BRCC CATALOG 2015-16 mybrcc.edu BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CATALOG POLICY This catalog is designed to provide students with vital information about Baton Rouge Community College. Each student is responsible for knowing the information appearing in this catalog and adhering to the standards and policies listed herein. The rules and regulations provided in this catalog have been adopted by the faculty and administration. Should a student find that extenuating circumstances might justify the waiver of a particular college regulation, that student may file a petition with the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs in accordance with established procedures. This catalog is not intended to be a complete statement of all procedures, policies, rules, and regulations. The college reserves the right to change, without notice, any academic or other requirements, course offerings, content, programs, procedures, rules, regulations, or fees as needed. The provisions of the catalog are not to be regarded as an irrevocable contract between the student and the college; however, students are governed by the catalog in effect at the time of their admission to the college. 1 BRCC Catalog 2015 Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of BRCC. BRCC is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) to offer the following business degrees: Associate of Applied Science in Business Technology, Associate of Science in Business. BRCC is accredited by the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) to offer the Associate of Applied Science in Process Technology degree. BRCC is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) to offer the Associate of Science in Nursing. For more information, contact the ACEN at 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326. BRCC is accredited by the HVAC EXcellence to offer the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technical Diploma. BRCC is accredited by the American Culinary Federation to offer the Culinary Arts and Occupations Technical Diploma. BRCC is initially accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (AVMA CVTEA) to offer the Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology. BRCC is initially accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) to offer the Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. BRCC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) to offer the Associate of Science in Surgical Technology. BRCC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) to offer the Associate of Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. For information on CAHEP accreditation, please contact CAAHEP at 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 or visit the website at www.caahep.org Baton Rouge Community College is committed to providing equal opportunity and nondiscrimination for all educational and employment applicants, as well as for its students and employed staff, without regard to race, color, national origin, seX, marital status, age, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability; or, status as a Vietnam and/or disabled veteran, National Guard member or reservist; in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Federal Rehabilitation 2 of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and any other applicable Federal and Louisiana State laws against discrimination. The Director of Counseling and Disability Services, Ms. Wendy Devall, has been designated as the college’s 504/ADA Compliance Officer. Any person with a disability who needs assistance should contact the Director at (225)216-8503 or report to the main office which is located in the Magnolia Building Office 126. BRCC does not discriminate on the basis of gender in admission to or employment in its educational programs or activities. The College’s Title IX Coordinator is the Director of Human Resources, Ms. Terri Ricks, and she can be reached at [email protected] or (225) 216-8268. The mailing address is Governor’s Building First Floor, 201 Community College Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA, also referred to as the Buckley Amendment) is a federal law regarding the privacy of student records and the obligations of the institution related to the release of and access to such records. Any educational institution that receives funds under any program administered by the U.S. Secretary of Education is bound by FERPA requirements. Institutions that fail to comply with FERPA may have funds which are administered by the Secretary of Education withheld. BRCC is a member of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) BRCC is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer. 3 Table of Contents CATALOG POLICY 1 BRCC CATALOG 2015 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 GOVERNANCE 15 Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) 15 CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE 16 THE COLLEGE 17 Mission 17 Vision 17 Our Values 17 INNOVATION, EVOLUTION, REVOLUTION: THE STORY OF BRCC 18 ADMISSIONS AND REGISTRATION 19 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 19 The Academic Calendar 19 How to Enroll 20 Application Process 20 Additional Enrollment Steps 21 Student Types and Categories 21 First Time Student 21 Full- and Part-Time 21 Matriculating (Degree Seeking) 21 Non-Matriculating (Non-Degree Seeking) 21 Audit Status 21 Returning Student 22 Visiting Student 22 Transfer Students 22 Transfer Credit Policy 23 Cross-Enrolled Student 23 International Students 25 Maintaining F-1 Student Visa Status 25 Traveling Outside of the United States 26 Standard Admission Status 27 Admissions Assessment 27 Entry Assessment 27 Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) 28 4 Academic Advising 28 Registration 29 Tuition and Fees 29 Registration Periods 29 Log on Louisiana (LoLA) 29 Credit for Prior Learning 29 Credit by Evaluation 30 College-Level Equivalency Examinations 31 Portfolio Evaluation 32 International Baccalaureate Diploma/Certificate 32 Academic Amnesty 33 Change in Contact Information 34 Student Record Retention 34 PAYING FOR COLLEGE 35 Tuition and Fees 35 Payment Plans 35 Policies and Procedures for Student Refunds 36 Residency Information 36 Louisiana Residents 37 Non-Louisiana Residents 37 Non-U.S. Citizens (International) 37 Veterans 37 FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS 39 Federal Financial Aid 39 Eligibility Requirements 39 Additional Eligibility Requirements 39 How to Apply for Federal Financial Aid 40 The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 40 Verification 40 Application Priority Deadlines 42 How are Financial Aid Awards Determined? 42 Need Based Aid 42 Non-Need Based Aid 42 Cost of Attendance 42 Award Notification 43 Disbursement of Federal Financial Aid Funds 44 Bookstore Charges 44 Post Withdrawal Disbursements 45 Return of Title IV Funds 45 Example of a Refund of Tuition and Return of Title IV Financial Aid 46 Tuition Refund Calculation 46 Example of Return of Title IV Aid Calculation 46 Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements for Financial Aid 46 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is defined as: 47 When is SAP Reviewed? 47 How is SAP Reviewed? 47 Qualitative Measure (GPA) 47 Quantitative Measure/Pace 47 Maximum Hours Allowed 47 5 How other Factors Pertain to SAP 48 Transitional (Developmental/Remedial) Courses 48 Withdrawals 48 Academic Amnesty (also known as Academic Bankruptcy) 48 Transfer Students 48 Repeated Courses 48 What Happens once SAP is Reviewed? 48 Re-Establishing Financial Aid Eligibility 49 How to Submit an Appeal 50 Financial Aid Programs 50 Grants 50 Federal Pell Grant 51 GO Grants 51 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) 51 Institutional Scholarships 51 BRCC Foundation Scholarships 52 American Gas Association Scholarships 52 Formosa Scholarships in PTEC 52 Axiall Process Technology Scholarship 52 Hollywood Casino Scholarships 52 Mid-City Merchants Scholarship 52 Solvay USA Scholarship in PTEC 52 Vision 21 Scholarship 52 State Scholarships 53 Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) 53 Veterans’ Orphan Scholarships 53 Vocational Rehabilitation Grants 53 Veterans Services 53 Fee Waivers 53 Veterans Dependent Scholarships 53 Federal Loans 54 Federal Direct Subsidized Loan 54 Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan 54 Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) 55 Applying for a Federal Direct Loan 55 Steps to Apply for a Loan 55 Entrance Counseling 55 Master Promissory Note (MPN) 57 Financial Literacy for Borrowers 57 Exit Counseling 57 Other Assistance Programs 57 Federal Work-Study (FWS) 57 Louisiana State Exemptions for Dependents of Emergency Workers 57 ACADEMIC POLICIES 58 The College Catalog 58 Governing Catalog 58 Catalog of Entry 58 Change of Catalogs 58 Change of Major or Program of Study 58 The Academic Year 59 Semesters and Sessions 59 6 Course Load 59 Course Cancellations 60 Assignment of Class Instructors 60 Prerequisites and Co-requisites 60 Placement Requirements for English and Mathematics 60 Add/Drop and Withdrawal 60 Class Attendance