Academic Regulations

Wait List Procedures
If a particular class is full, you may be put on a Wait List if one is available or if the Wait List is not full. Please be aware that you are charged tuition for a Wait List registration. You will not be charged if you have not been registered by the add deadline. Prior to the first day of class, students are moved from the Wait List to registered status as space becomes available. To find out whether you have achieved 'registered' status, you may view your registration status on the SIS or contact the instructor at the first class session. During the Add period, an instructor can add you from the Wait List to the class by signing a Schedule Change form (also called an Add/Drop form), which you must then submit to Registration before the Add deadline. Late registrations are subject to a $25 fee. Instructors may drop you from the Wait List if you do not attend the first day of the first class. If you are still on the Wait List on the last day of the Add period, you will be dropped from the Wait List and your tuition for that class will be refunded if a refund is due. Refunds are made after the Add/Drop period is over.

How to Understand Course Numbers
All credit courses, whether lower-division transfer or professional technical, are taught on a college level. Courses with letter prefixes and numbers of 100 or higher (for example, WR 121, BI 103, MTH 111) usually transfer to a four-year college or university. Courses numbered 100-199 are considered freshman-level courses, and those numbered 200-299 are sophomore level. Letter-prefix courses that have numbers below 100 or numbers that include a decimal point (for example, MTH 065 or BA 2.530) generally will not transfer to a four-year institution. However, there are some exceptions; see your advisor concerning transferability. You are not limited to taking all transfer or all professional technical classes; you may mix and match them depending on your program. Consult your advisor. If a course number is changed from a professional technical number to a transfer level number, the transfer level number will appear on your permanent record only if you took the class after the change was approved.

Prerequisites
Many courses require that you complete other courses prior to enrolling in them. Make sure you check the 'Course Description' section of this catalog for prerequisites before you register. If you are uncertain about whether you have met a specific prerequisite, ask your advisor or the instructor of that class. If you have not met the prerequisite, you may be withdrawn from the course. If you have completed an LBCC class with a grade of 'C' or better, then take a class that is clearly identified as a prerequisite to it, the credits will not count for graduation. If you register for credit in such a course, you may be disenrolled. Any exceptions must be authorized in writing to the registrar by the appropriate faculty member and dean or designee.

To Change Your Schedule
To change your schedule in any way, you may use the SIS on the Web or submit a Schedule Change at the Registration Office. For classes that require an instructor's signature, you must submit a Schedule Change at the Registration Office. During the first week of the term, you must have the instructor's written permission to add a course that is full. Registration deadlines for shorter classes are printed in the schedule. If you are changing to another section of a course - whether for cancellation of the class or for any other reason - you must fill out a Schedule Change form. You have until the end of the seventh week of each term to officially withdraw from a full-term class and earn a 'W' grade. Withdrawal deadlines for shorter classes are printed in the schedule.

To Audit a Class
If you want to audit a class (take it without receiving credit) you can request audit status either at the time you register or during the Add period for that class. Instructors reserve the right to disenroll students who do not have the prerequisite for the course they want to audit. The fees for auditing are the same as for regular enrollment. You are encouraged to discuss your learning goals for the class with the instructor prior to selecting the audit grade option. Auditing students are not required to complete course requirements for a letter grade, but are expected to fully participate in class activities. The instructor is under no obligation to grade or record the student's work. An 'AU' grade will be recorded on the transcript.

Academic Calendar
The college operates on a term system (also called a quarter system). Fall term begins in late September and ends before Christmas. Winter term begins in early January and runs until mid-March, and spring term begins in late March and ends in mid-June. The summer term runs from late June until late August. See our Academic Calendar webpage.

Credit Hours and Credit Loads
Generally speaking, a class that meets one hour a week for one term will yield one credit; a class that meets three hours per week will yield three credits. A lab class usually yields one credit for each two or three hours of lab time. If you are employed while you attend college, bear in mind that most classes require one or two hours of preparation for each class hour. In our program descriptions, we suggest curricula that will allow you to complete the program in one or two years; if you are working, you may need to extend that timeline. To earn a transfer degree in two years, you should schedule an average of 15 credits per term to accumulate 90 credits in six terms. You may take no more than 20 credits in any single term without a counselor's approval. The time required to complete a program may vary according to your preparation when you enter school and the availability of classes.

Grading System
A Excellent work; 4 quality points per credit.
B Above average work; 3 quality points per credit.
C Average work; 2 quality points per credit.
D Below average work; 1 quality point per credit.
F Failing work; 0 quality points per credit.
IN Incomplete work (not computed in GPA).
P Pass, credit earned (not computed in GPA).
W Withdrawal; no credit earned (not computed in GPA).
Y Amount of submitted coursework and of class participation was too insignificant to warrant assigning a grade, as defined in the course syllabus (not computed in GPA).
NP No pass; no credit earned (not computed in GPA).
WP Work in Progress; no credit earned (not computed in GPA).
AU Audit; no credit earned (not computed in GPA).
R Repeated; followed by original grade (not computed in GPA).
Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated by dividing total quality points by total hours. (Grades not included in GPA are IN, W, Y, P, NP, WP, AU and repeated grades preceded by R.) Transcripts show current GPA (one term) and cumulative GPA (all classes taken at LBCC). You can obtain your grades via SIS.

Honor Roll
If you obtain a grade point average of 3.50 or better with no incompletes and have completed a 12-credit load or more of graded LBCC classwork (not including P/NP), you are placed on the Honor Roll list for that quarter.

Immunizations
The Oregon College Immunization Law requires that community college students born on or after Jan. 1, 1957 and in the allied health, intercollegiate sports or early childhood education program receive two doses of measles vaccinations.

Academic Probation and Suspension
Any student registered for 12 or more credits after the second week of the term is subject to academic standards rules. If your cumulative grade point average drops below 2.00 or you complete less than 50 percent of the credits you were registered for, you may be placed on academic probation. To continue in a program, you must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.00 in all specific major requirements. Some programs have more restrictive requirements; see the program descriptions in this catalog. If you drop under this requirement, you may petition the department for reinstatement. If you have been on academic probation for three consecutive terms, you are subject to suspension. Students on suspension are limited to enrolling in a maximum of seven credits. You may petition to be removed from suspension by completing a Suspension Appeal Petition, available in the Admissions Office/First Stop Center. Students also are expected to complete the courses for which they register. If you are a full-time student, you may be placed on academic warning, probation or suspension for non-completion of 50 percent of the credits for which you registered.

Repeating a Class
In general, you cannot repeat a class for additional credit. Exceptions are noted under the individual course descriptions section of this catalog. Any course completed with a grade below a 'C' may be repeated for grade replacement and GPA recalculation. Any course completed with a grade of a 'B' or 'C' may be repeated once for grade replacement and GPA recalculation. Any replacement grade will replace all previous grades for that course number. Any grade replaced will be preceded by an 'R' on the transcript and removed from credit and GPA totals. Any student desiring a grade replacement for GPA recalculation must initiate the process by filing a request form at the Registration Office.

Pass/No-Pass Option
A course designation of 'OPT' indicates that you have the option of taking the course for a letter grade or on a pass/no-pass (P/NP) basis. It is your responsibility to check the class schedule to determine whether a class has the P/NP option. Requests for 'P' grades may be processed through the Registration Office or through the instructor. It is not advisable to choose the 'P' grade for major coursework in your field of study. If you are planning to transfer to a four-year institution, you should check that institution's requirements regarding 'P' grades. The maximum number of 'P' credits allowed toward a degree is 16, not including those with an obligatory 'P' grade.

Incomplete Rule
If you take an incomplete in a class, you must complete the coursework by the end of the following term. (Students completing work for a spring term class have until the end of fall term.) If you fail to complete the work, you will receive a default grade. 'IN' grades normally are not awarded in variable credit classes.

Withdrawing from School
If you find you can no longer attend classes, you should officially withdraw from school. Students who withdraw within the refund period may expect a tuition refund. A grade of 'W' will not be recorded if the withdrawal is processed before the deadline (generally, the first two weeks of the quarter). A grade of 'W' will be recorded for classes dropped after the refund period and before the withdrawal deadline. (See 'Refunds' and 'Withdrawal Deadlines' in the printed Schedule of Classes.)

Transferring LBCC Credits
Lower-division credits can be transferred from LBCC to most colleges throughout the United States. Lower-division students may transfer up to 108 credit hours to schools in the Oregon University System. If you are planning to transfer credits to another college or university, you are encouraged to work with an LBCC advisor in planning an appropriate transfer program. It is also recommended that you coordinate your plan with that institution.

Credit for Nontraditional Learning
If you believe you already have mastered the material presented in a course listed on LBCC's Course Challenge List, you can stop by the Student Assessment Center and apply for Credit by Examination. To apply, you must be currently enrolled in a credit class or you must have completed 12 credits at LBCC. You must submit your application by the end of the second week of a term, and you must complete the examination by the end of the seventh week of that same term. Before you take the exam, you must pay a nonrefundable processing fee consisting of 30 percent of the tuition per challenged course per credit hour. An additional testing fee may be required. For details about Credit by Examination, stop by the Student Assessment Center or call (541) 917-4781.

College Level Examination Program
LBCC is an approved center for administration of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). In addition, LBCC accepts most CLEP scores for college credit, which may be posted to transcripts under 'advanced standing.' CLEP examinations are administered through the Student Assessment Center. For a list of tests accepted at LBCC, stop by the Assessment Center or call (541) 917-4781.

Advanced Placement Tests
Students who complete college-level work in high school under the Advanced Placement Program sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board and who receive satisfactory grades (3, 4 or 5) on examinations administered by the board may, upon admission, be granted comparable credit toward a degree. All examinations are subject to review and approval by the appropriate college division. Students must request that official Advanced Placement scores be forwarded to the Admissions Office. For further information, contact the Admissions Office/ First Stop Center.

Transcripts and Records
LBCC official student transcripts may be ordered in the Registration Office, at the centers, by fax or by mail. Transcripts cost $5 for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy ordered at the same time, regardless of whether they are official or unofficial. Unofficial transcripts can be obtained from the SIS for free. (These fees are subject to change.) It takes up to five business days to process a transcript order. Rush orders (guaranteed processing in less than 5 days) cost $10 each. There is an additional $1 charge to have a transcript faxed. Students have access to transcripts and records as outlined in 'The Student Records and Disclosure of Student Records Policy 7071.' Official records belonging to a student who has failed to make an installment tuition payment, repay an emergency loan, or other debt or obligation to the college will not be released, either to the student or another institution, as long as the obligation is outstanding.

Records Information
Linn-Benton Community College follows the Federal Health Education and Welfare Guidelines for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (Pell-Buckley amendment) and the Oregon Administrative Rules regarding Privacy Rights and Information Reporting in Community Colleges in regard to educational records. Federal legislation gives students the right to inspect and review their educational records as defined in LBCC Board Policy # 7071. If you believe your records contain information that is inaccurate, misleading or in violation of your rights, you may ask the college to amend the record. If the college denies this request, you will be informed of this decision and of your right to a hearing. Further, you may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education by contacting the Family Policy and Regulations Office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202.

Directory Information
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, LBCC considers the following to be directory, therefore public, information: student's name, address and telephone listing; major field of study; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of athletic team members; dates of enrollment; enrollment status; school or division of enrollment; and degrees and awards received. If you do not want the above information released by the college, you must file a Directory Deletion form at the Registration Office by the time you register. Information will not be released except to the extent the Oregon Administrative Rules allow disclosure without consent (for example, in cases of a federal audit).

Social Security Number
OAR 559-004-0400 authorizes Linn-Benton Community College to ask you to provide your Social Security number. The number will be used by the college for reporting, research, and record keeping. Your number will also be provided by the college to the Oregon Community College Unified Reporting System (OCCURS), which is a group made up of all community colleges in Oregon, the State Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development and the Oregon Community College Association. OCCURS gathers information about students and programs to meet state and federal reporting requirements. It also helps colleges plan, research, and develop programs. This information helps the colleges to support the progress of students and their success in the workplace and other education programs. OCCURS or the college may provide your Social Security number to the following agencies or match it with records from the following systems:

State and private universities, colleges, and vocational schools, to find out how many community college students go on with their education and to find out whether community college courses are a good basis for further education;
The Oregon Employment Department, which gathers information, including employment and earnings, to help state and local agencies plan education and training services to help Oregon citizens get the best jobs available;
The Oregon Department of Education, to provide reports to local, state and federal governments. The information is used to learn about education, training, and job market trends for planning, research, and program improvement.
The Oregon Department of Revenue and collection agencies only for purposes of processing debts and only if credit is extended to you by the college.
The Internal Revenue Service for 1098T reporting.
The College Board, if you take the Accuplacer Placement test, for educational research purposes.

State and federal law protects the privacy of your records. Your number will be used only for the purposes listed above.

Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct
The college's board of education has established policy relating to student rights, freedoms, responsibilities and due process. This policy outlines the rules for student conduct and describes the procedures for due process and for filing a complaint. You can obtain a copy of the policy from the Dean of Student Services in Takena Hall 107 or view the policy on our Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct website. Students in the LBCC/OSU Degree Partnership Program are held accountable to conduct standards at both institutions. LBCC and OSU may each intervene in cases of misconduct, particularly in issues involving health and safety. Students are given opportunity for due process; those found in violation of conduct codes may receive sanctions from each institution. Linn- Benton Community College and Oregon State University reserve the option to decide that only one institution will process a case of misconduct.

Student Consumerism Information
In accordance with 34 CFR Part 668, you have the right to know certain information about LBCC, including a variety of academic information, financial assistance information, institutional information, information on completion or graduation rates, institutional security policies and crime statistics, athletic program participation rates and financial support data. Please see our Student Right to Know page for details on where to find this information.