Academic Information and Policies

Academic Grievance Policy & Procedure

An academic grievance is a formal complaint or dispute raised by a student regarding perceived unfairness, misconduct, or dissatisfaction with academic processes, decisions, or treatment. Grade disputes are addressed through the Grade Appeal section of the Grade Change Policy of this catalog.

Scope and Purpose

This policy is designed to provide students with a process for objective and fair resolution of academic grievances. Concerns related to bias or harassment should be addressed through the Discrimination and Harassment Complaint Policy found in College Policies.

RESOLUTION PROCESS

1. A student who believes that they have been aggrieved must first attempt to seek a resolution with the faculty member involved in the dispute:

   1. The student should clearly describe their concern, as well as the resolution they are seeking in a message to their Instructor through Canvas Inbox or Champlain College email.

   2. The faculty member should acknowledge receipt of the student’s outreach through Canvas Inbox within 24 hrs and respond to the concern within 5 days.

2. If the dispute is not resolved between the student and faculty member, or if a reply is not received, the student may describe their grievance and the resolution they are seeking in an email to the Academic Program Director or Chair for the course. 

3. The Program Director or Chair will respond to the student’s concern within 5 business days.

4. If the matter is not resolved, then the student may choose to seek recourse through the Chief Learning Officer, who may at their discretion consult with a subject matter and/or appropriate college staff and/or faculty. 

5. The CLO will respond to the student’s concern within 5 business days. 

The CLO’s response is final and concludes the resolution process.

Academic Awards and Latin Honors

Trustee Scholar: A designation awarded to students who attend Champlain College full-time and maintain a 4.0 average for two consecutive semesters.

President’s List: A designation awarded to students who attend Champlain College full-time and achieve a semester average of 4.0.

Dean’s List: A designation awarded to students who attend Champlain College full-time and achieve a semester average of 3.50 or better.

Graduation Honors: Latin distinctions are given to graduating undergraduate students with the following minimum cumulative grade point averages:

Divisional Honors: Divisional honors are awarded to the student in each division with the highest cumulative grade point average.

Academic Honesty

Introduction

In addition to knowledge and skills, Champlain College aims to teach students appropriate ethical and professional standards of conduct. The Academic Honesty Policy exists to inform students and faculty of their obligations to uphold the highest standards of professional and ethical integrity. All student academic work is subject to the Academic Honesty Policy.

It is the student’s responsibility to understand and comply with this academic honesty policy as well as to ensure that any assigned work conform to Champlain College’s standards of academic honesty. Academic honesty entails creating original assignments, using one’s own words, and when using the words and ideas of others, including those generated by any form of artificial intelligence, documenting those sources using the attribution method specified in the course syllabus.

Any attempt to deceive a faculty member or College staff/official, or to help another student to do so will be considered a violation of this standard. Note that even if the intent was not to overtly deceive, work submitted without proper attribution of sources could be considered in violation of this policy.  

Unauthorized Assistance

The student may not give or get any unauthorized assistance in the preparation of any work. Sharing work without explicit authorization to do so is a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy that may result in sanctions. Students in doubt about an instructor’s expectations should seek clarification, or assume that the work must be completed individually.

Online submission of, or placing one’s name on any course document, including class discussion posts is confirmation that the student has not received or given inappropriate assistance in completing it and that the student has complied with the Academic Honesty Policy in that work. Contributing to or obtaining material from an online assignment repository could be considered a violation of the academic honesty policy that can result in disciplinary action.

Authorship

Declaration

Documentation

Consequences

Any violation of the Academic Honesty Policy, as determined by the instructor, may result in sanctions. Sanctions may vary and will depend on the instructor’s evaluation of the nature and gravity of the offense. Possible sanctions from the instructor include the following:

1. Requiring the student to redo the assignment;

2. Requiring the student to complete another assignment;

3. Assigning a grade of zero to the assignment.

4. Assigning a final grade of “F” for the course.

Students who repeatedly violate the academic honesty policy, either within the same course, or in different courses, are subject to additional sanctions.

Academic honesty violations may also be reported by the instructor or Program Director to Champlain College Academic Affairs office, resulting in a permanent student conduct record. Students may be subject to additional sanctions at the College level (such as dismissal from the College, or at the student’s expense, completing a non-credit bearing tutorial.)

Academic Standing

At the end of each semester, the Registrar’s Office, in conjunction with the Academic Deans and Program Leadership, will conduct an academic review of all matriculated students. This review is to ensure that students are meeting academic expectations and are on a continued path to graduation. The review can result in the following statuses: Academic Alert, Academic Suspension, Academic Recovery or Academic Dismissal. These academic statuses are at the discretion of the College and will be applied to records accordingly.

Academic Alert

Students will be placed on Academic Alert if, after attempting 12 or more credits, they fail to achieve either a cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 2.0 or a term GPA of 2.0.

Academic Dismissal

Students who fail to achieve a cumulative GPA of 1.8 after attempting 12 credits or who fail to achieve a CGPA of 2.0 after 30 credits will be subject to dismissal.

Academically dismissed students may not take courses at Champlain College as a non-matriculated student.

Academic Recovery

Students who are eligible for Academic Dismissal, per the academic catalog policy, may be placed on Academic Recovery and be allowed to remain enrolled for the upcoming semester. A letter of Academic Recovery status will articulate the conditions that must be met during the next semester. If conditions are not met, the student may again be eligible for dismissal.

Academic Suspension

Students who are eligible for Academic Dismissal per the academic catalog policy may be placed on Academic Suspension. Students on Academic Suspension will be allowed to return, and may be placed on Academic Recovery status upon return. Students returning from Academic Suspension should contact the Registrar’s Office to begin the re-enrollment process.

Academically dismissed students wishing to take courses as non-degree students may do so only with permission. Champlain College Online students must have the permission of the Chief Online Learning Officer, or designee.

Academic Renewal

Under certain circumstances, academic renewal may allow for course grades to be excluded from the calculation of the student’s cumulative GPA. The following conditions apply to the Academic Renewal policy as a whole:

1. Academic Renewal will be granted only once

2. The student must request, and be considered for, Academic Renewal at time of change of major or when re-entering the institution.

3. All courses and grades will appear on the student’s transcript with the addition of a code indicating Academic Renewal where appropriate

4. Academic Renewal will not be used to alter a student’s record for financial aid qualifications, scholarships or other purposes not outlined below

5. Only the Registrar’s Office, in consultation with the Chief Online Learning Officer, or designee, as appropriate, will make the change to the student’s record

6. This decision applies only to academic status and there may be additional financial aid implications

Students who are returning to Champlain may be eligible to have course grades excluded from their cumulative GPA calculation using the following criteria:

1. The student has not attended Champlain College during the past three years and has been readmitted to a degree program

2. All courses in which a student earned lower than a “C” are eligible for renewal. The student must retain grades from any course in which they earned a “C” or better.

3. The student must retain any course or specific elective type that is required or being used to complete requirements in the current major (exclusive of technical and business focus electives).

4. If a readmitted student was previously academically dismissed, on academic recovery or academic alert,, the college reserves the right to require the student to demonstrate academic success prior to granting Academic Renewal.

Current students who have chosen to change majors may be eligible to have course grades excluded from their cumulative GPA calculation. The following conditions must apply:

1. The student must request that Academic Renewal be applied at the time of the change of major. (Changing from an associate’s program to a bachelor’s program does not constitute a change of major.)

2. All courses in which a student earned lower than a “C” are eligible for renewal. The student must retain grades from any course in which they earned a “C” or better.

3. The student must retain any course or specific elective type that is required in the new major (exclusive of technical and business focus electives).

4. All courses not retained will no longer be used in the calculation of the student’s overall cumulative GPA or graduation credits

5. The student must stay enrolled in the new major. If the student elects to change back to the original major, the Academic Renewal will be reversed

Course Participation

Certificate Requirements

To be eligible for an academic certificate, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Satisfactorily complete all requirements for the certificate selected

2. Earn at least three-quarters of the certificate’s credits at Champlain College in instructor-led, graded courses

3. Achieve an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 in courses completed at Champlain College.

Students pursuing both a certificate program and a degree program must work with their Academic Advisor to add the certificate to their program of study and must be active in the certificate program for one semester before completing the credential.  Students are not guaranteed to complete both programs on the same timeline.

Change of Major or Program

A student’s request for change of major or program will be reviewed and processed by their Academic Advisor. Students who are changing their major or program are subject to admission requirements of the new program. Final approval rests with the Program Director.

Drop/Add: Changes in Courses or Schedules

Class-Related Behavior

Champlain College seeks to maintain a civil and respectful online learning environment that facilitates effective teaching and learning. The College’s definition of class-related behavior includes, but is not limited to, electronic communication such as email, video conference, telephone meetings, and activities in Canvas (or other platforms) related to each course.

Examples of inappropriate, disruptive class-related behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Using abusive language or epithets directed towards other persons or groups of people;

• Posting inappropriate online posts that directly or indirectly impact other students’ learning and contribute to an inhospitable learning environment.

• Refusing to comply with the directions of the faculty member.

• Publically challenging the faculty member’s or classmate’s credibility.

Under the authority of this Class-Related Behavior Policy, an instructor may use their discretion to delete inappropriate posts. Continued inappropriate conduct or safety violations may be grounds for dismissal from the course in question for the remainder of the semester. If a faculty member determines that a student should be dismissed from a class for the remainder of the semester with a failing grade due to their class-related behavior, the faculty member will provide to the student a written notice of that decision, which shall include a statement that the student may appeal the decision through the Academic Grievance Procedure.

Continued inappropriate conduct may result in the student being reported to the appropriate program director on a Student Code of Conduct violation.

Commencement Ceremony - May Participation

Champlain College degrees are conferred in August, December and May. The College holds one commencement ceremony per year, in May, for all graduates. Bachelor’s and associate degree candidates who have completed all of their degree requirements may participate in, receive their diplomas and have any appropriate academic honors announced at the Commencement ceremony.

Non-Graduating Student Participation Eligibility

Bachelor’s degree students are eligible to participate as non-graduating participants in the Commencement ceremony if they meet the following conditions:

1. Are within 8 credits of meeting all program requirements,

2. Have a CGPA of 2.0 or higher.

Associate degree students are eligible to participate as non-graduating participants if they:

1. Are within 4 credits of meeting all program requirements,

2. Have a CGPA of 2.0 or higher.

Students who wish to participate in the commencement ceremony as non-graduating participants must have a plan to complete the degree within two semesters. This plan must be filed with and approved by the Registrar. 

It should be noted that whereas both graduating and non-graduating participants are listed by name and hometown in the graduation program, non-graduating participants are ineligible to receive their diploma; to have Latin honors designated in the program; to have Latin honors announced during the event; or to have their name listed in local media until they have successfully completed their remaining academic program requirements.

Diploma Name

On the graduation application, each student has the opportunity to write their name as they would like it to appear on the diploma. The College reserves the right to approve all diploma name requests.

Course Load and Credit Hours

To be considered full-time, a student must enroll in courses totaling at least 12 credit hours per 15-week semester. Students making changes that affect their full-time status should first check with the Financial Aid Office to determine the effect of such changes on aid eligibility.

Normally, one unit of credit is based on 15 hours of classroom instruction and 30 hours of homework per semester. Students enrolled through Champlain College Online whose cumulative credit load for the 15-week semester totals at least 12 credits, even if those credits may be divided between two terms, and regardless of when those credits are added to the term, are considered full-time.

Students enrolled through Champlain College Online may not take more than nine (9) credit hours in an online 7-week term (or 18 credit hours in a 15-week semester.)

Credit Hour

Champlain College is responsible for regulating and maintaining standards related to the awarding of credit hours for student work consistent with national standards.  The College operates on the semester credit system using the standard Carnegie unit of 750 minutes of instruction per credit hour (2,250 minutes of instruction for a standard, three-hour course).

• One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester.

At least an equivalent amount of work as outlined above for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Course Waivers and Course Substitutions

Course Withdrawal

It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course. Students wishing to withdraw from a course must complete and submit the Course Withdrawal Form.  The form is accessible online, through the Registrar’s Office, or the form may be received from the student’s academic advisor. The withdrawal becomes effective as of the date of submission on the course withdrawal form. Failure to formally withdraw from a course may result in failing grades, reduction in financial aid and academic dismissal from the College. Deadlines for withdrawing are strictly enforced. Please see the Course Withdrawal Deadlines Policy in this catalog.

Students may withdraw from a 7-week course through the 5th week of the term and receive a grade of “W,” which is not calculated in the GPA.  Students may withdraw from a 15-week course through the 11th week and receive a grade of “W,” also not calculated in the GPA.  Course withdrawal is not permitted after these deadlines.

There are instances in which the College may administratively withdraw a student. These include, but are not limited to, students removed from courses due to lack of attendance before enrollment verification initiation, violations of the College’s Standard of Conduct or Class-Related Behavior Policy. Students removed for disciplinary reasons will have a grade of W assigned and will need to retake the course if it is a program requirement.

Course Withdrawal Deadlines

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

A student’s CGPA is calculated by multiplying the credit hours for each course by the grade point per credit hour of that course as determined by the final grade. For example, a 3-credit-hour course in which a student receives a “B” (3.0 grade points per credit hour) will equal 9.0 grade points for that course. The cumulative grade point average will then equal the total grade points divided by the total number of credit hours. Grades earned in transferred courses are not used in CGPA calculations.

Curriculum Changes

The College reserves the right to adjust the curriculum and course content whenever such adjustments are academically appropriate and approved by the administration. The curriculum requirements in effect during the catalog year in which the student enters will remain in effect for that student unless the changes have no material effect on the student’s graduation date, or the student wishes to pursue a more recent set of requirements.

Degree Requirements - Associate

To be eligible for the associate degree, students must be enrolled with Champlain College Online and meet the following requirements:

1. Earn at least 60 credit hours, 15 of which must be earned at Champlain College
2. Achieve a cumulative grade point average  of at least 2.0 in courses completed at Champlain College
3. Apply for graduation by completing an application for graduation form by the deadlines determined by the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office will notify all eligible students.

Degree Requirements - Bachelor’s

To be eligible for a bachelor’s degree from Champlain College, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Matriculate into a Champlain College baccalaureate major and satisfactorily complete all its specific requirements;
2. Earn at least 120 credit hours, 30 of which must be earned at Champlain College.
3. Achieve an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.0 in courses completed at Champlain College
4. Apply for graduation by submitting an application for graduation form by the deadlines determined by the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office will notify all eligible graduates and provide a link to the online form.

Major

A major is a compilation of courses designed to give proficiency in a specific area within an academic discipline or primary field of study. Major courses of study are comprised of a minimum of 39 credits. Students should be able to demonstrate a significant level of prowess within their discipline or field of study upon program completion. 

Double Majors

A double major represents the completion of work in two academic majors but one degree. A double major requires careful planning, and sequencing of courses and the endeavor will very likely require additional time to complete both majors.. Students who wish to pursue a double major must first consult with their academic advisor and the Registrar’s Office before adding the second major. 

Students must fulfill all the requirements of both majors, and there must be at least 18 unique credits between the two majors. Students will only complete the general education requirements once but may be required to complete the capstone in both majors.  Upon completion, one bachelor’s degree will be granted, and the transcript will list one degree and both majors.

Students may not add a second major in their final semester at Champlain College.

The completion of multiple degrees carries different requirements than a double major that results in a single degree. See the policy on Dual Degrees.

Dual Degrees

Dual degrees are awarded to students who concurrently fulfill the requirements for two majors and two degrees. Students wishing to complete two majors leading to two different bachelor’s degree types (e.g. BA and BS) must obtain approval from their faculty advisor and the Registrar’s Office. Students must fulfill all the requirements of both degrees and will only complete the general education requirements once. The two majors must have at least 24 unique major credits between them and students may choose to complete the capstone in both majors. 

To earn dual degrees, the majors must be completed simultaneously and conferred at the same time.  Upon completion, two bachelor’s degrees will be granted and the transcript will list both degrees and majors.

Students may not add a second degree or major in their final semester at Champlain College.

Communication

All students are given a mymail.champlain.edu e-mail address. This channel is used for all official Champlain College correspondence. It is the College’s expectation that all current and active students will receive and send information through this channel. All members of the Champlain College community are required to meet the Standard of Conduct in all College communication.

Grade Change Policy and Procedure

Grades submitted to the Registrar’s Office are final unless an official grade change is requested for one of the following reasons:

• To correct an error in final grade recording;

• To replace a grade of Incomplete with a letter grade;

• To address the outcome of a student grade appeal through the appropriate processes outlined below.

GRADE CORRECTIONS 

The Registrar’s Office is responsible for making corrections to final course grades reported in error. The faculty member should request approval for the grade change from the Program Director or Chair of the course, who then researches and confirms the rationale for the grade change request before sending it to the Chief Learning Officer for CCO, or designee, and the Registrar for their approval. 

INCOMPLETE GRADE CHANGES

In the case of replacing a grade of Incomplete with a letter grade, faculty should make the grade change request directly to the Registrar. 

GRADE APPEALS

Champlain College Online Faculty are responsible for making professional judgments about the quality of students’ course work and their progress toward meeting course learning objectives. Faculty members apply their subject matter expertise in their assessment of students’ submitted work and post grades in accordance with assignment criteria. Students are encouraged to ask their instructor when they have questions about grades and grading processes.The process below outlines the steps that students may take if they feel there is a need to review the assessment of their submitted coursework or application of grading criteria and/or accuracy of a reported grade.

Step I. Faculty Member

Students should contact their instructors directly with any questions about an assignment or final course grade. CCO encourages students and faculty members to work together to resolve any grade disputes. 

1. If the student is disputing a grade, they must contact the faculty member in writing as soon as possible after the grade has posted in the Learning Management System.

2. After reviewing the assignment evaluation process (i.e., application of grading criteria, rubric calculation), if the faculty member concludes that an adjustment to the grade is warranted, they may change an assignment grade and notify the student.  

• If the assignment grade in question impacts a final course grade that has already been reported to the Registrar’s Office the grade change request procedure described above is followed.

*Note that review of a grade may result in a grade lower than the assignment or course grade assigned.

3. If the faculty member concludes that a grade adjustment is not warranted, they will advise the student of their decision and how they reached it in writing within 5 calendar days of the student initiating the conversation, providing a copy to the Program Director or Chair responsible for the course. If the student is not satisfied with the decision, they may proceed to Step II. 

Step II. Program Director or Chair

1. After discussing the situation with their academic advisor, if the student wishes to appeal the faculty member’s decision, or if the faculty member did not respond to the student, the Program Director of Chair will review the details of the dispute.  *Note that if the Program Director or Chair is the instructor of the course, the appeal is directed to the Chief Learning Officer for CCO.

2. As described in Part I, the student should clearly and fully describe specific reasons for appealing the grade and include all relevant supporting documentation. The Program Director or Chair may request that the student or faculty member provide additional information as needed. 

3. Within 5 days of receiving all documentation, the Program Director or Chair will review the appeal and respond by either:

   1. Providing the student a final written decision that there is not adequate reason to reconsider the grade, or

   2. Requesting in writing that the faculty member reconsider the grade. The Program Director or Chair may not change the grade, but the instructor may do so after discussing matters with the Program Director or Chair.

   3. If, after discussing matters with the Program Director or Chair, the faculty member changes the student grade, they will notify the student of the change.  *Note: If the faculty member is no longer teaching for CCO or if they are not reachable, the Program Director or Chair will assume responsibility for grade adjustment decisions.

4. Instructors may make any assignment grade changes they deem appropriate; assignment grade changes resulting in the change of a final grade will follow the procedure described above in Grade Corrections. 

Grades - Semester or Term

At the end of each semester or term, faculty members submit to the registrar a final grade for each student. 

Incomplete Work

At the discretion of the instructor, and with the final approval of the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) or designee, an interim grade of Incomplete may be assigned for a course in which the student has met all of the following criteria:

1. Completed a major portion of the course with a passing grade on completed work, at the time the request is made.

2. Been unable to complete course requirements before the end of the term because of documented illness or serious circumstances beyond the student’s control.

3. The instructor or designee is willing to work with the student throughout the established timeline and arrange for the resolution of the incomplete grade.

The following procedures apply:

1. The request must be made using the electronic Request for Incomplete Form (and any supporting information) by the instructor, on behalf of the student to the appropriate Program Director no later than Wednesday of Week 6 for 7-week classes or Week 14 for 15-week classes. 

2. The Program Director then requests approval from the CLO, or designee. 

3. If an incomplete is granted by the CLO, or designee, the faculty member will outline the remaining coursework and the timeline for completion and provide the terms to the student, copying the Academic Advisor and Program Director.  The deadline for work submission should be as soon as possible, but cannot be later than the end of the eighth week after the last day of a 15-week course and the end of the fourth week, after the last day of a 7-week course. 

4. When the required work is complete, the student must notify the instructor. When the required work has been evaluated, the instructor will request from the registrar that the earned grade permanently replace the “I” grade on the transcript. If the work is not completed within the established time frame, the instructor will request to the registrar that a grade of F permanently replace the I on the transcript,, regardless of what the earned grade would have been had the Incomplete not been granted.

5. The student is responsible for making sure that the faculty member receives all required coursework according to the established timeline.

Microcredentials

A measurable academic achievement requiring fewer credits than a degree or certificate program, microcredentials provide academic or professional growth in a specified area.  Skill and proficiency is measured by either earning academic credit or demonstrating competency in the specified area.

Legal Name Change

Students who petition to change their Legal Name on their academic record (such as transcript,) must complete a form and present legal documentation of the name change.

Note, this is different from a Chosen Name, which Champlain College allows students to use a chosen name while enrolled at the College. Please visit this webpage for more information on name change requests.

Non-matriculated Students

A maximum of 15 credits may be completed by students who enroll with non-matriculated (non-degree) status.  To enroll as a non-degree student, a person must not already be enrolled in a program at Champlain College, and a short application must be completed.  If courses requested require prerequisites, proof of prerequisite knowledge will be requested and approval from the Program Director may be required.

Continuing beyond 15 credits requires application and acceptance into a degree or certificate program, or approval from the Vice President for Online Education or designee.    Students seeking matriculated status must be admitted to the College through the appropriate Champlain admission office. In the case of matriculating to a certificate program, students must be admitted to the program prior to enrolling in the final course requirement in their program.

Credit-based tuition and institutional policies for non-degree students are the same as those for degree-seeking students.  Enrolling as a non-matriculated student does not guarantee access to all campus services. Academic achievement in courses taken as a non-degree student does not guarantee admission to the institution.

Posthumous Degree Policy

Champlain College may award an undergraduate degree posthumously in recognition of a student’s work and satisfactory progress toward the degree at the time of death.

An undergraduate degree may be awarded posthumously if:

1. At the time of death, the student was enrolled in courses required for completion of the degree or nearing completion of work required for award of the degree;

2. The student was in good academic standing ;

3. A favorable recommendation for award of the degree is made by the Academic Program Director;

4. The Chief Online Learning Officer approves the recommendation to award the degree.

Reenrollment and Readmission to Champlain College

Students in good academic standing who withdraw or are withdrawn from the College for having missed two consecutive semesters will be required to submit a formal application for re-admission. Upon readmission, the student’s academic requirements are those required for the most current catalog year.

Students on academic probation who have missed two consecutive semesters of classes or who have been academically dismissed, are required to submit a formal appeal to the Chief Learning Officers in order to be reinstated. If the appeal is approved, the student’s academic requirements will be those required for the original catalog year under which the student began their studies, provided the program is still active. Additional conditions may apply to those reinstated following academic probation or dismissal.

Students who have been academically dismissed are required to submit a formal appeal to request reinstatement to the Chief Online Learning Officer or designee as part of their application. If the appeal is approved, the student’s academic requirements will be those required for the original catalog year under which the student began their studies, provided the program is still active. Additional conditions may apply to those reinstated in order to meet GPA requirements.

Due to rapid advancements in certain fields of study, credit for courses taken prior to the catalog year to which the re-admitted student is matriculating may need to be re-taken, at the Program Director’s discretion.

Retaking Courses

Students may retake a course up to two times, for a total of three attempts, in order to pass the course or improve their grade in the course. Course withdrawals that result in a “W” grade are counted as attempts. Students may not repeat the course simply to improve a grade if a more advanced course in the sequence has already been completed. Credit for the course will be granted only once (unless otherwise specified), and the highest grade received will be counted toward the CGPA. All grades received for a course will remain on the transcript, even though only the highest will be used in the calculation of the CGPA.

Campus Technology Lab and Studio Usage

When a Champlain College Online student utilizes campus-based computer lab or studio space, they must adhere to the Technology Lab and Studio Usage policy as defined in the Champlain College Undergraduate Catalog.

All Champlain College technology labs and studios have specific rules defining usage and a code of conduct. Some labs and studios may have additional protocols that must be followed based on usage. All Champlain College students using these facilities are required to follow this policy and accept its terms upon entry to the lab. This policy is posted publicly in each lab, and can be found under Student Resources and Policies in Canvas.

Failure to adhere to the usage terms and code of conduct may result in disciplinary action, which could include loss of access to campus technology labs.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

Undergraduate students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from Champlain College, or from another regionally accredited college or university, may matriculate at Champlain College to pursue a second bachelor’s degree, but not an associate degree. The second degree must be in a different field of study from the first one and the student must adhere to the parameters set forth in the Transfer Credit Policy. 

To earn a second baccalaureate degree, the following applies:

1. 40 credits of the degree must be general education and total 120 credits;

2. The student must meet Champlain College’s general education requirements through some combination of transferred or newly taken courses. The courses could all be from the previous Champlain degree, assuming that the student graduated with from an on-campus major and completed all Core and math and science requirements successfully;

3. The student must complete at least 15 credits at the 300 level or higher in the new major;

4. There must be a difference of at least 24 credits from the previous major.

Student Location Policy

The state in which a student is located is determined from their address in Champlain College’s student information system.  The student information system is populated with the address from the student’s application at the time of initial enrollment.  A student’s address may be updated at any time by the student.

For students in distance education programs, Champlain College considers the mailing address provided by students upon enrollment as their location through their period of enrollment at the College.  Students may update their address at any time and it is the student’s responsibility to notify the College within 30 days if their address changes. 

Transcripts

An official transcript is a complete representation of a student’s academic record and cannot be changed. It includes all courses attempted at Champlain College, including those withdrawn from and those repeated. It also includes a summary of all transfer credits accepted by Champlain College.

An official transcript is one that has been received directly from Champlain College. Official transcripts are printed on official transcript paper. It must bear the embossed college seal, date and the Registrar’s signature. Electronic transcripts are considered official if delivered securely.

Transfer of Credits

All transfer applicants are required to submit official transcripts of their high school and college records. The acceptance of transfer credits is at the sole discretion of Champlain College.

A student who transfers from another college may be awarded transfer credit of up to one-fourth of the total credit hours toward a certificate, up to 45 credit hours toward an associate degree, and up to 90 credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree.

Credits from institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)   may be eligible for transfer based on equivalency of course content and learning outcomes, or, in the case of General Education, based on the extent to which the transferring course aligns with the corresponding Champlain College Competencies.

Students in bachelor’s degree programs must complete 15 hours of 300-level or higher courses in the major. Judgments of transfer course applicability are based on criteria provided by the appropriate academic division, and judgements are made at the College’s discretion.

When necessary, transferring students may be asked to provide course descriptions, course outcomes, and syllabi to assist in the evaluation of credit. Transfer course equivalency must be at the same academic level. For instance, graduate level credit will not be applied in transfer toward undergraduate programs.

Credit hours for transferred courses are given full value, but grades are not transferred to a student’s permanent Champlain College record and do not become part of a student’s cumulative grade point average at Champlain College. In order to be considered for transfer credit, a course must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher in accordance with the Champlain College grading scale.

Due to rapid advancements in certain fields of study, credit for courses taken prior to the catalog year the student is matriculating to may need to be re-taken, at the Program Director’s discretion.

Undergraduates Taking Graduate Courses

Eligible students may take up to 9 credits at the graduate level toward completion of their undergraduate degree. Graduate level credit earned may subsequently be applied toward a Champlain College graduate program after the student has applied to, and enrolled in a graduate program.The applicability of the credits toward the completion of a graduate program is commensurate with the requirements of the program.  

To be considered eligible to take graduate level courses, students must be in good academic standing, and have completed 108 credits toward their Undergraduate Degree. Students must submit their request to their advisor. Program Director approval may be required in some circumstances.Students in graduate level classes are expected to adhere to the Academic Information and Policies as outlined in the Graduate College Catalog as they pertain to those courses.

Withdrawal from College

It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from the College.  Any student withdrawing from the College begins the process by obtaining a College Withdrawal Form from the Registrar’s Office, their academic advisor, or online. The withdrawal date recorded on the student’s official College record will be determined by the Registrar when the completed withdrawal form is received.

Failure to formally withdraw may result in failing grades, reduction in financial aid and academic dismissal from the College.  Students should consult with their academic advisor before withdrawing from the College to understand any academic implications to their program.  Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid and the Student Accounts Office to discuss how a withdrawal may impact current and future semester charges and aid. 

Additionally, the College reserves the right to administratively withdraw any student for academic, safety or disciplinary reasons.  Any student who stops attending all their classes or is inactive for two consecutive semesters may be administratively withdrawn from the College with or without the student’s consent. If a student wishes to contest the College’s initiation of an administrative withdrawal that is for more than a temporary period, the College will provide an appeal opportunity.