Student Handbook 2019-2020 | Page 23

The grade of No Show (NS) is assigned when a student enrolls in a course but does not attend. For full semester in-person classes (15 weeks), a No Show (NS) grade will be assigned after the second week for non- attendance. For all other delivery modes, a grade of No Show (NS) is assigned when a student enrolls but does not attend. For students who do not attend ANY of their enrolled courses, the College retains the right to withdraw students from all of their courses. Completing curriculum requirements, completing core classes within a program/plan and maintaining a certain grade point average are requirements for graduation from the College. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better and at least 25% of the core credits/units for a program/plan completed through graded classes are part of these requirements. There may be additional program/plan specific requirements as approved by the Vice President of Learning. GRADUATION Students are eligible for graduation when the following requirements are met: - - A student must have completed an application and been accepted to the program/plan from which he or she wishes to graduate. A student must have completed all the classes published in the program’s curriculum with a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better (“C” average). Additional classes taken outside the program’s required classes are not used to calculate the cumulative GPA for the program. After the beginning of each semester, Enrollment Services will contact students who are on track to graduate at the end of the semester. All associate degree and technical diploma graduates will receive a diploma and diploma cover and are welcome to participate in the graduation ceremony. Students who expect to graduate but are not contacted by Enrollment Services should check with their Academic Advisor to verify program completion. Certificate completers are also eligible to participate in graduation, provided that they have previously taken, or are currently enrolled in the required classes the semester of graduation. Certificates that are 15 or more credits are also eligible for honor cords based on the certificate GPA. Students who are graduating from both a program and a certificate will have the highest credential (typically the program) announced at graduation. Official program completion information will be posted to successful graduates’ transcripts approximately two weeks after the end of the semester. A diploma is mailed approximately four weeks after graduation, provided all financial obligations to the College have been satisfied. HONORS Honors notations are based on the following grade point average: GPA DEFINITION NOTATION 3.75 - 4.00 Highest Honors ** 3.50 - 3.74 Honors * Honors notations reflect course work completed prior to the final eight weeks of the final semester. At the end of the final semester, after all grades are posted, a program/plan GPA will be recalculated and, if applicable, honors notations will be posted along with graduation information to a successful graduate’s official NWTC transcript. Honors are not publicized for students in programs or certificates with curricula fewer than 15 credits. INDEPENDENT STUDY A project for credit is possible through independent study. Requests must be submitted through the division Dean or Associate Dean. These requests must be made in advance of the semester in which a student intends to take the study project. The objective of independent study is to provide a means whereby a student may earn program credits to satisfy graduation requirements by doing specific research or other projects in areas in which there are no specific courses of instruction at NWTC. Process for Independent Study: - A student should seek counseling with the program’s major instructor or program advisor, to establish that independent study is a viable course of action.