Academic Information

Student Responsibilities

You are responsible for following all policies and meeting all requirements and deadlines for enrollment, course withdrawal, and graduation. Policies are subject to change. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the information presented in the Catalog and Student Handbook, and to know and observe all regulations and procedures relating to the program you are pursuing. In no case will a regulation be waived or an exception granted because you plead ignorance of, or contend that you were not informed of the regulations or procedures.

Academic Standards

All students are expected to make satisfactory academic progress, and the standards are as follows:

Good Standing: To be in good standing, you must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher. Failure to do so may result in the following:

Academic Probation: You will be placed on academic probation if you have attempted any credit hours at L&C (including accepted transfer hours) and meet one of the following conditions:

• your cumulative GPA is below 1.75 and you have attempted fewer than 16 total credit hours, or
• your cumulative GPA is below 2.00 and you have attempted 16 or more credit hours

To be removed from probation, you must raise your cumulative GPA to the required level. If you are placed on probation, you should seek academic help from the Counseling office. While on probation, you are required to meet with an advisor before registering for classes and are limited to 14 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters and 7 credit hours in the summer. 

Academic Suspension: If you are on probation and your cumulative GPA remains below 2.00, and you have attempted 24 or more credit hours (including accepted transfer hours), and your semester GPA also falls below 2.00, you will be placed on academic suspension.   

Students on academic suspension must meet with an advisor to create a Student Success Plan, which may include repeating courses, limiting course loads, or sitting out (not enroll) for one semester. You may not be eligible for financial aid while your GPA remains below 2.0. While it is recommended that you work with an advisor and continue working toward a degree or certificate, you may not be eligible for financial aid while your GPA is below 2.00.

Academic Renewal: Students with a L&C GPA below 2.00 who have not enrolled for four or more years may apply for academic renewal. If approved, all previous L&C grades will be voided and replaced with a “W” notation. Academic renewal applies only to L&C and not to any other college or university the student may have attend and does not affect financial aid status. Students who have completed L&C degrees or certificates may be ineligible. Academic renewal can only be granted once and cannot be reversed.

Transfer Students:  L&C academic standards apply to transfer students. Credit hours (but not grade points) you have earned at the previous institution will be included for satisfaction of L&C graduation and academic standards requirements.

Attendance

Regular attendance is essential to your success. Missing class disrupts your progress and reduces the quality of classroom interaction. Data at L&C show that 80% of students who miss the first day of class fail or withdraw from the course. Although occasional absences may be unavoidable, they do not excuse you from meeting course requirements. You are responsible for completing missed work and preparing for the next class session. Instructors determine whether late work receives full, partial, or no credit. Your course syllabus specifies the instructor’s attendance policy.

Auditing a Course

You may register to audit a course during the week prior to the start of the course. You should meet all course prerequisites or obtain permission from the instructor. You must indicate on your registration form that you are auditing the course. Audit registration closes once the course begins.

Audited courses require regular attendance but do not require exams, and they do not carry college credit. Your transcript will show “AU,” and the course cannot later be converted to a graded, credit-bearing course. Full tuition and fees apply. Financial aid, scholarships, and veterans’ education benefits cannot be used for audited courses. For additional information, contact the Enrollment Center, Reid Hall, Room 1200.

Classification of Students

By class standing

Freshman: fewer than 28 earned credit hours

Sophomore: 28 or more earned credit hours

By enrollment status

Full-Time: enrolled in 12 or more credit hours

Part-Time: enrolled in fewer than 12 credit hours

Course Load

You are considered a full-time student if you are enrolled in at least 12 credit hours during the fall or spring semester, or at least 6 credit hours during the summer. Most associate degree programs require 60 credit hours. Enrolling in 15 credit hours in both the fall and spring semesters increases the likelihood of completing your degree in two years.

The maximum course load is 18 credit hours in the fall or spring (except Dental Assisting) and 12 credit hours in the summer. Enrolling in credit hours beyond these limits requires the permission of an Enrollment Center manager.

Students on academic probation must meet with an advisor before enrolling.  You are limited to a maximum of 14 credit hours in the fall or spring semesters and 8 credit hours in the summer while on probation.

Courses from a Non-Accredited Institution

L&C does not accept transfer courses from non-accredited institutions. The definition of a “non-accredited” institution is a post-secondary educational institution that is not accredited by one of the six regional associations of higher education.

Credit for Prior Learning

Academic credits may be earned through a variety of prior learning assessments. These credits may be added to earned credits and used to satisfy program requirements resulting in a certificate, a degree, and/or a transfer to other colleges. In addition to transferring credits earned while attending other accredited institutions, persons may have earned credits (general occupational) for established professional knowledge and skill development through military training and work life experience. If the student earns a score on a proficiency test that demonstrates knowledge at the level established by L&C, proficiency credit may be entered on the student’s transcript. A person seeking credit for prior learning at L&C must be enrolled prior to awarding credit for prior learning. These credits might not transfer to other colleges. Credit for Prior Learning is counted toward graduation but is limited to no more than 50 percent of the credit hours required for an associate degree or a certificate of proficiency. The credit is not included in the calculation of the grade point average and may not be used to establish full-time eligible status. An appointment with an academic advisor in the Enrollment Center, Reid Hall, Room 1200, is encouraged. Please call 618-468-2222 to schedule an appointment. The following procedures may be used in obtaining proficiency credits:

Advanced Placement (AP) Program - The Advanced Placement program is sponsored by the College Board and gives secondary school students the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge that merits college credit. L&C offers credit for many AP subjects. Scores from AP examinations should be submitted to the Enrollment Center, Reid Hall, Room 1200. An amendment to the College and Career Success for All Students Act in fall 2015 provides that a student who takes a College Board Advanced Placement examination and receives a score of 3 or higher on the examination is entitled to receive postsecondary level course credit at a public institution of higher education. It requires each public institution of higher education to comply with the same standard of awarding course credit to any student receiving a score of 3 or higher on a College Board Advanced Placement examination and applying the credit to meet a corresponding course requirement for degree completion at that institution of higher education. L&C will grant credit for eligible AP tests at $10 per credit hour.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) - The College Level Examination Program is a national credit-by-examination program that offers an individual the opportunity to obtain recognition for college-level achievement. Through CLEP, a person can demonstrate knowledge that merits academic credit. On-the-job experience, military training, personal study, or distance learning are some of the sources that can prepare an individual to earn college credit. Anyone may take the CLEP test, no matter where or how a person has learned. To determine if the CLEP credit will meet general education requirements, check with an academic advisor. Science courses credited by CLEP will not meet L&C’s general education lab science requirements. Test credit will not be allowed when students have previously received credit in equivalent courses. In addition, test credit will not be granted when students are currently enrolled in an equivalent course, or a higher level course. The non-refundable $87 CLEP test fee must be paid in advance of taking the test, along with an additional $15 test-proctoring fee. L&C will transcribe proficiency credit for eligible CLEP exams at $10 per credit hour. For a current list of courses available for CLEP credit or to register to take a CLEP test contact the Assessment and Testing Center, Haskell Hall, Room B25, 618-468-5232.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program - The International Baccalaureate Program gives students the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge that merits college credit. L&C offers credit for many IB subjects. Scores from IB examinations should be submitted to the Enrollment Center, Reid Hall, Room 1200. Scores of 4 or higher on International Baccalaureate Diploma Program examinations shall be accepted for credit to satisfy elective, general education requirements, or major requirements. The L&C Enrollment Center can provide information on the scores required to receive credit for those purposes. L&C will grant credit for eligible IB tests at $10 per credit hour.

Military Credit - Among the methods of earning credit for veterans and service members are the Defense Subject Standard Tests (DSST), formerly known as Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support tests (DANTES), and credit based on the completion of courses at service schools, transcribed on a Joint Services Transcript and that have been evaluated by the Commission on Accreditation of Service Experiences (CASE) of the American Council on Education (ACE). The DSST program is a national, credit- by-exam program offered by Prometric. The DSST examinations cover material taught in six basic areas: business, sciences, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and education. L&C will grant credit for eligible DSST tests at $10 per credit hour. Service members, veterans, and their dependents are encouraged to consult with their Base Education Services Office or with the L&C Veterans Services Office in Reid Hall, Room 1200, 618-468-5312. Students who have had one year of active duty and an honorable discharge automatically qualify for three credits in health education and two credits in physical education at no charge. Credit is determined from documentation supplied by the student’s official discharge document (DD214) which must be presented to the L&C Enrollment Center.

Institutionally Prepared Proficiency Exams - Students may also earn credit in a number of disciplines through institutionally prepared proficiency examinations. Proficiency exams are not available for all courses and are offered at the discretion of the program coordinator/faculty. Students may not take a proficiency exam for a course in which they were previously enrolled and received a grade of D, F, W, or I. Students may only attempt a proficiency exam one time for any particular course and may not take a proficiency exam after the first week of a course in which they are currently enrolled. Students seeking to take a proficiency exam must register for the exam through the Main Campus Enrollment Center, the Nelson Campus, a Community Education Center, or online. A non-refundable $50 fee will be charged for each proficiency exam. L&C will transcribe proficiency credit at $10 per credit hour. Both the exam fee and the credit hour fee must be paid prior to testing. Proof of payment will be required at the time of testing. If a student fails the proficiency exam, the student should complete a refund form and the transcription fee will be refunded through the Bursar’s Office. Examinations may not be administered to students who have passed a higher level course than the one for which the proficiency is requested unless specifically approved in advance by the dean responsible for that program area. In all cases, credit to be granted for successful completion of tests will be determined by the program coordinator and his/her dean. Credit earned through examinations cannot duplicate credit earned in college course work. Exceptions to any of the procedures noted in this section must be discussed with the appropriate dean. Proficiency examinations are taken at times set by the program coordinator and are administered by the Assessment and Testing Center . For more information about proficiency credit, contact the appropriate program coordinator and/or her/his dean. Proficiency exams may be taken for the following courses:

State Seal of Biliteracy - The Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy gives secondary school students the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language that equates to college credit. High school programs encourage qualified students to complete standardized assessments to establish proficiency. The State Seal of Biliteracy is transcribed by the high school and under state statute; public community colleges and universities must accept the seal as equivalent to foreign language course credit. L&C accepts the State Seal of Biliteracy and will transcribe Proficiency (P) credit earned in the Elementary foreign language courses, I and II, in Spanish, French and German. High school graduates who earn a State Seal of Biliteracy must request foreign language course credit within three academic years after graduating from high school. Qualified students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor in the Enrollment Center, Reid Hall, Room 1200.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

We use a quality point average system based on 4.0, which equals an “A.” “B” equals 3.0, “C” equals 2.0, and “D” equals 1.0. The overall grade point average is computed by dividing the total quality points earned by the total credit hours completed. For example:

PR, AU, I, S, W, and X are not counted when computing your GPA.

Grades

The following letter grades are used at L&C:

Grade Changes - Students who believe that a grade was recorded in error have up to two years to request a grade change, including late withdrawals. Requests must be made to the Registrar and must include supporting documentation explaining why a grade change is necessary.

Grade Reports - Reports indicate a letter grade for each course, a grade point average, and a cumulative grade point average of all work attempted and credit earned. Grade reports are available online through Student Planner. Hard copies may be mailed upon request.

Graduation

General Graduation Requirements - To graduate, you must:

• Have all high school and post-secondary transcripts sent to the Enrollment Center
• Successfully complete the required program minimum number of credit hours
• Successfully complete the Illinois Human Relations requirement (State of Illinois Public Act 87-581) for transfer degrees
• Meet L&C residency requirements. For degrees, a minimum of 15 credit hours completed at L&C (AAS degrees require that all 15 hours must be core program courses, not general education). For Certificates of Proficiency, 9 core program hours at L&C. For Certificates of Completion, 6 core program hours at L&C.
• Earn a minimum grade point average of 2.00 for courses attempted at L&C subject to the academic standards
• Resolve all financial obligations to L&C
• Be sure that all incomplete grades are assigned a regular grade.

Requirements for the Associate in General Studies degree vary. Contact an education counselor at 618-468-4121 for details.

Posthumous Degree Policy - Students approved for graduation at the time of death, or those who completed at least 45 hours toward an associate degree or 75% of a certificate, are eligible for a posthumous award.

Degree Completion Requirements 

• You may not graduate using the requirements of a L&C catalog that is more than six years old prior to the date of graduation.
• Exceptions require approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
• Refer to the Career Programs section of the catalog for requirements regarding specific career programs

Graduation Procedure - Follow these steps:

1. Apply for Graduation for graduation through Student Planner by the following deadlines:

• Fall semester graduation: November 15
• Spring semester graduation: February 15
• Summer semester graduation: March 15

Students interested in participating in the Commencement Ceremony in May, will need to order a cap and gown online when completing the graduation application.

2. Complete all course and program requirements. It is your responsibility to complete the requirements listed on your program evaluation. If you fail or withdraw from required courses, contact the L&C Registrar at 618-468-5110 immediately.

Other Important Graduation Information

After the semester ends, the Registrar will certify your graduation. Your transcript will be updated to show your degree, and your diploma will be predated. If requirements are not met and the Registrar is unable to certify your graduation, you will be informed by email. If deficiencies are resolved, your graduation may be certified mid-term of the following semester. If not, you will need to reapply for the following semester with the Registrar or your graduation file will remain inactive.

If you require waivers or substitutions, it is your responsibility to contact your faculty advisor or program coordinator, before applying for graduation, to be sure the proper forms are initiated and processed. 

In March, candidates for graduation are sent informational packets containing information needed to participate in commencement.

Students earning degrees or certificates of proficiency may participate in the May Commencement Ceremony.

The Registrar will inform you by email when your diploma is ready for pick up.

Honors

You will be named to the Dean’s List if you:

• are enrolled in 12 or more credit hours and earn a semester GPA between 3.250 and 3.749, or
• have accumulated 12 or more credit hours in two or more semesters and earn a cumulative GPA between 3.250 and 3.749.

You will be named to the President’s List if you:

• are enrolled in 12 or more credit hours and earn a semester GPA of 3.750 or higher, or
• have accumulated 12 or more credit hours in two or more semesters and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.750 or higher.

Graduation Honors

• you will graduate with Honors if you have a cumulative GPA between 3.250 and 3.749 in your degree
• you will graduate with High Honors if you have a cumulative GPA of 3.750 or higher in your degree

 If you graduate with honors or high honors, the designation will appear on your transcript and diploma. This designation does not apply to certificates.

Honors College

The L&C Honors College offers high-achieving students an enriched academic experience, including honors coursework, service learning, mentorship, social opportunities, and a final research project and symposium. Students progress as a cohort and receive transfer advising throughout the program to ensure a smooth transfer to their four-year university. Graduates earn an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science with a special honors designation at Commencement and on their college transcript. For more information, visit www.lc.edu/academic-programs/honors-college.html.

Repeating Courses

You may attempt most courses up to three times if you previously earned a “PR”, “D”, “W”, “X” or an “F” except in certain programs where specific repeat policies are identified. Only the highest grade earned counts toward your GPA. After a third unsuccessful attempt, you must meet with an advisor to request permission to enroll again, and if approved, you will be charged out-of-district tuition.

Note: If the last attempt of the course has been four years or more, the student will have another three attempts before the out-of-district rate is applied.

If you successfully complete a course with a grade of “C” or higher and choose to repeat it within four years, you will be charged the out-of-district tuition rate. This includes transfer courses. If it has been more than 4 years since you successfully completed a course you will not be charged the out-of-district rate. (The only exceptions are NUAD 120 and EMT 120. If you successfully complete NUAD 120 or EMT 120, and repeat the course within 4 years, you will not have to pay the out- of-district rate.)

Some courses are designed a repeatable so that students gain an increased depth of knowledge through repetition. The following courses are designed to be repeated for additional credit and cannot be repeated for improving grade point average: BRDG 124, 130, 131, 136, 137, 140, 141, 152, 153, DENT 299, DRFT 249, DST 130, EASL 101-103, EDTR 251, 268, 276, 279, 286, ENGL 031, 037, FIRE 110, GED 101-106, JOBS 110, 111, 132, 133, MATH 031, 038, 045, MCOM 280, MUSI 144, 145, 146, 147, 149, 172, 196, 197, 233, 299, NURS 280, OTLC 0010, 0011, 0012, PRCS-271, SCT 111, SERV 130, and STSK 132.

Waitlist Policy

If a waitlisted student becomes eligible for an open seat, they will be automatically enrolled and notified by L&C email. Students will not be automatically enrolled if there is a time conflict, a registration restriction (i.e. the student owes a fine to the college), the student doesn’t meet the required prerequisite, or if the student is registered in another section of the class. If any of these occur, the student will be skipped and the open seat will go to the next student on the waitlist. Students may view their waitlist position in Student Planning under “Plan and Schedule.”

Withdrawing from a Course

All students, credit and non-credit, who wish to withdraw from any course, must officially withdraw.

You can officially withdraw from a course in three ways:

1. Online via Student Planner
2. By mailed or faxed request, with your signature, to the Enrollment Center 
3. In person at the Enrollment Center or any Community Education Center

Non-credit students need to withdraw in accordance with the refund policies for Continuing Education and non-credit courses with a CE_ _ prefix. Withdrawal from non-credit courses after the refund periods is not necessary. 

Credit students must withdraw by the published course withdrawal deadlines. You can find the exact withdrawal dates for your courses in Self-Service by entering your course information in the Search for Sections. Be aware that these deadlines are not related to refunds (See Refund Policy). You are encouraged to inform your instructor(s) of your intentions to withdraw. A withdrawal is official when the completed request is processed by the Enrollment Center, N. O. Nelson Campus, or Community Education Centers or submitted through Student Planner. If you do not officially withdraw from a course, you will receive a grade based on work completed which may not be sufficient to give you a passing grade. An official withdrawal within the withdrawal period results in a grade of “W” on your transcript. However, a withdrawal prior to the conclusion of the tuition refund period results in no transcript record. Non-attendance does not constitute an official withdrawal. Requests to withdraw after the official withdrawal period will be not be processed. Exceptions may be made in hardship cases (e.g., serious injury, chronic illness, caretaker responsibilities, mental health, financial or housing emergencies). Requests must be submitted in writing to the Director of Academic Advising with supporting documentation.