Academic Policies & Procedures

ACADEMIC YEAR
Calendar: Berkeley’s calendar includes four terms organized on the quarter system. The fall quarter begins in September, followed by the winter quarter in January, the spring quarter in April, and the summer quarter in July.

An academic year is comprised of three terms totaling 36 weeks, and a full-time student is expected to complete a minimum of 36 quarter credit hours in that time. The campuses are closed on legal holidays; during the Thanksgiving recess; and for vacations between quarters in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. Click here to see the current academic calendar.

The Quarter System: All courses are evaluated in terms of quarter hours of credit.

Class Hours: Generally, instructional hours are from 8 a.m. through 11 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. on weekends.

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ACADEMIC POLICIES
Matriculation Status: A matriculated student is one who is officially enrolled in a degree or credit-bearing certificate program. Students who wish to take only a single subject or a combination of subjects are welcome as nonmatriculated students.

College Skills: All new matriculated students, including transfer students and those entering Berkeley as first-time freshmen, are assessed to determine competency levels in reading, writing, and mathematics. When this assessment indicates a need, students are scheduled for one or more of the following College Skills courses designed to ensure their successful transition to college life: College Reading Skills, College Writing Skills, and/or Fundamentals of Mathematics.

While all students may attempt to complete Associate's degrees in 18 months and Baccalaureate degrees in three years, the College encourages students who need one or more College Skills courses to consider extending their programs to ensure that they have the basic skills essential to academic success. These courses may be waived for students who have passed basic skills courses with a grade of C or better at other colleges.

All College Skills courses must be successfully completed within the first academic year. Until that time students should carry no more than 16 credit hours per quarter. Students required to take College Skills coursees must receive a passing grade in order to complete their programs and be graduated by the College. Students also have the option of meeting basic skills requirements by taking independent programs through the Academic Support Center prior to their first quarter.

College Skills courses carry equivalency units that are not counted toward graduation requirements. However, these courses are included in the determination of the full- or part-time enrollment status for a term, and financial aid disbursements are made based on this status.

Attendance: If illness, accident, or similar circumstances require absence for three or more consecutive days, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the Advisement Office and contact faculty to make up assignments and/or tests.

Students are subject to withdrawal from the College for non-participation in all their courses.

Returning students who have not attended class by the first class day of the second week of the quarter will be withdrawn for the quarter.

College Closing: Since business offices seldom close due to inclement weather, classes are in session whenever possible. In cases of extreme weather or emergencies, however, the closing of each College campus will be made available over the Internet at www.closings.BerkeleyCollege.edu and by phone as an option on the automated phone menu at each location.

Schedules for delayed openings due to inclement weather are posted on Blackboard.

Add/Drop Policy: Students may add a course or courses to their schedules prior to the start of the second week of the quarter.

Courses dropped during the first two weeks of classes do not appear on the student’s transcript. Students who drop a course or courses (including College Skills courses) and reduce their quarter credit hours to fewer than 12 (or the equivalent) prior to the enrollment status determination should notify the Financial Aid Office. This action may adversely affect eligibility for financial aid.

Cancelled Classes: The College reserves the right to cancel courses or scheduled sections of courses at its discretion.

Leaves of Absence: A one-quarter academic leave of absence (LOA) may be granted at the discretion of the Advisement Office. Students who take a leave of absence will be charged the prevailing rate of tuition and residence at the time of their return. A leave of absence may be requested only at the end of a term for the subsequent term.

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EVALUATION AND GRADING
Grading System: At the end of each quarter a single, final grade is recorded for each scheduled course. Academic standing at Berkeley is based upon the grading system shown below.

GRADING SYSTEM
Grade	Grade Point Equivalent	Percentage Equivalent	Explanation
A B+ B C+ C D F P I W WP WF	4.00 3.50 3.00 2.50 2.00 1.00 0 None None None None None	90-100% 85-89% 80-84% 75-79% 70-74% 60-69% – – – – – –	Excellent Very Good Good Above Average Average Lowest passing grade Failing Passing Incomplete Withdrawal Non-participation Withdrawal Passing Withdrawal Failing

Computation of Grade Point Average (GPA): To compute the GPA for the quarter, each letter grade is converted to the grade point equivalent listed above. Then, that grade point is multiplied by the number of credits designated for the course. This procedure is followed for each course.

Next, the number of grade point equivalents for all courses is added. That total is then divided by the total number of credits attempted for the quarter. The result is the quarter GPA. (College Skills courses are not included in the computation of the GPA.)

Incomplete Grade: Inability to complete course work due to documented circumstances beyond the student’s control (such as severe illness) may, at the discretion of the instructor, result in a grade of I. However, all work must be completed by the end of the first week of the following quarter. If all work is not completed by that time, the I grade becomes an F. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor to make the necessary arrangements for makeup work.

Course Withdrawal: Students who wish to drop a course must do so in writing and must have the approval of the Advisement Office. Courses dropped during the first two weeks of classes do not appear on the student’s transcript. Withdrawal from a course between weeks three and nine results in a grade of WP or WF, which indicates whether the student was passing or failing the course at the time it was dropped. A grade of W will be assigned to students who enrolled in but did not participate in a course. Students who do not officially drop a course will receive a letter grade that reflects their achievement.

Repeated Course: When a course is successfully repeated, the original failure remains on the transcript but is not included in calculating the cumulative GPA. Students may not repeat courses for which credit already has been earned (grade of D or better), either at Berkeley College or in transfer from another college.

Change of Major: All courses remain on the transcript and continue to be included in the cumulative GPA when students change their major.

President’s List: Matriculated students who achieve a grade point average of 4.00 with a minimum of 12 academic credits qualify for the President’s List.

Dean’s List: Matriculated students who achieve a grade point average of 3.50 or better with a minimum of 12 academic credits qualify for the Dean’s List.

Transcript Requests: Unofficial transcripts of record may be accessed online through Student Self-Service in Blackboard.

Official transcripts are issued upon written request and upon payment of a $5 fee for each transcript. Click here to complete a Transcript Request Form.

Official transcripts are sent directly to other colleges and institutions by the College’s Central Registrar. Official transcripts are mailed within five business days. Overnight and same-day processing are available for an additional fee. Transcripts are not released for students in financial arrears with the College.

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A commencement ceremony is conducted annually in the spring. Students must complete all requirements by the end of the winter quarter to be eligible to participate in the spring commencement exercises.

Honors: Students who achieve an overall 3.50 average will be graduated Cum Laude; students who achieve an overall 3.70 average will be graduated Magna Cum Laude; and students who achieve an overall 4.00 average will be graduated Summa Cum Laude.

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Minimum Standards: All Berkeley students enrolled in degree or credit-bearing certificate programs must meet minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress. Both qualitative and quantitative measures are utilized to determine satisfactory progress. Students who do not meet minimum standards may be ineligible for future financial aid disbursements and are subject to dismissal.

Qualitative Standards: Students accepted for enrollment are considered to be making satisfactory academic progress. In order to meet the minimum qualitative standards, students must maintain the following cumulative grade point averages:

Quantitative Standards: In order to maintain the quantitative standards for satisfactory progress, students must successfully complete their programs in no more than one and one-half the normal time frame in credit hours attempted. This requirement is illustrated below.

 

These qualitative and quantitative measures are for full-time students. Students enrolled less than full time will have the policy applied on a pro rata basis in accordance with their enrollment status.

Academic Probation and Appeal Procedure: Any student who fails to meet the minimum qualitative or quantitative measures will be placed on academic and financial aid probation for the subsequent term. Students placed on probation are considered making satisfactory academic progress during the probationary term and may continue to receive eligible disbursements of financial aid. The probation period consists of one quarter in which students must meet the minimum standards. If the minimum qualitative and quantitative measures are met at the end of the probationary quarter, the probation will be removed; if not, the student is subject to dismissal from the College.

Any student who is denied financial aid or who is subject to dismissal from the College for not meeting the standards of satisfactory academic progress may appeal that decision in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The appeal must be filed prior to the start of the subsequent term.

Final determination will be made by a committee comprised of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Director of Financial Aid, and a member of the Executive Committee. Students will be notified in writing of the decision of the committee. If an appeal is approved, the student is considered to be making satisfactory academic progress and will remain eligible to continue in the program of study and receive financial aid. Probationary status, however, continues for that quarter. If the student then fails to meet the standards of satisfactory academic progress, the student is dismissed from the College.

If an appeal is denied, the student will be ineligible for financial aid and is dismissed from the College for a period of at least one quarter. Students may apply for reinstatement in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Students granted reinstatement must have paid the College all previously incurred tuition and fee charges. Reinstated students will be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress but are enrolled on probationary status.