Home   About Us   Prospective Students   Current Students   Faculty & Staff   Community

Current Students - Office of Academic Affairs

Academic Affairs

Academic Affairs at North Country Community College includes credit and non-credit courses, summer school, the College Bridge program, academic support from the Learning Assistance Centers and the Library.

Learning Assistance Centers

The Learning Assistance Centers provide students with faculty and student tutorial support, computer access and academic assistance for students having problems in their classes. 

Center for Lifelong Learning

The Center for Lifelong Learning conducts courses, workshops and seminars that provide a variety of convenient educational opportunities in five broad areas.  Programs are available that continuously meet recurrent community educational requirements, such as driver improvement courses.  As the area's training needs change, innovative programs are developed to provide the latest information to enable career growth, personal development, or recreational enjoyment.  Also offered are programs designed to meet the potential future educational needs of the community, conferences and special events.  Finally, customized training programs for specific organizations are developed on an as-needed basis.

Lifelong Learning programs are scheduled continuously throughout each semester at a variety of locations throughout Essex and Franklin counties, thus ensuring that educational opportunities are available when and where they are needed.

College Bridge Program

The College offers courses to high school students through an arrangement between the College and participating school districts within Essex and Franklin counties.  In addition, students may enroll in courses at an NCCC site in their region on a non-matriculated basis.  Students who successfully complete the College Bridge Program or other NCCC courses receive a college transcript and may transfer these courses to other colleges and universities.

The College's Bridge program operates under the direct supervision of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.  For more information contact the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs at 518-891-2915 ext.203 or e-mail .

Academic Calendar

North Country Community College operates on a two semester academic year, plus summer sessions.  The Fall and Spring semesters contain 15-16 weeks of instruction and begin in early September and late January, respectively.  A typical three credit-hour course meets either three days per week for 50 minutes each session or twice per week for 75 minute each session.  Evening classes meet twice per week for 75 minutes each session or once per week for three hours.  Each semester, a complete schedule of courses is published and can be obtained by contacting any NCCC instructional location.

Some programs use two weeks in early January to offer specialized courses, such as internships, clinical experiences, and practice.  During the Fall and Spring semester, special "mini-semester" sessions may be conducted.  Credit and non-credit classes of special interest are offered.  During the summer, the college conducts a five-week session, a seven-week session and a ten-week Distance Learning session.

For more information refer to the Academic Calendar available at the Records Office, Academic or the Campus & Student Life Office.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, the calendar is subject to change.  An updated calendar is available here.

Course Load

The typical course load carried by full-time students is 15-16 credit hours each semester.  Students who carry 12 credit hours through the entire semester are considered full-time students.  Students wishing to register for more than 18.5 credits are require the permission of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Grading System

*An overall 2.00 cumulative average is required for graduation.

Pass/Fail Course Option:

     S or P  Satisfactory work - meets all requirements of the course to receive credit.

        U     Unsatisfactory grade earned in pass/fail course indicates work not up to college level.

Other Grade Issuances:

        IN     This can be a tentative grade recorded if a student has not completed the required course work for a reason considered valid by the instructor.  The instructor must submit a Contract for Incomplete Grades for each IN given.  Contract forms are available from the Vice President for Academic Affairs Office.  The requirements must be complete according to the criteria established in the contract by the instructor, no later than the date specified or within the first five weeks of the following semester.  If arrangements are not met within the agreed time, an IN reverts to the grade indicated by the instructor on the contract.

        AW    Indicates student was administratively withdrawn due to extenuating circumstances whereas the student has made contact with the college.  There is not a cumulative average penalty associated with this grade.

         W     Indicates student withdrew officially from the course during the 4th through 12th week (or equivalent portion) of the terms.  There is not a cumulative average penalty associated with this grade.

         AU    Audit

          R     Remedial Course Work

         DR    Developmental Repeat

           WI    Immunization Withdrawal

Computation of Cumulative Average:

Multiply course credits by quality points for grade received in the class; add total semester hours; add total points generated.  Divided total quality points by total semester hours.  The result is the cumulative grade point average.

Withdrawal/Drops for Full Semester Courses:

     0-1 week:     If a student officially drops, no record of the course is placed on the transcript.

     2-12 weeks:    If a student officially withdraws from a course, W is placed on the transcript; W is not calculated in GPA.

Criteria for Determining Grades:

A grade issued to a student by instructor shall reflect the academic achievement for which the student has been graded in accordance with the grading criteria presented to the student at the beginning of the course in the course information/outline materials.

Pass/Fail Option:

A student at NCCC is permitted to take on course per semester in a field outside the student's core curriculum on a Pass/Fail basis.  Additionally, the student is restricted to no more than two courses per academic year (not to exceed four courses while a student is in a specific academic major) on a Pass/Fail basis.  The option may be exercised by filling out the Pass/Fail Option Form at the Records Office no later than ten days after the start of the semester.  A student receiving a grade of "D-" or above will be assigned an "S" grade.  A student not completing the requirements of the course will receive a "U" grade under this option.  The "U" and "S" grades will not affect the students' GPA.

Audit Policy:

Any person 60 years of age or older may audit credit courses on a tuition free basis wherever space is available.  Persons auditing courses will be required to pay material or equipment fees where applicable.  Registration for "60 or over" will be conducted during the first week of each term.

Any person may take a course on an audit basis provided he or she officially registers and pays full tuition and fees.  Upon completion of the course, the student will receive an "AU" grade.  "AU" grades are not accepted as credit for graduation and are not figured into the student's grade point average.

Academic Grievances

In the event of a conflict between an instructor and a student, the student is encouraged to informally speak to the instructor to reach an amiable solution.  If a solution is not reached, an informal meeting maybe scheduled with the Department Chair or his or her representative.

After the informal procedure has been exhausted, a formal complaint may be made in writing.  The proper appeal route to use to solve the problem is: 1) Instructor, 2) The appropriate Department Director, Coordinator or Department Chair, The Vice President for Academic Affairs, The College President.

Only the instructor has the authority to change a grade (unless said instructor is no longer employed by North Country Community College or is incapacitated).  Any student who believes that a final grade has been computed incorrectly or has a grievance regarding the final grade must submit a letter outlining the change desired to the instructor within one month after the grade reports are issued.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all classes.  Each instructor maintains a policy of class attendance.  Students must attend classes and adhere to the instructor's course attendance policy. 

Additionally, students who do not attend a course for an extended period of time should officially withdraw or drop from the course.  Students who drop a course within the drop period will not received a grade.  Students who withdraw from a course prior to the end of the withdrawal period will receive a "W".  Students who register for a course and do not attend, or stop attending a course may receive an "F" grade.  Students who require a lengthy absence from school due to illness, family emergencies, or other situations should contact each of their instructors and the Vice President for Academic Affairs prior to making a decision concerning their NCCC education.

Retention Information

Upon request, the College will provide information for each of the three most recent academic years regarding the total number of students who were enrolled at the beginning of the academic year and who remained enrolled through the end of each academic semester.  Prospective students wishing this retention information may obtain it by writing to the Records Office.

Repeating a Course

If a student elects to take a course more than once, the course will be recorded on the student's transcript each time it is taken.  For purposes of determining eligibility for graduation and for determining a student's GPA, the credits the course carries can only be counted once for graduation purposes, and the highest grade achieved will be the grade used for the calculation of the cumulative GPA.

Right of Student to Review

The student shall have the right to review any material which has been submitted for the purpose of grading and on which the final grade is to be based.  The instructor has the obligation to grade and return the material within a reasonable time limit.  In the case that, for good reason, the material should not be returned to the student, an opportunity to review the graded material shall be provided by the instructor.

Mid-Semester Evaluation

During the Fall and Spring semesters, at approximately the midpoint, mid-term grades will be issued.  These grades are only used to indicate cumulative progress for the semester.  These grades are not used in the determination of the students' cumulative average.

Transcripts

Each student receives a Grade Report at the end of a semester.  The student is the only person who can authorize the Records Office to transmit an official transcript of his or her academic record to another institution or party.  Transcript request forms are available from the Records Office.  All requests for official and/or unofficial transcripts must be made in writing and include the requesting student's signature.  If the student is in good standing with all College offices and dose not have any financial holds, the request will be granted upon payment of the prevailing fee for official transcripts.  Allow approximately five to seven days for processing.

Students have the right to review their academic records as maintained by the Records Office.  However, NCCC cannot release any documents, transcripts, or records from any other institution sent to the College for admissions purposes.  In accordance with Public Law 93-380 (FERPA), students shall have the right to copies of their official NCCC records upon written application and payment of the prevailing Records Office fees.

Vice President's Honor List

Matriculated students having completed 12 or more credits per semester in courses grade on the A-F system, numbered 100 or above, and with a semester grade point average of 3.50 or better, will be named to the Vice President's List.  Students must have no "IN" (Incomplete) grade(s) for that semester.  Courses using the "S", "P" or "U" system may not be among the 12 hours.  Similarly, a students whose grade point average is between 3.25 and 3.49 will be included on the Vice President's Honorable Mention List.  In either instance, this fact becomes a part of the student's permanent record and will be published.

Statement of Good Academic Standing

The College has established an Academic Standing Policy for the retention of matriculated students and to ensure appropriate progress toward earning a degree.  A North Country Community College student, earning a grade point average (GPA) between 2.00 to 4.00, is in good academic standing and is making satisfactory progress toward a degree.  In order to graduate from NCCC, a student must meet specific course and degree requirements, a achieve a minimum cumulative 2.00 GPA.

Academic Suspension

A student that is suspended will no be allowed to enroll in college for the next available semester.  A student who wishes to return as a matriculated student must reapply for admission.  Normally any student who is suspended twice within a five-year period, will not be eligible to return to the College.

State regulations mandate that the option to matriculate suspended students be taken away for financial aid reasons.  Appeals cannot be accepted.  The two options open to suspended students are: 1) With the permission of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, enroll as a non-regular student less than full-time (no financial aid is available), 2) Skip one semester and reapply for admission at a later date.

Returning to NCCC

Students wishing to reapply to North Country Community College may contact the Enrollment Management Office to obtain an application or apply online .  Coursework older than ten years may not be allowed to meet graduation requirements.

Fresh Start Policy

Any student absent from North Country Community College for three or more years may apply for consideration for Fresh Start status.  Students desiring this consideration must submit a petition detailing their rationale for this request to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Upon the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the student will be accorded Fresh Start status and his or her transcript will be so labeled.  The student will receive credit for all courses previously passed with a grade of "C" or above, which meet degree requirements for his or her program of study.  Grades for those courses will be listed as if they are transfer courses and will be disregarded when the Fresh Start grade-point average is calculated.  Those students who exercise the Fresh Start option will be required to earn the same minimum number of credits as transfer students.  The student will receive no credit for courses in which he or she previously received a "C-" or below, and those courses will be disregarded when the Fresh Start GPA is calculated.  All courses and grade remain on the student's record.  If the student chooses this option, the following regulations apply:

• All grades earned at NCCC will remain a part of the transcript (The ten-year rule applies in this situation).
• For purposes of determining academic status (good standing/suspension/graduation), the cumulative average is determined beginning with the course work complete after the minimum three-year absence.
• The Vice President for Academic Affairs will notify the Records Office that approval of the Fresh Start option has been granted.
• As a result of being granted the Fresh Start option, a student receives credit hours toward the total degree requirement, for only those courses taken prior to the student's three year absence from NCCC in which the student earned a grade of "C" or better.
• The Fresh Start option is extended only once during the student's enrollment at NCCC.
• Fresh start will be extended only to matriculated students.
• Fresh start will not be extended to students who are in good academic standing.
• Classes previously taken that are greater than ten years old, will need to be repeated.

Absence due to Religious Beliefs

• No person shall be expelled from or be refused admission as a student to an institution of higher education for the reason that he or she is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirements on a particular day or days.
• Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements.
• It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials of each institution of higher education to make available to each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days.  No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to said student such equivalent opportunity.
• If classes, examinations, study, or work requirements are held on Friday after 4pm or on Saturday, similar or makeup classes, examinations, study, or work requirements shall be made available on other days, where it is possible and practical to do so.  No special fees shall be charged to the student for these classes, examinations, study, or work requirements held on other days.
• In effectuating the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the faculty and the administrative officials at each institution of higher education to exercise the fullest measure of good faith.  No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself/herself of the provisions of this section.
• Any student who is aggrieved by the alleged failure of any faculty or administrative official to comply in good faith with the provisions of this section shall be entitled to maintain an action or proceeding in the Supreme Court of the county in which such institution of higher education is located for the enforcement of his or her rights under this section.

Class Schedule Change Add/Drop Procedures

Add/Drop is an opportunity for a student to make adjustments to the courses she/he is enrolled in prior to the registration becoming official.  The Add/Drop period extends five class days into each semester.  A student may adjust courses during this period without a permanent record notation "W" for courses dropped.  Students enrolled in classes that meet less than the full-semester or Summer Offerings are subject to alternative Add/Drop Periods.  Please see the current calendar or contact the Records Office.

Students no longer wishing to remain enrolled in a particular course after the close of the Add/Drop Period will receive a grade of "W" on their permanent record, but the course will not be factored into computation of the semester/cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average).

Course Withdrawal:

Definition: A student may adjust his or her course registration after the end of the Add/Drop period by withdrawing from a course(s) but still remaining enrolled at the College.  Students who withdraw from a course will receive a notation of "W" on his or her College records.  Course withdrawal is not equivalent to Termination of Enrollment.

Students may withdraw from a course starting the sixth class day of each semester until the last day of the twelfth week.  The official withdraw date from a course will be the date that Records Office receives the completed and signed withdrawal form.  No verbal, telephone, electronic or proxy request will be honored.  Withdrawing from a course does not alter the student's tuition liability for the course(s).  Failing to attend the course does not withdraw the student from the class or remove tuition liability.

Termination of Enrollment:

Definition: Termination  of Enrollment is the total and complete withdrawal of a student from all courses for which that student is registered during a given semester.  A student may terminate his or her enrollment at North Country at any time during the semester.

A student wishing to terminate enrollment must first contact the Associate Director for Enrollment and Student Services and/or the Vice President for Academic Affairs and complete the proper paperwork.  He or she must also make contact with the Financial Aid Office, the Business Office as well as the Records Office.  No verbal, telephone, electronic or proxy requests will be honored.  Official date of Termination of Enrollment will be the date on which the student has completed all the aforementioned requirements.  Depending on the date of termination, the student's record will be affected as follows:

• During Add/Drop: Student's record at North Country will not reflect enrollment in any courses.  Student will have 25% liability for tuition and 100% liability for non-course related fees.
• 2nd Week of Classes: Student's record will reflect a "W" grade for all courses in which he/she is registered at the time of termination.  Student will have a 50% tuition liability and 100% liability for all fees.
• 3rd Week of Classes: Student's record will reflect a "W" grade for all courses in which he/she is registered at the time of termination.  Student will have a 75% tuition liability and a 100% liability for all fees.
• 4th-12th Week of Classes: Student's record will reflect a "W" grade for all courses in which he/she is registered at the time of termination.  Student will have a 100% tuition liability for fees.
• 12th Week of Classes at End of Semester: Student's record will reflect the grade issued by the instructor for all courses in which the student is registered at the time of termination.  Student will have 100% tuition liability and 100% liability for all fees.

Change in Program of Study

A student who wishes to change his or her program of study must first discuss the matter with an academic advisor after being admitted by the Enrollment Management Office.  Proper advisement and procedural instructions are described at that time.  Such procedures culminate in official changes in the student's records at the Records Office.

Withdrawal from the College

A matriculated student desiring to withdraw from the College must personally complete the withdrawal procedure, except in rare cases of personal illness, where it may be done by mail.  The date on which final clearance has been completed will be considered the date of final attendance; refunds, if applicable, will be computed from this date.  Prior to withdrawal, a student must satisfy all outstanding obligations to the college.  The student must make arrangements to discuss the matter with the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services or the Vice President for Academic Affairs.  The necessary forms will be provided at that time with instructions for procedures to follow.

Restricting Admission to a Course

The College reserves the right to restrict participation of any student in any course, laboratory, or educational experience because of space limitations or safety regulations.

Office of Academic Affairs Contact Info:

Trisha Greenier, Administrative Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs

Thomas J. Finch, Vice President for Academic Affairs