Academic Requirements and Policies

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Associate Degree

The minimum requirement for the associate degree is 60 credit hours and completion of all specified program requirements. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 20 credit hours in General Education courses such as English, social science, mathematics, humanities, science and a minimum of 30 credit hours in their major program. Finally, students earning the degree must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.

Every student enrolled in an associate degree program must demonstrate basic arithmetic and algebra skills before enrolling in college-level math and or other courses (e.g., science). To earn an associate degree, students will be required to successfully complete one or more college-level math classes as specified by the particular program to which the student has been accepted. Students lacking basic arithmetic and algebra skills may be able to achieve those competencies through corequisite remediation offered by the college.

Additional Associate Degrees

Students must earn a minimum of 15 additional credits at the College for each additional associate degree beyond those required for the first and subsequent degrees excluding Credit by Examination, Credit for Experiential Learning, College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and Transfer Credit.

Certificate

Certificate programs emphasize specific skills and outcomes required for employment or for career advancement. There are no specific general education requirements. Students earning a certificate must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and have obtained a passing grade in each required subject.

Attendance Policy

Class attendance is considered essential to academic success of students. Since there are constant learning opportunities between faculty members and students, and between students and other students within the classroom or lab, it is expected that students will attend each meeting of each course in which they are enrolled.

Specific attendance policies for each course are determined by the instructor and will be stated in writing in the course syllabus. These policies reflect the instructor’s authority to determine whether a student is permitted to make up missed work from absence or lateness and on what terms.

Specific attendance policies for each course are determined by the instructor in coordination with the instructor’s department chair. All policies will be clearly stated in writing in the course syllabus. These policies reflect the instructor’s authority to determine whether a student is permitted to make up missed work from absence or lateness and on what terms.

In all cases, faculty will issue an AF grade if a student has 1) missed more than
two consecutive weeks of class and 2) failed to communicate with the instructor by responding to EAB attendance alerts and other outreach. An “AF” grade is calculated in the GPA as an “F”. All students who stop attending class after the add/drop period and have not officially withdrawn shall receive an “AF” from the instructor at any point during the semester until the start of final exams.

Credit Hour Guidelines

  1. A credit hour shall be the equivalent of one (1) hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two (2) hours of out-of-class student work each week for 15 or 16 weeks.
  2. A credit hour shall be allocated based on the following:

Category

Contact Hours per Week

Contact Hours per Sem. (based on minimum 15 week semester)
Class 1 15
Laboratory 2 or 3 30-45
Clinical 3 to 5 45-75
Practicum, Fieldwork  3 45
Internship 3 to 6  45-90
Co-op

Variable by Dept.

Variable by Dept.

Student Conduct and Discipline

A student’s continued enrollment at the College is dependent upon his/her behavior. The awarding of academic credits and recognition and the conferring of degrees, certificates, and awards are subject to the academic and judicial authorities of the College. A student’s attendance may be terminated, and he/she may, following due process, be dismissed from the College at any time and on any grounds deemed advisable by the Administration.

Student conduct, both on and off campus, of a nature which would reflect discredit on the student and/or on the College, may result in disciplinary action by the College. Persons are subject to the laws of the State regardless of their student status and are subject to College discipline when the College’s interests as an academic community are distinctly and clearly involved.

The judicial process will be the responsibility of the Vice President of Student
and Community Affairs and the Judicial Committee. The Vice President may take administrative disciplinary action when it is deemed necessary to ensure the safety of students, faculty, or staff and/or the continuation of the educational process. The final judicial authority of the College is vested in the President.

Grading System

Students earn grades which are assigned by individual faculty members on the basis of an objective evaluation of students’ academic achievement. To successfully complete a certificate or an associate degree at the College, students must earn a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 and meet all program requirements. The following grades are used in the computation of the Grade Point Average:

Grade Quality Points  Grade  Quality Points 
A 4.00 C 2.00
A- 3.70 C- 1.70
B+ 3.30 D+ 1.30
B 3.00 D 1.00
B- 2.70 D- 0.70
C+ 2.30 F 0.00

Auxiliary Grades

The following Auxiliary Grades are not used in the computation of the Grade Point Average:

W: Student-initiated withdrawal from a course at any time prior to completion of the drop deadline (60% of the course) does not affect GPA. This can be initiated by the instructor if the student, because of extenuating circumstances, is unable to initiate the process (e.g., catastrophic illness or injury, job transfer to another state).

WP: Student-initiated withdrawal from a course after the drop deadline (60% of the course) if the student has a passing grade at time of drop as determined by the instructor. WP does not affect GPA, and can be initiated by the instructor if the student, because of extenuating circumstances, is unable to initiate the process (e.g., catastrophic illness or injury, job transfer to another state).

AU: A course taken as an audit does not earn credit and cannot be used to meet graduation requirements. Admission by permission of the instructor. Not all courses can be taken for audit.

I: Incomplete grade. This indicates that a student has not completed a major course assignment due to extraordinary circumstances. It is not used to give an extension of time for a student delinquent in meeting course responsibilities. The “I” grade is not calculated into the GPA. However, all work must be completed by the end of the third week of the subsequent semester or the grade defaults to an F. See full "Incomplete Grade Policy" elsewhere in the College catalogue.

P: Pass (not calculated into GPA)

NP: No Pass; unsatisfactory (not calculated into GPA)

CS: Continuing Study. Allows the student to re-register for a developmental course if competencies have not been met by end of the course. Intended for students who have demonstrated progress and a commitment to succeeding in the course but who need more time to achieve competencies. This does not affect GPA.

The following Auxiliary Grades are used in the computation of the Grade Point Average:

WF: Student initiated withdrawal from a course after the drop deadline (60% of the course); student has a failing grade at time of drop, as determined by the instructor. Calculates in GPA as an “F.”

AF: Instructor or administrator initiated withdrawal at any time for reasons other than poor grade performance—e.g., failure to meet attendance requirements as published in the instructor’s syllabus. The grade may also be issued if a student registered in a clinic, practicum, internship or lab is deemed unsafe or performing in an unsatisfactory manner as determined by an evaluation by a faculty member/agency supervisor in accordance with department criteria and procedure. Calculated in GPA as an “F.”

Failed or Repeated Courses

For purposes of calculating the cumulative GPA (CGPA), when a student repeats a course at the same CCSNH institution, the grade achieved in the most recent course will be the grade used in the CGPA calculation. All previous grades will remain on the transcript but are not used in the calculation. Only those repeated courses completed at the student’s college of matriculation will be used in the calculation of the CGPA; repeated courses completed at an institution outside of the CCSNH and transferred into the student’s college of matriculation will not be used in the calculation of the CGPA.

Third and subsequent attempts to repeat a course will require the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. A failed course may not be passed by Credit by Exam. Financial aid may be impacted by repeating courses.

Eligibility for Extracurricular Activities

To hold office, students must be “in good standing” at the College. A student officer who is placed on probation may continue to hold that office for the current semester. If such probation continues after the semester, the office must be vacated and an election held to fill the vacancy.

Transcripts

Transcripts of a student’s College record will be furnished upon written request. Transcripts require two business days to be processed. A longer time is required at the end of each term and at graduation.

Transfer of Credit

Students may be admitted to programs with advanced standing if they have taken appropriate college courses at another accredited institution or System College and earned a “C” or higher. Courses successfully completed prior to admission will be considered for transfer.

It is the student’s responsibility to furnish the following: (1) transfer request form, (2) official transcript, and (3) copy of the course description. The Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA), Department Chair, Program Coordinator or designee will evaluate each course and grade and determine if the credits should transfer. The student will receive a list of courses accepted for transfer.

Any current students seeking to take a course at another college and wishing to apply that course to their degree must submit a transfer credit authorization form to the VPAA for approval. Without this written approval prior to enrollment in the course, the College does not guarantee acceptance of this course as transfer credit. Grades of courses transferred are not included in the GPA or CGPA. Approved Credits earned at another institution will
be added to the total credits accumulated for graduation.

Distance Learning Verification of Identity

NCC offers distance education courses and has processes in place to verify that the student who registers in a distance education course is the same student who participates in and completes the course and receives the academic credit. Verification may be accomplished through:

  1. A secure login and pass code;
  2. Proctored Examinations;
  3. Pedagogical and related practices that are effective in verifying student identity

In carrying out these processes, NCC protects student privacy and will notify students at the time of registration or enrollment of any projected additional student charges associated with the verification of student identity.

New Hampshire Transfer Connections Program

The NH Transfer Connections Program is designed to inform students about transfer opportunities from Nashua Community College to participating four-year colleges and universities. Students participating in this program will benefit from an easy transfer process with no additional application or fee. For more information contact the Academic Advising Center.

Internships

The following applies to all programs requiring an internship or service learning experience:

The College must ensure that individuals (customers, employees, etc.) at internship and service learning sites are not adversely affected by students during learning experiences. Therefore, students participating in internship and field experiences must demonstrate the emotional stability required to exercise sound judgment, accept direction and guidance from a supervisor or faculty member and establish a rapport and maintain sensitive interpersonal relationships with employees, customers, and clients. For further information please contact Professor Jayne Barnes @ JBarnes@ccsnh.edu.

Credit for Prior Learning

Nashua Community College awards credit for students who may have acquired learning outside of the traditional academic learning environment. This learning may have been obtained through industry certifications, work experience, employer training programs, independent study, non-credit courses, volunteer or community service, or non-college courses or seminars.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is the term used to describe the process by which a student’s experiential learning is evaluated to grant college credit toward continuing education or training. There are four broadly applied approaches to PLA to ensure academic rigor and quality: (1) National Standardized exams in specific disciplines, e.g. Advanced Placement Exams (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests;
(2) credit by exam (CBE); (3) individualized assessments, particularly portfolio-based assessments; (4) evaluated non-college programs, e.g., American Council on Education’s ACE credit service and evaluations of corporate and military training; industry recognized credentials. Adapted from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) definition of Prior Learning Assessment (www.CAEL.org)

PLA Methods

College Board Advanced Placement Tests

The College recognizes the College Board Advanced Placement Examination Program as a means of evaluating student eligibility for advanced placement. Matriculated students who have participated in the AP Program and who have been admitted to the College should have official AP grade reports forwarded directly to the College Admissions Office. These grade reports should come from the College Board, Advanced Placement Examinations, CN 6671, Princeton, NJ 08541-6671; telephone 609.771.7300. Upon receipt of students’ AP reports, the advising center will access the grade and evaluate for transfer credit. The minimum score to receive credit varies from 3 to 5. No credit is awarded on any AP exam score of less than 3.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Students may choose to earn credits by taking a nationally standardized exam known as CLEP (College Level Examination Program). The college awards credits for courses in the areas of Business, Composition and Literature, Foreign Languages, Social Sciences, Science and Mathematics. A complete list of CLEP exams accepted for credit by NCC is available on our website (https://www.nashuacc.edu/student-services/advising-center/ clep-policy), as well as in the Academic Advising Center. The cost of each exam is published on the College Board website www.collegeboard.com/clep. Passing scores
for CLEP are 50 and above unless specified otherwise. Successful completion of a CLEP exam is treated as a transfer credit. Matriculated students will need to request that a copy of their scores be sent to NCC for review. This request is made to the College Board and can be done during or after the exam.

Credit by Examination (CBE)

Credit by Examination (CBE) may be earned by matriculated students who, by study, training, or experience outside the College, have acquired skill or knowledge equivalent to that acquired by students enrolled in a course at the College. Such skill, knowledge, or experience shall be in the area of the course concerned and determined to be relevant by the Vice President of Academic Affairs or other authorized personnel. Students may challenge a course by requesting and completing an examination or evaluation that covers the instructional material of the course. If successful, the appropriate credits earned are applied to the students’ programs but may not be transferable to another college. Since a traditional grade (A-F) is not entered, the Credit by Exam is not calculated into the student’s GPA. For further clarification, check with the college you are planning to transfer to. Students requesting a CBE shall pay a fee of $25 per credit. This fee is non-refundable. Credit will not be given for grades below C. If a student fails to pass the exam, no entry is made on the academic transcript but a record of the unsuccessful completion will be maintained in the student’s file. Students receiving a grade below C are ineligible for another CBE in that course. Students may not CBE a course in which they are enrolled, if they have earned a grade within the CCSNH, or if they have been administratively withdrawn, or if they dropped the course after the two-week drop/add period.

Please note that not all programs provide the CBE option. Candidates wishing to review the material for which they shall be held responsible in a CBE may apply to the chairperson of the department concerned for a list of areas of the subject matter covered upon which the exam will be based. The CBE will cover the content of the course being challenged. Students must apply for and take the CBE by the end of the Add/Drop period.

Experiential Learning Portfolio

Credit for prior learning offers students the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge they have gained through life experiences and apply this knowledge toward credit in some degree/certificate programs. To prepare for this option, students will develop a portfolio to be assessed by appropriate college personnel. A student must be matriculated at NCC to
be eligible to apply for experiential learning assessment credit.

Not all programs provide this option; students should consult with their respective college advisor and/or program coordinator for more information and the process used for application. Students may be awarded a maximum of 24 credits for experiential learning. Students will be assessed a fee based on 50% of the current tuition rate on the total credits awarded (e.g. for 12 credits awarded: 0.50 x current tuition rate x 12 credits)

ACE Credit – American Council on Education

College credit may be granted to students with military training, experience, or coursework that is recognized by the American Council on Education (ACE) based on the program the student is entering.

Students with any questions about ACE should contact the advising center at 603.578.6817. Students seeking credit for their military experience will also need to submit a military transcript to the Advising Office for the review/evaluation process.

Industry Recognized Credentials

Industry Recognized Credential is an umbrella term used to describe apprenticeships, badges, micro-credentials, certificates, certifications, degrees, diplomas and licenses. For example, but not limited to CISCO, CompTia and Microsoft. Adapted from the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) definition of Credential (https://nebhe.org) Please note that not all programs accept Industry Recognized Credentials for credit.

Please consult with your program coordinator for further clarification.

Audit

Students may enroll on an audit basis after consultation with the course instructor and Vice President of Academic Affairs at which time responsibilities are established. Auditing students are subject to regular policies and tuition, but audit courses are non-graded and carry no credit towards graduation.

Running Start Program

The Running Start Program allows high school students in participating high schools to enroll in NCC courses taught at their own high school by their high school teachers who have been approved by the College.

This dual-enrollment program provides students with both high school and college credit for these courses. College credits may be used toward completion of a degree or certificate at this College, or credits may be transferred to other colleges and universities throughout the country. (Please note that the determination of transfer credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution.)

Running Start Program students realize significant advantages: College credit awarded in high school, reduced tuition costs (currently $150 per course), reduced time to complete higher education requirements, and increased confidence in high school to college transition. There is currently a scholarship from the New Hampshire Governor’s Office that covers the cost of tuition for STEM/CTE-approved courses. A list of approved courses can be obtained from the Dual Enrollment Coordinator.

If a Running Start student would like to utilize classroom accommodations (IEP or 504), they need to complete NCC’s Application for Reasonable Accommodations to obtain a college level plan.

Contact the Dual Enrollment Coordinator at rsncc@ccsnh.edu for more information.

Scholastic Honors

At the end of each semester, the College publishes an Honors List of students who have attained Vice President’s List or President’s List, based on grade point averages for that semester. A student must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours in a semester to be considered for honors.

Academic Standards

Students falling below the following standards will be designated as "not meeting satisfactory progress." Failure to meet satisfactory progress will result in either Academic Probation or Academic Suspension.

Academic Probation Definition: A warning which indicates the student may not be on track to graduate because of poor academic performance. The student may remain in the program, but his/her academic progress will be monitored.

Students meeting the criteria below will be placed on Academic Probation:

0 - 13 Credits Accumulated:

below 1.50 CGPA

14 - 27 Credits Accumulated:

below 1.70 CGPA

28 - 40 Credits Accumulated:

below 1.80 CGPA

41+ Credits Accumulated:

below 2.00 CGPA

Academic Suspension Definition: Students placed on Academic Suspension will be removed from their program and may not reapply for admission for a minimum of one semester. Students may continue to take courses as a non-matriculated student and will not be eligible for Financial Aid. Students placed on Academic Suspension will be required to meet with an Academic Advisor to create an academic plan and to meet with the advisor on a regular basis.

Students meeting the criteria below will be placed on Academic Suspension:

0 - 13 Credits Accumulated:

below 0.50 CGPA

14 - 27 Credits Accumulated:

below 1.10 CGPA

28 - 40 Credits Accumulated:

below 1.25 CGPA

41+ Credits Accumulated:

below 1.50 CGPA

OR

A student who does not meet satisfactory progress for Academic Probation for two consecutive semesters will be placed on Academic Suspension.

Financial aid may be in jeopardy if a student fails to achieve satisfactory academic progress as defined above.

Academic Probation 1: Students with a GPA of 1.0 or below at the end of their first semester of attendance will be placed on Academic Probation 1 (AP1). Students must earn a CGPA of 1.5 or greater at the end of their second semester of attendance in order to come off Academic Probation. When placed on AP1 status, students must contact the Academic Advising Center to develop a plan of action for academic success.

Withdrawal and Readmission

Students who find it necessary to withdraw from the College should first notify their faculty advisor and then obtain a withdrawal form from the Registrar’s Office. The student will circulate the withdrawal form to the indicated College offices and return it to the Registrar. Failure to officially withdraw or return College property may result in a student’s records being noted: “Withdrawn-Not-in-Good-Standing.”

An official withdrawal from the College after the last date to drop a course shall be considered effective the first day of the following semester for academic reasons, and the student will be held academically accountable for the entire semester. A final grade will be issued as though the student had completed the entire semester.

"Students who have officially withdrawn from the College may apply for readmission under the current program profile. Students will need to complete new program requirements if a program change has occurred.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must complete all courses and attain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.0. Specific requirements for all degree and certificate programs are available from the Registrar. Credits earned in developmental courses are not counted toward graduation requirements but are calculated in the GPA and CGPA. Matriculated students must earn a minimum number of academic credits at the College as follows:

Degree students must earn 15 credits, of which 8 credits must be in advanced courses in the student’s major.

Certificate students must earn 6 credits or 25% of the credits, whichever is higher.

Academic Honors

A full-time, matriculated student in good standing with a grade point average of at least 3.7 is entitled to honors on the President’s List. A full-time student earning a grade point average of 3.0 to 3.69 is entitled to honors on the Vice President’s List.

Phi Theta Kappa

The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa shall be to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students. To achieve this purpose, Phi Theta Kappa shall provide opportunities for the development of leadership and service, for an intellectual climate for exchange of ideas and ideals, for lively fellowship for scholars, and for stimulation of interest in continuing academic excellence. NCC’s Chapter is the Alpha Chi Kappa Chapter. Membership is by invitation only.

Public Disclosure

According to the most recent figures on the National Center for Education Statistics website, the overall graduation rate for full-time, first-time undergraduates was 32%. It is important to note that many students do not attend full-time and take longer than the normal time of 2-3 years. For those students who take longer, the graduation rate is 33%. Also many students do not have the goal of graduating from the College. Students often attend to complete a semester or two before transferring, to explore a potential career area, to resolve academic deficiencies before returning to their original college, or to take courses for self-improvement.

The percentage of students who began in Fall 2018 and either graduated or returned in Fall 2019 was 69% for full-time students and 50% for part-time students.

Developmental Education Policies

Students who test into two or more developmental classes must enroll and participate in continuous developmental education until they fulfill the institutional requirements for developmental education. Students who do not satisfactorily place into college-level mathematics or English courses will be required to enroll in the corresponding Co- Requisite Workshops. These workshops are designed to help students achieve success with college-level course material while receiving targeted academic support through a two-hour weekly workshop class. Instruction will align with the curriculum of the college- level course and provide tutorial support through a variety of methods and materials. In order to achieve the optimum experience for success, attendance in the Workshop is essential. To that end, a student enrolled in the Co-Requisite workshop may not miss more than two Workshop classes. In the event that a student misses more than two Workshop meetings, or an additional fraction of a Workshop class thereof, the student will receive an AF grade, which is calculated into the student’s GPA as an F grade, for the gateway course.

Consortium Agreement Policy

Nashua Community College is committed to providing the necessary classes students need to complete their degrees. However, there are occasions when students choose to complete individual courses at other colleges. In these situations, the student is responsible for completing the “Transfer Course Authorization Form” and getting the appropriate signatures. Once that document is completed, a student, if she/he would like financial aid to include the requested consortium course in the overall aid calculation, must submit an additional form: The Consortium Agreement Form (available in the Financial Aid Office).

The basic requirements for Nashua Community College’s approval:

  • The requested course must be required for graduation.
  • A student must be enrolled in at least 50% of his or her credit hours at NCC during the semester of requested Consortium.
  • The Consortium must be signed before the end of our Add Period at the start of the semester