College Regulations

College Regulations

Attendance-Withdrawal Policy

Attendance

Attendance in class is a key factor of success in college. The following procedure applies to regular academic, technical and career 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 towards 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 the Fall term of 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 which occurred 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 show the instructor 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 must be sent when the student has accumulated excessive unexcused absences as defined below. All Excessive Absence Notices (traditional classes, online classes and college life/study hall classes) will be sent to the student’s College issued e-mail 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 during any term - when the student has two (2) absences for Spring or Fall term; 1 (one) absence for Summer term.
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 Block - 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.

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.

Appeals

The student, after consulting with the Instructor, may file an appeal with the appropriate Department Chairperson, and Academic, Career-Technical, or eLearning Dean. The instructor, chairperson and dean will review the appeal and respond to the student.

No-Show Policy

Beginning 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 will result in the student’s receiving a Notice of Absence (NOA) warning and an NOA “F” for the 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.

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 GSL 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 and 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 the Register and Drop Sections screen in their My.Hinds account. 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 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 12th 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: This date is earlier than the traditional last day to withdraw). 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.

College Credit by Examination

Hinds Community College (HCC) accepts credits earned by examinations through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP) testing, and International Baccalaureate (IB) examination.  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.

A student must earn 12 hours from Hinds Community College before credit earned through examination will be recorded on his/her permanent record.  The total amount of credit awarded for all non-classroom experiences is limited to 30 semester hours.  Credit will not be used to compute a student’s grade point average (GPA) but will be counted in hours earned.  Credit will be awarded only in subject matter areas that are taught by Hinds Community College.  Go to AP, CLEP, and IB for the specific guidelines and policies for each.

Hinds Community College offers challenge exams by department with approval of the Academic Dean. 

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 listing of the courses for which HCC will award credit is below.  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 below (each class equals three credits).

Advanced Placement

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 are listed.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit by Examination

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

Challenge Examination for Courses

(Challenge Exam Administered by HCC)

1. A student may register for the challenged course by obtaining approval of the appropriate dean and paying the regular tuition cost. The student must register on or before the last day of open registration and meet the appropriate placement level to register for the course to be challenged.
2. Credit granted by challenge exams will be used in computing the student’s grade point average. The student will be assigned a grade of A, B, C, D, or F. The grade will be posted to the student’s transcript after the grade is submitted to the District Registrar’s office by the instructor who administered and graded the examination and has been signed by the appropriate dean. Following the student’s completion of the challenge exam, the course can be used to meet graduation requirements.
3. The student must meet the first week of class meetings for the class that is being challenged. The challenge exam will be given prior to the first class meeting of the second week of class. However, skill-based courses may delay the administration of the challenge exam until later in the semester with the approval of the appropriate dean. The challenge exam must be approved by the department chair or program head, administered by a full-time faculty member, and approved by the appropriate dean.

NOTE: Hinds Community College will use a maximum of thirty (30) semester hours of nontraditional credit to meet graduation requirements. Developmental courses are not subject to challenge for credit.

Career-Technical Advanced Placement

Advanced placement is currently available in Allied Health, Automotive Technology, Business and Marketing Management Technology, Business and Office Technology, Early Childhood Education Technology, Cooperative Education, Culinary Arts, Drafting, Electrical Technology, Electronics Technology, and Hotel and Restaurant Management programs. Students must meet the basic criteria as follows:

1. Applicant for credit meets all college admissions requirements and is a registered student in good standing in one of Hinds Community College’s career/technical programs.
2. Applicant must have on file a completed Advanced Placement Application. Contact the Career-Technical Dean at the campus where program is offered for an application. 
3. Applicant must pass an examination with an approved score that is administered by the post- secondary program’s instructor.
4. Applicant must complete 12 hours at Hinds Community College before advanced placement credit will be placed on permanent transcript.
5. A high school graduate may request placement within 24 months of the date of applicant’s graduation from high school.
6. Applicant must be a student from one of the high schools located within the Hinds Community College district.

When all provisions have been met for approval of advanced placement credit, the examination score of A, B, or C will be posted on the student’s Hinds Community College transcript for each approved course. There will be no charge for such credit.

Experiential Learning

Hinds Community College awards experiential learning credit in only the following areas: Licensed Journey persons in electrical trades and plumbing/pipefitting, police academy training, military training, and certified professional secretary training. Please see the appropriate section below to view policies and procedures related to experiential learning credit.

Licensed Journey persons in Electrical Trades

The Electrical Technology programs on the Raymond and Vicksburg Campuses give the journey persons of the Mississippi Construction Education Foundation (MCEF) and the National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (NJATC) the opportunity to apply their education and experience in a career specialty toward an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Electrical Technology. In addition to the six courses in the electrical construction field, students will complete the five core courses of general education requirements and receive credit toward the AAS degree for their prior education and experience.

To obtain the journey person status, 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 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.

Upon obtaining the journey person status by successfully passing the electrical testing organization’s examinations, students seeking the AAS degree must submit an official license and transcript of education obtained through MCEF or NJATC and make application to enroll in the program. After successful completion of thirty-four semester hours of credit through Hinds Community College (I), credit may be awarded for the courses listed below (II). Students must complete a minimum of thirty-four semester hours at Hinds Community College in courses listed below (I). Credit granted for journey person status is only applicable to the Associate in Applied Science degree program in Electrical Technology.

1. Courses that must be completed by journey persons or master electricians to receive the A.A.S. degree:

Technical:

General Education:

2. Courses awarded after passing the journey person or master electrician examination:

Licensed Journey persons in Plumbing and Pipefitting

The Plumbing and Construction Technology (PCT) 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 in Applied Science (AAS) degree. In addition to five courses in the construction field, students will complete general education requirements and receive credit toward the AAS-PCT degree for their prior education and experience.

To obtain the Journeyman status, the student must make application 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.

Upon obtaining the Journeyman status by successfully passing the plumbing and/or pipefitting examinations, students seeking the AAS-PCT degree should submit an official license and transcript of education obtained through UAPP or MCEF and make application to enroll in the program. After completing 16 semester hours of credit through Hinds Community College, credit may be awarded for the courses listed below. Students must complete a minimum of 16 credit hours at Hinds Community College in classes approved by the Dean. Credit granted to journey persons is only applicable to the AAS degree program.

Courses awarded after passing Journeyman Plumber examination:             

Courses awarded after passing Journeyman Gas Pipe Fitter examination:

Credit for Police Academy Training

Hinds Community College will award academic credit for completion of accredited Police Academy training. Students wishing to receive this credit must meet the following requirements:

• Register and successfully complete a minimum of 12 transferable credit hours at Hinds Community College
• Present to the Registrar’s Office appropriate documentation of completion of such an academy. The academy completion date must not exceed three years from the date of registration for the Hinds credit course work.
• Academic credit awarded through Hinds Community College will not exceed 12 credit hours. A review of the academy course work will be conducted in order to assign proper course credit.
• Upon successfully completing 12 transferable hours at Hinds Community College, the student must submit a written request for credit to the Registrar’s Office.

Credit for Military Training

Hinds Community College will award academic credit for completion of military training. Students wishing to receive this credit must meet the following requirements:

• Register and successfully complete a minimum of 12 transferable credit hours at Hinds Community College
• Submit a Joint Services Transcript to the Registrar’s Office
• Academic credit awarded through Hinds Community College will not exceed 30 credit hours. A grade of “P” will be assigned to this coursework credited through Hinds Community College.
• Credit will be given for ACE evaluated credit in the Lower Division Baccalaureate/Associate Degree category only.

Certified Professional Secretary

Upon obtaining the Certified Professional Secretary rating and completing 12 hours of credit through Hinds Community College, credit may be awarded for all of the following courses that have not been previously completed or posted by transfer.

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 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 programs at Hinds Community College.

Requirements for Graduation

An application for graduation must be submitted to the administrative office of any campus or the Office of Admissions and Records on the Raymond Campus no later than the sixth week of 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. For a list of developmental courses, see 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 62 transferable hours. Fifteen 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 in Applied Science Degree, Career Certificate, and Technical Certificate students are required to take an Occupation-Specific Assessment as part of their program of study, unless a program of study requires a certification or licensure examination for professional practice.

If a student 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 the number of hours needed to graduate from a regionally accredited institution in order to receive a Hinds CC degree.  (Ex. 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 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 accrediting restrictions.

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

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 two following methods; both of these calculations will only include courses completed at Hinds Community College:

1. GPA of 2.0 calculated on all hours attempted
2. 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.)

Online Students:

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

Transfer Students Planning to Graduate:

Courses and credit 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 towards a degree. To meet graduation requirements, a student must complete at least 25 percent of the semester hours at Hinds.

Developmental courses cannot be transferred into Hinds Community College to meet graduation requirements but may be used for placement purposes.

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. Mid-semester grades and semester grades are not mailed to the students. 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) incomplete grade is changed to another letter grade by this time, the (I) incomplete 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 (CEU) 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 the College’s website. However, grades may be withheld by the College for the following reasons: unpaid fees or fines, unreturned library books or audiovisual 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).

Students cannot audit an online course.

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

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

Three 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.

Summer School

Hinds Community College operates day classes in two four-week sessions and evening and online classes in one 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.

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 towards the cumulative grade point average at Hinds.  All grade attempts remain posted on the Hinds transcript.  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 CPAS 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 with their instructional dean no later than the last day of the drop/add period for the term. If the repeated course is online, the request should go to the eLearning Dean.  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 (excluding summer) after the grade was posted:

1. The student must discuss his/her grade with the instructor, stating the reason he/she believes the grade is incorrect.  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. If there is no resolution, the student must submit a formal Letter of Appeal to the appropriate Department Chair or Director, who will review the appeal and respond in writing in seven (7) school business days (excluding Final Exam days).  A copy of the formal Letter of Appeal must also be given to the instructor of the course.  The Letter of Appeal form can be found on the Student Services page of the Hinds website.
3. If there is still no resolution, the student must then submit the formal Letter of Appeal to the appropriate Instructional Dean, who will review the findings of the Department Chair or Director who will respond in writing in seven (7) school business days (excluding Final Exam days).*
4. With no resolution at this point, the student must present the matter to the Local Instructional Appeals Committee where the matter will be decided.  Before making a judgment, this committee will secure information from the student, the instructor, the Department Chair or Director, and the Instructional Dean.  The decision of this committee will be final and binding.  Appeals for distance learning courses should be directed to the Dean of eLearning and the local appeals committee for eLearning.    
5. If a student wishes to begin the process during the Summer, he/she must write a formal Letter of Appeal and file it with the appropriate Instructional Dean.
   a. The Dean will then contact the instructor, who will have 21 days to respond to the appeal in writing.  The instructor’s response will be sent to the student and to the appropriate Department Chair/Director.
   b. If the student wishes to pursue the appeal, the Department Chair/Director will be notified and will have 21 days to respond to the appeal in writing.  This response will be sent to the student and to the appropriate Instructional Dean. 
   c. If the student wishes to continue the appeals process, steps 3 and 4 will be followed.

All instructional complaints other than grade appeals should follow the instructional grievance process. 

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 can 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.

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

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 the student’s ID number or Social Security number.

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 and earns 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 may 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.