Auditing Courses
Students who have been on leave for periods in excess of six months may be required to audit specific classes before resuming their regularly scheduled courses. Additional fees or tuition may be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Approval to audit is given on a space-available basis. Students must register for the course in the Registrar's office. No course credit is awarded to the student, nor is a permanent record maintained.
Repeating Courses
Students who need to repeat a particular course may be charged a fee or be required to complete academic counseling dependent on the program.
Accelerated Study
Students with a compelling, demonstrated need may petition the Executive Vice President for an accelerated study. The granting of an accelerated study is wholly at the Executive Vice President's discretion. With the exception of certain approved programs, applications for acceleration must be submitted five weeks in advance to the Executive Vice President.
To be eligible, students must have:
1) Completed all prior coursework with no outstanding grades of "Incomplete."
2) Maintained a current account balance.
3) Demonstrated a compelling, exceptional need.
Student financial aid arrangements may be negatively affected by an accelerated program. Students must consult with the Financial Aid Office prior to applying for such a program. Students who believe they meet the above requirements should submit their application well in advance of the anticipated course date because the processing time is five weeks.
Change of Academic Program
Students may apply for a change of academic program at any time, provided they are not disqualified from their current program. Application for such a change does not, however, mean automatic acceptance into the new program. Official acceptance into the new program occurs only when the student receives official notification and the student has met all admission requirements specific to that program.
Students on probation must submit their request for a change of program to the Executive Vice President for approval. Students must keep in mind that courses taken in the program they are exiting might not apply toward the program they are entering. The third and any subsequent application for a change in program must be accompanied by a letter of intent that must be approved by the Vice President of Academics. This letter should explain the reason for the change along with the plan for completion.
Practica or Internships
Students may be required to take practical training courses in the form of internships, practica, or residencies depending on the academic discipline in which they are enrolled. This training may be accomplished at College facilities or at off-campus locations, depending on the specialty being pursued. For available practica or internships, see each individual program section.Students should consult the various program requirements in this catalog for further information. Veterans should contact the Veterans Affairs office at the College to determine how enrollment in such courses may affect benefits.
Concurrent Enrollment at Other Institutions
After students are admitted to the College, it is recommended that courses taken at another institution be pre-approved by the Office of the Registrar to ensure transferability.
Student Records
Transcripts and other documents received by the College for the purpose of admission or recording supplemental work become the property of the College and will not be released or copied. California regulatory agencies require that student records be kept for five years.
Grade Reporting
All grades are mailed to the students. Grades are not given over the telephone. Students may request an unofficial transcript from the Registrar's Office. Grades are reported only for students officially registered in a class. Students should direct questions regarding the accuracy of a grade to their instructor. Due to the varying requirements of each course, instructors are allowed a reasonable time to submit grades.
Granting Credit
The College grants credits in quarter units. In addition, the College may grant credit for prior training, prior experience, other coursework, or competency as demonstrated through standardized testing.
Full-Time Student Status
Full-Time Student Status depends on the program in which the student is enrolled. For degree programs, students must maintain a course load of 12 units per ten-week period to obtain "Full-Time Student Status." For non-degree programs, students must maintain a course load of 20 instructional hours per week to obtain "Full-Time Student Status." The units for any class with a "Withdrawn" status do not count toward determining full or part-time status.
NOTE: Federal or state agencies may use different definitions for determining full-time status. For example, the above definition of "Full-Time Student Status" may not apply to international students who require an F-1 Visa.
Approval for the Training of Veterans
The College is approved for the training of veterans under Title 38 of the U.S. Code, Chapters 30, 31, 32, 34 and 35. The College is also authorized for active duty tuition assistance.The College notifies the Veterans Administration within 30 days upon a change of status of any veteran or eligible person who ceases to make satisfactory progress.
Directory Information
The College has established the following items as directory information generally available to the public.
The institution may also release other information on students without written permission of the student if the release can be justified under one of the exceptions to written permission found in FERPA. Section 34 CFR 99.31. Social security numbers may be used for verifying or locating addresses and phone numbers of alumni and students, but will not be published in a directory.If students do not want the College to release directory information, they have thirty days from the date of enrollment to request that a "Directory Hold" code be placed on their records. To request a "Directory Hold" or for more information, students should contact the Office of the Registrar. Particular questions with respect to a student's rights under FERPA should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.
National Polytechnic College of Science is an affiliate of the National University System.
