Academic Information & Standards

Learning Options

Formats for Learning

The College has three terms-fall, spring, and summer-in which students can earn credit in a variety of formats. The traditional term is 15 weeks long. Alternative formats offer flexibility in course delivery.

Accelerated Studies for the Adult Professional (ASAP)

Cecil College offers several programs of study for working adults who would like to complete their degree in a 17-month time frame. Courses are offered in seven, nine-week sessions with a one-week break between sessions. Students can earn nine to 11 credits in each session in a combination of classroom, online and experiential learning environments.

Condensed Sessions

Courses are offered in condensed sessions which allow students the opportunity to complete courses in a shortened time frame. Course offerings vary for each enrollment period and are listed in the Credit Course Schedule.

January Intersession

Each January, between the end of the fall semester and before the beginning of the spring semester, the College offers a limited number of courses in a compressed format.

Summer Session

The College offers courses during the summer session to allow students to supplement their coursework outside of the traditional fall and spring semesters.

Distance Learning

Online Courses

Students may choose to enroll in an online course that offers the flexibility of working completely off campus. Online courses require the same level of dedication as on campus courses. While offered in a format that allows the student more flexibility in completing coursework, students must adhere to the assignment schedule to allow for interaction with other online students. Online courses incorporate the use of a learning management system (Blackboard) in the delivery of instruction. Students must use their Cecil College email address for Blackboard access. Students may be required to utilize an approved testing center or proctoring service to take exams. Required course materials are available for purchase online. Students should be aware of start and end dates for online classes, as some classes are offered on a condensed schedule. Section letter “Z” designates online courses.

Hybrid Courses

Hybrid courses reduce the amount of time students spend on campus by combining on- campus and online learning activities. The amount of time required on campus, including final exam, may vary between courses. Students should be aware of start and end dates for hybrid classes, as some classes are offered on a condensed schedule. Hybrid courses incorporate the use of a learning management system (Blackboard) in the delivery of instruction. Students must use their Cecil College email address for Blackboard access.

Maryland Online (MOL)

Cecil students are offered the opportunity to enroll in select courses during the fall and spring semesters. The current course offerings are available on marylandonline.org.

Independent Study

This method of instruction is to be used in the case of extenuating circumstances when the student does not have the opportunity to earn credit for the required course in another semester. A request for Independent Study must be submitted in writing to an academic advisor who will forward the request to the appropriate department chair for approval. The department chair will submit the form to the appropriate academic administrator for final approval. If the administrator approves the request, and a faculty member is available for instruction, the student enrolls for the independent study. Costs are comparable to on- campus courses.

Evaluation of Prior Learning

Cecil College believes that learning is a lifelong process and is acquired in many different ways. In addition to the traditional classroom setting, mastery of college-level knowledge and skills may occur as a result of other learning experiences. Therefore, it is the policy of Cecil College to award credit/s for prior learning obtained through various learning environments.

Procedure

Before evaluation of prior learning occurs, students must:

1. complete all admissions procedures;
2. submit all relevant documentation; and
3. pay all required fees as delineated in the course schedule.

While credits earned through various prior learning methods count towards graduation, neither credits nor grades are used in the calculation of the grade point average.

Traditional Prior Learning

College and University Credit

Credit may be granted for coursework completed at accredited colleges and universities and those institutions recognized by the United States Department of Education. College credits earned at accredited institutions will be accepted for transfer if the course content is equivalent to that offered at Cecil College. Transfer credits from accredited institutions will be evaluated by the Records and Registration Office in collaboration with the appropriate Department Chair or Director, and will be accepted subject to the following guidelines:

1. A student whose cumulative grade point average is at the 2.00 level or higher at an in- state accredited institution will receive credit for all transferable course work in which a grade of “D” or better is achieved. For out-of-state institutions, a “C” or higher is required.
2. A student whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.00 level at an accredited institution will receive credit for transferable coursework in which a grade of “C” or better was achieved.
3. Transferable coursework must be applicable to the student’s declared program of study.

Students who have previously attended Cecil College but have not earned a degree or certificate in a program area may be eligible to transfer applicable credits through Reverse Transfer. The Reverse Transfer option allows students to transfer credits from a four-year institution back to Cecil College to earn an Associate’s Degree and/or Certificate. The courses may count toward the completion of the Associate’s Degree and/or Certificate, and also the Bachelor’s Degree at the four-year institution. Students should consult with their Academic Advisor to determine the appropriate course selection for reverse transfer credits.

Foreign College and University Credit

Cecil College does not evaluate foreign transcripts. Students seeking credit for coursework completed at foreign colleges and universities must have their transcripts evaluated by the Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES). Students will not be granted credit for College Composition unless extensive English credits are awarded by ECE or WES and students place into college-level English after completing Cecil College’s skills assessment. Additional information is available from the Director of Records and Registration.

Alternative Prior Learning

The College may give credit for demonstrated proficiency in areas related to college-level courses. Sources used to determine such proficiency are College Level Examination Program (CLEP); Advanced Placement Examination (AP); Cambridge Exams; International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams; Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES); United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI); Office of Education Credit and Credentials of the American Council on Education (ACE); Credit by Cecil College Departmental Examination; Advanced Prior Learning (APL by Portfolio Review); articulation agreements with approved high schools; and Credential Assessments. A maximum of 30 credit hours may be earned by alternative prior learning methods with a maximum of 15 credits through institutional credit by examination and portfolio assessment. In assigning credits of this nature, the recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE) and written articulation agreements will be used as guidelines. Applicants who seek credit for prior learning should contact the Records and Registration Office at the time of application to the College.

Credit by Advanced Placement Exams

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams are usually taken at the high school level, after completing a specially designed advanced placement course. The list of course equivalences and minimum scores is based on Cecil College’s evaluation, and is subject to change. Please refer to the college catalog for the most up to date information.  Students must have official Advanced Placement score reports sent to Cecil College. The list of course equivalences and minimum scores is based on Cecil College’s evaluation. Students transferring to other colleges or universities should consult the admissions office at that institution to determine course equivalencies and acceptable scores. Please see Appendix B.

Credit by College Level Examination Program

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) provides nationally recognized credit for learning gained through experience or independent learning. Cecil College will award credit for the CLEP exams listed in Appendix C provided the minimum passing score of 50 (computerized version) has been met. Students interested in learning more about CLEP should contact an academic advisor. Students must have official CLEP score reports sent to Cecil College.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams

US high school students may take IB exams while at high school. Students will be instructed to provide a school code to have your official IB score report sent to Cecil College, when you register for the exam. If you did not provide Cecil’s school code when registering for the exam, you may request a copy of your scores by contacting the IB Office directly. Please contact the Registrar with any questions. See Appendix D for course equivalencies.

Cambridge Exams

Cecil College may accept credit earned through the Cambridge A/AS Level Exams. To have an exam evaluated, please contact the Registrar.

Credit by Departmental Assessment

An academic department may award course credit to students who document learning comparable to that required in specific college courses. There are two ways learning can be evaluated: departmental examination (credit-by-exam) and portfolio assessment. A maximum of 15 credits may be earned by credit by exam and portfolio. The following guidelines apply:

1. Students must be enrolled at Cecil College and have EGL 101 eligibility;
2. Fees are nonrefundable;
3. Students cannot prepare a portfolio for which there is a CLEP examination available;
4. Students may not satisfy general education requirements, except for the computer literacy requirement, through the institutional credit-by-exam process or by portfolio assessment;
5. Students are required to meet the graduation residency requirement as listed in the College catalog; and
6. Credits granted through the assessment option are subject to the same procedures used by Cecil College for coursework completed at colleges and universities in the United States and are inclusive of the fifteen credits.

The College will maintain file copies of examinations, test results and portfolio reviews and credential assessment reviews in accordance with the institution’s Records and Retention Schedule. Documentation granting the awarding of credits will be retained in the student’s permanent record files in accordance with the College’s Record Retention Schedule. In accordance with COMAR regulations, faculty of the College in the appropriate discipline shall conduct the assessments.

Departmental Examination (Institutional Credit-by-Exam)

A departmental examination is created by the appropriate College department and administered by a faculty member. A passing grade on an examination is recorded with a grade of “S” on the permanent record. Examinations that are attempted but not passed are not recorded on the student’s permanent record. Students who fail may not repeat credit- by-exam, but may take the actual course.

Credit-by-Examination fees are calculated according to the specific examination. Fees collected for this process are nonrefundable.

Portfolio Assessment

Credit for prior learning acquired through employment and experience may be awarded through the portfolio assessment option. To earn credit through this method, students must enroll in APL 270 Assessment for Prior Learning: Portfolio Construction, a 1-credit course specifically designed to assist in the development of a portfolio in a format that enables faculty to assess eligibility for academic credit. The portfolio must provide documentation that course outcomes, as outlined in the course syllabus, have been mastered. A passing grade on the portfolio assessment is recorded with a grade of “S” on the student’s permanent record. Portfolios submitted for assessment that are deemed unsatisfactory are not recorded on the student’s permanent record.

Upon completion of the portfolio, the appropriate department chair or designee will conduct the portfolio assessment and make a recommendation to award credits, if applicable. A passing grade on the portfolio assessment is recorded with a grade designation of “S” (satisfactory) on the student’s transcript. Portfolios submitted for assessment that are deemed unsatisfactory are not recorded on the student’s permanent record. Students whose portfolios are unsatisfactory may not repeat the portfolio process but may enroll in the relevant course.

Portfolio fees are calculated according to the credit value of the course and the College’s current per credit hour tuition rate based on the residency status of the student. Fees collected for this purpose are nonrefundable.

Credit by Articulation Agreements

Cecil County Public Schools and other approved high schools cooperate with Cecil College in a program designed to ensure that high school students acquire more rigorous academic and technical competencies. A coordinated sequence of courses prepares students for lifelong learning and provides a choice of career options leading to employment or advanced study at Cecil College. Cecil County high school students who have completed coursework in specific subject areas may be eligible to receive academic credit for this experience.

Credits will be awarded to students once the evaluation criteria and the validation process have been met. Further information may be obtained from the College’s advisors or from high school guidance counselors.

Credit and Continuing Education Partnerships

The College has a co-listed course program between its non-credit and credit divisions that allow students to be awarded credit for successful completion of selected continuing education courses. The College matches the instructional outcomes of these selected courses to ensure that rigorous academic and technical competencies are part of the desired outcomes.

There are two ways for a student to receive credit once he/she has successfully completed the course for non-credit: petition for evaluation of prior learning, and departmental examination (credit-by-exam).

Evaluation of Prior Learning (Portfolio)

A student who has successfully completed one of the selected courses through the continuing education division may petition for the award of credits by submitting the necessary paperwork to the Registrar within three weeks of the end date of the course. Credits will be awarded upon submission of the required paperwork and payment of all applicable charges.

Departmental Examination (Credit-by-Exam)

A departmental examination is created by the appropriate College department and administered by a faculty member. A passing grade on an examination is recorded with a grade of “S” on the permanent record. Examinations that are attempted but not passed are not recorded on the student’s permanent record. Students who fail may not repeat credit- by-exam, but may take the actual course.

Calculating the CEU

One Continuing Education Unit is defined as 10 contact hours of participation in an organized education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction (includes classroom, self‐paced instruction, pre/post assignments, and/or homework) in support of a learning outcome.

• In computing the number of continuing education units to be awarded, only the number of instructional hours or the equivalent shall be considered. Breaks and lunch are not to be included. Approval procedures for “equivalent” activities shall be the same as procedures for program approval.
• Determine the number of contact hours by adding all countable portions of the learning event. Example: A learning event has six 50‐minute sessions with 10 minutes between for set‐up. The number of contact hours would be computed as: 6 X 50 = 300 total minutes / 60 minutes in an hour = 5 contact hours.
• Divide the number of contact hours by 10 to get the number of CEU(s). Following the above example: 5 contact hours / 10 =.5 CEU.
• CEU may be expressed in tenths of a CEU (i.e., 17 contact hours equate to 1.7 CEUs; 3 contact hours equate to.3 CEU). Do not express the CEU past the tenths place (i.e., if your calculation is 1.78, express this as 1.8 CEU).
• When the fractional part of an hour is at least 5/6 (50 minutes or more), the fractional portion should be counted as a whole hour. Any portion of an hour between 30 and 49 minutes should be counted as 30 minutes. Any part of an hour less than 30 minutes should be discarded.

Credits from Military Training and Experience

Credits granted for military training and experiences are subject to the same procedures used by Cecil College for coursework completed at colleges and universities in the United States. Credit may be granted for a variety of formal military training based on the student’s declared program of study. Official military transcripts, including Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), AARTS, SMART, DD214, DD295, or other military transcripts, must be submitted to the Registrar for evaluation of credits. Credits awarded through this process will be recorded on the student’s transcript with a grade designation of “TR” (transfer).

Credits from Training Received in Business/Industry

Academic credits may be awarded for the completion of training programs that have been evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE) or are recognized through an articulation agreement between the College and a business/industry.

Credits granted from business/industry training are subject to the same procedures used by Cecil College for coursework completed at colleges and universities in the United States. Credits awarded through this process will be recorded on the student’s transcript with a grade designation of “TR” (transfer).

Credits from Credential Assessment

Credits for prior learning may be awarded for:

1. Educational diplomas, certificates and degrees;
2. Registered apprenticeship certificates;
3. Occupational licenses (typically awarded by State government agencies);
4. Professional certifications from industry or professional associations; and
5. Other skill certificates for specific skill sets or competencies within one or more industries or occupations (e.g. writing, leadership, etc.)

To earn credits through this option, students must submit documentation validating their credentials. Such documentation must be current and demonstrate that the student is in good standing with the agency awarding the credential. Credit awarded through this process will be noted on the student’s transcript with a grade designation of “TR” (transfer). See Appendix A & B for more information regarding credentials and credential stacking.

Appendix A

Credentialing¹

A Stackable Credential is part of a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time to build up an individual’s qualifications and help them to move along a career pathway or up a career ladder to different and potentially higher-paying jobs.

Within the context of education, workforce development, and employment and training for the labor market, the term credential refers to a verification of qualification or competence issued to an individual by a third party with the relevant authority or jurisdiction to issue such credentials (such as an accredited educational institution, an industry recognized association, or an occupational association or professional society). The range of different types of credentials includes:

1. Educational diplomas, certificates and degrees;
2. Registered apprenticeship certificates;
3. Occupational licenses (typically awarded by State government agencies);
4. Personnel Professional certifications from industry or professional associations; and
5. Other skill certificates for specific skill sets or competencies within one or more industries or occupations (e.g. writing, leadership, etc.)

Educational credentials include: diploma, certificate, and degree. Credit hours are the building block components of these educational credentials.

The following definitions are provided:

Certificate

A formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program.

High school diploma or recognized equivalent
A document certifying the successful completion of a prescribed secondary school program of studies, or the attainment of satisfactory scores on the General Educational Development (GED) test or another state specified examination.

Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma (less than 1 academic year)
An award that requires completion of an organized programs of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in less than 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters), or designed for completion in less than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or in less than 45 quarter credit hours, or in less than 900 contact or clock hours, by a student enrolled full time.

Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma (at least 1 but less than 2 academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized programs of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in at least 1 but less than 2 full-time equivalent academic years, or designed for completion in at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit hours, or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact or clock hours, by a student enrolled full time.

Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma (at least 2 but less than 4 academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in at least 2 but less than 4 full-time equivalent academic years, or designed for completion in at least 60 but less than 120 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 90 but less than 180 quarter credit hours, or in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact or clock hours, by a student enrolled full time.

¹www.dol.gov

Attributes of Career-Enhancing Credentials

Four attributes of educational and workforce credentials that strengthen the value of credentials to individuals are industry-recognition, stackability, portability and accreditation. Accreditation by an independent quality review body is a valuable attribute, but at present, the majority of certain types of credentials are not accredited.

Industry-recognized

An industry-recognized credential is one that either is developed and offered by, or endorsed by a nationally-recognized industry association or organization representing a sizeable portion of the industry sector, or a credential that is sought or accepted by companies within the industry sector for purposes of hiring or recruitment which may include credentials from vendors of certain products. Consumer should be aware that in some industry sectors there may be more than one major industry association and that they may endorse or promote different credentials, and that the credentials that are sought by individual companies in an industry can vary by geographic region, by company size, or based on what product or equipment the company uses and needs workers to be able to operate. This is merely to point out that there may not be a single readily identifiable national credential for all industry sectors or occupations. The hundreds of certifications that exist within the information technology (IT) industry are a very good example. There are multiple industry associations, and there are multiple product vendors that offer personnel certifications. The workforce investment system operating in a local area needs to interface with employers to determine what IT credentials are in demand by local employers that are hiring.

Stackable

A credential is considered stackable when it is part of a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time to build up an individual’s qualifications and help them to move along a career pathway or up a career ladder to different and potentially higher- paying jobs. For example, one can stack a high school diploma, an associate’s degree, and then typically obtain two more years of appropriate postsecondary education to obtain a bachelor’s degree. An individual can also stack an interim career/work readiness or pre- apprenticeship certificate, then complete an apprenticeship, and later earn a degree or advanced certification. Information on identifying career ladders and lattices and related credentials is covered in a later section of this paper, along with examples of some existing industry sectors that are working to identify stackable credentials.

Portable

A credential is considered portable when it is recognized and accepted as verifying the qualifications of an individual in other settings - either in other geographic areas, at other educational institutions, or by other industries or employing companies.

Accredited

The goal of accreditation of educational programs is to ensure that the education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a webpage, ”Accreditation in the United States,” that provides lists of regional and national accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as reliable authorities concerning the quality of education or training offered by the institutions of higher education or higher education programs they accredit. Students using federal financial aid must enroll in institutions or programs that are accredited by the appropriate regional or national accrediting agency. Accreditation exists in the realm of personnel certification but is less common.

Appendix B

Advanced Placement Exams

The list of course equivalences and minimum scores is based on Cecil College’s evaluation, and is subject to change.

Appendix C

College Level Examination Program

The list of course equivalences and minimum scores is based on Cecil College’s evaluation, and is subject to change. For more information about CLEP exams, visit clep.collegeboard.org.

Appendix D

International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams

Graduation

Application for Graduation

Students must make an appointment with an advisor to complete the graduation application, graduation audit sheet, and file the application with the Registrar’s Office. There are three graduation evaluation periods: December, May, and August. Filing deadline dates and degree conferral dates are:

Important! Students must apply for graduation by the application deadline in order to begin the graduation clearance process.

Note: Students must complete and submit another application to the Registrar’s Office if they do not satisfactorily complete the degree requirements for the term in which they intended to graduate.

While students may graduate in the fall, spring, or summer, the College only holds one graduation ceremony in May.

December, May and August graduates are invited to attend the graduation exercises held in May. Note, however, that attending the ceremony does not automatically denote graduation, since evaluation of records showing final grades may occur after the ceremony. Summer applicants planning on attending commencement must file their applications by February 15.

Requirements for Certificates

Students are eligible to receive a certificate if they have met the following requirements:

• complete the courses listed in the certificate program;
• earn a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in college-level courses;
• complete a minimum of 50 percent of the required credits in the certificate program at Cecil College;
• meet financial and academic obligations to the College;
• complete the certificate program requirements as outlined in the College catalog within five years of the intended date of graduation, as noted on the Application for Graduation; and
• submit an Application for Graduation to the Registrar’s Office by the published deadline. Students may not receive a degree and certificate in the same program of study and option within the same graduation conferral term.

Requirements for Associate’s Degrees

Students are eligible to receive an associate’s degree if they have met the following requirements:

• complete all course requirements in a given program. An associate’s degree requires the completion of a minimum of 60 credit hours in college-level courses, of which 30 credits must be earned by direct classroom instruction and laboratory experience. All evidence of completed course requirements must be recorded in the Registrar’s Office three days prior to the date of graduation;
• earn a minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in college-level courses;
• earn at least 30 credits in a program of study at Cecil College, or complete the last 15 credits of a curriculum at Cecil College. Students enrolled under a college/military agreement may complete their final 15 credits in any order or time sequence;
• complete the required General Education requirements;
• Complete the ETS Proficiency Profile or other designated General Education Assessment test(s);
• meet the financial and academic obligations of the College;
• submit an Application for Graduation to the Registrar’s Office by the published deadline. A student may not receive a degree and certificate in the same program of study and option within the same graduation conferral term; and
• complete the degree program requirements as outlined in the College catalog within five years of the intended date of graduation, as noted on the Application for Graduation.

Note: Courses numbered 081 through 100 may not be used to satisfy graduation requirements.

The Chief Academic Officer or designee may grant exceptions to the above procedures.

Graduation Requirements

Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), Associate of Science (AS), Associate of Science in Engineering (ASE)

All students must meet specific General Education and institutional requirements within their associate’s degree programs. To be eligible for the Associate of Arts (AA) Degree, Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) Degree, Associate of Science (AS) Degree, or the Associate of Science in Engineering (ASE) Degree, students must complete a minimum of 60 credits of college-level work. Of the 60 credits, 28 credits must fulfill the College’s General Education core requirements. The distribution of the General Education and institutional credits must meet the following specifications:

Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Associate of Fine Arts (AFA)

To be eligible for the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) Degree, students must complete a minimum of 60 credits of college-level work. Of the 60 credits, 18 credits must fulfill the College’s General Education core requirements. The distribution of the General Education and institutional credits must meet the following specifications:

Grading

Grades and Quality Points

A letter grade is assigned for each course in which the student is enrolled at the end of the term. A grade submitted by the faculty member can be viewed on MyCecil. The term grade report and unofficial transcript at MyCecil are available and printable. A quality point value per credit hour in the course is assigned to each letter grade. Developmental coursework is not calculated in the grade point average, as of the Fall 2003 semester.

¹ Not acceptable for certain programs as a satisfactory grade. Also requires repeating the course if the course is a pre-requisite for other courses.

Grade designations not included in the calculation of the GPA:

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Semester Grade Point Average

The semester grade point average (GPA) is determined by multiplying the number of credit hours in each course attempted by the number of points corresponding to the final grade for the course. The total is then divided by the number of credit hours attempted during that semester period. The GPA is computed only on college-level courses attempted at Cecil College. Courses for which the symbols of I, K, M, NG, R, S, U, V, W are awarded will not be considered in calculating the GPA.

Cumulative Grade Point Average

The cumulative GPA includes all college-level courses and grades attempted at Cecil College and is determined in the same manner as the semester GPA. In the case of repeated courses, only the highest grade earned will be used in computing the cumulative GPA.

Incomplete Grades

The grade designation of “I” (Incomplete) is assigned only in exceptional circumstances and is a temporary grade issued by the instructor after an Incomplete Contract is completed. An Incomplete is issued only to students who cannot complete the course on schedule because of illness or other circumstances beyond their control. Students must complete the course requirements by the deadline printed on the Incomplete Contract, but no later than six weeks after the last scheduled final examination for the given term, or an “F” will be recorded for the course. It is the prerogative of the instructor to decide whether or not to issue an Incomplete Contract.

Repeating of Courses

Students may repeat any course regardless of the grade earned. When a course is repeated, the highest grade earned is used to compute the adjusted GPA. However, both grades remain on the transcript. It is recommended that students repeat a course in which they earn a “D” if they wish to raise their GPA or if they need a higher grade for transfer. With the exception of the nursing and PTA courses, there are no restrictions on the number of times students may take a course.

Change of Grades

The instructor is the only one authorized to assign a grade or to change a grade. Once a grade has been assigned and entered into a student’s record, an instructor may request the Registrar to make a grade change if there has been an error in the determination of the grade. The instructor must file a Change of Grade Form in the Registration Office.

Waiver of Prior Failing Grades

Under certain circumstances, failing grades earned by students when previously enrolled at Cecil College may be reviewed and designated in such a way as not to be calculated in the overall grade point average. This policy applies only to courses taken at Cecil College and only to students currently enrolled at the College. This policy does not affect the student’s responsibility to meet all program requirements.

Criteria

Students may request to have up to 15 previously attempted semester hours reviewed on a course-by-course basis. Criteria for the waiver of prior failing grades are:

• students must be currently enrolled at Cecil College;
• students must not have attended Cecil College for at least one full semester since failing grades were earned;
• students must have earned at least 15 credits of college-level work at Cecil College or any other accredited degree-granting institution prior to requesting the review. These credits must have been earned after the failing grades were earned;
• students must not have earned any grade below a “C” in the most recent 15 credits earned;
• students may not apply for courses required in their program of study, courses that have been repeated and passed, or courses in which the student is currently registered or enrolled;
• submit narrative explaining your circumstances at the time of failure.

In no case will Cecil College waive more than a total of 15 credits of prior failing grades for an individual. Students are encouraged to consider applying for the waiver for courses that are no longer offered at the College, or courses no longer required in their program of study.

Procedures

The student must meet with an academic advisor to complete the application for Waiver of Prior Failing Grades. Applications approved by the advisor will be forwarded to the Registrar for review. The Registrar will notify the student in writing of the final action. Grades that are waived will be identified on the student’s transcript by the letter “V,” which indicates they will not be calculated in the student’s overall grade point average.

Appeal of Grades

Policy

Unless an appeal has been initiated, all grades become final 60 days after being issued to the student. Students may appeal a grade before 60 days have elapsed by following the procedures outlined below.

Procedures

Students who feel an earned grade is unjust must address their disagreements with their instructors, as the determination of grades lies with the instructor. If the matter is not satisfactorily resolved through this approach and the issue warrants further consideration, students may then further request a review by the appropriate academic administrator. A review by the appropriate academic administrator is used to determine if the grading criteria, as outlined by the course syllabus, have been followed. The decision of the appropriate Dean is final.

Note: If, after students have followed the above steps, they believe that the grade was based upon discriminatory or unfair practices, students may use the Student Grievance Procedure  (beginning with Step #3).

Academic Achievement and Awards

President’s List

Students qualifying for the President’s List must earn a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.75 or better for that semester and be carrying a full credit load of at least 12 semester hours. Part- time students are eligible for the President’s List after accumulating 15 credit hours or more with a semester GPA of 3.75 or better for that semester. This award excludes any grade received for developmental coursework.

Dean’s List

Students qualifying for the Dean’s List must earn a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.50-3.74 for that semester and be carrying a full credit load of at least 12 semester hours. Part-time students are eligible for the Dean’s List after accumulating 15 credit hours or more with a semester GPA of 3.50-3.74 for that semester. This award excludes any grade received for developmental coursework.

Graduation Academic Honors

Graduating with Highest Honors
Graduating students in degree programs completing a minimum of 30 semester hours at Cecil College with grade point averages of 3.75 or higher computed on all semesters of college-level work at Cecil College will qualify to graduate with highest honors.

Graduating with Honors
Graduating students in degree programs completing a minimum of 30 semester hours at Cecil College with grade point averages of 3.50-3.74 in college-level course work will qualify to graduate with honors.

Graduating with Distinction
Graduating students in certificate programs completing a minimum of 15 semester hours at Cecil College with grade point averages of 3.50 or higher computed on all semesters of college-level work at Cecil College will qualify to graduate with distinction.

Alpha Alpha Theta/Phi Theta Kappa

Alpha Alpha Theta is the Cecil College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges. The organization offers unique opportunities for students to gain leadership skills and give service to the College and community. Members are recognized for their academic achievement, and they enjoy the company of scholars at Cecil and at other colleges. Members may also qualify for over $25 million in transfer scholarships reserved exclusively for Phi Theta Kappa members.

Students must apply for membership in the honor society. Applications are available from the Alpha Alpha Theta advisor. To be eligible to join, students must earn 12 or more credits at Cecil in college-level courses, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or greater. Induction ceremonies are held during the academic year. Students are welcome to attend meetings and events held by the chapter before applying for membership.

Academic Honesty Policy

Cecil College adheres to the highest standards of academic honesty. Students at Cecil College are expected to maintain that high standard by taking responsibility for their own academic success and achievement. All forms of academic dishonesty are serious offenses and will not be tolerated, and could lead to sanctions up to and including expulsion from the College. All members of the College community share the responsibility for the academic standards of the College. Academic honesty is a cornerstone of the development and acquisition of knowledge and is a critical component of continued membership in the College community.

For more detailed information, see the complete Academic Honesty Policy .

Academic Standards for Credit Students Policy

Students at Cecil College are expected to take responsibility for their own academic success and achievement within the program of study planned with their academic advisors. Each semester Academic Programs will identify students who are not making academic progress. Academic progress is defined as maintaining a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 for the time enrolled at Cecil College. Student Services and Enrollment Management will provide intervention and support for students to encourage their academic progress. Students who are not making academic progress will be subject to academic probation or academic suspension. Developmental courses are considered in the determination of the GPA for academic probation or academic suspension.

Academic Probation

Students who have attempted 12 credits will be placed on academic probation in the next semester in which they enroll if their cumulative GPAs are less than 2.0. With their academic advisors’ approval, students will be permitted to enroll for a maximum of 12 credit hours in the first semester of academic probation. Students will be encouraged to complete any prerequisite course(s) in their programs of studies and/or to repeat those courses in which they have received failing grades. Students who have registered prior to receiving notice of academic probation must meet with their academic advisors to have their current semester course schedules adjusted to comply with the provisions of this policy.

1. Upon completion of each semester, the Chief Academic Officer or designee will notify students whose cumulative GPAs are below 2.0 (after 12 or more credits), indicating (1) that they have been placed on academic probation; (2) that they must meet with their academic advisors prior to finalizing their next semester’s schedules; and (3) that their next semester’s course loads cannot exceed 12 credit hours without the approval and signature of their academic advisors.
2. Students who achieve a 2.0 semester GPA or higher will remain on academic probation as long as their cumulative GPA falls below the 2.0 cumulative GPA required for graduation.
3. Students on probation who do not have a semester or cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, will then be restricted to 7 credits in the next semester.

Satisfaction of Academic Probation

In order for academic probation to be lifted, students must achieve and maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Academic Suspension

Students on academic probation for two consecutive semesters who do not achieve a minimum 2.0 semester GPA will be placed on academic suspension for one semester. Students may not enroll in credit courses while on academic suspension.

1. Upon completion of the probationary semesters, the Chief Academic Officer or designee will notify students whose semester GPAs are below 2.0 indicating that they have been placed on academic suspension.
2. Students who wish to appeal academic suspension must follow the procedures for appeal.

Reinstatement

Students readmitted after academic suspensions are considered to be on academic probation. Refer to academic probation procedures.

Appeal

Students have one opportunity to appeal academic suspension. The appeal process must be completed before the start of the next semester. After the semester has begun, no appeals of academic suspension will be acknowledged.

1. Students must submit a formal letter of appeal including supporting documentation to the Chief Academic Officer or designee.
2. Upon receipt of appeal documentation, a decision will be made and students will be notified within 14 days, except when the College is closed or during semester breaks.

Attendance

Student Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend all classes except for reasons of illness or emergency. Each instructor will determine and announce the attendance policy and requirements for each course. Make-up tests may be administered at the request of the student and at the convenience and discretion of the instructor.

Credit Hours

A credit hour is the unit by which academic work is measured. In a 15-week term, a minimum of 50 minutes spent in class per week represents a credit hour. If a student takes a three-credit course during a 15-week term, they can expect to attend class once a week for a minimum of 150 minutes, twice a week for a minimum of 75 minutes or three times a week for a minimum 50 minutes.

Each course and laboratory is assigned a particular number of credit hours, and these are specified in the section of this catalog titled Course Descriptions  . As a guide, students can expect to prepare two hours per week outside of class for every credit hour enrolled.

Hours Attempted and Earned

Hours attempted are the total number of credit hours in all the credit college-level courses for which students receive one of the letter grades listed under Grades and Quality Points. Hours earned are the total number of credit hours in college-level courses for which students receive a letter grade of D or higher. No credit hours are earned with a grade of F, K, I, M, NG, R, or W.

Final Examination Statement

Students are required to take the final examination in each course they are registered, on the date scheduled by the Office of Academic Programs. The exam should be a culminating activity which reflects students’ progress and a mastery of the course objectives. Permission for makeup examinations is left to the discretion of the instructor.

The exam schedule is available in each schedule of classes brochure and on the web.

Course Substitutions

Students requesting course substitutions are required to get written permission from the appropriate academic administrator or program department chair. The substitution form must be filled out by the student, submitted to the appropriate academic administrator or program department chair, and, if approved, placed in the student’s permanent file. The student is responsible for securing approval, in advance, for any deviations from the requirements of their program of study. Students should maintain a copy of all approved substitution requests to be used in support of their graduation applications.

Maryland Education Alliance (MEA)

Through a unique collaboration across several community colleges in Maryland, Cecil College students have access to several degree programs that are not currently offered at Cecil College. The Maryland Education Alliance (MEA) creates pathways for students to complete these programs of study. Participating community colleges include Anne Arundel Community College, Carroll Community College, Cecil College, Chesapeake College, College of Southern Maryland, Harford Community College, and Prince George’s Community College.  

Cecil College students are encouraged to complete the first year of their degree at Cecil College and, during that year, apply for admission into the specific program at another community college. Once admitted, students are enrolled at the community college hosting the program.  To inquire about programs included in this initiative, please contact the Advising Office at advising@cecil.edu.  Students are also encouraged to speak with an advisor if they are interested in the following programs:

• Respiratory Therapy, Prince George’s Community College:

https://www.pgcc.edu/programs-courses/program-finder/respiratory-therapy-aas/

• Nuclear Medicine, Prince George’s Community College:

https://www.pgcc.edu/programs-courses/program-finder/nuclear-medicine-technology-aas/

Statewide Programs

In order to avoid duplication of specialized career program offerings, the state of Maryland’s community college system has designated these specific associate degrees as a statewide program. Students may attend at in-county rates, as long as the program is not offered at a public community college in the region of their residence or if offered, is not available due to enrollment capacity.

Allegany College of Maryland

• Addictions
• Automotive Tech
• Culinary Arts
• Forest Tech
• Hospitality Management
• Medical Scribe Specialist
• Tree Care Technology

Anne Arundel Community College

• Alternative & Sustainable Energy Systems
• Homeland Security Management
• Hotel/Restaurant Management
• Intelligence Analytics
• Life and Engagement Coach
• Paralegal Studies
• Skilled Professional Trades Management
• Transportation, Logistics & Cargo Security