Academic standards & grading Policies

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The Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees has approved the following grading policies and academic standards as required by California law. Please be aware of these policies and standards as they can have serious consequences if not followed. The Admissions Office and the Counseling Office will be happy to answer any questions you might have regarding these policies and standards.

ACADEMIC PROBATION

Students shall be placed on academic probation if, after attempting a minimum of twelve (12) units, any of the following occur:

Low Grade Point Average - The student has a Grade Point Average (GPA) of less than "C" (2.0).
Transfer Student - The student has transferred from another college within the Los Angeles Community College District with a GPA less than "C" (2.0).
A student on Academic Probation shall be removed from probation when the student's cumulative grade point average is 2.0 or higher.

DISMISSAL

A student shall be subject to dismissal and subsequently dismissed under the following conditions:

A student who is on Academic Probation shall be subject to dismissal if the student has earned a cumulative grade point average of less than "C" (2.0) in all units attempted in each of three (3) consecutive semesters.
A student who is on Progress Probation shall be subject to dismissal if the percentage of units in which the student has enrolled for which entries of "I," "W," and "NCR" are recorded reaches or exceeds fifty percent (50%) in three (3) consecutive semesters.

PROGRESS PROBATION

A student on Progress Probation shall be removed from probation when the units in this category ("I," "W," and "NCR") drop below fifty percent (50%).

SCHOLARSHIP STANDARD

A student is expected to maintain at least a "C" (2.0 grade point) average by earning twice as many grade points as units attempted.

ACADEMIC RENEWAL

Students who have a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) in their last fifteen (15) units, or a 2.0 GPA in their last thirty (30) units completed at an accredited college or university, may petition to have up to eighteen (18) units of "D" or "F" grades removed from cumulative GPA consideration, provided such coursework was completed two years prior to the effective date of the petition. Graduation honors and awards are based on the full cumulative GPA. Academic renewal is irreversible.

ATTENDANCE

Students are responsible for officially dropping a class that they stop attending. See sections "Adding" and "Dropping." For more information, see policies on the class schedule.

AUDITING

Students may be permitted to audit a class under certain circumstances. Please refer to policies on your class schedule for more information.

COLLEGE CATALOG

You should purchase a copy of the current Los Angeles City College Catalog in order to familiarize yourself with the additional rules, regulations, and guidelines currently in effect. The catalog is available for purchase in the College Bookstore.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

Some courses in the Los Angeles City College Catalog are eligible to be taken "credit by examination."

CREDIT/NO CREDIT

Students may elect certain courses on a "Credit/No Credit" basis. The grade of "CR" (Credit) will be given if the student's performance in class is equal to a "C" grade or better. Credit/No Credit courses do not fulfill prerequisites for more advanced courses. The student must meet all class standards. The grade of "NCR" (No Credit) will be given if the student's performance in class is equal to a "D" of "F" grade. Students may petition to take a class on a Credit/No Credit basis through the sixth (6th) week of the semester. A student who has received credit for a course taken on a credit/no credit basis cannot convert this credit to a letter grade.

DROPPING CLASSES/WITHDRAWAL

(Also see "Important Dates," inside front cover of the class schedule.) Through the fourth (4th) week, or 30% of the time the class is scheduled to meet: No notation will appear on the student's record if the class is dropped during the first four (4) weeks of the semester, or 30% of the time the class is scheduled to meet. During the fifth (5th) through the twelfth (12th) weeks of the semester: A notation of "W" ("Withdrawal") will be recorded on the twelfth (12th) week, or 75% of the time the class is scheduled to meet, whichever is less, shall be given by the instructor. A student who remains in the class past the fourteenth (14th) meet, whichever is less, cannot be assigned a "W".

Short-term classes: Drop dates for short-term classes (i.e., Summer and Winter intercessions) are not the same as full semester classes. For more information, please contact the Admission's Office.

INCOMPLETE GRADES

A grade of "I" ("Incomplete") is issued when all requirements for the course are not met within the semester. Coursework for an "I" grade must be completed by the student no later than one (1) year following the end of the semester in which it was assigned. If the Incomplete is not made up by the deadline, the Incomplete will be replace by a grade determined by the instructor. Students may not re-enroll in classes in which an "I" is on record. Students may petition to accept the grade determined by the instructor if less than the one year has elapsed. Students may also petition for an extension.

OPEN ENROLLMENT

Unless specifically exempted by law, every course for which state aid is claimed is fully open to any person who has been admitted to Los Angeles City College and who meets the appropriate academic prerequisites.

REPETITION (COURSE & ACTIVITY)

Courses attempted at Los Angeles City College and at other colleges in the Los Angeles Community College District may be repeated once, without petition, if a student receives a grade of "D," "F," or "NCR." A maximum number of fifteen (15) units of course work may be repeated. Some courses, based on the repeatable of the course may be attempted a certain number of times. Students who wish to repeat a course for the second time, for which they have received less than a grade of "C" or better, must complete a general petition in the admissions office. The Admissions Office is located in room 100 of the Administration Building.

STUDY LOAD

The maximum study load or unit limit is as follows: Fall or Spring - 18 units; Summer - 12 units. Winter - 7 units.

Students who wish to exceed the maximum unit limit must petition to do so with the Chairperson of the Counseling Department (AD 108).