Standards of scholarship at Napa Valley College are high, based on our confidence in the abilities of our students. While individual progress and the development of each student is of primary concern, student performance must also be measured against standards appropriate for each course. These may include midterm and final examinations, participation in class discussion, laboratories, written papers, and other criteria as stipulated for each course.
Instructors will distribute a “Course Expectations” sheet during the first week of class. Students should become familiar with the stated course expectations and with each instructor’s basis for assigning grades. Students are strongly encouraged to seek help immediately if they find themselves experiencing difficulty in a class. Concerned faculty and excellent support services help students find new strategies for mastering the course content.
Napa Valley College faculty and staff take great pleasure in the achievements of our students. Sharing the joys of learning and celebrating personal accomplishment with our students is most rewarding.
Regular attendance in all classes is important for satisfactory academic progress. The Napa Valley College attendance regulations make provisions for a limited number of unavoidable absences. However, a student who is absent for as many times as a class meets each week will have exhausted this provision. An instructor may request verification of those absences. Further absences may cause the instructor to drop the student from the class.
Students dropped from a class must submit a petition to the Vice President, Student Services in order to be reinstated. If a student is absent because of illness, a signed statement from a physician must be attached to the petition. It is important that the student contact the instructor as soon as possible after an absence has occurred. The Office of Student Services is located in Room 210H, McPherson Administration Building.
A standard unit of credit represents one hour per week of class work and two hours per week of related activity. However, in laboratory and certain activity courses, a larger number of hours per week may be required for each unit of credit.
The following classifications are used to determine eligibility for certain programs and activities.
Freshman: A student who has completed fewer than 30 semester units.
Sophomore: A student who has completed 31-60 semester units, or who has 60 or more units but does not hold a degree.
Full-time: A student who is registered for 12 or more units per semester, six or more units per summer session. Veterans on full-time benefits, athletes, Social Security recipients, and students with foreign student visas must carry at least 12 units.
Part-time: A student is registered for fewer than 12 units per semester or fewer than six units per summer session.
Matriculated: A student who has completed assessment and orientation at NVC or who has already received an AA/AS degree or higher.
Final Examinations Schedule
Students are required to take final examinations
in all courses at the end of each semester. Normally, two hours are given to
complete examinations. An examination schedule for each semester is printed in
the Schedule of Classes and is also available from the Admissions and Records
Office.
Napa Valley College assigns grades according to the following standards of work
performed by students:
A — excellent
B — good
C — satisfactory
D — barely passing
F — failed
CR — satisfactory and credit awarded
NC — no credit
W — withdrawal and no credit
I — incomplete
IP —in progress
RD — report delayed
MW — military withdrawal
Students may choose, no later than the fifth Friday of the semester, to change enrollment in a class to Credit/No Credit basis, rather than receive a letter grade. (“Credit/No Credit” is equivalent to grading on a “pass/not pass” basis.) Academic performance equivalent to a grade of “C” is required to earn credit. Forms are available in the Admissions and Records Office.
The total number of units taken for “Credit/No Credit” may not exceed 12 semester units in courses applicable to the associate degree (courses numbered 90-399). Credit/No Credit courses must be outside those required for a student’s major, unless this is the only grading option for a course. There is no restriction on the number of units that may be taken for Credit/No Credit in non-degree applicable course work.
Credit/No Credit grading requires students to regularly attend class and complete course work. A student will receive a “CR” on his/her transcript if class work is of “C” quality or better. An incomplete designation will be available to students using the CR/NC option in conformance with the grading policy.
Students who cannot complete academic work by the end of the semester because of an emergency or other justifiable reason may contract for an “I” (incomplete) grade. The Agreement to Complete Course Requirements may be obtained at the Admissions and Records Office and must be signed by the student and the instructor. This form includes the conditions for removal of the “I” and the grade to be assigned in the event the conditions are not met.
A final grade shall be assigned when the work has been completed or when the time limit for completing the work has passed. The final date of completion shall be a joint decision of the instructor and student but shall, in no case, exceed a time limit of one semester beyond the end of the semester in which the work was originally to have been completed. A student may petition the Vice President of Student Services for an extension if there are unusual circumstances. The Vice President, with the concurrence of the instructor, may grant the extension.
A student’s grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total grade points earned by the total units attempted. Units attempted on a CR/NC basis are not used for computing the grade point average. Grade points are earned as follows: A = 4; B = 3; C = 2; D = 1; F = 0; CR = 0; W = 0; I = 0.
For example, a student who earns 3 units of A, 3 units of B, 2 units of CR, 5 units of C, 2 units of D, and 1 unit of F, has a grade point average of 2.36.
3 units A 3 x 4 = 12
3 units B 3 x 3 = 9
2 units CR* 2 x 0 = 0
5 units C 5 x 2 = 10
2 units D 2 x 1 = 2
1 unit F 1 x 0 = 0
14 total units 33 grade points
33 grade points /14 units = 2.36 GPA
*CR units are not used for GPA
Academic progress at Napa Valley College is satisfactory when the student maintains a grade point average of 2.0 GPA (“C”). Other colleges and universities may have different academic standards for admission of transfer students. For specific requirements, students should consult the catalog of the college to which they plan to transfer.
Each semester a student who is enrolled for a letter grade in 12 units or more and earns a grade point average of at least 3.5 will be placed on the Napa Valley College President’s Honor List. This special recognition is noted on the student’s permanent record. Students who apply for graduation and have a 3.5 or higher GPA are invited to apply to be the valedictory speaker at commencement. A committee will choose the valedictory speaker from all applicants.
“President’s Honors at Graduation” is noted on the diploma of a student who graduates from Napa Valley College with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Napa Valley College chartered a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, international honor society of the two year college. Students with a G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher are eligible to join.
Program Changes and
Withdrawal from Courses
Students may make changes in their programs through the final dates of the add/drop periods. However, most classes will be full by the first day of the semester. Additionally, students who make late changes will have missed instructional time.
Withdrawal from a class (or classes) shall be authorized through the 14th week of instruction or 75 percent of the term, whichever is less. The academic record of a student who remains in class beyond this time must reflect the symbol A, B, C, D, F, CR, or NC. No notation (‘’W’’ or other) shall be made on the academic record of the student who withdraws during the first four weeks or within the firs 30 percent of the term, whichever is less. A “W” shall be recorded on the student’s academic record through the 14th week of instruction or 75 percent of the term, whichever is less. The “W” shall not be used in calculating grade point average, but excessive “Ws” (as defined in Title 5, sections 55754 and 55756) shall be used as factors in probation and dismissal procedures. The student is responsible for withdrawing from the class within the designated time frame.
Withdrawal is authorized from a class or classes in extenuating circumstances after the last day of the 14th week or 75 percent of the term, whichever is less, upon petition of the student or his representative and after consultation with the instructor(s) or appropriate faculty. Extenuating circumstances are verified cases of accidents, illnesses or other circumstances beyond the control of the student.
The “MW” (military withdrawal) grading symbol shall be assigned only for
students who are members of an active or reserve military services and who
receive orders compelling a withdrawal from courses. Upon verification of such
orders, this symbol will be assigned during the term and no other notation will
be made for withdrawals. The “MW” shall not be counted in progress probation and
dismissal calculations. This section is retroactive to January 1, 1990.
A grade may only be changed within two calendar years of its being awarded.
The academic renewal policy allows a qualified student to remove previously
recorded, substandard academic work from his/her grade point average (GPA). In
accordance with Title 5, Sections 55764-5, Napa Valley College will allow a
student to disregard up to 30 semester units of substandard course work from the
calculation of the GPA. Contact the Admissions and Records Office for
procedures.
Standards for Probation
A student who has enrolled for 12 or more semester units at Napa Valley College is subject to the probation policy of the college:
Academic Probation: After the first semester in which a student shows a cumulative grade point average (GPA) below 2.0 for all units completed at Napa Valley College, the student shall be placed on “Academic Probation-First Semester” status. After the second semester, a student who maintains less than a 2.0 cumulative GPA shall be placed on “Academic Probation-Continuing” status.
Progress Probation: After the first semester a student shows grades of “W,” “I” and “NC” in 50% or more of his/her cumulative units of enrollment, the student shall be placed on “Progress Probation-First Semester.” After the second semester a student who earns grades of “W,” “I” and/or “NC” in 50% or more of cumulative units of enrollment shall be placed on “Progress Probation-Continuing” status.
Effects of Probation
The word ‘’probation’’ shall be placed on the grade card and on the student’s permanent grade card (PRC).
First semester probationary students are strongly encouraged to see a counselor but are not restricted from registering for the next semester/session. Second and successive semester, i.e., continuing-probationary students, must complete a Probation Status Form and Education Plan with a counselor, which must be enclosed with the credit registration form submitted during the next registration period.
Removal from Probation
Academic Probation: When the cumulative GPA of a student on academic probation becomes a 2.0 or better he/she shall be removed from academic probation.
Progress Probation: When a student on progress probation receives grades of “W,” “I” and “NC” in less than 50% of his/her cumulative units of enrollment at Napa Valley College, the student shall be removed from progress probation.
A student on academic probation shall be subject to dismissal if the student’s
cumulative GPA is below a 2.0 for each of three consecutive semesters. A student
on progress probation shall be subject to dismissal after three consecutive
semesters on progress probation.
Students will be notified of their probation or dismissal status on the grade report card.
Any student who is placed on probation or is dismissed may appeal in writing to
the Associate Dean, Admissions and Records. The student’s counselor may present
the appeal if the student prefers this option.
A student is reinstated after one semester but remains on probation until the
cumulative grade point average reaches 2.0 or higher.
Definition of Academic Honesty
Napa Valley College values integrity, honor, and respect in all endeavors, both personally and professionally. Thus, the faculty at Napa Valley College wishes to help our students maintain the highest academic standards of honesty; therefore, it is expected that a student’s academic work be of his/her own making. In spite of the increased use of collaborative learning and other forms of group work (e.g., labs, study groups, group projects), it is important that each student remain accountable for his/her own work, whether it be individual or group assignments or tests. We recognize that most students maintain highly ethical work standards; however, failure to abide by this standard of conduct is considered to be academic dishonesty.
Copying from others on a quiz, examination, or assignment (“cheating”);
Allowing another student to copy one’s work on a quiz, exam, or assignment;
Having others take any exam instead of taking the exam oneself;
Buying or using a term paper or research paper from an internet source or other company or taking any work of another, even with permission, and presenting the work as one’s own;
Excessive revising or editing by another that substantially alters the student’s final work;
Giving other students information that allows the student an undeserved advantage on an exam, such as telling a peer what to expect on a make-up exam or prepping a student for a test in another section of the same class;
Taking and using the words, work, or ideas of others and presenting any of these as one’s own work is plagiarism. This applies to all work generated by another, whether it be oral, written, or artistic work. Plagiarism may either be deliberate or unintentional, but it must be avoided at all costs.
To avoid plagiarizing, one must:
Submit only one’s own work;
Appropriately cite sources used;
Appropriately paraphrase or summarize another’s ideas or language and acknowledge the source according to set academic standards;
Document all verbatim borrowing from another according to set academic standards;
Document any use of a format, method, or approach originated by others;
If a student is unclear as to what constitutes academic dishonesty, he or she should consult the instructor.