Academic Policies
Attendance Procedures
Regular class attendance is necessary for maximum success in college. Faculty members announce any special attendance requirements during the first class meeting of each semester or session.
- Students are expected to attend all classes except in the event of illness or an unavoidable emergency.
- Students are responsible for making arrangements to complete all work before attending athletic events, field trips or other College-sponsored events. Written assignments must be turned in to instructors before the event or at a time designated by instructors.
- Students are responsible for meeting all class requirements regardless of absences and/or tardiness from class.
- Students attending Schoolcraft College under special programs may have specific attendance requirements.
Course Auditing
Qualified students may enroll in courses for which they do not desire credit by applying to the College and by paying the same tuition and applicable fees as regularly enrolled students.
The student’s intention to audit the course should be made known at the time of registration. A change in audit/credit after the registration period may be authorized through instructor/student consultation and written notification by the instructor to the Registrar. This change must be done before the last day to withdraw from a class as published in the class schedule for that term. Any student auditing a class may participate as a regularly enrolled student except that no final grade is issued to the auditor.
Credit Hours
Normally, students receive one hour of credit for each hour required in class per week during a 15-week semester. However, classes with labs, such as art, science, computers and technology, require additional class hours. Credit hours and total weekly course clock hours are listed in the course description section of this catalog.
Course Load — Fall and Winter Semesters
A full-time load is 12 semester credit hours. Students must receive permission from a counselor to elect more than 18 hours. Normally, students eligible for overloads earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in the previous semester at Schoolcraft College. Students must obtain permission from a counselor before the beginning of each semester during which they wish to carry an increased load.
Course Load — Spring and Summer Sessions
The full-time course load in the spring and summer sessions is six semester credit hours. Normally, students eligible for overloads earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 in the previous semester at Schoolcraft College. Students must obtain permission from a counselor before the beginning of each session during which they wish to elect more than eight credit hours.
Classification of Students, Credit Classes
- Freshman—Fewer than 26 credit hours
- Sophomore—26 or more credit hours
- Full-time—12 or more credit hours per semester
- Part-time—Fewer than 12 credit hours per semester
- Special/Dual Student—High school student
- Advanced Standing—More than 60 credit hours
Credit by Examination
Schoolcraft College students may request credit by exam for a specific course by presenting evidence of special course proficiency, experience or education. Students are allowed to take exams only if instructors or department representatives find they are qualified to take the exam. Students are charged a fee, which is assessed by the Cashier’s Office, before the examination. Applications are available in Associate Deans’ Offices.
Equivalency Credit
Schoolcraft College students may receive equivalency credit toward a certificate or associate degree in these instances:
- Work experience and/or training.
- Related instruction.
- Transfer courses from other colleges and universities.
- The National Occupational Competency Testing Institute.
The College requires a minimum number of credit hours earned at Schoolcraft before the equivalency credit is posted to the student’s record.
Advanced Placement
Students may request course credit based on satisfactory test scores taken through the College Board Advanced Placement program. Students requesting course credit should have their Advanced Placement scores sent to the Record’s Office as early as possible.
CLEP/DANTES National Credit by Examination Programs
The College Level Examination Program and the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests Program offer students the opportunity to obtain college credits based on satisfactory test score completion. Contact the Testing Center for test registration information.
Dean’s List—Recognizing Academic Achievement
Each semester we recognize students for high academic achievement by naming them to the Dean’s List. The minimum requirements for fall or winter semester are:
- Full-time students who complete 12 or more credits during the semester with a semester grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. The College sends a letter of recognition to students’ homes and notifies hometown newspapers.
- Part-time students who, after completing a total of 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 credit hours, have earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. The College sends a letter of recognition to students’ homes.
Grades and Grade Points
The grading system and computing method for grade-point averages are explained below.
| Grades | Grade Scale |
|---|---|
| Excellent Performance | 4.0 - 3.5 |
| Very Good | 3.4 - 3.0 |
| Good | 2.9 - 2.5 |
| Average | 2.4 - 2.0 |
| Below Average | 1.9 - 1.5 |
| Poor | 1.4 - 1.0 |
| Failure | 0.0 |
| W¹ — Withdrawal | No points |
| I² — Incomplete | No points |
| AUDIT³ — No grade or point awarded | No points |
| NC — No Credit — repeated course | No points |
¹ See Withdrawal from College or Classes. Observe dates in the current Credit Class Schdule.
² See Issueance of an Incomplete Grade.
³ Students must request audits when registering for classes.
Note: Individual programs may have special grade requirements.
Grade-Point Average
Students may calculate their grade-point average as in this example:
| Class Elected | Course Credit Hours | Grade Received | Grade Points Earned | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English 101 | 3 | × | 2.2 | = | 6.6 |
| Political Science 105 | 3 | × | 3.4 | = | 10.2 |
| Mathematics 113 | 4 | × | 2.1 | = | 8.4 |
| Chemistry 111 | 4 | × | 2.7 | = | 10.8 |
| Total Credits | 14 | Total Grade Points | 36 | ||
Multiply the course credit hours by the grade received to get the grade points earned. Divide the total grade points earned by course credits earned to yield the grade-point average: 36 ÷ 14 = 2.57 grade-point average.
Academic Probation
Students who have completed 15 credit hours and earned cumulative grade-point averages below 2.0 are placed on academic probation. The College records probationary status on student transcripts and grade reports. Students on academic probation must meet with a counselor before registering for any semester or session until academic probation is removed.
Academic probation is removed when the cumulative grade-point average is 2.0 or higher.
Academic Dismissal
Any student on academic probation who fails to earn a gradepoint average of 2.0 or higher after completing a total of 30 credit hours will be academically dismissed from the College. The official record (transcript) and grade report reflect this status. A student may appeal the dismissal to the Dean of Instruction.
A student who transfers from another college and is admitted to Schoolcraft College on academic probation is subject to the above stated academic conditions.
Students receiving financial aid assistance or Veteran benefits must meet the specific academic requirements that determine continuation for these programs.
Readmission for Academically Dismissed Students
Students must petition the Dean of Instruction, confer with a counselor and meet with the Associate Dean for Academic and Assessment Services for readmission. As a condition of readmission, if petitions are honored, students must follow specific recommendations made by the Associate Dean for Academic and Assessment Services.