Policies & Procedures

General Academic Policies 

Class Standing 

For the purposes of records and reporting, students are classified as freshmen if they have completed 25 credit hours or less, sophomores if they have completed 26 credit hours or more. 

Graduation Credential Requirements 

To receive an associate degree, diploma, or certificate at Muskegon Community College, a student must meet the following requirements: 

A. All candidates must maintain a cumulative 2.0 grade point average. Health programs may have a different GPA requirement. 

B. A minimum Muskegon Community College credit requirement (Residency Requirement).

1. Associate Degrees - A student must complete not less than 30 credit hours or the last 15 credit hours at Muskegon Community College in order to receive an associate degree. 

2. Diplomas - A student must complete 26 credit hours at Muskegon Community College in order to receive a diploma. 

3. Certificates - A student must complete 6 credit hours at Muskegon Community College in order to receive a certificate.

C. Students returning to Muskegon Community College after a three (3) year absence or longer will be under the requirements of the current catalog. 

Any exceptions to these graduation requirements must be brought before the Petitions Committee with the full concurrence of the department(s) involved. 

Associate in Science and Arts Degree Requirements 

The Associate in Science and Arts (ASA) Degree is primarily a transfer-oriented degree. In order to receive the degree, each student must complete a minimum of 62 credit hours of course work and meet all of the program requirements as listed in the Muskegon Community College catalog. 

Associate in Applied Science Degree Requirements 

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree is awarded for successful completion of an occupationally oriented curriculum. It may also be used as a transfer degree to certain baccalaureate programs. Please note, developmental credits can not be used toward graduation. 

Candidates for this degree must complete a minimum of 62 credit hours of course work and all course requirements for a specific associate in applied science program as outlined in the Muskegon Community College catalog. 

Graduation requirements for the associate degree may include two credits in physical education. Refer to program pages for specific courses which will fulfill graduation requirements. 

The maximum number of cooperative internship credit hours that may be applied toward an associate degree is 12 and many programs permit even fewer. 

Program Evaluation (Degree Audit) 

My Progress is a tool in Student Planning that shows the requirements for students’ academic program as outlined in the catalog for the year they were admitted and their progress toward completing those requirements. The audit shows both the courses transferred in from other institutions and courses completed at Muskegon Community College. It includes their grades and GPA. 

Under My Progress in Student Planning, students may select “view a new program” to compare their academic record/progress to any program they might indicate, without changing their academic program. This can be a very helpful tool for students considering a change of program, but does not know how their record might apply to the requirements of the new program. 

Students are encouraged to review My Progress in Student Planning by logging into MyMCC. My Progress is the primary tool used during counseling/advising and in preparing for graduation. 

Application for Graduation 

To graduate from Muskegon Community College with a degree or a certificate, you begin the process by completing an Application for Graduation online in Student Planning. You must have completed at least 47 credit hours if you are applying for an associates degree. The application deadline dates are as follows: 

Fall Semester Graduation....................................November 1 

Winter Semester Graduation..................................... March 1 

Summer Semester Graduation..................................... June 1 

The graduation audit will be based on the requirements in effect at the time of the student’s initial enrollment, unless updated catalog requirements are specifically requested. (Students may not apply for graduation under requirements that were printed for a year they were not in attendance at the College.) Students returning to Muskegon Community College after an absence of THREE YEARS OR LONGER will be under the requirements of the current catalog. 

When your Application for Graduation is complete, a review of your academic record will be conducted by the Office of the Registrar to determine if graduation requirements have been met. You will be notified through MCC email. 

Students are not eligible for graduation until all delinquent tuition, fees, and fines have been paid. The student is responsible for meeting all graduation requirements. 

Multiple Degrees 

You may earn and be awarded two or more degrees (and/or certificates), provided that all academic requirements for the degrees have been met. A graduation audit will be conducted for each degree requested. Multiple diplomas or certificates will be awarded when appropriate. 

President’s List - The names of those students who have completed 12 credit hours with a 4.0 grade point average in any semester are published by the College, subject to permission of the student. Those so recognized are designated as President’s List Students. 

Dean’s List - The names of those students who have completed 12 credit hours with a 3.5 grade point average or higher in any semester are published by the College, subject to permission of the student. Those so recognized are designated as Dean’s List Students. 

Academic Honors List - The names of those students who have completed at least 6 credit hours and fewer than 12 credit hours with a 3.5 grade point average or higher in any semester are published by the College, subject to permission of the student. Those so recognized are designated as Academic Honors List Students. 

Academic Forgiveness 

(Re-evaluation of Grades for An Entire Semester) 

The College permits students within specific and defined guidelines to petition for Academic Forgiveness for an entire semester by submitting a “Performance Agreement” form. You must see a counselor to discuss and initiate the agreement. 

Students granted academic forgiveness will have their cumulative grade point averages recalculated. While the forgiven grades will continue to appear on the official transcript, they will be noted on the transcript as forgiven. 

Repeated Courses 

The Muskegon Community College Course Repeat Rule was developed to provide fair access to classes. It allows the student to repeat the course once. Instructor permission is required to take a course more than twice. 

To repeat a course, a student must register for and pay all necessary fees. Each grade received will appear on a student’s record, but only the last grade awarded is used in computing a GPA. Keep in mind that if you retake a class and receive a lower grade, the last grade is still the one that counts. When transferring to another college or university, you may be held accountable for all attempts and grades associated with a course taken at Muskegon Community College.

Substitution Waiver 

A substitution waiver is the substitution of a required course in a degree or certificate with an alternate course. Substitution waivers do not reduce the total number of credit hours required in a degree or certificate or in general education requirements. Course substitution waivers are granted for a specific degree or certificate and a specific catalog year. The granted substitution waiver will not automatically apply toward other degrees and certificates you are pursuing. 

You may request a substitution waiver by contacting an academic counselor. 

Grading System 

Final grades are posted on your academic record and can be found through the MyMCC under your Planning & Registration, Student Planning & Registration, click on the Academics tab, and then choose Grades. 

Quantitative Grade Values 

Non-quantitative Grades (not computed) 

P......................................................................... Pass 

NP................................................................ No Pass 

W............................................................Withdrawal 

WI............................................Withdrawal—Illness 

WM......................Withdrawal—Military Activated 

CS.............................................Community Service 

AU.................................................................... Audit 

I...............................................................Incomplete 

Pass/No Pass - These grades are not optional but a standard grading system for particular courses. 

“Incomplete” Policy - When you are unable to complete all of the required work for a course because of illness or other unpredictable circumstances, you may request an Incomplete (I) grade. When requested by the student, the instructor’s judgment will determine whether the incomplete grade will be assigned. If the instructor does not deem the circumstances to be appropriate for an Incomplete (I), you may elect to withdraw from the course according to the withdrawal policy. 

Although shorter time periods may be assigned on a case-by-case basis, “I” grades must be completed within one year of the official occurrence of the grade. 

Once you complete the necessary requirements for the class, a Change of Grade Form must be submitted for you by the instructor to receive a grade greater than an “E.” Any “I” (incomplete) grades that are not changed within one year of the official occurrence of the grade will default to an “E.” 

Grade Point Average (GPA) - Each letter grade has a point value as indicated above. The number of grade points earned for each course is found by multiplying the credit value of the course by the point value of the final grade. For example, a student with a final grade of “B” in Political Science (PSCI) 111 would earn 12 grade points, since a “B” has a point value of 3, and Political Science 111 is a 4-credit course. 

The semester grade point average is calculated by adding the total points for all courses and dividing by the total number of credit hours taken during the semester. 

Example: 

35 Grade Points divided by 14 Credits equals 2.50 Grade Point Average (GPA) 

(35 ÷ 14 = 2.50) 

The cumulative grade point average is found by dividing the total of all points earned in all semesters by all credits taken to date. 

Academic Load - Students are not permitted to enroll for more than 18 credit hours without the approval of a counselor.

Academic Probation

Academic Probation: Students are placed on Academic Probation when they have completed at least 12 credit hours at MCC and have failed to meet the minimum cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 2.0. Students will be notified of probation status by email. An academic probation hold will be placed on their record which will prevent them from registering for future courses or dropping current courses. To have the hold lifted, students are required to meet with a Counselor to discuss how to improve the G.P.A. by using College resources. 

Academic Dismissal: Students placed on academic probation for two consecutive semesters MAY be dismissed from MCC for one semester. Any student who is dismissed from MCC may appeal to the Petitions Committee for reinstatement. 

Registration Information

Registration at Muskegon Community College takes place three times a year, starting in April for the fall semester, November for the winter semester, and March for the summer session. The fall and winter semesters are 15 weeks in length and the summer session is 12 weeks in length. The summer session generally begins in May and is offered with a variety of start and ending dates. Register as soon as you are eligible to help ensure your place in the classes you desire. 

To ensure you are eligible to register, make sure you have: 

• Been admitted or readmitted to Muskegon Community College 

• Cleared all financial holds 

• Completed all placement tests or submitted appropriate ACT, SAT or MME scores. 

• Have completed all course prerequisites 

• Completed new student orientation 

A. Testing. Before registering for classes, send any previous placement exam scores to Muskegon Community College, such as ACT, SAT, Accuplacer, etc. These scores may be-used by a Counselor to help place you into the courses that are most appropriate for your current level of knowledge. Please consult a counselor for more information. 

B. Counseling. Schedule an appointment to see a counselor early. The counselor can assist you in curricular planning and with other concerns you may have. 

Priority Registration 

Priority Registration is available exclusively to currently enrolled students. Using the MyMCC, current students have the first opportunity to select courses before registration is open to other individuals. Registration is based on a priority system that allows you to begin registration according to the number of total MCC credit hours completed. Priority begins with students who have earned the most MCC credit hours and ends with the students with the least MCC credit hours. A few weeks before priority registration begins, students will be emailed with their priority registration start times. You may register starting at your assigned time or after, but not before. 

Online Registration 

To register for classes online:  Step-by-Step instructions for registering for classes online in Self-Service/Student Planning are available online at www.muskegoncc.edu/ registration. For additional assistance with online registration, email registration@muskegoncc.edu or call (231) 777-0211. 

Adding Courses: Prior to the beginning of the semester, you may add courses from the start of the registration period up to the day the class begins. A student must have written permission of the instructor to add a class once it has met. Regarding online classes, a student must have written permission of instructor to add a class on or after its published start date. Refer to Student Planning in the MyMCC for class information. 

Dropping Courses 

(Other than complete withdrawal from the College) 

The preferred method of dropping courses is through Student Planning in the MyMCC. You may also drop courses by submitting an Add/Drop form in-person, to the Student Welcome Center prior to the withdraw deadline. If changing courses/ sections after the drop period, students may only transfer from one section of a course to another section of the same course. Students attempting to drop and add courses of different names outside of the 100% refund period will be billed for tuition accordingly. 

You are strongly encouraged to consult with your instructor and a counselor prior to processing a withdrawal. If you have financial aid or scholarships, it is especially important for you to contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing. You may drop/withdraw through Student Planning in MyMCC or by submitting an Add/Drop form to the Student Welcome Center. 

• No grade will be recorded on your transcript if the course is dropped during the drop/ refund period. 

• You may withdraw from a course after the drop/refund period up to the week prior to examinations. For early-ending courses, you may withdraw from a course after the refund period until one day prior to the end date of the course (prior to the final examination). Withdrawal from a course will generate a grade of “W” on your academic record and tuition/fees are not refunded. 

Prerequisites & Co-Requisites 

Prerequisites and co-requisites are listed in course descriptions and are subject to change with each new catalog. It is the student’s responsibility to meet the prerequisites and / or co-requisites in effect for the term in which a course is taken, regardless of the catalog under which the student entered or will graduate. Students may be stopped from enrolling or may be dropped if prerequisites or co-requisites are not met.

Prerequisite: A prerequisite is a requirement that must be successfully completed before a student may enroll in a course. Prerequisites are based on the essential skills or competencies to be successful in the next level course. 

Co-requisite: A co-requisite is a course that is either recommended or required to be taken in combination with another course. 

Wait Lists 

Once a course has reached the maximum enrollment, students are given the option to be placed on a wait list. This option must be chosen at the time of registration. The wait listed course cannot conflict with other courses in the student’s registration schedule and cannot be place on multiple sections of the same course. Being on a wait list does not mean the student is registered in the course. Once space becomes available in a class, wait listed students will be offered a position in the class based on the student’s position on the wait list. 

If you wish to attend a class, but do not desire credit or a grade, you may elect to audit a class. If you audit a class, you are required to pay the same tuition and fees as those taking courses for credit. 

MCC permits students to register for college credit courses on a non-credit (audit) basis. Those who wish to do so should consult with a member of the counseling staff regarding College policies and procedures for audit status enrollment. 

Audit Policy

These policies include the following: 

1. Students may audit courses so long as they (a) register specifically for audit status; (b) pay regular tuition and fees as listed in the official publications of the College; and (c) comply with all assignments, projects, tests, and learning experiences required of credit-status (regular status) students unless they explicitly make another arrangement that is mutually agreeable to both instructor and student. 

2. Audit status students should realize that unless they complete all regular course requirements it will probably not be possible to convert from audit status to credit status at a later date. Audit status students who have completed all regular course requirements to date and wish to change from audit status to credit status must complete a Request to Change from Audit to Credit Form and submit it to Room 1048J. Such petitions must include a note from the instructor stating the student has completed all regular course requirements to date. This request must be processed prior to the final examination. 

3. Students who register for a credit class cannot change to audit status. 

4. For students who complete all requirements, instructors will record the progress of audit students in the same manner as credit students. A grade of “AU” will be recorded on the audit status student’s transcript at the end of the semester, and will not be used to compute grade point averages. Please also note that audit credit cannot be used to complete a degree or transferred to another institution. 

Credit Hour 

As a rule of thumb, each credit hour equals one hour of class or two hours of laboratory work per week. Exceptions are noted in course descriptions. 

Employment and Classload 

Many students find it necessary or even desirable to be employed while attending college. Although enrollment on a full-time basis is very demanding, you may find that you can maintain satisfactory grades even while working part-time. The following table provides general guidelines for those students who plan to work: 

Classload/Workload 

13 or more Cr. Hr. per Semester.............................................................. 15 or less Extracurricular Hrs. per Week

10 - 12 Cr. Hr. per Semester..................................................................... 24 or less Extracurricular Hrs. per Week

7 – 9 Cr. Hr. per Semester........................................................................ 32 or less Extracurricular Hrs. per Week

3 – 6 Cr. Hr. per Semester........................................................................ 40 or less Extracurricular Hrs. per Week

If you stop attending a course and do not formally withdraw, the instructor has the option of initiating a grade of “W” or a grade of “E”.

Attendance 

You are expected to attend all sessions of the classes in which you enrolled. You may be withdrawn from the class at the discretion of the instructor if you have excessive absences. Instructors who do not take attendance into account when determining your status in the course must maintain other consistent means of showing participation.