PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for conferring degrees.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF STANDARDS FOR GRANTING DEGREES
The College is authorized to award degrees of Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Fine Arts, Associate of Applied Arts, and certificates to students who have successfully completed the curriculum requirements of approved programs as established by the Board of Trustees and set forth in the College Catalog. The curriculum requirements for awarding degrees shall conform to the standards established in this policy.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for the evaluation of programs at Sussex County
Community College.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS
SCCC will evaluate all programs on a five-year cycle through a formal process entitled The
Academic Program Review. This review will involve external program reviewers and
institutional self-study to include, but not be limited to, study of program relevancy, costs,
enrollment trends, employer satisfaction, and student success in transfer programs or job
placement (where applicable). The Office of Institutional Research will be responsible for
coordinating the evaluation process.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for awarding a degree posthumously to a Sussex
County Community College student.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF AWARDING OF POSTHUMOUS DEGREE
A deceased student who did not complete all requirements for his/her degree at the time of death
may be awarded a degree posthumously
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for students who wish to be matriculated at
Sussex County Community College.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DECLARATION OF MATRICULATION
Matriculated students are those students who have declared a major and are pursuing courses
towards their degree.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish that SCCC recognizes that college-level learning
acquired through non-traditional experience can be assessed and possibly awarded academic
credit relative to specific course outcomes.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING
Students wishing to receive credit for prior learning, such as work, training, reading and
research, civil and military service, or life learning must identify areas of relevant learning
through appropriate documentation and submit his/her artifacts/evidence as that can be assessed
and possibly awarded academic credit. SCCC will accept a maximum of 50% of the credits
required for a degree (A.A., A.S. or A.F.A.), Certificate or Certificate of Achievement or up to
39 credits for an A.A.S. degree for credits earned at other institutions, by prior learning
experience and/or by examination (CLEP, AP, or SCCC Challenge exam) in order to complete
requirements for a degree/certificate from SCCC.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
To assist students who have completed, or plan to complete, course work and/or examinations at
an institution other than Sussex County Community College (SCCC) in seeking an evaluation for
transfer credit.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF TRANSFER CREDIT POLICY
SCCC will accept a maximum of 50% of the credits required for a degree (A.A., A.S. or A.F.A.),
Certificate or Certificate of Achievement or up to 39 credits for an A.A.S. degree for credits
earned at other institutions, by prior learning experience and/or by examination (CLEP, AP, or
SCCC Challenge exam) in order to complete requirements for a degree/certificate from SCCC.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria regarding transcript which are provided to or for
Sussex County Community College (SCCC) students in accordance with institutional guidelines.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS
The issuance of Sussex County Community College transcripts is governed by the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). SCCC assures the confidentiality of student
records through FERPA compliance.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for disclosure of students’ educational records.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY OF STUDENT RECORDS
In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), it is the policy of
SCCC to protect students’ right by restricting releases of personal information about their college
records. FERPA becomes effective on the first day of classes for those newly admitted students
who have scheduled at least one course. A student who accepted an admission offer but did not
schedule at least one course, or a newly admitted student who canceled his/her registration either
before or after the semester begins, is not covered by FERPA.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for each student to inspect and review his/her
educational records.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF STUDENT REVIEW OF RECORDS
Students shall be accorded the opportunity to inspect, review, and/or receive copies of their own
educational records upon written request to the appropriate record custodian.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for re-issuance of diplomas at Sussex County
Community College.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF RE-ISSUANCE OF DIPLOMAS
Students seeking to have a lost or destroyed diploma replaced may submit a written application
and substantiation to the Registrar’s Office.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for a background check on students’ information
release.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF BACKGROUND CHECK ON STUDENTS’ INFORMATION RELEASE
When a local, state or federal agency requests information regarding a current or former
student’s dates of attendance, transcript, or behavioral record, the Office of Academic Affairs
and the Office of the Registrar will work together to accommodate their request, only if the
agency can provide a signed release from the student.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for students who upon admission to Sussex
County Community College declare a major in a degree or certificate program or an option
associated with a degree program.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DECLARATION/CHANGE OF MAJOR
Students desiring to declare a major have the opportunity by applying for admission and
choosing the academic program, certificate or option. Students may change program of study,
major or option at any time by completing the Declaration/Change of Major form.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The Academic Progress policy establishes standards of satisfactory academic progress;
establishes procedures for identifying students who are not making satisfactory academic
progress; and encourages and works with such students to assist them in taking appropriate
action to improve their academic performance and plan for completion.
This policy differs from the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (FASAP) policy.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The Academic Fresh start program is designed for students who attended SCCC, compiled an
unsuccessful academic record, and subsequently left the College for an extended period of time.
As a result of their work experience, maturity, or new interests, these students may now wish to
return to college to pursue a program of study towards a degree.
Academic Fresh Start allows students to restore their academic standing at SCCC by eliminating
the previous academic credit from their Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for readmission to Sussex County Community
College following academic suspension/dismissal.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF ACADEMIC READMISSION FOLLOWING SUSPENSION/DISMISSAL
Students desiring to return to Sussex County Community College following academic
suspension/dismissal are afforded an opportunity to return by achieving and maintaining certain
academic standards.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for the release or non-release of student records.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF RECORD HOLDS
SCCC reserves the right to place on “hold” the academic records of any SCCC student who does
not meet a financial obligation or other requirements of any office or department at the college.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
A developmental student is defined as a student who is taking two or more developmental
classes concurrently, resulting from proficiency levels and indicated through the College
Placement Test. It is noted that a developmental student could still earn three to six college-level
credits.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for awarding letter grades in Developmental
Studies for institutional credit.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIES GRADING SYSTEM
Students taking Developmental Studies courses receive institutional credit which do not count in
the grade point average nor do they fulfill graduation requirements.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to recognize students who maintain a 3.5 Grade Point Average or
higher at Sussex County Community College.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DEAN’S LIST POLICY
Students who achieve academic excellence with a 3.5 Grade Point Average or higher each Fall
and Spring semesters will be acknowledged by the Dean’s List subject to certain criteria.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of the Academic Distinction at Graduation policy is to provide a mechanism to
honor students at graduation who have demonstrated outstanding academic work as described in
the procedure throughout their Sussex County Community College career.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION AT GRADUATION
Students who have achieved specific levels of outstanding academic work will be recognized
with Honors, High Honors, or Highest Honors.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to provide procedures to permit a student to audit a credit-bearing
class in accordance with established procedures.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF AUDITING A CLASS
Students may register for a course on an audit basis with the complete understanding that neither
a grade nor credits can be assigned to the course at any time.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to address the needs students may have to change from one course to another.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF COURSE CHANGES
In certain cases, students need to change a course. Written approval must be submitted to allow proper documentation by the Registrar’s Office.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of the Waiver and Substitution policy is to provide a mechanism for the waiver or substitution of a course required under a degree plan or certificate program.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF WAIVER AND SUBSTITUTION
Under certain circumstances, a student may need to substitute a class required in the student’s degree plan or certificate program.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of the Administrative Drop policy is to provide a mechanism through which the
College shall remove students who fail to attend the first and subsequent classes.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE DROP
Students who fail to attend class on the first day and continue to miss each class up to and
including the official 10th day of class shall be administratively dropped by the College and will
be charged the Administrative Drop fee.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to provide faculty with the ability to award ‘A-‘and ‘B-‘grades.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE AWARD OF MINUS GRADES
The Academic Affairs Division believes that minus grades be incorporated into the current
College grading system. Since the inception of the College in 1982, plus grades have been
accommodated, but minus grades have been excluded. The recommendation is to add the
following minus grades and their respective quality point values:
A-= 3.67
B-= 2.67
The inclusion of minus grades would provide faculty with more flexibility when assigning final
semester grades and would also benefit students through the assignment of more precise grades.
The Registrar reports that the ‘D-‘grade is not widely used. Also, the ‘C-‘ grade oftentimes does
not transfer and would not meet the requirement that a student pass a prerequisite course with a
‘C’ or better. For these reasons, these minus grades are not being recommended.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of the Mid-Semester Grades policy is to provide a mechanism through which
students are notified about their academic progress.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF MID-SEMESTER GRADES
Students who are not achieving satisfactory academic progress at mid-semester shall be notified
by the instructor in an effort to prompt the students to take corrective action.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of the Appeal of Final Grade policy is to provide a mechanism through which
students may appeal a final grade.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF APPEAL OF FINAL GRADE
Students who wish to contest a final grade received in a class are entitled to an appeal.
The responsibility for determining the final grade of each student rests with the faculty member,
who has responsibility for teaching the course. A student who feels that the final grade he/she
received in the class is incorrect is entitled to an appeal according to established procedure.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to provide procedures to change a final grade or to issue a grade of
incomplete.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF CHANGE OF GRADE/INCOMPLETE GRADE
The College provides procedures to change a student’s final grade or issue a grade of Incomplete
(“I”).
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of the Academic Integrity policy is to provide students, faculty, and staff with
guidelines about expectations for academic integrity.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Sussex County Community College expects all students to practice academic integrity which is
defined as honest and responsible scholarship. Students are expected to submit original work
and give credit to other peoples' ideas, complete assignments independently or acknowledge
collaboration, accurately report results when conducting research and/or lab experiments, and
practice honesty during examinations.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of the Directed Study policy is to provide a mechanism, under exceptional
circumstances, for students to complete a required course for a degree plan or certificate
program.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DIRECTED STUDY
Under exceptional circumstances, a student may need a course for completion of a degree plan or
certificate program that is not offered as a scheduled class or was canceled by the College.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for the use of live models in art classes.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF USE OF LIVE MODELS IN ART CLASSES
SCCC recognizes that in specific studio art courses the use of the live model is an integral part of
the curriculum.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to establish criteria for a medical appeal.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF MEDICAL APPEAL
Students who must withdraw from courses because of documented medical circumstances may
appeal for a partial refund.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to prohibit solicitation in the classroom for the sale of products or
services or the distribution of literature commercially oriented toward personal interests in
accordance with established procedures.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF CLASSROOM SOLICITATION
Solicitation shall not occur in classrooms for any personal gain.
PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to provide students an opportunity to complete their program and
degree/certificate requirements when an academic program is discontinued.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF TIMELINE TO COMPLETE A DISCONTINUED ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Programs are typically discontinued when there is low program enrollment, low market demand,
insufficient program graduates, high program costs or other unforeseen reasons. Students
declared in a discontinued academic program will be given up to three (3) years to complete the
core courses and up to five (5) years to complete all degree/certificate requirements. No new
admissions or re-admissions will be permitted once a program is discontinued.
