5000 SERIES

Clarendon College Policy Manual

5000 SERIES

EDUCATIONAL POLICIES

DIVISIONS OF INSTRUCTION

5110

Responsibility for instruction at Clarendon College is lodged within three broad interdisciplinary divisions. Each division is supervised by a division director who, in turn, answers to the Dean of Instruction. These divisions are listed below:

Division of Business and Technology

Division of Liberal Arts

Division of Science and Health

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF INSTRUCTORS

5210

At a minimum, all faculty members (full- and part-time) at Clarendon College must meet and comply with the guidelines outlined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association. Other requirements may apply.

OPEN DISCUSSION POLICY

5220

The Board of Regents adopts the position that in a world of rapid change and recurrent crises, a college best serves its community, not as a stronghold of rigid tradition, but as an open intellectual forum where varying opinions may be freely expressed and freely debated.

The Board holds the following assumptions to be basic to college policy:

a. That a free society functions efficiently only if its citizens have a right to discuss, to debate, and to agree or disagree constructively.

b. That an educated citizenry, fully aware of all the evidence, is best able to preserve the valuable heritage of American-democratic institutions. The College has an obligation to its community to promote healthy discussion as an educative force.

Policy Statement

a. The Board endorses the principle of open discussion and free inquiry on the College campus.

b. The Board seeks to enlist a faculty whose members subscribe to high standards of professional conduct, who are specialists in the various subject matter areas, and who are fair and constructive in presenting ideas and issues to the students.

c. The Board desires to foster in students a respect for differing points of view, and the ability to discriminate between opinion and fact, and to think intelligently.

d. The College may invite visits from outside speakers representing diverse points of view. In return, it reserves the right to impose specific conditions insuring that opportunity be provided for students to hear opposing sides of a question.

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

5310

The vigor of any educational institution depends, in large measure, upon the quality, relevance, breadth, and timeliness of its curriculum. As the society and culture change, new courses and programs must be added and old curriculum components must be revised and deleted. Adequate curriculum development requires the commitment of all faculty members and the administration as well. It should be systematic, ongoing, and well planned. The policy for curriculum development at Clarendon College is given below:

Responsibility

The Dean of Instruction has responsibility for the overall administration of curriculum development. To fulfill these duties the Dean of Instruction will work with the division directors, the curriculum committee, the faculty, and others as may be required.

COURSE SYLLABI

5320

Each course in the Clarendon College curriculum will be taught from a current course syllabus. This syllabus is intended to communicate basic course information and course expectations to students, teaching colleagues, administrators, and accrediting personnel. Normally, the syllabus is prepared by the instructor teaching the course.

Each approved syllabus should be available on the College’s Web site and a hardcopy distributed as follows:

Dean of Instruction -- 1 copy

Division Director -- 1 copy

Faculty Member -- 1 copy

The Dean of Instruction shall have overall responsibility to insure that syllabi are developed for all courses taught. He/she shall maintain a set of course syllabi in his/her office. The Dean of Instruction shall work with the Division Directors, the Curriculum Committee, and the faculty to ensure that syllabi are updated on a regular basis and that this policy is implemented in an appropriate manner.

CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

5330

All courses taught at Clarendon College will be identified with a short narrative description or course description. This course description will follow a uniform format and contain the following information: Course prefix and number, course title, credit hours, number of lecture and lab hours per week, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approval number. This information should be followed by a narrative description of sufficient length to describe the course content and other pertinent information. The final entry should list any required prerequisites. Only the approved catalog description shall appear in the College catalog, program guides, the syllabus, brochures, or other college publications.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

5340

It shall be the policy of Clarendon College to state clearly what is expected of students, what the level of acceptable performance is, and how students will be evaluated for all courses taught at Clarendon College. Pursuant to this policy, instructors at Clarendon College are expected to develop a set of printed course objectives which fully describe the expectations for each course. These course objectives and outcomes shall be communicated through the course syllabus to all students enrolled in the course and available for inspection by all potential students.

TEXTBOOK SELECTION

5350

Courses taught at Clarendon College are generally supported by a carefully selected textbook. In most cases, the same textbook will be used for all sections of the same course in the same semester - both on and off campus. Selection of textbooks therefore should be done cooperatively by all full-time faculty members teaching the same course. Where possible, part-time faculty members should also contribute to textbook selection discussions. If no consensus can be reached within the department or the division, the Dean of Instruction will evaluate the disputed texts and choose the textbook.

When a textbook has been selected, instructors are expected to explain to students how the textbook will be used to support learning. A part-time or full-time faculty member who chooses not to use the required textbook may not require that a different textbook be purchased by students. Copying of materials for a class must comply with existing copyright laws and college policy.

The college bookstore will order and offer for sale all student textbooks. Faculty members are expected to contact publishers for "desk" copies, which are generally provided free to those teaching a particular course.

Once a textbook is adopted, the textbook should generally be in adoption at the College for a period of not less than two academic years. There are exceptions to this guideline, for example technology textbooks and textbooks which are no longer in print and are unavailable for purchase by the bookstore.

Each semester each faculty member will provide the Dean of Instruction with a list of textbooks he/she expects to use in the following semester or summer session. The deadline for textbook requests for the Spring Semester is October 1. The deadline for the Summer and the Fall semesters is March 1. At the same time, instructors will indicate which existing textbooks will no longer be used.

GRADE BOOKS

5360

Instructors should maintain class records that support and document the student’s final grade, including accurate attendance records. Instructors are expected to retain course records and class documentation for at least one year.

ACADEMIC RECORDS

5405

The record of work taken during the student's enrollment at Clarendon College is cumulative. It shows each course taken and the final result or grade for each semester of attendance.

Clarendon College maintains the following academic records on all students enrolled in credit courses:

1. A permanent record of final grades earned in each subject for each semester a student is enrolled at Clarendon College.

2. A record of withdrawal (enforced or voluntary) from any subject in which a student has been previously enrolled. This record includes the last date of attendance in the course.

3. A record of all student reenrollments in courses from which there was a withdrawal.

Academic records will be retained or disposed of in a manner consistent with the Clarendon College Records Management Policy and procedures.

TRANSCRIPTS

5410

Clarendon College provides a permanent record or transcript of courses taken and credit earned for all students officially enrolled.

Upon written request by a student, the Registrar’s Office will send the student's transcript from Clarendon College to any college, agency, or individual named. A fee will be charged for each official transcript issued.

All financial obligations and admissions requirements to the College must be met before a transcript will be issued.

CONTINUING EDUCATION RECORDS AND CEU TRANSCRIPTS

5415

Clarendon College will maintain a record and issue upon request a record or transcript of each individual’s participation in a continuing education or workforce education program for which Continuing Education Units (C.E.U.) are awarded. The awarding of Continuing Education Units shall follow the Commission on Colleges’s guidelines for the awarding and recording of CEUs (C.E.U.: Guidelines and Criteria).

Continuing Education transcripts will be maintained by the Registrar. The issuing of continuing education transcripts will follow the same guidelines and procedures as are followed for academic transcripts. At a minimum, the following information should be recorded on the CEU transcript for each course or activity a participant enrolls in:

1. Course number

2. Title of the course

3. Completion date

4. Number of C.E.U.s awarded

5. Grade, assessment results, or other indicators of satisfactory or unsatisfactory completion.

Continuing Education records will be retained or disposed of in a manner consistent with the Clarendon College Records Management Policy and Procedures.

WITHDRAWAL FROM COLLEGE

5420

When a student finds it necessary to withdraw from school before the end of the semester, he or she should obtain a withdrawal form from the Office of the Registrar. Full instructions for withdrawing from college will be given at the time the withdrawal form is picked up. Students may also withdraw from the college by sending a written request for such action to the Registrar’s Office. The request must include the student's signature, the student's current address, social security number, phone number, and course names and numbers of the courses for which the student is currently enrolled. The date postmarked on the envelope will be the official withdrawal date. Students who withdraw after the census date for the semester and on or before the end of the 12th week of a long semester, or on or before the last day to drop a class of a term as designated in the college calendar will be assigned a grade of "W."

ADDING AND DROPPING COURSES

5425

Any change in a student's class schedule after registration and prior to the census date of the semester is accomplished by completing the official Add/Drop Form. Students must pay a change-of-schedule fee plus any applicable tuition and fees to the Business Office if they wish to add or drop a course during this period of time. No course(s) may be added after the date designated by the school calendar as the last date to add a course.

A student may drop a course with a grade of "W" any time after the census date for the semester and on or before the end of the 12th week of a long semester, or on or before the last day to drop a class of a term as designated in the college calendar. The request for permission to drop a course is initiated by the student by procuring a drop form from the Office of the Registrar.

A student who is enrolled in a developmental education course as a result of the Texas Success Initiative may not drop his/her only developmental course without approval by the Dean and/or an amended individual success plan.

International students and students receiving financial aid or veteran's assistance should see the appropriate college official before dropping or withdrawing from any class. Any student who is considering dropping a course is encouraged to contact his/her instructor prior to initiating a drop or withdrawal.

CLASS ATTENDANCE

5430

Clarendon College believes that one of the single greatest predictors of student success is attendance. Therefore, students are expected to attend all classes in which they are enrolled. Class attendance is the responsibility of the student. It is also the responsibility of the student to consult with all instructors when an absence occurs.

Instructors are responsible for keeping an accurate record of class attendance and informing students of the importance of attendance. A student who experiences attendance problems, for whatever reasons, is strongly encouraged to consult with each of their faculty members as well as his/her academic advisor and/or counselor.

Clarendon College instructors have the right to drop a student for excessive absences from any class at any time during the semester. Each individual instructor is responsible for informing the students in his/her class at the beginning of each semester of the class attendance requirements and what constitutes excessive absences. A student who is dropped for excessive absences may receive an automatic grade of F for that class.

NOTE: An excused absence will not factor against a student’s attendance record in any class. An example of an officially excused absence is pre-approved participation in a school-sponsored activity. However, even when an absence is excused, the student is still responsible for any material covered in class during the time missed.

GRADES AND GRADE POINTS

5435

The grades used in college reports and records are A (excellent), B (good), C (average), S (Satisfactory in developmental or remedial course work), D (poor), F (failure), N (Need for continued remediation in developmental course work), I (incomplete), and W (withdrawn). (The grades of S and N may be assigned only to students taking developmental or remedial courses). The lowest passing grade is D.

Grade point averages are computed by assigning point values to each grade as follows:

Letter Grade	Numeric Grade	Grade Points
A	90-100	4	Excellent
B	80-89	3	Good
C	70-79	2	Average
D	60-69	1	Poor
F	59 and Below	0	Failure
I		0	Incomplete
W			Withdrew

In calculating the grade-point average under the above system, a student with 12 hours of A's and 3 hours of F's would have 48 grade points divided by 15 semester hours, thus a grade-point average of 3.20 for the semester hours attempted. Under this system a student must have at least 2.00 for the "C" average required for graduation.

When a course is repeated, the last grade earned will be the grade that will be factored into the student’s cumulative grade point average.

In case of illness, death in the family, or other similar emergencies, a grade of incomplete (I) may be given. The Dean of Instruction shall have responsibility for developing guidelines and implementing appropriate procedures. If course requirements are not completed during the next long semester, the grade of "F" will be assigned and remain on transcript records.

GRADE REPORTS

5440

Permanent grades are recorded at the end of each semester on each individual student’s official transcript. Grade Reports will be available to the student on-line after the end of each semester.

GRADE APPEALS

5441

Students who believe their grade is in error as a result of error on the part of the institution or an instructor error may appeal their grade through the Student Appeals and Grievance Procedure. Students have 45 calendar days from the end of the semester in which the course was taken to challenge the assigned grade.

WITHHOLDING GRADES

5445

Official transcripts will be withheld if the student does not have all required student information on file in the Registrar’s Office or if any financial obligations to the College have not been paid.

TYPES OF DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES

5450

Clarendon College offers the Associate in Arts Degree, the Associate in Science Degree, the Associate in Applied Science Degree, and Certificates. The requirements for each degree are listed with their respective programs.

A student who fails to graduate at the expected time and completes the remaining requirements at another institution may transfer up to 21 semester hours back to Clarendon College and graduate, provided all work is completed within one year after leaving Clarendon College and his/her application for graduation is made within one (1) year from the time that he/she completes the requirements.

SEMESTER HOURS AND CREDIT

5455

The College operates on the semester plan with two long semesters of sixteen (16) weeks each and at least two summer terms.

The unit of credit in college is the semester hour, which is the credit earned by meeting a course one hour per week for a semester. Most college courses meet three times each week and give three semester hours of credit. The normal load for a student is five academic courses plus physical education, which would grant sixteen (16) semester hours credit for a semester and thirty-two (32) semester hours during the academic year. Students, upon approval by the appropriate dean, may take more than nineteen (19) semester hours.

In the summer semester a student normally earns six (6) semester hours in six weeks and twelve (12) hours in twelve weeks. The Association of Texas Colleges recommends fourteen (14) semester hours as the maximum which may be earned in a summer semester.

College courses are offered during the evening hours and on weekends for the convenience of persons working during the day. Course scheduling depends upon student interest and the availability of instructors. The evening and weekend schedule typically includes university parallel courses, occupational courses, and special short-term continuing education experience for adults.

CREDIT FOR "LESS THAN SEMESTER LENGTH COURSES"

5460

Occasionally, less than semester length courses are offered to assist individuals for immediate improvement of present proficiencies and/or the establishment of new skills and/or knowledge. The courses are planned in cooperation with business representatives, educators, individuals, and special interest groups to meet the broad range of changing needs and to align these needs with student work schedules.

Courses which are less than semester length shall comply with the following:

1. A less-than-semester-length course shall consist of the same number of class contact hours as similar courses offered in a regular session or a summer session. Courses shall have the same objectives, requirements, and quality of instruction as regular length courses.

2. Students may not carry more courses at a time in a shortened format than will give them total credit of one semester credit hour per week of instruction. The maximum number of credit hours is one semester hour per week per course with a maximum of eight contact hours scheduled per day.

3. No three-credit-hour course shall consist of fewer than nine days of classes offered over not less than three weeks.

4. All requirements for three-credit-hour courses shall apply proportionately to courses for one, two, four, or other credit hour values.

Admission standards for less-than-semester-length courses are the same as those for regular-semester-length courses. The official date of record is established by THECB guidelines. Thus, drop dates for less than semester length courses are set accordingly.

THE CLARENDON COLLEGE CORE CURRICULUM

5465

Included in the degree requirements for the Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science degrees at Clarendon College is a basic core of general education courses or a core curriculum. The purpose of the Clarendon College core curriculum is to provide the skills, knowledge, and perspectives that help define the educated person. The core emphasizes the basic intellectual competencies--reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking--as well as broad intellectual perspectives including historical consciousness; multicultural awareness; numerical comprehension and analysis; and, concern about ethics, aesthetics, and values. These competencies are designed not only to help students understand and appreciate their heritage, but also to enable them to prepare for responsible citizenship and successful living in a rapidly changing and highly technological world. Competency in each of the core components is established by successful completion of the core courses which are required for the Associate in Arts or the Associate in Science Degree.

In accordance with the laws of the State of Texas and the guidelines and procedures established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), all Texas public colleges and universities are required to establish a core curriculum. The law and the established guidelines indicate that if a student completes the core curriculum at one public college or university within the State of Texas, that block of courses may be transferred to any other public college or university within the State of Texas and must be substituted for the receiving institution’s core curriculum. Further, in accordance with the law and the guidelines, a student shall receive academic credit for each of the courses transferred and may not be required to take additional core curriculum courses at the receiving institution, unless the THECB has approved a larger core curriculum for that institution.

The Clarendon College Core Curriculum consists of six areas - Communications, Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Computer Science. The Clarendon College Core Curriculum requirements are described below. These requirements must be met by every student pursuing an Associate in Arts or an Associate in Science degree at Clarendon College.

CORE CURRICULUM / GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

SEM HRS

COMMUNICATION

ENGL1301 and ENGL1302	6
SPCH1315, SPCH1318, or SPCH1321	3

HUMANITIES

ENGL2331, ENGL2332 or ENGL2333	3

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

ARTS1303, ARTS1304, DRAM1310, DRAM2366, HUMA1315, MUSI1306, or MUSI1308	3

MATHEMATICS

MATH1314, MATH1324, or MATH2413	3

NATURAL SCIENCES

BIOL1406, BIOL1407, BIOL1411, BIOL1413, BIOL2401, BIOL2402, BIOL2420, CHEM1311 (with CHEM1111), CHEM1312 (with CHEM1112), CHEM2323 (with CHEM2223), CHEM2325 (with CHEM2225), PHYS1401, PHYS1402, PHYS1411, PHYS1412, or AGRI1415	8

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

History
HIST1301, HIST1302, or HIST2301	6
Government
GOVT2305 and GOVT2306	6
Social or Behavioral Science
PSYC2301, PSYC2308, PSYC2314, SOCI1301, SOCI1306, SOCI2301, ECON2301, ECON2302, OR AGRI2317	3

COMPUTER SCIENCE

COSC1401 or BCIS1405	4

TOTAL REQUIRED CORE CURRICULUM HOURS

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

5470

THE ASSOCIATE IN ARTS DEGREE

The Associate in Arts Degree from Clarendon College will be granted to the student who has made formal application for graduation and who completes the following requirements:

1. The student must complete a minimum of 62 semester hours of college-level credit.*

2. The student must complete all core curriculum/general education requirements for graduation or all courses in a THECB approved Field of Study curriculum.

3. The student must earn at least 25 percent of the credit hours required for the degree at Clarendon College.

4. The student must have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average on all work from Clarendon College.

5. The student must have satisfied the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative, unless exempt.

6. The student must successfully complete a minimum of two physical education activity courses, unless a substitution for this requirement is petitioned for and approved by the Dean of Instruction.

7. The student must have satisfactorily settled all college financial obligations.

*Developmental courses may not be counted or used as hours towards the Associate in Arts Degree.

ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE DEGREE

The Associate in Science Degree from Clarendon College will be granted to the student who has made formal application for graduation and who completes the following requirements:

1. The student must complete a minimum of 62 semester hours of college-level credit.*

2. The student must complete all core curriculum/general education requirements for graduation or all courses in a THECB approved Field of Study curriculum.

3. The student must earn at least 25 percent of the credit hours required for the degree at Clarendon College.

4. The student must have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average on all work from Clarendon College.

5. The student must have satisfied the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative, unless exempt.

6. The student must successfully complete a minimum of two physical education activity courses, unless a substitution for this requirement is petitioned and approved by the Dean of Instruction.

The student must have satisfactorily settled all college financial obligations.

*Developmental courses may not be counted or used as hours towards the Associate in Science Degree.

THE ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE

The Associate in Applied Science Degree from Clarendon College will be granted to the student who has made formal application for graduation and who completes the following requirements:

1. The student must complete a minimum of 62 semester hours of college-level credit.

2. As part of the minimum 62 semester hour degree requirement, the student must complete a minimum of 15 semester hours of general education courses. The core of general education courses must include at least one course from each of the following areas: Humanities/Fine Arts, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and natural sciences and mathematics.

3. The student must complete the prescribed competencies and curriculum for a two-year occupational or work force education program as outlined in the degree plan (Clarendon College Catalog).

4. The student must earn at least 25 percent of the total credit hours required for the degree and at least 50 percent of the technical/workforce education courses required for the degree at Clarendon College.

5. The student must have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average on all work from Clarendon College.

6. The student must have satisfied the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative, unless exempt.

7. The student must have satisfactorily settled all college financial obligations.

*Developmental courses may not be counted or used as hours towards the Associate in Applied Science Degree.

THE CERTIFICATE OF TECHNOLOGY

The Certificate of Technology from Clarendon College will be granted to the student who makes formal application for graduation and completes the following requirements:

1. The student must complete a minimum of 43 semester hours.

2. The student must complete the prescribed technical competencies and curriculum for the work force education or occupational program as outlined in the Clarendon College Catalog.*

3. The student must earn at least 25 percent of the total credit hours required for the degree and at least 50 percent of the technical/workforce education courses required for the degree at Clarendon College.

4. The student must have a 2.0 grade point average on all work from Clarendon College.

5. The student must have satisfied the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative, unless exempt.

6. The student must have satisfactorily settled all college financial obligations.

*Developmental courses may not be counted or used as hours toward the Certificate of Technology.

THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

The Certificate of Completion from Clarendon College will be granted to the student who has made formal application for graduation and who completes the following requirements:

1. The student must complete the prescribed technical competencies and curriculum for the work force education or occupational program as outlined in the Clarendon College Catalog.*

2. The student must earn at least 25 percent of the total credit hours required for the degree and at least 50 percent of the technical/workforce education courses required for the degree at Clarendon College.

3. The student must have a 2.0 grade point average on all work from Clarendon College.⁺

4. The student must have satisfactorily settled all college financial obligations.

*Developmental courses may not be counted or used as hours towards the Certificate of Completion.

⁺Students completing a Certificate of Completion in Vocational Nursing must earn a 'C' (75) or better in each nursing course and each related course (including any pre-requisite courses).

APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION

5475

A formal graduation exercise is held annually at the end of the spring semester at Clarendon College. This exercise is for those students who are completing requirements during that spring semester or who have completed requirements during the preceding summer or fall semesters.

The student should submit an application for graduation along with the required commencement fee to the Registrar no later than March 1 in order to participate in the graduation exercise.

All candidates for degrees and certificates must be present at the graduation ceremony unless specifically excused by the Dean of Students.

AWARDS AND ACADEMIC RECOGNITIONS

5480

Clarendon College has several means of recognizing students for their outstanding and distinguished academic achievement.

President's Honor Roll

Students who have a 4.0 average and who are taking at least twelve (12) semester hours are listed on the President's Honor Roll at the end of each semester.

Dean's Honor Roll

Students who make an average of 3.6 grade points per semester hour and who are taking at least twelve (12) semester hours are listed on the Dean's Honor Roll at the end of each semester.

Graduation with Honors

Students who are graduating with an Associate Degree, who have at least 24 semester hours in residence, who have completed at least two semesters at Clarendon College, and who have a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) on all work attempted will graduate cum laude (with honors). Students who are graduating with an Associate Degree, who have at least 24 semester hours in residence, who have completed at least two semesters at Clarendon College, and who have a grade point average of at least 3.75 (on a 4.0 scale) on all work attempted will graduate magna cum laude (with high honors). Students who are graduating with an Associate Degree, who have at least 24 semester hours in residence, who have completed at least two semesters at Clarendon College, and who have a grade point average of at least 3.9 (on a 4.0 scale) on all work attempted will graduate summa cum laude (with highest honors).

Top Honor Graduate

In April of each year, the College faculty shall vote on a graduating student to give the Student Address at commencement.

This honor is based on two criteria: (a) the student’s grade point average (GPA); and, (b) to what extent the student meets the following standards:

1. The student must have earned a minimum of 24 semester hours at Clarendon College.

2. The student must have completed or have currently in progress all courses required for an associate degree.

The student must have all courses attempted (including all transfer hours) included for evaluation in his/her grade point average.

The student must be in compliance with all student conduct rules and regulations as outlined in the Student Handbook and the College Catalog.

Grades from the final semester will not be included in the evaluation for this honor.

Other Awards

Students who have distinguished themselves during the year may be recognized and presented with other awards, as appropriate.

CLARENDON COLLEGE GRADUATE GUARANTEE

5485

Guarantee for Transfer Credit:

The Clarendon College guarantees to its Associate of Arts and Associate of Science graduates and other students who have met the requirements of a 62-credit-hour transfer plan the transferability of course credits to those Texas colleges or universities which cooperate in the development of Clarendon College Course Selection Guides. If such courses are rejected by the college or the university, the student may take tuition-free alternate courses at Clarendon College which are acceptable to the college or university.

Special Conditions Which Apply to the Guarantee Are As Follows:

1. Transferability means the acceptance of credits toward a specific major and degree. Courses must be identified by the receiving university as transferable and applicable in course Selection Guides dates 2000-2001 or later;

2. Limitations of total number of credits accepted in transfer, grades required, relevant grade point average, and duration of transferability apply as stated in the catalog of the receiving institution; and,

3. The guarantee applies to courses included in a written transfer (degree) plan--which includes the institution to which the student will transfer, the baccalaureate major and degree sought, and the date such a decision was made--which must be filed with Clarendon College.

4. Only college-level courses with Community College Course Guide Manual approved numbers and a common course number are included in this guarantee.

5. If all conditions are met and course or courses are not accepted by a receiving institution in transfer, the student must notify Clarendon College within 10 days of notice of transfer credit denial so the "Transfer Dispute Resolution" process can be initiated.

6. If it is determined that the course or courses are not transferable, Clarendon College will allow the student to take up to six (6) semester credit hours of comparable courses, which are acceptable to the receiving institution.

7. The guarantee does not imply that the graduate will pass any licensing or qualifying examination for a particular career.

8. The students' sole remedy against this College and its employees for academic deficiencies shall be limited to six (6) credit hours of tuition-free education under conditions described above.

Guarantee for Job Competency:

If a recipient of an Associate of Applied Science degree or Certificate of Completion is judged by his/her employer to be lacking in technical job skills identified as exit competencies for his/her specific degree program, the graduate will be provided up to six (6) tuition-free credit hours of additional skill training by the college under the conditions of the guarantee policy. Special conditions which apply to the guarantee include the following:

1. The graduate must have earned the Associate of Applied Science degree or a Certificate of Completion beginning May, 2000, or thereafter in an workforce education / technical program identified in the college catalog.

2. The graduate must have completed the requirements for the Associate in Applied Science degree or the Certificate of Completion at Clarendon College, with a minimum 75 percent of credits earned at Clarendon College, and must have completed the degree within a four-year time span.

3. Graduates must be employed full-time in an area directly related to the area of program concentration as certified by the Dean of Instruction.

4. Employment must commence within 12 months of graduation.

5. The employer must certify in writing that the employee is lacking entry-level skills identified by Clarendon College as the employee's program competencies and must specify the areas of deficiency within 90 days of the graduate's initial employment.

6. The employer, division director, counselor, and appropriate faculty member will develop a written educational plan for retraining.

7. Retraining will be limited to six credit hours related to the identified skill deficiency and to those classes regularly scheduled during the period covered by the retraining plan.

8. All retraining must be completed within a calendar year from the time the educational plan is agreed upon.

9. The graduate and/or employer is responsible for the cost of books, insurance, uniforms, fees, and other course-related expenses.

10. The guarantee does not imply the graduate will pass any licensing or qualifying examination for a particular career.

11. The student's sole remedy against the College and its employees for skill deficiencies shall be limited to six credit hours of tuition-free education under conditions described above.

12. The program can be initiated through written contact with the office of the college president.

CLASSIFICATION OF STUDENTS

5490

Students at Clarendon College are classified as follows:

1. Freshmen

Students who have completed fewer than thirty (30) semester hours of work are classified as freshmen students.

2. Sophomores

Students who have completed thirty (30) semester hours or more of work but who do not have an associate degree and who do not have upper division standing at a senior college or university are classified as sophomore students.

3. Special Students

Students at Clarendon College who cannot be classified as freshmen or sophomore students are classified as special students.

4. Part-time Students

Students enrolled in fewer than twelve (12) semester hours of work during a long semester are classified as part-time students.

5. Full-time Students

Students enrolled in twelve (12) or more semester hours of work are classified as full-time students.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS OF PROGRESS

5495

1. Measure of Quality. The records of all students who attempt 12 or more semester hours will be reviewed and evaluated at least once per year. A full-time student's record will be reviewed at the end of each semester. Full-time students and part-time students who have attempted 12 or more semester hours will be considered to be achieving satisfactory progress in "Good Standing" if they earn a cumulative 2.0 grade point average or higher (on a 4.0 scale).

2. Academic Probation. Students who do not achieve satisfactory progress (cumulative minimum G.P.A. of 2.0) will be placed on Academic Probation for the next long semester. Students on Academic Probation are also on "attendance probation" and are expected to attend every class unless hindered by circumstances beyond their control. No unexcused absences or "cuts" are allowed. Such "cuts" may result in immediate suspension from classes. In addition, students on academic probation will be limited to a maximum of 16 semester credit hours.

3. Academic Suspension. Students who are on academic probation and fail to achieve minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 or higher during the next term will be placed on Academic Suspension (suspended from enrollment for the next long semester). A student may appeal this action through the Admissions Committee if there are extenuating circumstances which might alter the suspension status. After serving a one-semester suspension these students will be eligible to re-enter on academic probation.

4. Continued Academic Probation. Continued probation instead of suspension will be in effect for students who fail to achieve the cumulative 2.0 G.P.A. but in the current semester earn 12 or more semester hours with current 2.0 or higher G.P.A. When these students attain the cumulative minimum of 2.0 or higher G.P.A., they will be in "Good Standing."

5. Re-entry. Students who have been on suspension may re-enter on academic probation. If they fail to meet the minimum requirements as indicated, they will be placed on academic suspension for one calendar year. After one year the student may be admitted on academic probation. Should the student still not meet the minimum requirements, he/she will be placed on academic suspension again for a calendar year and may be re-admitted only upon approval of the Admissions Committee.

Library

5510

Clarendon College operates a comprehensive Library for the purpose of supporting classroom learning and promoting student learning outside the classroom. The library collections, including books, copies of bound and current periodicals, electronic/digital materials, and audio-visual materials, shall be of sufficient size and quality to ensure the effectiveness of the instructional program.

Responsibility and Staff

Responsibility for the operation of the Library rests with the Director of the Library, who answers directly to the Dean of Instruction. Other staff are employed to assist with day-to-day operations. In addition, the Learning Resource Committee helps guide the development of the collection, advises in setting policy, and makes recommendations for improvement.

Operational Policies and Procedures

The Director of the Library shall develop, with input from the Learning Resource Committee, those operational policies and procedures as may be appropriate to insure maximum use and smooth operations of the Library.

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY

5520

Clarendon College shall provide adequate and appropriate instructional technology and computing resources to support the college’s educational program.

Audio-visual equipment and materials, and other learning resource materials are the responsibility of the Library. To make the maximum use or available resources, equipment is kept in a central location and made available to faculty on an as-needed basis.

The Department of Information Systems and Computer Operations at Clarendon College is responsible for computing resources and information technology support and services. The Dean of Instruction is responsible for developing procedures and guidelines for technology and computer usage and for balancing services rendered among the different users.

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES: COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS

5530

Employees of the College shall comply with the provisions of the United States Copyright Law. Subject to certain specific exceptions, the College understands that the owner of a copyright has the exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, or display the copyrighted work, or to authorize such reproduction, distribution, performance, or display by others.

One exception to the exclusive rights enjoyed by copyright owners is the doctrine of fair use. The fair use of copyrighted work for purposes of teaching, scholarship, or research is not an infringement of copyright. The following factors shall be considered in determining fair use:

1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether the use is of a commercial nature or for nonprofit educational purposes.

2. The nature of the copyrighted work.

3. The amount, importance, and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole.

4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The guidelines for and the distinction between “fair use” and copyright infringement are unclear and not easily defined; faculty and staff should understand that acknowledging the source when using certain materials in certain ways is not and cannot be a substitute for obtaining permission or appropriate licenses. For additional information concerning copyright law see Title 17, U.S. Code or http://www.copyright.gov/title17/index.html.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

5540

Requests for teaching supplies or other educational materials shall originate with members of the faculty. Purchasing will follow approved institutional purchasing policies and procedures.

OFFICE SUPPLIES

5550

Office supplies are available to faculty and staff through the College Bookstore or may be requested via requisition/purchase order and follow established college purchasing policies and procedures. No college employee has the authority to make purchases or to obligate the College for payment without an approved purchase order. Payment will be made only when an invoice is accompanied by a completed Purchase Order.

FACULTY OFFICES

5560

Every effort will be made to provide all full-time faculty members with adequate office space. Assignment of offices will be made by the Dean of Instruction and changes in office assignment must be approved in advance by him/her.

EVALUATION OF FACULTY

5610

The Dean of Instruction shall be charged with the task of developing and implementing an on-going program of faculty evaluation. He/she shall be assisted by the Division Director. In all cases, the faculty evaluation and professional development program shall comply with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Criteria for Accreditation, Section 4.8.10.

In addition, part-time faculty members shall be evaluated by the same criteria as full-time faculty.

EVALUATION OF STUDENT LEARNING

5620

The academic performance of students in all credit courses will be evaluated and graded. It shall be the responsibility of the instructor to design and administer appropriate tests and assessments to determine the adequacy of student learning in each course taught.

Final Examinations

In an effort to evaluate student learning, a final exam may be required in a course as provided for in the course syllabus. Guidelines covering the final examinations are listed below:

1. A final examination is required as stated in the grading section of the course syllabus. (A final exam is defined to include a final project, a portfolio, or other final experience.)

2. An examination schedule will be published each semester by the Dean of Instruction. All tests should be given at the time scheduled.

3. Students will not normally be allowed to take a final examination at any time other than the assigned period.

Exceptions to this policy may be granted in cases of extreme need when approved by both the faculty member and the Dean of Instruction.

EVALUATION OF CURRICULUM

5630

The evaluation of the curriculum and the instructional programs of the College shall be the responsibility of the Dean of Instruction. He/she shall be assisted in this duty by the Curriculum Committee, the division directors, and the faculty.

This evaluation shall include the opinions and suggestions of students, faculty, consultants, and others relative to a number of curriculum variables. Assessment shall include course content, course sequencing, course selection within programs, course scheduling, relevance of available programs and courses, mode of presentation, and other criteria which may determine the overall quality of the curriculum.

EVALUATION OF ADMINISTRATION

5640

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the President shall be the responsibility of the Board of Regents. Evaluation of the effectiveness of all other administrators and other staff members shall be the responsibility of the President and/or appropriate supervisors.

EVALUATION OF POLICIES AND PROGRAMS

5650

Evaluation of admissions policies and procedures shall be assigned to the Admissions Committee and to the Dean of Instruction.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the athletic program will be conducted annually by the Athletic Council. The Athletic Director and the other Coaches shall be responsible for the overall effectiveness of the program and shall be accountable to the President.

Evaluation of the continuing education programs shall be the responsibility of the Dean of Instruction. He/she is to be assisted by the Curriculum Committee, and others as appropriate.

Evaluation of student services shall be the responsibility of the Dean of Students with assistance from the appropriate student services committees. These committees shall have membership from the student body, faculty and administration.

Evaluation of Institutional Research shall be the responsibility of the President, with the assistance of the Dean of Instruction and Institutional Effectiveness Committee.

EVALUATION OF THE LIBRARY

5660

Evaluation of the library, library resources and the cooperative arrangements for resources and services shall be the responsibility of the Dean of Instruction with assistance from the Director of the Library and the Learning Resource Committee.

PROGRAM EVALUATION - WORK FORCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS

5670

All programs will be evaluated periodically according to established procedures.

The following evaluation elements should be assessed in terms of both quantitative and qualitative factors, such as: mission, need, curriculum, enrollment, graduates, student placement, follow-up results, program costs, facilities and equipment, articulation agreements, instructional practices, student services, public and private linkages, and qualifications of personnel.

Program evaluation is a continuous process by informal and formal means. The purpose of program evaluation at Clarendon College is to provide an orderly process for program review, improvement, approval or disapproval, revision, deactivation, and/or closure of institutional programs as provided for within institutional policies and procedures and as provided for in established guidelines for state appropriations under Chapter 9, Sub Chapter G of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Rules and Regulations.