Academic Freedom - Policy 4.010

Policy:

It is the policy of the Board that the College strive to maintain an atmosphere in which students and faculty have ample opportunity to explore the full spectrum of ideas, opinions, and beliefs.

1. In order to ensure that this situation is perpetuated, academic freedom is defined in terms of the following rights:
   
   
   1. To seek information
      
      
   2. To interpret information
      
      
   3. To communicate findings without interference
      
      
2. By accepting academic freedom, each individual faculty member also accepts the following responsibilities for preserving that freedom:
   
   
   1. To maintain scholarly competence
      
      
   2. To confine himself to his area of competence
      
      
   3. To be objective
      
      
   4. To speak his conclusions
      
      
   5. To speak officially for the College only when authorized
      
      
   6. To defend the academic freedom of his colleagues

College Programs and Awards - Policy 4.020

Policy:

It is the policy of the Board that the College provide the educational programs and awards that meet the needs of the community.

1. Pursuant to the provisions of 6A-14.030 FAC, the College shall provide instruction in the following programs:
   
   
   1. Associate in Arts Degree Programs
   2. Associate in Science Degree Programs
   3. Associate in Applied Science Degree Programs
   4. Applied Technology Diploma Programs
   5. Technical Certificate Programs
   6. Postsecondary Adult Vocational Certificate Programs
   7. Advanced Technology Certificate Programs
   8. Continuing Workforce Education
   9. Customized Vocational Instruction
   10. Adult Basic and Secondary Programs
   11. College Preparatory Instruction
   12. Vocational Preparatory Instruction
   13. Lifelong Learning Instruction
   14. Recreational and Leisure Time Instruction
       
       
2. The College shall operate the business and economic development programs pursuant to the provision of s. 240.3575 F.S.
   
   
3. Program performance information on all programs that award Associate in Arts degrees, Associate in Sciences degrees, Associate in Applied Sciences degrees, Applied Technology Diplomas, College Credit Certificates, and Vocational Certificates shall be provided to the Board each year.
   
   
4. The President or designee shall establish the requirements and conditions for successful completion and for the awarding of all degrees, diplomas, and certificates granted by the College.

College Preparation Course Enrollment Guidelines - Policy 4.025

Policy:

1. Students have three opportunities to complete a college preparatory course successfully.
   
   
2. The first attempt will be assessed at the current cost for a college preparatory course.
   
   
3. Further attempts will be assessed at the "full cost of instruction" for a college preparatory course which is defined as equivalent to the matriculation and tuition fees charged to non-Florida residents.
   
   
4. For the purpose of determining when a student should be assessed the full cost of instruction in a college preparatory course, college preparatory courses attempted prior to the fall term of the 1997-98 academic year will not be considered.
   
   
5. The College may, for extenuating circumstances or financial hardship, grant to students an exception to the full cost of instruction for further attempts to complete a college preparatory course successfully.
   
   
6. The College defines extenuating circumstances as those circumstances determined by the College to be exceptional and beyond the control of the student. Extenuating circumstances may include, but are not limited to, serious illness, death of an immediate family member, involuntary call to active military duty, English as a second language, learning disability, natural disasters, employment change, and medical condition that prevents completion of the course. Any extenuating circumstance must be documented by the student. Students who withdraw or fail a class due to extenuating circumstances may be granted an exception only once for each class.
   
   
7. The criteria for determining financial hardship includes, but is not limited to, qualification for federal need-based financial aid. Students with other documented financial hardships may also be considered. Exceptions for financial hardship will be granted only after the student has demonstrated reasonable effort to succeed in the course as documented by the instructor.
   
   
8. Requests for exceptions to the assessment of the full cost of instruction in a college preparatory course will be decided by the Petitions Committee.

Notification to Students on Alternatives to Traditional College Preparatory Instruction - Policy 4.026

Policy:

1. The college shall notify students of this policy through the college catalog, classroom posters where preparatory instruction is conducted and brochures from alternative sources of remediation.

Acceleration for Program Completion - Policy 4.030

Policy:

It is the policy of the Board to encourage the establishment of mechanisms to shorten the time necessary for a student to complete the requirements associated with the conferring of a postsecondary degree, vocational and college-credit certificate program; broaden the scope of curricular options; or increase the depth of study available for a particular subject.

1. The College shall provide opportunities for students to complete at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the program requirements, exclusive of transfer credit, through the following acceleration mechanisms:
   
   
   1. College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
   2. The College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Program
   3. International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program
   4. Defense Activity of Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES) Examinations
   5. Excelsior College Examination Equivalents
   6. Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Examination Equivalents
   7. Credit for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certifications
   8. Specified credit earned while in military service
   9. Seminole Community College instructor created "credit-by-examination"
   10. Early Admission Program
   11. Dual Enrollment of High School Students, including college credit General Education dual enrollment, College Elective and Career Preparation Dual Enrollment
   12. College credit and Vocational Tech-Prep credit
   13. Formal articulation agreements with other educational institutions
   14. Formal Internal articulation agreements
2. Students must complete a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the program requirements in residence at Seminole Community College, exclusive of transfer credits and credits earned by the above listed acceleration mechanism.
3. Seminole Community College will describe the acceleration options available and the criteria governing such options in their catalog and related publications and advisement materials (6A-14.031).
4. The President or designee shall establish procedures to accomplish these acceleration mechanisms and to make them known to the students who can benefit from them.

Evaluation of Prior Experiential Learning - Policy 4.031

Policy

It is the Policy of the District Board of Trustees that Postsecondary Adult Vocational credit may be earned by the evaluation of prior experiential learning.

Evaluation of Prior Experiential Learning

1. Credit for prior experiential learning shall be awarded only for documented learning that demonstrates achievement of all outcomes for specific courses in an approved degree program.
   
   
2. Credit shall be awarded only to matriculated students, and shall be identified on the student's transcript as credit for prior experiential learning. Upon request from another institution the College shall document how such learning was evaluated and the basis on which such credit was awarded.
   
   
3. Credit for prior experiential learning shall not duplicate credit already awarded or remaining courses planned for the student's academic program.
   
   
4. Departments and programs must clearly describe, and establish the validity of, the evaluation process and criteria for awarding credit for prior experiential learning.
   
   
5. The President shall establish procedures to implement this policy. This policy and the procedures implementing it shall be described in the College catalogue and shall be regularly reviewed

Standards of Academic Progress - Policy 4.040

Policy:

It is the policy of the Board to require acceptable academic standing from students enrolled at the College. In general, acceptable academic standing is defined as achieving and maintaining a grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 (C), or higher, for all course work attempted at the College and at other institutions previously attended. The President or designee shall establish procedures related to standards of academic progress that include, but are not limited to, academic warnings, probation, suspension, and counseling for students. These procedures shall also include specific standards of academic progress for students receiving financial aid and for those participating in student government and intercollegiate athletics.

Academic Recognition and Graduation Honors - Policy 4.050

Policy:

1. It is the policy of the Board that superior academic achievement be recognized. A College Credit student enrolled in six (6) or more credit hours and a Post-Secondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) student enrolled in 180 contact hours (6 credit hours) will be eligible for the President's and Dean's Honors list.
   
   The following criteria shall apply:
   
   
   1. A student making a grade point average of 3.75 or above will be placed on the President's List for a period of one (1) term.
   2. A student making a grade point average of 3.25 to 3.74 inclusive will be placed on the Dean's List for that term.
2. College credit and PSAV students are eligible to be considered for graduation honors if they have been in attendance at Seminole Community College for at least two terms. The appropriate honors are recorded on students' diplomas and their names are so identified on the graduation program. The honors are based on scholastic achievement at all colleges and universities attended as follows:
   
   

   Grade Point Average (GPA)	Honor
   3.2 - 3.49 grade point average	Cum Laude
   3.5 - 3.79 grade point average	Magna Cum Laude
   3.8 - 4.0 grade point average	Summa Cum Laude

   
   
3. College Credit students who have earned at least twenty-three (23) hours in Honors courses and have a 3.0 GPA will receive an Honors Diploma and be recognized at graduation.
4. The Science Merit Diploma is awarded to those who complete the required courses with a minimum GPA of 3.3.
5. Recognition of Phi Theta Kappa and Phi Beta Lambda is posted to the student's transcript and diploma at the time of graduation.

College Mass Media - Policy 4.060

Policy:

The Board endorses the principle of freedom of the press. However, freedom of the press also carries with it certain responsibilities. Therefore, the President or designee is authorized to:

1. Ensure that the overriding guideline which permeates student publications and other mass media supported by College funds is one of quality and responsibility relating to the freedom to learn, to dissent, and to speak freely and be heard; and
   
   
2. Ensure that students who participate in the College's mass media programs are aware of their responsibility and accountability in regard to the definitions of decency, libel, and legality.

Classes Offered Out of District - Policy 4.070

Policy:

The President or designee shall approve all requests for out-of-district courses and comply with the provisions of 6A-14.006 FAC.

Repair Work on Training Job Orders - Policy 4.080

Policy:

The President or designee shall establish procedures which provide for the acceptance by the College of repair work from the general public as a means of enhancing the training process.

Grades - Policy 4.090

Policy:

It is the policy of the Board that grading practices be consistently and fairly applied in the awarding of grades to students. The President or designee shall establish procedures to ensure that grades are related to the objectives and methods of each course while allowing sufficient flexibility to the faculty for differences in courses and instruction. Faculty members shall be responsible for explaining grading practices to the students at the beginning of each course.

Field Trips - Policy 4.100

Policy:

Field trips are valuable learning experience when an integral part of a course. The following shall apply to field trips:

1. Possible interference with other courses should be considered when scheduling field trips. Field trips should not be scheduled during the last week of classes of any term.
   
   
2. Students cannot be required to attend a field trip nor can the trip be included in computing grades if the trip is announced to the class after the add-drop period. Allowance should be given when trips are included in computing grades to those students who are unable to attend because of illness, work schedules, family responsibilities, or other obligations.
   
   
3. Only those students enrolled in a class taking a field trip may use College-provided transportation.
   
   
4. Transportation by college-provided vehicles may be paid by the individual department or cost center offering the course. Meal and motel expenses of students on field trips may not be paid by College funds. Other related expenses, such as convention registration fees, are paid by the individual students attending. Expenses incurred by a group performing an activity at the request of some other area of the College are paid by the requesting area.
   
   
5. Students on approved field trips or other official school business or functions should not be marked absent from class. However, they are required to make up work missed while on the trip.
   
   
6. Students must complete and sign the Agreement for off-Campus College Activity and Permission for Emergency Treatment forms.

Agreement for off campus college activity

Agreement to Participate

I __________________________________________hereby state that I am physically and mentally capable of safe participation in Seminole Community College's Off Campus Activity listed below. I have been advised that the activities in the program may include, but are not limited to: transportation to and from the off campus site, instruction in or out of the classroom, field trips or outdoor activities. While few injuries ever occur, I am aware that participation could lead to injuries that may require first aid or emergency medical treatment. I understand that I am responsible for the costs of any medical treatment arising from participation in the program.

Off Campus Activity: _____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

I acknowledge that as a participant in these activities it is my responsibility to abide by the rules and regulations applicable to the activity, to follow the directions of the activity supervisor and to help ensure the safe conduct of the activity for all concerned.

Release of Liability

________ I assume all risks and hazards incidental to the conduct of this program and hereby release Seminole Community College from any claims for personal injury or property damage resulting from the negligent acts or omissions of Seminole Community College, its faculty, staff, agents or employees.

Permission for Emergency Treatment

________ I hereby authorize Seminole Community College to obtain emergency medical treatment for me in the event that I am unable to give consent to such treatment and in the event that my parent(s), relative(s), next of kin or emergency contact person(s) cannot be reached, in order to protect and preserve my health and well being.

________________________________________________________________________
Signature Date

Clinical Affiliations - Policy 4.110

Policy:

From time to time the allied health programs require that clinical affiliations with various area health-related agencies be developed and maintained. Therefore, the President or designee shall recommend such affiliations appropriate to the needs of the College.

All clinical affiliation agreements and terms thereof shall be approved by the Board.

Did you know?

Seminole Junior College was founded on July 1, 1965. The name was changed to Seminole Community College on July 1, 1975.