Oct 09, 2024  
2024-2025 Academic Catalog 
  
2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Academic / College Policies



Academic Forgiveness

The Academic Forgiveness Policy 3B.7 provides a one-time opportunity to establish a new cumulative grade point average (GPA) at Anoka-Ramsey. Refer to policy criteria and guidelines for further information.

Academic Standards Petition

A student with unusual circumstances which may warrant departure from established College academic policies may file a petition with the College. Academic Standards petitions will be acted upon by the appropriate Dean of Educational Services. It is encouraged to meet with your assigned academic advisor to gain assistance with completing and submitting this petition.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all class sessions. There is a strong relationship between class attendance and academic success. Furthermore, regular attendance is required for recipients of financial aid. Students are responsible for all required work in each course, including work missed because of absence. Students should arrange make-up work with instructors prior to an absence. Instructors establish their own attendance expectations for each course and will outline these in the course syllabus.

Credit For Prior Learning

Credit for prior learning is the outcome of a prior learning assessment by which a student earns credit for college-level learning gained in non-credit or experiential settings. Credit for prior learning includes a broad range of nationally recognized and locally developed examinations as well as the portfolio review or competence demonstration. The final determination and aware of credit is completed by Anoka-Ramsey. Examples of credit for prior learning opportunities for students include:

National Standardized Exam Programs

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program of college-level courses and exams developed by the College Board for secondary students. The courses and exams have been developed to cover material normally taught in introductory-level college courses. Complete AP Program information is available online at apcentral.collegeboard.com.

Anoka-Ramsey will grant college credit to students who have scored 3 or above on a 5-point scale on the Advanced Placement exam. The credits generated from AP exams may be used to complete the distribution requirement of associate degrees. Credit will not be given for AP exams which overlap completed coursework for which college credit has been earned.

Students intending to transfer to other institutions should be aware that the receiving institution determines the acceptability of Advanced Placement credits; these institutions may have different regulations from those of Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP are testing programs designed to measure prior learning. A student may earn college credits by achieving a specified level of performance on a CLEP examination. Anoka-Ramsey follows the American Council on Education (ACE) credit-granting recommendations. A grade of P will be earned for successful completion of a CLEP exam. Students intending to transfer to other institutions should be aware that the receiving institution determines the acceptability of CLEP credits; these institutions may have different regulations from those of Anoka-Ramsey Community College. For more information, visit: clep.collegeboard.org/.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

The International Baccalaureate Organization’s (IBO) diploma program (DP) is a program for students 16-19 that leads to examinations in various subjects. IB diploma program students study six courses at a higher level or standard level. Students must choose one subject from each of the groups 1 to 5, thus ensuring breadth of experience in languages, social studies, the experimental sciences, and mathematics. The sixth subject may be an arts subject chosen from group 6, or the student may choose another subject from groups 1 to 5.

Students take written examinations at the end of the program, which are marked by external IB examiners. Students also complete assessment tasks in the school, which are either initially marked by teachers and then moderated by external moderators or sent directly to external examiners.

The diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance across the whole program and to satisfactory participation in the creativity, action, and service requirement. The highest total that a diploma program student can be awarded is 45 points. For more information, visit IBO.org.

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DSST)

The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DSST) program sponsors more than 35 examinations to assist students, including military personnel, in meeting their educational goals. DANTES/DSST exam scores that meet ACE minimum score recommendations are considered for transfer. For more information, visit: getcollegecredit.com

If you have completed credit in one of these programs, visit the Credit for Prior Learning webpage for further information on how these credits can be sent to Anoka-Ramsey once completed.

Articulated Credit Program

College credit is awarded to Anoka-Ramsey students who have successfully completed work in designated courses through the Articulated College Credits (ACC) Consortium. Courses taken in the secondary school may substitute for specific college courses or as elective credits in some programs at Anoka-Ramsey. To receive credit for Articulated Credit courses, students must:

  • Submit a college application and register for courses at the college.
  • Print the college articulated credit program certificate in the presence of your advisor and submit it to the Records and Registration Office within the time limit specified on the certificate.

Course-Specific Examinations

Students who demonstrate achievement in the content of a college-level course may be granted college credits through Anoka-Ramsey’s Course-Specific Exam Program. Students choose a letter grade or the Pass/Fail option and may not retest in the event of an unsuccessful examination. The Course-Specific Examinations is an exam specific to Anoka-Ramsey. Credits granted may or may not be accepted for transfer. Students intending to transfer credits should check with the receiving institution to determine what credits transfer and if they meet requirements for specific degrees.

Interested students should contact an academic advisor for additional information.

Grading System

Anoka-Ramsey Community College uses the following grading system. 

Grading decisions supported by published policies or stated expectations of faculty are not appealable.

A

Superior achievement

4 grade points per credit

B

Above average achievement

3 grade points per credit

C

Average achievement

2 grade points per credit

D

Below average achievement

1 grade point per credit

F

Inadequate achievement

0 grade points per credit

To be assigned to courses numbered 1000-level or above.

FN

Inadequate achievement for non-attendance

Faculty initiated withdrawal. Student never attended.

Not included in GPA calculation but will be included in completion rate calculation.

FW

Inadequate achievement for partial attendance

Faculty initiated withdrawal. Student partially attended after the last day to drop the course but stopped attending before 80% of the course elapsed.

Not included in GPA calculation but will be included in completion rate calculation.

NC

No credit

Only assigned to courses numbered below 1000, to Competency-Based Education courses, and to COVID-19 grading option for all courses.

No credit course grades are not included in the GPA calculation.

P

Passing

Issued for work that is judged average (C) or above and suitable for transfer. Pass/Fail options are arranged with the instructor and are limited to no more than 20 credits at Anoka-Ramsey.

AU

Audit

Allows a student to register, pay, and attend, but does not grant course credit. Audits are student-initiated and must be declared at time of registration and is not financial aid eligible.

EX

Exchange

Credits taken prior to spring 2007 at another college under a consortium arrangement are not included in GPA calculation. As of spring 2007, students will receive grades of A-F which are included in the GPA.

I

Incomplete

A temporary grade based on a written agreement between a student and faculty member. This grade may be assigned if a student is doing satisfactory work, has met a majority of course requirements, and is unable to complete the work of a course due to illness or other extraordinary circumstances beyond the student’s control. An “I” grade automatically becomes an “F” grade (or “NC” for courses numbered below 1000) at the end of the next semester (not including the summer session) if requirements have not been satisfactorily met. An Agreement of Incomplete Grade form must be submitted to the Registrar signed by the instructor and student. The faculty member has the option of setting an earlier completion date.

W

Withdrawal

Withdrawals must be requested by deadlines listed in the course schedule (student-initiated).

Z

In Progress

Grades for class or classes that are in progress.

Calculating Your Grade Point Average (GPA)

Only the letter grades A, B, C, D, and F are utilized in determining Grade Point Average (GPA). While other grading options are not computed in GPA, they do count towards registered credits.

Your “grade point total” is the sum of grade points earned as determined by multiplying the grade point value of the grade by the number of course credits.

Your GPA is the quotient of the grade point total divided by the grade point credits.

Repeating Courses

Students may repeat a course for the purpose of achieving a higher grade or to review course material. Repeat courses shall be included in the earned completion percentage and maximum time frame calculations. With the exception of those courses designated as repeatable, the best grade of a repeated course shall be used in the GPA calculation. Students shall not be permitted to receive financial aid for more than one repetition of a previously passed (A, B, C, D, Pass) course unless the course was designed to be repeated.

Certain courses attempted more than twice will require the student to register as a non-credit student on a space-available basis. Registration for these courses will be assessed the non-credit registration amount. See the course schedule for specific courses.

Military veterans may not be eligible for tuition reimbursement for repeated courses and should see the veteran-certifying official for more information.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Anoka-Ramsey Community College is a publicly supported college. A student’s tuition covers approximately half of the cost of education. The Minnesota legislature provides taxpayers’ money to support the additional cost. Anoka-Ramsey provides a variety of programs and services to help students be successful. In addition, Anoka-Ramsey must be accountable to the taxpayers/legislature by reporting students’ academic progress. In the event a student is unable to achieve satisfactory academic progress, Anoka-Ramsey will not allow the student to continue enrollment and/or receive financial aid.

Students bear primary responsibility for their own academic progress and for seeking assistance when experiencing academic difficulty. Students are encouraged to keep a personal file of their grades and transcripts.

How to meet SAP at Anoka-Ramsey

In accordance with federal and state regulations and Minnesota State system Policy 2.9, Anoka-Ramsey will monitor all credits for all students and shall apply the following minimum cumulative standards of progress beginning with the student’s sixth (6th) attempted credit:

  • Qualitative: students are expected to meet or exceed a cumulative earned grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
  • Quantitative: pace of progression-students are expected to meet or exceed a cumulative earned completion rate percentage of 66.67%.
  • Maximum time frame for financial aid recipients-students may continue to receive financial aid through 150% of the published credit length of the program (example: 150% of a 60-credit AA degree equals 90 credits).

See the complete Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for additional information.

Service-Learning

Service-learning is a teaching and learning approach that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Faculty use service-learning in their classes because it involves students in solving real-life problems and makes course content more relevant and understandable. If students are enrolled in a service-learning course, their instructor will outline their expectations in the course syllabus.

Student Policies

Anoka-Ramsey Community College students are held accountable for all college policies and procedures as defined on the college website on the Anoka-Ramsey Policies and Procedures webpage. The following college policies listed are directly linked to their details and relate to student-specific policies for current students.

Failure to read the policies and procedures outlined on the college website will not be considered an excuse for noncompliance.