2.3 Scholastic Standards

A credit hour is defined as an amount of work represented in course competencies and verified by evidence of student achievement that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time, or at least an equivalent amount of work for other academic activities, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours. In accordance with common practice in higher education, instruction representing a credit hour is typically delivered in a 50 minute class period.

Students carrying at least twelve (12) credit hours will be considered full-time students for the fall and spring semesters. Three-quarter-time is 9 - 11.9 credit hours. Half-time is 6 - 8.9 credit hours. Fewer than six (6) credit hours is considered less than half-time. Academic load for summer and special terms may be defined differently. Contact the Admissions and Records Office/Office of Student Enrollment Services for clarification. As provided in the Reduced Course Load administrative regulation, a student may be deemed a full-time student carrying fewer than twelve credit hours pursuant to an accommodation of a disability.

Courses may vary in length, and begin and end throughout the year. A credit hour indicates the value of an academic credit. Standards for the awarding of credit hours may be time based or competency based. To obtain credit, a student must be properly registered and must pay fees for the course. The fall and spring semesters are typically sixteen (16) weeks in length. Summer sessions are typically five or eight weeks in length.

Students desiring to take more than eighteen (18) credit hours must obtain approval from the designated college official. Ordinarily, only students with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher for the preceding semester or first semester students who were in the upper quarter of their high school graduating class are permitted to carry more than eighteen (18) credit hours.

Students participating in extra-curricular or co-curricular activities or receiving financial assistance may be required to maintain a specified minimum academic load.

Students who are working, have considerable extra-curricular or co-curricular activities, or have been reinstated from academic suspension/probation should plan their academic load accordingly.

Schedule Changes

Students may change their schedule by following the designated procedures at their college of enrollment. It is the student's responsibility to notify the college if he/she will no longer be attending the class (see Administrative Regulation 2.3.6 Withdrawal for Withdrawal Procedures).

• Only persons who are registered for a class at any of the Maricopa Community Colleges may attend that class. Attendance requirements are determined by the course instructor. Students who do not meet the attendance requirement as determined by the course instructor may be withdrawn.
• Students who fail to attend the first scheduled class meeting, or to contact the instructor regarding absence before the first scheduled class meeting may, at the option of the instructor, be withdrawn.
• At the beginning of each course, each faculty member will provide students with written attendance requirements. It is the student's responsibility to consult with the instructor regarding official or unofficial absences. Absences begin to accumulate with the first scheduled class meeting.
• Students bear the responsibility of notifying the Admissions and Records Office/Office of Student Enrollment Services when they discontinue studies in a course or at the college. Please refer to Administrative Regulation 2.3.6 Withdrawal for Withdrawal Procedures.

1. Official Absences
   
   1. Official absences are those that occur when students are involved in an official activity of the college, i.e., field trips, tournaments, athletic events, and present an official absence excuse form. Absences for such events shall not count against the number of absences allowed by an instructor or department. Students who must miss a class for an official reason must obtain an official absence verification card from the appropriate vice president or designee and present it to the appropriate instructor(s) before the absence. Prior arrangements must be made with each instructor for make-up work. If prior arrangements have been made, the student will not be penalized.
   2. Other official absences include jury duty and subpoenas. Appropriate documentation will be required. Prior arrangements must be made with each instructor for makeup work. If prior arrangements have been made, the student will not be penalized.
   3. In the event of military commitments. Absences for periods of up to one week will not be counted against the number of absences allowed by an instructor or department. The student is required to provide appropriate documentation of the specific orders, length of assignment and location. Prior notification must be initiated with each instructor to discuss make-up work. If the length of the absence will be longer than one week, the instructor and the student will determine whether there is sufficient opportunity for the student to make up the work. If it is determined that the length of absence for the military commitment provides an undue hardship on the student’s ability to make up the assignments, he or she will be provided an opportunity to request an incomplete grade or drop the class or, in the case of open-entry classes, the opportunity to request an extension.
   4. In the event of the death of an immediate family member, absences for periods of up to one week will not be counted against the number of absences allowed by an instructor or department. Students should contact instructor(s) as soon as possible to arrange for make-up work. Appropriate documentation will be required (for example, a copy of the obituary or funeral program). In specialized programs that require clinical rotations, this regulation may not apply.
2. Religious Holidays
   Students shall have the right to observe major religious holidays without penalty or reprisal by any administrator, faculty member or employee of the Maricopa Community Colleges. Absences for such holidays shall not count against the number of absences allowed by an instructor or department, provided the student has utilized the Religious Accommodation Procedure outlined in ND-4 of the Administrative Regulations Appendices. The Procedure and Religious Accommodation Form may be found at ND-4.  As outlined in the ND-4 Religious Accommodation Procedure, to the extent possible, requests must be made at least two (2) weeks before the requested absence from class due to religious holiday or day of observance by providing the faculty member with the Religious Accommodation Request Form. Once a religious accommodation is granted, the student must make arrangements with each instructor for make-up work.
3. Excused Military Absences
   A member of the National Guard of this state or any other state or of the United States Armed Forces Reserves who is a student at an institution of higher education in this state and who is ordered to either state or federal reserve component duty or a person who is the spouse of a member of the National Guard of this state or any other state or the United States Armed Forces Reserves, who is a student at an institution of higher education in this state and whose spouse is ordered to either state or federal reserve component duty, whether the member or spouse is attending class in person or online and whether the member is stationed in or outside of this state, may do any of the following:
   
   1. Withdraw from one or more courses for which tuition and fees have been paid.  The tuition and fees must be credited to the student's account at the institution.  Any refunds are subject to the requirements of the state or federal financial aid programs of origin.  The student may not receive credit for the courses and may not receive a failing grade, an incomplete or another negative annotation on the student's record and the student's grade point average may not be altered or affected in any manner because of the student's withdrawal under this subsection.
   2. Depending on when the member is ordered to either state or federal reserve component duty and depending on the individual student's needs, receive a grade of incomplete and be allowed to complete the course if the course is being offered at the time to other students on release from reserve component duty under the institution's standard practice for completion of incompletes.
   3. In accordance with any academic unit or institution of higher education requirements or in compliance with accreditation or certification standards, when applicable, continue and complete the course for full credit. Class sessions the student misses due to state or federal reserve component duty must be counted as excused absences and may not be used in any way to adversely impact the student's grade or standing in the class.  Any student who selects this option is not automatically excused from completing assignments due during the period the student or student's spouse is performing state or federal reserve component duty.  A letter grade or a grade of pass may be awarded only if the faculty member teaching the course determines that the student has completed a sufficient amount of work and has demonstrated sufficient progress toward meeting course requirements to justify the grade.
   4. Withdraw and be readmitted with the same academic status and enrolled as a student at the institution, without penalty or redetermination of admission eligibility, within one year after the release of the student or student's spouse from state or federal reserve component duty.
      1. A member of the National Guard of this state or any other state  or of the United States Armed Forces Reserves who is a student at an institution of higher education in this state, who is ordered to either state or federal reserve component duty and as a result of that service or follow-up medical treatment for an injury incurred during that service, misses any test, examination, laboratory, presentation or class day on which a written or oral assignment is due or other event on which a course grade or evaluation is based may make up the test, examination, laboratory, presentation, class or event without prejudice to the final course grade or evaluation.  The makeup activity must be scheduled after the student's return from reserve component duty and after a reasonable amount of time for the student to prepare for the test, examination, laboratory, presentation, class or event.
      2. For class sessions a student described in subsection a of this section misses due to state or federal reserve component duty, the institution of higher education shall excuse the student's absences and not use these excused absences in any way to adversely impact the student's grade or standing in class.
      3. If the faculty member teaching the course determines that the student has completed a sufficient amount of work and has demonstrated sufficient progress toward meeting course requirements to justify the grade without making up the test, examination, laboratory, presentation, class or event, a grade may be awarded without the makeup activity and the missed test, examination, laboratory, presentation, class or event may not be used in any way to adversely impact the student's grade or standing in the class.
      4. The protections in this section may be invoked as follows:  
         
         1. If the state or federal reserve component duty is known in advance, the student must submit evidence documenting the state or federal reserve component duty to the faculty member teaching the course early in the semester or as soon as practicable before the missed class, assignment or examination. 
         2. If the state or federal reserve component duty is not known in advance, the student is responsible for providing evidence of the state or federal reserve component duty to the faculty member teaching the course as soon as practicable after the missed class, assignment or examination.
         3. The student or an appropriate officer from the military organization in which the student or student's spouse will be serving must give written notice that the student or student's spouse is being or has been ordered to reserve component duty as prescribed in this section. 
         4. On written request from the institution of higher education, the student shall provide written verification of service.
      5. To readmit a person with the same academic status means that the institution admits the student to the same program to which the student was last admitted by the institution or, if that exact program is no longer offered, the program that is most similar to that program, unless the student requests or agrees to admission to a different program, per CFR 34 668.18 (a)(2)(iii)(A).

1. Policy
   It is the policy of the Maricopa Community Colleges that a grade will be assigned at the conclusion of the course. Official grades are available on designated college web sites.

   GRADE KEY

   GRADE	VALUE	GRADES CALCULATED IN GPA	CONSIDERED AN ATTEMPT	MAY BE REPEATED
   A	4.0 - EXCELLENT	YES	YES	NO
   B	3.0 - ABOVE AVERAGE	YES	YES	YES
   C	2.0 - AVERAGE	YES	YES	YES
   D	1.0 - BELOW AVERAGE	YES	YES	YES
   F	0.0 - FAILING	YES	YES	YES
   I	INCOMPLETE	NO	NO	N/A
   IP	COURSE IN PROGRESS	NO	NO	N/A
   N	AUDIT	NO	NO	N/A
   W	WITHDRAWN, PASSING	NO	NO	N/A
   Y	WITHDRAWN, FAILING	YES	YES	YES
   P*	CREDIT	NO	YES	YES
   Z	NO CREDIT	NO	YES	YES

   *A "P" is judged to be equivalent to a grade of "C" or higher.  

   ATTEMPT DEFINITION: A student is enrolled in a class and receives a grade of A,B,C,D,F, Y, P, or Z.

   Students who wish to attempt a course after the fourth time will need assistance from the Admissions & Records/Enrollment Services Office to enroll.
   
   If a student has been awarded financial aid, veterans benefits, or other military tuition assistance programs, scholarships, or grants they should check with those offices about repeating classes.
   
   The student is responsible for any tuition and fees associated with each attempt.

   NOTE: Grading errors discovered after the sixty (60) day expiration date can be corrected if they have been researched by the Director of A&R/Enrollment Services and the Instructor of Record or the Department/Division Chair.

    

2. Incomplete Grade
   1. Students who are doing acceptable work may request an incomplete grade "I" if they are unable to complete the course requirements by the end of the term because of illness or other extenuating circumstances. If the request is approved by the instructor, he or she shall define, in a written/electronic contract, how the course will be completed.
   2. Students must complete the requirements within the time period agreed to--maximum time allowed is seven (7) months from the last date of class in which the grade of incomplete was assigned. Students who do not complete the requirements within the approved time period will have their grade recorded in accordance with the written contract. Students should NOT reregister for the course to complete the contract.
   3. A student's eligibility for financial aid may be jeopardized by an incomplete grade.  Refer to the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for details.  
3. Repeating a Course/Improving a Grade
   Students who wish to improve their GPA may repeat a course within the Maricopa Community Colleges up to three times after the initial attempt. (A “W” is not considered an attempt.) Students planning to repeat a course should seek advisement prior to enrolling. The lower grade(s) and credit for repeated courses taken at the same college will automatically be excluded from the grade point calculation. However, if the course(s) were taken at a different Maricopa Community College, the student must submit a request for the lower-graded course to be excluded from the GPA. The request can be submitted to the admissions and records office at any of the Maricopa Community Colleges that the student attended. Students receiving federal financial assistance and/or benefits should follow up with the Office of Financial Aid and/or Veterans’ Services regarding their policies for repeated courses. An official student transcript is a permanent academic record issued by the College Registrar.  It displays all courses taken for credit within the Maricopa Community Colleges District and includes all grades received.  Unlike an unofficial transcript, it is signed and dated by the College Registrar and displays the college seal of the Maricopa College issuing the official transcript.  Check individual courses and programs for exceptions.
4. Credit/No Credit Courses (P/Z)
   1. Some courses may be taken under a credit/no credit grading system. These courses carry grades of P (credit, equivalent to a grade of C or higher) or Z (no credit) and are not computed in the student's grade point average. Credits earned with a grade of P may be counted toward graduation with the exception of AGEC (Arizona General Education Curriculum).
   2. The prescribed time limits are for full-semester classes. Time limits for classes which meet fewer than sixteen (16) weeks are adjusted accordingly. See "Important Deadlines for Students".
   3. In courses with credit/no credit (P/Z) grading, the student may request standard grading (A, B, C, D, F), within fourteen (14) days including the date of the first class meeting. The instructor must immediately notify the Admissions and Records Office/Office of Student Enrollment Services.
   4. In courses with standard grading (A, B, C, D, F), the instructor determines if the credit/no credit option is available. If the option is available, the student must obtain the permission of the instructor. The instructor must notify the Admissions and Records Office/Office of Student Enrollment Services within fourteen (14) days including the day of the first class meeting.

   5. It is the student's responsibility to verify the transferability of credit/no credit courses. Some universities place a limitation on the number of credit/no credit courses that can be transferred.

      Advisory note: Some institutions outside the Maricopa Community Colleges may translate the Z grade as failing.

5. Audit Courses
   1. Auditors are those who enroll in a course for the sole purpose of obtaining information; they receive no credit, grades, homework, or tests. If an auditor wishes to earn credit, he or she must change from audit status to credit status within the first week. If a student wishes to audit a course for which he or she is enrolled for credit, the change must be made within the first five (5) weeks of a semester. Auditors are subject to the same attendance policies as other students and must meet the same prerequisite requirements or obtain approval of the instructor. See the fee schedule for charges. Financial aid is not available for audited courses.
   2. The prescribed time limits are for full-semester classes. Time limits for classes which meet fewer than sixteen (16) weeks are adjusted accordingly and appear in the "Important Deadlines for Students".
6. Important Deadlines for Students

Academic standing is defined by the student's GPA. The GPA is calculated by dividing the number of grade points earned in courses that assign letter grades by the number of credits attempted.

The purpose for the academic standing, warning and probation policies is to establish a formal process through which the faculty, staff, and administration at the Maricopa Community Colleges may identify and provide support to students who experience academic difficulty and fall below a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. The combined cumulative GPA includes computation of grades for both Maricopa and posted transfer courses. It is not intended to discourage or penalize students. rather, this process reflects the commitment of the college’s faculty, staff, and administration to provide students with assistance and support to ensure success in achieving their educational goals.

Academic Good Standing

Students in academic good standing have a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Academic Warning

Students who do not achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 after completion of their first term of study are placed on academic warning. If a student does not achieve the minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 after one semester on academic warning, the student will be placed on probation for at least one additional term.

Academic Probation

If a student's minimum cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 in a term that is not the student's first term, the student will be placed on probation. Students on academic probation may take no more than twelve (12) credit hours per semester unless approved by a college counselor and the designated academic dean.

A student on academic probation who fails to raise the cumulative grade point average 2.0 will be placed on continued probation and may be limited to taking six (6) credit hours.

Students who receive an academic warning or who are placed on academic probation may be required to meet with an academic advisor or other designated intervention team members or engage in other intervention strategies prior to enrolling in courses to discuss an academic improvement plan which may include referrals to academic support, tutoring, and/or student support services to help them achieve good standing. Students using federal financial aid, VA education benefits, or active duty tuition assistance should contact their financial aid office and veterans services office to review possible impacts to their funding. See S-5 Student Financial Assistance.

Also See:

2.3.11 ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

A student who feels that he or she has been treated unfairly or unjustly by a faculty member with regard to an academic process such as grading, testing, or assignments, has the right to appeal according to the approved procedures.

The appeal process for grades must be initiated no later than sixty (60) calendar days from the date the grade was issued. Steps outlining the process are available in Appendix S-6.

The Office of Admissions and Records/Office of Student Enrollment Services provides information about the withdrawal process. To withdraw from a course or courses from the college, students must follow approved procedures as outlined below. The official date of withdrawal is the date the withdrawal is received in the Admissions and Records Office/Office of Student Enrollment Services. Withdrawal from a course (or courses) does not automatically qualify for a refund of tuition and fees. Tuition and fee refunds will be calculated based on 2.2.10 Refund Policy or reviewed under the refund appeal process. Never attending is not an allowable refund exception or an excuse of the debt incurred through registration.

TYPES OF WITHDRAWALS

STUDENT WITHDRAWAL: Is a change in the student’s course schedule where one or more courses are withdrawn before the end of the term.

FACULTY WITHDRAWAL: Occurs when a faculty member withdraws a student.

COMPASSIONATE WITHDRAWAL: Is considered when a sudden emergency or severe change in personal circumstances, result in an inability to continue/complete courses. The student provides a written statement of their situation and any documentation to support this request if applicable (e.g. death certificate, accident report, etc.).

MEDICAL WITHDRAWAL: Is considered when there is an unexpected serious illness or injury that prevents the student from continuing with their course or courses. The medical withdrawal policy covers physical health and mental health difficulties.

All applications for compassionate and medical withdrawal that are submitted by the student, or on their behalf, require thorough and credible documentation. An approved medical/compassionate withdrawal request will result in a special note line indicating the nature of the withdrawal on the student's official transcript. Medical and compassionate withdrawal applications and supporting documents are retained for at least five years and filed securely. If a request for refund has also been made, further assessment is done to determine eligibility.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE: Assists and encourages students to return and graduate after an absence due to military deployment, service on an official church mission, or with a foreign aid service of the federal government. If your absence is due to this or any other reason, you may be eligible to return to a Maricopa College through a quick re-entry process, which permits students to enroll without submitting a new application if they previously attended a Maricopa College. If the leave of absence is due to military commitments, students should also reference Administrative Regulation 2.2.3(3).

WITHDRAWAL OF FINANCIAL AID STUDENTS
Withdrawing can have implications for certificate or degree completion, future registration, financial aid eligibility, and return of financial aid funds. In accordance with federal regulations (34CFR 668.22), a student may be required to repay federal financial aid funds if they completely withdraw or are withdrawn, or fail to earn a passing grade from all courses during a semester. This could affect a student’s ability to receive financial aid in the future at Maricopa or any school.

Prior to submitting a request for any withdrawal or leave of absence, students are encouraged to meet with a college advisor about the potential impact related to the student’s academic progress. Students using financial aid, VA education benefits, or active duty tuition assistance should contact their Financial Aid and Veterans Services offices to review possible impacts to their funding.

Withdrawal Procedures

Withdrawal from Specific Courses

A student may officially withdraw from specific courses in the following ways:

• The prescribed time limits are for full semester courses. Time limits for courses which meet fewer than sixteen (16) weeks are adjusted accordingly. See Important Deadlines for Students. Failure to file an official withdrawal form may result in failing grades and responsibility for course tuition and fees. Tuition and fee refunds will be processed based on the 2.2.10 Refund Policy.
• Through the 7th week*, a student may initiate an official withdrawal from any course by completing the withdrawal process online using the student self service system or by submitting a course withdrawal form to the Admissions and Records Office/Office of Student Enrollment Services in accordance with the published deadlines. A grade of W (withdrawn, passing - not computed in the grade point average) will be assigned.
• After the 7th week, a student must initiate a withdrawal request with the faculty member. If, after consultation with the student, the faculty member approves the request, a grade of W (withdrawn, passing - not computed in the grade point average) or Y (withdrawn, failing - computed in the grade point average as a failing grade) will be assigned. If the request is not approved, the student will remain in the course.

A student has the right to appeal a withdrawal decision according to the approved procedures. Steps outlining the process are available in Appendix S-6.

Complete Withdrawal from College

Students electing to withdraw from the college must contact the Admissions and Records Office/Office of Enrollment Services no later than two weeks* before the end of the last class meeting and may be required to file a written request.

A grade of W will be assigned in all courses for students who withdraw by the end of the 7th week* of classes. Withdrawals completed after this time will result in a grade of W (withdrawn, passing – not computed in the grade point average) or Y (withdrawn, failing – computed in the GPA as a failing grade).

*The prescribed time limits are for full semester classes. Time limits for classes which meet fewer than sixteen (16) weeks are adjusted accordingly. See Important Deadlines for Students. Failure to file an official withdrawal form may result in failing grades and responsibility for course tuition and fees. Refunds will only be processed within the refund period.

Faculty Withdrawal Procedures

A faculty member has the option of withdrawing a student who has accumulated unofficial absences in excess of the number of times indicated in that faculty member's attendance policy in the course syllabus (see AR 2.3.2). A grade of W (withdrawn passing - not computed in GPA) or a grade of Y (withdrawn failing - 0 grade points per credit hour) may be assigned in accordance with the course syllabus.

Faculty members electing to withdraw students must record the withdrawal through the online system, including last date of attendance and withdrawal code. Students withdrawn for excessive absences may be reinstated only with the approval of the faculty member. Any impact on attendance that is protected by the exercise of students’ rights under ADA/504, Title IX, Title VI, or other recognized law or policy do not count as unexcused absences for the purposes of instructor-initiated withdrawals for lack of attendance/participation. Requests for withdrawals should be referred directly to the college of enrollment.

Also See:

2.2.10 Refund Policy

The Maricopa Community Colleges recognize that a student’s academic record may contain grades that are not reflective of more recently demonstrated academic success. Academic renewal (or academic forgiveness) is defined as the process by which a student’s previously recorded substandard credit coursework is excluded from the student’s cumulative grade point average. Through this regulation, a student may request that grades and credits for all courses in which they earned a grade of D, F, or Y are disregarded from the cumulative GPA. Courses earned with a grade of A, B, and C will not be excluded and will be calculated into the GPA and total credits completed. A maximum of 24 credits taken at Maricopa are eligible to be disregarded under this policy. The academic renewal policy may be used only once and cannot be revoked once approved.

To apply for academic renewal the student must:

1. Complete the academic renewal request form, attaching unofficial transcripts.
2. Meet with academic advisor to discuss the petition, previous coursework, and educational plan.
3. Submit the completed form to the Admissions and Records/Enrollment Services Office.

Upon approval, courses with a grade of D, F, or Y will be annotated on the student's official transcript as excluded from the calculation of their cumulative GPA by academic renewal. All courses will remain on the student’s permanent record to reflect an accurate academic history.

Academic renewal at one of the Maricopa Community Colleges does not guarantee that colleges outside the Maricopa Colleges will accept this action. Acceptance of the adjusted GPA (post academic renewal) is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Financial Aid/Veteran Benefits and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

The academic renewal policy can improve a student's GPA, while reducing their earned credit hours towards degree and certificate requirements, so students must be aware of all consequences before pursuing academic renewal. If interested in financial aid and/or veteran benefits, students are required to meet the financial aid standards of academic progress (SAP) as academic renewal does not replace or override the SAP requirement. Students should follow financial aid SAP appeal procedures outlined in Administrative Regulation 2.3.6 Withdrawal or section 2.9 Veteran Services satisfactory progress standards for regaining aid eligibility.

Additionally, students are encouraged to speak with the financial aid and the veteran services offices if they have questions about how fresh start may affect their aid and benefit eligibility. For More Information on SAP.

Also See:

2.3.4 Academic Standing, Warning, and Probation

2.3.6 Withdrawal (Medical/ Compassionate Withdrawal)

2.3.11 Academic Misconduct

More on Financial Aid

Honors Program

Each of the Maricopa Community Colleges has an honors program. Interested Students should contact the college Honors Coordinator for information about the program requirements and available scholarships, including the Chancellor's, Foundation's, President's Scholarships, and Honors Achievement Award.

President's Honor List

The President's Honor List for each college consists of all students who complete twelve (12) or more credit hours in residence in courses numbered 100 or higher in a given semester with a college semester grade point average of 3.75 or higher. This is a distinct acknowledgement of academic achievement not related to participation in the honors program.

Graduation With Honors

See General Graduation Requirements (AR 2.3.9). This is a distinct acknowledgement of academic achievement tied to graduation. This is a distinct acknowledgement of academic achievement not related to participation in the honors program.

Note: Also see Catalog Under Which a Student Graduates (AR 2.2.5)

Earning a Certificate or Degree

The Maricopa Community Colleges offers certificates and degrees in a variety of areas. Each certificate and degree has specified program requirements for graduation. See certificate and degree information for specific program requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of these requirements.

Candidates for graduation must satisfy the following requirements:

• Complete the minimum number of credits required for the certificate or degree and residency requirements as follows:
  • For Bachelor’s degrees, at least 30 credits applicable to the degree must be completed at the awarding college.
     
  • For Associate’s degrees, at least 15 credits applicable to the degree must be completed at the awarding college.
     
  • For certificates that are 15 or more credits, at least 6 credits applicable to the certificate must be completed at the awarding college.
     
  • For certificates that are 14 or fewer credits, at least a quarter of the credits applicable to the certificate must be completed at the awarding college.
     
• All new to Maricopa students who declare a degree, or intend to transfer to a college/university, will be required to successfully complete a first-year experience course (FYE101 or FYE103) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD college.
   
• Meet the general education, program requirements, and electives for the certificate or degree required. Requirements can be satisfied by MCCCD coursework, prior learning assessment, and transfer credit. Transfer credit from outside of MCCCD or from Maricopa Community Colleges not awarding the degree or certificate and prior learning assessment does not count as hours in residence for graduation requirements.
• Earn a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a four-point grading scale in the coursework (100-level and above) used to satisfy degree or certificate requirements completed in residence and accepted in transfer) Some awards may specify additional GPA requirements.
• Remove all deficiencies (e.g. incomplete grades, missing transcripts, national test results, etc.) on the record to use those courses toward program completion.
• Fulfill any financial obligations with the college.
• File a Petition for Graduation with the Admissions, Records, & Registration/Enrollment Services office with the exception of auto award programs as outlined further in this policy.
• The following information outlines the Maricopa Community College District standards for awarding certificates and degrees:
   
  • Students can only earn one bachelor’s degree of any type in the Maricopa Community Colleges
     
  • Students can only earn one Associate of Arts (AA) with or without emphasis in the Maricopa Community Colleges
     
  • Students can only earn one Associate of Arts, Elementary Education (AAEE) in the Maricopa Community Colleges
     
  • Students can only earn one Associate of Business (ABUS) either General Requirements (GR) or Special Requirements (SR) in the Maricopa Community Colleges
     
  • Students can only earn one Associate of Arts, Fine Arts (AAFA) with an emphasis in the Maricopa Community Colleges
     
  • Students can only earn one Associate of Science (AS) with or without emphasis in the Maricopa Community Colleges
     
  • Students cannot earn Academic Certificates (Ac), Certificates of Completion (CCL), Certificates of Competency (CCT), and Associate of Applied Science (AAS), and other certificate or degree types with the same academic plan code in the Maricopa Community Colleges
     
  • Students can only earn one type of AGEC (A, B, and S) with the same academic plan code in the Maricopa Community Colleges. 

Appeals to this institutional policy may be considered prior to the admission process and/or petition to graduate. See the Admissions, Records, & Registration/Enrollment Services office for a copy of the appeals process.

AutoAward Policy: MCCCD has an auto-award program that identifies some students who have completed a degree or certificate and never submitted a Petition for Graduation (e.g. Reverse Transfer). However, this program is limited and students should not depend on it for graduation. The Petition for Graduation should always be submitted when a student is intending to graduate.

Maricopa Nursing Program

For the Maricopa Nursing program, the cumulative GPA for awarding purposes is calculated based on courses required for the degree or certificate taken at any Maricopa campus and includes pre-requisites, co-requisites, and nursing blocks. Students must apply for graduation from the college where they have successfully completed Block 4 of the Associate in Applied Science in Nursing.

Graduation with Honors

All courses used to fulfill graduation and degree requirements, including courses from other institutions are used in the grade point average calculation (GPA) at graduation. Degree-seeking students who have distinguished themselves with GPAs 3.50 and higher are recognized with the following graduation honors:

• 3.50 to 3.69 graduation “with distinction”
• 3.70 to 3.89 graduation “with high distinction” 3.90 to 4.0 graduation “with highest distinction”

Certificate programs are not eligible for institutional honors.

An official student transcript is a permanent academic record issued by the College Registrar.  It displays all courses taken for credit within the Maricopa Community College District and includes all grades received.  Unlike an unofficial transcript, it is signed and dated by the College Registrar and displays the college seal of the Maricopa College issuing the official transcript.

The transcript is issued upon written request only. Those students who want to transfer to other institutions of higher education, including other Maricopa Community Colleges, must request their transcript be sent from the Admissions and Records Office/Office of Student Enrollment Services. However, transcripts may be shared within the Maricopa Community College District without the written request of the student in compliance with FERPA.

Official transcripts will not be issued to students having outstanding debts to any of the Maricopa Community Colleges. The release of transcripts is governed by the guidance of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (see Records Policy in the Student Rights and Responsibilities section of this manual). There is no charge for unofficial transcripts, or for official transcripts sent between Maricopa Community Colleges. See the Tuition and Fee Schedule for charges for other official transcripts.

1. Definitions 
   
   1. ​Academic Misconduct - includes any conduct associated with the classroom, laboratory, or clinical learning process that is inconsistent with the published course competencies/objectives and/or academic standards for the course, program, department, or institution. Examples of academic misconduct include, but are not limited to: (a) cheating and plagiarism (including any assistance or collusion in such activities, or requests or offers to do so); (b) excessive absences; (c) use of abusive or profane language; and (d) disruptive behavior.
   2. Cheating is any form of dishonesty in an academic exercise. It includes, but is not limited to, (a) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, examinations, or any other form of assessment whether or not the items are graded; (b) dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the faculty member in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; (c) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to or administered by the college or a member of the college faculty or staff; and (d) fabrication of data, facts, or information.
   3. Plagiarism is a form of cheating in which a student falsely represents another person’s work as his or her own – it includes, but is not limited to: (a) the use of paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment; (b) unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials; and (c) information gathered from the internet and not properly identified.
       
2. Academic Consequences 
   Any student found by a faculty member to have committed academic misconduct may be subject to the following academic consequences, based on the faculty member’s judgment of the student’s academic performance
   Warning - A notice in writing to the student that the student has violated the academic standards as defined in 1.A.
   Grade Adjustment - Lowering of a grade on a test, assignment, or course.
   Discretionary assignments - Additional academic assignments determined by the faculty member.
   Course Failure - Failure of a student from a course where academic misconduct occurs.
    
3. Disciplinary Sanctions 
   A faculty member may remove a student from one (1) class meeting for disciplinary reasons. For involuntary removal from more than one (1) class period, the faculty member should invoke the procedures outlined in AR 2.5.2. 
   
   If the misconduct is sufficiently serious to warrant course failure, and if either
   (a) the failure results in a student being removed from an instructional program or
   (b) the student refuses to accept responsibility for the misconduct and its academic consequences, the faculty member will, in addition to awarding the course grade, consult the department chair and the vice president of academic affairs as to whether institutional sanctions set forth below should be sought under AR 2.5. Regardless whether the student has accepted responsibility for academic consequences, in all cases of academic misconduct the faculty member may make recommendations for sanctions and may file a written complaint of misconduct. The vice president of academic affairs will serve as the student conduct administrator in all academic misconduct cases, and will follow the procedure established in AR 2.5.2 to evaluate whether disciplinary sanctions are warranted. College probation, suspension, or expulsion will be imposed only by the vice president of academic affairs or designee, and only after the student has received the procedural rights provided in AR 2.5.2.
   
   1. Disciplinary Probation - Disciplinary probation is for a designated period of time and includes the probability of more severe sanctions if the student commits additional acts of academic misconduct.
   2. College Suspension - Separation of the student from the college for a definite period of time, after which the student is eligible to return. Conditions for readmission may be specified. (A suspension from one Maricopa Community College will apply to all other colleges/centers in the District.)
   3. College Expulsion - Permanent separation of the student from the college. (Expulsion from one Maricopa Community College will apply to all colleges/centers in the District.)
       
4. Appeal of Sanctions and Consequences for Academic Misconduct. 
    
   Students can appeal academic consequences by following the instructional grievance process. (AR 2.3.5; Appendix S-6) Students may appeal disciplinary sanctions as provided in AR 2.5.2. If the student appeals through both processes, the instructional grievance process will be suspended until a final decision is reached in the student discipline procedure. In all cases in which financial aid has been adversely affected by academic consequences or disciplinary sanctions that are the subject of ongoing hearing or appeal proceedings, the student may appeal the financial aid determination on the grounds that a final decision has not been made. In such an event, a final decision on financial aid will not be made until after the final decision on consequences and/or sanctions.

A student who feels that he or she has been treated unfairly or unjustly by any employee with regard to a non-instructional process such as a student or administrative services has the right to file a formal and written complaint according to the approved procedures. See Appendix S-8 

Course substitutions should only be made in a consistent and transparent manner, according to Administrative Regulation 2.2.4 (Transfer Credit and Prior Learning Assessment Policy), academic policies, and the following guidelines: 

Students may seek to have course(s) requirements (including required courses, restricted electives, and prescribed general education requirements) in their declared bachelor's, associate in applied science or certificate program substituted. 

Because a substituted course may not be accepted by a transfer institution or meet transfer degree requirements, no course substitutions are allowed in any of the required course areas of the associate in arts or associate in science degrees with emphasis, Associate In Business - Gr, Associate Of Business - Sr, Associate In Arts, Elementary Education, or the Associate In Arts, Fine Arts. 

The course being used as a substitution must meet the content and/or spirit of the substituted course in the student’s pathway plan (or for date status petitions by reason of disability). If the pathway course satisfies an Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC-A, B, or S) requirement, the course substitution must meet that same requirement. Considerations for substitutions should also include impact to satisfying transfer pathway, industry requirements. Substituted courses should provide the skills and knowledge specified by the pathway learning outcomes. 

Course substitutions should not be processed for students who have earned fewer than 15 credits (at Maricopa or elsewhere). 

To pursue a course substitution, students must obtain a course substitution petition from the Admissions and Records office or Academic Advisor. Substitutions must be approved by the Program Department Chair, Program Division Chair, Academic/Occupational Program Director, or designee and the appropriate Instructional Dean. The Department Chair, Division Chair, or Academic/Occupational Program Director will work with other departments as needed for courses outside of the discipline. 

If the credits of a substituted course are fewer than the original requirement, the missing credit hours are not granted by a substitution. Students must complete the minimum credit hours required by the award. 

Students are encouraged to seek substitutions prior to enrollment in an intended substitute course. Requests for course substitutions and supporting documentation should be submitted as soon as possible when transcripts are reviewed. For assistance, students should meet with an Academic Advisor specific to the declared transfer emphasis. Students seeking Title IV financial aid and veteran benefits for a course substitution must have the substitution approved and processed prior to registering for the substitute course. 

See also, Administrative Regulation 3.5 Course Substitution for Students With Documented Disabilities.