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College Catalog 2013-2014


College Policies and Procedures

You will find the following College information on this page:


Student Responsibility

All students are expected to understand all regulations in the College Catalog that may affect their academic progress, financial obligations, relationships with College authorities, transferability of credits for courses completed, acceptance of credits for graduation and eligibility to graduate.

Students in doubt about the meaning of any College regulation should seek advice from their academic advisor, a counselor or an appropriate officer of the College.

Registration Procedures

Currently enrolled and previously enrolled students in good academic standing in any credit degree or certificate program may utilize online registration to enroll for courses. All other students, including those who are not permitted to drop/add classes via the Web, may visit Enrollment Central at the Main Campus or any of the Regional Centers.

Students will be permitted to attend only those sections of courses for which they have officially registered and paid. Students are not permitted to sit in on classes for which they have not registered.

Priority Web Registration is available to students based on the total number of credits transferred into and earned at the College. Eligible students are permitted to register via the Web before in-person registration begins. A Web Registration Guide is available to students on MyCCP regarding how to activate their portal account (if they have not done so) and register for classes via the Web. Online registration can be accessed through the Enrollment Services Channel on the Student Tab, and clicking on the “Register for Courses/Change Class Schedule” link on MyCCP.

It is the students’ responsibility, in consultation with their advisors, to make certain that any registration changes will fulfill the degree requirements.

Student Load

A full-time student is one taking 12 or more credit hours. Students expecting to graduate within two years must successfully complete 15 to 17 credit hours each semester or complete summer courses. The required number of credit hours depends on the curriculum in which the student is enrolled.

Many full-time students take longer than four semesters to complete the requirements for graduation and to reach their personal goals. Some find it necessary to take developmental courses, for which they do not receive credit, to develop critical basic skills in their first semesters. Others elect to take only four courses a term to meet both the requirements of college-level academic work and their own personal needs.

Careful planning and discussion with faculty and counselors can establish the best plan for the student, who should keep an open mind in developing plans for educational and career success.

Auditing

With permission of the instructor teaching the course, a student may register in a course as an auditor. No credit will be given.

Permission to change from study-for-credit status to auditing (no credit) status must be obtained from the instructor by the end of the equivalent second week of each term. The instructor must submit an Audit Form to the Office of Student Records and Registration. The instructor may change the grade of an auditor either at mid-term or on the final grade report from "AU" to "W" in case of excessive absence or lack of participation in the course.

Audited courses do not count in determining student eligibility for financial aid. Students receiving financial aid should contact the Office of Financial Aid before changing a course from study-for-credit status to auditing status. Audit grades will not be used in determining academic load for veteran certification.

Attendance

Students’ participation in regularly scheduled sessions or classes is an essential part of the instructional process. College students are expected to fulfill their academic responsibilities by attending all classes unless prevented from doing so by illness or emergency.

If a student misses the equivalent of two weeks’ work in any class without an acceptable excuse, the instructor may initiate an official drop for the student, and the student will be notified about the drop. If the drop occurs after the 20 percent point of a term, the student will receive a "W" grade for the course. No drop can be processed after the equivalent of the eleventh week of classes, except in the case of excused withdrawals (see Withdrawals from Courses under the section entitled Policy on Academic Standards and Progress).

Faculty submit attendance reports after the 20 percent point for all terms and the 50 percent point for any term that meets longer than 10 weeks.

Individual faculty members have the right to establish regulations regarding attendance at class sessions and laboratories that they consider necessary for successful completion of the course materials. These regulations may include a reduced grade for students who miss classes.

College policy requires faculty members to maintain accurate attendance records for certification to outside funding agencies.

Formation of Sections and Cancellation of Courses

Formation and continuation of class sections and courses of instruction are subject to adequate enrollment. The administration, acting on behalf of the Board of Trustees, reserves the right to cancel a course or section to change the time of meeting, to subdivide a section, or to combine two or more sections as circumstances may require.

Grading System

The grading system at Community College of Philadelphia is a letter system with associated quality points, which are used to compute cumulative grade point averages.

Grades Q.P.*  
A 4 Outstanding
B 3 Good
C 2 Satisfactory
D 1 Passing
F 0 Failure
*Number of quality points earned

Other Grades

As a result of testing and placement, students may be required to register for certain courses which do not carry credit towards graduation. These courses are numbered below 100. They are graded "Pass," "Making Progress" and "Fail."

P Pass  
MP Making Progress  
F Fail  

(Not factored into grade point average)

Other Designations:
W Withdrawal  
AU Audit  
NR No report from instructor at the time grades were processed
I Incomplete

The total number of quality points received for the semester may be computed as follows:

  1. For each course for which a grade was received, multiply the number of credit hours for that course by the number of quality points earned (determined by the grade received for that course, using the chart of equivalents above).
  2. Total the results.
  3. The grade point average for the semester may then be computed by dividing the total number of quality points received by the total number of credit hours for all of the courses for which grades were received. (The cumulative grade point average is determined by doing the above figuring for the total number of semesters attended.) Courses from which a student has officially withdrawn are not included in the computation; however, they are counted in calculating academic progress.

Reporting Grades

Mid-term grades reflecting a student’s level of academic performance as of the 50 percent point of the semester are assigned by faculty members. These grades are unofficial and do not appear on the student’s transcript. The grades are designed to inform students of their mid-term standing and assist in making course selections for the next term.

Students may access mid-term and final grade information online using MyCCP. Paper grade mailers may be provided upon written request made to the Office of Student Records and Registration.

Semester Honors

Students must:

  1. Achieve a semester grade point average of at least 3.2;
  2. Complete at least 6 credit hours in courses carrying credit toward graduation;
  3. Receive no grade of less than "C" during an academic honors list semester (i.e., fall or spring semester);
  4. Receive no "Incomplete" grade during the academic honors semester.


Class Status

Class status, either freshman or sophomore, is determined by the number of credit hours earned. Freshman status is maintained up to and including 29 credit hours. Sophomore status begins when 30 credits have been earned.

Policy on Academic Standards and Progress

I. Academic Standards and Progress Policy

(Note: Students receiving financial aid are held to additional satisfactory academic progress regulations found in section VI.)

  1. GPA Policy: Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average for all college credited courses according to the following College schedule. GPA will be assessed after a student has attempted 12 college credited hours. (Note: Developmental courses will not count toward GPA calculation.)
    2. Minimum Required GPA Credit Hours
    Cumulative GPA Cumulative Attempted
    1.40 12
    1.50 18
    1.60 25
    1.75 37
    1.85 49
    2.00 Graduation

  2. Progress Policy: Students must maintain satisfactory progress for all courses. Satisfactory progress will be based on a cumulative successful completion of 67% of all credits attempted and will be assessed after a student has attempted 12 credit hours. For the purposes of calculating satisfactory progress, withdrawals made within the refund period will not count toward the calculation of progress. A grade of "A," "B," "C," "D," "P" or "MP" will be considered a successful completion. However, a grade of "MP" cannot be given in the same course more than two times. On the third attempt, a grade of "MP" will be converted to a grade of "F."
  3. Students who do not maintain satisfactory course completion and/or GPA will:
    1. Be put on full-time (13 credits maximum) academic probation. Students on academic probation of any kind must meet with a counselor before registering for any term.
    2. At the end of any full-time academic probation term, a student will be evaluated as follows:
      1. If the student has met the cumulative 67% completion rate and the GPA requirements, he/she will be removed from academic probation.
      2. If the student is either below the cumulative 67% completion rate or the GPA standard but has earned grades of "A," "B," "C," "P" or "MP" in 67% of the credits attempted for that term, he/she will continue on full-time academic probation. When the student achieves the cumulative 67% completion rate and GPA requirements, he/she will be removed from academic probation. Students may not register until they have met with a counselor.
      3. If the student fails to earn a grade of "A," "B," "C," "P" or "MP" in 67% of the credits attempted for the term, he/she will be placed on part-time (7 credits maximum) academic probation. Students on part-time academic probation during any summer term will be limited to 3 credits or 6 credits for offerings spanning 14 weeks. Students may not register until they have met with a counselor. Students wishing to appeal their part-time academic probation status may do so through the Counseling Department. Final adjudication will rest with the Reinstatement Committee.
    3. At the end of the first part-time academic probation term, a student will be evaluated as follows:
      1. If the student has met the cumulative 67% completion rate and the GPA requirements, he/she will be removed from academic probation.
      2. If the student is either below the cumulative 67% completion rate or the GPA standard but has earned grades of "A," "B," "C," "P" or "MP" in all credits attempted for that term, he/she will be permitted to continue on part-time (7 credits) academic probation until such time that the student achieves the cumulative 67% completion rate and GPA requirements, and is removed from academic probation. Students may not register until they have met with a counselor.
      3. If the student fails to earn a grade of "A," "B," "C," "P" or "MP" in all credits attempted for the term, he/she will be dropped from the College for poor scholarship and/or insufficient progress.
    4. After a student is dropped for poor scholarship and/or insufficient progress for the first time, he/she will be required to sit out for one term, with summer counting as one term, before applying for reinstatement. Students wishing to appeal the requirement to sit out for one term may do so through the Counseling Department. Final adjudication will rest with the Reinstatement Committee.
    5. After a student has sat out the minimum of one term, he/she may return to the college on part-time (7 credits) academic probation but cannot be registered until he/she has met with a counselor. Students who return to the College after dismissal will be assessed at the end of each term in accordance with the part-time academic probation sequence described above.
    6. Students who are dropped for either insufficient progress or poor scholarship following reinstatement may not be reinstated until they appeal successfully to the Reinstatement Committee. All students who are reinstated based on appeals will be placed on part-time (7 credits) academic probation and will be assessed at the end of each term in accordance with the part-time academic probation sequence described above.

    The chart below shows sample calculations of necessary course completion rates based on the 67% completion rate and minimum GPA requirements.

    Attempted Credits Minimum GPA Calculation Applied Required Completion Rate
    12 1.40 12 x 67% = 8 credits completed
    18 1.50 18 x 67% = 12 credits completed
    25 1.60 25 x 67% = 17 credits completed
    37 1.75 37 x 67% = 25 credits completed
    49 1.85 49 x 67% = 33 credits completed
    60 2.00 60 x 67% = 40 credits completed
    72 2.00 72 x 67% = 48 credits completed
    84 2.00 84 x 67% = 56 credits completed
    90 2.00 90 x 67% = 60 credits completed

    II. Policy on Repeated Courses

    1. Students may repeat courses to improve an initial grade of "B," "C," "D" or "F."
      The following conditions apply:
      1. When a student repeats a course for the first time (second attempt), the higher grade earned (either initial grade or grade of second attempt) will be the grade counted in the calculation of the GPA.
      2. When a student repeats a course for the second time (third attempt), the highest grade earned (either initial grade or grades of second or third attempt) will be the final grade counted in the calculation of the GPA.
      3. Courses repeated three or more times (fourth attempt or greater) are not calculated in the GPA.
    2. A grade of “MP” will not be given for a third time in the same course. The “MP” grade may be awarded no more than twice. Any “MP” for a third subsequent attempt will be converted to an “F.”
    3. Credit for a course is given only once.  Each attempted grade will appear on a transcript. Note: Some colleges to which students may wish to transfer do not accept this method of calculating grade point averages.

    III. Incomplete Work

    1. The letter “I” on a student’s grade report or transcript indicates that a student has not completed all the requirements for a grade in a course.
    2. The instructor will inform the student of the work to be completed and the date that it is due. Notification of the incomplete grade will be forwarded to the department head through the use of the incomplete grade form.
    3. An incomplete grade becomes a failing grade (“F”) if the work is not completed within six weeks from the end of the final exam period in which the “I” grade was assigned.
    4. An “I” will not be counted in the student’s grade point average and academic progress in determining academic standing.
    5. Since only completed work can be counted as making progress toward the degree, students must be aware that an incomplete grade may have implications for qualifying for financial aid. In addition, incomplete grades will not satisfy requirements for prerequisites.

    IV. Withdrawals from Courses

    1. Students may withdraw from a course(s) but must do so by the published deadline for each term. After this date, students will be assigned the grades they have earned. Students who withdraw after the refund period and before the deadline date for any term will earn a grade of “W” on their transcript. Note that excessive withdrawals will affect academic progress.
    2. Students may drop a class via MyCCP or by completing the necessary form, available from the Office of Student Records and Registration, and submitting the form to this same office. Students are strongly encouraged to consult a counselor, if on academic probation, or an academic advisor prior to dropping courses.
    3. Students completely withdrawing from a term must complete the necessary form, available from the Office of Student Records and Registration, and submit the form to this same office. Students must consult a counselor prior to withdrawing from an entire roster of classes for any term.
    4. The date when the Office of Student Records and Registration is in receipt of the appropriate drop or withdrawal form is the official date of withdrawal. A student who cannot appear in person to fill out a withdrawal form must send a letter or e-mail stating the date and reason for the withdrawal. Absence from class or merely notifying the professor does not constitute withdrawal. An instructor may initiate a withdrawal (according to Policies and Procedures No. 5). (Note: Students should not assume that an instructor will initiate such withdrawals.)
    5. Students who are unable to complete a course(s) because of serious illness or other emergency may apply for an excused withdrawal within two years of the occurrence to the Office of Student Records and Registration. Excused withdrawals are not counted in determining academic progress; however, excused withdrawals are counted as an attempt when awarding financial aid. Satisfactory documentation of the illness or emergency will be required.

    V. Reinstatement

    Students applying for reinstatement to the College must submit an Application for Reinstatement Form to the Reinstatement Committee. Applications may be obtained in the Division of Educational Support Services Office. Forms must be submitted no later than the deadline dates stated in the calendar in the College Catalog. Applications received after the deadline dates will be rolled over and considered for the following academic term. Students will be notified in writing of the Committee’s decision.

    VI. Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements for Students Receiving Financial Aid

    A student receiving financial aid is required to make progress towards his or her program of study each term. To maintain eligibility for financial aid, the course completion rate is two-thirds successful completion (67%) and maintaining minimum GPA requirements. However, academic progress standards set by Financial Aid Regulations are stricter than the College’s Academic Standards and Progress Policy:

    1. Neither academic nor time amnesty, which the College approved, can be used when computing financial aid satisfactory academic progress (SAP).
    2. All excused withdrawals are counted as attempted credits.
    3. Financial aid eligibility is limited to 150% of the credits needed to graduate for each program of study. All attempted credits are counted toward this maximum, regardless of whether or not a student received aid during previous periods of enrollment. Credits transferred into the College are counted toward the 150% maximum limit.
    4. There is a maximum limit of 30 developmental course credits.
    5. Incomplete (“I”) or unreported (“NR”) grades are counted as attempted credits.
    6. All attempted credits are counted whether or not a student received financial aid.

      The following new provisions became effective July 1, 2011 and are applicable to all students receiving federal student aid:

    7. Financial aid can be applied only once to repeat any course where the student received a passing grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” “MP,” “P” and “D”. Students who failed (grade of “F”) or withdrew from a course (“W”) in any previous attempts are not restricted by this one repeat limitation. However, once the student does earn a passing grade, then financial aid will only pay once to repeat that course.

      The Office of Financial Aid will review academic progress after the Fall and Spring semesters, and Summer. Students deemed not to be making satisfactory academic progress will be placed on a financial aid warning status for the next term. Students may continue receiving financial aid while on financial aid warning status. No appeal is necessary. After the financial aid warning period, a student who fails to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements for Students Receiving Financial Aid (as outlined above), will be ineligible for aid. Students may submit to the Financial Aid Academic Progress Appeals Committee a request to have his/her financial aid eligibility reinstated based on:
      1. Death of a relative;
      2. Injury or illness of the student; or
      3. Other special circumstances.
        1. The appeal must be submitted along with written explanation about why the student failed to make satisfactory academic progress and what has changed that will allow the student to be successful for the next term. Students must also provide appropriate supporting documentation, e.g., doctor’s note, receipts or obituary with their appeals. Students who successfully appeal their aid ineligibility will be placed on financial aid probation. The decision of the Financial Aid Academic Appeals Committee is final.
        2. A student on financial aid probation may receive financial aid for one semester or summer. At that point, the student must meet the College’s Academic Standards and Progress policy or the requirements of an established individual probation conditions plan to maintain financial aid eligibility. The probation conditions plan is a set of academic performance expectations to ensure that the student is able to meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards by a specified point in time. If a student begins and continues to follow the set plan, she/he may continue receiving financial aid.
    8. If appeals have been approved for students who are dropped for poor scholarship and/or insufficient progress after failing to meet the probation conditions plan that was established for them, the students will be ineligible for financial aid until they return to good academic standing.

    Student Appeals Procedures

    A student may lodge a complaint about any matter in which he or she feels unjustly treated by following the College’s appeals procedures, details of which are available in the Student Handbook or in the Counseling Center located in Room W2-2.

    Change of Student Information

    The Office of Student Records and Registration must be notified in writing of all changes of name, address and Social Security Number. It is the student’s responsibility to keep the College informed.

    Official or legal documentation is required to change a name or Social Security Number. A valid Social Security card is required to change or correct a Social Security Number. To change or correct a name requires a state-issued photo ID or driver’s license, court order, marriage license or birth certificate.

    Change of Residency

    Students attending the College for the first time who wish to change their residency must visit Enrollment Central to submit the appropriate documents and complete the change of residency form. Returning students must visit the Office of Student Records and Registration to change their residency status. Change of residency for tuition and mailing purposes is the sole responsibility of the student. Please note that a student’s residency classification for purposes of tuition calculation will not be adjusted after the third week of the semester. Any changes made to residency after the third week will be reflected in the following semester.

    Change of Curriculum

    To change curriculum, a student may go to either the Counseling Center or the Academic Advising Office and discuss the proposed change. With the counselor’s or advisor’s advice and approval, the student must complete a change of curriculum form for processing. Students seeking entrance to an Allied Health program by way of the change of curriculum process must consult the specific counselors designated to advise these students and meet the required deadlines.

    Students must follow the curriculum outlined in the Catalog in effect for the academic year they enter a program. If students change their curriculum, they must then follow the Catalog in effect for the academic year that they enter the new program.

    If a curriculum is revised while students are enrolled in the program, students have the following options:

    1. Continue to follow the requirements in the existing curriculum; OR
    2. Change to the revised curriculum if the new requirements are better suited for transfer or employment. If students elect to follow the new curriculum, they may not return to the previous curriculum requirements.

    Transfer Credits

    Transfer credit evaluation is the appraisal of a student’s transcript from another institution to determine eligibility for credit to be granted. At Community College of Philadelphia, the Office of Student Records and Registration will evaluate all official transcripts received from the student’s previous college or university for all students seeking a degree. Evaluation of transcripts is a two-step process: First, students must request that all post-secondary institutions previously attended send transcripts of their academic records to:

    Community College of Philadelphia
    Transfer Credit and Placement Office
    Office, MG-17
    1700 Spring Garden Street
    Philadelphia, PA 19130-3991

    Second, students must complete a Transcript Evaluation Request form. These forms are available at the Enrollment Services counters (Main Campus and Regional Centers), the Transfer Credit and Placement Office (MG-17) and the Academic Advising Office (BG-12) or online.

    POLICY ON TRANSFER CREDIT

    The consideration of transfer credit or recognition of degrees will not be determined exclusively on the basis of the accreditation of the sending institution or the mode of delivery but, rather, will consider course equivalencies, including expected learning outcomes, with those of the receiving institution’s curricula and standards.

    1. GENERAL STATEMENT: Community College of Philadelphia will accept courses in which the grade earned was a “C-” or better, unless otherwise specified by program requirements.

      This statement is qualified as follows:
      1. The Vice President for Student Affairs, or the Vice President’s designee, is responsible for the development and implementation of this policy, in collaboration with other affected offices.

        The final determination for the acceptance of courses will be made by the Vice President for Academic Affairs or the Vice President’s designee in consultation with Academic Divisions as deemed appropriate.

      2. Transfer credit will not be granted if granting such credit is contrary to the requirements of any recognized local, state, or federal accrediting or certifying agencies.

      3. Transfer of course credit earned ten or more years prior will be accepted in the same manner as all other requests, except where the department requires more current studies for certain majors.

      4. Credit may be awarded for courses from an institution, whether or not similar courses are offered at Community College of Philadelphia. These courses must satisfy both general elective and graduation requirements. A student must still complete all academic content and the total quantitative requirements for graduation.

        Community College of Philadelphia will grant degrees and academic certificates only to students who have earned at least 30 credit hours in residence for a degree and 15 credit hours for an academic certificate. Credit by Examination or Credit for Life Experience can be counted towards the residency requirement. Students on active duty with the Armed Forces need to earn only 15 credits in residence for a degree.

      5. There are institutions that offer some courses that are two credit hours, and these are often scheduled in a sequential manner. These two-credit courses will be transferred in as follows:
        1. If one course of a two-course sequence is completed, the student will receive two (2) transfer credits which may, with the appropriate discipline approval, satisfy a course prerequisite. Students must complete the minimum number of credits to graduate from the College.
      6. The College operates under the semester system. If a student seeks transfer credit for work completed under the “quarter” system, credits will be transferred in as follows:
        1. A one-year course of nine credits, taken over three quarters will transfer in as six semester hours.
        2. Two quarters of coursework totaling six credits will transfer in as a two-course sequence of two credits each, and will be treated as explained under section E above.
        3. One quarter of coursework totaling three credits equals two semester credits and will be transferred in as explained under section E above.
      In general, where a student has completed only six hours of the nine quarter hour system, this is equal to four credit hours under the semester system. Where a student has completed only three hours of the nine quarter hours, this is equal to two semester credit hours.

    2. APPEAL PROCEDURES:
      Academic transcripts are evaluated based upon the procedures established in this policy and through the guidance provided by the Academic Affairs areas. When transcripts are received for which there appears to be no Community College of Philadelphia equivalent, or for which no equivalency can be established based upon the course name and/or course description, the Academic Affairs areas are contacted to make a determination.

      It is possible that errors in the articulation of coursework, or omission of prior coursework can occur. In the event a student believes that this has happened, the appeal procedure is as follows:
      1. Students should first contact the Office of Student Records and Registration to discuss the evaluation results with a Placement/Transfer Credit Specialist, and provide any additional documentation needed to assist with the review (e.g., an updated transcript or college catalog, or other documentation from the sending institution).
      2. If the issue is not resolved in step A, the student may request a conference with the administrator responsible for Placement/Transfer Credit. After conferring with the student, the administrator will present the student’s claim along with any additional documentation to the academic area department head for consideration, and send written communication to the student within ten (10) working days regarding the decision.
      3. If the issue is not resolved in step B, the student may then request a meeting and final review with the Director of Student Records and Registration. The Director will consult with the appropriate academic dean for further guidance, and will communicate the dean’s decision to the student in writing, within ten (10) working days. The decision of the dean is final.
      4. Appeals must be submitted no later than four months after the completion of the initial evaluation.

    Academic and Time Amnesty

    The College recognizes that sometimes students are unsuccessful academically for a variety of reasons. Later the students may discover that a low GPA is a barrier to entry into occupational fields or further academic progress. Therefore, the College has established Academic and Time Amnesty Policies to allow students a second chance.

    Amnesty refers to “forgiveness” of a student’s grade of “D,” “F” and/or “W.” Amnesty results in the recalculation of GPA and a reassessment of a student’s academic progress. Students are eligible for one application of Academic Amnesty and one application of Time Amnesty. Requests for additional amnesty approval of either type must stipulate the extenuating circumstances and will be considered, on an individual basis, by the vice president for Academic Affairs.

    Two types of amnesty exist at Community College of Philadelphia: Academic Amnesty and Time Amnesty. Academic Amnesty is limited to grades of “D” and “F” received in courses which are peculiar to and required by the student’s previous curriculum. Time amnesty applies to students who have interrupted their attendance for three or more years and affects all courses in which a grade of “D,” “F” or “W” was earned.

    Federal Student Aid program regulations do not provide for Time Amnesty or for Academic Amnesty in evaluating a student’s eligibility for financial aid.

    I. Academic Amnesty Requirements

    1. In order to qualify for Academic Amnesty, the student:
      1. Must be transferring from one Community College of Philadelphia curriculum to a different Community College of Philadelphia curriculum; and
      2. May not have received Academic Amnesty for past performance.
    2. Once approval for Academic Amnesty has been granted, the recalculation of the student’s academic record shall:
      1. Exclude previous "D" and "F" grades, for which Academic Amnesty has been granted, from the GPA;
      2. Retain "D," "F" or "W" grades as part of the academic progress assessment; and
      3. Not allow Academic Amnesty for courses used for previous Community College of Philadelphia graduation requirement.

    II. Time Amnesty Requirements

    1. In order for a student to qualify for Time Amnesty:
      1. Three or more years must have elapsed since the last grade was received;
      2. The student must have successfully completed 6 credits, with at least a grade of “P” or “C” in each course; and
      3. Time Amnesty may not have been received for past performance.
    2. Once approval for Time Amnesty has been granted, the recalculation of the student’s academic record shall:
      1. Exclude from the GPA previous “D” or “F” grades;
      2. Eliminate course credits for “D” grades from the student’s academic record; or
      3. Exclude previous “F” and “W” grades from calculation for progress.
      4. Not allow Time Amnesty for courses used for previous Community College of Philadelphia graduation requirements.

    III. Procedure for Academic or Time Amnesty Approval

    1. The student will file a petition for Academic or Time Amnesty with the Counseling Department.
    2. The petition will be forwarded to the vice president for Academic Affairs for approval.
    3. All petitions will be forwarded to the Office of Student Records and Registration for appropriate action.
    4. The Office of Student Records and Registration will notify the student of the outcome of the petition.
    5. The grades of “D,” “F” and “W” that have been granted amnesty will remain on the student’s academic record followed by the appropriate code.

    Foreign Educational Credentials

    Foreign educational credentials must be evaluated initially by a recognized evaluation and/or translation service. Contact the Transfer Credit and Placement Office, Room MG-17, at 215-751-8916 for a list of service agencies.

    Graduation

    Commencement and the official awarding of degrees take place only at the conclusion of the spring semester. However, a student may fulfill graduation requirements at the conclusion of any semester or summer.

    Students who intend to meet the requirements for graduation at the end of any semester or summer session must apply to graduate via MyCCP. Students should complete this application immediately after finalizing enrollment for all courses required to complete that degree or certificate program.

    Community College of Philadelphia will grant degrees and academic certificates only to students who have earned at least 30 credit hours in residence for a degree and 15 credit hours for an academic certificate. Prior learning assessment can be counted towards the residency requirement. Students on active duty with the Armed Forces need to earn only 15 credits in residence for a degree.

    Commencement and Issuance of Diplomas

    Diplomas will be issued as soon as possible after the completion of the student's final semester/term.

    Students who, in the opinion of the Office of Student Records and Registration, are reasonably sure of completing their degree requirements at the end of early summer term, have the option of attending the ceremonies prior to the beginning of early summer term or those of the following spring.

    Students who have completed their degree requirements by the end of the spring semester (or by the preceding academic year’s fall semester or late summer term) will be invited to graduation ceremonies after the end of that spring semester. Students enrolled in curricula normally mandating attendance during late summer term to complete requirements will be permitted to attend ceremonies just prior to the beginning of early summer term of that year only if given permission by the dean of Enrollment Management.

    Graduation Honors

    The Commencement program and the diploma will carry special designations for students who complete their work with outstanding academic records according to the following cumulative grade point averages:

    3.2 - With Honor
    3.5 - With High Honor
    3.8 - With Highest Honor

    Note: Commencement honors for the May commencement are based on the cumulative GPA on record at the end of summer or fall semester.

    Student Code of Conduct

    Every student is expected to be fully acquainted with and comply with all policies, rules, and regulations outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct is contained in the Student Handbook, which is published and updated each year. Copies of the Student Handbook are available through the Student Life Center located in Room S1-19, the Regional Centers or online.

    Academic Dishonesty

    All students are expected to understand what constitutes cheating and plagiarism. Conduct involving academic standards be found in the Student Handbook, which is available through the Student Life Center located in Room S1-19, the Regional Centers or online.

    Judicial Affairs

    The Judicial Affairs officer, located in the Office of the Dean of Students, Room S1-10, is responsible for administering the College’s Judicial Affairs program. The Student Code of Conduct provides the specific policies and procedures for governing student behavior. All students are expected to become familiar with their rights and responsibilities and the standards of student behavior as outlined in the Student Handbook under the Student Code of Conduct.

    Right to Know Law

    Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, Community College of Philadelphia has established a Right to Know Office. The Vice President for Human Resources and General Counsel is the College’s Right to Know Officer. Requests for information pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law should be directed to RTK@ccp.edu. For additional information, click here.

    Privacy of Student Records - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

    Community College of Philadelphia accords all the rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 to its students. The College collects, maintains, secures and destroys student records for the educational welfare and advancement of students. This act is intended to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their educational records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal or formal hearings.

    The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

    1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access.

      Students should submit to the director of Student Records and Registration, dean, head of the academic department or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

    2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.

      Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.

    3. The right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

      One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.

      A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

    4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Community College of Philadelphia to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

      Family Policy Compliance Office
      U.S. Department of Education
      400 Maryland Avenue, SW
      Washington, DC 20202

    The College, at its discretion, may disclose directory information upon request without consent. The College has identified the following as directory information: student's name; program of study; dates of attendance; and degrees, honors and awards received along with dates.

    Currently enrolled students may, under the provisions of FERPA, withhold disclosure of such information. To prevent disclosure, written notification must be received by the Office of Student Records and Registration by October 1 of the fall semester and February 15 of the spring semester.

    The College will honor each request to withhold the information listed above but cannot assume responsibility to contact a student for subsequent permission to release them. Decisions about withholding information should be made very carefully. Should a student decide to inform the College not to release information, any future requests for such information from non-institutional persons or organizations will be refused.

    Community College of Philadelphia assumes that failure to request the withholding of directory information indicates approval for disclosure.

    Social Security Number

    In order to access the College’s portal, MyCCP, for online services, a system-generated student identification number must be used with a personal identification number (PIN) provided by the College. In addition, the College requires the Social Security Number (SSN) as a condition of enrollment. Although it is not used as the primary student identification number, the SSN is required for tax reporting, financial aid processing and educational tracking purposes. Community College of Philadelphia will not disclose the SSN without student consent unless required to do so by federal, state or local law.

    Photo/Video Release Agreement

    Community College of Philadelphia uses photographic, video and/or digital images taken of students on College property and at College events, as well as quotes provided by students, in publications, advertisements, promotional materials and audiovisual productions associated with marketing and/or student recruiting.

    Currently enrolled students may request not to be photographed or videotaped by sending written notification to the Office of Student Records and Registration by October 1 of the fall semester and February 15 of the spring semester.

    Community College of Philadelphia assumes that failure to request in writing not to be photographed or videotaped demonstrates approval for the College to use images in its marketing and/or student recruitment materials.

    Student Identification Card

    All credit students at the College are required to have a College photo indentification card. It is the student’s official College identification. Photo ID cards are used for admission to the campus and access to its facilities. A valid ID card is required for various student services on campus such as all in-person transactions, checking out materials in the library, access to computer labs and using the Athletics Center.

    Students who for religious or other reasons require a student identification card without a photo may make arrangements through the Security office.

    Your card must be shown upon request by any faculty member, security officer or any other official member of the College staff. You also may be asked for other identification to prove who you are. You must show it if requested.

    Abuse of an ID card could result in disciplinary action by the College. If the card is lost or stolen, contact the Security Office, Room M1-23, for information on replacing it. Each additional replacement is $10.


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