2000-2005 Academic Standards

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2000-2005 Academic Standards

Academic Standards: History of Charges and Committee Recommendations

FY2000 – FY2005

YEAR: 1999-2000

CHARGE: Credit Option for Community Development Courses

RECOMMENDATIONS:

RATIONALE

Certain Community Development courses share some content with credit-bearing courses offered by the Academic Departments, but the students who take these courses are not usually interested in pursuing a degree. After beginning one of these Community Development courses, a student may reevaluate her goals and consider starting a Brookdale program. A credit option in that course could give that student a start on a degree and be an incentive to register for further credit-bearing courses. In addition, an Academic Department may find this option a way to introduce its offerings to a new student base.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Community Development or an Academic Department may propose that a Community Development course has the potential for a credit option.

2. The Academic Department will thoroughly review the course content of the Community Development course and determine if a credit option is feasible. The Academic Department has the SOLE right to make this decision and will provide a written report to Community Development. Course prerequisites must still be honored. The Credit option for a Community Development course may not apply to any Special Projects course offered by a department.

3. If the Academic Department approves the credit option for a Community Development course, the Academic Department will then establish evaluation criteria for students choosing this option.

Note: The evaluation process is determined by the department and may take different forms. For example, one department could require a student to complete several tests and labs or papers during the course, while another department could require a student to take a test upon completion of the Community Development course (similar to the challenge process currently in existence.)

4. Once the Academic Department has established evaluation criteria, the entire proposal will be reviewed by Academic Council.

5. Students choosing this option will pay the difference between the cost of the Community Development course and the cost of the number of credits earned, provided the cost of the credits is higher.

6. Students may choose this option for up to a 9 credit maximum.

7. A faculty member in the appropriate discipline will be the student’s evaluator for the credit portion of the course.

Note: Input from the Faculty Association should be sought regarding compensation for course review and student evaluation.

RESULTS:

VOTE:

The Steering Committee had designated Faculty as the only voting constituency. This decision was challenged from the floor and after discussion a vote on this challenge was taken. The vote was not sufficient to overturn the constituency decision. The Faculty constituency voted 29 for the proposal, 20 against, with 4 abstentions. Thus, the proposal passed and will be forwarded to the President.

PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE:

The Credit Option for Community Development Courses: Dr. Burnham stated, "I am fully in support of the provision of the Credit option for noncredit course work. I am sensitive to the concern raised regarding the academic integrity of the learning experiences and the implicit concerns about "internal" competition. However, I believe that close working relationships between departments, faculty, and the Division of Business and Community Development will enhance and strengthen our institutional capacity to serve more members of our community and, particularly, to encourage more employers to motivate their employees to "explore" training and learning that will ultimately lead to the pursuit of expanded knowledge through certifications and degrees. … I am directing the implementation of these policies and protocols immediately."

OUTCOME:

YEAR: 1999-2000

CHARGE: The D Grade

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. The D grade should be available in all credit level courses. The course syllabus should clearly state the criteria for each grade level.

2. The D grade is acceptable for General Ed courses.

RESULTS:

VOTE:

The Faculty constituency was the only designated voting constituency and the vote was 49 for the proposal, 2 against, with 3 abstentions. Thus, the proposal passed and will be forwarded to the President.

PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE:

The D Grade: President Burnham stated, "I fully concur with this recommendation; and by virtue of this memorandum, so direct Dr. Kobran, through the Division Chairs, Directors, and Department Chairs, to assume that this academic regulation will go into effect immediately."

OUTCOME:

YEAR: 1999-2000

CHARGE: Pass/No Credit Option

RECOMMENDATIONS:

REVISION TO THE COLLEGE REGULATION ON THE GRADING SYSTEM

OLD VERSION

PASS/NO CREDIT OPTION FOR ABOVE ZERO LEVEL COURSES

A student may elect to register for a maximum of 2 courses during their Brookdale program, maximum 8 credits, on a Pass/No Credit basis in courses approved by the Academic Departments. A grade of Pass will be recorded on the transcript if the student completes the course at the “Satisfactory” (C) level or above. A grade of “No Credit” will be recorded on the transcript if the student fails the course or completes the course on a “Marginal” (D) level. A student may change from Pass/No Credit to the traditional grade option up until the end of the 3^rd week of the long term or 20% of any shorter term. In all descriptions of the grading system distributed to students, a warning will be issued stating: Courses completed under Pass/No Credit may not transfer to some institutions.

NEW VERSION

PASS/NO CREDIT OPTION

A student my take a course at the 100 level or higher on a Pass/No Credit basis. A grade of Pass is earned if the student completes the course at the “Satisfactory” (C) level or above. A grade of “No Credit” is recorded if the student fails the course or completes the course at the “Marginal” (D) level. A student may change from Pass/No Credit to the A – F grade option, or from the A – F grade option to Pass/No Credit, up to the end of the 3^rd week of the Fall or Spring terms or 20% of any shorter term. A maximum of 2 courses (maximum 8 credits) taken on a Pass/No Credit basis may be used toward the degree. This option may not be used for a course in the student’s major.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

1. There should be a check-off box for this option on the registration form.

2. Courses taken on this basis may be used to satisfy a prerequisite.

3. Students should check with their counselor and/or transfer institution to insure a satisfactory transfer if this option is exercised.

4. Students who take a course Pass/No Credit and later want to apply that course towards a new major must appeal. (The forms used for change in program and course substitutions at graduation could be revised to incorporate this.)

RESULTS:

VOTE:

The Academic Standards Committee presented its recommendations on the Pass/No Credit Option of the Grading Regulation. The Faculty constituency was the only designated voting constituency and the vote was 59 for the proposal, 0 against, with 2 abstentions. Thus, the recommendations passed and will be forwarded to the President.

PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE:

OUTCOME:

YEAR: 1999-2000

CHARGE: The Academic Standing Regulation

RECOMMENDATIONS:

COLLEGE REGULATION 5.0028R

I. TITLE OF REGULATION

Academic Standing

II. OBJECTIVE OF REGULATION

1. To establish standards for determining whether a student is in good academic standing.

2. To establish a process for monitoring student academic standing.

III. AUTHORITY

Board of Trustees Policy #5.0006

IV. REGULATION STATEMENT

A. Good Academic Standing

Good Academic Standing is determined by a combination of the student’s CGPA and a comparison of the credits earned to the credits attempted. A student is considered to be in Good Academic Standing if he or she meets the minimum credits earned and also the minimum CGPA as outlined in the Academic Standing Table below. A student must be in Good Academic Standing to be eligible for graduation.

ACADEMIC STANDING TABLE

*All courses, including W’s, are counted as credits attempted.

B. Warning Notices

A student who has completed 0 – 11 credits and whose CGPA is less than a 2.0 will receive a warning. A student who has completed more than 11 credits and is in Good Academic Standing but whose CGPA is less than a 2.0 will also receive a warning. The student will be notified that he or she may be in jeopardy of losing Good Academic Standing and must choose future courses carefully in order to maintain Good Academic Standing.

C. Academic Probation

A student who is not in Good Academic Standing will be placed on Academic Probation. The student will be required to meet with his or her counselor and plan the next semester with Good Academic Standing as a goal. The student will be restricted to a maximum of Credits Attempted*

Minimum Credits Earned Percentage MinimumCGPA

0 – 11 - - - -

12 – 21 50% 1.6

22 – 31 60% 1.75

32 – 51 65% 1.9

52 – 71 70% 2.0

> 72 75% 2.0

14 credits or 4 courses. If, at the end of the first semester of Academic Probation, the student achieves Good Academic Standing, the Academic Probation period ends. If, at the end of the first semester of Academic Probation, the student does not achieve Good Academic Standing, the student continues for another semester on Academic Probation.

D. Academic Suspension

A student who has been on Academic Probation for two consecutive semesters and has not achieved Good Academic Standing by the end of the second semester will be suspended from the college for at least one full semester (Fall or Spring). The suspended student will not be permitted to attend any intervening

Winterim or Summer terms. Once the Academic Suspension period has expired, the student may return to the college on Academic Probation but must meet with his or her Student Development Specialist to construct a plan with Good Academic Standing as a goal.

E. Academic Dismissal

A student who has returned after Academic Suspension must meet the conditions outlined in Reinstatement after Suspension or Dismissal. If these conditions are not met, the student is placed on Academic Dismissal for a minimum period of one full year. Once the minimum period for Academic Dismissal is over, the student may submit a written request for reinstatement to the Dean of Students. If the student does not return for three or more years, the student may apply for Academic Amnesty (College Regulation

5.0014R).

F. Reinstatement after Suspension or Dismissal

A student who is reinstated after Academic Suspension or Academic Dismissal will be placed on Academic Probation and will have, with the exceptions noted below, one semester to achieve Good Academic Standing. One additional semester of Academic Probation will be granted to students who do not achieve Good Academic Standing at the end of the Academic Probation Semester if they fall into one of the following categories:

1. The student has fewer than 32 credits attempted and in the Academic Probation Semester of Reinstatement completes 100% of the credits attempted and earns at least a 2.0 Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA).

2. The student has more than 32 credits attempted, and in the Academic Probation Semester of Reinstatement completes 100% of the credits attempted and earns at least a 2.3 SGPA.

G. Appeal for Reinstatement

A student in Academic Dismissal may Appeal for Reinstatement in writing to the Dean of Student Development. The appeal letter must be received at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of the next long semester. The student must explain in full the basis for the appeal, any extenuating circumstances, and a plan for academic success. The Appeal for Reinstatement will be judged by an Academic

Review Committee composed of:

Dean of Academic Affairs (or designee)
Dean of Student Development (or designee)
Division Chair of Counseling (or designee)
Director of Enrollment Management (or designee)
College Registrar (or designee)
One or two Division Chairs

The Academic Review Committee must have 60% of its member present to act on an appeal.

The Academic Review Committee may grant an Appeal for Reinstatement by majority vote. The committee will notify the student in writing of its decision at least one week prior to the start of the semester for which the student wishes to register. The decision of the Academic Review Committee is final.

Addendum

Academic Standards met on Tuesday, April 25, and considered the implementation of the Academic Standing Regulation that was passed by the Forum on April 18. The following recommendation is the result of that discussion.

The Academic Standards committee recommends the following:

In order to successfully implement the Academic Standing Regulation, it is imperative that there be an effective, college-wide student monitoring system, using appropriate technology, to notify students of their academic progress.

RESULTS:

VOTE:

Academic Standing Regulation – Dan Schroll, Chair of the Academic Standards Committee, presented the revised recommendations on the Academic Standing Regulation. See the mid-April Gazette for the complete statement. (Please note that the last line of the table should read “>51”, not “>71”.) There was some discussion about the role of basic skills classes in the regulation and some concern that financial aid students are held to a higher standard than regular students. The Faculty constituency was the only designated voting constituency and the vote was 32 for the proposal, 2 against, with 1 abstentions. Thus, the recommendations passed and will be forwarded to the President.

PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE:

OUTCOME:

YEAR: 2000-2001

CHARGE: Revision of the Academic Standing Regulation to incorporate Basic Skills Courses

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Academic Standards Committee presented a draft of the Academic Standing Regulation to the Forum for discussion in October. That draft appears in the October Gazette. Subsequent to the Forum meeting, the committee met and considered some alternatives to the 50% rule for Basic Skills classes, but all possibilities were found to be either too cumbersome or to impose a burden on students who are not in Basic Skills classes. The committee voted unanimously to present the regulation, with a few minor changes, to the Forum for a vote. The changes are: changing the first line of the table to 1 – 11, instead of 0 – 11, to be consistent with the numbers for warning notices, and a change of the language in IV. A. 2. To clarify that W’s are not counted as credits attempted and that students must pass 50% of their Basic Skills courses, not credits.

I. TITLE OF REGULATION

Academic Standing

II. OBJECTIVE OF REGULATION

1. To establish standards for determining whether a student is in satisfactory academic standing.

2. To establish a process for monitoring student academic standing.

III. AUTHORITY

Board of Trustees Policy #5.0006

IV. REGULATION STATEMENT

Note: For purposes of this regulation, degree credits refers to credits for courses at the 100-level or above, whereas non-degree credits refers to credits at the 0-level.

A. Satisfactory Academic Standing

A student is considered to be in Satisfactory Academic Standing if the following two criteria are met:

1. The student must meet the minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) as outlined in the Academic Standing Table below.

ACADEMIC STANDING TABLE

Degree Credits Completed*	Minimum CGPA
1 – 11	- -
12 – 21	1.6
22 – 31	1.75
32 – 51	1.9
> 51	2.0

*Degree credits completed includes credits for all courses (at the 100-level or above) from which the student has not withdrawn and all transfer credits accepted by Brookdale. (Only credits earned at Brookdale are computed in the CGPA.)

2. Once more than 11 credits (either degree or non-degree) have been attempted (not including official withdrawals), a student enrolled in 0-level courses must pass 50% of those courses each semester he or she is enrolled in a 0-level course.

A student must have a CGPA of 2.0 to be eligible for graduation.

B. Warning Notices

A student who has completed 1 – 11 degree credits and whose CGPA is less than a 2.0 will receive a warning. A student who has completed more than 11 degree credits and is in Satisfactory Academic Standing but whose CGPA is less than a 2.0 will also receive a warning. The student will be notified that he or she may be in jeopardy of losing Satisfactory Academic Standing and must choose future courses carefully in order to maintain Satisfactory Academic Standing.

C. Academic Probation

A student who is not in Satisfactory Academic Standing will be placed on Academic Probation. The student will be required to meet with his or her counselor and plan the next semester with Satisfactory Academic Standing as a goal. The student will be restricted to a maximum of 14 credits or 4 courses, and the counselor’s signature is required for registration. If, at the end of the first semester of Academic Probation, the student achieves Satisfactory Academic Standing, the Academic Probation period ends. If, at the end of the first semester of Academic Probation, the student does not achieve Satisfactory Academic Standing, the student continues for another semester on Academic Probation.

D. Academic Suspension

A student who has been on Academic Probation for two consecutive semesters and has not achieved Satisfactory Academic Standing by the end of the second semester will be suspended from the college for at least one full semester (Fall or Spring). The suspended student will not be permitted to attend any intervening Winterim or Summer terms. Once the Academic Suspension period has expired, the student may return to the college on Academic Probation but must meet with his or her Student Development Specialist to construct a plan with Satisfactory Academic Standing as a goal. The counselor’s signature is required for registration.

E. Academic Dismissal

F. Reinstatement after Suspension or Dismissal

One additional semester of Academic Probation will be granted to students who do not achieve Satisfactory Academic Standing at the end of the Academic Probation Semester if they fall into one of the following categories:

1. The student has fewer than 32 degree credits completed and in the Academic Probation Semester of Reinstatement completes 100% of the credits attempted and earns at least a 2.0 Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA).

2. The student has more than 32 degree credits completed, and in the Academic Probation Semester of Reinstatement completes 100% of the credits attempted and earns at least a 2.3 SGPA.

G. Appeal for Reinstatement

The Appeal for Reinstatement will be judged by an Academic Review Committee composed of:

· Dean of Academic Affairs (or designee)

· Dean of Student Development (or designee)

· Division Chair of Counseling (or designee)

· Director of Enrollment Management (or designee)

· College Registrar (or designee)

· Two Division Chairs

· Two Faculty

The Academic Review Committee must have 60% of its member present to act on an appeal.

RESULTS:

VOTE:

A vote was taken on the Academic Standing Regulation. The voting constituency was designated as faculty only and the regulation passes with 33 voting for the regulation, 0 opposed, and 5 abstentions. This regulation has been forwarded to the President for his approval.

PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE:

From Dr. Burnham: “I am now ready to approve this regulation as forwarded with one exception: due to the two year period when no Academic Standing regulation was in force, we needed to "start over" with a baseline. Students in this particular baseline, who would possibly have been dismissed under the new regulation as written, were issued a "warning" instead. It was strongly felt by Dean Palumbo and his staff that these students should not be held accountable for a regulation they were unaware of. With the distribution of this new Academic Standing regulation, these same students will now progress under the new guidelines. I want to thank you for your patience as we worked through the complicated administrative protocol necessary for the success of this regulation.”

OUTCOME:

YEAR: 2000-2001

CHARGE: Basic Skills and ESL Review in consultation with the Basic Skills Committee

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Basic Skills Regulation

I. TITLE

Basic Skills

II. OBJECTIVE OF REGULATION

The College recognizes that some students may arrive at Brookdale academically underprepared for college-level courses. To help prepare students to succeed in college and to ensure the integrity of college-level courses, courses in developmental reading, writing, and mathematics are provided as part of a comprehensive Basic Skills program.

The Basic Skills program consists of testing, placement, counseling, courses, and support services. The objectives of the program are to assess and identify students’ academic needs; to address these needs through counseling and developmental coursework in writing, reading, and mathematics; to establish requirements for enrollment in and completion of necessary developmental courses

III. AUTHORITY

Board of Trustees Policy #6.1000

V. REGULATION STATEMENT

The college will provide appropriate placement testing to identify and assess students’ academic needs. Students identified as needing development in the skills necessary to succeed in college-level courses are required to take and pass developmental courses as outlined below. Developmental courses are offered below the 100 level for institutional credit and will not be counted as credits toward graduation.

A. Testing

The following students are required to be tested for placement:

1. All first-time entering full-time and part-time matriculated students

2. Transfer students who have not passed a college-level writing course or a college-level math course beyond elementary algebra (only the appropriate subject tests are required). Students with fewer than 24 credits of college-level courses should take the Reading placement test.

3. Non-matriculating students registering for their 12^th credit

4. Non-matriculating students below the 12th credit who wish to register for a developmental course or a course with Basic Skills pre/co-requisites

5. Students at the end of the ESL sequence

Exemptions and Waivers

Students who are required to be tested may be exempt from testing if they require instruction in English as a second language, if they are 65 years of age or older, or for other reasons that would prevent test taking. Students may also be exempt from the requirement for testing if they can provide verifiable documentation of proficiency level in Basic Skills. Such documentation may include (but is not limited to) scores on an equivalent placement test or a passing grade in a developmental course at another institution. Exemptions from testing will be assigned by the Office of the Registrar.

Retesting

Students are entitled to one retest per subject area. A retest in a given subject area must be taken prior to the end of the add/drop period of the first required developmental course in that subject. A referral is required before a retest can be administered.

B. Counseling

All tested students are required to meet with a counselor to plan appropriate course selection prior to registration. Students will continue to meet with a counselor prior to registration for each term until they have completed Basic Skills requirements. Students may not withdraw from a developmental course without first meeting with a counselor. Counselors may waive students from the requirement to take developmental courses based on verified information that indicates that the student has demonstrated mastery of the appropriate basic skills, processes, and bodies of knowledge.

Course Completion

Students identified as requiring developmental coursework will be placed in those courses as follows:

Schedule of Required Initial Placement in

Developmental Courses:

Developmental Reading: within the first 12 credits

Developmental Writing: within the first 12 credits

Developmental Mathematics (Algebra and/or

Prealgebra): within the first 12 credits unless the counselor determines that developmental reading and writing should be completed first; in that case, in the first semester following completion of required developmental reading.

In order to fulfill Basic Skills requirements, students must pass all required developmental courses. Students who do not complete a developmental course are required to reregister for the course in the next term. The Registrar will notify the student and his or her counselor of the requirement to re-register for the course. Students may not register for any course for which they have not met Basic Skills prerequisites or co-requisites.

V. RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Executive Vice-President for Educational/Student and

Outreach Services

RESULTS:

VOTE:

The Basic Skills Regulation: This regulation was presented for discussion by Basic Skills Committee Chair Joe Varone, who first explained the details of the part of the regulation that deals with who should be tested. Subsequent discussion focused on the need to identify students who more appropriately should complete an ESL program before taking many college-level courses. A recommendation was made and accepted to change the word “should” to must in #2 under A. Testing. The regulation was presented for a vote and the vote was unanimously in favor, with 0 no votes and 0 abstentions. The regulation will be forwarded to the President.

PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE:

From Dr. Burnham: “I approve this recommendation and once again, applaud Governance, in particular Academic Standards, for their exhaustive discussion and deliberation on this issue.”

OUTCOME:

YEAR: 2000-2001

CHARGE: Course Repetition

RECOMMENDATIONS: See 2001-2002 Charges

YEAR: 2001-2002

CHARGE: Board Policy on Academic Freedom

RECOMMENDATIONS:

I. TITLE OF POLICY

Academic Freedom and Responsibility

II. OBJECTIVE OF POLICY

To provide Academic guidelines for faculty and staff.

III. AUTHORITY

Board of Trustees By-Laws

IV. POLICY STATEMENT

Academic Freedom is essential to the search for truth and to the free exercise of the right of expression by all members of the academic community. The College will encourage a free exchange of ideas and opinions representing a broad spectrum of positions and points of view.

The responsibility of having Academic Freedom is to insure that the rights and beliefs of others are not infringed upon.

For all members of the academic community, Academic Freedom provides:

1. The right to determine the content and methodology of instruction consistent with the catalog course description and the course syllabus.

2. The right to discuss subject matter as they see fit.

3. The right to discuss, controversial issues relating to their discipline, with an obligation to remember that they have an unusual influence on the opinions and values of the students.

4. The right to retain all rights as citizens to free speech and publication. Such rights are not, as such, subject to institutional censorship or discipline.

5. Freedom in research and publication where these activities do not interfere with the performance of academic duties.

In accepting the right of Academic Freedom, all members of the academic community accept these corollary responsibilities:

1. To present material with clarity, fairness and accuracy.

2. To avoid introducing controversial issues where they are not relevant to instruction.

3. To handle controversial issues with respect for the expression of differing points of view.

4. To strive to distinguish among fact, philosophies, theories, and opinions.

5. To avoid presenting personal philosophy as fact.

6. To clearly impart to all that the community member is neither an official nor spokesperson for the College.

For the students, Academic Freedom provides:

1. The right to freedom of inquiry and expression.

2. The right to be judged on the basis of performance in assigned tasks, not on the basis of personal viewpoint.

Academic Freedom requires that the student accept the responsibility:

1. To seek to distinguish between opinion and fact.

2. To show respect for the right of others to free expression and inquiry.

V. RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Board of Trustees

NOTE: The Steering Committee has reviewed this policy and, in the interest of clarity, has recommended to the committee the following changes:

1. Under OBJECTIVE OF POLICY, add the work “freedom” between “academic” and “guidelines”. Steering believes this was an oversight.

2. Change #6 under “responsibilities” above to the following:

"To clearly impart to all that viewpoints expressed in an academic setting do not represent the official position of the college."

As of the printing of this Gazette, the committee had not completed its voting on these changes. The final version will be presented at the Forum meeting.

RESULTS:

VOTE:

There was a vote on the Board Policy on Academic Freedom. This policy had been discussed last spring but not voted on. It was accepted by a vote of 72-0. The Board Policy will now be recommended to the President.

PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE:

At the rescheduled September 19 Forum, Governance voted to forward to the President for his approval the revised Policy on Academic Freedom as submitted by Academic Standards. The Amendment to the Governance Constitution adding the Manager of College Relations to the ex-officio membership of College Life was passed at the October 2 Forum. On October 16, 2001 Dr. Burnham approved Board Policy 5.000, Academic Freedom and Responsibility. He expressed his “sincere thanks to the members of the Academic Standards Committee, and particularly the chairs, Sherri West and Carey Miller, for their due diligence and careful consideration of this pivotal document.” Dr. Burnham will bring this Policy forward to the November Board of Trustees meeting for discussion and lodging. Dr. Burnham noted the Constitutional Amendment and agreed that it was worthwhile. He will share it with the Board of Trustees at a future date.

OUTCOME:

YEAR: 2001-2002