Policies & Life

GRADING STANDARDS

1. The instructor, in consultation with the academic dean, determines the course requirements and methods of evaluating student performance.

2. Instructors will inform students of the class requirements and the grading procedures at the beginning of the course.

3. At the end of each quarter, the registrar will post the students’ grades for every course undertaken.

4. Standard letter grades (A, B, C, D, and F) are used for undergraduate and graduate programs. Only these letters are recorded on transcripts and in computing grade point averages (GPA). The conversion equivalents of the grades are shown in the following table:

※ An Asterisk symbol (*) beside a letter grade (A-F) indicates that the course is a prerequisite course in the curriculum. Grades obtained from prerequisite courses are not included in the calculation of the student’s GPA.

5. Academic credit is measured using the quarter unit system.  One (1) clock hour equals 50-60 minutes. A quarter credit hour earned is defined as the satisfactory completion of:

• ten (10) clock hours of didactic work (lecture hours); or,
• twenty (20) clock hours of laboratory or supervised work; or,
• thirty (30) clock hours of practicum or internship hours.

6. Incomplete (I) is given to students who, in the judgment of the instructor, are unable to complete the requirements of a course before the end of the quarter because of unforeseen circumstances and justifiable reasons. This grade is recorded on the transcript but does not affect the grade point average. To receive credit for the course, work must be finished within two quarters from the end of the quarter in which the incomplete was assigned. A final grade will be assigned when the work stipulated has been completed and evaluated, or when the time limit for completion of the work has elapsed. If the work is not finished within two quarters, an “F” will be posted on the transcripts. For time extension due to unusual circumstances, a student may file a petition with the academic dean. A student receiving an Incomplete (I) may re-enroll in the course with the permission of the Academic Dean.

7. “NC” is used to denote “no credit” when no letter grade is given. NC grades are not included in the calculation of the GPA. No Credit grades will also be used for the school’s short-term course offerings, including conferences, workshops or seminars.

8. “NG” represents no grade and indicates that the instructor did not submit a final grade at the time grades were due. A grade of “NG” is recorded in consultation with the Office of the Registrar. An “NG” must be converted to a final grade by the end of the next quarter..

9. Students can repeat any course only once. If a higher grade is earned in the repeated course, the lower grade will be recorded as “R” in the official transcript. Only the higher grade is included in the GPA. A student who is required to repeat a course must complete it within the maximum time frame and is charged tuition at the current published rate. All course repetitions count as courses attempted for purposes of determining satisfactory academic progress.

10. Withdrawal from enrolled classes after the first two weeks with the proper withdrawal procedure will result in a “W” grade recorded in the official transcript. A grade of “F” will be automatically entered in the grade report if the student does not attend the final three weeks of class without being excused. Withdrawal grades are not included in the GPA.

Class Attendance

1. Regular and prompt attendance at all classes is required.

2. The instructor may assign extra work, require special examinations, or refuse to grant credit for a course if the number of absences is in excess of thirty (30%) of total contact hours.

3. Students should ascertain the exact attendance policy of each faculty member at the beginning of each course.

4. Students must attend the first-class meeting or they may be unofficially dropped by the instructor, resulting in a failing grade.

5. Only registered students, faculty and administrators, and guests invited by the instructor may attend classes. All others will be asked to leave.

6. Regular attendance is necessary to achieve satisfactory academic progress. If the student is absent, he/she may be required to make up all work missed. It is the student’s responsibility to check on all assignments.

7. Students enrolled in any course are expected to attend classes regularly and comply with class requirements to the satisfaction of their instructor.

8. In case of severe illness, or a death in the immediate family, the instructor of the course may “excuse” the student from attending class. However, it is the responsibility of the student to make up any academic work assigned during his absence.

9. Students who miss twelve (12) hours of class time or (3) three consecutive classes during any regular quarter may be dropped from that class. Students who wish to be allowed to continue attendance in the class must notify the instructor. If the work missed is completed to the instructor’s satisfaction within a reasonable period of time, the student may continue with the class.

10. Any student missing twelve (12) hours of class time or three (3) consecutive classes during the quarter will be reported by the instructor to the academic dean. The academic dean will then initiate the process of counseling or dropping that student from the class.

Cancellation, Withdrawal, and Refunds

1. The student has the right to cancel the enrollment agreement and obtain a refund of charges paid through attendance at the first-class session, or the seventh day after enrollment, whichever is later.

2. The student will be refunded full amount of all monies except the application fee and all other fees indicated as non-refundable in the enrollment agreement and school catalog.

3. For students who have completed 60% or less of the 10 weeks quarter instruction period, the refund shall be on a pro rata basis. The refund shall be the amount of tuition paid multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of class hours of instruction (credit units x 10) which the student has not received but paid for, and the denominator of which is the total number of class hours of instruction (credit units x 10) for which the student has paid. For example, if the student completes only 20 hours of a 4 units (40 hours) course and paid $1,000.00 tuition, the student would receive a refund of $500.00.

4. The student will not get a refund after more than sixty percent (60%) of the instruction of that quarter period has lapsed.

5. Students must submit their request to cancel the enrollment agreement to the registrar.

6. No refund will be given if the student has an outstanding tuition balance.

7. The refund check will be given or mailed to the student within thirty (30) days upon receipt of the request.

8. Students may withdraw courses during the first two weeks of classes, but not to exceed the last day to add and drop as announced in the course schedule in any given quarter period, without affecting their grade point average.

9. Withdrawal from enrolled classes after the first two weeks with the proper withdrawal procedure will result in a “W” grade recorded in the official transcript.

10. No withdrawals are permitted during the final (3) three weeks of instruction except in cases such as accident or serious illness.

11. A grade of “F” will be automatically entered in the grade report if the student, without any valid excuse, did not attend the final (3) three weeks of class.

Academic Probation and Dismissal

1. Academic probation is defined as the status of the student indicating that the relationship with the school is tenuous and that the student’s record will be reviewed periodically to determine suitability to remain enrolled. Specific limitations and restrictions on the student’s privileges may accompany the probation.

2. A student who is dismissed by disciplinary action, from either the school or a course, will not receive a refund of tuition or other fees.

3. A student who is dismissed from the school for disciplinary reasons must exclude himself or herself from the classes, activities, facilities, and buildings. Any exception to this rule requires prior approval of the academic dean.

4. A student who is dismissed may reapply for admission after two (2) quarters.

5. For students in the undergraduate level, failure to maintain a grade point average of 2.0 in any given quarter will result to academic probation.

6. For students in the graduate level, failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any given quarter will result to academic probation.

7. Students placed in academic probation will be notified of the probation status by the academic dean. All students placed on probation will be counseled by their respective academic advisors and will be given assistance, if needed, in order to improve their GPA.

8. If the student fails to improve his or her GPA to the minimum required by the end of the following quarter, the student will be dismissed.

9. Students who have been dismissed due to the failure to maintain the academic minimums outlined above may apply to continue their studies in an extended enrollment status for a maximum period of one (1) quarter.

10. The academic dean may waive interim satisfactory standards for circumstances of poor health, family crisis, or other significant occurrences outside of the student’s control. These circumstances must be documented and it must be demonstrated by the student that they had an adverse impact on the student’s satisfactory progress in the academic program.

Leave of Absence

1. A leave of absence may be granted for personal emergencies and other circumstances that require a temporary interruption in attendance.

2. Students taking a leave of absence must submit a signed leave of absence form to the Registrar’s office prior to taking the leave.

3. Students who begin a leave of absence during a quarter will be assigned a grade of “W” for any coursework that cannot be assigned a final grade.

4. Leave of absences may not be granted during a student’s first quarter.

5. Only (1) one leave of absence may be granted in one academic year.

6. A leave of absence has no effect on satisfactory academic progress if no credits are attempted during the leave period.

7. A student who wishes to take a leave of absence must make the request prior to or on the first day of instruction by completing the Request for Leave of Absence form.

8. The leave of absence is effective only when the academic dean has acted upon the request and granted permission.

9. A student who has taken a leave of absence without prior approval of the academic dean will not be considered as a continuing student without persuasive reason(s) and evidence to substantiate such reason(s).

10. If the leave of absence is approved, the leave is recorded on the student’s academic records.

11.  The period of leave is not counted in the time allowed for the completion of degree requirements.

12. Students who do not return to enrolled status at the end of the approved leave of absence are no longer considered to be pursuing a degree.

13. Students who fail to apply for Request for Leave of Absence, or for whom a leave has been denied or has expired, should apply for readmission.

14. The student requesting a Leave of Absence for non-medical reasons who wishes to maintain his/her enrollment status may do so under the following conditions:

15. The student requesting a Leave of Absence for medical reasons who wishes to maintain his enrollment status may do so under the following conditions: