ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

STATEMENT OF ADMISSIONS

            The Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College has a policy of open enrollment. Students who wish to attend and complete all admission requirements are welcome. New students are required to compete the following:

1. application for admissions ($20.00 fee)
2. supply proof of high school, GED, or HSED completion
3. provide official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended. Otherwise, our registrar’s office will send for them for a fee of $5.00 per transcript
4. if Native American, supply proof of tribal enrollment or letter of tribal affiliation
5. schedule and successfully complete the Compass test, which is utilized as an academic advising instrument for placement in appropriate courses and may indicate need for additional preparation prior to admission into a regular course of study. Additional assessment may be utilized as deemed necessary by the college.
6. copy of Social Security Card will be made and placed in student’s admission file
7. interview with assigned advisor from major of study
8. Completion of the free application for Federal Student Aid to determine financial aid eligibility and the process for payment of tuition and fees is required.
9. The steps stated above with a sign-off Admission Checklist is necessary for admissions to LCOOCC. Failure to meet and complete the above be the end of the 4^th week of the semester will result in withdrawal from enrollment and denial in obtaining regular admission into the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College

Failure to adhere to the above requirements will result in a hold of any Financial Aid until they are completed. Exceptions:

1. High school seniors may enroll in LCOOCC courses with the approval of both college officials and the high school principle or counselor. Upon high school graduation, credits will become official.
2. Students who plan to complete their GED or HSED may register for classes. College credit does not become official until proof of completion is on file. Students should complete their GED/HSED within two semesters in order to remain eligible for financial aid. Tribal elders pursuing courses for cultural enrichment may apply for exemption from this requirement in the Registrar’s office.
3. Students who are beyond the age of compulsory education, but can benefit from enrollment in college courses, may be admitted on an individual basis upon review and assessment by the college administrative staff.
4. All incoming freshman will be required to take placement tests. A letter of Ability to Benefit will be issued to students who show ability  and desire for higher education.

Unless otherwise notified, students fulfilling the above requirements will receive a Letter of Admission from our Registrar’s Office.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL OBLIGATION

            Students are responsible for fees and tuition for all coursework for which they are registered. Arrangements must be made with the Financial Aid Director for payment of fees and tuition or the student may be subject to Administrative Withdrawal.

READMISSION

            All students who have been away from LCOOCC for a semester or more must file a “new” application form and pay the $5.00 readmission fee.

            Students who have obtained an Associate Degree from LCOOCC may not qualify for financial assistance for the pursuit of another associate degree for a period of two years. Exception to this policy may include a significant change in the job market or employer verification of a need for retraining. Such waivers will be granted under the discretion of the Registrar and the Admissions Committee.

            If denied admission or readmission to LCOOCC, a written appeal must be received within 15 working days of the date of notification from the Admissions Committee.

ADMISSION OF TRANSFER STUDENTS

            Comparable course/credits earned at other accredited institutions, with a grade of “C” or better, may be accepted upon transfer to LCOOCC. It is the responsibility of the student to provide official transcripts of all work completed at other institutions.

PRE-REGISTRATION

            Pre-registration will be held for continuing students. Students may sign up for classes as soon as the new schedules are released. Students are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible to ensure their place in class and their eligibility for financial aid.

REGISTRATION

            Registration is held for three weeks prior to the beginning of classes for each semester. Potential students will be assisted throughout the process, in meeting admissions requirements, registering for courses and applying for financial aid. An student taking over 15 credits must have written permission from the Registrar.

LATE REGISTRATION

            Students presenting justifiable cause may be allowed to register during the first two weeks of classes. Students entering more than three weeks late will require the consent of both the instructor and the Registrar.

ADDING AND DROPPING COURSES

            Subject to available space and instructor approval, a student may add or drop courses during the first three weeks of any semester. This action, however, may affect financial aid. Students must formally complete the necessary forms to add or drop.

WITHDRAWAL FROM A COURSE

            Students officially withdrawing during the first three weeks of class will not have those courses entered on their permanent record. Those students withdrawing after three weeks will have their records marked with a “W” for withdrawal. Students are reminded that once the admission’s clerk has entered their course, laboratory, or workshop selections into the college computer system, they are officially registered. When students register, their accounts are charged with tuition and related fees pertaining to the courses selected. Accounts may be cleared of payment of fees owing, or of a credit initiated by an Add/Drop form. Non-attendance does not constitute a withdrawal. Students must complete official college withdrawal forms or receive a grade for the course. Failure to withdraw in writing may result in the imposition of full financial aid and academic penalties.

INVOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL

            After the ninth week of each semester, instructors may recommend to the Academic Dean, through the submission of an involuntary withdrawal form, that a student be dropped from a particular class due to extreme absenteeism. An involuntary withdrawal does not affect the G.P.A. but may cause a student to be placed on financial aid probation or suspension for failure to complete an adequate number of courses. Once the Registrar acts upon the involuntary withdrawal, it will remain final, and an “IW” will appear on the transcripts.

            The student may be required, in accordance with financial aid regulations, to pay for any classes from which he or she has been withdrawn. If a student has been involuntarily withdrawn from all classes during two consecutive semesters, the student will be referred to the Dean of Student Services and will need to apply to the Admissions Committee for re-entry to the college.

WITHDRAWAL FROM COLLEGE

            Students discontinuing their studies at LCOOCC during the academic year must fill out the official forms. Students leaving college before semester’s end without completing the prescribed forms may receive a grade of “F” for all incomplete courses and will not be eligible for any fee refunds.

 TUITION AND FEES

            A one hundred thirty-five dollar ($135.00) per credit fee will be charged up to fifteen (15) credits, per semester. Any individual taking credits beyond the first fifteen in a given semester will be charged the flat rate of two thousand and twenty five dollars. The maximum tuition then is $2,025.00 per semester.  (Please Note:  Any student taking more than 15 credits in a semester must have advisor approval)  All students will be charged a fifteen-dollar activity fee, per semester in addition to regular tuition.

All expenses are due to the college within the first 30 days of each semester.  Classes with a lab component will be charged an additional fee.

REFUND POLICY

            Students who withdraw from college and file the Change of Schedule Form will receive credit on their tuition charges according to the following table:

* No refund of tuition, materials, or fees after last day to Drop/Add.

*Admissions, transportation, and lab fees are not refundable.

BOOKSTORE PAYMENT AGREEMENT

            LCO College will sell textbooks to students every semester.  The LCOOCC Bookstore may buy back books once a semester at a used book rate. These textbooks may then be available to other students the following semester. Students are responsible to see that these book bills are paid. An administrative hold will be placed on all student records until all textbook bills are paid in full each semester. Students may pick up textbooks with cash or a check immediately, or upon signing up for financial aid in the Student Services Department. Those students receiving a waiver of tuition are still responsible for books and lab fees.

 See the Financial Aid Office for details.

STUDENT STATUS

Regular:            Has met all admission and academic requirements for enrollment.

Conditional:       Students admitted with qualification, normally for completion of requirements leading to regular status.

Full-time:           Enrolled at least 12 credits per semester.

Freshman:         Has completed fewer than 32 semester credits.

Sophomore:       Has completed at least 32 semester credits toward a degree program.

Probationary:     Freshmen, who receive between a 1.0 and a 1.8 cumulative grade point average, will be placed on probation.  Sophomores who receive between a 1.0 and a 2.0 cumulative grade point average will also be placed on probation.  To be reinstated with regular status, students must complete the next semester with at least a 2.0 grade point average.  If a student fails to meet this requirement, the student will then be placed on suspension.  Students on probation will retain their eligibility for financial aid.

Suspension:       Students failing to maintain a 1.0 semester grade point average will be suspended.  Students who are suspended will not be eligible to receive financial aid.  To be reinstated, students must submit a written appeal, with supporting documentation, to the Financial Aid and Admissions Committees.

STUDENT CATEGORIES

§         Degree seeking students are those students who have met the requirements of admissions and have selected a course of study.

§         Non-degree seeking students are those students who meet admissions requirements and wish to take courses but are not enrolled in a degree program.  These students do not qualify for financial aid.

§         Non-degree professional students are those who wish to take courses in order to satisfy requirements for an external professional organization (DPI re-certification, for example).  These students do not qualify for financial aid.

§         Unclassified students are those who meet requirements for admission but have not yet selected a major area of study.  Students pursuing an Associate Degree have two semesters to declare a major and students seeking a One-Year Certificate have one semester to declare a major.  Students will not continue to be admitted as Unclassified beyond these time limits.

STUDENT CONDUCT

Since the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College utilizes several facilities for instructional purposes, students will be expected to observe all rules and regulations governing these smoke-free facilities.  LCOOCC is further bound by the Higher Education Act of 1989, to enforce a federal law against drug use and abuse on campus and at all college functions.

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College students are expected to behave responsibly and with propriety and are expected to abide by our policies and regulations.  The College Administration will take whatever disciplinary action it deems warranted by students’ misconduct in accordance with the Disciplinary Regulations of LCOOCC.

1)            Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to dishonest or attempted dishonest conduct during tests or examinations such as using books, notes, diagrams, and other aids not authorized by the instructor.  It includes communicating with others for the purpose of obtaining information, copying others work, or purposely exposing or conveying information to other students who are taking a test or examination.

a.       Plagiarism  is a form of dishonesty in which one person submits or presents the work of another person as his or her own.  Another’s thoughts or work must be clearly footnoted or referenced in student work.

b.       Disruption of Instructional Activities includes student conduct which makes it difficult or impossible to proceed with scheduled lectures, workshops, laboratory sessions, discussions, group activities, tests, or other related activities.

2)            Other misconduct includes but is not limited to damage to property, theft, and assault on individuals.

a.                 Slander and defamation of character of students, faculty, and administration will not be tolerated.

b.                 Criminal offenses committed against an individual on his/her property will be referred to the Sawyer County Legal Authorities.

c.                 Theft of college property will lead to prosecution.

See Student Handbook for complete disciplinary regulations, disciplinary measures, and description of the appeal process.

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STUDENT RECORDS

            Students may review and inspect, with college officials, all records, data, and files pertaining to themselves upon written request to the Registrar.  In accordance with the Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College maintains the following information in student records:  

§         Application for Admission Form

§         High School Transcript or GED Completion Certificate

§         Official Transcripts from Post-Secondary Institutions

§         Certificates or degrees granted

§         Application for Financial Aid

§         Account Payment Cards and Receipts

§         Change of Schedule Forms

§         Verification of Tribal Enrollment (Indian Students)

These records are on file in the college offices and are accessible only to persons having legitimate interest as defined in Public Law 93.380.  Student attendance for those who receive stipends, grants, or other payment for attending college are released to directors or official representatives of the respective funding agencies.  Other information contained in the records will not be released without written permission from the student.

PUBLIC RIGHT TO KNOW

            In accordance with the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, data on arrests and crimes committed on campus or at college-sponsored events will be made available to students in their orientation packets.  This information, as well as annual financial reports, audits, and the LCOOCC Annual Report are available for review in the Library.  These materials are distributed annually to the LCOOCC Board of Regents, Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Council, employees and students of the college, and the community at large.

STUDENT TRANSCRIPTS

            Official transcripts are kept in the Registrar’s Office.  Copies of the student’s transcript will be issued to the student upon written request.  The first set of transcripts is free, a fee of $4.00 will be charged for additional copies.  Transcripts will not be issued for students who have a financial obligation to the college or incomplete files in the Registrar’s Office.

CREDITS

            A semester credit represents one hour of class per week for the duration of an academic semester.  Classes such as laboratory sessions require two hours of class to earn one semester credit.  (A course that runs three hours each week therefore represents 3 credits.)

Satisfactory Academic Progress:

Satisfactory Academic Progress includes maintenance of Grade Point Average requirements and timely completion of Associate Degree or Certificate.  Students can attempt up to 90 credits while earning the required 63 or more credits needed to graduate in their Associate Program.

All Adult Learning and Preparatory Education courses taken by a student are included in the maximum number of credits the student may attempt (90) but they do not count toward the course requirements needed for obtaining a one-year certificate or associates degree.  Only one repetition of a course will be considered for financial aid funding.

RESIDENCY CREDIT REQUIREMENT

A student must satisfactorily complete fifteen semester credits from Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College to meet residency requirements for purposes of graduation.  These credits may be taken from the Lac Courte Oreilles, Red Cliff, St. Croix, or Bad River sites.

CREDIT TRANSFER

            Currently, the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College maintains credit transfer agreements with many colleges and universities in the area.  Credits earned through Distance Learning courses will be awarded by the institution from which the course originates.  The originating site will also handle registration and transcripts.  Only courses with a grade of “C” or better may transfer.

COURSE CANCELLATIONS

         The Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College reserves the right to cancel any scheduled courses in which the enrollment is insufficient to permit them to continue on an educationally sound and economically efficient basis.

ATTENDANCE

            All instructors will submit weekly attendance reports.  Students not attending regularly will be referred to their advisor and financial aid officer.  If a student wishes to be excused from a class it is the student’s responsibility to clear the absence with the instructor.  At that time the student must arrange for make-up assignments.

AUDITING A COURSE

            Students may elect to audit courses if desired.  There will be a reduced rate of one-half the normal tuition, with no credit or grade given for the course.  Should the student audit an Art course, laboratory course or other participatory class he/she is responsible for purchasing the required books and supplies for the course. Students may not change from audit to credit status after the last day to Drop/Add.

REPEATING A COURSE

            Students may repeat courses for which they received a grade of “D” or “F.”  The first grade will be replaced with an “R” for repeat.  Only the last grade is included in the student’s Grade Point Average.  No course may be repeated more than twice except with special permission of the Academic Dean.  Financial aid may be applied to only the first repeat of a course.  Subsequent repeats will not be eligible for financial aid.

INCOMPLETES

            The grade “Incomplete” is assigned only to students who are doing satisfactory work but for compelling reasons, such as a loss in the family, cannot complete the course as scheduled.  This grade will not be given to those who fail to complete coursework due to unexcused absences.  Student’s wishing to apply for an incomplete must obtain a form from the Registrar’s Office.  The policy for Student “Incomplete” is as follows:

1)      Students must formally request, of the instructor, an incomplete.

2)      The time allowed for the make-up of an incomplete is subject to the discretion of the Instructor.  However, the Registrar recommends that the Incomplete be resolved by the second week of the following semester.

3)      Instructors reporting grades of “Incomplete” are required to submit an instructor/student contract outlining the reason for unfinished work, a statement stating the portion of work that has been completed and, in addition, a statement as to the nature of the incomplete portion of work.  The Incomplete grade contract form should include a final grade to be assigned in the event that a student does not complete all the requirements of the course by the proposed deadline.

4)      In evaluating student performance, “Incomplete” shall have exactly the same status as a “Withdrawal.” It appears on the student’s academic record, but is not included in the GPA.

5)      Grades of “I” assigned to courses will be retained on the student’s records in the Registrar’s Office and, when these grades are resolved, separate entries will be made on the records.  Such entries are to be recorded in the semester in which the grade is resolved.

GRADES

            Student academic work is evaluated according to the following scale:

   *The Grade Point Average (GPA) is computed by dividing the sum of the credit hours

times the grades accumulated during the semester by the total credit hours attempted.

INDEPENDENT STUDY

            Those individuals who are in the last semester of an associate degree or one-year certificate may be eligible to take independent study.  In addition to earning credit through formal courses, students may request permission to obtain credit through an independent study contract with an Instructor.  Students must plan specific activities and goals with the help of the instructor and approval of the Academic Dean.

Independent study should be utilized sparingly as students assume the majority of the responsibility for completing requirements for the course.  Independent study courses should correspond to the standard semester time frame for purposes of financial aid, grading, and other such records.

Independent study will be approved only in cases of extreme need. No independent study will be valid unless approved by the Academic Dean.  No more than six (6) credits, per degree or certificate, may be taken through independent study.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

            Students may be granted credit for a course by demonstrating mastery of the material required within a course to the instructor and Academic Dean.  Students will receive a grade of “P,” (Passing), which will not be reflected in the GPA.  Academic divisions and departments will designate those courses eligible for credits by examination.  Students must have the permission of the academic advisor who will facilitate arrangements with the appropriate academic division. Students must prepay a $35 examination fee.  Cost will not be totally covered by full financial aid. One-year certificate students may take no more than 3 credits through examination and no more than 6 credits by associate degree candidates. (Application for credit by examination must be made by the end of the add/drop period each semester.)

MID-TERM GRADES

            At the end of the eighth week, the Instructors submit mid-term grades.  The Registrar’s Office will make them available to students within two weeks from faculty submission.

FINAL GRADES

            Instructors submit final grades at the end of each semester.  Grades will be mailed to students approximately four weeks after semester end.  Full-time students with a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher will be considered for the Dean’s List.  No grades will be issued until all financial obligations to the college have been met.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

            Students who have completed all requirements of their respective program satisfactorily must apply with the Registrar for graduation.  A credit audit will be completed one semester previous to the planned graduation date, and notification sent to the Academic Dean.  Students who have outstanding accounts with the Business Office, incomplete student record files in the Registrar’s Office, students with a grade of Incomplete, or non-returned textbooks and library materials will receive an unsigned diploma until all matters are resolved to the satisfaction of the Registrar.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION UNITS   (CEU)

            Community education provides people with the opportunity to study topics of interest. Instruction often uses participatory or experiential methods in a workshop format instead of textbooks, term papers, lectures, or written examinations. There is no academic credit given for participation. 

             We offer programs in community education workshops. The administrator for these workshops is Leslie Isham. All may participate in CEU workshops. There is a registration form that must be completed.

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