Academic Information Transfer Information Joint Admissions Agreement Transfer of Credit to Community College of Rhode Island Transfer Procedures from CCRI to Other Institutions Credit for Prior Learning Grading System Quality Points per Semester Hour for Computing Cumulative Grade Index Grade Reports Transcripts Graduation Requirement Attendance ACCUPLACER English and Math Placement Assessments Course Load Audits Program Changes Adding a Course Late Registration Dropping a Course Withdrawal from College Repeating a Course Withdrawal from School or Non-returning Student Leave of Absence Policy Policy on Confidentiality and Review of Records Re-admission to the College Dismissal from the College Graduation Awards Dean’s List Inter-Institutional Agreement Cooperative Education Study Abroad Honors Program

Transfer Information

The Community College of Rhode Island presently has transfer articulation agreements with many four-year institutions and the number of agreements continues to grow. These agreements guarantee that CCRI students who graduate with an Associate Degree and a specified grade point average will be accepted and will receive both transfer credit and advanced standing upon transfer to the four-year institution. The following four-year institutions have signed transfer articulation agreements with the Community College:

The Community College of Rhode Island recommends that all students who are planning to transfer to four-year institutions begin transfer planning during their first semester in college.

Transfer guides and copies of formal transfer agreements are available in our Advising and Counseling Centers, Learning Resources Centers and the Office of Enrollment Services.

For transfer information and planning, contact the Advising and Counseling Center at our Warwick, Lincoln or Providence Campuses.

Joint Admissions Agreement

The Community College of Rhode Island has entered into Joint Admissions Agreements with the following four-year institutions to facilitate the transfer of our graduates in the pursuit of earning a baccalaureate degree:

Anna Maria College
Assumption College
New England Institute of Technology
Nichols College
Rhode Island College
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
University of Rhode Island

Essentially, once a student has been accepted to the Community College of Rhode Island, s/he will be accepted to one of the seven schools of his/her choice upon his/her declaration to enroll in a four-year program. The Joint Admissions/Intent to Enroll Form is part of CCRI's acceptance packet.

For further information about joint admissions, please contact the Office of Enrollment Services at (401) 825-2003.

Transfer of Credit to Community College of Rhode Island

CCRI does not automatically give credit for courses taken elsewhere. Students entering Community College of Rhode Island who have satisfactorily completed collegiate level courses at other regionally accredited post-secondary institutions may have their courses evaluated by the Office of Enrollment Services at the College once their programs and goals have been established. Community College of Rhode Island accepts transfer students from other colleges and grants transfer credit from accredited institutions for comparable courses with satisfactory grades. Students transferring credit to the Community College of Rhode Island must have a grade of "C" or better in courses required by the CCRI program of study.

The total of transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions of higher education and the credits awarded for prior non-traditional educational experiences may not exceed one-half of the credits required for a degree.

In most cases, a student must attend the Community College (in a full or part-time status) during the semester in which the degree is to be awarded. However, a student who needs nine or fewer credits for graduation may take those credits at another regionally accredited post-secondary institution and transfer them back to the Community College in order to complete the degree. In that case, the student need not be enrolled at CCRI during the semester in which he/she graduates. Credits transferred back to the College will be counted as part of the total number of transfer credits and credits in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

A policy established by the Board of Governors for Higher Education for the State of Rhode Island states that a student who pays full-time tuition “at one of the public institutions of higher education in Rhode Island may enroll for a maximum of seven credit hours of study per semester at one of the other public institutions at no additional expense” subject to certain requirements of each institution’s own policies. Interested students should contact the Office of Enrollment Services.

Transfer Procedures from CCRI to Other Institutions

It is recommended that transfer planning begin during the student's first semester in college. While some four-year institutions prefer that the student complete Associate Degree requirements before transferring, the entrance requirements at four-year colleges vary widely. Catalogs of four-year colleges usually indicate this information, including the minimum cumulative averages required for transfer, application procedures and deadlines. The transfer requirements range from a minimum of 2.00 (C average) at many institutions to near 4.00 (A average) at more selective institutions. Students need to follow a plan of study at CCRI that is consistent with specific program requirements at the transfer institution. For example, Business Administration students need to complete a core of courses that most colleges recommend be taken at CCRI. This kind of planning will insure a maximum number of transfer credits since individual institutions have their own specific requirements.

Students wishing to transfer from the Community College of Rhode Island to other institutions should have their programs continually monitored by the Advising and Counseling staff, faculty advisors and representatives from the institutions they wish to attend. A Transfer Fair is held each semester at the main campuses for this purpose. In addition, representatives from various colleges are routinely invited on campus to meet personally with students regarding transfer. Students desiring to transfer with advanced standing to other institutions must meet academic criteria and course requirements set by the receiving institution. Transfer credits for advanced standing are accepted at the option of the senior college.

A Transfer Guide for Students, based upon the RI Board of Governors' Policy for Articulation and Transfer, is available to provide students with information about requirements to transfer to Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island. Viewing copies of this Guide are available in the Advising and Counseling Centers, the Learning Resources Centers and Office of Enrollment Services. The Transfer Guide is also available for purchase for a nominal fee in the College Bookstore and is also available on the Internet via the CCRI homepage ( www.ccri.edu  ). Students are also encouraged to discuss their plans with the Admissions Officers at Rhode Island College (456-8234) or at URI (874-7100).

CCRI has formal articulation agreements with a number of bachelor's degree-granting colleges throughout New England and nationwide (see list of institutions on previous page). It is the student's responsibility to inquire about these agreements and to plan his/her CCRI program of study accordingly. It is best for students to do this early in their career at CCRI.

Interested students may call the Advising and Counseling Center (333-7160 at Flanagan, 825-2301 at Knight or 455-6063 at Providence ) to make an appointment with a counselor who can discuss options and assist in selecting courses for future semesters.

Credit for Prior Learning

For information on the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Challenge Exams and credit for life, work and military learning experiences, see page 27.

Grading System

A: Superior
B: Above Average
C: Average
D: Below Average
F: Failure; this grade is also used by the Nursing, Allied and Dental Health Departments when a student fails the clinical component of any course.
S: Satisfactory - used for non-credit courses (except MATH 0500, 0600 AND 0700) and field experience.
U: Unsatisfactory - used for non-credit courses (ex- cept MATH 0500, 0600 AND 0700) and field experience.
I: Incomplete Work - this is a temporary grade used only when a student has not completed all required work because of extenuating circumstances. An “I” grade must be made up with the instructor who issued the grade by the end of the following semes- ter, i.e., Fall "I" grade made up by end of May and Spring and Summer "I" grade made up by end of December. Otherwise no credit will be allowed for the course and the “I” will revert to a "WF." The "I" grade is not used if the student plans to retake the course at a later date. It is included in attempted credits but not in the grade point index.
I/C: Incomplete Continuing - this grade is allowed only for students in the Math Lab and other non-tradi- tional, self-paced courses. This will permit a stu- dent to continue in a course while satisfactorily progressing toward completion of the course ob- jectives.
W: Official Withdrawal - this grade is used when a student officially withdraws from a course during weeks three through ten (or two-thirds the length of the course). It is included in attempted credits but not in the grade point index.
WP: Unofficial Withdrawal, Passing -this grade is used when a student unofficially withdraws from a course at any point in the course and has a passing grade. It is included in attempted credits but not in the grade point index.
WF: Unofficial Withdrawal, Failing - this grade is used when a student unofficially withdraws from a course at any point in the course and has a failing grade. It is included in attempted credits but not in the grade point index.
NA: Unofficial Withdrawal, No Assessment - This grade is used when a student unofficially withdraws from a course before the instructor has made any aca- demic assessment. It is included in attempted credits but not in the grade point index.
AU: Audit - Refer to the next page for audit description.

Quality Points per Semester Hour for Computing Cumulative Grade Index

Grade Number of Points
A 4
B 3
C 2
D 1
F 0

Grade Reports

Grades are available online through Campus Pipeline and may be mailed to students at the end of each semester provided there is no financial obligation on the part of the student. Students enrolled in modular courses may view their grades online through Campus Pipeline and may receive a grade report at the conclusion of the course(s). In addition, mid-term warning letters will be sent to students (enrolled in 15-week courses) who may be in academic difficulty. It is the responsibility of the student to discuss with the instructor how the grade was determined.

Transcripts

Transcripts are issued from the Office of Enrollment Services at a charge of $2 each and are issued only after all financial obligations to the College have been discharged. One week is required for transcripts to be processed during the grading, graduation and registration periods.

Graduation Requirement

A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) in a student's program of study is required for graduation for all students entering the College effective fall semester, 1982-83 or later.

Attendance

Regular class attendance is considered an essential part of a student’s success in community college life. Each student is cautioned that when the number of his/her absences becomes excessive, the privilege of continuing in the course is jeopardized. It is the student’s responsibility to make up all academic work missed for any reason.

A student must attend one of the first three class meetings or contact the instructor to make arrangements to continue the course. If the instructor does not hear from the student by the fourth meeting, the instructor has the option of dropping the student as a “no show” and adding another student to the class. This policy shall apply only to daytime (not to extended day or off-campus) classes.

ACCUPLACER English and Math Placement Assessments

Upon acceptance to a program at the College or enrollment in a course requiring a prerequisite, the student will be contacted or advised to schedule the ACCUPLACER. This assessment does not affect the student’s admission to the College, but the results help to place the student in the appropriate courses. If the student has taken ACCUPLACER at another college within the last year, the student must have an official copy of the scores sent to the Advising and Counseling Center at any campus of the Community College of Rhode Island.
Testing takes approximately 2.5 hours and can be completed in the Advising & Counseling Centers at the Knight Campus in Warwick (825-2301), Flanagan Campus in Lincoln (333-7159) or Liston Campus in Providence (455-6149).

Course Load

To be full-time, students must register for at least 12 credits. Any student who is registered for fewer than 12 credits is considered to be a part-time student and is billed accordingly.

Financial Aid students will be granted awards based on the number of credits carried: full-time (12 or more credits), three-quarter time (9 to 11 credits), and half-time (6 to 8 credits). Some FPELL students may receive awards for less than half-time registration. Failure to observe this regulation will result in loss of aid for the semester.

Veterans and dependents must carry a minimum of twelve credits to receive full benefits under the Montgomery Bill, Chapter 106 and Chapter 30, VEAP, Chapter 32; War Orphans and Widows, Chapter 35; and Vocational Rehabilitation, Chapter 31. For fewer than twelve credits, veterans receive proportionate benefits: three-quarter time, half-time or less than half-time according to the number of credits carried.

Audits

Individuals may audit lecture courses. To register as an auditor, the student should follow the in-person registration procedures, indicating at that time the desire to audit. Auditors pay the regular fees.

Program Changes

Students may change from one program or curriculum to another through the Office of Enrollment Services by submitting a change of major form by the established deadline with approval from the receiving department when necessary.

Adding a Course

Registered students may add courses to their schedules via Campus Pipeline or in person during the first week of the fall or spring semesters. New students may ONLY register for a class prior to the first scheduled meeting time. During the first week of a semester, written permission of the instructor is required if the course selected has reached maximum enrollment.

During the summer sessions, students may add courses via Campus Pipeline or in person during the first two days of each session. During the first two days of each session, written permission of the instructor is required ONLY if course selected has reached maximum enrollment.

Late Registration

The Late Registration period shall begin at the conclusion of the in-person registration period for spring and fall semesters and end at the end of the first day of the semester for the fall and spring semesters. Policies relating to late registration shall not apply to summer sessions.

Students who register for the first time for that semester during the Late Registration period specified above shall be charged a $30.00 Late Registration Fee.

Students will be allowed to change a schedule for which they have already registered by adding or dropping courses during the appropriate add/drop period, but no student shall be allowed to register for the first time in the semester after the first day of the semester.

Students who register or make changes to their schedule that incur additional charges after the published tuition due date established by the Bursar’s Office will be required to pay their bill in full at the time of registration. Payment may be by cash, check/money order, credit card or by entering into a deferred payment plan agreement. Students registering after the tuition due date who do not make payment by the close of business on the day they register for classes will have their registrations canceled.

Dropping a Course

A student may officially drop a course(s) from a schedule (leaving other courses in the schedule) through week ten or two-thirds the length of the course by (a) securing the instructor’s signature, (b) signing a schedule adjustment form in the Office of Enrollment Services (or satellite campus office) or (c) by utilizing Campus Pipeline.

Courses officially dropped during the designated period (first two weeks of class for fall and spring semesters and the first four days for summer session) of class are not graded and do not appear on the college transcript. Courses officially dropped after these timelines but prior to the Last Day to Drop without Prejudice (see calendar) are graded “W” (official withdrawal) and appear as such on the transcript. Official withdrawal from a course is not permitted after week ten or two-thirds the length of the course.

Withdrawal from College

If at any time a student drops all courses or a course which is the only one for which he or she is registered, the student is considered to be withdrawing from the College. As such, the Dean of Students must be notified.

Repeating a Course

When a student retakes a course for whatever reason, only the highest grade earned will be figured into his/her cumulative grade index; however, all the grades received for the course will appear on the student’s transcript. The recomputation of the highest grade earned in the cumulative index is automatic. This change must be made before the degree or certificate program is completed.

Withdrawal from School or Non-returning Student

Students who withdraw from the College or do not return the following semester will be sent registration materials for the following three semesters. If after that time individuals do not register, they will no longer receive course registration materials. If these individuals return to school following the three semester period, they will be placed into their original programs if they were in Liberal Arts, Science, Business Administration, Fine Arts or General Studies. Those students who were enrolled in the career and technical programs and who have not negotiated a Leave of Absence will be automatically classified as a General Studies student and will need to follow the stated change of major policies for program choice.

Leave of Absence Policy

Students may request a leave from the College and their program of study by filing a LEAVE OF ABSENCE FORM which may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Students.

Those students, who are accepted and enrolled in any of the career and technical programs and who find it necessary to leave school, must file a Leave of Absence form if they plan to return to school in the same program. Students who do not file a Leave of Absence form may not be readmitted to their program when returning to the College, while those students whose leave forms are signed by the department chairperson may be granted a leave of up to two consecutive semesters.

Students who find it necessary to leave school and who are enrolled in the programs of Liberal Arts, Fine Arts, General Studies, Science and Business Administration do not need to fill out a Leave of Absence form. They must, however, officially withdraw from the College.

Policy on Confidentiality and Review of Records

The "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act" of 1974 guarantees to the student and, in certain cases, to a student's parents: (1) protection against disclosure of the student's records without prior consent of the student and (2) the right to review his/her record. It is the policy of the College not to divulge information concerning a student without his/her consent within the limits specified by the Act. For more information regarding these rights see Page 172 or consult the Office of Enrollment Services for details.

Re-admission to the College

1. Students seeking to be re-admitted to the Community College should contact the Office of Enrollment Services.
2. Certain programs may have special readmission criteria.
3. A student who returns to the Community College after a break in continuous enrollment is held to the degree requirements announced in the catalog for the year he/she returns.

Dismissal from the College

Students dismissed from the College or a program for academic, social or other reasons will be notified in writing at the time of their dismissal. The various departments and programs of the College have specific dismissal policies and students are advised to acquaint themselves with them.

Graduation Awards

Academic achievement will be recognized at graduation for students who have met the following criteria:
Graduation Honors: 3.25 cumulative grade point index
Graduation High Honors: 3.50 cumulative grade point index
Graduation Highest Honors: 3.75 cumulative grade point index
In order to be eligible for honors, a student must earn at least one-half of the credits for his/her program at CCRI.

Dean’s List

A Dean’s List is published at the end of each semester. A student is eligible for Dean’s List honors when he or she is enrolled in a degree program, has earned 12 or more credits in one semester and has achieved a current grade point average of 3.25 or higher with no grade lower than “C”.

Inter-Institutional Agreement

Any student enrolled in a degree program who has paid full-time fees at Community College of Rhode Island may take a maximum of seven credits during each of the fall and spring semesters at the University of Rhode Island or Rhode Island College or both without paying additional fees. The student must be enrolled for at least five credits at Community College of Rhode Island and the total number of credits taken at all institutions combined must be 18 or less. Summer session registrants are not eligible for this program. Students interested in participating in this agreement should contact the Office of Enrollment Services.

Credit for Prior Learning

The Community College of Rhode Island evaluates the prior learning experiences of students and, if appropriate, awards credit for them. These learning experiences may include learning from workplace experience, the Armed Services training and courses offered by non-collegiate institutions which can be documented, verified and determined to be college-level.
Students can earn credit through one of four methods:

1. College Level Examination Program (CLEP): CLEP is a national system of awarding college credit by examination. It is used by more than 1,800 colleges and universities in the United States. There are two types of examinations:
   1. General examinations are designed to provide a comprehensive measure of undergraduate achievement in five basic areas of liberal arts (English composition, mathematics, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences-history). The tests are equated with specific courses in the current CCRI catalog. When acceptable scores are achieved in any of the General Examinations, students may receive college credit.
   2. Subject examinations are designed to measure achievement in more than thirty undergraduate subjects including: foreign languages, science, mathematics, business, literature, history and social sciences. Students may earn credit by passing subject examinations in specific courses comparable to those in the current CCRI catalog.
      Students are assessed a fee of $70 for each CLEP exam. Students interested in learning more about CLEP examinations should contact the office of the Dean of Student Development and Assessment at 825-2221 (Knight) or 333-7159 (Flanagan).
2. Departmental Challenge Exams: Challenge exams are generally offered only when an appropriate CLEP examination does not exist and when the specific skills are best assessed using a test format. Student fees associated with challenge exams will be collected when testing has been approved and arrangements for the exam have been finalized. Students wishing to learn more about a particular departmental challenge exam should contact the department chairperson of the academic department in which the subject of the exam is offered.
   Faculty will offer challenge exams in group settings during fixed time periods established by the department chairperson. In order to be eligible for taking a Departmental Challenge Exam, you must be accepted into a degree program and be registered for courses at CCRI. Students will pay $10 for each credit hour associated with an exam before taking the exam. This fee will be assessed regardless of the students success or failure on the exam and ultimate award of credit.
3. Advanced Credit Standardized Award: This category includes standardized awards for most non-collegiate sponsored learning including: military training, Municipal Police Academy training, state approved apprenticeship training, and other formal training programs which have been evaluated for a standardized credit award. In order to be eligible for an Advanced Credit Standardized Award, you must be accepted into a degree program and be currently registered for courses at CCRI.
   Students seeking credits for completion of their Municipal Police Academy training may submit a copy of their diploma directly to the Office of Admissions and Records. Students having certificates indicating completion of semester length training programs (e.g. apprenticeship training programs, LOMA courses) should have a copy of their Journeyman papers or transcript sent to the Office of the Dean of Business, Science and Technology at the Warwick campus.
   Veterans and active duty military personnel seeking credits for their military training should have a copy of their DD214, DD295, or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript sent directly to Dean of Business, Science and Technology, CCRI, 400 East Avenue, Warwick, RI 02886-1807.
   A fee of $25 will be assessed for transcripting students' standardized awards. (There is no charge for transcripting CCAF awards.) You will need to pay this fee before credits will be added to your transcript. The Community College will only post credits that can be used toward the completion of the degree program in which you are matriculated.
4. Credit Award Based Upon Experiential Learning Documented in a Portfolio Prepared by the Student: This category includes all requests for credit by students for their experiential learning activities which are non-standard and for which CLEP/challenge exams are either not available or not appropriate. The main basis for assessing a student's claim for learning will be a portfolio. A portfolio is a formal written communication, presented by the student to the college, requesting credit for extra-collegiate learning. In order to be eligible to participate in the portfolio process, you must be accepted into a degree program and be registered for courses at CCRI.
   All students seeking credits for prior learning based upon a portfolio will be required to participate in a non-credit portfolio development course. Students wishing to submit their completed portfolio(s) for consideration of academic credit will be charged a fee of $10 for each credit hour which is awarded based upon a faculty member's evaluation of their portfolio.
   Each portfolio will be assessed by a faculty member who has expertise in the subject area documented in the portfolio. If the assessor determines that your knowledge of the subject is college-level, then he or she will recommend that you receive credit. If the assessor decides that more information is needed in order to make a recommendation, the student will be asked to submit additional documentation. If your knowledge is judged to be insufficient, the faculty will deny credit.
   This assessment process will also be used to determine non-standard experiential learning awards leading to the Associate in Applied Science--Technical Studies degree.
   For additional information on any of the aforementioned programs call or write: Dr. Peter N. Woodberry, Dean of Business, Science and Technology, CCRI, 400 East Avenue, Warwick, RI 02886-1807, (401) 825-2147, or visit the prior learning Web site at www.ccri.edu/priorlearning.

Cooperative Education

Cooperative Education is an educational strategy which allows students to be employed in their field of study while attending college. The basic premise of Cooperative Education is that personal growth and professional development are fostered by combining classroom learning with supervised work experience. Students attend seminars and receive academic credit for both their academic work and the knowledge gained on the job. The seminar is also available online. CO-OP assists students in exploring and choosing a career, preparing for full-time employment, or advancing in their present career. Coordinators assist students in securing positions related to their academic interests.* In addition, resume writing and interviewing workshops, along with job referrals to CO-OP employers, are an integral part of the CO-OP experience. Cooperative Education is a unique strategy in which students, employers and faculty assume responsibility for developing and evaluating learning outcomes. It provides students with opportunities to examine their academic and career interests and to develop appropriate attitudes and skills required for their chosen career field. For more information, call the Office of Cooperative Education and Career Placement at 825-2050 in Warwick or 333-7254 in Lincoln.

* Students presently working in a professional job related to their major may use their position as a CO-OP placement.

Study Abroad

The Study Abroad Program at the Community College of Rhode Island, through our membership in the College Consortium for International Studies, offers students the intellectual challenge of studying in any of 30 different countries. This enhances their educational experience through exposure to new cultures, countries and educational systems. Students may select from programs in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland.

The Consortium consists of over 200 colleges and universities, two- and four-year, public and private, which cooperate to offer over 2,000 students study abroad opportunities each year. A wide range of academic programs are offered, including liberal arts, business, intensive languages, visual and performing arts, art history, and human services. Except for language studies, most courses are taught in English. Courses vary from one month to a full semester in length; summer programs and internships are available in some of the countries.

A program in Quebec is also offered through the New England/Quebec Student Exchange Program. Under this program eligible students may spend one or two semesters at any one of 18 colleges in the Province of Quebec. Students must be United States citizens, who have completed at least one year of a degree program at CCRI and remain in that program during their year in Quebec. They must be in academic good standing at CCRI, and unless they are applying for a program in French language, must possess a command of that language.

All students studying abroad must be full-time (registered for a minimum of 12 credits) and are eligible for financial aid in any of these programs. For more information, call the Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at (401) 333-7138.

Honors Program

The Honors Program reflects the College’s commitment to academic excellence. By creating learning communities and by strengthening the opportunities for intellectual dialogue, the Honors Program enhances the educational experience at the Community College of Rhode Island.

Students can earn honors credits through independent study projects, supplementary projects within existing course sections, and specially designated “Honors” courses. Each honors project must be sponsored by an instructor. Students may take a maximum of two honors projects in any one semester.

To be eligible for the Honors Program, a student must have completed at least 15 semester hours and earned at least a 3.25 grade point average.

By participating in the Honors Program, the student can take advantage of the opportunity to acquire additional knowledge and skills. Students and faculty will be working together as “colleagues in learning” – a cooperative spirit that reflects the fundamental purpose of the academic community. In addition, the student’s official transcript will reflect all honors credits. These unique designations on the transcripts not only promote transfer to four-year institutions but also can lend an advantage with regard to competitive status in the workplace. An extra .5 credits are available for honors projects integrated into existing course sections; the amount of credit for independent study projects is determined by contractual arrangement between the student and the instructor. Students who complete four honors projects or more at CCRI will receive special recognition at the graduation ceremony.

As a rigorous and prestigious enterprise, the Honors Program contributes to the quality of academic life at the Community College of Rhode Island.

For more information, call Dr. Lynne Andreozzi-Fontaine at 825-2239 or Professor Karen Kortz at 333-7443.

This page last modified on: April 22, 2005