2024-2025 Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
    Nov 14, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog and Student Handbook

Registration Policies/Procedures


Academic Progress Registration Information
Educational Records [opens in a new tab]   Transfer Information
Graduation  

 

Students are expected to register for course work as well as pay tuition and fees during advertised registration times. Formal registration for all curriculum courses is closed at the end of late registration each semester. Students registering, but failing to meet financial obligations will be removed from class rosters.

Any exceptions to the registration procedures must be approved by the Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Support Services or his or her designated representative and the Assistant Vice President of Instruction and Student Support Services, but only then by justifiable cause. 

Most classes, credit and non-credit, are scheduled between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.

Registration Information

Change of Name, Address and/or Social Security Number

In order that official records may be kept up-to-date, change of name, address, and/or Social Security Number must be reported immediately to the Business Office located in Building 3. A change in Social Security Number will require appropriate verification. Address and phone number(s) may also be updated in Self-Service.

Contact Hours

The contact hours shown in the course descriptions are minimal. The policy of the College permits students to pursue laboratory work beyond hours indicated in this publication.

Credit Hours

Semester hours of credit are awarded as follows: one semester hour of credit for every hour per week of class work; one semester hour of credit for every three hours per week of lab work; one semester hour of credit for every three hours per week of clinical work; and one semester hour of credit for every ten hours per week of cooperative work experience. A student may take up to a maximum of 25 credit hours per semester.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Prerequisites and Corequisites [opens in a new tab]  

Drop/Add Procedures and Withdrawal

It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from the course(s) if they cannot meet the requirements of the course.  The student should first consult with their instructor or advisor before requesting to be withdrawn from a course.  Students receiving financial aid should also consult a financial aid advisor before requesting to be withdrawn from a course.  Withdrawing from a course could substantially delay the completion of the student’s program of study and may have an impact on future financial aid eligibility.

A student may drop or add a course at any time within the scheduled drop/add period under the following provisions:

  1. The student must request authorization from their instructor to withdraw from a class once the term begins and the student has entered the class.
  2. Absences are computed from the first class meeting regardless of add date.
  3. A student adding a course will be responsible for all makeup work required.

After classes begin, online withdrawal forms are available at FORMS-Transcripts, Withdrawals [opens in a new tab] on the RCC website.

At any point prior to the ninety percent (90%) date of the semester (or any terms within), students may voluntarily withdraw from their courses.  Students will not be allowed to voluntarily withdraw from courses past the ninety percent (90%) date.  The Vice President for Instruction and Student Support Services (“Vice President”) may make exceptions in cases of extenuating circumstances and award a grade of “W” during the final ten percent (10%) of the academic term.  All applicable deadlines will be published in the College’s official calendar. 

To officially begin the withdrawal process, the student should notify the instructor of the class they wish to withdraw from and complete the appropriate paperwork.

Students must officially withdraw from any course they stop attending in order to ensure that they will not receive an “F” in the course.  In the case of a withdrawal, the student will receive a “W” which will not be included in the grade point average but will appear on the student’s official transcript.

Any student who violates the attendance policy for a course may be withdrawn from the class at the instructor’s discretion.

A student may be administratively withdrawn when:

  1. The student fails to maintain class attendance as described in the instructor’s course syllabus.
  2. Attendance records indicate there is a lack of participation by the student as evidenced by consecutive absences that exceed two full weeks of class. 
  3. An instructor is reasonably assured that the student does not intend to pursue the learning activities of the class.
  4. Students may be involuntarily withdrawn from courses for disciplinary reasons subject to the student discipline policies.

In the last eight days of the class, if a student fails to attend class in accordance with prescribed policy, an “I” or incomplete may be given at the discretion of the instructor. The granting of an “I” should not violate any attendance policy that requires a student be dropped.

Department of Education Unofficial Withdrawal Policy

The Department of Education Unofficial Withdrawal Policy is located in the Return of Title IV Policy in the Financial Assistance [opens in a new tab]  section of this catalog.

Financial Obligations

Student records will not be released until financial obligations are cleared by the student.

Semester System

Robeson Community College operates on the semester system. The fall and spring semesters are each approximately sixteen weeks in length. The College is in session five days and four nights a week. The summer session is approximately eight weeks in length. When approved by the Board of Trustees, the College is in session four days and four nights during summer semester.

Transfer Information

Transfer Agreements

RCC students who complete the University Transfer Program and receive the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science Degree are eligible to transfer to any four-year college or university. Specific transfer agreements in Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Hospitality Management, Nursing and Electrical Systems Technology, have been arranged with some senior colleges. For more information, contact the RCC Admissions Office or Counseling and Career Services.

Transfer to Other Colleges

Students who wish to transfer from one college to another, or to any other institution, should request an official transcript from the Registrar’s Office five days before it is needed. Official transcripts will be released to other accredited and approved institutions upon written request. Official transcripts may be released to the student.

The college to which the student is transferring determines the number of hours of credit it will allow in transfer. Some four-year institutions grant full credit for work completed in the community college. Students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university should check early with that institution’s admissions office to determine requirements.

The Comprehensive Articulation Agreement is a statewide agreement governing the transfer of credits between NC Community Colleges and NC public universities.  Please see the NC Community College Transfer Page [opens in a new window] for more information on transferring to a UNC campus and for links to UNC baccalaureate degree plans/transfer four-year guides.

Academic Progress

Standards of Acceptable Academic Progress

Each student enrolled in a degree, diploma, or certificate program is expected to maintain satisfactory progress toward completion of requirements for that program. A 2.0 grade point average is required for graduation in all programs. Students are expected to maintain this average to be considered in good academic standing.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress

For students receiving any form of financial aid, refer to the Financial Assistance [opens in a new tab]  section of the catalog for important information.

Academic Probation

Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0 may be placed on academic probation. The student may be required to consult with their advisor to review academic progress and plan a strategy for improving academic progress.

A student who is on academic probation may return to good standing by meeting the requirements outlined in the Standards of Acceptable Academic Progress or by passing at least 12 hours the next semester of enrollment with a semester grade point average of at least 2.0. A student will remain in good standing as long as the student continues to meet the Standards of Acceptable Progress or passes at least 12 hours each semester with a semester grade point average of at least 2.0 per term enrolled.

While on academic probation, a student will not be allowed to participate in certain extracurricular activities. These activities include: holding an elected office or committee assignment in the Student Government Association, or any other activities which require the student to represent RCC officially. Students placed on academic probation are not eligible for financial aid and cannot participate in early registration for the next term.

Academic Suspension

Satisfactory progress is the responsibility of the student. A student who has been on academic probation for one semester may be suspended from college if he/she is unsuccessful in meeting the guidelines to return to good standing.

Academic suspension will be for one semester. At the end of one semester, the student may apply for readmission. Students who do not attain the required grade point average for two semesters following reinstatement to the College may be suspended permanently.

Students may appeal notice of suspension to the Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Support Services or his or her designated representative. The Dean, or his or her designated representative, will meet with the student, and the student’s advisor.

Graduation

Criteria for Graduating with Distinction

Graduates who have earned a grade point average of 3.5 and have completed at least one-fourth of their degree or diploma requirements in residence at Robeson Community College will be granted a degree or diploma with distinction. Only courses required in the assigned program of study will be considered in the calculation of a grade point average in determining academic distinction. The College furnishes cords to be worn for the graduation exercise.

Graduation Requirements

The Registrar reviews records for each prospective graduate to determine that all requirements and obligations have been met.

  1. Students are encouraged to submit applications for graduation (available in the Registrar’s Office) before registering for the final semester of study. It is the student’s responsibility to complete this form. Late applicants will not be able to claim their diplomas until several weeks after the graduation ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed to all graduates after graduation once grades are reviewed and all graduates are certified. The initiative is to let all potential graduates participate in the graduation ceremony. Students who did not meet the graduation requirements will be notified.
  2. Complete all required courses. Robeson Community College is not obligated to offer courses not listed in the current catalog and student handbook. Those students not continuously enrolled may be required to meet the graduation requirements of the catalog and student handbook that is current at the time of their re-enrollment.
  3. Transferring students must complete a minimum of twenty-five (25) percent of the total number of credit hours required for a certificate, diploma, or degree program at Robeson Community College.
  4. Have a minimum program grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
  5. Must have all financial obligations to the college taken care of, including those with the Business Office, the Library, or any other financial debt to the College.
  6. Commencement exercises are scheduled at the end of the spring semester.

Upon completion of program requirements, the college may award credentials without student request.

Diplomas

Upon graduation, students should check for errors in the spelling of their name on diplomas. Any corrections must be filed with the Registrar’s Office within thirty (30) calendar days after graduation.

Replacing a diploma for any reason after that time will be at the student’s expense.

Marshals

Marshals may be recruited from Ambassador/Honors College programs or Academic Scholars.

Academic Distinction

The names of student scholars earning academic distinction are published at the end of the fall and spring semesters.

Criteria for President’s Scholars

DEGREE: All full-time students enrolled in the two-year associate degree programs achieving a grade point average of 4.0 for the semester.

DIPLOMA: All full-time students enrolled in one-year diploma programs achieving a grade point average of 4.0 for the semester.

Only courses at the 100 level or above will be considered in the calculation of a grade point average in determining President’s Scholars. Hours earned by taking proficiency tests will not be included in determining President’s Scholar status.

Criteria for Academic Scholars

DEGREE: All full-time students enrolled in two-year associate degree programs achieving a grade point average of 3.5 and above for the semester.

DIPLOMA: All full-time students enrolled in one-year diploma programs achieving a grade point average of 3.5 and above for the semester.

Only courses at the 100 level or above will be considered in the calculation of a grade point average in determining Academic Scholars. Hours earned by taking proficiency tests will not be included in determining Academic Scholar status.

Criteria for Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

Students eligible for membership in the Honor Society must be enrolled in a two-year degree program of study and must have completed 12 semester hours at Robeson Community College and have a program grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Only courses required in the assigned program of study will be considered in the calculation of a grade point average in determining Honors status.

Criteria for National Technical Honor Society

Students eligible for membership in the National Technical Honor Society must be actively enrolled in a certificate, degree or diploma program, excluding college transfer, and must have completed 12 semester hours at Robeson Community College and have a program grade point average of 3.25 or higher. This Honor Society is available to part-time and full-time students. Students must be nominated by at least one teaching faculty member.