Academic Information

Academic Load

The normal course load during a regular semester at Danville Community College is 15-18 semester hours. A student must register for at least 12 credits to be considered a full-time student. Students wishing to take more than 18 credit hours in a given semester need the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services and the support of the Division Dean/Vice President. As a general guideline, the student’s cumulative GPA must be 3.5 or higher to be considered.

During the summer session, a student is restricted to two regular courses each summer term or 12-14 credit hours for the entire summer session. Students wishing to take 15 or more credit hours need the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services and the support of the Division Dean/Vice President. As a general guideline, the student’s cumulative GPA must be 3.0 or higher to be considered.

Academic Standing

Students are considered to be “in good academic standing” if they maintain a semester minimum GPA of 2.00; are eligible to re-enroll at the college; and are not on academic suspension or dismissal status.

Honors Program

In keeping with the college’s commitment to provide educational opportunities consistent with the ability and interests of the individual student, DCC invites motivated students to enroll in its Honors Program. This program consists of individually contracted honors projects in regularly sectioned courses or honors courses. Students may earn “Honors Scholar” designation on their diplomas and transcripts by completing a minimum of 12 credit hours of honors work and achieving an overall GPA of 3.0 or greater. All honors work must be completed one week prior to the end of the semester.

Students are eligible for honors work if they meet all of the following criteria:

Completed all developmental coursework (if required)
A 3.25 or higher high school GPA
A 3.0 or greater overall GPA in non-honors courses
Satisfied prerequisites of each Honors Community course
Endorsement of two DCC faculty members

Honors projects are negotiated with faculty and the Honors Program-Chair. These projects can be done in any non-honors course and typically focus on topics of special interest to the student and require appropriate additional or alternative assignments which go beyond regular coursework.

Academic Honors

President’s Honors List: Students must be enrolled for six or more credit hours for the semester during which the honor is extended, have achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, a semester GPA of 3.75 or higher, and have completed 24 semester hours or more at DCC.

Vice President’s Honors List: Students must be enrolled for six or more credit hours for the semester during which the honor is extended, have achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, a semester GPA of 3.0 to 3.74, and have completed 24 semester hours or more at DCC.

Academic Warning

Students who fail to attain a minimum GPA of 2.00 for any semester shall receive a notification of academic warning to inform them they are at risk of incurring negative academic standings in subsequent terms.  Academic warning is not an official standing.  Students should see their advisor and take advantage of academic support services provided by the college.

Academic Probation

Students who fail to maintain a cumulative GPA of 1.50 shall be on academic probation until such time as their cumulative average is 1.75 or better. The statement “Academic Probation” shall be placed on their permanent records but shall not be placed on the student’s official transcript.  Students on probation are ineligible for appointive or elective office in student organizations unless special permission is granted by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services or another appropriate college administrator. Students may be required to carry less than a normal load for the following semester and are required to consult with their academic advisor. Students shall be placed on probation only after they have attempted 12 semester credits.

Academic Suspension

Students on academic probation who fail to attain a semester GPA of 1.50 or better shall be placed on suspension only after they have attempted 24 semester credits. Academic suspension shall be for one semester. The statement “Academic Suspension” shall be placed on the students’ permanent records but shall not be placed on the student’s official transcript. Students who are placed on academic suspension and wish to appeal should follow the appeal process established by the college. Suspended students may be reinstated at the conclusion of the suspension period. Students who have been reinstated from academic suspension must achieve a 2.00 GPA or better for the semester of their reinstatement and must earn at least a 1.75 GPA in each subsequent semester of attendance. The statement “Subject to Dismissal” shall be placed on the students’ permanent records. Students who have been reinstated from academic suspension will remain subject to dismissal until their cumulative GPA is raised to a minimum of 1.75. Reinstated students may be required to carry less than a normal course load the following semester and are required to consult with their advisor.

Academic Dismissal

Students who do not attain at least a 2.00 GPA for the semester of reinstatement following academic suspension shall be academically dismissed. Students who achieve at least a 2.00 GPA for the semester of their reinstatement following academic suspension must earn at least a 1.75 GPA in each subsequent semester of enrollment. Failure to attain a 1.75 GPA in each subsequent semester until the cumulative GPA reaches 1.75 shall result in academic dismissal. The statement “Academic Dismissal” shall be placed on the students’ permanent records. Academic dismissal is normally permanent. In exceptional circumstances,students may appeal and be reinstated by submitting a request for reinstatement to the Admissions Committee. This request should be received before the start of classes. Students should allow 5-10 business days for the review and decision. Students who have been reinstated after academic dismissal will remain subject to dismissal until their cumulative GPA is raised to a minimum of 1.75. Reinstated students may be required to carry less than a normal course load the following semester and are required to consult with their advisor.

Academic Renewal

Students who return to DCC after a separation of five years or more may petition for academic renewal. The request must be in writing on the Academic Renewal Selection Form available in the Enrollment Services Office. The purpose of this policy shall be to adjust the cumulative GPA of eligible students who have enrollments from 1984 and forward. If a student is determined to be eligible for academic renewal, “D” and “F” grades earned prior to re-enrollment will be deleted from the cumulative and curriculum GPA, subject to the following conditions:

1. Prior to petitioning for academic renewal, the student must demonstrate a renewed academic interest and effort by earning at least a 2.5 GPA in the first 12 semester hours completed after re-enrollment.
2. All grades received at DCC will be part of the student’s official transcript.
3. Students will receive degree credit only for courses in which grades of “C” or better were earned prior to academic renewal, provided that such courses meet current curriculum requirements.
4. Total hours for graduation will be based on all coursework taken at DCC after readmission, as well as former coursework for which a grade of “C” or better was earned, and credits transferred from other colleges or universities.
5. The academic renewal policy may be used only once and cannot be revoked once approved. All students should be warned about the pitfalls of “Academic Renewal.” (Example: A student may have a “D” in a course that is needed for graduation but cannot get credit for the course if it is part of Academic Renewal. The course will have to be repeated.)

A student denied Academic Renewal may appeal the decision to a committee chaired by the Dean of Student Services, with the other two committee members appointed annually by the dean. A written appeal should be sent to the Dean of Student Services within seven days of denial.

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

Many courses at DCC are associated with other courses referred to as prerequisites and co-requisites. The idea is that in order to be successful in a certain course, the student must have acquired or be in the process of acquiring certain other skills or knowledge. A prerequisite is a course that a student must take before enrolling in a particular course. - Example: BIO 102  has BIO 101  as a prerequisite. Students must successfully complete BIO 101  before taking BIO 102 . A co-requisite is a course which a student must take while they are taking another course if they have not already completed that course. 

GPA for Repeat Courses

A student’s GPA will reflect the highest grade received for repeat courses initially taken since summer 1994. “General Usage” courses, such as 099, 199, etc., are not counted. Repeat courses not figured in the GPA will be designated on the transcript with the words “repeated course” under the class.

Attendance

Student/faculty interactions are critical to the learning process. Regular class attendance is thus expected of students. Students missing 25% or more of the total time allocated for classes and/or labs will be administratively withdrawn from the course upon recommendation of the instructor. Students administratively withdrawn prior to the completion of 60% of the classes and/or labs will be issued a grade of “W”. After that point, students who are administratively withdrawn will be issued a grade of “F”. Faculty have the discretion to establish more restrictive policies published in the course outline. Faculty also may excuse a student when documented, mitigating circumstances prevent the student from attending a class or lab session. Failure to attend classes will negatively affect one’s financial aid award.

Examinations

Students are expected to take all examinations, including final examinations, at the regularly scheduled time. Exceptions cannot be made without the permission of the instructor.

Academic Honesty

Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in their experiences in the classroom. Any student found guilty of dishonesty in academic work is subject to disciplinary action.

1. DCC may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of any form of academic dishonesty, including, but not limited to, the following:
   1. Copying from another student’s test paper or other academic work.
   2. Using materials not authorized by the person giving the test.
   3. Collaborating, without authorization, with another student during an exam or in preparing academic work.
   4. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting, in whole or part, the contents of an un-administered test.
   5. Substitution for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for oneself, to take a test or prepare other academic work.
   6. Bribing another person to obtain an un-administered test or information about an un-administered test.
   7. The appropriation of another’s work without acknowledging the incorporation of another’s work in one’s own written work (plagiarism).
2. A student who receives a failing grade (“F”) in a course as a result of academic dishonesty (such as plagiarism) may not withdraw from that course with a “W” or receive a refund. This policy applies to any student in a particular course deemed to have committed an act of academic dishonesty during any part of a semester, regardless of whether he/she has turned in any graded work. Mitigating circumstances do not apply in such cases. A student may follow the appeal process outlined in the DCC Student Handbook to appeal the failing grade.
3. Discipline procedures for academic dishonesty are found in the Student Handbook.