Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes plagiarism and cheating on exams or quizzes. In general, plagiarism is “borrowing” the words or ideas of another and passing them off as one’s own. Before beginning research papers, students should feel free to ask faculty members to clarify the difference between the proper and improper use of source material. The instructor can assign a penalty for academic dishonesty in keeping with the gravity of the offense. The instructor can also decide that the seriousness of the offense warrants that the charge is brought directly to the dean for disciplinary action. The student has the right to appeal to the dean who, in consultation with the instructor, will attempt to reconcile the issue.
Academic Honors
Dean’s List
Full time students who are matriculated in a certificate or degree program and who successfully complete 12 or more credits of work in a semester with a grade point average of 3.4 or higher shall be recognized by having their names placed on the dean’s list.
Part time students who are matriculated in a certificate or degree program are also eligible for such recognition when they have completed 12 or more credits of work with a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 or higher. They may be subsequently recognized at the completion of an additional 12 or more credits of work with a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 or higher, and at successive internals of 12 credits.
A course withdrawal or incomplete shall make the student ineligible for dean’s list recognition that semester. Upon completion of the incomplete, the student may be recognized retroactively.
Students who are in a probationary status are not eligible for dean’s list recognition, even if their cumulative grade point average might otherwise make them eligible.
Graduation Honors
Highest Honors GPA = 3.9 or higher
High Honors GPA = 3.7 to 3.89
Honors GPA = 3.4 to 3.69
Academic Probation
A student remains in good academic standing by maintaining a minimum of a 2.0 grade point average. Beyond that;
- Any student with less than a 2.0 GPA will be placed on probation, warning or suspension status.
- Any student who does not complete 50 percent or more of his/her courses in a semester may be placed on “Progress Probation.”
- Financial Aid academic progress standards require completion of 67 percent of courses attempted.
Students placed on Academic Probation will be required to have an interview with an advisor, and have the approval of dean of student services or his/her designee (an advisor), before enrolling in further courses. At this interview, the dean’s designee will set forth the terms of the student’s probation. These terms may involve the student carrying a reduced course load or taking specific courses. Although the student will ordinarily have one increment of 12 credits to raise his/her GPA to a 2.0, this guideline may be waived if the dean’s designee determines the student is making substantial progress toward reaching a 2.0 GPA.
Grade Reports
Final grade reports showing the official grades earned by the student in each course are posted on the Web for students at the end of each semester. No grade reports are sent via mail. Students may access their grades via myCommNet.edu.
Graduation
Students planning to graduate from QVCC with an associate degree or certificate must complete a Graduation Application. Graduation application deadlines are posted on qvcc.edu. QVCC allows students to graduate in December, May or August but there is only one commencement ceremony in May/June of each year.
A graduation audit is done on the student’s academic file to verify completion of all programmatic and graduation requirements. The student will receive a graduation audit update apprising her/him of remaining requirements to be met. Students may track their progress to degree by using the Degree Evaluation feature in Degree Works in myCommnet.edu.
Grievances
Students sometimes wish to express a grievance or appeal a decision affecting their progress at the college, in particular, a course grade, academic probation, or dismissal. QVCC aspires to the spirit of fairness and to resolution of problems resulting from decisions which seem unjust. In many situations, a lack of information causes the problem. Therefore, direct appeals are usually most effective. A grade should be discussed first with the faculty member involved. In those instances where this recourse fails to settle the question, the case should be taken to the dean of academic affairs of the College. The dean may also be contacted to discuss the appropriateness of an appeal of grievance. Appeals regarding academic probation or suspension should be made directly to the dean of student services. The ultimate authority within the College for resolving appeals rests with the president.
Pass/Fail Option
The final date in each semester by which a student must exercise the Pass/Fail option is the same as that listed in the academic calendar for withdrawing from a course. To exercise the Pass/Fail option, the student must complete the appropriate form available in the Records Office. This decision is not reversible to the normal grading pattern, and students are cautioned that credits earned in this way are not guaranteed transferable to another college.
Withdrawing from College
There are a number of reasons why students may find it necessary to withdraw from the College at any time during the semester. Such an important decision should be given careful consideration and reviewed with an advisor and with the Financial Aid Office if they are receiving financial aid. It is in the student’s best interest to have a personal interview before withdrawing. Students are encouraged to complete the withdrawal process through myCommNet.edu or by written notification. Students who do not complete the withdrawal process will receive an “F” in each course for which they are registered.
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