Academic advising at the Junior College is intended to provide ongoing help in the transition from secondary to tertiary level and to help students stay on track in the program to which they have been admitted. Students are encouraged to study the academic programs to which they have been admitted and to thoroughly familiarize themselves with academic requirements and procedures.
Official academic advising begins during the registration and student orientation periods. Students are assigned advisors who explain the details of the programs of study, course sequences, and registration procedures. First Year students are assigned an advisor who is normally a faculty member from within the program to which he/she has been admitted. Each semester or term advisors help students to select courses that will lead to the fulfilment of requirements for the associate degree in each academic program.
Students are expected to confer with their advisors regularly during the semester or term. Mid-semester or mid-term reports are often distributed via the academic advisors, which gives advisors an opportunity to discuss academic performance and any problems students may be having. Advisors have access to the student’s academic records in the Office of the Registrar and via the school’s local area network and keep close watch over advisees’ progress in order to assist them in making prudent judgements and to recommend measures (e.g. adjustment in their course load and course selection) which will help them to successfully complete their academic programs. In some cases if a student is not performing satisfactorily in his/her program of studies, an advisor may recommend a change in major to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
At the time of registration, the advisors must approve each student’s course selections for the semester or term by signing the registration form. Although advisors assist in drawing up class schedules and checking for completion of applicable General, Professional and Support Core requirements, it is the student, however, who has the final responsibility of fulfilling the academic requirements set forth in this bulletin and elsewhere in the College’s publications and notices.
Within the first week of each semester or term, the Academic Chair or Program Coordinator of each department posts outside the department office a schedule of office hours of the full-time department members. A copy of this schedule is provided to the Dean, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Registrar. Students are encouraged to confer regularly with their instructors and/or academic advisors during their office hours.
The content of a course encompasses the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes through both assignments and face-to-face, in-class contact between teachers and students. A student who is excessively absent or late cannot, therefore, be considered to have adequately covered a course’s content, even though he or she might have satisfactorily completed all assignments, unless compensatory work has been verifiably completed. The attendance policy at St. John’s College
Instructors will clearly articulate all regulations governing class attendance, punctuality, missed tests and assignments in writing in the course outline and verbally during the first class meeting of the semester or term. These regulations will be consistent with this attendance policy and will include an indication of the number of class sessions which corresponds to the percentages of contact hour absences delimited in this attendance policy. Instructors will maintain class attendance records for all classes.
A student is late once the class has officially started. If a student fails to report to class at the beginning of the class period, he/she is late. A student who enters the class half an hour or more after the class session has begun is considered absent. Four lates constitute the equivalent of one absence.
It is the student's responsibility to notify the instructor when an absence is necessary and to make arrangements for missed notes, assignments, and/or tests. These arrangements should be made prior to the absence when possible. If arrangements are not made prior to the absence, the student is responsible for meeting with the instructor upon returning to class to determine when missed assignments and/or tests can be completed.
No makeup assignments or exams will be given unless the absence was the result of an unavoidable serious accident, a death in the family, or a serious illness. Exceptional circumstances must be verified by an appropriate third party, such as a police report, a funeral notice, or a note from the student's doctor.
Once a student has been absent for 7% of the scheduled contact hours for the course he/she will be issued a written warning by the course instructor. A copy of this warning is submitted to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and placed on the student’s file.
A student whose absences exceed 12% of all scheduled contact hours will not be permitted to return to class and will be referred immediately by the course instructor, using an “Excessive Absence” form, to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who may take one of the following actions:
a) Instruct the student to withdraw from the course by the end of the next working day. The grade of WP or WF, as recommended by the instructor to indicate passing or failing status, will be recorded. If the student does not withdraw from the course by the deadline given, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will effect an administrative withdrawal.
b) Reinstate the student to the class on condition of the completion of a verifiable task, set by the course instructor, which compensates for the work missed. The student is required to sign an agreement that includes the terms and conditions under which reinstatement will happen. Any breach of the agreement may result in administrative withdrawal.
Withdrawal from a course and approval of reinstatement to a course will be communicated in writing to the student by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs within three working days of the referral by the course instructor.
A student who fails to report to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs within one day after being referred by the instructor will be administratively withdrawn from the class.
A student will be allowed only one instance of administrative withdrawal due to excessive absence.
Reinstatement must take place within four working days of the student being referred to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in order to minimize gaps in class attendance. When the reinstatement is effected the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will provide the student with a signed re-admittance slip to be handed to the course instructor, and will forward a copy of the re-admittance slip to the Office of the Registrar.
Students who are not reinstated to class by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may appeal the decision to the Dean. Appeals will generally only be considered in situations of extended illness or emergency. The appeal must be made in writing within two school days of the notification that reinstatement was denied.
Upon submission of an appeal to the Dean, the student will be allowed back in class until the final decision on the appeal is made.
If the Dean upholds a denial of reinstatement, the final appeal is to the President. The student must file a written petition for review within two working days of notification of the Dean's decision. The President will respond in writing to the appeal within two working days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the President is final.
Formal written, and in some cases, oral examinations are given in all courses at the end of each semester or term of the academic year. A mid-semester or mid-term examination may be given at the discretion of the instructor as part of a determination of a student’s mid-semester or mid-term grade. All final examinations are given at times specified in the semester or term examination schedule. In exceptional circumstances, the Office of Academic Affairs may, with reasonable notice, change the scheduled and published date of an exam.
If an instructor elects to give a take-home exam, those exams should be due no earlier than the scheduled day and time for the final exam.
Classes are expected to use the scheduled time for the administration of the exam. Permission to change a final examination time from the officially scheduled time must in every case be obtained from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Individual students who are scheduled to take more than two examinations on any day may petition the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for rescheduling. These rescheduled finals must be held during the final examination period.
Due to the need for uninterrupted concentration time by instructors and students, and the varied times classrooms are occupied during finals, no college facilities will be reserved during final exams for non-academic activities which have the potential for disruption.
Students and instructors are expected to strictly adhere to the rules for examinations published by the Office of Academic Affairs.
Grade reports are made available to students each mid-semester or mid-term and at the end of each semester or term, including the summer session. Mid-semester or mid-term reports are normally given to students via their academic advisors. A copy of the mid-semester or mid-term grade report for any student whose GPA falls below the required 2.00 is also mailed to the parent or guardian of students of minority age as indicated on the application for admission. The end of semester or term grade report is mailed directly to students of majority age and to parents or guardians of students who are minors, as indicated on students’ applications for admission. Individual sponsors or agencies that provide financial assistance also receive a copy of this end of semester or term report for respective students. After instructors submit grades, grade reports are assembled and issued by the Office of the Registrar.
The final grade given to the student in any course is a symbol of the degree of the student’s mastery of the course. Tests, quizzes, written and oral assignments, projects, term papers, participation in class discussions and activities, attendance, and a semester or term examination, among other assessments, are all utilized in determining a final grade for the student. The instructors, in accordance with the following grading system, report the combined results:
A (4.00) 100% - 90% EXCELLENT signifies the highest level of achievement in the subject and indicates an exceptional competence and consistent ability in comprehension and interpretation.
B+ (3.50) 89% - 85% VERY GOOD signifies a consistently high level of achievement in the subject and an outstanding fulfillment of course requirements in a manner that approaches the excellence of an “A” grade.
B (3.00) 84% - 80% GOOD signifies a consistently high level of achievement and indicates that the course requirements have been fulfilled in a proficient and above average manner.
C+ (2.50) 79% - 75% SATISFACTORY signifies an acceptable degree of understanding and constant achievement.
C (2.00) 74% - 70% SATISFACTORY signifies an average understanding and a quality that satisfies graduation requirements in most subjects.
D (1.00) 69% - 60% PASS signifies a level of understanding and achievement below the average level expected of students. A “D” will not count towards graduation requirements for professional core courses and some general core courses.
F (0.00) 59% - 0% FAILURE
I (Incomplete) signifies that all course requirements have not been met. An “I” is not calculated in the Grade Point Average.
S (Satisfactory) signifies an average or above degree of understanding and constant achievement in a non-credit course.
U (Unsatisfactory) signifies a below average degree of understanding and achievement in a non-credit course.
NR (No Record) signifies that a student registered for a course but never attended classes. NR is not calculated in the Grade Point Average.
WP (Withdrawing while Passing) signifies student-initiated withdrawal while doing passing work. WP is not calculated in the Grade Point Average.
WF (Withdrawing while Failing) signifies student-initiated withdrawal while doing failing work. WF is not calculated in the Grade Point Average.
AWP (Administratively Withdrawn while Passing) signifies administrator-initiated withdrawal while doing passing work. AWP is not calculated in the Grade Point Average.
AWF (Administratively Withdrawn while Failing) signifies administrator-initiated withdrawal while doing failing work. AWF is not calculated in the Grade Point Average.
AU (Audit) indicates that a course was not taken for credit.
The term “grade point average” is synonymous with “quality point”, “grade point” and “quality-point average”. The “grade point average” is abbreviated as “GPA”. The grade point average is cumulative and is computed by dividing the total credit points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted, including hours for courses failed and excluding credit hours for courses graded S, U, AU, NR, WP, WF, AWP, AWF or I. For example, 18 hours of all B grades would give 54 credit points. Therefore, the Grade Point Average (GPA) would be 3.00 (54 credit points earned divided by 18 credit hours attempted).
Note: Students must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher for both General Core and Professional Core courses to meet graduation requirements. Individual programs may also have additional minimum grade requirements for academic progression.
An “I” grade is only given by the instructor with approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs when, upon a written request from the student, the instructor is satisfied that an emergency clearly beyond the student’s control prevented the student from completing the final examination or other essential portion of assigned work. When the instructor assigns an “I” grade at the end of a semester or term, a provisional grade is also submitted which will be automatically assigned by the Office of the Registrar should the deadline (as stipulated in the Academic Calendar) expire without student action. This provisional grade is to be calculated to include all work completed up to the date of final attendance plus a failing grade (F) for all work/exams the student did not complete.
Students who are given an “I” grade are generally allowed six weeks following the end of the semester or term to complete missed assignments, tests or exams. When the specified work has been completed and submitted, the instructor should file with the registrar a "Change of Grade" form in order to have the final grade posted to the transcript on or before the date stipulated in the Academic Calendar. An “I” will automatically be converted to the provisional grade if the final grade is not submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the stipulated deadline as stated in the Academic Calendar. Under unusual circumstances, however, an instructor may request of the Office of the Registrar an extension of the time the "I" will remain on the record. Such a request for extension must be made by the deadlines stipulated in the Academic Calendar.
While on the record, “I” grades will carry no penalty; i.e., they will not be counted in the grade point average computation, nor will the credit be awarded to the student. Students should be aware, however, that receiving an “I” may affect their status for financial aid, scholarships and honors.
The ultimate responsibility for the integrity of the academic grading process belongs to the college as an institution. Individual instructors act as agents for the institution in evaluating the student’s academic performance and in assigning final course grades. In the event of a student’s challenge to a final course grade, the burden of proof lies with a student who claims a grievance. The instructor has an obligation to award course grades on the basis of standards set at the beginning of the course. The following process will guide the college’s response to allegations that an instructor acted arbitrarily and capriciously in assigning course grades. The procedure does not apply to mathematical errors in calculating the grade, academic dismissals from the college, or questions of professional judgment concerning course content, instructional methods and appropriateness of performance standards. To the greatest extent possible, grievances should be resolved at the level of authority closest to the classroom.
Students who want to challenge their course grade must do so by the close of the business day on the third Friday of the following semester or term. Students should begin the process by scheduling a meeting with the instructor teaching the course to discuss the course requirements and the student’s performance in the course. If the challenge cannot be resolved at this level, then the student who wishes to proceed further should initiate the formal process outlined below. The student may, at any time during the formal process or the appeal, withdraw his or her grievance. If the student withdraws his or her grievance, the process will immediately stop.
- Formal Process
Step 1: Filing a Request for Mediation
The student should file his or her written request for mediation with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs by completing the appropriate “Grade Appeal” form. The request should include the date, the student’s name, the name of the course, the instructor’s name, and a brief explanation of the challenge. This request must be signed by the student.
Step 2: Selection of a Method for Resolving the Dispute
Once the request has been made, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs assumes the role of mediator. The mediator will then select a method for resolving the dispute. If the mediator selects a face-to-face meeting, the mediator will determine who should be present and the role or roles that each person will play.
Step 3: Mediator’s Decision
Within three instructional days after the end of the mediation process, the mediator will send the instructor and the student a written recommendation. If both the instructor and the student agree with the mediator’s recommendation, the mediator’s recommendation will become binding. If, however, either the instructor or student disagrees with the recommendation, the recommendation will not have any effect, and the student’s grade will not be changed. In such instances, the student may choose to appeal to the Dean.
- Appeal to the Dean
Step 4: Written Appeal
A student who is dissatisfied with the recommendation resulting from the mediation may file a written appeal to the Dean.
a. The written appeal must be submitted to the Dean within five class days after the date of the mediator’s recommendation.
b. The appeal must include the date of the appeal, the student’s name, the name of the course, the instructor’s name, and the student’s signature. The appeal must describe the grievance in detail, the evidence that supports that grievance, and the remedy that the student proposes.
c. After receiving the appeal, the Dean will send the instructor a copy and the instructor will submit a written response within five school days. The Dean will also send the student a copy of the instructor’s response.
d. After reviewing the documentation submitted by both the student and the instructor and after consulting with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Dean will prepare and deliver to the student and the instructor a written document setting out a decision. The Dean’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.
Academic integrity is of vital concern to all members of the St. John’s College St. John’s College Junior College
Students are expected to bear individual responsibility for their work, to learn the rules and definitions that underlie the practice of academic integrity, and to uphold its ideals. Ignorance of the rules is not an acceptable excuse for disobeying them and in any event students are deemed to know and be familiar with this policy on academic integrity.
Any student who attempts to compromise or devalue the academic process will face penalties. Potential grade penalties for academic dishonesty are stated in each course outline.
Academic dishonesty includes any form of unethical behavior that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Cheating - the attempted or unauthorized use of materials, information, notes, study aids, devices or communication during an academic exercise. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Copying from another student during an examination or allowing another to copy one’s work.
- Unauthorized collaborating on a take-home assignment or examination.
- Using unauthorized notes during a closed book examination.
- Taking an examination for another student.
- Asking or allowing another student or person to take an examination in one’s place.
- Consulting notes and other aids without authorization during an examination.
- Allowing others to research and write assigned papers.
- Unauthorized use during an examination of any electronic devices such as cell phones, palm pilots, computers or other technologies to retrieve, receive, or send information.
- Plagiarism - the act of presenting another person's ideas, research or writing as one’s own. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Copying another person’s actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes.
- Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in one’s own words without acknowledging them.
- Using information that is not considered common knowledge without acknowledging the source.
- Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.
- Submitting papers or part of papers downloaded from the Internet, paraphrasing or copying information from the Internet without citing the source, and "cutting and pasting" from various Internet sources without proper attribution.
- Obtaining an Unfair Advantage – any activity that intentionally or unintentionally gives a student an unfair advantage in his/her academic work over another student. Examples of obtaining an unfair advantage include but are not limited to:
- Stealing, reproducing, circulating, or otherwise gaining prior access to examination materials.
- Depriving other students by stealing, destroying, defacing or concealing library materials.
- Intentionally obstructing or interfering with another student's work.
- Falsification of Records and Official Documents – the act of intentionally putting something on record that is not true. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Forging signatures of authorization.
- Falsifying information on an official academic record
- Falsifying information on an official document such as a grade report, drop/add form, or other College document.
- Collusion – the conscious collaboration of two or more individuals to carry out unethical activities or to protect those engaged in unethical practices. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Lending assistance to another student to engage in or conceal academic misconduct.
- Failing to report witnessed acts of academic misconduct.
- Inappropriate Use of Computer Technology – use of technology for any activity that is not consistent with the College mission and which undermines the educational process. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Unauthorized entry into another person’s computer file, for the purpose of using, reading or changing its contents.
- Use of computing facilities to interfere with or alter the work of another student, faculty member, or staff member.
- Warning – A written notice to the offender that he or she has violated academic integrity and that continuation or repetition of the misconduct, within a period of time stated in the warning, may be cause for more serious disciplinary action.
- Grade Loss – A grade of “F” or “0 (ZERO)” for the particular assignment or assessment that was dishonestly done.
- Disciplinary Probation – Exclusion from participation in privileges for a specified period of time as set forth in the notice of probation and conditions for more serious disciplinary action in the event of further violations of the College Code of Conduct.
- Suspension – Exclusion from classes and other privileges or activities for a specified period of time as set forth in the notice of suspension.
- Expulsion – Termination of student status for an indefinite period. The conditions of readmission, if any, shall be stated in the notice of expulsion.
All instances of academic dishonesty must be reported to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, who keeps such reports of incidents on file until the student leaves the college.
1. When an instructor believes that an act of academic dishonesty has taken place, the instructor documents the commission of the act, writing down the time, date, place, and a description of the act. The instructor also collects evidence, such as photocopying the plagiarized assignment and assembling various samples of the student's work showing a radical disparity in style or ability. The instructor has the right, without incurring any liability therefrom, to temporarily detain any property of the student of other persons for the purposes of documenting or recording evidence of suspected academic dishonesty.
2. The instructor then reports the incident in writing to the Academic Chair or Program Coordinator and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
3. The instructor, along with the Academic Chair or Program Coordinator and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, then meets with the student as soon after the incident as possible. In the meeting, the Academic Chair or Program Coordinator explains to the student the purpose of the meeting, the penalties for academic dishonesty, and the procedures to be followed. The instructor informs the student of the accusation, reviews the evidence with the student, then allows the student reasonable time to present evidence or comment on the evidence that has been presented.
4. The Academic Chair or Program Coordinator, the instructor, and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs then review the evidence again and determine whether or not an act of academic dishonesty has taken place and, if so, document the events, determination and recommendation for penalty.
5. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs decides on the penalty to be imposed, taking into account the instructor’s recommendation and other pertinent circumstances that may exist.
6. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs then informs the student in writing, copied to the instructor and the Academic Chair or Program Coordinator, of the determination and the penalty.
7. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs imposes the penalty as soon as the student is informed in writing of the determination and penalty.
A student may choose to appeal the determination and/or penalty. The steps in the appeal process are:
1. The student files a written appeal to the Dean within five (5) working days of the date of notification of the determination.
2. Within five (5) working days of receiving the written appeal, the Dean reviews the evidence from the instructor, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and the student and makes one of three decisions:
a. uphold the determination and the penalty
b. dismiss the determination and the penalty
c. uphold the determination and modify the penalty
3. The Dean informs the student of the decision in writing.
4. If the student wishes to appeal the decision of the Dean, he/she must file a petition for review with the President within five (5) working days of the date of the notification of the decision of the Dean. The President reviews the written records and issues a written decision. The President’s decision is final.
All students of St. John’s College Junior College
At the end of each semester or term the Dean reviews the status of students’ records to make decisions about probation. A student may be placed on academic probation due to the following circumstances:
- the student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00;
- the student’s grade point average in his/her major or program falls below 2.00;
- the student failed more than half of attempted credits in the semester or term;
- the student’s record shows course repetitions, incompletes, and/or withdrawals exceeding those allowed by the policy of the school; or
- the student has failed a repeated course.
A student who is placed on academic probation will be required to do the following:
- meet with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to discuss conditions for continued enrollment;
- obtain permission from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs before taking incompletes or withdrawals;
- limit the number of credits taken while on probation to twelve (12) for full-time students and six (6) for part-time students;
- participate in the required number of workshops, courses, tutorials, or other academic initiatives aimed at improving study approaches;
- meet other stipulated requirements at the discretion of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Generally a student is placed on academic probation for one semester or term. If the Dean determines that the student has not satisfied the conditions of the probation, the Dean will determine the student's status, including, but not limited to, whether the student will either (i) be allowed to continue on probation and under what circumstances, or (ii) be dismissed, provided that the student qualifies for dismissal under the criteria set forth for dismissal. The student will be notified in writing of the Dean’s decision.
Appeal Procedures
- A student placed on academic probation may not appeal the decision unless he/she is able to produce specific documentation demonstrating an error in the data underlying the probation decision.
- If a student placed on academic probation has specific documentation demonstrating an error in the data underlying the probation decision, the student must submit that documentation to the Dean or (in the event a grade appeal is pending) inform the Dean of notice of intention to appeal probation within five (5) working days of receipt of the notice of probation.
A student may be dismissed for academic deficiencies:
a. if he/she meets the criteria for probation in any two semesters or terms of enrollment (including summer, if enrolled); the semesters or terms need not be consecutive;
b. if he/she is not able to meet the Junior College’s standards for progression;
c. if he/she fails to achieve a required minimum grade in a required course within the permitted number of attempts;
d. if he/she has not fulfilled probation requirements from the previous semester or term;
e. if he/she demonstrates continued disregard for academic integrity.
When the decision for academic dismissal has been made, the Dean informs the student in writing of the academic dismissal and the reasons.
Students who are dismissed for academic deficiencies are eligible to apply for readmission after a minimum of two academic years have elapsed from the date of dismissal. Readmission after academic dismissal is not automatic and is at the discretion of the Dean.
Appeal Procedures
A student may appeal an academic dismissal decision by presenting a written appeal to the President of the College no later than the 10th business day following the date of the dismissal decision. In the written appeal, the student should discuss the following concerns:
§ the student's perception of what led to the unsatisfactory academic performance;
§ the steps the student would take to address the factors outlined above;
§ any extenuating or mitigating circumstances which the student believes warrant consideration.
A copy of the notice of academic dismissal must accompany the appeal.
Upon receipt of the written appeal, the President reviews the student’s academic records and college policies before making the final decision regarding the appeal. There is no appeal of the decision of the President.
During the appeal process, the Dean determines whether the student will be allowed to register for or attend classes or continue any activities reserved for students in good academic standing.
To encourage academic excellence, the Junior College publishes an Honor Roll and Dean’s List at the end of each semester or term. Students who have obtained a grade point average of B (3.00-3.49) on at least fifteen (15) semester hours of work will be placed on the Honor Roll. Students who have obtained a grade point average of B+ (3.50) or better on at least 15 semester hours of work will be placed on the Dean’s List. In addition, an Honors Assembly is held at the beginning of each semester or term to recognize students on both the Honor Roll and the Dean's List. Graduates who obtain an overall grade point average of 3.00 or better will graduate with honors and will be recognised at the Commencement Exercises.
A student must apply for graduation when he/she has completed or is enrolled and expects to complete 46 credits of coursework within his/her program of study. A formal application for graduation/degree completion must be filed with the Office of the Registrar by the deadline specified in the Academic Calendar. Students must apply for graduation even if they do not plan to participate in Commencement Exercises.
The degree awarded represents the successful completion of the prescribed curriculum, including general education requirements, basic skills courses and electives as well as specific requirements for a major.
Commencement Exercises for the Junior College are held twice each academic year, in June and in January. All degree requirements must be 100% completed at the end of the semester or term preceding the Commencement Exercises in order for a student to be eligible to participate in the Commencement Exercises and for conferral of the degree.
Students who satisfactorily complete their degree requirements in May participate in the June Commencement Exercises, while students who satisfactorily complete their degree requirements in June, July, August, September and December participate in the January exercises.
An appeal is a formal request from a student, in writing, that a decision made by a person authorized to do so be reconsidered. Appeal processes are clearly laid out in this Academic Bulletin and the Student Handbook. An appeal may be made in any case in which the student can present compelling new information that was not considered when the original decision was made. The Academic Bulletin and Student Handbook detail the instances in which appeals may be made to the Dean and to the President.
A petition for review is a formal written request from a student to the President that the response to an appeal be reviewed. A petition for review will be considered only when one or more of the following three conditions exist:
o There is new and significant evidence which was not available for the appeal and which may further clarify and support the defense of the student.
o There is clear reason to believe that the penalty imposed is inconsistent with the seriousness of the violation.
o There is substantial credible evidence that the consideration of the appeal was not fair or impartial, or that the established process was not followed.
The petition for review must be submitted in writing within the timeframe specified in the Academic Bulletin and must state the grounds or reasons for review. A copy of the written decision of which review is requested must accompany the petition.
A petition for exception is a formal written request from a student that a published policy or procedure or requirement not be applied in a particular case. A petition for exception must be accompanied by clear and compelling evidence of extenuating circumstances which justify the exception.
Petitions for exception in the following areas may be made to the Dean:
ð Admission
ð Placement
ð Readmission
ð Directed Study
Petitions for exception in the following areas may be made to the Registrar:
ð Registration
ð Adjustments after Registration
§ Adding courses
§ Dropping courses
§ Withdrawing from courses
In the case of petitions pertaining to adding courses, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs must endorse the petition.
The Dean or Registrar, as appropriate, will communicate the decision in writing to the petitioner.
No exception may be made in any area not specified above.
Students at St. John’s College Junior College may choose from a range of associate degrees and certificate programs. Each program of study leading to the Associate Degree assures breadth of knowledge in the skills of an educated person (through the General Core), competence in an area in depth (through the Professional Core of the major or majors), and freedom of choice (through the Support Core or elective courses).
The general core serves all students pursuing the Associate Degree by providing a basic foundation that facilitates learning in a variety of curricular areas and a comprehensive education aimed at exposing students to various fields of thought, life skills and character development. Through the general core, students develop into well-rounded individuals who are literate, intellectually sound, open and adaptable, innovative, critical thinkers, life-long learners, efficient workers, good citizens, and persons of integrity and good character. The general core consists of a minimum of 27 and a maximum of 33 credit hours grouped into four basic areas and aligned with the Institutional Learning Outcomes.
The general core for the Junior College is:
§ English (12 credits) - A sequence of four courses: ENG 110, ENG 120, ENG 210 and either ENG 220 (CAPE) or any 200-level Literature course (non-CAPE). Each course is a prerequisite for the other. Primary Education students are required to take ENG 227 instead of ENG 220.
§ Theology (6 credits) - Two courses in Theology, one at the 100-level and one at the 200-level.
§ Mathematics (3 - 9 credits): One to three courses in Mathematics - MTH 103 or higher depending on the student's program of study.
§ Humanities and Social Science (6 credits): Two courses from the semester or term offerings in Anthropology, Art, Caribbean Studies, Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, Education, Ethics, History, Law, Leadership, Literature, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Spanish, or Theology. Some programs may specify a course or the courses to fulfill this requirement.
A minimum grade of “C” must be attained in all English and Math courses in the general core. All courses taken to fulfill general core requirements must together average a minimum GPA of 2.00.
PROFESSIONAL CORE
Students are required to successfully complete a series of courses intended to develop knowledge, interaction with information, problem-solving, and theoretical foundations of the particular program of study in which they seek a degree. Students need to pay close attention to course sequencing and prerequisites when registering for professional core courses.
Some programs of study allow students to take additional elective courses to enable exploration of areas of interest and which broaden their knowledge base. Not all degree programs allow for support core courses.
The following Humanities and Social Science courses fulfill requirements in the General Core, while the Natural Science courses fulfill requirements for the Support Core:
Art
Literature
History
Spanish
Theology
Anthropology
Business
Caribbean Studies
Criminal Justice
Economics
Psychology
Philosophy
Sociology
Social Work
All entering students, freshman and transfer, are held to the requirements stated in the bulletin of the year in which they enter. All prospective applicants for the Associate Degree from St. John’s College Junior College
1) Complete the General Core requirements of the College for the program of study to which they have been admitted with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00;
2) Complete the Professional Core, Support Core (if applicable), and Electives (if applicable) requirements of the major or majors selected with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00. Academic Departments may require that certain professional core and general core courses be completed with a grade of "C" or better for a student to continue in a program;
3) Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 for all courses taken at the Junior College;
4) Complete at the Junior College a minimum of sixty per cent (60%) of the credit hours required for the degree;
5) Complete and submit an application for degree completion according to the instructions and date set on the application form;
6) Fulfil all financial and other obligations to the College before graduation.
Many of the courses offered by the Junior College incorporate knowledge and skills required by CAPE syllabi. Students thus have the opportunity to prepare for CAPE while earning the Associate Degree.
CAPE preparation is available in the following areas:
Accounting – 2 units | Communication Studies - 1 unit | Mathematics – 2 units | |
Biology – 2 units | Economics – 2 units | Physics – 2 units | |
Caribbean Studies - 1 unit | History - 2 units | Sociology – 2 units | |
Chemistry – 2 units | Literature – 2 units |
Students who wish to sit CAPE should inform their academic advisor early in their programs of study as all CAPE carry an internal assessment component which must be completed prior to the exam. Exam syllabi may be purchased from the Ministry of Education.
Associate in Arts Degree (A.A.) - Awarded for the completion of two-year degree programs in fine arts and liberal arts in which the major falls within the Humanities. The A.A. degree is designed for those who plan to transfer to a four-year, degree-granting institution for the completion of a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree.
Associate in Science Degree (A.S.) - Awarded for the completion of two-year degree programs in a variety of pre-professional areas in which the major falls within the Natural, Physical, or Social Sciences. The A.S. degree is designed for those who plan to transfer to a four-year, degree-granting institution for the completion of a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.
Associate in Individualized Studies (A.I.S.) - Targeted at the mature student, typically an adult who wishes to enhance employment skills or pursue an education for general enrichment or personal development, the A.I.S degree is a two-year program of study designed to permit such a student to plan and pursue a program which is not constrained to course work in one specific field. Some of the courses may be transferable to a baccalaureate program.
Unless otherwise noted, the term program refers to an associate degree with its own curriculum code and all related specializations and certificates. A major is a grouping of courses that define a discipline or interdisciplinary specialty. A degree program is a broadly structured curriculum leading to the award of an associate degree, and is listed on a student’s diploma.
[Source: SJCJC Academic Bulletin 2011-2012]