and it is unlikely that the student could successfully make up the missed course work.

Attendance in Online Courses

Attendance in an online course involves actively participating, as indicated by posting toan online discussion, submitting an assignment, taking an assessment, communicating with the instructor, or completing other activities as designated by the instructor. Students must have logged into and actively participated in the online course by the end of the drop/ add period, as indicated by posting to an online discussion, submitting an assignment, taking an assessment, communicating with the instructor, or completing other activities as designated by the instructor. Students who fail to meet this attendance requirement by the end of the drop/add period will be dropped from the class by the instructor.

Auditing a Course

Auditing a course allows a student to attend a course without receiving credit. Students may not change status (credit to audit or audit to credit) after the add/drop period. A grade of”AU”will be given to students auditing a course. Students who previously audited a course must register for and pass the course in order to receive credit for the course. Students may not receive credit by examination for previously audited courses. Students auditing a course pay the same fees as students taking the course for credit. Federal regulations stipulate that students cannot receive financial aid for courses being audited.

Cellular Phones and Electronic Devices

Student are permitted to possess cellular phones and similar electronic devices during lecture and lab settings supervised by the college. The devices shall be kept out of sight and silenced or powered down during instructional periods except when the device is used as an approved accommodation to allow the student to participate fully in the learning environment or with the explicit permission of the instructor.

Unauthorized use of such devices will be considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct as it relates to “disruptive behavior.”

Classroom/Lab Conduct and Expectations

While there are many informal situations in which people have neither the desire nor the right to prescribe how others ought to behave, a college class/lab environment requires a higher level of courtesy than many people exercise in ordinary public places.

In an educational environment, each instructor has the responsibility to maintain a class/lab environment conducive to student learning. Discussion of all views relevant to the subject matter is recognized as necessary to the education process, but students do not have a right to infringe on the freedom of instructors to teach or the right of other students to learn. The College encourages students to express their opinions and ideas in an orderly manner, since a free exchange of views enhances the learning process. However, the College will not condone verbal combat or verbal abuse among students and instructors. Students are expected to comply with the Student Code. The instructor has an obligation to make students aware of rules for the class/lab and to inform students if they are violating these rules. If a student behaves disruptively in a class, lab or field trip after the instructor has explained the unacceptability of such conduct, the instructor may dismiss the student and refer the matter to the Vice President of Strategic Innovation, or designee.

Spartanburg Community College, a higher education institution for adult learning, offers programs/courses designed for adult learners. It fosters a partnership between instructors with the desire to teach and students with the desire to learn. In order to create an appropriate environment for teaching and learning, students must show respect for their instructors and for their fellow students. In other words, students are to conduct themselves maturely as they work toward achieving serious goals in an institution of higher learning.

Listed below are guidelines for class/lab behavior that the College has established to ensure that the learning environment is not comprised:

1. Attendance

Students are expected to be in class the entire class time. They should not enter late or leave early. Rare exceptions may be made, particularly in emergency circumstances, but students should be prepared to explain their tardiness to the instructor after class. Likewise, students should explain before class any need to leave early.

2. Absences

Students should inform the instructor in advance if they know they are going to miss class. They should reserve absences for emergencies. Also, students must take responsibility for finding out what material they missed and for getting assignments from other students. They should not expect that they will be allowed to make up work, such as quizzes or tests, after an absence. Instructors are not responsible for re-teaching materials students miss when they are absent.

3. Conversation

Students should not carry on side conversations in class.

4. Other Activities

Students should not work on other activities while in class. This includes homework for other courses or other personal activities.

5. Internet

In classes where Internet access is provided, students may use the Internet for valid, academic purposes only. They may not access other sites unrelated to the course.

6. Sleep

Students may not sleep in class; they are expected to be attentive and focused.

7. Attitude

Students are expected to maintain a courteous/civil attitude in class. They may not use inappropriate or offensive language, verbal or non-verbal, to convey their attitude regarding the course, the instructor, assignments or fellow students.

This includes, but is not limited to, making fun of others, disrupting class, shouting, speaking in a disrespectful tone of voice, or refusing to carry out assignments.

8. Profanity and Offensive Language

Students may not use profanity or offensive language in any public area (to include Student Hub areas) on campus.

9. Electronic Devices

Students are permitted to possess personal electronic devices during lecture and lab settings supervised by the college. The devices shall be kept out of sight and silenced or powered down during the instructional period except when the device is used as an approved accommodation to allow the student to participate fully in the learning environment or with the explicit permission of the instructor.

10. Guests and Children

Students may not bring unregistered friends or children to class.

11. Food, Drink, Tobacco Products

Food and/or drink may be allowed in class at the discretion of the instructor; however, use in lab areas may be more restrictive. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that any trash is disposed of properly.

No one may use tobacco products in any building at SCC. Smoking (and vaping) is only allowed in designated outside areas.

12. Physical Disruptions and/or Physical Altercation

No one may, under any circumstances, provoke or engage in physical altercations of any nature. This includes harassment, grandstanding or threats of any kind.

13. Individual Business

Students who need to speak privately with an instructor should not attempt to do so during the class period. Students are advised to make appointments with instructors during their scheduled office hours.

The guidelines listed above are not meant to be an exhaustive list. SCC developed this list to address some of the more commonly seen infractions. The College expects every student to conduct himself/herself in an appropriate manner. Violations will be referred to Vice President of Strategic Innovation, for disciplinary action as deemed necessary.

Tips for Success

• Come to class/lab prepared to work. This includes bringing materials needed for class/lab (textbook, workbook, thumb drives, writing materials, notebook, etc.)
• Take notes
• Complete assigned readings and other homework on time
• Contribute in class as appropriate
• Focus your attention on the subject at hand

Dropping Courses

Students who drop a course after the add/drop period will receive a “W.” Students are responsible for dropping classes. Students who exceed absences are responsible for dropping classes or they will receive a grade of “F” for the class. It is the responsibility of the student to withdraw from courses. Failure to continue attending a course does not constitute proper procedure for dropping or withdrawing. An F will be assigned if a course is not dropped correctly. Students receiving financial aid should contact the SCC Financial Aid Office prior to dropping a course. Students may drop a course until 75 percent of the term has elapsed. Students are not allowed to drop courses after the drop deadline. Drop dates are posted in the Registrar’s Office, on the SCC website at https://www.sccsc. edu and on the Student Registrar’s Office page in the SCC portal.

Evaluation of Instruction

Students will have the opportunity to evaluate anonymously the instructional process on a regular basis. Evaluations will be used to improve instruction, instructional materials, and instructional settings. Each semester, students will be given the opportunity to evaluate all courses in which they are enrolled (except for courses with a one-to-one student/teacher ratio, independent study, and Cooperative Work Experience [CWE]).

Evaluations will be made available online to students in the SCC Portal after the drop deadline for the class term using our SmartEvals online evaluation system. Email notifications and reminders will be sent to students when the surveys are available. Results will automatically be collected and tabulated and made available to faculty and supervisors after the end of the term after grades have been submitted.

As part of this evaluation, students rate their satisfaction with their courses and instructors. If you do not have an opportunity to complete an evaluation for a class, please contact Mark Roseveare, Dean of Learning Resources at rosevearem@sccsc.edu or (864) 592-4763.

Final Grade Review

Course grades are final when entered into the database by the instructors. A student may request a review of a final grade if he or she believes the instructor erred in assigning the grade. The SCC

Registrar’s Office will adjust the student’s transcript if the review confirms that an error was made. The student must request the review by the last day of the following full term.

Grading System

Spartanburg Community College uses the following system of grades:

* Zero-level transitional studies course grades are not used in grade point average (GPA) computation.

** An “I” grade is given by an instructor when it is appropriate to allow a student the opportunity to complete required course work after the term has officially ended. An “I” grade may be given only when the instructor determines that unusual and extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control prevented completion of the course during the term. A student receiving “I” grade should outline a plan for the submission of work with the instructor. The student must complete outstanding work at least one week prior to the last day of the next full term (fall, spring, summer) in order for the instructor to have adequate time to grade the work and submit the final grade before the deadline. The instructor must submit a grade change from “I” to a standard grade (A, B, C, D or F) by the end of the working day on the last day of the subsequent full semester. Otherwise, the “I” grade is changed automatically to an “F.” In some programs, students may be required to complete outstanding work in a shorter period of time to continue in the program. The date of the completion, in this case, is to be determined by the instructor and the records office will enter the date. Completion dates assigned are not to extend the past subsequent term.