Ocean County College

2009-2010 Student Handbook

Academic Information and Regulations

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Academic Departments

Business and Economic Studies
Instructional Building
Wendy R. Giarratana, Administrative Assistant
732.255.0390

Computer Studies
Technology Building
Diane DeFillipo, Administrative Assistant
732.255.0400 ext. 2957

English and Literature
Russell Building
Maria Galindo, Administrative Assistant
732.255.0400 ext. 2193

Health and Human Performance
Health & Physical Education Center
Wanda Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant
732.255.0400 ext. 2188

Health Sciences, Nursing, and Allied Health
Health Sciences Building
Linda Wilson, Administrative Assistant
732.255.0400 ext. 2223

Humanities, Fine Arts, and Media Studies
Arts and Community Center
Karin Smith, Administrative Assistant
732.255.0400 ext. 2097

Mathematics
Russell Building
Linda Atanasio, Administrative Assistant
732.255.0400 ext. 2185
Science and Engineering Studies
Hiering Building
Kathleen Hamilton, Administrative Assistant
732.255.0400 ext. 2178
Social Science, Education and Public Service
Instructional Building
Tracey Fatigante, Administrative Assistant
732.255.0400 ext. 2210

Academic Adjustments Any student with an identified disability is invited to make contact with Disability Services in the center for Academic Services to discuss issues that may relate to equal access to their educational program.

Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is a matter of deep concern to everyone connected with OCC. A fundamental claim of any institution of higher learning is its right to Academic Freedom, both to teach and to learn. A necessary precondition of academic freedom is the honesty of each individual member of the college community. Each member of the faculty and each student bears a fundamental responsibility for maintaining the condition of freedom through the exercise of integrity. Therefore, any breach of academic honesty requires a clear and concise policy to guide faculty members and students through the adjudication of this most serious offense.

Cheating and Plagiarism Policy:

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cribbing and cheating on examinations, quizzes, class projects or papers. Any student aiding another student in any form of dishonesty is considered equally guilty.
Faculty members shall make clear to their students at the beginning of each course the importance of complete honesty in all academic work and they should clearly define plagiarism. Additionally, faculty members shall clarify the distinction between major and minor works as each relates to the course and this policy. Finally, faculty members should take every reasonable precaution to prevent situations where cheating and plagiarism may occur.
Penalties for plagiarism and cheating are as follows: (See Procedure #5180 for implementation.)
a. In all cases, the normal academic penalty assigned by the faculty members will be zero grades.
b. For an offense on a minor work (homework, quizzes, etc), the Department Dean will report the offense to the Dean of Special Services. This report will remain on file until such time as the student graduates. A second minor offense will result in penalties stipulated in Item 3c.

c. For an offense on a major work (term paper, midterm examination, final examination), the Department Dean will report the offense to the Dean of Special Services. The Department Dean will setup a committee on Plagiarism for judgment. The penalty to be assigned by the Committee for adjudged academic dishonesty on a major work will be:
1. Dismissal from the course in question for the remainder of the semester with the applicable grade of F or W to be assigned by the Instructor, or:
2. Suspension from the college for a period of time to be determined by the Committee or the Dean of Special Services.
d. In all cases students may either request or waive their rights to a hearing. In cases involving a first offense on a minor work (b, above), where a hearing is requested, the Dean of Special Services will reach a decision concerning the appeal. In cases involving a second offense or an offense on a major work (c, above) where a hearing is waived, the Dean of Special Services will determine the penalty, (C1 or 2, above) after reviewing the case. In those cases where the Dean of Special Services imposes a sanction, the student shall have the right to appeal such a decision to the Committee. During such an appeal all sanctions imposed by the Dean of Special Services will be held in abeyance.

Academic Restriction/Suspension
Developmental Probation
Students who fail to receive a grade of C or better in a developmental Mathematics course may be placed on developmental probation.

1. Full-time students placed on developmental probation will be limited to 12 credits (four courses) and must re-enroll immediately in the developmental Mathematics course.

2. Part-time students placed on developmental probation must include the developmental Mathematics course as part of their course load in the next semester in which they enroll.

Developmental Restriction
Students failing to attain a grade of C or better in the developmental reading (ENGL 010 or ENGL 011) or developmental writing (ENGL 020 or ENGL 021) courses will be placed on developmental restriction. Students placed on developmental restriction are limited to a maximum credit load of 6 semester hours. The credit load must include the needed developmental course(s).


Developmental Suspension
Students failing to attain a grade of C or better in their second attempt of a developmental course will be placed on developmental suspension and will not be permitted to register for any credits for a one-year period. Students placed on developmental suspension will be encouraged to seek additional help from individuals or agencies outside the institution, such as private tutors or the adult high schools, before applying for readmission. After the one-year suspension period, readmission will be permitted if the student can pass a reentry exam. Upon readmission, the student must immediately re-enroll in the failed developmental course(s).

Students wishing to appeal any of the preceding sanctions must put it in writing to the Academic Standards Committee.

Academic Sanctions for Unsatisfactory Academic Standards/Progress:
The academic sanctions for failing to maintain satisfactory academic standards/progress may include probation, special probation, academic restriction and academic suspension. These sanctions will be imposed on students who either fail to earn sufficient grade points or who continue to withdraw excessively from classes. More specifically any student who has completed 12 or more semester hours with a grade point average below 2.00 ( C average) will have an academic sanction for grade point deficiency imposed. In addition, any student whose grade point average is below 2.00 and who also has failed to earn at least 50% of all credits registered for on the official day of counting student enrollment for two or more consecutive semesters during which he/she has attempted at least 6 credits will have an academic sanction imposed in accordance as previously detailed under Academic Restriction/Suspension .

Academic Warning Notices:
Instructors have the option of submitting a notice of unsatisfactory progress to students in their classes at any time during the semester in order to advise the student of his/her academic standing in the class.

A.D.A. (Americans with Disabilities Act):
See related issues under Academic Adjustments, and Disabilities.

Attendance
Attendance at all classes and appointments is expected. Absences affect the student's own academic achievement and detract from the value of the class for the instructor and for other students. The student should use mature judgment and consult with the instructor concerning unavoidable absences from class. Students are responsible for all work missed. At the beginning of the course, the instructor will state the course's attendance policy. A student may withdraw on an official withdrawal form without academic penalty at any time up to mid-course. After mid-course, it is the instructor's responsibility to assign the appropriate grade of W or F to a student whose absences exceed the limit. The following procedures are in effect for classes, laboratories, seminars and/or other instructional modes:: 1. The limit of absences set by each individual instructor cannot be less than ten percent (10%) of the regularly scheduled class meetings per semester. At the beginning of the course, the instructor will state the course's attendance policy.

2. When a student's absences have reached the limit set by the instructor, the instructor may issue a warning statement to the student. After any additional absences, whether or not a warning statement has been sent, the instructor may, through the Vice President of Academic Affairs Office:
a. Prior to and including mid-course, assign a grade of W b. After mid-course, assign the appropriate grade of W or F .
In either case, the instructor will request the Vice President of Academic Affairs to administratively withdraw the student from the course.

Absences for Religious Holidays:
Students who have a conflict between their class and bona fide religious observance should consult with their instructors prior to observance of the religious holiday.

Audit
A student may elect to audit a course at the time of registration or during the drop/add period. This may not be declared after the first week of classes. A grade of R will be assigned for this course and the normal tuition rate will apply. The necessary forms may be obtained at the Office of Registration and Records and must be presented at the time of registration.

College Placement Test
All students who have made application to Ocean County College must take the Accuplacer, a computer college placement test.: 1. Any student wishing to be a full-time student, must take the Accuplacer test before registering for the first semester.

2. Any part-time student must take the Accuplacer before registering for an English or Mathematics course.

3. Part-time students will be allowed to take up to eleven credits in subjects other than English or Mathematics before the Accuplacer must be taken.

4. Any student may challenge the results of the Accuplacer test by taking the test one additional time. Challenge testing is not permitted once the student has enrolled in the developmental class.

5. Accuplacer scores are considered valid for a period of three years.
Exemptions: SAT Scores: 1. Any student scoring 500 or better on Verbal portion of the SAT examination, will receive an exemption from taking the English portion of the Accuplacer test.

2. Any student scoring 500 or better on Mathematics portion of the SAT examination, will receive an exemption from taking the Mathematics portion of the Accuplacer test.

3. Students, who wish to be exempted from the Accuplacer test because of a qualifying SAT score, must provide the Testing Center with a copy of their SAT Scores before any exemption is made.
Other Exemptions: Coursework at other Colleges: 1. Students who provide proof of a completed college degree (Associates degree or higher) may provide documentation of that degree to the Testing Center for an exemption from the Accuplacer test.

2. Students, who have successfully completed a college level English or a college level Mathematics course at another college, may provide a transcript to the Testing Center for an exemption from the Accuplacer test in the appropriate subject area.

Note: Students with disabilities need an official statement documenting their eligibility for special testing arrangements. These students are encouraged to contact the Center for Academic Services at 255-0456 for more information.

Cheating
See Academic Honesty.

Credit by Examination:
Credit from non-accredited institutions and/or credit for work experience may be granted to fully matriculated students for appropriate courses on the basis of examination with approval of the Department Dean and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Credit by exam is considered transfer credit . A fee will be assessed for each examination. Request forms are available in the Office of Admissions and Records. (Note: Transfer/Credit by Exam cannot exceed 30/32 credit maximum)

Disabilities:
The Disability Services of the Center for Academic Services will ensure programmatic access to students with disabilities. A student must self identify in order to be assessed for services. Students have the right of confidentiality whether or not they choose to accept services that may be offered from the college.

Faculty Advisor

All full-time students should be assigned a faculty advisor. The faculty advisor must approve and sign registration forms.

Grading System:

Grade	Standard	Quality Points
A	Excellent	4.0
B+	Very Good	3.5
B	Good	3.0
C+	Above Average	2.5
C	Average	2.0
D	Passing - Below Average	1.0
F	Failure	0.0
T	Transfer	0.0
I	Incomplete	0.0
R	Registered for Audit	0.0
W	Withdrawn	0.0
P	Pass	0.0
*P	Pass (with credit)	0.0
NC	No Credit	0.0

Semester hours of credit in which a grade of A, B+, B, C+, C, D or F has been received are defined as attempted semester hours. These grades count as attempted hours in computing the cumulative grade point average.

Semester hours of credit in which a grade of A, B+, B, C+, C, D or *P has been received are defined as earned semester hours. Quality points are earned for A, B+, B, C+, C, or D grades and thus affect the cumulative grade point average.

Grades of R, T, NC, or W are neither earned nor attempted. These do not affect the cumulative grade point average.

The grade of I (incomplete) may be awarded by an instructor if he/she approves a request received from the student no later than the day of the final examination. A valid reason for the request must be offered. Approval of the request will allow 30 days from the beginning of the next regular semester for the work to be completed. If the student is enrolled in a course for which the I grade course is a pre-requisite however, the work for the incomplete course must be made up by the fifth day of the next regular semester or the student must withdraw from the higher level course. Extensions in both cases may be granted by the instructor with the consent of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. When the work is completed, the permanent grade will be recorded by the instructor and a corrected grade report will be prepared. An incomplete grade will automatically convert to the grade of F if the work is not completed by the end of 30 days into the next regular semester.

A student may only repeat a course in which a grade of D or F was received. Only the repeat grade, even if it is lower, will be applied to the cumulative grade point average and toward degree credits. This grade will be marked Repeat. The former grade will remain on the student's permanent record and will be included on all transcripts but will not be applied to the cumulative grade point average or degree credits.

Graduation Requirements
1. To qualify as a candidate for an Associate in Arts, Associate: in Science or an Associate in Applied Science degree, a student must have:; a. Earned a minimum of 64 credit hours (or as otherwise specified for certain curricula) of non-developmental credit which includes all courses required by the student' s curriculum of choice, and accrued sufficient grade points for a cumulative grade point average of 2.000 (average grade of C).

b. The following are minimum general education requirements:
2. a. As long as the maximum allowable of 32 transfer credit: hours is not exceeded, a student who has matriculated at another accredited institution may transfer back to Ocean County College a maximum of 9 credit hours for the purpose of completing his/her degree requirements. Under circumstances totally beyond the control of the student concerned, the maximum allowable may be exceeded by petitioning the Academic Standards Committee which could approve up to 24 credit hours to be transferred back to meet degree requirements.

b. Service personnel on active duty and their dependents must meet all College degree requirements with the following exceptions:

(1)A minimum of 24 semester hours of the 64 required must be earned through attendance of classes at Ocean County College.

(2)These 24 semester hours may be earned at any time during the student's candidacy for a degree.
3. Candidates must file an application for graduation on a form: provided by the Registrar not later than March 1st of the year in which they expect to graduate.

4. Candidates are not required to be present at the scheduled: commencement ceremony.
5. A candidate whose final cumulative grade point average is: 3.50 or higher will be graduated with honors based on the following:; 3.50 - 3.79 cum laude (with honors)
3.80 - 3.89 magna cum laude (with high honors)
3.90 - 4.00 summa cum laude (with highest honors)
A student graduating with honors will receive an emblem on the diploma indicating the honors category. The appropriate honors distinction shall also be shown on the student' s official college transcript. 6. Normally only one degree will be conferred upon a student: at the annual commencement. Exceptions must be approved by the Academic Standards Committee.

7. All specific courses required for the second degree must be: completed without repeating any previous courses in which credit was earned. Neither will any courses judged to be at a lower academic level than those previously completed be used toward the second degree.

8. No less than 18 additional credit hours, including those: required, must be earned beyond the number established for the initial degree.

9. The prescribed procedure will be followed in filing an: application for a second degree.

10. Additional degrees beyond the second normally will not be: granted. Exceptions must be approved by the Academic Standards Committee.

Pass/No Credit Grading:
Full-time students who have completed the freshman year may register for one elective course outside their major field on a Pass basis each semester beginning with the second year. A part-time student who has earned a minimum of 28 semester hours of credit may register on a Pass/No Credit basis for one elective course during any succeeding semester for a maximum of three courses. Students so registered are expected to complete all course requirements.
The grade of P will be recorded for successful completion of each course with semester hours of credit applied toward a degree. A grade of NC (no credit) will be used to indicate unsuccessful completion of the course and will appear on the permanent record but will not affect the grade point average.

Plagiarism:
See Academic Honesty.
President's Honors List:
The President's Honors List is official recognition by the faculty of outstanding academic achievement. A student who has completed a minimum of twelve credits with no grade lower than C in a given semester and has achieved a semester grade point average of 3.50 or better qualifies for this honor. The President' s Honors List is compiled at the end of each semester, including the summer sessions. Part-time students (taking less than 12 credits in a given semester) are eligible for this honor at the completion of sixteen, thirty-two, forty-eight and sixty-four credit hours respectively, having a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better.
Religious Holidays:
See Attendance.
Research Paper Policy:
Unless a particular documentation format or another text is prescribed by the instructor involved, the most current edition of Rules for Writers, by Diana Hacker, shall serve as the general guide and standard for the entire college in all areas related to research paper form. Information about research and source documentation is also available on the OCC Library website. Questions regarding research methods should be directed to your instructor for clarification.

Suspension
See Academic Restriction/Suspension.
Withdrawal from Class:

Withdrawal from College
A total withdrawal by a full-time student after the tenth day of classes should be discussed with a counselor. The withdrawal form must be signed by each instructor and returned to the Office of Admissions and Records. The official date of withdrawal will be the date of last attendance in each class the student attended. Students may receive a W for withdrawals submitted before the Withdrawal Deadline Date. If a student stops attending or is administratively withdrawn after this date, an “F” will be assigned.: Learn more about OCC's Withdrawal policy >>