Page 143 - Mesa Community College 2020-2021 Student Handbook

higher education. Student financial assistance shall be awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need except where funds are specified for recognition of special talents and achievements. Additional procedural information on financial assistance is available in Appendix S-5.
2.2.12 Vaccinations (As Required By 20 USC §1092(a)(1)(V))
The Maricopa County Community Colleges District does not require that students receive vaccinations prior to enrollment. Certain professional or occupational programs do require particular vaccinations for participation in those programs. More information about these programs can be found on college websites. 2.3.1 Academic Load
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 Appendix S-7 for Withdrawal Procedures).
2.3.2 Attendance
• Only persons who are registered for a class at any of the Maricopa County 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
Appendix S-7 for Withdrawal Procedures.
1. Official Absences
A. Official absences are those that occur when students are involved in an official activity of the college, B. 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 makeup work. If
prior arrangements have been made, the student will not be penalized.
C. 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.
D. 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
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