Carroll takes pride in its advising system and the close cooperation that exists between students and faculty. However, the final responsibility for becoming familiar with and abiding by the College’s academic policies, including Core, program, and graduation requirements, rests with the student.
Enrollment and Registration
- All students must complete registration according to the dates specified in the semester schedule after consultation with the assigned academic advisor.
- Students or auditors may not attend and will not receive credit for any class for which registration has not been completed within the specified period.
- Changes in registration after the completion of the formal registration and add/drop periods require the approval of the faculty advisor and the Registrar.
- Students registering late are charged the late registration fee.
- Registration is completed only when tution and fees are paid.
Code of Conduct and Classroom Deportment
Carroll College expects students to conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful of both the instructor and the other students. Student conduct that disrupts, invades or demonstrates disrespect for the rights of others is prohibited and may be subject to disciplinary action. If a student is disruptive in class, the initial course of action will be a conference between the student and the instructor. If necessary, the disruptive student may be reported by the instructor to the Department Chair and ultimately the Vice President for Academic Affairs who has the option of dismissing the student from the class. A comprehensive listing of regulations governing student conduct and rights is provided in the Student Handbook.
Academic Grievance Policy
The College has a formal Academic Grievance Policy that should be followed if a student has questions concerning the conduct of classes, alleged actions of a faculty member or grading procedures (other than a final grade). The student must attempt to resolve the matter with the individual instructor. If a mutually satisfactory resolution cannot be reached, the student should bring the concerns to the chairperson of the particular department. If a satisfactory resolution is not reached at this level, the student should file a formal grievance with the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. The complete Academic Grievance Policy is on file in the Office of the Registrar.
Class Attendance
Students are expected to attend the first and each meeting of a course. If unable to attend the first class, a student should contact his or her instructor before the class meets. Students who miss the first class of the semester without making prior arrangements may be, at the instructor’s discretion, dropped from the course. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of instructors’ attendance requirements. Students who enroll during add/drop week may not be counted absent when not formally enrolled in the course; however, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor about class assignments and content missed. In individual courses, attendance may influence the grade the student receives. For absences due to college sanctioned activities, please read below.
Attendance Policy Addressing Absences due to College Sanctioned Activities
I. Policy
The Carroll College faculty, staff, and administration agree that they will work together to optimize student learning—both in and out of the classroom— by sharing the responsibility for communicating about and minimizing class absences due to activities that are under the supervision of college faculty or staff. Students will not be routinely penalized in course progress or evaluation for absences due to college sanctioned activities as long as all parties follow the procedures outlined below. This policy aims to help students, in collaboration with faculty and staff, navigate conflicts between class attendance and participation in college sanctioned activities.
II. Definition
For the purposes of this policy, approved sanctioned activities include:
- Collegiate academic competitions (e.g. Forensics, Enactus, Moot Court, Mathematical Modeling)
- Commitments on behalf of the College (e.g. ASCC, Pep Band, Jazz Combo, Choir, Theater)
- Intercollegiate athletic competitions (not practices)
- Class field trips approved by the Academic Vice President’s office (w/ appropriate paperwork)
- Professional activities recognized by the College related to academics (e.g. professional conference attendance, ROTC field leadership exercise)
- Co-curricular service activities (e.g. Engineers Without Borders, Headlights)
where such activities are under the supervision of faculty or staff advisors.
III. Procedures
A. Responsibilities of Faculty and Staff Sponsors of College Sanctioned Activities
Faculty and staff leading college sanctioned activities will work to enable participating students to miss as few classes as possible, keeping in view the detrimental impacts caused by absences from the classroom.
Faculty and staff sponsors of college sanctioned activities will provide students with a written schedule by the first day of classes and will post competition schedules on the Carroll College website and portal.
Faculty and staff sponsors of college sanctioned activities will, as a rule, not schedule events during reading days or the week of final examinations. They will also, whenever possible, avoid scheduling events during the week prior to both fall and spring break, due to the fact that midterm exams are often scheduled during these weeks. Rare exceptions to this rule might occur to accommodate playoffs.
Faculty and staff sponsors of college sanctioned activities will not penalize participating students for an absence from an event if their academic success in a course prohibits such absence. Sponsors are encouraged to communicate with faculty about the student and course in question.
B. Responsibilities of Students Participating in College Sanctioned Activities
Students participating in college sanctioned activities will communicate, verbally and in writing, with faculty during the first week of class about the dates they expect to be absent for scheduled events. For events scheduled later in the semester, students will inform faculty no later than one week prior to the event. Students will also remind the faculty immediately prior to an upcoming absence.
Students will verify, at the faculty’s request, that an absence was caused by a college sanctioned event.
Students will notify sponsors of college sanctioned activities, at least one week in advance, of potential conflicts between scheduled events and course requirements. This will provide sponsors and faculty with the opportunity to communicate about the student and course in question.
Students will recognize that they are not excused from academic work and that in some cases it is impossible to provide alternative assignments or reschedule critical learning experiences. Students, in consultation with course faculty and their academic advisors, should carefully consider whether a particular course, due to the nature of the learning experiences involved, will work with their participation in a co-curricular activity and plan accordingly.
In the case where a student has conflicting college sanctioned activities, s/he will work with the activity sponsors and the academic advisor to reach a resolution.
C. Responsibilities of Faculty Teaching Academic Courses
Faculty will make a good faith effort to accommodate students who miss a reasonable number of classes because of their participation in college sanctioned activities.
Faculty will clearly articulate their attendance policies on their course syllabi. This policy should directly address student absences due to participation in college sanctioned activities, as well as student absences due to illness, family functions and crises, etc.
Faculty are encouraged to communicate directly with students and sponsors of college sanctioned events in the event that a student has a specific conflict between his/her success in an academic course and his/her role in a college sanctioned event.
Faculty will communicate with students if excessive absences, caused by college sanctioned events either alone or in combination with other factors, point to withdrawal from the class or an incomplete as an advisable option.
IV. Appeal Process
Students with complaints that faculty or staff are not working under this policy must initiate the following procedure as soon as possible:
- Initial attempts to resolve the matter should be made in writing to the faculty/staff person, who shall have five (5) school days to respond to the student in writing.
- If the student is dissatisfied with the response, he/she may request a review in writing by the appropriate Department Chair/Supervisor. The Chair/Supervisor must meet with the student and the faculty/staff person involved within five (5) school days after the student has requested the review and issue a written resolution to both parties within five (5) school days of the meeting.
- If either party should be dissatisfied with the response, a written grievance may be filed with the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs within five (5) school days. The Associate VP will convene a meeting involving the faculty/staff person, and the student and issue a final resolution with five (5) school days of the meeting.
- This appeal process can be initiated anytime during the semester. It does not replace the final grade appeal, which can only be initiated after final grades for the term have been posted.
Classification
Those enrolled at Carroll College are classified as either degree students or non-degree students. Degree students are those who have met all entrance requirements and have been approved for a course of study leading to the Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science degree. Non-degree students are those who are enrolled at Carroll College, usually on a part-time basis, and who are not seeking a degree. Non-degree students may complete a maximum of 18 credits, after which time they are required to become a certificate or degree-seeking candidate.
A full-time student is one who is enrolled for a minimum of 12 semester credits of college courses. For purposes of financial aid, athletic eligibility, determination of student standing, and for many scholarships, a student must be enrolled full-time. A part-time student is one who is enrolled for 11 credit hours or fewer.
Students are classified as:
- Freshmen when they are admitted as degree students and have fewer than 30 completed credits;
- Sophomores when the record shows 30 to 59 completed credits;
- Juniors when the record shows 60 to 89 completed credits;
- Seniors when the record shows a minimum of 90 completed credits.
Study Load
The normal full-time study load is 15–16 credits per semester. Any study load exceeding 19 credits must have the approval of the Registrar.
Students who officially represent Carroll College by participating in extracurricular, competitive activities, including but not limited to intercollegiate athletics, forensics, or moot court, must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits and often are required to enroll in more for eligibility reasons.
Credit and Grade System
The scholastic year is normally divided into 2 semesters—fall and spring— of 15 instructional weeks plus a week of final exams with 150 minutes scheduled for each course. A class hour is 50 minutes of lecture, seminar, or recitation, or 110 minutes of laboratory work. The number of meetings per week and the corresponding credit in semester hours are indicated in the class schedule. Experiential learning opportunities that take place during winter break are included as part of the spring term for academic, financial aid, and tuition purposes. Carroll also offers an optional summer term, divided into different sessions; there is a special summer tuition rate that is charged in addition to academic year tuition.
The unit of academic credit is the semester hour. Ordinarily, a semester hour represents the work of 50 minutes of class meeting once weekly and requiring approximately 2 hours of preparation. Thus, a class which meets 100 minutes weekly carries 2 hours of credit; 150 minutes weekly, 3 credits; etc. One laboratory period (two to three hours) is equivalent to one class meeting. The minimum passing grade required before a student can receive credit is “D.”
Interpretation of Letter Grades
The grading system in use is an alphabetical system using the letters A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F, I, P, W, NR and AU. The option for +/- grading went into effect beginning with academic year 2015-2016. Grades are interpreted as follows:
A/A- indicates excellence of performance in every aspect of the course
B+/B/B- indicates a better than satisfactory but less than excellent performance in every aspect of the course
C+/C/C- indicates a satisfactory performance in every aspect of the course
D indicates a less than satisfactory performance in some or all aspects of the course
F indicates serious deficiencies in some or all aspects of the course
I incomplete is given only under unusual circumstances which cause a delay in a student’s completion of a course. The student must be doing passing work after 60% of the course has been completed before an “I“ (incomplete) may be given. The student must make specific arrangements including completion date (no later than the end of the following semester) with the faculty member for the completion of the course. A formal written Request for Grade of Incomplete must be filed in the Office of the Registrar before the assignment of the grade as incomplete
P pass—indicates the requirements for receiving credit for a course have been met.
W withdrawal NR not reported
AU audit student—no credit or grade.
Grade Points and Academic Average
A student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) is calculated by using only those grades earned at Carroll. A student’s GPA is determined by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number of graded attempted credits. In computing this average, the following points are assigned each grade:
| A |
4.0 grade points per credit |
| A- |
3.667 grade points per credit |
| B+ |
3.333 grade points per credit |
| B |
3.0 grade points per credit |
| B- |
2.667 grade points per credit |
| C+ |
2.333 grade points per credit |
| C |
2.0 grade points per credit |
| C- |
1.667 grade points per credit |
| D |
1.0 grade points per credit |
| F |
0.0 grade points per credit |
Neither the notation “W” nor the grade “P” is computed when calculating the grade point average of a student.
Grievance Policy to Appeal a Final Grade
The College also has a formal Academic Grievance Policy to Appeal a Final Grade that should be followed if a student believes a final grade has been improperly recorded. Only final grades resulting from the failure of an instructor to follow college policies in classes or on examinations may be grieved. Resolutions of grievances should begin with the individual instructor. If the grievance is not resolved at this level, the grievance should be brought to the chairperson of the particular department. If a satisfactory resolution is not reached at this level, the student should file a formal grade appeal with the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. The complete policy is on file in the Office of the Registrar.
Good Standing and Academic Probation
The grade point average required to maintain good academic standing at Carroll College is 2.00. In order to remain in good standing, a student must have a 2.00 grade point average for both the semester and cumulative work.
When semester grade reports indicate that a student has failed to meet the minimum scholastic standards (2.00 grade point average), the student is not in good academic standing.
After a semester of unsatisfactory work, a student enrolled for 12 or more semester hours will be placed on academic probation; however, acute or significant failure to meet minimum academic standards after one semester may warrant academic suspension. Likewise, academic suspension may result upon completion of a second consecutive semester of unsatisfactory work or upon completion of a total of three non-consecutive semesters of unsatisfactory work.
A student who has been suspended is not eligible to apply for readmission for at least one academic year.
Suspension may result after one semester of unsatisfactory work should very poor performance warrant such action. The associate vice president for academic affairs, in consultation with appropriate faculty and staff, will evaluate these cases and make an appropriate determination.
The records of part-time students will be reviewed after the student has attempted 12 or more semester credits. If a total of 12 or more semester credits have been attempted and cumulative grade point average is unsatisfactory (below 2.00), the student will be placed on probation.
For transfer students, the grades earned at Carroll College alone will determine the grade point average of the student at Carroll.
Students on academic probation as a result of work at Carroll College may not hold offices in student activities and organizations, nor may they participate in any varsity sports contests, intercollegiate forensic competitions, main stage theatre productions, the Gold Team Ambassadors or Carroll sponsored education or service abroad.
The academic standing of a student who withdraws from the College and then seeks re-admission will be based on that of the student’s last term of attendance at Carroll.
Students must meet the grade point average described above to be considered as making satisfactory progress. Students who fail to make satisfactory progress may be declared ineligible for financial aid, either institutional or under the Title IV Federal Aid program. Grade point averages falling below this 2.00 standard are considered unsatisfactory.
Restoration of Good Standing
Full-time students (6 Carroll credits or more in summer, 12 credits or more in fall or spring) on academic probation are restored to good standing when their semester grade point average is 2.00 or above and their cumulative grade point average is 2.00 or above when enrolled as a full-time student. A part-time student on probation must complete at least 9 credits with grades of the quality required to be restored to good standing. A student with satisfactory performance in a semester, but a continued unsatisfactory cumulative grade point average, will remain on probation until the cumulative average is above the minimum.
The Pass/Fail Grade
Selected courses are regularly graded on a pass/fail basis. However, students may undertake other courses on a pass/fail basis under the following conditions:
- Courses taken on a pass/fail basis are not accepted into the major or minor;
- Beginning Fall 2017*, courses taken on a pass/fail basis are not accepted as fulfilling Core Curriculum requirements;
- Writing intensive courses may not be taken pass/fail;
- To elect pass/fail grading, a student must have completed 60 or more semester hours of college work (junior standing) with a cumulative grade point average of 2.00;
- A student may only enroll in one course per semester on an elected pass/fail basis, with a maximum of two such courses allowable toward graduation.
Students who register for such courses must indicate this choice at the time of formal registration—that is, during the period specified by the academic calendar for each semester. After this period, students may not change their registration from regular grade status to pass/fail or from pass/fail to regular grade status.
Credits transferred from other institutions to a student’s Carroll College program will not be accepted into the major, minor, or (as of Fall 2017*) Core Curriculum requirements if taken on a pass/fail basis. No more than two such courses will be allowed toward graduation whether they are taken at Carroll or at another institution.
Students taking courses on a pass/fail basis should pay special attention to faculty grading policies.
*This policy was implemented campus-wide for all students and courses beginning Fall 2017. Carroll courses and transfer courses taken before Fall 2017 that met the previous pass/fail policy conditions were grandfathered in; courses taken Fall 2017 and later fall under the revised policy, regardless of when the student began his or her studies at Carroll.
Repeating a Course
Students who receive a grade of “D” or “F” may repeat the course at Carroll. Only grades of “D” or “F” may be repeated. In such cases the most recent grade shall be the one counted in computing the grade point average required for graduation. The credit hours for a course will be counted only once. However, the original course(s) and grade(s) will remain on the transcript. Students cannot attempt to repeat a course under this policy more than two times. Grades earned for courses repeated at other institutions and accepted as transfer credit are not calculated into the Carroll College grade point average.
Course Changes After Registration/Add–Drop
- The last day in a term when students may add a course to their program is indicated in the semester schedule.
- Changes from “credit” to “audit” status or from “audit” to “credit” status and changes from “grade” to “pass/fail” or “pass/fail” to “grade” must be made by the last day indicated in the semester schedule.
- To withdraw from any course after the drop period, a student must obtain approval of the advisor and the instructor of the course. Merely ceasing attendance in any course does not constitute withdrawal. An unauthorized withdrawal results in a failure of the course.
A student may withdraw from a course during the first 12 weeks of the semester after obtaining approval of the advisor and the instructor of the course. For authorized withdrawal, a grade of “W” is indicated on the record. Courses from which the student withdraws within the add/drop period of a term will not be entered on the permanent record. Courses from which the student withdraws after the 12th week will be recorded as “F.” Withdrawal forms are available at the Office of the Registrar.
Independent Study
Independent study is a unique learning opportunity not offered in the regular curriculum or an existing Carroll course offered to a student in special circumstances. Only junior and senior students may enroll in an independent study. At the time of application, a student must have earned a 3.00 cumulative grade point average. A student may register for no more than three (3) semester hours of independent study in any one term. In all cases, registration for independent study must be approved by the appropriate department chairperson and the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
Examinations
Examinations, recitations, and reports are required within the semester at the discretion of the instructor. In addition, a final examination is given in most courses during the final examination week of each semester. Students absenting themselves from a scheduled examination without justifiable cause will receive a failing grade for the examination. A scheduled examination is any examination that is announced by an instructor in advance of the class meeting when the examination is administered. A supplementary examination may be taken for a justifiable cause approved by the instructor of the course.
Final Examinations
The final examination week is an essential part of the academic semester. Although final examinations are not required in all classes, it is expected that classes will meet during the time scheduled for the final examination. Final examinations are to be conducted according to the guidelines of the College catalog and according to the final examinations schedule published at the beginning of each semester as part of the class schedule. The following guidelines are to be observed with respect to final examinations:
- Final examinations are to be given according to the published schedule.
- Take home final examinations are not due until the scheduled time for final examinations for that class.
- Final examinations for evening classes (6-10 p.m.) will be given at the regular class time during finals week or as scheduled.
- Laboratory and studio art final examinations may be given during the final week of classes.
There are many things required of students during the last few weeks of classes. Faculty are encouraged to work with students in planning for these last weeks and to be sensitive to the many requirements of the end of the semester.
Note: It is possible that individual students may have three finals scheduled during a given day. This creates a difficult situation for some of those students. If requested and reasonable, the faculty will work with the individual student in rescheduling a test at another time during finals week so as to remedy this situation.
Grade Reports
Students may view their grades via Carroll Self-Service at mid-semester and the end of fall, spring, and summer semesters. The College does not hold itself responsible for grade report errors unless the Registrar is notified of errors within 6 months after the issue of the report.
Grade Change Policy
Once an instructor has submitted an official grade report to the Registrar’s Office, a grade can only be changed within one year of its issuance and only in the case of fraud, error, or a successful student academic appeal. In extraordinary circumstances, a change of grade may be requested after the one year limit has expired. However, any grade change after a one year period must have the approval of the Registrar.
Withdrawal from the College
A student is granted honorable separation when in good standing at the time of withdrawal. Withdrawal from the College with honorable separation requires appropriate signatures on a completed withdrawal form. Withdrawal forms are available in the Registrar’s Office. Failure to comply with this procedure may result in failing grades in all courses.
A student may withdraw from the College on any class day during the semester, but not after the last day of regular classes. A student who withdraws from the College and then wishes to re-enter must complete the admission procedure to be re-admitted.
Administrative Withdrawal from the College
Carroll College reserves the right to require a student to withdraw from the College when the student is either unable or unwilling to withdraw voluntarily, and it is determined to be necessary for the interest and well-being of the student and/or the College to terminate enrollment. Reasons for an administrative withdrawal may include one or more of the following:
- Failure to comply with the Carroll Code of Student Conduct, including behavior that is in violation of the Self-Care Expectations, Self-Destructive and Threatening Behaviors policy, as described in the Carroll College Student Handbook;
- Failure to make appropriate payment or payment arrangements when a student’s account is in default;
- Behavior that has resulted in significant disengagement from the academic activities of the College;
- Behavior that has resulted in significant disruption of the teaching and learning activities of members of the academic community, which will substantially impede the education processes of the student.
This policy does not take the place of disciplinary action associated with a student’s behavior that violates the Carroll Code of Student Conduct or any other College policies or regulations. This policy is to be invoked in extraordinary circumstances when, in the discretion of the appropriate Vice President or designee, the conduct board process cannot be used or is not appropriate.
Students who are administratively withdrawn from the College are subject to the same financial aid and refund policies as students who elect to withdraw from the institution.
Students who are notified of an administrative withdrawal will be afforded the right to appeal to the Vice President for Enrollment. Appeals must be made by the student, in writing, and must be submitted within 5 class days of the initial notification. The Vice President for Enrollment will then convene a committee to review the appeal and will issue a decision back to the student within 10 class days.
Deployment Policy for Students Called to Active Military Service
In order to qualify under the provisions of these policies, a student must present official military orders indicating his/her mobilization or activation to the Registrar or other appropriate college official. The student will then be informed of the procedure to follow.
Academic Grades
Mobilization or activation during a regular semester will result in the complete withdrawal of the student from the college without penalty or a punitive grade.
If the mobilization or activation of a student occurs after the last permissible day to withdraw from the college, the student may choose to withdraw or request an incomplete grade. Under this circumstance, normal Carroll College policy for the award of “Incomplete” grades will apply. These instances will need to be individually contracted and approved by the course instructor/ faculty member, and filed in the Office of the Registrar. The student will not receive a refund for these courses and/or applicable fees.
Student Re-enrollment
Students mobilized or activated while enrolled in Carroll College will have priority placement upon return. The college will make every attempt to place these students back into their academic study track, as closely as possible to the same place the student occupied before they were mobilized or activated. Any readmission application fee will be waived for these students.
Student Account
If the student chooses to fully withdraw from the college, course tuition and fees will be pro-rated and reduced based on federal and institutional aid refund policies outlined in the Carroll College Catalog.
If the student withdraws before 60% of the semester has been completed, Federal Financial Aid and charges will be pro-rated in accordance with the policy as outlined in the Carroll College Catalog. If the student withdraws after he/she has completed 60% of the semester, no Financial Aid or charge adjustments will be necessary.
I. Federal Aid:
Financial Aid is pro-rated for students who withdraw from the college. Federal Financial Aid will be returned in accordance with the Federal Financial Aid return policy:
Federal Financial Aid is pro-rated based on Federal Title IV Regulations: See Return of Federal Title IV Funds Policy.
Note: Federal loan disbursements the student has earned, based on the pro-ration, will enter repayment when a student withdraws from school. Students may contact the loan servicer to postpone payments on their loan accounts.
II. Institutional Aid (Scholarships and Grants):
If the student has received institutional scholarship and grants prior to mobilization and chooses to withdraw from the college, the scholarships and grants will be refunded in accordance with the institutional aid policy outlined in the Carroll College Catalog.
Please note that receiving a refund of tuition and fees from Carroll College may result in a repayment to the Department of Veteran Affairs for any education benefits received during that time.
Change of Address and/or Name
It is essential that students notify the Office of the Registrar promptly of any change in residence; address changes can be made in Carroll Self-Service. All requests for a change of name must be accompanied by appropriate, official documentation.
The Major
All students must elect a standard major or develop a multi-disciplinary major. Ordinarily, students decide on a major by the end of the sophomore year.
Students are expected to satisfy the graduation requirements in effect the year of initial enrollment as degree candidates at the College providing they can complete requirements within a continuous six-year period. If graduation requirements change after that date, students have the option of petitioning to satisfying either the requirements in effect at the time of initial enrollment or the requirements of a subsequent catalog. Generally, if a student interrupts attendance, s/he must graduate under the requirements in effect at the time of re-admission; however, a student who takes a one- or two-semester break from the College and leaves in academic good standing may be eligible to return under her or his original catalog year, providing s/he can complete the requirements within six years of initial enrollment. Determination of appropriate catalog years is made by the Registrar.
At least half of the credits required in the major field for the associate’s or bachelor’s degrees must be taken at Carroll College. Exceptions require the approval of the major department chairperson and the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Students are not automatically accepted into all major programs of the College. A number of departments require that certain standards be met and that a formal application be filed. See specific requirements as listed in the academic programs of this catalog. To qualify for acceptance into the major department, the student must meet college standards as outlined in this catalog.
The Minor
A specific minor is not required for graduation except in those cases where a student wishes to graduate under certain teaching options for secondary education. Any student may obtain a minor by fulfilling the departmental requirements for the minor as set forth in this catalog. At least one-half of the credits required for a minor must be taken at Carroll College.
Multi-Disciplinary Major
The purpose of the multi-disciplinary major (MDM) is to permit students in good academic standing to fulfill their personal academic objectives and complete their degree at Carroll College through an integrated program of study that is not possible through an existing major. The program should draw on the curricula of two or more disciplines and create a coherent academic focus. The student who wishes to pursue an MDM will choose a principal advisor and two additional faculty who will work with the student to plan coursework that will provide breadth and depth in the chosen disciplines.
Requirements for the Multi-Disciplinary Major for a bachelor’s degree:
- An approved application form must be filed with the Office of the Registrar no later than three semesters prior to graduation. Usually, this deadline will be the end of the student’s fifth semester. Application forms are available at the Office of the Registrar and include a listing of steps to follow in developing a Multi-Disciplinary Major.
- The student must be in good academic standing prior to submission of the proposal.
- Coursework requirements:
At least 18 semester hours must be taken within the sponsoring discipline. The student may not be required to take more than 24 semester hours within the sponsoring department.
At least 12 semester hours must be taken in a second discipline.
An MDM must include a minimum of 48 semester hours that include courses from the sponsoring discipline and other courses deemed to be relevant by the students and the MDM committee.
The list of required courses must contain a minimum of 24 semester hours at the 300/400 level.
At least one-half of the credits required in the MDM proposal must be taken at Carroll College.
The regulations governing the thesis and/or comprehensive examination of the sponsoring discipline will apply.
Requirements for the Multi-Disciplinary Major for an associate’s degree:
- An approved application form must be filed with the Office of the Registrar no later than the fall semester prior to graduation. Usually, this deadline will be before the end of the student’s third semester. Application forms are available at the Office of the Registrar and include a listing of steps to follow in developing a Multi-Disciplinary Major.
- The student must be in good academic standing prior to submission of the proposal.
- Coursework requirements:
At least 12 semester hours must be taken within the sponsoring discipline. The student may not be required to take more than 16 semester hours within the sponsoring department.
At least 8 semester hours must be taken in a second discipline.
An MDM must include a minimum of 24 semester hours that include courses from the sponsoring discipline and other courses deemed to be relevant by the students and the MDM committee.
Of the final 45 credit hours earned toward the degree a minimum of 30 credit hours must be earned at Carroll College with at least one-half of the credits required in the MDM major taken at Carroll.
Career Enhancement Certificate
The Career Enhancement Certificate provides students from a variety of backgrounds with the option of designing a tailored program that will add a group of related courses to their professional or academic experience. The certificate program is designed for individuals who wish to gain a specific set of skills and knowledge in a specialized area to enhance employment opportunities. It may not be used to replace or redefine an existing Carroll certificate. As opposed to an academic minor, it does not require the students to earn a major or a degree to accompany it. Each Career Enhancement Certificate requires a minimum of 15 credits of academic work. At least 9 of these credits must be upper (300 or 400) level classes, and all must be earned at Carroll College. To earn the certificate, students must develop a plan and program in consultation with a faculty advisor, and pass the required classes with a grade of "C-" or better. Completed coursework may be applied to degree requirements if the student becomes degree seeking at a later date. The following guidelines must be followed in developing a specific Career Enhancement Certificate:
- Choose a primary discipline and a principal advisor from the faculty in that discipline.
- In consultation with the advisor, develop a one page proposal outlining the objectives of the program. The proposal should include a title, the goal of the certificate program, and a rationale for choosing the courses that will make up the program.
- Complete the certificate planning form.
- Submit the signed proposal to the Registrar.
Advanced Placement Program
High school students who receive scores of 4 or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination may, upon enrollment, be granted advanced placement and college credit in appropriate subjects. Reports on examinations must be sent to the Registrar directly from the College Board. For a full list of AP exams accepted for addition to Carroll transcripts, please visit the AP and IB Policy webpage at https://www.carroll.edu/apply/ap-ib-policy.
Carroll Early Access and Advanced College Experience
A special arrangement with Helena-area high schools enables qualified juniors and seniors to enroll for college credit courses at Carroll while completing their secondary school requirements. Qualified home-schooled students are also welcome to participate in this program. Carroll Early Access program students will enroll for college credit only; as part of a two-year pilot program, these students will not be charged tuition (other fees will apply). Advanced College Experience program students will enroll for both college credit and high school credit under dual-credit agreements with local high schools; these students will be charged a per-credit tuition rate, plus applicable fees. While some restrictions apply, the Carroll Early Access and Advanced College Experience programs are open to students with a minimum high school cumulative GPA of 3.25 and approval from their high school counselor and/or parent if the student is homeschooled. Students may register for a maximum of two courses (typically 6-8 credits) per semester. Application forms and further information are available through the Office of Admission.
Credit for Military Experience
Credit for experience in the armed forces of the United States may be allowed veterans in accordance with the recommendation of the American Council on Education (ACE). Veterans wishing such credit should submit official documents or college transcripts covering the work completed.
College Level Examination Program
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) provides people of all ages and backgrounds an opportunity to demonstrate college-level proficiency on the basis of standardized examinations designed to reflect course curricula. Through CLEP examinations, students can demonstrate mastery of general areas and specific subjects for credit and advanced placement.
CLEP may enable Carroll students to receive college credit for what they already know, to bypass introductory courses, or fulfill Carroll College Core Curriculum or major and program requirements. Using CLEP credit to fulfill major and program requirements requires approval of the department chairperson. Students will not receive credit for courses whose content is at a lower level than what they have already completed at Carroll College.
Carroll follows the College Board’s recommendations for awarding credit based on B-level scores. Academic departments determine the specific CLEP examination which may fulfill requirements for classes in their majors or programs in their respective academic areas. Candidates should consult the Registrar to determine the application of CLEP credits to individual programs of study. Up to 30 semester hours may be earned through CLEP. These credits are not graded.
For a full list of CLEP exams accepted for addition to Carroll transcripts, visit the Registrar’s Office. For exam and pricing information, please visit the CLEP web page. Please note: CLEP exams are no longer administered on the Carroll College campus.
Credit by Challenge Examination
Upon application to the Registrar and approval by the appropriate faculty member, examinations for credit in courses offered by the College may be taken with the following restrictions:
- The student must be currently enrolled as a degree candidate at Carroll College;
- A challenge credit examination may not be taken in a course in which the student has already been registered (for credit or as an auditor), nor may an advanced credit examination be repeated;
- The maximum number of credits obtainable by challenge examination is 18, not to exceed six (6) credits in any semester; and
- A fee of $35 is charged for each examination administered under this program.
The fee is payable in advance and is used to defray the cost of the special examination.
International Baccalaureate Program
Carroll College recognizes the International Baccalaureate as a challenging program of study and takes this into consideration when reviewing the student’s application for admission. Students who present scores of 5, 6, or 7 on the International Baccalaureate higher level examinations may be awarded college credit. No credit will be awarded for subsidiary level examinations. Reports on examinations must be sent to the Registrar directly from the International Baccalaureate Organization. For a full list of IB exams accepted for addition to Carroll transcripts, please visit the AP and IB Policy webpage at https://www.carroll.edu/apply/ap-ib-policy.
International Leaving Exams
Credit and/or advanced standing for international leaving exams is con-sidered on a case by case basis. For more information, please contact the Office of International Admission at intl@carroll.edu.
Language Placement
Students who wish to continue studying a modern language for which high school credits have already been received should be placed in a course according to the following guidelines:
- Students with 1 year of high school study should enroll in FR 101/SP 101/LA 101.
- Students with 2 years of high school study should enroll in FR 102/SP 102/LA 102, or begin with 101.
- Students with 3 years of high school study should enroll in FR 203/SP 203/LA 203.
- Students with 4 years of high school study should enroll in FR 204/SP 204/LA 204, or begin with 203.
If students (or advisors) are uncertain about course placement or if they wish to request an exception, they should consult with the instructor.
Transfer of Credit
The following criteria will be used to determine whether or not a course from another college will be accepted for transfer credit at Carroll:
- The course in question must be from a regionally accredited college or university.
- The student must have received a “C-” or better in the course; the only credits transferred for courses taken on a pass/fail basis will be those with a grade of “P” (pass).
- A maximum of 62 lower-level credits (100-200 level) towards the academic program may be transferred into Carroll College.
- At least one-half of the credits required in the major and minor must be taken at Carroll College.
- Of the final 45 semester credits earned toward the degree, a minimum of 30 semester credits must be earned at Carroll College. See requirements for graduation as described in this Catalog
- Two semesters or the equivalent in physical education activity courses may be transferable.
- Courses taken on a pass/fail basis will not be accepted into the major or minor. No more than 2 such courses will be allowed toward graduation, whether they are taken at another institution or at Carroll. Beginning Fall 2017, courses taken on a pass/fail basis do not fulfill Core Curriculum requirements.
- Grades earned at other institutions are not calculated into the Carroll College grade point average.
- Any postsecondary coursework taken within 15 years of being admitted or readmitted to the campus will be included in the transfer analysis of core requirements, specific required classes in a major, minor, option or certificate and elective credits.
- Coursework that falls outside the 15 year guarantee period may be included in the evaluation, at the discretion of the Registrar and appropriate department chair.
- Graduate coursework will not transfer.
- Students are responsible for sending an original translated copy of their foreign transcripts directly to the Registrar’s Office.
Transcript of Credit and Record
- Carroll College will issue official academic transcripts only upon the signed request of the student whose transcript is being requested.
- A transcript is not considered official unless it bears the seal of the College, the signature of the Registrar, and is transmitted directly from the Registrar to an authorized recipient.
- The College reserves the right to deny the issuance of transcripts if a student’s financial account is not paid or payment plan arrangements have not been followed.
- The College does not hold itself responsible for any error on a transcript which is not brought to the attention of the Registrar within 6 months of issue.
- Work completed at other institutions will not be posted to Carroll College transcripts after a student has received a degree from Carroll (unless the student has declared the intention of completing a subsequent major, minor, Associate of Arts degree, etc. through Carroll).
Student Responsibility
Carroll provides excellent advising for students in the pursuit of their degrees. However, the final responsibility for satisfying all academic requirements and policies rests with the student. Students are urged to familiarize themselves with the requirements and policies of the College as enumerated in the Catalog and Student Handbook.