Academic and Instructional Standards

Academic Standards

Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates

Catawba Valley Community College awards the Associate in Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.) upon the successful completion of a two-year program of study in the School of Academics, Education, and Fine Arts; the School of Business, Industry, and Technology; and the School of Health and Public Services.

The Associate in Arts, Associate in Engineering, Associate in Fine Arts, and Associate in Science Degrees are awarded graduates of college transfer curricula.

The College also awards the Associate in General Education and General Occupational Technology degrees.

Upon completion of an industrial program of study one or more years in length, CVCC awards a Diploma in the major area of training.

Program Certificates are awarded in curricula where the curriculum provides for skill-training subjects only. Certificates of course completion are also awarded for non-credit short courses and special programs.

High School Equivalency Diplomas are awarded by the North Carolina Department of Community Colleges to individuals who make satisfactory scores on the General educational Development (GED), HiSet, Tasc, or the Adult High School Diploma.

Classification/Enrollment Status

CVCC considers 12 credit hours to be a full time load for a curriculum student in the fall and spring semesters. CVCC considers 9 credit hours to be a full time load for a curriculum student in the summer semester. See below for policy regarding classification for financial aid.

CVCC follows guidelines established by the State of North Carolina for purposes of classification as a full time student for tuition payment. These guidelines can be found in 1G SBCCC 100.1 of the State Board of Community College Code at » State Board of Community Colleges Code (SBCC Code).

CVCC follows guidelines/regulations established by the appropriate federal and state agencies for purposes of determining classification of students as full time or part time for federal financial aid (determined by the US Department of Education found at » Federal Student Aid), state financial aid (determined by the State of North Carolina and found at » College Foundation of N.C), and veteran’s benefits (determined by the US Department of Veterans Affairs found at » U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).

A freshman is any student who has earned fewer than 32 semester credit hours. A sophomore is any student who has earned 32 or more semester credit hours.

Advising and Registration

Career Counseling

Individual career counseling is available to all students and prospective students who are interested in discussing their career interests, choice of program/training, and career goals.  Career assessments and career information are used to assist students in examining their interests, values, and skills to explore career options.  Career counseling sessions are by appointment and can be scheduled by contacting the Director of Career Advising located in the Advising Center.

Placement Testing Services

CVCC utilizes a placement testing program to assess certain academic competencies in reading, writing, and mathematics. Test results are used by academic advisors to place students in appropriate courses and thereby maximize their opportunities for success. Placement test scores are not a requirement for general admission to CVCC, but may be a factor in the admission decision for certain programs and/or the determination of course requisite competencies.

CVCC uses the Reinforced Instruction for Student Excellence (RISE) placement test for those students who do not have an unweighted high school GPA or who have completed high school more than ten (10) years before the date of entrance into CVCC.

Re-testing Procedure

Students may retest once on the RISE placement test.

» Testing Center

Academic Advising Services

Academic Advising is provided on a regular daily schedule by trained professional staff in the Advising Center in the Student Services Building. All new students are required to meet with Advising Center staff for academic advising and planning for their first registration. At this first meeting staff will assist students with program requirements, course planning, long range goals, explain various college processes, and answer any questions. Students can also complete the registration process with Advising Staff during the periods of registration. Other services provided include class schedule adjustments, academic probation advising, and program completion and graduation progress.

Students can make appointments for advising during registration periods, but drop-in service is also available.

» Advising Services
 

Registration

The Chief Student Services Officer or designee is responsible for establishing and communicating the dates, times, locations, and processes for registration in curriculum courses.

Registration activities occur for each fall, spring, and summer semester. Students must have been admitted to CVCC, be enrolled in an active curriculum program of study, must have met all financial obligations to CVCC, and have no holds on their accounts to participate in registration.

Current students (those who have been enrolled in curriculum courses during the previous three semesters) will have priority registration dates and times according to their earned hours of credit. Current students will be advised of their specific priority date and time via their secure CVCC-issued email and/or through the CVCC Portal, but they will also be able to register throughout the registration period either online or by appointment in the Advising Center. Military Veterans, currently enrolled as students and utilizing VA education benefits, may receive the earliest Priority Date based on their official course registration date and class availability. These students must contact the VA Coordinator for their eligibility for priority enrollment.

New and returning students (those who have not been enrolled in curriculum courses during the previous three semesters) will be able to register after the priority period for Current Students.

Registration in certain courses may be restricted to students meeting certain criteria established by the North Carolina Community College System or the CVCC Chief Academic Officer.

Registration is generally not permitted in a class on or after the start date of the class unless the registration is a course section switch. Approval for registration in a class on or after the start date of the class must be based on extenuating circumstances and be educationally sound as determined by the Chief Academic Officer or designees.

Registration activities for curriculum classes can be found at » Registration
 

Course Load

Unless required by suggested curriculum sequence, students are strongly encouraged not to enroll for more than 18 credit hours per semester. Students who desire to enroll for more than 18 credit hours per semester should meet with the Chief Student Services Officer or designee prior to enrolling for classes.

Course Information

Course Prerequisites and Co-requisites

CVCC and each student are responsible for ensuring that prerequisite and co-requisite requirements have been satisfied.

If requisite competencies are not documented in the student’s CVCC transcript but are evidenced by completion of academic experiences at other regionally-accredited institutions or completion of certain testing administered by other institutions, then satisfaction of the requisite shall be documented in the student’s record on the student database following processes specified by the Chief Student Services Officer or designee.

If requisite competencies are not documented in the student’s CVCC transcript and are not evidenced by academic experiences completed elsewhere as outlined above, the Dean of the School that houses the course may authorize enrollment in the course if the requisite competencies are evidenced by other life experiences such as work experience or industry recognized certifications. Such authorization shall be documented in the student’s record on the student database following processes specified by the Chief Student Services Officer or designee.

1. For requisite competencies evidenced by completion of academic experiences at other regionally accredited institutions:

Students must submit all official transcripts from other regionally accredited institutions to complete the Admissions process. It is the student’s responsibility to request all official transcripts and it is preferred that transcripts be mailed directly to the Student Records Office from the institution(s) attended or submitted electronically through a third party vendor directly to the Student Records Office. Official sealed transcripts may also be submitted at the Student Records Office. Official transcripts will be evaluated and credit appropriate to the student’s program of study will be documented in the student’s academic record. The student will be notified about any credit awarded through the secure CVCC-issued student email account.

Student access to transcripts received from other educational institutions is limited to visual access. CVCC does not provide students with file copies or photocopies of transcripts received from other educational institutions.

» Transfer Credits

2. For requisite competencies evidenced by completion of certain testing administered by other institutions:

Copies of test scores that originate from another institution must be obtained from the originating institution and mailed directly to the Student Records Office. It is the student’s responsibility to request test scores.

Student access to test scores received from other educational institutions is limited to visual access. CVCC does not provide students with file copies or photocopies of test scores received from other educational institutions.

» Request Test Scores

3. For requisite competencies not evidenced by completions of academic experiences at other regionally accredited institutions or by completion of certain testing administered by other institutions:

Experiences such as work experience, an earned industry-recognized credential, etc. may allow consideration for documentation of requisite competencies. The student should contact the Dean of the School that offers the course to determine any requisite competencies that these experiences may satisfy. Students may request the name of the appropriate Dean at the Student Records Office.

Waiver of Developmental Courses

Developmental courses may be waived by meeting one of the following requirements:

• Achieving eligibility through appropriate NCCCS Reinforced Instruction for Student Excellence (RISE) guidelines;
• Achieving eligible scores by completing placement testing with NCCCS-approved testing instrument(s);
• Completing appropriate developmental coursework with a grade of P or C- or better at another regionally-accredited institution; or
• Completing a college-level course at another regionally-accredited institution with a grade of C- or better that is equivalent to a course listed in the NCCCS Combined Course Library that has the appropriate developmental requisite.

Using Reinforced Instruction for Student Excellence (RISE) guidelines, students will be placed into curriculum courses by using their unweighted high school GPA (must have completed high school within the previous ten (10) years) according to the following categories:

Students with a GPA of 2.80+ may register for any class without mandatory additional supports.

Students with a GPA of 2.20-2.799 may enroll in a gateway course with a mandatory corequisite.

Students with a GPA < 2.20 must enroll in a one semester transition course.

Students may also use a combination of standardized tests (such as ACT or SAT) to show evidence of college readiness.

Students who do not have an unweighted high school GPA or those who completed high school more than ten (10) years previously, can test with the RISE placement test.

Placement test scores will be entered into the student’s record by CVCC staff when the student takes placement tests at CVCC. Students who test with NCCCS-approved placement tests should request that their test scores be sent to CVCC Student Records.

» Request Test Scores

Students must submit all official transcripts from other regionally accredited institutions to complete the Admissions process. It is the student’s responsibility to request all official transcripts and it is preferred that transcripts be mailed directly to the Student Records Office from the institution(s) attended or submitted electronically through a third party vendor directly to the Student Records Office. Official sealed transcripts may also be submitted at the Student Records Office. Official transcripts will be evaluated and credit appropriate to the student’s program of study will be documented in the student’s academic record. This evaluation includes the appropriate awarding of credit or waiver(s) for developmental courses. The student will be notified about any credit awarded through the secure CVCC-issued student email account.

Student access to transcripts received from other educational institutions is limited to visual access. CVCC does not provide students with file copies or photocopies of transcripts received from other educational institutions.

» Transfer Credits
 

Academic Credit

The Chief Academic Officer or designee will ensure appropriate procedures and guidelines exist for the granting and recording of academic credit.

CVCC shall award credit for all curriculum courses completed at CVCC with a final grade of D or higher.

Additionally, credit may be awarded as a result of the following processes. Credits awarded through these processes shall not exceed sixty-five percent (65%) of the total credit hours required for graduation in a student’s program of study.

1. CVCC will review official transcripts for possible transfer credit for any course(s) completed at a regionally-accredited institution that is (1) relevant to the student’s program of study, (2) evidences competencies that are equivalent to those required for successful completion of the equivalent CVCC course, and (3) when the course was completed with a final grade of “C-minus” or higher.

CVCC will not accept or evaluate transfer credit that was earned on the quarter system unless the regionally-accredited institution is currently operating on the quarter system. CVCC will not allow transfer credit earned on the quarter system to be used as a sufficient pre-requisite to gain entrance into a higher level course. Students may petition for credit of these courses to be granted through a credit by exam assessment with the appropriate Department Head or Director. (See section d). Any exceptions to this procedure must be approved by the Chief Student Services Officer or designee.

Students must submit all official transcripts from other regionally accredited institutions to complete the Admissions process. It is the student’s responsibility to request all official transcripts and it is preferred that transcripts be mailed directly to the Student Records Office from the institution(s) attended or submitted electronically through a third party vendor directly to the Student Records Office. Official sealed transcripts may also be submitted at the Student Records Office. Official transcripts will be evaluated and credit appropriate to the student’s program of study will be documented in the student’s academic record.

For any course(s) not in CVCC’s approved program of study, Student Records will review the NCCCS Combined Course Library (CCL), General Education Matrix, and CAA Approved Transfer Course List to determine if the course(s) are eligible for transfer. If eligible, Student Records will seek approval from the appropriate Dean to transfer the course(s). This transcript evaluation includes the appropriate awarding of waiver(s) for developmental courses.

The student will be notified about any credit awarded through the secure CVCC-issued student email account.

Student access to transcripts received from other educational institutions is limited to visual access. CVCC does not provide students with file copies or photocopies of transcripts received from other educational institutions.

2. CVCC will grant transfer credit for a course completed at a foreign (outside the United States) institution provided that the coursework is (1) relevant to the student’s program of study, (2) the competencies required for successful completion are at least equivalent to those required for successful completion of the equivalent CVCC course, and (3) the course was completed with a final grade of “C-minus” or higher. The Chief Academic Officer or designees will determine relevance to the program of study and equivalence of competencies. 

Foreign secondary or post-secondary transcripts must be written in the English language or translated literally (word for word) into the English language and evaluated by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Foreign secondary level transcripts must indicate US high school equivalency. Foreign post-secondary transcripts must indicate potential transfer credit for courses at CVCC.

The student must request official documents be sent to the NACES evaluating agency from their educational institutions. Once the report has been completed, the NACES evaluating agency must send an official report directly to CVCC Student Records that includes a copy of the official document(s) submitted to the agency and the official evaluation and/or translation report performed by the agency. The report must include the student’s name as issued on the original document(s) and date of birth. The report must be signed by the evaluator and include the evaluator’s credentials.

Student copies of the report are not accepted.

If the student name is not consistent on all documents, students may be required to submit legal documentation with proof of their name change. Legal documents accepted for proof of name changes are legible certified copies that have a raised seal and certification by a US government official. These documents include Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree, Certificate of US Naturalization, or US Court Order approving the name change. 

3. CVCC participates in the awarding of community college articulated credit for high school Career and Technical Education courses.
4. Students enrolled in degree, diploma, or certificate programs and special students may petition for credit by exam. To be eligible for credit by exam, the student must provide evidence of prior education and/or experience which would likely have provided skills, knowledge, and/or abilities similar to those provided in the CVCC course. The Dean for the school in which the course is housed will determine the credit to be allowed, if any. Credit will be based upon the minimum attainment of a grade of “B” on oral, written, and/or manipulative tests and the credit hours indicated for the appropriate course in the current catalog.
5. Students may earn credit by successfully completing (score of 3 or better) Advanced Placement (AP) exams sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board and/or by successfully completing (scores per ACE guide) College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams.

Transfer credits, credits granted based on advanced placement assessments, and credits earned by successful completion of AP/CLEP exams may be used to satisfy program of study requirements but will not be included in the calculation of semester or cumulative grade point averages (GPAs).

Transfer credits, credits granted based on advanced placement assessments, and credits earned by successful completion of AP/CLEP exams may not be used to obtain VA educational benefits or federal financial aid.

Tuition and/or charges may apply for certain non-credit course assessments.

Auditing a Course

Students may attempt a course as an audit student one time. Students may not audit a course for which they have received credit unless justified by a clear benefit connected to a current program of study at CVCC.

Students wishing to audit a course must satisfy all requisite requirements for the course just as do students taking a course for credit. These requirements include complying with class attendance expectations, assignments, and participating in class activities.  Students who audit a course are not required to take examinations unless specified by the academic department.

Students who audit a course will not receive a grade (other than AU or SR) or credit for the course. Credit will not be granted under advanced placement procedures after enrolling in a course as an audit student. A change from an auditing status to a credit status (or vice versa) on or after the start date of the course must be approved by the instructor of the course and the Chief Student Services Officer or designee; any such request must be made prior to testing and/or project submission in the course. 

Tuition and fees for auditing a course are the same as those for enrolling in a course for credit. According to Special Provisions for Senior Citizens cited in the State Board of Community College Code 1E SBCCC 1000.2, a senior citizen may audit a course without payment of any required tuition, but shall pay the applicable self-support fee for registration into a self-supporting course section and shall pay any applicable local fees.

Students should be aware that audited credit hours do not qualify for federal financial aid, VA education benefits, and certain other grants and/or scholarships.

Students who wish to audit a course should make the request at the time of registration in the Advising Center or send an email to advising@cvcc.edu from the student’s secure CVCC-issued email account. Audit requests will be considered on a space-available basis and auditing students may not displace students who are taking a course for credit. Audit registrations will be completed on the last business day before the start date of the course. Any applicable tuition and/or fees are payable upon registration confirmation.

The request to change course status from Credit to Audit or from Audit to Credit after the course begins must be approved by the faculty member of the course and the Chief Student Services Officer or designee. This request must be made prior to testing and/or project submission in the course.

Course Attendance Expectations

Catawba Valley Community College does not have a college-wide institutional attendance policy. However, best practices indicate that successful course completion is correlated to attendance. Therefore, each academic school may have an attendance expectation. Each faculty member is required to communicate attendance expectations to his/her students. These attendance expectations should be included in the course document and faculty members’ syllabi for each course.

Faculty members are required to maintain and submit accurate attendance and/or membership reports for their classes in accordance with 1G SBCCC 200.93 and according to instructions provided by the Chief Student Services Officer or designee. Attendance and/or membership records shall comply with all federal and state guidelines related to the disbursement of financial aid and Veterans’ benefits. Procedures to ensure the recording and reporting of attendance and/or membership in accordance with the above policies shall be monitored by the Chief Financial Officer.

If an unplanned and/or unexpected event causes a faculty member to be late to class, every effort should be made to communicate the arrival time to the students in the class.

Religious Observance Absences

Students shall be permitted excused absences from all classes two days per academic year for religious observances as recognized by the faith of a student. Students shall be provided reasonable opportunity to make up any tests or other work missed due to an excused absence for a religious observance. Specific procedures that students must follow to obtain authorization for an excused absence for a religious observance shall be established by the Chief Academic Officer. These procedures shall, at a minimum, require the student to submit a written request for the absence sufficiently in advance to permit the faculty member and student to develop a sound plan for making up any missed class work. All students must plan absences from a class so that their total absences, including any absences authorized in accordance with this policy, do not violate the attendance expectations specified by the faculty member, a certifying board, or an accrediting agency. For purposes of this policy, an academic year begins on the first day of the fall semester and ends on the last day of the summer semester in the following calendar year.

Withdrawals

Faculty do not have the responsibility to withdraw students from their classes. This is a student responsibility.

Students are encouraged to complete each class for which they register to advance toward program completion. CVCC provides various resources to assist students with successful class completion. These resources are listed in the Portal under Student Resources.

However, it may become necessary in some cases for students to withdraw from a class.

On or before the 60% point of a class:

• Students may initiate the withdrawal process in the Advising Center on campus or by sending an email to advising@cvcc.edu from their secure CVCC-issued email account. An advisor will assist the student with the process.
• This process is time sensitive and must be completed on or before the 60% point of the class.
• A complete listing of the 60% point of all classes can be accessed at Semester Schedules on the CVCC website.
• A grade of WP (Withdrew Passing) will be earned.
• A grade of WP will not affect the student’s GPA in a negative manner.
• A grade of WP will affect the student’s completion rate. Program completion will be delayed and financial aid may be impacted in a negative manner.

After the 60% point of a class:

• Students will not be allowed to withdraw from a class after the 60% point of the class.
• All student work will continue to be graded through the end of the semester, and students will earn the appropriate grade of A, B, C, D, F, or in some instances, I.

Extenuating Circumstances beyond the Student’s Control:

• Occasionally extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control may occur that prevent the student from successfully completing the class and the 60% point of the class has already occurred. Should one of these extenuating circumstances occur, the student should consult the appropriate faculty member(s) and submit the “Request for Withdrawal After the 60% Point of the Class.”
• Appropriate documentation must be submitted.
• The “Request for Withdrawal After the 60% Point of the Class” form can be found in the Portal under Forms.
• If the “Request for Withdrawal After the 60% Point of the Class” is approved, the grade will be WP.  

Curriculum Course Repeat Policy

A student may attempt a course a maximum of two times. A course is considered attempted when any one of the following grades is recorded on the student’s transcript: A, B, C, D, F, WP, WF, AU, CS, P, P1, P2, P3 or R. The highest grade received will be used in the computation of the student’s grade point average. An academic program may have a more restrictive policy regarding the number of permissible attempts to fulfill a program requirement. Students should be aware that satisfactory academic progress requirements exist for students applying for or receiving financial aid and that repeated attempts of a course may have an undesirable effect on these satisfactory progress measures. Exception to the 2-attempt maximum may be granted if the student has not completed the course with a grade of A, B, C, P, P1, P2, or P3 and if the student provides documented evidence of extenuating circumstances, academic intervention which increases the likelihood of success in the course, or three-year break in enrollment. Petition for exceptions should be directed to the Chief Student Services Officer or designee.

Students may request the opportunity to repeat a course that has been attempted more than two (2) times in the office of the Director of the Advising Center. This request must be made during a period of curriculum registration. 

Academic Sanctions and Due Process

When a student’s cumulative grade point average is based upon 12 or more credit hours (for Career and College Promise students who have completed two (2) or more courses-see the procedure below) and is less than a 2.0, the student shall be placed on academic probation. The Chief Student Services Officer or designee shall be responsible for notifying the student and for establishing procedures to ensure the student receives academic counseling. Certain programs may establish additional academic progress requirements and impose sanctions for failure to meet those requirements. The Chief Academic Officer shall ensure any additional academic requirements and potential sanctions for failure to meet those requirements are communicated to students in those programs.

Student academic progress is monitored each semester and the GPA will be calculated when all requirements have been completed and verified for the semester. Each student who has earned a GPA eligible for Academic Probation will be notified by the Student Records Office through the student’s secure CVCC-issued email account. This notification email will direct the student to visit the Advising Center by a specific date to receive academic counseling designed to improve academic performance. The Academic Probation notation will be recorded in the database and will prevent the student from future registration until s/he has met with an Advisor in the Advising Center. Depending on the actual GPA and subsequent academic progress, it is possible for a student to be on Academic Probation for multiple semesters. The student will repeat this process until the earned GPA is 2.0 or higher and the student is no longer eligible for Academic Probation.

Academic Sanctions Procedure - Career and College Promise Students

College Academic Progress:  When a Career and College Promise (CCP) student has taken two or more courses in the selected CCP pathway(s) and has less than a cumulative 2.00 GPA in college coursework, the student will not be able to continue in the CCP Program at CVCC.  An appeal process is in place for students who have experienced extenuating circumstances during that semester.

Student academic progress in CVCC coursework is monitored each semester by either the Career and College Promise (CCP) Coordinator or Facilitator.  The GPA must be 2.00 (cumulative) or higher for the student to continue his/her participation in the CCP Program. If this required GPA is not maintained, the CCP Coordinator or Facilitator will communicate with (1) the student’s high school administrator/designee via email, and (2) the student will receive a notification email through his/her secure CVCC-issued email account.

The student may appeal this decision through written communication to the CCP Coordinator. The CCP Coordinator will then schedule a meeting of the Appeal Committee. The members of the Appeal Committee are the CCP Coordinator, the Chief Student Services Officer or designee, the student’s high school administrator/counselor, the parent/guardian, and the student.  The process for appeal will be clearly stated in the email to the high school administrator/designee and student.

High School Academic Progress:  When a CCP student is not making adequate progress toward high school graduation (credit completion/promotion standards), the student will not be able to continue in the CCP Program at CVCC.  This academic progress is directly related to the student’s high school graduation plan.

Student academic progress is monitored each semester and is recorded on the CCP Verification Form (either standard or provisional).  This information is provided and verified by the student’s high school administrator or designee and communicated to the CCP Coordinator or Facilitator through the CCP Verification Form. 

Graduation Information

Requirements for Graduation

The student is responsible for applying officially to Student Services for his/her degree, diploma or certificate according to guidelines established by the Chief Student Services Officer. Students who apply for graduation and then fail to graduate must reapply.

The student is responsible for determining and fulfilling all requirements for the program of study from which s/he expects to graduate. Minimum credit hours and the required courses for each program have been established and are listed in the Program Listings section of the CVCC General Catalog. A minimum graduation requirement of all curriculum programs is a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or a program grade point average of 2.00. Certain programs may have additional requirements. Students should consult the Advising Center for information on program and graduation requirements

The catalog of record is the catalog that is current at the time a student enrolls at CVCC in his/her program of study. If a student changes his/her program of study, then the catalog of record becomes the catalog that is current at the time of that program change. To graduate under a program of study, a student must meet the requirements of his/her catalog of record or any catalog in effect within the next five years as long as the student has been continuously enrolled. A break in enrollment occurs when a student is not enrolled for two consecutive semesters (i.e. fall and spring or spring and fall). Students are not required to be enrolled during the summer semesters to maintain continuous enrollment. If a student breaks enrollment, the catalog of record will be become the catalog that is current at the time of reentry. From that point of reentry, the rule of continuous enrollment will apply. The Chief Student Services Officer or designee has the authority to choose a catalog within a five-year period of continuous enrollment that best suits the student’s needs for his/her particular program of study at the time of graduation. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by Chief Academic Officer.

To be eligible for graduation, the student must fulfill all financial obligations to the College.

Graduates are required to complete an exit survey prior to receipt of their diploma or certificate.

The student is responsible for officially applying for his/her degree, diploma, or certificate. A student can apply for and graduate from a program at the conclusion of the semester in which all requirements have been met.

1. CVCC will attempt to graduate the student by our approved program of study first.
2.  If the student does not meet CVCC’s approved program of study, Student Records will seek approval from the appropriate Dean to consider graduation by the approved state standard.
3. The Associate in General Education and General Occupational Technology degrees are reserved for students who have completed appropriate coursework and credit hours, but who do not have meet all the requirements and/or have enough hours for any of the AA, AS, AE, AFA, or AAS programs at CVCC.

Residence Requirement

Beginning fall 2019, students graduating from CVCC must enroll in and complete at CVCC a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the semester hours required for their program of study (credits granted through transfer credit and advanced placement credit processes may not be used to satisfy this requirement). The final fifteen (15) credit hours of study prior to graduation must be completed at CVCC unless special permission is obtained from the Chief Student Services Officer or designee.

Effective March 29, 2019, the Department of Defense retired the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) network. CVCC has signed the Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding (DoD MOU).  See Policy 2.27 Graduation (residency requirement).

Last Fifteen (15) Credit Hours Requirement

CVCC requires that students complete the last 15 hours of coursework at CVCC unless a waiver is requested and approved. Students should work with the Advising Center for assistance with this requirement, including obtaining a copy of the Waiver Form. This requirement will be checked by Admissions Staff when the student begins the graduation application process.

Commencement Ceremony

The college celebrates the achievement of graduation once an academic year at a Commencement Ceremony in the spring semester. Students who have completed requirements within the academic year cycle (Fall, Spring, Summer) are encouraged to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. Students begin the graduation application process with Admissions Staff in Student Services. Specific priority deadlines have been established and are published on the Student Records web page under Graduation.

» Graduation Information

Graduating with Honors or High Honors

Honors/High Honors Designation for Graduation

Students graduating from a degree or diploma program of study with a final cumulative grade point average (GPA) greater than or equal to 3.50 and less than 3.80 will receive recognition in their permanent student record as graduating with “Honors.” This calculation is performed when all program requirements are complete and grades are verified. The “Honors” distinction will be denoted on the official transcript and on the diploma.

Students graduating from a degree or diploma program of study with a final cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 3.80 will receive recognition in their permanent student record as graduating with “High Honors.” This calculation is performed when all program requirements are complete and grades are verified. The “High Honors” distinction will be denoted on the official transcript and on the diploma.

Honors/High Honors Designation for Commencement Program

Cumulative grade point averages (GPA) will be determined at the conclusion of each fall semester for the purpose of recognition in the Commencement Program produced for the CVCC Commencement Ceremony that is held in the spring semester. The Student Records Office will calculate this GPA for students who submit the Graduation Application by the required priority deadline. This GPA may be different than the GPA calculated at the conclusion of the program of study.

Questions should be directed to the Student Records Office.

Graduate Guarantee

Catawba Valley Community College offers a graduate guarantee that covers all students who have earned associate degrees at CVCC. Catawba Valley Community College guarantees that associate degree graduates will function productively in the areas of critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication, and also makes the degree-specific guarantees as outlined below.

Graduate Guarantee - College Transfer Degrees

CVCC guarantees that its Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Engineering and Associate in Fine Arts graduates will be able to transfer courses taken to fulfill the requirements for a bachelor’s degree to four-year universities as provided in the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement and the North Carolina Independent Colleges Articulation Agreement.

Graduate Guarantee - Career Degrees

CVCC guarantees that its Associate in Applied Sciences graduates are proficient in the areas of knowledge and basic skills covered by their educational programs. If a graduate is found deficient by an employer, the student will be retrained with no tuition charged to the employer or student. The Graduate Guarantee consists of the following

1. The graduate must be employed full-time in an area directly related to the graduate’s area of study within 12 months of graduation.
2. Should the employer deem that a CVCC graduate is lacking in an entry-level skill, the employer must certify the deficiency in writing to the Director of Education Matters in Catawba Valley within 90 days of the graduate’s initial employment. The employer’s entry-level expectations must be consistent with those skills and competencies routinely taught in the CVCC program from which the student graduated.   
3. A written educational plan for retraining will be developed and approved by the employer, graduate, department head, and dean.  
4. The educational plan will limit retraining to 12 tuition-free semester hours directly related to the identified skill deficiency.
5. All retraining must be regularly-scheduled courses on CVCC’s normal class schedule.  
6. Retraining specified by the educational plan will be provided with no tuition charged to the employer or student. Books, fees, uniforms, insurance, supplies, and other items are the responsibility of the student or employer. 
7. All retraining must be completed within 12 months from the time the educational plan is approved.   
8. Courses may be repeated only once under the terms of this graduate guarantee.   
9. This guarantee does not imply that a graduate will pass any third-party or governmental licensing, certification, or qualifying exam, and failure to pass such an exam does not qualify a graduate to retrain under the terms of this guarantee.   
10. Employers who wish to make claims under the terms of this guarantee should contact the Director of Education Matters in Catawba Valley.  
11. This graduate guarantee is effective for students who begin their course work in Fall of 2012 and does not apply retroactively to prior graduates. 
12. The exclusive remedy under this guarantee is as provided above and is intended solely as a statement of educational commitment to graduates and employers. It is not intended to create any specific legal rights or causes of action.

Student Records and Transcripts

Privacy of Students (FERPA)

CVCC protects the privacy of students in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 (the “Act”), as amended, enacted as section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act. A copy of the Federal Regulations setting out the requirements for the protection of the privacy of students under the act is available at Federal FERPA Regulations (see Title 34 - Education, Subtitle A, Part 99), or in Student Services.

Under this Act, students have the right to:

• Inspect and review their education records;
• Seek amendment of their education records that they believe to be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of their privacy rights;
• Consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in their record, except to the extent that the Act (and in particular section 99.31) authorizes disclosure without consent; or
• File with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint under Sections 99.63 and 99.64 concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of the Act.

A student may exercise the right to inspect and review his/her education record by making written request to the Director of Student Records.

A student may request amendment(s) to his/her record under section 99.20 of the Act by contacting the Director of Student Records. The Director of Student Records will attempt to resolve the issue. If the student is not satisfied with the resolution offered by the Director of Student Records, then the student may commence formal student due process procedures according to Policy 3.19: Student Due Process.

Education Records

Education records are records that are directly related to a student and that are maintained by an educational institution. These records contain both directory information and personally identifiable information about the student. The information may be recorded in any way, including, but not limited to, handwriting, print, computer media, videotape, audiotape, film, microfilm, microfiche, and email. Some examples of education records are grades, transcripts, class rosters, student course schedules, student financial information, student discipline files, health records, and disabilities education act records. 

In accordance with 34 CFR 99.31 of FERPA CVCC does disclose education records to CVCC officials, including faculty and/or staff, who are determined to have a legitimate educational interest. Faculty/staff are considered to have a legitimate educational interest if they might reasonably need to access information to academically advise a student or assist the student in a transaction with CVCC. All full-time faculty/staff have access to the student database through their secure user name and login.

Directory Information

Directory Information is information contained in a student’s education record that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. In accordance with 34 CFR 99.3 (a) of FERPA, each institution is required to define its directory items.

At CVCC, the following information is defined to be directory information:

• Name
• Student identification number
• Photograph
• Major field of study
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams
• Date(s) of attendance
• Enrollment status (full-time, part-time, or not enrolled)
• Degrees, honors, and awards received
• Class level (Freshman or Sophomore)
• Most recent previous educational agency or institution attended

Post-secondary institutions are required by the Solomon Amendment to comply with requests for directory information about students enrolled in programs of study at the college. CVCC provides the following directory information to comply with the Solomon Amendment.

• Name
• Address
• Institutionally assigned email address
• Telephone numbers
• Degree(s) awarded
• Major field of study
• Class level (Freshman or Sophomore)
• Date of birth

In accordance with 34 CFR 99.37(d) of FERPA, the institution is NOT required to release directory information-it is at the discretion of the institution. It is not CVCC’s practice to release directory information to third parties except for those that CVCC deems to have a legitimate educational interest in the information or who provide a service on behalf of CVCC.

Process to Opt Out

Notice is made each semester to inform students that they may opt out of having their directory information made available by submitting a completed “Request to Withhold Directory Information Form” found on the CVCC Portal under Forms. Requests will be processed in a timely manner as they are received and shall be effective at the date/time of processing. A request to withhold directory information is in effect permanently, even if the student is no longer enrolled at CVCC, and can only be removed by the student in writing by submitting a completed “Request to Release Directory Information Form” found on the CVCC Portal under Forms.

Students should be aware that a request to withhold directory information results in the following:

• Student name/address is excluded from printed/electronic material such as media releases for honors/high honors announcements or awards/scholarships received, commencement programs, awards programs, etc.
• Enrollment and degree-awarded inquiries from third parties, such as potential employers, insurance companies, and others will neither receive a confirmation of enrollment nor graduation.
• No information will be released to any person(s) on the telephone or via email.
• No information will be included in sports information programs.
• Personal information changes must be made only by the student in person at Student Records with a valid, government-issued photo ID.
• It is important to note that a student’s request for confidentiality does not permit the student to be anonymous in class (including an online class) nor to impede or be excluded from class communication.

It is important to note that a student’s request for confidentiality does not permit the student to be anonymous in class (including an online class) nor to impede or be excluded from class communication.

Personally Identifiable Information

Personally identifiable information is information that directly identifies the student or information that a reasonable person in the school community would use to identify the student with reasonable certainty. This information could be requested by a person who CVCC reasonably believes knows the identity of the student to whom the education record relates. Under the Act, disclosure of personally identifiable information can be disclosed if CVCC obtains the signature of the student on a document specifically identifying the information to be disclosed, the reason for the disclosure, and the parties to whom the disclosure will be made. Oral consent for disclosure does not meet FERPA requirements. 

In accordance with 34 CFR 99.31(8) of FERPA CVCC may not disclose personally identifiable information to the parents of an “eligible student” without the written consent of the student unless the disclosure is to parents of a dependent student as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. An “eligible student” means a student who is 18 years of age or is attending an institution of postsecondary education. Parents must provide appropriate tax return information documenting the dependent status of the student before disclosure will be made without his/her written consent. Policy 3.17 is applicable for all students, regardless of the mode of instructional delivery for the courses in which the students are enrolled.

In accordance with 34 CFR 99.31 of FERPA, CVCC is also allowed to disclose personally identifiable information from the education record of a student without consent when the disclosure is made to one of the following:

• School officials with legitimate educational interest
• Other postsecondary institutions to which the student seeks to or intends to enroll or is already enrolled for purposes related to the enrollment or transfer
• Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes
• Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student
• State and/or local officials or authorities to whom this information is specifically allowed to be reported or disclosed
• Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of CVCC
• Accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena
• Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies
• The parent of a student who is not an eligible student or to the student
• Disclosure in connection with a disciplinary proceeding
• The final results of the disciplinary proceeding conducted to the victim of an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence or a non-forcible sex offense
• Disclosure to a parent of a student regarding the student’s violation of any Federal, State, or local law or any rule or policy of CVCC governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance
• Disclosure concerning sex offenders and other individuals required to register under section 170101 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994

FERPA protection of personally identifiable information in a student’s education record ends at the time of death.

Copies of Academic Records

CVCC will provide students with official copies of their CVCC transcript and/or results of placement testing and other testing administered by CVCC Testing Services. Proof of identity is required to obtain an official transcript and/or test score report. There is a fee for an official copy of the CVCC transcript.

For an official copy of the CVCC transcript, the process is detailed on the Student Records page at » Transcript Request

For an official copy of test scores that have been taken at CVCC, the process is detailed on the Testing Center page at » Request Test Scores

Student access to transcripts received from other educational institutions is limited to visual access. CVCC does not provide students with file copies or photocopies of transcripts and/or test reports received from other institutions.

Students have access to unofficial copies of their CVCC transcript at their secure Student Self Service account on the CVCC Portal.

Student Record Retention

CVCC maintains student records in accordance with North Carolina General Statues 121-5(c) and 132-8. The CVCC Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was developed by CVCC Administration and has been approved by the State Archives of North Carolina and the North Carolina Community College System.

Any officially submitted document that supports information posted on the student’s transcript will be scanned into the secure CVCC database and retained in support of the transcript.

» CVCC Records Retention and Disposition Schedule

Grading System

The measure of a student’s overall academic performance for curriculum courses attempted at CVCC and with a course number greater than or equal to 100 shall be a per credit hour grade point average (GPA) based on a 4.0 scale. A student shall receive 4 grade points per credit hour for excellent performance (letter grade A), 3 grade points per credit hour for above average performance (letter grade B), 2 grade points per hour for average performance (letter grade C), 1 grade point per hour for below average performance (letter grade D), and 0 grade points per hour for failing performance (letter grade F or WF).

Valid grades for developmental courses (All DMA, All DRE, CTS 080, OST 080) are P (indicates satisfactory completion), R (unsatisfactory completion-student must retake the course), and WP (indicates withdrew passing). Developmental courses shall be included in the computation of attempted credits and earned credits but shall be excluded from all GPA computations.

Valid grades for transition courses (ENG 002 and MAT 003) are P1, P2, and P3 (indicates satisfactory completion), R (unsatisfactory completion-student must retake the course), and WP (indicates withdrew passing). Transition courses shall be included in the computation of attempted credits and earned credits but shall be excluded from all GPA computations.

Valid grades for supplemental courses (ENG 011, MAT 010, MAT 021, MAT 043, MAT 052, and MAT 071) are P (indicates satisfactory completion), F (unsatisfactory completion-student must retake the course), and WP (indicates withdrew passing). Supplemental courses shall be included in the computation of attempted credits and earned credits but shall be excluded from all GPA computations.

The Administrative Instructional Council (AIC) shall establish the numerical averages (numerical scale) to be used to assign the letter grades specified above. Such numerical averages shall be used by all curriculum instructors when assigning letter grades. 

Students are encouraged to complete each class for which they register to advance toward program completion. CVCC provides various resources to assist students with successful course completion. These resources are listed in the Portal under Student Resources. However, it may become necessary in some cases for students to withdraw from a course.

On or before the 60% point of a class:

Students may initiate the withdrawal process in the Advising Center on campus or by sending an email to advising@cvcc.edu from their secure CVCC-issued email account. An advisor will assist the student with the process.

This process is time sensitive and must be completed on or before the 60% point of the class.

 A complete listing of the 60% point of all classes can be accessed at Semester Schedules on the CVCC website.

 A grade of WP (Withdrew Passing) will be earned.

A grade of WP will not affect the student’s GPA in a negative manner.

 A grade of WP will affect the student’s completion rate. Program completion will be delayed and financial aid may be impacted in a negative manner.

After the 60% point of a class:

Students will not be allowed to withdraw from a class after the 60% point of the class.

All student work will continue to be graded through the end of the semester, and students will earn the appropriate grade of A, B, C, D, F, or in some instances, I.

Extenuating Circumstances beyond the Student’s Control:

Occasionally extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control may occur that prevent the student from successfully completing the class and the 60% point of the class has already occurred. Should one of these extenuating circumstances occur, the student should consult the appropriate faculty member(s) and submit the “Request for Withdrawal After the 60% Point of the Class.”

Appropriate documentation must be submitted.

The “Request for Withdrawal After the 60% Point of the Class” form can be found in the Portal under Forms.

If the “Request for Withdrawal After the 60% Point of the Class” is approved, the grade will be WP.

A grade of I (Incomplete) may be temporarily recorded if, in the judgment of the faculty member of the class, extenuating circumstances exist. A temporary grade of I indicates that the course has not been completed satisfactorily, and any course with this grade will not satisfy prerequisite requirements for additional coursework. All course requirements should be completed, and the temporary grade of I replaced with the final course grade before the subsequent semester begin date. The temporary grade of I may not be replaced with the grade of WP. Assigning a temporary grade of I is determined by the faculty for the course and must be approved by the Dean of the Instructional School. Any exceptions must be approved by the Dean of the Instructional School.
 
The Chief Student Services Officer or designee shall ensure that the grade system and the processes used for record-keeping purposes comply with the above policy.

Valid grades other than those discussed above may appear on transcripts due to enrollment activity recorded under previous grading systems at the College. Previous grading systems are available on the CVCC website at Grading Procedure.

Table 1 provides the numerical scale established by the Administrative Instructional Council (AIC) for the determination of the final letter grade in a course beginning with Spring 2019 semester. 

How To Calculate GPA 
The measure of a student’s overall academic performance at the college shall be a grade point average (GPA) based on a 4.0 scale. The computation of GPA includes only those courses completed at CVCC numbered 100 or higher and for which a grade of A, B, C, D, F, or WF is received. (See also Repeat Policy).

The GPA may be calculated in the following manner: 

1. Determine Total Hours Attempted. (Hours attempted are equal to the number of credit hours assigned to a course as shown on your CVCC transcript.)
2. Determine Total Grade Points Earned. The grade point value for a course is multiplied by the number of attempted credit hours for the course.
   
   For Example: A grade of “A” is earned in ENG 111. A grade of “A” carries a value of 4 credit hours.
   ENG 111 is a 3 credit hour course: 4 x 3 = 12. 
   In this example, 12 grade points were earned for ENG 111.
    
3. Divide the Total Grade Points Earned by the Total Hours attempted to determine Cumulative GPA.

Example:

Course Hours Attempted Grade Earned Grade Points Earned
BIO 168:          4 credit hours and student earned an A:   4 x 4 = 16
ART 111:         3 credit hours and student earned a C:     3 x 2 = 6
ACA 111:         1 credit hour and student earned a B:       1 x 3 = 3

Total Grade Points Earned = 25
Total Hours Attempted = 8
GPA = 25 divided by 8 = 3.125

Grades and Grade Changes

A student’s final grade for a course is determined by the faculty member for the course and submitted to Student Records. Student Records is responsible for making the grade available to the student through a web/internet portal or some other means. Subsequent changes to a grade submitted by a faculty member generally must be authorized by the same faculty member, by the Chief Academic Officer in extenuating circumstances, or by the Chief Academic Officer upon recommendation by a Student Grievance Committee.

A student who has a grievance regarding a final course grade may have his/her grievance reviewed in accordance with Policy 3.19: Student Due Process.

President’s List and Dean’s List

At the conclusion of the fall and spring semesters, the Chief Academic Officer shall recognize those students who meet the following requirements for inclusion on the President’s List or the Dean’s List.

• Dean’s List: students who complete 6 or more credit hours (included in the computation of GPA) during the completed semester while earning a semester GPA greater than or equal to 3.50 and less than 3.80 on a 4.0 scale.
• President’s List: students who complete 6 or more credit hours (included in the computation of GPA) during the completed semester while earning a semester GPA greater than or equal to 3.80 on a 4.0 scale.

The Student Records Office will determine the eligibility of each student to be included on the President’s List or the Dean’s List at the conclusion of each fall and spring semester. Eligibility will be determined when all requirements for the semester have been processed and verified.

Once the President’s List and Dean’s List students have been determined, the Student Records Office will make the list available to the Chief Academic Officer. Each honored student will receive a congratulatory letter through his or her secure CVCC-issued email. The lists will also be published through local media outlets.

Instructional Standards

Academic Freedom

Catawba Valley Community College is committed to the provision of and protection of academic freedom. The college seeks to foster an academic learning environment that allows for the advancement of knowledge and critical thinking on the part of faculty, staff, and students through ethical teaching and research practices. Faculty, staff, and students are expected to use reasonable judgment as they exercise their academic freedom.

The college and its instructional personnel share a unique employer/employee relationship. The relationship must be both mutually beneficial and protective; moreover, the relationship between employee and employer must equally benefit and protect students and trainees. As an employer, the college reserves specific employer rights, as established by state and federal law and the North Carolina Community College System. Such rights include the following:

1. The right to determine initial employment, employment status, continued employment, and dismissal processes for institutional positions;
2. The right to determine appropriate descriptions and academic content of programs and courses (as dictated by the North Carolina Community College System);
3. The right to assign section numbers, delivery formats, scheduling, and supplemental materials (including textbooks and other required tools and/or equipment) to instructional personnel;
4. The right to determine which students may be registered for specific courses and trainings;
5. The right to develop class specifications, to assign titles and salary ranges, and to require specific employment responsibilities (including committee membership and certain restrictions on secondary external employment) for each position of employment; and
6. The right to make administrative decisions that reflect, in the judgment of upper administrative personnel, the best interest in the college’s continued operation.

In regard to the concept of Academic Freedom, the institution accepts and promotes the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom published by the American Association of University Professors:

1. Teachers are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties; but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the institution.
2. Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject… . [see AAUP 1970 Interpretive Comments #2 and #3 contained in Endnotes #4 and #5].
3. College and university teachers are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution. When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence they should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.

         (http://www.aaup.org/file/principles-academic-freedom-tenure.pdf)

Internal Audits

The Chief Academic Officer shall ensure that internal audits are conducted in accordance with North Carolina Community College System guidelines and that the results of those audits reported to the Board of Trustees.

Course Attendance Expectations

Catawba Valley Community College does not have a college-wide institutional attendance policy. However, best practices indicate that successful course completion is correlated to attendance. Therefore, each academic school may have an attendance expectation. Each faculty member is required to communicate attendance expectations to his/her students. These attendance expectations should be included in the course document and faculty members’ syllabi for each course.

Faculty members are required to maintain and submit accurate attendance and/or membership reports for their classes in accordance with 1G SBCCC 200.93 and according to instructions provided by the Chief Student Services Officer or designee. Attendance and/or membership records shall comply with all federal and state guidelines related to the disbursement of financial aid and Veterans’ benefits. Procedures to ensure the recording and reporting of attendance and/or membership in accordance with the above policies shall be monitored by the Chief Financial Officer.

If an unplanned and/or unexpected event causes a faculty member to be late to class, every effort should be made to communicate the arrival time to the students in the class.

Religious Observance Absences

Students shall be permitted excused absences from all classes two days per academic year for religious observances as recognized by the faith of a student. Students shall be provided reasonable opportunity to make up any tests or other work missed due to an excused absence for a religious observance. Specific procedures that students must follow to obtain authorization for an excused absence for a religious observance shall be established by the Chief Academic Officer. These procedures shall, at a minimum, require the student to submit a written request for the absence sufficiently in advance to permit the faculty member and student to develop a sound plan for making up any missed class work. All students must plan absences from a class so that their total absences, including any absences authorized in accordance with this policy, do not violate the attendance expectations specified by the faculty member, a certifying board, or an accrediting agency. For purposes of this policy, an academic year begins on the first day of the fall semester and ends on the last day of the summer semester in the following calendar year.

Withdrawals

Faculty do not have the responsibility to withdraw students from their classes. This is a student responsibility.

Students are encouraged to complete each class for which they register to advance toward program completion. CVCC provides various resources to assist students with successful class completion. These resources are listed in the Portal under Student Resources.

However, it may become necessary in some cases for students to withdraw from a class.

On or before the 60% point of a class:

• Students may initiate the withdrawal process in the Advising Center on campus or by sending an email to advising@cvcc.edu from their secure CVCC-issued email account. An advisor will assist the student with the process.
• This process is time sensitive and must be completed on or before the 60% point of the class.
• A complete listing of the 60% point of all classes can be accessed at Semester Schedules on the CVCC website.
• A grade of WP (Withdrew Passing) will be earned.
• A grade of WP will not affect the student’s GPA in a negative manner.
• A grade of WP will affect the student’s completion rate. Program completion will be delayed and financial aid may be impacted in a negative manner.

After the 60% point of a class:

• Students will not be allowed to withdraw from a class after the 60% point of the class.
• All student work will continue to be graded through the end of the semester, and students will earn the appropriate grade of A, B, C, D, F, or in some instances, I.

Extenuating Circumstances beyond the Student’s Control:

• Occasionally extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control may occur that prevent the student from successfully completing the class and the 60% point of the class has already occurred. Should one of these extenuating circumstances occur, the student should consult the appropriate faculty member(s) and submit the “Request for Withdrawal After the 60% Point of the Class.”
• Appropriate documentation must be submitted.
• The “Request for Withdrawal After the 60% Point of the Class” form can be found in the Portal under Forms.
• If the “Request for Withdrawal After the 60% Point of the Class” is approved, the grade will be WP.  

Course Documents and Faculty Syllabi

At the beginning of each course, faculty members will provide students with two sources of information concerning each curriculum course – a course document and a faculty syllabus.  These documents are defined below.

Course documents provide general course information that changes little from semester to semester.  For instance, the course document will give the course title, course description, and number of hours specified for the lecture, for laboratory, for clinical, and for total semester credit hours – all information mandated by the State Board of Community Colleges.  In addition, prerequisites and co-requisites are given as well as the student learning outcomes. Other information that varies little from semester to semester includes the course grading policy, attendance expectations, disability statement, religious observance statement, the academic honest policy, and the CVCC emergency procedures.

The course document provides essential information about each course and communicates basic course information with consistency and accuracy.  Course documents are housed on a server and maintained by the Educational Technology Department.

A link to the appropriate course document is automatically loaded into the Blackboard account for each individual course.  Thus, students constantly have access to critical information about the course.

» Course Documents

The Faculty Syllabus for a course may contain some or all of the information listed in the Course Document.  However, the faculty syllabus differs from the course document in that it lists those components of the course that change frequently such as the course calendar with assignment due dates and the required textbook(s).  

The faculty syllabus outlines course requirements and assignments in greater detail than does the Course Document.  While individual faculty members will approach their teaching responsibilities with differing techniques, all faculty must guide student learning to reach the same student learning outcomes published in both the course document and the faculty syllabus.   Working with their administrative assistants, department heads and directors will maintain an archive of each faculty member’s course syllabi.

Course documents and faculty syllabi shall be maintained in accordance with the procedures established by the Chief Academic Officer.

Off Campus Instructional Activities

Field trips and other off campus instructional activities must be planned well in advance and approved in accordance with procedures established by the Chief Academic Officer.

Extra-curricular activities engage students and enrich their lives.  The entire community takes pride when our athletic teams win championships, when our students travel and learn in distant places, and when our students excel in state, regional, and national competitions.  To maintain academic progress and to provide extensive extra-curricular opportunities for students, the following guidelines have been established.

Guidelines for Club Advisers, Coaches, Faculty, and Other Extra-Curricular Leaders

1. To the degree possible, extra-curricular events such as ballgames, field trips, and concerts should be scheduled when the least possible amount of instructional time will be missed.
2. When scheduling athletic competitions, coaches should be aware that requiring student athletes to miss class may cause the student to encounter greater difficulty in passing the class. Effort should be exercised to honor attendance expectations.
3. Coaches should publish the schedule of athletic competitions to the entire college community as well as the team membership roster. These may be found on the CVCC Athletics web site.
   » Athletics
4. When scheduling extra-curricular events such as a field trip or an academic competition that conflict with class attendance, the extra-curricular faculty/staff person should email to faculty a description of the upcoming off-campus activity along with a list of student names involved one week in advance of the planned activity.  The communication about the activity should clearly indicate the date(s) and times that students involved will be away from campus.
5. At least one week in advance of the date of the off-campus event, the CVCC faculty/staff person responsible for the event will send the “Waiver of Liability and Hold harmless Agreement” form for each student to the CVCC Business Office if the activity requires a travel authorization. If no travel authorization is required, the “Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement” forms should be sent to the Chief Student Services Officer. This form can be found on the Portal under Forms. 
6. Faculty who plan a field trip need to have an alternative assignment for students whose personal circumstances (job, child care, etc.) make it impossible for the student to participate in the field trip experience.
7. Club advisers, coaches, and other extra-curricular leaders will give a copy of the “Guidelines for Students Involved in Extra Curricular Activities” to all students involved in the activity well in advance of the event.

Guidelines for Faculty of Students Involved in Extra-Curricular Activities

1. Faculty members should maintain the same academic rigor for students involved in extra-curricular activities as with students who are not involved.
2. Faculty members should maintain the same attendance expectations for students involved in extra-curricular activities as with students who are not involved in such events.  At CVCC, there are no “excused” absences.  A student is present for class instruction or a student is not present.
3. Faculty members should support the excellent learning opportunities that occur outside the formal classroom setting.  Therefore, faculty members are encouraged to avoid classroom policies that discourage extra-curricular activities such as “No make-up work is allowed” or “Missed tests may not be made up.” Instead, faculty members are asked to work in partnership with students to support learning outside the classroom.  As an institution, we can never discuss the art of teaching and learning too excessively. As professionals, we have the power to rethink classroom management policies – balancing student needs with curriculum and faculty needs.
4. To the degree possible, any student officially representing the school in an academic, cultural, or athletic event should be allowed to make up work missed while officially representing the college.  For instance, in some cases, assignments or tests may be turned in early, prior to the event or turned in late, after the event.  A student should not be penalized for representing the college in an official capacity; however, it is the student’s responsibility to be proactive to inform the faculty member of extra-curricular events that conflict with class attendance and to make arrangements with the faculty member for making up missed work.
5. Suggested methods for faculty to allow students to make-up missed work include:
   • Allow students to turn in assignments early, prior to the absence.   
   • Allow students to turn in assignments late.   
   • Allow students to complete alternative assignments if the original assignment would be compromised by early or late submission.   
   • Encourage students to establish a study partner – a classmate who will share class notes and other information when an absence occurs   
   • Encourage students to form study groups and to secure a tutor

Guidelines for Students Involved in Extra-Curricular Activities

1. Students involved in officially-sanctioned extra-curricular activities such as field trips, athletic competitions, educational travel, and academic competitions should understand that these extra-curricular activities are secondary to the major goal of completing a course of study and graduating with a degree.
2. Students should clearly understand that at Catawba Valley Community College, there are no excused absences.  College students are either present in class to receive instruction, or they are not present.  Therefore, absences related to extra-curricular activities should be considered as part of the attendance expectations for each course.
3. Students who must miss classes to participate in school-sanctioned activities are responsible for discussing the absences and work that will be missed in advance of the absence with each faculty member involved. The burden for getting permission to make-up missed work and then for making up that work falls entirely upon the student.
4. Students involved in extra-curricular activities should respectfully approach faculty members during their office hours to inquire about educationally sound ways to cope with missed classes well in advance of the absence. The solution reached will vary from faculty member to faculty member and from discipline to discipline. 
5. Students who have to miss classes to participate in extra-curricular activities should understand that important material will be missed with every absence. Many class activities such as lectures, demonstrations, and class discussions are impossible to “make up.” Therefore, class attendance is of highest priority. 

Food and Drink in the Classroom

The allowance of food and/or drink in classrooms, the Library, and Learning Assistance Center is a decision to be made by class instructors or appropriate supervisors. If allowed, drinks must be in closed containers. If the instructor allows food or drink in the classroom, the room must be left clean for the next instructor. Food and/or drink shall not be permitted in laboratories or classrooms if such permission presents a safety concern or might result in damage to college equipment.

Classroom Safety

Faculty shall promote a safe class environment and shall establish appropriate safety guidelines and procedures for their classes.

» Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures (this document is posted throughout the campus.)

Equipment and Furniture

Employees, students, and visitors are expected to use CVCC equipment and furniture properly, carefully, and safely. Improper or unsafe use of equipment should be reported to an appropriate CVCC administrator. Any damage to or loss of equipment should be reported to the Chief Financial Officer or designee.

Laboratories containing expensive equipment should be locked at all times when an instructor or other designated CVCC representative is not present.

CVCC equipment may be used at an off-campus location when such use is an integral part of a CVCC- sponsored activity. Otherwise, equipment shall not leave CVCC premises unless approved in accordance with procedures established by the Chief Financial Officer. Equipment may not be loaned or removed from CVCC premises for personal use by either students or employees.

Cancellation of Classes

Class cancellations must be approved in accordance with guidelines established by the Chief Academic Officer.

Adverse Weather (campus closings)

The College President or designee will make a decision concerning changes in schedules during all adverse weather conditions. Every effort will be made to make decisions prior to 6:00am for daytime operations and by 4:00pm for evening operations. When the decision is made to “Close”, no students, faculty, or staff will be required to report except for essential personnel as determined by the college President.

When a late opening is announced due to weather, all classes and activities scheduled prior to the announced opening time are cancelled. Faculty, staff and students are not expected to arrive on campus until the published opening time. The class schedule resumes at the published opening time. If a class or activity for that day includes time before and after the published opening time, then that class or activity should begin at the published opening time. For example, in a situation where a late opening is announced at 10:00 a.m. on a Friday:

• A class scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and end at 9:50 a.m. on Friday would not meet.
• A class scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and end at 10:20 a.m. on Friday would meet for 20 minutes (10 to 10:20 a.m.
• A class scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and end at 10:50 a.m. would meet for the regularly scheduled 50 minutes.

In some situations, short term continuing education classes may be cancelled completely in a late opening. Consult your instructor to find out whether this applies.

Academic Honesty

Students at CVCC are expected to be honest in all academic pursuits, whether class, lab, shop, or clinical. Acts of academic dishonesty are considered unethical and subject to behavior sanctions. Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Sharing information about the content of quizzes, exams, classroom/lab/shop/clinical assignments (scheduled or make-up) without approval of the instructor. Sharing includes, but is not limited to, unauthorized copying, collaboration, or use of notes, books, or other materials when preparing for or completing examinations or other academic assignments (scheduled or make-up);
2. Buying, selling, or otherwise obtaining a copy of a quiz, exam, project, term paper, or like document, without approval of the instructor;
3. Plagiarism, which is defined as the intentional representation of another person’s work, words, thoughts, or ideas (from any source) as one’s own;
4. Failing to follow approved test taking procedures by performing such acts as the following:
   1. Looking on another student’s test;   
   2. Use of unauthorized notes; written, electronic, or otherwise;
   3. Changing answers after exam is scored; and   
   4. Verbal, non-verbal, or electronic communication with another student during an exam.

Additionally, students have an obligation to report any acts of academic dishonesty to the relevant faculty member or appropriate campus authority when reasonable grounds exist for such a report.  Students also have a responsibility to cooperate in the investigation of any alleged acts of academic dishonesty.  Failure to report acts of academic dishonesty could result in a behavior sanction as outlined in Policy 3.18: Student Code of Conduct .

Faculty are authorized to impose the Loss of Academic Credit or a Grade Sanction for acts of academic dishonesty relative to classes under their supervision in accordance with Policy 2.16: Academic Honesty Policy. Faculty should follow the procedure below:

1. The faculty member should complete the “Warning, General Probation, Interim (Emergency) Suspension Form” found in the Forms section on the CVCC Portal. The completed form should be forwarded to the faculty member’s immediate supervisor. The supervisor may forward a copy of this form to the Chief Student Services Officer.
2. As stated in Policy 3.18.1: Student Behavior Sanctions, the student may be allowed to redo the assignment, may lose credit for the assignment, or may lose credit for the class. In the event the act of academic dishonesty is serious enough to warrant further disciplinary action, the faculty member should complete the “Student Conduct Violation Form” found in the Forms section on the CVCC Portal and follow the directions listed on the form.

Work-based Learning

The work-based learning studies shall be integrated with the credit/curriculum programs of studies under the supervision of the Chief Academic Officer or designee. Operation of the program shall be in accordance with the policies and procedures stipulated by the North Carolina Community College System.

Military veterans may participate in the work-based learning program if otherwise eligible. Educational benefits (G. I. Bill) will be paid by the Veterans Administration for work-based learning courses if all requirements are met.