Common Pages—Academic Year 2024-2025
2024-2025 (PDF)(Red Line PDF) 6/17/2024
Summary of Changes
Other Admission Information (AR 2.2.3)
The Biden-Harris Administration released final rules to significantly strengthen monitoring and oversight of institutions of higher education and strengthen consumer protection for student borrowers. These federal regulations allow the Department of Education to better protect taxpayers from the negative effects of sudden college closures, restrict colleges from withholding course credits paid for with federal money from students’ transcripts, and require colleges to clearly communicate to students how much financial aid they will receive—a common source of confusion and error. The revisions to AR 2.2.3 are compliance measures responsive to the federal rule changes (AMENDED through Direct Approval by the Chancellor, June 17, 2024).
Transfer Credit and Prior Learning Assessment (AR 2.2.4)
Documented comments, questions, and requests from various stakeholders, including Admissions and Records and Advisement Directors and staff prompted changes to the regulation. The changes provide greater clarity and direction to support a more consistent interpretation across the District (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
Catalog Under Which a Student Graduates (AR 2.2.5)
There has been consistent student and staff misunderstanding about how catalog year is determined. The changes clarify what the catalog is, and how it is determined, as well as provide tangible examples (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
Student Assessment and Course Placement (AR 2.2.7)
The Common Pages did not include a definition of remedial coursework. Based on the federal guidelines related to financial aid eligibility for remedial coursework, the Developmental Education Council (with input from Directors of Admissions and Records and Financial Aid Managers) created a definition for inclusion in AR 2.2.7. This definition will be used by relevant Instructional Councils (ICs) to identify remedial coursework within the subjects under their purview. This remedial course list will be used by financial aid, enrollment services, academic advising, and other student support areas to provide guidance to students in course selection and in awarding financial aid. In addition, the 2020 Pandemic Response Revised Student Assessment and Placement is removed as the ICs and DEC have since reviewed these practices and have incorporated the content into the placement chart and the changes to AR 2.2.7 (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
Tuition and Fees (AR 2.2.9)
The Course Fees Task Force was established at the request of the Chancellor to bring together stakeholders from all levels of the system to: examine policies and practices related to course fees and refunds, make recommendations for change that will increase transparency for students related to course fees, improve consistency across colleges with regard to fees, and highlight areas where training would be beneficial for college curriculum offices and those who submit course fees. One of the final recommendations of this task force was to update the tuition and fee regulation to clarify how course fees are/are not refunded and any process for appeal (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
Refund Policy (AR 2.2.10)
The Course Fees Task Force was established at the request of the Chancellor to bring together stakeholders from all levels of the system to: examine policies and practices related to course fees and refunds, make recommendations for change that will increase transparency for students related to course fees, improve consistency across colleges with regard to fees, and highlight areas where training would be beneficial for college curriculum offices and those who submit course fees. One of the final recommendations of this task force was to update the refund regulation to clarify how course fees are/are not refunded and any process for appeal (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
University Transfer (AR 2.2.13)
An addition of a transfer disclaimer to include prior learning assessment (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
Grading (AR 2.3.3)
GPA calculation and where these are located is a common point of confusion for both students and staff. During a town hall meeting presenting Common Pages changes, a request was made to include how GPA is calculated in MCCCD in the regulations to support both students and staff. There is no change in the manner in which these calculations are performed. This is just a documentation of current practice (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
Academic Standing, Warning, and Probation (AR 2.3.4)
Changes were made to the 2023-24 regulation that is not operational in the system as written and, if interpreted literally, would preclude a college from making local business process determinations to review appeals in a timely manner. At the request of DARS, a work team was developed to make business process recommendations to operationalize the regulation. The working team recommended changes to ensure the language of the regulation matches the business processes (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
Withdrawal (AR 2.3.6)
Revision to the regulation to address the concern that the student transcript would contain sensitive information about the reason for the medical withdrawal. The revision clarifies the maintenance of confidentiality (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
Academic Renewal ("Academic Forgiveness") (AR 2.3.7)
A revision to the regulation language in alignment with the previous cycle changes in 2023-24 (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
General Graduation Requirements (AR 2.3.9)
Series of changes to address issues of misunderstanding and to support students in a variety of ways toward timely completion (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
Transcripts for Transfer (AR 2.3.10)
The Biden-Harris Administration released final rules to significantly strengthen monitoring and oversight of institutions of higher education and strengthen consumer protection for student borrowers. These federal regulations allow the Department of Education to better protect taxpayers from the negative effects of sudden college closures, restrict colleges from withholding course credits paid for with federal money from students’ transcripts, and require colleges to clearly communicate to students how much financial aid they will receive—a common source of confusion and error. The revisions to AR 2.3.10 are compliance measures responsive to the federal rule changes (AMENDED through Direct Approval by the Chancellor, June 17, 2024).
Academic Misconduct (AR 2.3.11)
In Spring 2023, a District wide Artificial Intelligence (AI) task force formed to review current AI policies and provide guidance for future use. In an effort to bring Common Pages and Administrative Regulations up to date and create more uniform, One Maricopa policy, the decision was made to add AI specific language to Academic Misconduct. The language drafted and approved by the District AI task force is the model for the language used in the changes. AI specific language was added and minor, non-substantive changes were made. No changes were made to the sanctions and procedures section (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
Student Records (AR 2.5.3)
The Biden-Harris Administration released final rules to significantly strengthen monitoring and oversight of institutions of higher education and strengthen consumer protection for student borrowers. These federal regulations allow the Department of Education to better protect taxpayers from the negative effects of sudden college closures, restrict colleges from withholding course credits paid for with federal money from students’ transcripts, and require colleges to clearly communicate to students how much financial aid they will receive—a common source of confusion and error. The revisions to AR 2.5.3 are compliance measures responsive to the federal rule changes (AMENDED through Direct Approval by the Chancellor, June 17, 2024).
Veteran Services (AR 2.9)
During EMCC's annual catalog submission to the State Approving Agency (SAA) for the Department of Veteran Affairs' (VA) Educational Benefit programs, the VA returned the EMCC catalog for a Common Pages clarification. According to 38 CFR 3679(e), we are required to provide 90 days of penalty free enrollment protections for any VA Education Benefits student using Chapter 33, 31, 30, 1606, or 35. They specify “covered individuals” and then specifically mention Chapter 33, 31, and 35. VA’s definition of covered individuals refers to any VA Education Benefits student under Chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, or 1606. The Common Pages did not completely define all of the chapters that are considered covered individuals, so the additional chapters were added in order to be in compliance with the VA. Section 1018 of the VA’s School Certifying Official Handbook defines covered individuals as “a student using benefits under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, U.S.C., or chapter 1606.” In addition, 38 CFR 3679(e) specifies required protections and who qualifies for them (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, June 4, 2024).
Distribution of Course Syllabus (AR 3.6)
This change is in response to the work of the Course Fees Task Force regarding the requirement to include a statement about course fees in the syllabus. Please note this regulation does not presently appear in the Common Pages document but does appear in the INSTRUCTION section of the Administrative Regulations (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation approval process, June 4 2024).
Compassionate Withdrawal Process (Appendix S-20)
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.). Many staff, especially in Admissions and Records (Student Affairs) have reported confusion regarding how to enact this current policy. In Fall 2023, a Mental Health Implementation Work Team was convened to implement Mental Health Task Force recommendations approved by the Chancellor. Enacting a compassionate withdrawal process was one of the seven total recommendations made (AMENDED through the Administrative Regulation Approval Process, July 2, 2024).