RC CATALOG2015

Academic Regulations

2015-2016 Catalog

cademic

egulations

Units of Academic Credit

The standard quantity for measurement of college work is

a unit. One unit equals one hour of classroom lecture per

week plus two hours of study. Using this formula, a class that

meets in lecture three times a week for one hour will be worth

three units. This college operates on the semester system and

all references to units of academic credit in this catalog are

to semester units. Quarter units from other colleges may

be converted to semester units by decreasing the number of

quarter units by one-third.

Course Load

The normal semester load is 15 units. Students enrolled in 12

or more units are considered full-time students. Students with

regular admission status who are not on academic probation

may take as many as 18 units. Students on academic

probation are normally limited to 12 units.

Permission to enroll in excess of 18 units is granted only

when unusually high scholarship and urgent need prevail.

Counselors can approve a student request to take 19 to 21

units. Students who wish to take 22 or more units may obtain

a petition for this purpose in the Counseling Center.

A student who wishes to enroll in more than 18 units must

receive approval from a counselor and the Vice President of

Instruction.

Students are urged to keep in mind their study time,

employment, and other personal responsibilities when

planning their class load.

Summer Units Allowed

All students are limited to 18 units in all summer sessions,

with no more than 8 units allowed in a four-week session.

Disqualified students and students on probation are required

to have a counselor’s approval before registering for any

summer session(s). Disqualified students and students

on probation who have obtained a counselor’s approval

to register for any summer session(s) must also have a

counselor’s approval before adding any class(es) in any

summer session(s).

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all sessions of classes in which

they are enrolled. Excessive absence will jeopardize a student’s

satisfactory progress in a class. Students may be dropped from

class if they fail to attend the first class session of the semester.

There are no institutionally approved excused absences for any

reason. Only the instructor may excuse an absence. Absences

caused by personal engagements, transportation delays and

business affairs will not be excused, nor will absences from

class to complete registration or add/drop activities.

The faculty places strong emphasis on attendance in all classes.

Students are expected to be in the classroom at the time the

class begins. Instructors are required to take attendance at

each class session. Any student who is excessively absent may

be dropped from the class as specified in each class syllabus.

Unless there are significant extenuating circumstances,

that student will be immediately dropped from class by the

instructor if the absences are occurring before 50 percent of

the class is expired. Lack of regular attendance after the 50

percent drop deadline may result in an unsatisfactory grade.

Once dropped, should a student believe there is just cause for

reinstatement, the student may petition through the Office of

Admissions and Records. Reinstatement will be granted only

if the student had been doing satisfactory work immediately

prior to the excessive absence and if it is the judgment of the

instructor that the student has a reasonable chance of passing

the course.

It is the students’ responsibility to drop any classes they no

longer wish to continue. They must not merely stop attending

and must not rely on being dropped by others. Students must

complete the drop process for themselves.

Illness

Students who have a communicable disease or any illness or

injury which will cause an absence of one week or more may

notify the Health Service Office. In these circumstances, the

Health Service Office will transmit messages to instructors.

Students may call the Health Services Office at (559) 638-

0328. The Health Service Office may exclude any student

from campus who is infected with any contagious or infectious

disease (Title 5, California Code §48211 and 48212). The