The procedures for repetition of courses are applicable in any of the following cases:
I. REPEATABLE COURSES
Repeatable courses shall be identified and listed in the catalog with specific repeat codes as approved by the Curriculum Committee.
The following types of courses shall be deemed repeatable:
- Courses for which repetition is necessary to meet the major requirements of CSU or UC for completion of a bachelor’s degree. The District shall retain supporting documentation that verifies that the repetition is necessary to meet the major requirements of CSU or UC for completion of a bachelor’s degree. The supporting documentation must be retained by the District as a Class 3 record;
- Intercollegiate athletics courses in which a student athlete is enrolled to participate in an organized competitive sport sponsored by the District, or a conditioning course which supports the organized competitive sport; and
- Intercollegiate academic or vocational competition courses designed specifically for participation in non-athletic competitive events between students from different colleges and sanctioned by a formal collegiate or industry governing body. The participation in the event must be directly related to the course content and objectives. Enrollment in these courses is limited to no more than four times, even if the student receives a substandard grade or “W” during one or more of the enrollments.
When a course is repeated pursuant to these procedures, the grade received each time shall be included in calculating the student’s grade point average.
II. MULTIPLE AND OVERLAPPING ENROLLMENTS
- Students may not enroll in two or more sections of the same credit course during the same term.
- For short courses, students may enroll in multiple sections of the same credit course in a given term so long as the enrollments do not overlap.
III. NON-REPEATABLE COURSES
Course enrollments in non-repeatable courses shall be limited to three enrollments total in the same course inclusive of all evaluative and non-evaluative symbols received. Students can only repeat courses designated as “non-repeatable” if they meet one of the criteria listed below. However, students may receive a symbol and/or earn a substandard grade of D, F, NP, NC no more than three times in the same course. The three enrollment limitation in non-repeatable courses is inclusive of any combination of W, D, F, NP, or NC.
IV. COURSE REPETITION TO ALLEVIATE SUBSTANDARD ACADEMIC WORK
- Students may repeat a course designated as a non-repeatable course in an effort to alleviate substandard academic work. All courses taken at Sonoma County Junior College District for which substandard academic performance is recorded (D, F, NC, NP), may be repeated twice (three enrollments total).
- Students who have received a substandard grade in a repeatable course may not retake the course beyond the maximum repetitions permitted for such course.
- When a student has repeated courses to alleviate substandard academic work, the first two substandard grades may be excluded in computing the student’s grade point average (GPA). However, the permanent academic record shall be annotated in such a manner that all work remains legible, ensuring a true and complete academic history.
- In determining transfer of a student’s credits, Sonoma County Junior College District shall honor similar, prior course repetition actions by other accredited colleges and universities.
V. COURSE REPETITION DUE TO SIGNIFICANT LAPSE OF TIME
Stuodents may petition the Admissions, Records and Enrollment Development Office to repeat a course one time due to a significant lapse of time (at least three years) since a satisfactory passing grade was received in order to satisfy a District recency requirement or the recency requirement of another institution of higher education to which the student seeks to transfer.
Upon completion of the repeated course, the previous grade and units shall be disregarded in computing the student’s GPA. All coursework on the student’s permanent academic record shall be annotated in such a manner that all work remains legible, ensuring a true and complete academic history.
VI. COURSE REPETITION DUE TO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES
Students may petition the Admissions, Records and Enrollment Development Office to repeat a course whether the grade was substandard, passing or a withdrawal. ‘Extenuating circumstances’ are defined as verified cases of accidents, illness, or other circumstances beyond the control of the student. Upon completion of the repeated course, the previous grade and units awarded shall be disregarded in computing the student’s GPA. All coursework on the student’s permanent academic record shall be annotated in such a manner that all work remains legible, ensuring a true and complete academic history.
VII. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The District shall permit a student with a disability to repeat a special class for students with disabilities any number of times based on an individualized determination by the Disability Resources Department that such repetition is required as a disability-related accommodation for that particular student for one of the reasons specified below:
a. When continuing success of the student in other general and/or special classes is dependent on additional repetitions of a specific special class; or
b. When additional repetitions of a specific special class are essential to completing a student’s preparation for enrollment into other classes; or
c. When the student has a student educational contract which involves a goal other than completion of the special class in question and repetition of the course will further achievement of the goal.
Students must submit a petition to the Admissions, Records and Enrollment Services Office for approval. All grades and units received shall be counted in calculating the student grade point average.
VIII. WORK EXPERIENCE
Students may earn up to a total of 16 semester units combined in all types of Cooperative Work Experience Education subject to the following limitations:
a. A maximum of six semester units may be earned during each semester or summer term in general work experience education.
b. A maximum of eight semester units may be earned during each semester or summer term in occupational work experience education.
c. All grades and units received each time shall be counted in calculating the student grade point average.
For information on Academic Renewal without Course Repetition, see Academic Renewal
IX. COURSE REPETITION AS A RESULT OF LEGAL MANDATES
Students may repeat a course determined to be legally mandated by statute or regulation as a condition of paid or volunteer employment regardless of whether substandard academic work has been recorded. Such courses may be repeated for credit any number of times, provided the student submits documentation of the required legal mandates.
X. COURSE REPETITION AS A RESULT OF A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN INDUSTRY OR LICENSURE STANDARDS
Students may petition the Admissions, Records and Enrollment Development Office to repeat a course as a result of a significant change in industry or licensure standards such that repetition of the course is necessary for employment or licensure. Such courses can be repeated for credit any number of times provided the student submits documentation of the significant change in industry or licensure standards necessitating course repetition.
XI. ACTIVE PARTICIPATORY COURSES AND SIMILAR ACTIVITY GROUPS
Active participatory courses are those courses where individual study or group assignments are the basic means by which learning objectives are obtained. When two or more such courses have similar primary educational activities, they shall be identified and grouped into similar activity groups by the Curriculum Committee. Student enrollment in active participatory courses is limited to four enrollments within each identified similar activity group. This limitation applies even if a student receives a substandard grade or “W” during one or more of the enrollments.
Policy 8.1.16. and Procedure 8.1.16P, Revised May 2013