Course Repeat Proposal for the Pilot

The Under-prepared Student Initiative’s (USI) revision of the practices in the current Course Repeat Policy was guided by the College’s core value “learning” and, by extension, its unique Vision and Mission. As stated in the 2005-2008 Mission Documents pamphlet, “Learning at Paradise Valley Community College means increasing the capacity of our students, our employees and the College itself to achieve their goals.”

Each proposed change in practices is discussed in the context of learning and the College’s supporting values and strategic issues.

Proposal for Change in Practices of the Course Repeat Policy

To improve a previously earned grade, a student may repeat the course up to two times after the initial attempt (3 times in all). A “W” assigned after the Drop/Refund deadline or a “Y” is considered an attempt.* Repeated courses must carry the same title and subject prefix; however, the credit hours may differ.** All reenrollments in a course will appear on the transcript and will be included in calculating the grade point average. The student may request in writing that the course(s) with the lower grade(s) be excluded during the grade point average calculation. A failing course grade assigned as a result of academic misconduct is considered a permanent “F” and cannot be considered under this policy.*** Auditing a course does not count as an attempt.

Students planning to enroll in a course for the third time must seek advisement prior to enrolling.**** Students may repeat the course beyond the third time, indefinitely, but it will not be used to replace the original three grades. Also, the student does not get any credit toward financial aid, and the grade is not counted in the grade point average.

If you are unsuccessful in three attempts in the same developmental course and you:

• do not have a learning disability, you will be advised to contact other public and/or private providers of developmental instruction to gain the requisite skills. After you have gained the skills, you will be required to retake an entry assessment. If you score out of the course in which you have been unsuccessful, all previous enrollments in the course will not be included in the calculation of your grade point average.
  
• do have a learning disability, and it has been determined by a formal review process that you do not have the ability to benefit from subsequent repeats, you will be advised to enroll in Adult-Basic Education Programs, Literacy Programs, or other appropriate options. *****

* Reducing the number of total course repeats from four to three and including a grade of “W” after the Drop/Refund deadline or a “Y” as an attempt minimizes the student’s “loss” of learning time, consequently shortening the time period necessary to achieve his/her career and educational goals. This change provides College infrastructure that is efficient and centered on student learning (Strategic Issue #1).

** Allowing the student to retake a course with a different scheduling format addresses the College’s commitment to become more learning-centered (Strategic Issue #1), a changing demographic (Strategic Issue #2), and the rising number of under-prepared students (Strategic Issue #4) by increasing student access to specialized student-learning opportunities appropriate to his/her educational needs and critical to PVCC’s future.

*** Section 2.3.11 Academic Misconduct, in the Maricopa Governance Policy Manual, enumerates Course Failure as one possible sanction for a student committing academic misconduct. Assigning the guilty student a permanent “F” underscores the severity of this act and the value we place on integrity, trustworthiness, and ethical behavior.

**** This change creates a link between the student and academic advisement staff that is consistent with our core value and vision to engage students in educational relationships that support personal growth and the achievement of their goals. It implicitly addresses the needs of our diverse student body and under-prepared students, and supports the optimization of enrollment and retention patterns, all of which require robust student support services (Strategic Issues #2, #4, & #5).

***** This addition addresses the under-prepared student who has not satisfactorily achieved the requisite skills at PVCC to succeed at the college-level. A case-by-case review will be conducted to determine appropriate educational and career options commensurate with the student’s learning needs and the needs of the marketplace. PVCC's mission documents under Stewardship states that as good stewards . . . “we affirm our commitment to being accountable for the fulfillment of all duties and professional obligations associated with our positions.” In so doing, we are guided by our overriding mission, which states, in part that “The Mission of Paradise Valley Community College is to educate the whole person and to serve our students and our communities by providing learning opportunities that are designed to help them achieve their goals.”