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Degree Requirements
Associate in Arts Associate in Science Associate in Applied Science
I. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Associate in Arts Degree (A.A.)
Associate in Arts Degree (A.A.)
The Liberal Arts Program offers the equivalent of the first two years in a four-year Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science program. The program is flexible; students select courses based on the requirements of the four-year college to which they plan to transfer. Upon completion of the Liberal Arts program, the student should have an academic background sufficient to transfer into a baccalaureate degree program as well as a foundation for lifelong learning in the workplace.
The Community College System of New Hampshire offers two types of Associate in Arts degrees; one which focuses on a general liberal arts education and the other which is developed for specialized transfer designed by the offering college.
The Associate in Arts Degree program requires a minimum of 64 credits as follows:
• English Composition 3-4 credits • English Electives 3-4 credits • Humanities/Fine Arts/Foreign Language 9 credits • Mathematics 6-8 credits • Lab Science 8 credits • Social Science 9 credits • Liberal Arts Electives 15 credits • Open Electives* 9-12 credits • Total Credits 64 credits
* A computer literacy course may be included within the open elective area.
Associate in Arts Degree – specialized transfer
Associate in Arts Degree - specialized transfer
NHCTC- Stratham & Portsmouth offers specialized Liberal Arts transfer degrees in American Studies, Biotechnology, Business, and Teacher Preparation. (See the Program of Study section for specific degree requirements.)
• English Composition 3-4 credits • English Electives 3-4 credits • Foreign Language/Humanities/Fine Arts/ 9 credits • Mathematics 6-8 credits • Lab Science 8 credits • Social Sciences 9 credits • Electives in specialized area of study 20 credits • Liberal Arts or Open Electives* 2-5 credits • Total credits 64 credits
* A computer literacy course may be included within the open elective area.
Associate in Science Degree
The Associate in Science (A.S.Degree Programs)shall provide:
A minimum of 32 credits of specialized study in courses clearly identifiable with the technical skills, proficiency, and knowledge required for career competency. A minimum of 24 credits in General Education.
• English Composition and Literature 6 credits • Science 3-4 credits • Mathematics 3 credits • Social Science 3 credits • Foreign Language/Humanities/Fine Arts 3 credits • Liberal Arts electives 6 credits
Associate in Applied Science Degree
Programs leading to this degree include courses consisting of a minimum of 32 credits of specialized technical-occupational education and a minimum of 21 credits of General Education. Such programs emphasize specific outcomes designed to meet competencies required for direct entry into employment and to provide a basis for transfer, at a minimum, of the General Education component of the curriculum.Although A.A.S. degree programs are designed for direct entry into the workforce, they cannot be considered terminal. In addition to the necessity for lifelong learning in response to the rapidly changing technologies, students can expect to make several career changes during their lifetime. A.A.S. programs do not have a directly related occupational specific curriculum upper-division component. It should be noted, however, that some Bachelor's degree institutions have developed upper-division programs to recognize this degree for transfer purposes.
The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree programs shall provide:
A minimum of 32 credits of specialized study in courses clearly identifiable with technical skills, proficiency, and knowledge required for career competency. A minimum of 21 credits in General Education.
• English Composition and Literature and/or Communication 6 credits • Science 3-4 credits • Mathematics 3-4 credits • Social Science 3 credits • Foreign Language/Humanities/Fine Arts 3 credits • Liberal Arts electives 3 credits
Performance-Based Learning
The college has identified competencies that must be attained in each degree program. Students will be awarded the Associate Degree upon completion of academic requirements and demonstration that those required program competencies have been achieved.
II. CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
Professional Certificates Professional Certificates
Professional Certificates are granted in selected programs with a defined curriculum having a minimum of 32 and a maximum of 36 semester hours of credit. A professional certificate also consists of a minimum of 12 credits of general education credits and is designed to facilitate transfer into an Associate Degree if the student decides to continue.
Certificates:
Regardless of their duration or composition, certificate programs emphasize specific skills and outcomes required for employment or career advancement. There are no specific General Education requirements, except to meet the stated competencies.III. STUDENT ACADEMIC CLASSIFICATIONS
Matriculated student: a student who has been accepted/admitted to a certificate or degree program on a full-time or part-time basis. (Matriculated status is maintained by taking at least one course per academic year; otherwise a candidate will be required to reapply for admission and abide by any new academic requirements in effect at that date.) Each student is expected to demonstrate orderly progress in completing his/her educational objective at NHCTC.1. Full-time student - a person who is enrolled in 12 or more semester credit hours.
2. Part-time student - a person who is enrolled in less than 12 semester credit hours.
Requirements for graduation are defined by the program of study to which students have been admitted at the time of matriculation.
Non-matriculated student: a student who is taking either credit or non-credit courses but has not been formally accepted/admitted to a certificate, diploma, or degree program.
Attendance Policy
It is the responsibility of NHCTC students to attend all classes, laboratory sessions, and clinical/co-op affiliations. Students must recognize that absence will interfere with academic success in their program of study. The instructor will be responsible for informing students of his/her individual attendance policy at the beginning of each course.Auditing Courses
A student may enroll on an audit basis subject to individual course attendance requirements and tuition. The status of audit is granted to a student only after consultation with the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the course instructor. The decision to audit must be made at the time of registration and cannot be reversed. Audit courses carry no credit toward graduation requirements.Change of Program
Students wishing to change their program should submit a change of program form to the Admissions Office. Credit will be transferred only for those courses that apply to the new program. Some programs with limited enrollment may not be available.
Requirements for graduation are defined by the program of study to which students have been admitted at the time of
change of program.Changing Course Requirements
The college is constantly reviewing and upgrading the content of programs offered to assure that each graduate receives adequate knowledge and training to perform competently in a chosen field. To accomplish this, the college reserves the right to modify course requirements based on its educational and professional objectives and the needs of its students.Course Repeat
For purposes of calculating the cumulative grade point average (CGPA), when a student repeats a course at the same NHCTC institution the grade achieved in the most recent course will be the grade used in the CGPA calculation. All previous grades will remain on the transcript but not used in the calculation. Only those repeated courses completed at the student's college of matriculation will be used in the calculation of the CGPA; repeated courses completed at an institution outside of the NHCTC system and transferred into the student's college of matriculation will not be used in the calculation of the CGPA.
Third and subsequent attempts to repeat a course will require the approval of the department chair of the program/discipline in which the course resides in consultation with the instructor.Grading
Students are assigned grades based upon evaluations of their work. Grades are given at the end of each semester and are based on criteria listed on an individual instructor's syllabus, but generally include quizzes, tests, and projects and participation. Standards for grades are listed below. Clinical grades are recorded on a pass/fail basis and are not part of the grade point average.
Letter Quality A 4.0 A- 3.7 B+ 3.3 B 3.0 C+ 2.3 C 2.0 C- 1.7 D+ 1.3 D 1.0 D- 0.7 F 0.0
Letter Quality P-Passing 0.0 NP-Not Passing 0.0 AF-Administrative Failure 0.0 AU-Audit 0.0 CS-Continnuing Study 0.0 I-Incomplete 0.0 W-Withdraw 0.0 WP Withdraw Passing 0.0 WF Withdraw Failing 0.0
Explanation of Grade: AD, AF, AU, CS, I, NP, W, WP, WF
P Pass (not calculated into GPA) NP No Pass; unsatisfactory (not calculated into GPA) AF Instructor or administrator initiated withdrawal at any time for reasons other than poor grade performance - e.g., failure to meet attendance requirements, as published in the instructor's syllabus, violation of the Student Code of Conduct, disruptive behavior, etc. The grade may also be issued if a student registered in a clinic, practicum, internship or lab is deemed unsafe or performing in an unsatisfactory manner as determined by an evaluation by a faculty member/agency supervisor in accordance with department criteria and procedure. Calculated in GPA as an "F."
AU A course taken as an audit does not earn credit and cannot be used to meet graduation requirements. Admission by permission of the instructor. Not all courses can be taken for audit. Students must enroll in the course as auditing at the time of registration.
CS Continuing Study. Intended for students who have demonstrated progress and a commitment to succeeding in the course, but who need more time to achieve competencies. “CS” grade can be applied to courses below the 100 level only. Does not affect GPA and does not fulfill prerequisites for college-level courses. Students must reregister and subsequent tuition costs apply. I Incomplete grade. Indicates that a student has not completed a major course assignment due to extraordinary circumstances. It is not used to give an extension of time for a student delinquent in meeting course responsibilities. The “I” grade is not calculated into the GPA. However, all work must be completed by the end of the third week of the subsequent semester or the grade defaults to an F. See full Incomplete Grade Policy. W Student-initiated withdrawal from a course at any time prior to the 60% point of the course. Does not affect GPA. Can be initiated by the instructor if notified by the student of extenuating circumstances that the student is unable to initiate the process (e.g., catastrophic illness or injury, job transfer to another state). WP Student-initiated withdrawal from a course after the 60% point of the course and before the last 10 days of the semester; student has a passing grade at time of drop, as determined by the instructor. Does not affect GPA. Can be initiated by the instructor if notified by the student of extenuating circumstances that the student is unable to initiate the process (e.g., catastrophic illness or injury, job transfer to another state).
WF Student-initiated withdrawal from a course after the 60% point of the course and before the last 10 days of the semester; student has a failing grade at time of drop, as determined by the instructor. Calculates in GPA as an F. Can be initiated by the instructor if notified by the student of extenuating circumstances that the student is unable to initiate the process (e.g., catastrophic illness or injury, job transfer to another state).
Grade Point Averages
Scholastic standing at the end of each semester is determined via the grade point average (GPA), which is computed by dividing total semester points (grade equivalent multiplied by credit hours) by total credits attempted.
The cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is determined at the end of the second and subsequent semesters by dividing cumulative points by the total credit hours attempted, taking into account all previous work completed. Refer to the Student Handbook for additional information pertaining to calculating or determining GPAs and CGPAs.Incomplete Grades
An Incomplete Grade (I) indicates that a student has not completed a major course assignment (usually a final exam or culminating final assessment) due to extraordinary circumstances, such as serious illness, death in the family, etc. The grade is applied only in those instances where the student has a reasonable chance of passing. It is not used to give an extension of time for a student delinquent in meeting course responsibilities.The work must be completed by the student through formal arrangement with the instructor no later than:
• the end of the third week in the Spring semester for a grade issued in the Fall semester;
• the end of the third week in the Fall semester for a grade issued in the Summer term;
• three weeks from the earliest start date of the summer term for a grade issued in the Spring semester;
Should the student fail to complete the work within the designated period, the grade will automatically become an F. Exceptions to the above deadlines may be made by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Residency Requirement
Students seeking an Associate Degree or certificate from the college must satisfactorily register for and complete a minimum of twenty-five percent of course program requirements in attendance at NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth. At least half of these must be in advanced courses in the student's major field or in appropriate courses in related fields. Advanced courses carry a course number of 200 or higher. Students may not test out of courses in order to fulfill their residency requirement.Students Rights
The college shall provide an environment that fosters academic freedom, ensures the integrity of the academic process, and protects the principle of intellectual diversity. The classroom is a forum for exposing students to scholarly viewpoints. Students will be graded not on the basis of their political, religious or ideological beliefs, but on the basis of their reasoned answers and appropriate knowledge of the subjects and disciplines they study and in accordance with the academic standards set forth in the course syllabus.
V. ADDING/DROPPING COURSES
Before adding or dropping a class or classes, students should consult their Academic Advisor and/or instructors responsible for those classes.
Adding a Course
A course may be added at any time prior to the tenth class day of a semester or other prorated timeline. Such an addition may be added only with the approval of the instructor(s) involved, the student's academic advisor, and formal notification to the Registrar's Office by submitting the ADD/DROP form provided by that office. Students may be denied the opportunity to add a course during the ten-day period if the instructor, advisor, or department chairperson believes the missed coursework would jeopardize their potential for success. Exceptions to this policy require the approval of the Office of Academic Affairs.All course or section changes must be made within the first two weeks of class and must adhere to the formal add/drop process.
There is no registration after the add/drop period for each course time frame.Dropping a Course
The student should initiate the official drop procedure after consultation with his/her faculty advisor. Simply ceasing to attend classes or notifying the instructor does not constitute officially dropping a course.Courses may be dropped at any time, but only through the official college withdrawal policy. If you decide to drop a class….
DO NOT JUST STOP ATTENDING. FILL OUT AN ADD/DROP FORM IN THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE.Refunds are only given when students fill out the official drop form in accordance with the refund policy within established dates of the individual semester.
Before officially dropping a course, the student should first discuss the matter with the instructor, faculty advisor, and the financial aid office if applicable. If, after discussing the matter with these individuals, the student decides to drop, an add/drop form should be obtained from the Registrar's Office. The form must be completed by the student and submitted to the Registrar's Office.
When a student drops a class ...
1. before the eighth (8) day of the semester, the student will receive no grade in the course, and no notation will appear on his/her
academic record.
2. up to the 60% point of the course, the student will receive a "W" grade on his/her transcript.
3. after the 60% point of the course and before the final ten (10) days of the semester, the student will receive Withdraw/Pass (W/P)
or Withdraw/Fail (W/F) on the transcript. The WP is not calculated in the GPA. The WF is calculated in the GPA as an "F".
4. When there are fewer than ten (10) class days remaining in the semester, the student will receive an appropriate grade other than
W/P or W/F, and that grade will be computed on the transcript in the student's grade point average.
Re-admission to the College
Students who have withdrawn, or who have been suspended by the college, may apply for readmission. Contact the Admissions Office for more details. Students may continue to take courses at the college on a non-matriculated basis if space is available. Contact the Admissions Office for more information.Withdrawal from the College
A student who finds it necessary to withdraw from the college is strongly encouraged to complete the established process, which includes completion of an official withdrawal form (available from the Registrar) and participation in an exit interview with the Vice President of Student and Community Services or his/her designee. The purpose of the exit interview is to communicate the college's academic and financial policies pertinent to the date of withdrawal, and to offer support and academic advisement as needed and desired.
VI. ACADEMIC PLACEMENT POLICY
Any student admitted into a degree program at NHCTC will be required to take placement tests in reading, writing, mathematics, and computer skills. The goal of placement testing is to identify areas of strength and weakness so that students are appropriately placed into math, English, and computer courses. Placement testing may also be required for other courses that are impacted by math, writing, reading, and technology competencies. In some cases, placement testing may determine acceptance into a program.Students who are applying to a certificate program may have testing requirements specific to that certificate. Testing requirements are located in Admissions, Academic Affairs, and the Center for Academic Planning & Support (CAPS).
NHCTC's placement policy may be waived, in full or part, for those individuals who have met one or more of the following
conditions:• Earned a minimum score of 500 on the SAT Critical Reading, SAT Math, and/or SAT Writing (with an essay score of 8 or higher).
• Completed a computer-based placement test (CBT) within the past two years at NHCTC or another accredited post secondary institution.
• Completed a college-level math or English course at an accredited institution with a C or better.
The online placement tests (ACCUPLACER*) are administered by CAPS and can be done on a drop-in basis during the Center's open hours. ACCUPLACER is a computer-based assessment that is adaptive in nature, carefully selecting questions based on prior responses to get the most information in the least amount of time. College advisors will use placement scores along with other important information to develop an academic schedule that is right for each student. Students who elect not to take the placement test, or to enroll in courses that are incompatible with placement or advisor recommendations, will be required to sign a waiver form.Any student who has a disability that might interfere with his/her ability to take the assessment independently may request special testing accommodations from the Coordinator for Disability Services. Students who are nonnative speakers of the English language may access a variation of the placement test (LOEP) that will determine course placement based on assessed levels of English proficiency.
* ACCUPLACER is a product of The College Board, a division of the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Policy adopted: December 3, 2003.
VII. ADVANCED STANDING
A matriculated student who is able to present evidence supporting education in one or more courses applicable to the student's program of study may request that those credits/experiences be evaluated and applied to graduation requirements. Four methods of gaining advanced standing are as follows:1. Transfer of credit from another institution
2. College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
3. Credit by Examination (Internal)
4. Credit for prior learning experience1. Transfer of Credit from Another Institution Students may transfer credits earned at other accredited institutions for coursework required by their NHCTC major program. It is the student's responsibility to furnish the college with a official transcripts of academic courses from each college they have attended and a catalog from each institution attended with course descriptions for which transfer credit is sought. Grades of "C" or better in courses judged by the college to be equivalent in nature and content to NHCTC offerings will be accepted. Final determination of transferability rests with the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Students seeking a degree/diploma at NHCTC must fulfill residency requirements. A student must have a minimum of 64 credits in order to complete a degree and must complete all required courses for his/her academic program.
Transfer of a course to this institution does not guarantee transfer of that same course to subsequent institutions. See individual academic program descriptions for specific program transfer policies.
2. College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Students with previous academic experiences in specific subject areas may choose to earn credits by taking a nationally standardized exam known as CLEP. NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth is an approved testing site for CLEP, providing examinations in the areas of Composition and Literature, Foreign Languages, Social Sciences, History, Science, and Mathematics. A complete list of the CLEP exams accepted for credit by NHCTC, along with corresponding course names and credits, is available in CAPS (Center for Academic Planning and Support).Successful completion of a CLEP exam is treated as a transfer credit. Students will need to request that a copy of their scores be sent to NHCTC for review. This request is made to The College Board and can be done during or after the exam. Acceptance of CLEP exams for transfer credits will be based on the following criteria:
• The student has earned a passing score as defined by The College Board and the college.
• The student has been accepted into a program.
• There is a course within the student's program of study that is equivalent to the CLEP exam.Although CLEP credits count towards graduation, CLEP scores are not calculated into a student's GPA or in any way interpreted as a grade. Additionally, CLEP credits may not be applied towards NHCTC's twenty-five percent residency requirement. Students may not transfer CLEP credits for a course they have successfully completed or for a course that is more advanced than the subject of the exam. Any student who fails an NHCTC course and wishes to take a CLEP exam in lieu of retaking the course must realize that the original grade received will remain on his/her transcript and will be counted in the CGPA.The CLEP exam score does not replace a grade for an NHCTC course. Students should speak with their academic advisor if they have questions regarding this process.
CLEP exams are administered on the computer (CLEP CBT) through the Center for Academic Planning and Support. Individuals needing testing accommodations or optional essays must allow a minimum of two weeks prior to testing to process these requests. For more information, contact CAPS: (603) 775-2374.
3. Credit by Examination
A student presenting evidence supporting previous experience or prior educational preparation in a particular subject area may seek to obtain credit for a course by requesting and completing an examination which covers the instruction and/or laboratory content of the course. If successful, the appropriate credit hours are applied to the student's academic record. A student may not challenge out of more than 50 percent of the degree program. Credit will not be given for grades below C. A student receiving a grade below C is ineligible for another special examination in that course. Students who have previously taken a course and failed it are not eligible for an examination for credit in that course. For further information, contact the Office of Academic Affairs.A credit by examination is available to matriculated students in a degree or certificate program who have earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above. The student should complete the form available in Academic Affairs and then meet with an appropriate faculty member to discuss obtaining credit by examination. Final approval rests with the Vice President of Academic Affairs or his/her designee. No exam is to be issued until all fees are paid and all approvals have been obtained. The date for the exam shall be determined by the instructor administering the exam, but shall not take place more than 30 days after the date of the instructor’s approval.
4. Credit for Prior Learning - Experiential Learning
Credit for prior learning offers students the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge they have gained through life experiences and apply this knowledge towards credit in a degree or certificate program. A student must be matriculated in a degree or certificate program and have earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above to be eligible to apply for experiential credit. Not all programs provide the experiential credit option; students should consult with their academic advisor.A request for Credit by Prior Learning should initiate with the faculty advisor or faculty member who normally teaches the course for which the student wishes to receive credit. After initial discussion, the student should submit a portfolio minimally containing a cover letter and resume, extensive work experience explanations, letters from employers, certificates of accomplishment, samples of work, as well as any other information deemed appropriate.The responsibility of proof will be on the student requesting evaluation. The portfolio is then reviewed by an appropriate faculty member, the department chairperson, and the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs.
If credit is granted, the student will be charged a fee for credit for Prior Learning based on the formula noted below.Fee for Credit for Prior Learning - Experiential Learning: Students will be assessed a fee based on 50% of the current tuition rate on the total credits awarded (e.g., for 12 credits awarded: 0.50 x current tuition rate x 12 credits).
Transfer to Other Institutions
Transfer policies vary from institution to institution. When transfer to another institution is sought, the number of transfer credits granted for courses completed at NHCTC is determined entirely by the institution to which the student transfers.
VIII. COMMENCEMENT REQUIREMENTS
A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required to receive a degree or certificate from NHCTC. In addition, a student must earn a minimum number of college credits as identified by each curriculum. All outstanding monies owed to the College must be paid before the degree or certificate is awarded. Students are urged to work closely with their academic advisors to ensure they are making satisfactory progress toward fulfillment of graduation requirements.Intent to Graduate
Candidates for graduation from all programs should contact the Registrar in January to complete an Intent to Graduate form. Upon submission of the form and payment of the graduation fee, a degree audit is initiated to determine eligibility to graduate. Commencement exercises are held each May. Students who are within 6 credits of program completion may participate in the ceremony if they demonstrate the ability to earn the requisite coursework in the subsequent summer semester. Students who do not complete the course requirements by the end of the summer semester have to resubmit the Intent to Graduate form and pay the graduation fee again.IX. ACADEMIC STANDARDS
1. Academic Standing Classifications
Academic Standards-students falling below the following standards will be designated as not meeting satisfactory academic progress. Failure to meet satisfactory progress will result in either Academic Probation or Academic Suspension.Academic Probation Definition: a warning which indicates the student may not be on track to graduate because of poor academic performance. The student may remain in the program, but his/her academic progress will be monitored.
Students not meeting the criteria below will be placed on Academic Probation:
1-13 Credits Accumulated: below 1.50 CGPA 14-27 Credits Accumulated: below 1.70 CGPA below 1.80 CGPA 41+ Credits Accumulated: below 2.00 CGPA Academic Suspension Definition: Academic Suspension Definition: the student may no longer remain in the program and may not re-apply for admission or take major field courses in the program for a minimum of one semester.
Students not meeting the criteria below will be put on Academic Suspension:
CGPA below 0.50 1.10 1.25 1.50 OR
A student who does not meet satisfactory progress for Academic Probation for three consecutive semesters will be placed on Academic Suspension.
Financial aid may be in jeopardy if a student fails to achieve satisfactory academic progress as defined above.
Academic Appeal Procedure
Students who receive letters establishing any of the above classifications have the right to an appeal. All appeals must be made in writing and submitted to the Vice President of Academic Affairs by the designated date on the letter of notification. The appeal must clearly state the basis for the student's request. A student who is suspended will receive a petition for reinstatement which will outline that appeal process. The student will have an opportunity to present his/her case to the Academic Standing Committee. A written decision will be sent to the student within 48 hours.Grade Appeal Policy
Any appeal of a grade must be initiated by the student with the instructor before an ensuing semester has elapsed. Students should be advised that in most instances a grade may be changed only by the instructor. Only in a case of obvious computational error or blatant abuse of the grading prerogative, can the VPAA, the only other individual on campus empowered to change a grade, alter a student's grade.
Students who believe they have valid grounds for a grade appeal will use the following process to resolve the issue:1. Meet with the instructor
The student shall contact the faculty member and schedule a meeting to discuss the grade appeal and attempt to resolve the conflict. The faculty member and student shall meet within the next five (5) work days.2. Meet with the Program Director/Department Head
If the issue was not resolved in Step 1 above, the student has three work days from the date of the faculty member's decision to file a written appeal with the faculty member's Program or Department Head, or with the Vice President of Academic Affairs if the faculty member is also the Department Head or Program Director. Within three work days the Department Head or (VPAA) will mediate the dispute either through discussion with the instructor, or with the student in the company of the faculty member. If no resolution is reached, proceed to step 3 below.3. Meet with the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA)
If the issue is not resolved in Step 2 above, the student has three work days to file a written appeal with the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The VPAA will meet with all parties concerned within the next three work days to attempt to resolve the dispute. The VPAA will have three work days from the last meeting to render a decision on the grade appeal. The decision of the VPAA is final.Note: During the summer, when faculty are not on campus, students may begin the grade appeal process with the Office of Academic Affairs. Every attempt will be made to have the faculty member contact and meet with the student within the specified time. On occasion, however, these times may need to be adjusted.
Academic Warning
The instructor may give a student an academic warning at any time if the student is failing or in danger of failing a course.X. ACADEMIC PRIVACY
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) In compliance with the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (The Buckley Amendment), it is the policy of the College to protect the educational/academic records of its learners, former learners, and alumni.
All personally identifiable information in a learner's educational record is considered confidential. FERPA rights apply at the point of matriculation or registration, regardless of minor status. The identifying status is the process which makes the individual a student at this college.The federal law includes provisions for disclosure of Directory Information by educational institutions. The college considers the
following to be Directory Information: Student's name, telephone number, city/town, e-mail address, major field of study, enrollment status (e.g. full-time or part-time), degrees, awards, honors. IF YOU DO NOT WISH DISCLOSURE OF ANY OR ALL OF THE CATEGORIES OF IDENTIFIABLE DIRECTORY INFORMATION, YOU MUST NOTIFY THE REGISTRAR IN WRITING PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF THE LAST DAY TO ADD CLASSES or check the box on the registration form.
Please consider very carefully the consequences of any decision by you to withhold any category of general Directory Information. Should you decide not to release general Directory Information, any future requests for such information from noninstitutional persons or organizations will be refused, except as provided by law.The college will honor your request to withhold general Directory Information, but cannot assume responsibility to get in touch with you for subsequent permission to release it. Regardless of the effect upon you, the college assumes no liability for honoring your instructions that such information be withheld.
Copies of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Part 99 of Title 45, dealing with Privacy Rights of Parents and Students, may be obtained from the Vice President of Student Affairs or the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Student Records
A. Students have the right to review the contents of their records. Students will be given access to their own records within a reasonable period of time, but in no case shall access be withheld for more than 45 days after the request has been made. The Registrar is authorized to release this information. Students wishing access to their records must contact the Registrar personally. In cases involving the possibility of misinterpretation of data, the Vice President of Academic Affairs or his/her qualified designee shall interpret the data to the student.
B. Students shall have the opportunity for a hearing to challenge the contents of their college records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy or rights. This challenge must be made in writing to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
C. Students may authorize the release of their records to intended persons or institutions by completing the .Authorization
to Release Records form. No access or release of any personally identifiable records or files on students will be allowed to any
individual, agency or organization without prior written consent of the student, except as follows:
1. To internal and external officials directly involved with a legitimate educational interest.
2. To authorized Federal and State officers as identified in Section 438 (b) 3) of Public Law 93- 380.XI. ACADEMIC AMNESTY
A student who has previously attended NHCTC and is admitted at a later time may be eligible for Academic Amnesty, which provides for the following:A. All grades taken during the student's previous time at the college will no longer be used to calculate the student's new
cumulative GPA. However, grades C- and above taken during the student's previous time at college will be used to meet course requirements (where appropriate), subject to the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs or his/her designee.B. Even though previous grades will not be used to calculate the new cumulative GPA, all previous grades will remain on the
student's transcript. In order to be eligible for Academic Amnesty, a student must meet all of the following conditions:1. The student has not taken any courses at the college for a period of at least 3 years from the last semester of attendance.
2. The student applies for Academic Amnesty at the time of admission.
3. The student has never before received Academic Amnesty.
4. The student achieved a cumulative GPA below 1.7 during previous attendance.XII. ADDITIONAL ASSOCIATE DEGREES
Students may earn additional Associate Degrees or Certificates within programs either by concurrent completion of the requirements of the several degrees or by subsequent study after the first degree is received. The requirements for earning additional degrees are as follows:
1. Complete all requirements of each program of study, including general education requirements; and
2. Earn a minimum of 15 additional credits at the college beyond those required for the first and subsequent degrees.
Students must be matriculated in both degree programs or degree/certificate programs.XIII. INDEPENDENT STUDY
Students may earn additional Associate Degrees or Certificates within programs either by concurrent completion of the requirements of the several degrees or by subsequent study after the first degree is received. The requirements for earning additional degrees are as follows:
1. Complete all requirements of each program of study, including general education requirements; and
2. Earn a minimum of 15 additional credits at the college beyond those required for the first and subsequent degrees.
Students must be matriculated in both degree programs or degree/certificate programs.XIV. DIRECTED STUDY
Under certain circumstances a matriculated student may take a course in a semester when the course is not offered either during the day or through the Division of Community Education. A directed study allows a matriculated student to pursue the published learning objectives/outcomes for a course independently under the guidance of a qualified faculty member. A matriculated student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be eligible for a Directed Study.The student must demonstrate compelling reasons why the course could not be taken in a subsequent semester or was not taken in the semester when it was originally offered in the curriculum. Barring exceptional circumstances, a directed study will not be granted for a course currently being offered in the day or DCE divisions.
XV. COMPUTER USE POLICY
Summary of Acceptable Use Policy for Computing Resources for NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth
This document contains guidelines regarding the use of computing and networking facilities located at or operated by NHCTC. The definition of NHCTC computing facilities includes any computer, server or network system or system element provided or supported by NHCTC. Use of the computer facilities includes the use of data/programs stored on NHCTC computing equipment, data/programs stored on magnetic tape, floppy disk, CD-ROM or other storage media that is owned and maintained by NHCTC. The "user" of the system is the person using the systems from any connection point (e.g. a keyboard) locally or by remote access, requesting an account (or accounts) or logging on to an existing account in order to access any NHCTC asset. The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure that all NHCTC students and authorized visitors use the NHCTC computing facilities in an ethical and lawful manner. The NHCTC computing system is a state-owned system and network monitoring is used to ensure reliable performance and the integrity of the network.1. NHCTC computers are for nonsensitive and non-confidential use only. Students are warned that there is no inherent security in the system and should not use college systems for any work that should be protected.
2. Individual users are responsible for maintaining their own data. NHCTC is NOT responsible for the integrity of any student data stored on servers or systems maintained by the institution.
3. Users should report any weaknesses in NHCTC computer security and any incidents of possible misuse or violation of this
agreement to the proper authorities by contacting the NHCTC IT Department. Users shall not attempt to access any data or programs contained on the NHCTC network, or any other network accessed, for which they do not have authorization.
4. Users shall not make unauthorized copies of copyrighted software, except as permitted by law or by the owner of the copyright.5. Users shall not make copies of system configuration files for their own or others’ unauthorized personal use.
6. Users shall not purposely engage in activity with the intent to: harass other users; degrade systems performance; deprive an authorized NHCTC user access to a NHCTC resource; obtain extra resources beyond those allocated; circumvent NHCTC computer security measures or gain access to a NHCTC system for which proper authorization has not been given.
7. Fraudulent, harassing or obscene messages and/or materials shall not be downloaded, viewed, sent to/from or stored on NHCTC systems.
8. To ensure systems and software compatibility and to reduce chances of malicious code infections, users shall not download, install or run any applications programs without first consulting the course instructor.
9. Users will not run from any NHCTC system any software which reveals weaknesses in the security of a system or that can be used as a hacking tool, unless within the guidelines and under the supervision of an NHCTC course. For example, NHCTC users shall not run password-cracking programs on NHCTC computers.
Noncompliance with these requirements constitutes a violation and will be reported to the Chief Campus Officer and the IT Department of the NHCTC Campus. Violations will be referred to a judicial committee. Serious violations may result in civil or criminal prosecution.
Use of NHCTC computing facilities constitutes implicit acceptance of and agreement with the Acceptable Use Policy for Computing Resources for NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth found in the Student Handbook.
XVI. ELECTIVE COURSE INFORMATION
In addition to the required courses in a student's program, students may be given elective options. Each program/discipline offers a different set of electives, so please refer to each individual program for specific options. The following information will aquatint students with the variety of elective categories and the selection of elective courses. All academic subject codes and course numbers refer only to NHCTC courses.
English Elective: any course with the academic subject code of ENGL and a course number of at least 100.Social Science Elective: any course with the academic subject code of AN, ECON, GEOG, HIST, POL, PSYC, SOC, and a course number of at least 100.
Foreign Language/Humanities Elective/Fine Arts Elective: any course with the academic subject code of ARTS, AMER, ASL, FREN, HIST120, HIST130, HUMA, PHIL, SPAN, and a course number of at least 100. ENGL Literature Courses, other ENGL courses: ENGL210, ENGL213, ENGL214.
Math Elective: any course with the academic subject code of MATH and a course number of at least 100.
Science Elective: any course with the academic subject code of BIOL, CHEM, ESCI, PHYS and a course number of at least 100.
Liberal Arts Elective: any course listed under the categories of English elective, Social Science elective, Foreign Language/Humanities/Fine Arts elective, Math elective or Science elective with a course number of at least 100.
Business Elective: any course with the academic subject code of ACCT, BUS, ENT, FINC, MKTG and a course number of at
least 100.Open Elective: any course that the college offers with a course number of at least 100
ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES
The college is able to provide special academic initiatives designed to enrich student's educational experiences.HONORS PROGRAM
The college's honors program is designed to challenge the level of the student's performance in the classroom. Courses within
the honors program will incorporate greater complexity and sophistication in thinking and will be assessed with a higher level of intellectual outcomes.Developmental courses, courses that do not count toward graduation requirements, or are generally not transferable will not be considered for the honors program. Honors courses or components will be indicated by an honors designation on a transcript. They do not carry extra credit.
Honors Coursework
All decisions on whether to develop and offer honors coursework in a department or discipline will be made by the department. Honors program courses are not intended to have a different set of objectives from similar courses in the discipline. Each department of academic discipline will develop criteria for differences between the honors' curriculum and assessment and regular course
curriculum and assessment.Honors Coursework Placement/Eligibility
A. Incoming first-year students wishing to enroll in honors coursework must:1. Score above '80' in the reading portion of the Accuplacer Placement Test
2. Score above '90' in the writing portion of the Accuplacer Placement Test
3. Score above an '11' on the writing sample of the Accuplacer Placement TestB. Current students wishing to enroll in honors coursework must adhere to the above scores or have a cumulative grade point average at NHCTC Stratham & Portsmouth of 3.5 or higher.
C. Transfer students wishing to enroll in honors coursework must have a minimum of 12 transfer credits and a cumulative grade point average from the transferring institution of 3.5 or higher.
Once a student is designated as "honors eligible", he/she may enroll in one of two potential honors curriculum models:
1. Honors Sections of Courses: Sections of courses designated as “Honors” will be noted in the semester course schedule with the regular course number followed by an "H". For example, an honors section of College Composition I would be noted as ENGL110H. Additionally, the word “Honors” will appear in the title of the course. For example, ENGL110H will appear with the title College Composition I - Honors.
Decisions on whether honors courses will run will be based on the same criteria used to determine course viability. Honors sections of courses must provide a curriculum committee documented Course Content Outline and Assessment Addendum that indicates the criteria for honors in that course. A copy of the approved outline and addendum are kept on file in the Academic Affairs Office.
2. Honors Components of Regular Courses: A second option exists for students to pursue an honors component within a regular course. Typically, these are courses that do not have a high number of sections available each semester. For example, there is typically only one section of HIST205, History of Russia, offered in a given semester. With departmental approval, a student is able to pursue an honors component to a section of the existing section of HIST205.
Students wishing to pursue an honors component of a regular course must complete an Honors Component Approval Form and an Honors Component Contract. The ability of a student to pursue an honors component of a regular course must receive departmental approval and cannot be appealed.
LEARNING COMMUNITIES
A learning community is a combination of courses in different disciplines which are organized around a common theme or a specific cohort group.
• The connection between the subject matter in the separate courses is emphasized so that information and skills learned in one class can be applied to the other courses.
• The same students enroll in all the courses in a learning community. As a result, the same students and teachers are together in two or more classes each week. They get to know each other more than students in regular classes and sometimes work together on various projects and help each other learn.
• At the end of the semester, each student gets a grade for each of the courses that are part of the learning community.
• In a variety of college settings and in a number of forms, Learning Community approaches have been shown to increase student retention and academic achievement, increase student involvement and motivation, improve students' time toward degree completion, and enhance educational development.SERVICE LEARNING
Service learning combines community service with academic instruction. Students enrolled in courses with a "service-learning"
component as part of the academic experience are guided through a critical analysis of what they observe in the field and what is
presented in class.This "service-learning" approach enhances the breadth and depth of student learning in at least three domains:
• academics/higher order cognitive skills
• life skills
• sense of civic responsibility and ability to be an effective member of the communities where they will reside after graduation
The service-learning program focuses on promoting service learning as an effective teaching strategy within the existing curricula of the college. Course learning outcomes are the basis for integrating projects that serve the college or the community at large. In order to preserve the academic integrity of a service learning opportunity, students are not graded on simply “putting in the hours”. Rather, they are graded on specific assignments and/or projects that demonstrate learning from the service-learning experience. Some
courses will provide built-in experiential projects; others will require the student to identify his/her own project. Service-learning activities have been demonstrated as positive learning experiences for both students and faculty. Courses with required Service-learning components are labeled SL.
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