Howard Community College is committed to the philosophy of educational accountability. In order to determine that students are attaining the knowledge and skills appropriate to various courses and programs, regular and planned assessment activities occur.

The assessment activities may take diverse forms including standardized assessments, placement tests, faculty-developed evaluations, focus sessions, and surveys.  The college believes that such input is vital to its responsibility to maintain quality instruction. Therefore, class time may be used at times for these activities and it is expected that students will participate in the processes when asked.  Confidentiality of responses is ensured.  Entering freshmen and graduating students are required to take the Academic Profile.

B.      Academic Complaints

A student who has an academic complaint (including a specific academic complaint involving a faculty member) that remains unresolved through informal means, may enter a formal process of problem resolution.  The Student Academic Complaint Procedures and the appropriate form may be obtained from the division offices, the counseling center and the office of evening services.  An academic complaint is defined as issues related to classroom instruction or grade disputes (including late penalties, acceptance or non-acceptance of late assignments and incomplete grades).  The student and instructor are encouraged to seek resolution informally before filing an academic complaint.  Students wishing to initiate a formal academic complaint must submit an academic complaint form to the appropriate division chair by the end of the seventh week of the next full semester.

1. Before filing an academic complaint, the student must seek resolution informally by scheduling an appointment with the instructor to discuss the problem.  Many times misunderstandings can be resolved by honest, open dialogue.
2. If the student cannot resolve his/her problem during the meeting with the faculty member, the student may schedule an appointment to see the appropriate division chair.  Prior to scheduling the appointment the student must submit the student academic complaint form, including the written description of the problem and the resolution the student is requesting.  An appointment will be made when the chair has received written reports from both the student and the instructor.  (Forms are available in the division offices.)
3. If the concern is not resolved at the division chair level, the student’s written complaint, the instructor’s written response and the chair’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.  At this stage in the academic complaint process, the student has the right to meet with the Vice President of Academic Affairs to present additional support for his or her complaint, but the student is not required to do so.  That appointment should be made within two weeks of the meeting with the division chair.  After that two-week period the Vice President will assume that the student does not desire such a meeting and will make a judgment on the case.
4. The decision of the Vice President of Academic Affairs is final.  This decision will be communicated to the student in a formal correspondence.

C.      Grading and Attendance Policy

The method(s) for evaluation and grading within a course will be clearly stated in the course syllabus.  Evaluation procedures will be objective and appropriately related to the course’s objectives and content.

Howard Community College does not have a college-wide attendance policy; however, regular class attendance is one of the most important responsibilities of the student.  Each instructor determines the requirements for attendance, which in many cases will count toward the final grade. Attendance requirements will be clearly spelled out in the course syllabus and discussed by the instructor.

It is the expectation that faculty will conduct all their classes as scheduled.  Classes would be cancelled only in the case of an emergency or with prior approval of the division chair.

In the case of an emergency, faculty are required to contact the appropriate division chair or division office as soon as he/she become aware that they are unable to meet with their class.  The faculty member should assist the division chair in finding an appropriate substitute.  An official class cancellation notice will be posted on the class door to notify students.

In the event that a faculty member wishes to be absent from class for other professional reasons, he/she should discuss the reasons with her/his division chair as soon as possible.  Provision of alternate faculty coverage should be decided with the division chair.  It is important that the division chair and the division office be aware of such class changes so that student questions or concerns can be properly addressed.

Policy Manual Review/Revision:  7/1/04