Academic Policies

Attendance-Withdrawal Policy

Attendance

Attendance in class is a key factor of success in college. The following procedure applies to regular academic and career/technical credit programs, including online courses. It does not apply to non-credit or continuing education activities. Some programs in nursing and allied health-career fields or non-credit programs require more stringent attendance policies which will be followed and will be stated in the departmental regulations for the program of study.

The primary method by which the College communicates with its credit students concerning attendance is the students’ College-issued email account.  All credit students are responsible for activating their College email account within three (3) days of registering for classes for the first time and for checking it frequently (at least three times each week) when classes are in session. 

All instructors will take roll at each class meeting and will maintain an attendance record for each student.  Attendance will be recorded beginning the first day of the class or the first day the student registers for the class, whichever is later. The student is responsible for all assigned work, including work which occurred prior to the student’s enrollment in the class. Students must attend 80% of the meetings for each course in order to receive credit for a course.  Online courses will require completion of content-related assignments to be considered present in a course.  Logging in to the course will not count toward attendance.  Attendance in online courses is counted weekly.  All Instructors will make certain that each student is aware of all College policies and procedures concerning attendance, excessive absence notification, and withdrawal. The student is responsible for reading all related requirements in this Catalog and the Student Handbook.

Students should be aware that beginning with Fall 2011, class attendance will be used as one factor in determining the release of the balance of financial aid.

Tardies

Failure to report to class at the beginning of the class period equals a tardy. Three tardies equal one unexcused absence. Students who miss more than fifteen (15) minutes of a class will be marked absent. A student who leaves the classroom without the instructor’s permission will be marked absent.

Excused Absences

HCC recognizes two types of excused absences: those for personal emergencies, and those for official school activities. The student is allowed to make up the work missed during excused absences.

Student absences may be excused by the instructor for personal emergencies such as illness, death in the student’s immediate family, or other valid unavoidable circumstances. It is the responsibility of the student to inform all instructors when absences are due to personal emergency. Instructors may require written documentation, such as verification of illness on a physician’s letterhead.

Official absences are those resulting from student participation in important activities officially sponsored by the College. Students will be provided with an Official Absence Notice by the proper College official. It is the responsibility of the student to provide the instructor with the Verification of Official Absence form or letter. A student will be allowed to make up the class or laboratory work that was missed during an official absence.

Unexcused Absences

All absences not due to personal emergency or official school activities are unexcused. Students who are absent from a final exam without the approval of the instructor will receive a course grade of “F”.

Excessive Unexcused Absences

NOTICE OF ABSENCES (NOA) must be sent when the student has accumulated excessive unexcused absences as defined below. All Excessive Absence Notices (on-campus classes, online classes and college life/study hall classes) will be sent to the student’s College-issued email via the online attendance system. Excessive unexcused absences are defined as follows:

1. Fall and spring semesters - day or evening class, after the number of times that the class meets in one week plus one, based on a full semester length class.
2. Distance Learning classes* - sixteen (16) week terms receive a NOA at two (2) absences and eight (8) week terms receive a NOA at one (1) absence.
3. Four (4) week term - after two (2) absences.  Eight (8) week term - after four (4) absences.
4. Summer session - evening classes, after two (2) absences.
5. Career classes - full fall and spring semesters - three (3) days of absences. Four week term - after two (2) days of absences. Eight week term - after three (3) days of absences.

*Online courses require completion of content-related assignments to be considered present in a course.  Logging into a course will not count toward attendance.  Attendance in online courses is taken weekly. 

Notice of Absence Procedure

All instructors will take roll at each class meeting and will maintain an attendance record for each student. Attendance will be recorded beginning the first day of the class or the first day the student registers for the class, whichever is later. All Instructors will make certain that each student is aware of all College policies and procedures concerning attendance, excessive absence notification, and withdrawal and will stress the student’s responsibility for reading all related requirements in the College Catalog and the Student Handbook.

• A NOTICE OF ABSENCE may be sent at any time the instructor becomes concerned about a student’s attendance. 
• A NOTICE OF ABSENCE must be sent to the student by the instructor when the student has accumulated the number of unexcused absences outlined above.
• A NOTICE OF ABSENCE requires the student to contact the instructor immediately to discuss the following options:

If the student fails to contact the instructor within the number of calendar days* of the send date of the NOTICE OF ABSENCE as specified below, he/she may be dropped from class with a grade of “F.”

The Office of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs is notified of the assigned “F” and the last date of attendance for any student receiving Financial Aid or Veterans Benefits and who has earned an “F” for excessive absences.

Notes:

1. Withdrawal from a class or from school is permitted only during specific time periods during a term. See the College Calendar .
2. * “Calendar days” do not include school holidays but do include normal two-day weekends.

No-Show Policy

Beginning with the Fall 2013 semester, a No-Show shall be defined as a student who has never attended a class.  Students attending at least one time should understand that they will be charged for the class unless they drop the class within the regular drop/add period of the semester. Failure to drop the class during the drop/add period, and not attending class, will result in the student’s receiving a Notice of Absence (NOA) warning and NOA “F” for not attending class. In the case of required co-requisite courses, a student cannot be dropped as a No-Show in one course and continue to be enrolled in the co-requisite course.  No-shows for online courses are determined by completion of work during the first week of the course.  Logging in to the course only will NOT count as completion of work.  See the College Calendar  for drop/add dates.

Single Course Withdrawal (withdrawing from one or more classes, but not from all classes)

Before considering withdrawing from a class or classes, a student should be aware of the following information:

1. Students on Financial Aid, Veterans Benefits, Scholarships or Federal Student Loans should note that dropping a class or classes may lower or stop benefits or cause repayment to be due immediately.
2. To live in a residence hall, students must maintain full-time enrollment which is twelve (12) semester hours or more during the fall and spring. During the summer, the requirement is three (3) semester hours per summer term.
3. Any student withdrawing from either a lecture or laboratory science course must withdraw from both at the same time except during the last week of the withdrawal period (with the exception of the BIO courses). Note:  Any student wishing to take a continuation academic science course must have credit in both the lecture and lab before being allowed to take the continuation lecture or continuation lab. 

Classes which are dropped during the drop/add period are considered schedule changes and do not appear on the student’s record. Students wishing to withdraw from one or more classes (but not from school), may use their My.Hinds account to do so. The periods during which a student may withdraw from a class and the grade assigned are indicated below. (See the College Calendar  for exact dates)

1. Fall and spring day and evening classes (full-term)
   A student’s record of performance begins with the second week of classes. After the drop/add period, a student cannot withdraw from a class until the beginning of the eighth week except by withdrawing from school. A student may withdraw from a class beginning with the eighth week through seven (7) calendar days before the first day of the final exam period. The First Warning Notice and the Notice of Absence may be sent until ten (10) calendar days before the start of the final exam schedule. The Drop for Excessive Absences Notice may be processed until three (3) calendar days before the start of the final exam schedule. See note below.
2. Distance Learning classes (all terms)
   A student’s record of performance begins the first day of the class or the first day the student registers for the class whichever is later. Students may begin to withdraw from online classes beginning the day after the drop/add period until the last day to withdraw as indicated on the MSVCC calendar. Notices of excessive absences are emailed to the student’s college-provided account up to seven (7) days prior to the last day to withdraw. See note below.
3. Summer session four-week classes
   A student’s record of performance begins with the third scheduled class meeting. After the two-day drop/add period, a student cannot withdraw from a class until the 12^th class meeting except by withdrawing from school. A student may withdraw from a class beginning with the twelfth class meeting and until three calendar days before the final exam day. The First Warning Notice and the Notice of Absence may be sent until six (6) calendar days before the final exam day. The Drop for Excessive Absences Notice may be processed until three (3) calendar days before the final exam day. See note below.
4. Eight-week classes (all terms, day and evening)
   A student’s record of performance begins with the third scheduled class meeting. After the drop/add period, a student cannot withdraw from a class until the start of the fifth week of the term except by withdrawing from school. A student may withdraw from a class beginning with the fifth week until three (3) calendar days before the start of the final exam schedule. The First Warning Notice and the Notice of Absence may be sent until seven (7) calendar days before the start of the final exam schedule. The Drop for Excessive Absences notice may be processed until three (3) calendar days before the start of the final exam schedule. See note below.

NOTE: If a Drop for Excessive Absences has been initiated by the instructor prior to the student’s request for withdrawal, a grade of “F” will be assigned; otherwise, a grade of “W” will be assigned when the withdrawal process is completed.

Withdrawal from College

Prior to the start of a term, students wishing to officially withdraw will not be liable for fees (other than nonrefundable fees).  Students who have paid tuition can use their My.Hinds account to remove themselves from all classes.  For log-in instructions, click here.

To withdraw from the College at any time prior to five (5) working days before the first day of final exams for day/evening classes during a regular semester (three [3] days during the summer), a student must contact a counselor who will initiate the withdrawal. Students in Distance Learning courses must contact a counselor to initiate the withdrawal by the date designated on the MSVCC calendar (Note that this date is earlier than the one for on-campus classes). The grade at the time of withdrawal from the College will be “W” in all classes in which the student has not been dropped with an “F” for excessive absences. It is the responsibility of the student to complete and return the Withdrawal Form to the Counseling Office within twenty-four (24) hours.

Credit for Prior Learning

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is an individualized process that offers students the opportunity to earn college credit for the knowledge, training, and skills previously learned through a broad range of experiences. It is designed to encourage degree completion by awarding credit for College level learning that a student has acquired prior to enrolling at Hinds.  PLA refers to all the processes the College uses to review and evaluate evidence of learning and to award academic credit. Hinds adheres to the guidelines established by the Council of Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) for recognizing and assessing prior learning.  Questions about Prior Learning Credit may be addressed to PriorLearning@Hindscc.edu.

Credit may be awarded for standardized assessments/examinations, military coursework, industry certifications or licenses, licensure/registry exams, and high school articulated credits in career-technical fields. The policies below apply to all types of PLA.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) policies have been adopted by the College and include:

• All students are required to meet the residency requirement of 25% or more of their credit hours for any certificate or degree sought.
• PLA credit is issued a grade of “P” for credit awarded; no quality points will be awarded to count toward a student’s GPA.
• PLA credit cannot replace a failing grade nor duplicate previously earned credit for a course.
• Students must pay all applicable fees  before PLA awarded hours will be posted to transcripts.
• Students should seek PLA credit before or during the registration process of their first semester.  Academic credit will be awarded only for students who have been admitted to the institution.
• When a national, standardized assessment or examination exists, HCC will utilize that form of verification for PLA credit (i.e. CLEP, NCCER).
• One attempt is permitted for each course challenged.
• PLA credits apply toward the degree or certification being sought in the same manner as traditional courses.
• PLA credit is not guaranteed.
• PLA credit awarded at HCC may not transfer to another institution.  It is the student’s responsibility to check with their transfer institution.
• PLA credit awarded at another institution will be reviewed and may be accepted at HCC

Questions regarding credit for Prior Learning may be addressed to: priorlearning@hindscc.edu.

College Credit by Examination

Hinds Community College accepts credits earned by examinations through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP) testing, and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations.  Submit official AP, CLEP, or IB scores to the Office of Admissions and Records for evaluation: Office of Admissions and Records, P.O. Box 1100, Raymond, MS 39154. PLA policies above apply to College Credit by Examination.

Credit will be awarded only in subject matter areas that are taught by Hinds Community College. See below for specific guidelines and policies for each of these types of credit.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) www.collegeboard.com

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) enables students to earn college credit-by-examination. The District Assessment Center on the Raymond Campus administers the CLEP program.  A maximum of 18 hours of CLEP subject examination credit will be accepted by Hinds Community College, and scores must be at or above 50.  A maximum of 6 hours may be earned from each group listed (each class equals three credits).  See the listing of courses for which HCC will award credit here .

Advanced Placement (AP) apcentral.collegeboard.com

Hinds Community College will award credit for scores of 3 or higher on the AP Examinations administered by the College Entrance Examination Board. Minimum score and corresponding credit hours awarded for AP exams are listed here .

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit by Examination www.ibo.org

Students awarded an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma receive credit for scores of 4 or better on both higher-level and standard-level examinations in these areas .  Credit for exams not listed may be considered by contacting the Office of Admissions and Records, who will submit a request to the appropriate Academic Dean.

Career-Technical Articulated High School Credit

In order to provide high school students in Career-Technical fields credit for learning toward a college Career-Technical program, HCC awards credit to students who continue their education in that same or a very similar field at the College.  High school students who present their Mississippi Department of Education Certificate verifying MS-CPAS2 scores of 70% or higher and are enrolled in eligible Career-Technical programs at Hinds will receive College credit.  Such students must enroll in the College program within 18 months of their high school graduation.  Additionally, PLA policies listed above apply to Career-Technical Articulated High School Credit.

Students desiring this type of credit should present the required certificate to the Admissions and Records office.  See the listing of Career-Technical programs  and the courses which may be earned.

Certifications

Through industry, business, and government certifications students are able to demonstrate that college level learning has been acquired in a subject area and that mastery of the content of specific courses has been earned.  Many certifications have been aligned with Hinds coursework which will be awarded to students who present official Certifications to the Prior Learning Coordinator who may be contacted through email at PriorLearning@Hindscc.edu.  A complete listing of certifications awarding career-technical credit  is available.  PLA policies above apply to credit through Certifications.

Experiential Learning

Hinds Community College awards experiential learning credit in the following areas: Licensed Journey persons in electrical trades and plumbing/pipefitting, Police academy training, and Military coursework. See the appropriate section below to view procedures related to experiential learning credit.  Additionally, PLA policies listed above apply to all types of Experiential Learning.

Licensed Journey Persons in Electrical Technology

The Electrical Technology program provides the journey persons of the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation (MCEF) and the Electrical Training Alliance (formerly the National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee or NJATC) the opportunity to apply their education and experience in a career specialty toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Electrical Technology (AAS-ELT) . In addition to seven courses in the electrical construction field, students will complete five core courses of general education requirements in order to receive PLA credit based on the journey person status toward the AAS-ELT degree.

To receive credit for the education and experience earned as a journey person, a student must make application to Hinds Community College and show that he/she has passed a uniform national or regionally recognized standardized and validated examination. The examination must cover the minimum requirements of electrical construction, as well as knowledge of electrical principles accepted in the electrical construction industry. The examination must also test the ability to use, understand, and apply recognized technical and accepted engineering practices.  Students must submit an official license and transcript of education obtained through MCEF or the Electrical Training Alliance to the Office of Admissions and Records.  After successful completion of 36-37 semester hours of credit through Hinds Community College, credit will be awarded for an additional 25 semester hours toward the AAS degree in Electrical Technology.

Licensed Journey Persons in Plumbing and Construction Technology

The Plumbing and Construction Technology program gives the journey persons of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UAPP) and the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation (MCEF) the opportunity to apply their education and experience in a career specialty toward an Associate of Applied Science in Plumbing and Construction Technology (AAS-PCT) .  Students will complete five core courses of general education requirements in order to receive PLA credit based on the journey person status, toward the AAS-PCT degree for their prior education and experience.

To obtain credit for the education and experience earned as a journey person, the student must make application to Hinds Community College and show that he/she has passed a uniform national or regionally recognized standardized, and validated examination. The examination must cover the minimum requirements of plumbing and pipefitting, as well as knowledge of accepted plumbing and pipefitting principles, in the construction industry. The examination must also test the ability to use and understand recognized technical and accepted engineering practices.  Students must submit an official license and transcript obtained through UAPP or MCEF to the Office of Admissions and Records. 

After successful completion of 28-33 semester hours of credit through Hinds Community College, credit will be awarded for an additional 28-32 semester hours  toward the AAS degree in Plumbing and Construction Technology.

Credit for Police Academy Training

Hinds Community College will award PLA credit for completion of Mississippi Police Academy training. Students wishing to receive this credit must submit to the Office of Admissions and Records appropriate documentation of completion of the Academy. The academy completion date must not exceed three years from the date of registration for the Hinds course work.

Credit for Military Coursework

Hinds Community College will award PLA credit for completion of military coursework. Students wishing to receive this credit must submit an official Joint Services Transcript to the Office of Admissions and Records for evaluation.  The American Council on Education (ACE) recommended credit for coursework in the Associate Degree category will be considered when granting PLA credit.  Students submitting military transcripts should have them sent as soon as possible to the Office of Admissions and Records, as the evaluation of military coursework may take several weeks.

Degrees Offered

Associate of Arts Degree  

• Conferred on students who complete requirements for graduation in various arts and science programs, the pre-professional programs, and programs designed for transfer from Hinds Community College to senior colleges and universities

Associate of Applied Science Degree  

• Conferred on students who satisfactorily complete requirements for graduation in the various two-year technical programs or any of the applied science fields offered at Hinds Community College

Career Certificate or Technical Certificate  

• Awarded to students who satisfactorily complete requirements in the various technical and career certificate programs at Hinds Community College

Requirements for Graduation

An application for graduation (accessed through My.Hinds) must be submitted online and will go to the District Office of Admissions and Records on the Raymond Campus.  These applications should be submitted the semester the student plans to graduate. No degrees or certificates will be awarded until all degree requirements have been met, including the payment of all fees owed to the College. Developmental courses cannot be used as electives to meet graduation requirements (except MAT 1233 /MAT 1234 ). For a list of developmental courses, see the Admissions  section of this publication.

A student may graduate under the requirements of the published catalog for the current year or under the graduation requirements of the published catalog for the year the student entered Hinds Community College. Requirements, however, may not be divided between the two.

Graduation exercises are held in the fall, spring and summer semesters. A student may meet the requirements for graduation by complying with one of the following:

1. Select a specialized field of study and follow the curriculum which is outlined for it in this catalog, or
2. Follow the General Program requirements for the Associate of Arts Degree , which are given in the Academic Programs of Study  section of this catalog, or
3. Comply with the catalog requirements of the first two years of the specified four-year accredited college or university to which the student will transfer. This transfer curriculum must calculate to a minimum of 62 transferable hours. Sixteen of these transferable hours must be drawn from and include at least one course from each of the following areas (even if they are not contained within the first two years of that chosen program of study): Humanities/Fine Arts; Social/Behavioral Sciences; and Natural Science/Mathematics. The courses selected should be survey courses rather than applied courses.
4. Associate of Applied Science Degree, Career Certificate, and Technical Certificate students are required to take an Occupation-Specific Assessment Prep Course with the Occupation-Specific Assessment completion as part of their program of study, unless a program of study requires a certification or licensure examination for professional practice.

5. A minimum quality point average of 2.0 is required in order to graduate. The 2.0 GPA may be calculated using either of the following methods; both calculations will only include courses completed at Hinds Community College:

• GPA of 2.0 calculated on all hours attempted
• GPA of 2.0 calculated on only those courses required for graduation

(See the “GRADES” section of these regulations for calculating grade or quality point average.)

If a student has previously attended or is currently attending another institution and has met one of the above-mentioned criteria and has completed at least 16 semester hours at Hinds CC, he or she may transfer back, from a regionally accredited institution, the number of hours needed to graduate from Hinds.  (Example: Student completes 16 hours at Hinds CC under the General Program of Study for the AA degree.  Student may transfer back 46 hours of completed coursework from a regionally accredited institution applicable to this degree.)  The transferring back of up to 46 hours to complete a Hinds Community College degree excludes programs that require special admissions or have accrediting restrictions. 

Students transferring into Hinds Community College should see below for more information.

Please note:  Due to changing technologies and workforce needs, some programs may have limitations on the amount of time allowed between completing a transfer class and applying for the degree.  In these cases, students may contact the Dean at the campus/location of their program to discuss their options. 

Online Students:

Students taking online courses must meet the same graduation requirements as all other students.

Transfer Students Planning to Graduate:

Courses and credits will be accepted up to 46 semester hours (or the equivalent thereof - one quarter hour is equivalent to .67 semester hour) as they correspond to the curriculum of Hinds Community College, provided they are earned at a state and regionally accredited institution. All college transfer credits, military credits, etc., should be submitted via an official transcript in order to be considered toward a degree.

A student must complete at least 25 percent of their semester hours at Hinds in order to graduate. For graduation purposes, a cumulative 2.0 GPA is required on all courses used to meet degree requirements.  Transfer credit is allowed for non-developmental courses in which a grade of “D” or higher has been earned.  Developmental courses cannot be used toward graduation credit at Hinds Community College. Some Hinds programs require a “C” or better on specific courses; students should check their intended program of study for transferability of incoming courses.  Likewise, the transfer of some technical courses will need to be evaluated for alignment with Hinds’ coursework.

For further explanation regarding transferring in other institutions’ courses, see the Transfer Students  section in Admissions.

Grades

Mid-Semester and Final Grades

At mid-semester and at the end of the semester, the scholastic performance (grades) of students in each course is reported by the instructor. Grades and other information are provided to students via the student’s My.Hinds account. Mid-semester grades are used only to inform students of their progress in class.  The semester grade reports become a part of the student’s permanent record.

Final Examinations

All students are required to take examinations at the time designated on the final examination schedule. A student who is absent from a final exam and who has made no report of personal illness or other emergencies to an instructor will not be permitted to take the examination at a later date. A student who reports an emergency to an instructor before a scheduled examination will be given a grade of “I” (Incomplete). The incomplete work must be completed by the end of the succeeding fall or spring semester. Unless the “I” grade is changed to another letter grade by this time, the “I” grade will become an “F”. Students who are absent from a final examination without the approval of the instructor will receive a course grade of “0” for the final exam.

Grading System

Courses are graded according to the following system: (Note: Some courses do not award a grade of “D”.)

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are awarded for some courses. These courses are generally graded according to the following system:

NOTE: A Continuing Education Unit is defined as “ten contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education adult or extension experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction”. The CEU is used as a basic unit of measurement for an individual student’s participation in an educational activity which does not award semester hour credit. Continuing Education Unit credit cannot be converted to semester hour credit and is not used to determine a student’s quality point average.

Withholding of Grades

Grades and other information are provided to students via their My.Hinds account. However, grades may be withheld by the College for the following reasons: unpaid fees or fines, unreturned library books or other materials, incomplete admission records, or disciplinary actions.

“I” Incomplete Grades

An incomplete grade “I” is assigned if, due to personal illness or other emergencies, a student is unable to complete required course work by the end of the semester. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor and to arrange a method of completing course requirements by the end of the succeeding fall or spring semester in which the incomplete grade “I” was received. Unless the “I” incomplete grade is changed to another letter grade by this time, the “I” incomplete grade will become an “F”.

Auditing a Course

A student who wishes to take a credit course for no credit must, at the time of registration, register for the course as an audit, complete the audit form and pay the regular fee. The audit student will receive no credit, no quality points, and may not change the course from audit back to credit. The student may, in succeeding semesters, take for credit any course previously audited. Audit courses will be reflected on the student’s permanent record as “AU” (Audit).

Auditing a course should not be confused with repeating a course to raise a grade.

NOTE: Students cannot audit an online course.

Semester Credit Hour

A semester credit hour is the unit of credit earned over one semester, or the equivalent, for the work associated with one class hour per week of lecture or recitation (a minimum of 750 minutes per semester). A minimum of two hours per week over the same period is required for laboratory classes (a minimum of 1650 minutes per semester). Clinical rotations and supervised work experience require a minimum of three hours per week over the period of one semester or the equivalent (a minimum of 2,250 minutes per semester).

Classification of Students Who Receive Credit

Classification of students who receive credit at Hinds Community College is as follows:

Quality Point Average (Grade Point Average)

A quality point average is determined by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total semester hours attempted. For example:

Divide 42 quality points by 14 semester hours attempted = 3.0 quality point average.

Honor Graduates

Students graduating from Hinds Community College with a quality point average of 4.0 are graduated Summa Cum Laude. Students graduating with a quality point average of 3.60 - 3.99 are graduated Magna Cum Laude. Students graduating with a quality point average of 3.20 - 3.59 are graduated Cum Laude. The quality point average is determined by dividing the total number of quality points by the total semester hours of work attempted.

Honors, Scholars, Distinctions and Awards

The 3-E Awards for Emphasis on Excellence and Enrichment are given during the school year. Sophomores selected to Who’s Who Among Students in Community and Junior Colleges are honored at a ceremony held in the fall semester.  The Distinguished Student is selected from the Who’s Who recipients and is honored by the College and the Mississippi Legislature.

Awards Day is held in the spring semester for the purpose of presenting various awards (certificates, medals, ribbons, trophies, etc.) to students for outstanding achievements and/or accomplishments in all areas of college life. Departments may award the distinction of Outstanding Student in a major or subject area.

Deans’ and President’s Scholar standing is awarded at the end of fall and spring semesters based on the following criteria:

A Deans’ Scholar is a student who has maintained a cumulative 3.50 - 3.99 quality point average with an accumulation of twelve or more completed semester hours and earned a minimum 2.00 quality point average for the term of the award OR who earned a 3.50-3.99 quality point average based on a minimum of twelve completed semester hours for the award term with a minimum 2.00 overall quality point average.

A President’s Scholar is a student who has maintained a cumulative 4.00 quality point average with an accumulation of twelve or more completed semester hours OR who earned a 4.00 quality point average based on a minimum of twelve completed semester hours for the award term with a minimum 2.00 overall quality point average.

Deans’ and President’s List Scholars are recognized at a ceremony in the spring for their fall semester grade accomplishments. Deans’ and President’s List Scholars receive a letter during the summer noting their spring semester grade accomplishments. The Deans’ and President’s List distinction is posted on the student’s transcript in the fall and spring.  The programs, sponsored by the College President and student services employees from all campuses, are held in the spring semester and are coordinated through the Dean of Student Services Office and the Honors Center.

Repeating a Course

In order to better his or her grade point average, a student may repeat, for grade replacement, a course already taken at Hinds.  Each course may be repeated only one time for grade replacement.  A student may repeat up to eight (8) credit hours. The official grade will be the grade earned in the repeated class, even if the grade is lower than the first attempt, and will count toward the cumulative grade point average at Hinds.  All grade attempts remain posted on the Hinds transcript, but only the quality points and attempted hours of the 2nd course will be calculated in the GPA.  Some courses can be repeated for additional credit and cannot be replaced for a better grade (ex:  Physical Education Activity, Music Lessons, Seminars). Developmental courses nor Assessment Prep courses may be repeated for replacement.  Dual enrolled students may not petition a course for a replacement grade. The replacement grade policy is honored at Hinds Community College and may not be recognized by other colleges/universities or employers.  

Students must complete the Request to Repeat a Course for Replacement Grade form (found at My.Hinds) and fax, email, or deliver to a campus Admissions Office no later than the last day of the drop/add period for the term. If the course is no longer available, no other course may be substituted. In some programs such as Nursing and Allied Health, the right to repeat courses for replacement grade is not automatic.  A designation of “W” or “AU” cannot be substituted for a previous grade. 

All hours attempted during the student’s entire enrollment in the college will be considered when determining federally funded financial aid eligibility.  This includes repeated courses.  Students are urged to consult with their academic advisor or counselor before repeating a passed course. Students repeating any courses after the eight credit hour limit will have their grade point average determined by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total semester hours attempted. In computing scholastic averages in these cases, all semester hour attempts will be included and shown on the transcript.

To raise a grade point average at Hinds Community College, the course must be repeated at Hinds. When a student transfers to another institution, the policy of the receiving institution will determine the student’s grade point average.

Appeal of Final Grade in a Course

A student may appeal a final grade in a course.  The student must initiate the process below before the beginning of Final Exams for the following semester after the grade was posted (excluding summer):

1. Meet with the Instructor - The student should discuss the complaint with the person the grievance is addressing, the person closest to the situation. The instructor will have seven (7) school business days (excluding Final Exam days) to verify the grade and/or show the student how the grade was calculated. 
2. Meet with the Department Chair/Director - If there is no resolution, the student should ask to meet jointly with the Instructor and the Department Chairperson/Program Director if the issue has not been resolved in the initial meeting.  If the issue is with an online course, email the Distance Learning Department at distancelearning@hindscc.edu. 
3. Submit a written complaint to the appropriate Dean - If not resolved at the first two levels, the student should submit a written complaint including related documentation and remedy sought to the appropriate dean responsible for the department.  The Dean will confirm that the student has followed the appropriate complaint procedures and sought a resolution.  The Dean will provide the student a written decision on the resolution of the complaint within seven (7) business days.  If the student wishes to progress to the next step in the process, the student has seven (7) business days to respond.
4. Instructional Appeals Committee - If the student does not accept the resolution from the dean, he/she may request that a review of the written complaint be sent to the Instructional Appeals Committee.  The Committee Chairperson will respond to the written request within seven (7) business days.  The Committee Chairperson will send a written response to the student filing the complaint. Results will be filed with the Instructional Dean or eLearning Dean and he/she shall maintain the instructional student complaint.

Note: All non-instructional complaints should follow the procedures found in the Student Handbook.

Semester Hours Total

The usual total number of semester hours taken by a student in good standing during a regular semester is 15 to 19. The maximum number of semester hours a student on scholastic probation should take is 13. A student enrolled in less than 12 semester hours in a fall or spring semester is classified as a part-time student.  (See above for more information on full-time and part-time statuses.)

Career/technical students may take additional course work beyond their regular program provided the career advisor approves.

Summer School: Hinds Community College operates day classes in two four-week sessions and evening and online classes in an eight-week summer session. A student’s course load may not be above twelve hours during the summer sessions without the approval of the campus instructional dean.

It is recommended that students who are engaged in outside employment in addition to attending Hinds Community College give careful consideration to taking a reduced number of hours.

Transcripts

Students who have met all admission requirements and business office obligations and have completed a semester at Hinds Community College are eligible to request a transcript. Transcript requests must be in writing and must include the student’s signature and ID number or Social Security number. Requests may be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records.

Scholastic Probation and Suspension

Fall and Spring

If a student, who is in Good Scholastic Standing at the beginning of a fall or spring term, earns a term GPA of less than 1.75, his/her scholastic standing will become Probation at the end of that term.

If a student, whose scholastic standing is Probation at the beginning of a fall or spring term, earns a term GPA less than a 1.75, his/her standing will become Suspension at the end of that term, provided his/her overall GPA is also less than 2.00 at the end of that term; otherwise, his/her scholastic standing will remain Probation.

If a student, whose scholastic standing is Probation at the beginning of a fall or spring term, earns a term GPA of 1.75 or higher, his/her standing will become Good at the end of that term, provided his/her overall GPA is also 2.0 or higher at the end of that term; otherwise, his/her scholastic standing will remain Probation.

Transfer students who were academically dismissed from the last school they attended, have sat out the required number of semesters, and are eligible for immediate readmission may be admitted to HCC on Scholastic Probation. Transfer students who were placed on Scholastic Probation after their last semester will be admitted to HCC on Scholastic Probation.

Summer

Hinds Community College students have the opportunity to improve standing through summer work at Hinds.  Scholastic standing can rise from Suspension to Probation provided a student earns six (6) or more semester hours of credit during a summer term with a term GPA of 2.00 or higher. This work must be taken at Hinds Community College.

If a Hinds student, whose scholastic standing is Probation at the beginning of the summer term, earns a summer term GPA of 2.0 or higher (including all courses taken in all summer terms) on a minimum of 6 hours, his/her standing will become Good at the end of the summer term, provided his/her overall GPA is also 2.0 or higher at the end of that term; otherwise, his/her scholastic standing will remain Probation. This work must be taken at Hinds Community College.

Requirements

An academic or technical student who is on probation must enroll in LLS 1413 , unless he/she has previous credit in this course. A student who is prescribed and enrolled in a developmental Reading course or who is enrolled in fewer than seven (7) semester hours is not required to enroll in LLS 1413 . Also, a student on Probation should not enroll in more than (16) semester hours during a fall or spring term (including LLS 1413 ; 13 semester hours if exempt from LLS 1413 ).

If Suspension occurs at the end of a fall semester, the student cannot enroll again until the next summer term. If Suspension occurs at the end of a spring term, the student may enroll immediately at Hinds for the next summer term. If the conditions outlined under Summer above are satisfied, the scholastic standing will revert to probation. If these conditions are not satisfied, the suspended student cannot enroll for the upcoming fall semester. A suspended student who does not enroll for one or more fall or spring semesters will be eligible for readmission on Probation.

Scholastic Suspension Appeals

Appeals for permission to continue in school when facing scholastic suspension must be made in writing to the local Student Services Committee. The forms are available at the Dean of Student’s Office/operating Dean’s office. Each appeal will be considered on its own merits. Scholastic appeals have a six-month statute of limitation. Appeals must be filed within six months of the end of the semester during which the Suspension occurred.

Student Guarantee Policy

Hinds Community College will guarantee to its academic graduates and other students who have met the requirements (up to a 62 credit hour transfer plan) the transferability of course credits to those Mississippi colleges or universities that cooperate in the development of community college selection guidelines. If such courses are rejected by the college or university, the student may take tuition-free alternate courses at Hinds Community College which are acceptable to the college or university.

Special conditions which apply to the guarantee are as follows:

1. Transferability means the acceptance of credit toward a specific major and degree. Courses must be identified by the receiving university and the community college as transferable and acceptable under previous agreements by both the College and four-year college or university.
2. Limitation on the total number of credits accepted in transfer, grades required, relevant grade point average, and duration of transferability apply as stated in previous agreements between community colleges and four-year colleges and universities.
3. The guarantee applies to courses included in the written transfer plan - which includes the institution to which the student will transfer, the baccalaureate major and the degree sought, and the date such decision was made - which must be filed with the appropriate official of the College.

If a career or technical graduate is judged by his/her employer to be lacking in technical job skills identified as exit competencies for his/her specific degree program, the graduate will be provided up to nine tuition-free credit hours of additional skill training by the community college district under the conditions of the guarantee policy.

Special conditions which apply to the guarantee are as follows:

1. The graduate must have earned a degree or certificate for a course listed in the current College Catalog.
2. The graduate must have completed his/her course work within a four-year time span.
3. Graduates must be employed full-time in an area directly related to the area of program concentration as certified by the vice president or dean of instruction.
4. Employment must commence within 12 months of graduation.
5. The employer must certify in writing that the employee is lacking entry-level skills identified by the community college as the employee’s program competencies and must specify the areas of deficiency within 90 days of the graduate’s initial employment.
6. The employer, graduate, dean, job placement counselor, and appropriate faculty member will develop a written educational plan for retraining.
7. Retraining will be limited to nine credit hours related to the identified skill deficiency and to those classes regularly scheduled during the period covered by the retraining plan.
8. All retraining must be completed within a calendar year from the time the educational plan is agreed upon.
9. The graduate and/or employer is responsible for the cost of books, insurance, uniforms, fees, and other course-related expenses.
10. The guarantee does not imply that the graduate will pass any licensing or qualifying examination for a particular career.
11. The student’s sole remedy against the district and its employees for skill deficiencies shall be limited to nine credit hours of tuition-free education under conditions described above.
12. The program can be initiated through a written contract with the office of the College President.