GRADE POINT AVERAGE
A grade point is the numerical value assigned
to the letter grade you receive for a course.
A= 4, B= 3 C= 2, D= 1, F= 0. Your grade point
average (GPA) is used to determine your
academic standing.
HEALTH FEE
The health fee, paid at the time of registration,
provides secondary student accident insurance
for injuries incurred in class-related activities.
It also allows currently registered students
to receive free services at the once a week
health clinic held on campus and also provides
personal counseling. The health fee is not
refundable after the fist day of classes.
INCOMPLETE GRADE
Incomplete academic work for unforeseeable
emergency and justifiable reasons at the end of
the term may result in an “I” symbol on a student’s
transcript. For more information on Incomplete
Contracts, please refer to the Academic
Regulation section of the College catalog.
IP (IN PROGRESS)
This IP symbol shall be used to denote that
the class extends beyond the normal end of
an academic term. It indicates that work is in
progress, but that assignment of a substantive
grade must await its completion.
LOAD
The term “load” describes the amount of
college work you undertake each semester.
Total load includes the unit load plus the
study load. To complete an Associate Degree
program in two years, you will need to carry
an average unit load of 15 units per semester.
Study load is the number of hours of study
required to complete the units undertaken. A
general rule is that one unit equals one hour
of class attendance plus two-to-three hours of
additional study per week. If you carry a 15-unit
load, you will need approximately 45 hours per
week to complete coursework successfully.
MAJOR (COURSE OF STUDY)
Students seeking a degree, certificate, or
transfer must declare a major. A major is an
educational objective in a specific course of
study such as Business or History.
ORIENTATION
Orientation introduces new students to the
campus, its facilities, staff, programs, and
student support services. It is offered at the
beginning of each registration period during the
semester. Orientation services are provided
in SOAR (Siskiyous Orientation, Advising and
Registration) sessions and Guidance classes.
Online orientation is provided for distance
students – contact Counseling and Student
Support Programs Office for information.
PASS/NO NO PASS (P/NP)
The pass/no pass (formerly credit/no credit)
grading option gives you the opportunity to
take a course and earn credit without having
an A-F letter grade on your transcript. If the
course is in your major or minor, do not use this
option. Refer to the COS catalog for additional
information.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is an act of theft committed by
a person who is stealing someone else’s
intellectual property. Plagiarism is an act of
dishonesty. Refer to “Plagiarism” in the table of
contents of this handbook for more information.
PREREQUISITE
A prerequisite is a requirement you must meet
before enrolling in a particular course (usually
completing a more basic course or obtaining a
minimum score on an assessment test). Course
prerequisites are listed in the College Catalog
and in the online Schedule of Classes.
PREREQUISITE CLEARANCE
If a student has satisfied the required
prerequisite at another college and if his/
her transcript or assessment score has not
been entered into the registration system, the
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