Northland Pioneer College -- Catalog 03-05 Page 16 to 19

GRADES

GRADE KEY

A	=	Excellent, 4.0 grade points per semester credit
B	=	Good, 3.0 grade points per semester credit
C	=	Average, 2.0 grade points per semester credit
D	=	Unsatisfactory, 1.0 grade points per semester credit
F	=	Failure (no credit), 0.0 grade points per semester
		credit
I	=	Incomplete
P	=	Pass (credit awarded), does not affect the Grade
		Point Average
W* =		Withdrawal (no credit), does not affect the Grade
		Point Average
WF* =		Withdrawal Failing (no credit), does not affect the
		Grade Point Average

A student with a grade of less than 'C' in any subject should not expect to continue advanced work in that field unless there is other evidence indicating possible success.

* Veteran benefit recipients are not eligible for a 'W' or 'WF' grade unless they officially withdraw from a class using a Course Change Form. This form must be signed by the instructor with the last day of attendance indicated. (This procedure complies with the guidelines recommended by the federal Veteran's Administration.)

PASS ('P') GRADES

In certain classes it is possible to obtain a 'P' or Passing grade. Students should note that a 'P' grade is not the equivalent of any letter grade. A 'P' protects the grade point average (GPA) for those students desiring general education experiences outside their majors and should be avoided as a substitute for a letter grade in a major field of study. Students are cautioned that pass grades may not be accepted for transfer credit at other post-secondary institutions.

The maximum number of 'P' credits allowed toward an AGS or AAS degree from Northland is twelve (12). No 'P' credits are allowed on the AA, ABus or AS degrees.

The minimum requirements for a 'P' grade are those regularly required for a 'C' grade in any given class. The student contracting with the instructor for a 'P' option will receive either a 'P' or 'F' grade.

INCOMPLETE ('I') GRADES

An incomplete grade may be given for reasons deemed legitimate by the instructor but only when a student has met satisfactorily 85% or more of the course requirements. A student receiving an incomplete grade has the responsibility of initiating the procedure for removal of the incomplete grade.

The work to be accomplished in order for the incomplete to be removed will be submitted by the instructor on an Incomplete Grade Information Sheet to be forwarded with the final grades to the Records and Registration Office. If an incomplete is not removed within one semester from the end of the semester in which it was awarded, it is automatically converted to an 'F' grade.

WITHDRAWAL ('W') GRADES

A grade of 'W' can be initiated by a student or an instructor. Withdrawal from classes during the first four (4) weeks of the semester (for semester length classes) will not be reflected on the student's transcript. The grade of 'W' will appear on the student's transcript for each class withdrawn from after the end of the 4th week of the semester. All non-semester-length classes (usually identified as short-term classes) will show a 'W' regardless of when the withdrawal occurs after the class begins.

The course instructor may initiate an administrative withdrawal for a student after the 45th day of the semester and up to the final day of the semester by submitting the appropriate form and assigning either a 'W' or 'WF' which will be reflected on the student's transcript at the end of the semester, with the exception of veteran benefits recipients.

Whether the withdrawal from class is initiated by the student or instructor, the last date of attendance (LDA) must be written on the form.

GRADING PROCEDURE

The instructor is responsible for assigning grades. Grades are based on academic performance, class participation and attendance. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Faculty may lower a grade based on academic dishonesty or other forms of student misconduct. Academic dishonesty or other forms of student misconduct may also be referred to the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services for further action. Grade changes can be made only by the instructor with approval of the Dean/Division Director and/or the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services. Students who disagree with a grade may file a grievance as outlined in the Policy and Procedures Manual of Northland Pioneer College.

RAISING GRADES

The student may repeat a course to raise a grade. The higher grade will be credited and counted in computing the student's grade point average (GPA). The lower grade will not be used, but will still appear on any transcript.

SPECIAL NOTE: Students receiving financial aid are limited to the number of times a class may be repeated for benefit purposes.

REPEATING COURSES

Credit courses at Northland may only be counted once toward fulfilling the credit requirements for any degree or certificate, except in the case of music performance, art studio or inter-collegiate athletics courses which can be repeated up to four times for graduation credit. A student may repeat, without limit, any course offered by Northland to meet the mission and institutional goals adopted by the District Governing Board and published in the current NPC Catalog.

REPORTING OF GRADES

Final grades will be mailed to all students by the Records and Registration Office after each semester. Transcripts and grades will not be released until all financial obligations to the College have been met.

TRANSCRIPTS

No transcript will be released until all financial obligations have been satisfied with the College.

All Official Northland transcripts are issued by the Records and Registration Office. The following information is needed when requesting a transcript: name, student ID (Social Security Number is acceptable), student's mailing address, complete mailing address where transcript is to be sent, approximate first/last year of attendance, signature, date signed and payment--$5.00 per transcript. If transcript copy is to be mailed and faxed, there is a $5.00 charge for each method. Payment by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only) is accepted in addition to cash, check or money order. For credit card payment, provide account number, expiration date and name as listed on card.

Unofficial transcripts are available at campus and center locations in addition to the Records and Registration Office. Unofficial transcripts are not mailed or faxed; the transcript must be picked up in person. There is no charge for these transcripts.

Transcripts can be requested by letter via U.S. mail or by completing a Northland Pioneer College Transcript Request Form at any campus or center location, or downloaded from the NPC Web site. Requests by telephone are possible if transcript is mailed to another educational institution and payment is by credit card. The Records and Registration Office should be contacted if there are questions regarding Northland transcript requests, (928) 524-7660, P.O. Box 610, Holbrook, AZ 860250610.

ACADEMIC PROBATION

PROBATION

A student will be placed on Academic Probation if, after completion of twelve (12) credit hours or more at Northland, the student's cumulative grade point average is less than 2.0.

The twelve (12) credit hour minimum is based on:

College level classes (course number 100 or above); and
Courses for which a grade of A, B, C, D or F was earned (I, IP, NR, W, WF and P graded classes are excluded).

Students on academic probation may take no more than twelve credits per semester unless approved by the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services.

Probation status will continue for either two semesters or until the GPA is raised to 2.0 or above, whichever occurs first.

CONTINUED PROBATION

A student on Academic Probation who fails to raise his or her cumulative grade point average to the required 2.0 minimum standard within two semesters will be placed on Continued Probation. The student will be limited to taking six (6) credit hours per semester unless written approval is given by the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services.

SCHOLASTIC HONORS - GRADUATION

The notation "Graduate with Distinction" or "Graduate with High Distinction" will be placed on the transcript of students who have completed in residence at NPC at least 30 units which are used toward the degree (AA, ABus, AS, AGS, or AAS) and meet the grade criteria of 3.5-3.89 GPA for Distinction and 3.9-4.0 GPA for High Distinction. Students who receive additional degrees or emphasis areas will be required to complete, in residence, a minimum of sixteen (16) additional credits toward the subsequent degree or emphasis area in order to have this honor noted on the transcript. (GPA standards remain the same.)

Each year, Northland selects five (5) students, one (1) from each degree area (AA, ABus, AS, AGS, and AAS) as outstanding graduates. The Outstanding Graduates are chosen based on the highest GPA from students who attended classes which are open to the general student population. In the case of a tie in GPA's, the student with the most credits earned at Northland is awarded the recognition. Students who utilize any transfer credits from other colleges to meet the degree requirements at Northland are not eligible for this recognition.

Students who are receiving a Certificate of Applied Science must complete in residence at Northland at least sixteen (16) credits which apply to the certificate in order to have "Certificate with Distinction" or "Certificate with High Distinction"noted on the transcript. The GPA standards outlined above will be used for the Certificate of Applied Science.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

ASSOCIATE DEGREES

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS

ASSOCIATE OF BUSINESS

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE

ASSOCIATE OF GENERAL STUDIES

ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE

In order to obtain the Associate of Arts, Associate of Business, Associate of Science, Associate of General Studies, or Associate of Applied Science degrees from Northland, the candidate must

Satisfy the degree requirements as published in the applicable NPC Catalog prior to the date of graduation on which the degree is to be awarded;
File an Application for Graduation, including the nonrefundable $20 fee, with the Records and Registration Office during the academic year the student expects to graduate, by March 5, 2004 or March 4, 2005. A student who is late in filing an Application for Graduation may still be allowed to graduate, but will not be allowed to participate in commencement. Late applicants may participate in commencement the following year. Students who anticipate completing their degree requirements during the fall semester may apply for graduation by the first working day in October, and have their degree posted on their transcript at the end of the fall semester. If a student completes requirements for a degree during the summer, s/he must apply for fall graduation;
Be credited with not less than 64 applicable semester credits in the Records and Registration Office. No course numbered below the 100 level can be used to satisfy the requirements for any degree;
Have an approved degree plan on file, prior to March 5, 2004 or March 4, 2005 in the Records and Registration Office. All petitions for degree requirement waivers must be submitted and approved prior to March 5, 2004 or March 4, 2005 for the spring semester, or by the first working day in October for the fall semester;
Have a grade point average of 2.0 or better in all work to be applied toward graduation. Not more than nine (9) units of 'D' credit will be allowed on the AAS or AGS degrees. For AAS and AGS degrees, 'D' credit will be allowed only in unrestricted electives. No 'D' credit will be allowed on the AA, ABus, or AS degrees;
Have no more than twelve (12) credits of 'P' grade applied toward graduation credit for the AAS and AGS degree requirements (except in those program areas where 'P' is the grade most commonly employed). No'P' credit will be allowed on the AA, ABus, or AS degrees;
Have a minimum of twelve (12) semester credits in residence, at Northland, that apply toward the degree being pursued and meet the requirements for the applicable NPC Catalog (see section APPLICABLE CATALOG for additional details). Credits obtained by assessment may not be used toward the residency requirement; and
Remove, thirty (30) days prior to the date of commencement, any indebtedness to the College.

CERTIFICATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE

A Certificate of Applied Science will be awarded to students who have completed an approved vocational program with all courses successfully completed with a grade of 'C' or better to indicate the achievement of technical skills and competence in a specific area of endeavor.

The candidate for the Certificate of Applied Science must:

Satisfy the certificate requirements as published in the applicable NPC Catalog prior to the date of graduation at which the certificate is to be awarded;
File an Application for Graduation, including the nonrefundable $20 fee, with the Records and Registration Office during the academic year the student expects to graduate. The application fee must be received by March 5, 2004, or March 4, 2005 for the spring semester. A student who is late in making application for graduation may still be allowed to graduate, but will not be allowed to participate in commencement. Late applicants may participate in commencement the following year. The student who anticipates completing his/her certificate requirements during the fall semester may apply for graduation prior to the first working day in October and have his/her certificate posted on his/her transcript at the end of the fall semester. If a student completes requirements for a certificate during the summer, s/he must apply for fall graduation;
Have an approved certificate plan on file, prior to March 5, 2004, or March 4, 2005 for the spring semester, or by the first working day in October for the fall semester, in the Records and Registration Office. All petitions for certificate requirement waivers must be submitted and approved prior to March 5, 2004, or March 4, 2005 for the spring semester, or by the first working day in October for the fall;
Have a minimum of twelve (12) semester credits in residence, at Northland, that apply toward the certificate being pursued and meet the requirements for the applicable NPC Catalog (see section APPLICABLE CATALOG for additional details.) Credits obtained by assessment may not be used toward the residency requirement; and
Remove, thirty (30) days prior to the date of commencement, any indebtedness to the College.

CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY

Certificates of Proficiency are approved programs that indicate specific vocational competencies. Any number of certificates may be awarded to a student who completes the requirements. A formal certificate will be sent to the applicant once the completion of requirements is certified. Normally these students do not attend graduation ceremonies. An exception is made for those students who complete a Certificate of Proficiency of 32 credits or more in two semesters.

Certificates of Proficiency will be awarded when the student:

Satisfies the requirements for the Certificate as published in the applicable NPC Catalog;
Files an application, including the nonrefundable $15 fee, with the Records and Registration Office when all courses have been completed;
Completes successfully, with a grade of 'C' or better, all courses to indicate the achievement of technical skills and competence in a specific area of endeavor;
Has a minimum of seventy-five (75) percent of the credits required for the certificate in residence at Northland. Credits obtained by assessment cannot be used toward the residency requirement; and
Removes any indebtedness to the College prior to making application for the Certificate of Proficiency.

APPLICABLE CATALOG

Students maintaining continuous enrollment at any public Arizona community college or university may graduate according to the requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of initial enrollment or according to the requirements of any single catalog in effect during subsequent terms of continuous enrollment. A student may maintain continuous enrollment whether attending a single public community college or university in Arizona or transferring among public institutions in Arizona while pursuing his/her degrees.

Students transferring among Arizona public higher education institutions must meet the admission, residency and all curricular and academic requirements of the degree-granting institution.

A semester in which a student earns course credit is counted toward continuous enrollment. Noncredit courses, audited courses, failed courses or courses from which the student withdraws do not count toward the determination of continuous enrollment for catalog purposes.
Students who do not meet the minimum enrollment standard stipulated in number 1 during three consecutive semesters (fall/spring/fall or spring/fall/spring) and the intervening summer term** at any public Arizona community college or university are no longer considered continuously enrolled. These students must meet requirements of the public Arizona community college or university catalog in effect at the time they are readmitted or of any single catalog in effect during subsequent terms of continuous enrollment after readmission.

**Students are not obligated to enroll and earn course credit during summer terms, but summer enrollment may be used to maintain continuous enrollment status.

Students admitted or readmitted to a public Arizona community college or university during a summer term must follow the requirements of the catalog in effect the following fall semester or of any single catalog in effect during subsequent terms of continuous enrollment.
In areas of study in which the subject matter changes rapidly, material in courses taken long before graduation may become obsolete or irrelevant. Course work that is more than eight (8) years old is applicable to completion of degree requirements at the discretion of the student' major department. Departments may accept such course work, reject it or request that the student revalidate its substance. The eight-year limit on course work applies except when program accreditation agencies limit the life of course work to less than eight years. Departments may also require students to satisfy current major requirements rather than major requirements in earlier catalogs, when completing earlier requirements is no longer possible or educationally sound.
Enrollment by Arizona community college students in nontransferable courses still constitutes enrollment for purposes of determining whether the student has been continuously enrolled. For example, if a student takes two semesters of cooperative education classes, which are not transferrable to the university but constitute continuous enrollment at the community college, the university should consider it continuous enrollment.
Exceptions made by an institution apply only to the institution that made the exception. For example, if the community college departments accepted credit which was more than eight years old, the university department to which the student transfers has the right and the obligation to reevaluate any credit which is more than eight years old.

Inquiries about these guidelines may be directed to the student's Academic Advisor.

DEGREE EXCLUSIONS AND EXCEPTIONS

Students who have completed an Associate of Arts degree, Associate of Business degree or Associate of Science degree, or higher degree (BS, BA, etc.), will not be awarded an Associate of General Studies, or a second degree of the same type. Students completing the aforementioned degrees may complete a different transfer degree providing they complete the appropriate Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) courses, the common courses identified for the major they will be pursuing at the university, and applicable language requirements.
Students who complete an AAS degree offered by NPC may complete an AA, AS, ABus, or AGS degree. For each degree students must complete 12 additional transferable credits and have taken the common core courses offered by NPC for that degree.
A student may earn any number of CAS or AAS degrees; however, students must earn a minimum of 9 additional credits that apply to each new area of specialization.
Students who have completed an AA, AS, ABus, or AAS degree or higher degree at Northland or another institution are not required to complete the General Education requirements of a second AAS or CAS to be earned at Northland, unless the Northland degree has specific general educational requirements not previously taken;
Credits over eight (8) years in age are subject to review prior to acceptance toward the prerequisites and/or degree requirements in some Northland programs, except when program accreditation agencies limit the life of course work to less than eight (8) years.

COURSE OFFERING LIMITATIONS

Northland offers courses at a number of locations throughout the district. Through its regular offerings and alternative study programs, Northland attempts to provide as many courses as possible for completion of the degrees and certificates at each learning site. However, many vocational programs are limited to specific locations and are not offered beyond these locations.

PETITIONS FOR EXCEPTIONS

Students seeking exceptions to degree requirements should meet with an Academic Advisor for assistance in completing the petition forms. These forms accompanied by supporting information such as copies of transcripts, course descriptions, and articulation rules are forwarded to the Dean responsible for the degree program being petitioned. The Dean makes a recommendation and forwards the paperwork to the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services or the Registrar for a final decision and distribution of the copies of the petition form.

GRADES

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

NPC Online Catalog 2003-2005