Southeast Technical Policies and Procedures

Section 200 - Educational / Academic

GENERAL:

201 - Academic Advisor

Each student will be assigned an advisor according to his/her program major. The Advisor will assist with planning course registration, referral to appropriate college and community services, identifying career opportunities, and interpreting college policies and procedures. Students are encouraged to make appointments for consultation.

Approved: April 10, 1997
Revised: February 15, 2000; June 30, 2004; September 29, 2008

 

202 - Distance Learning

The College promotes the development and delivery of accredited courses through distance learning (DL) within the constraints of technology and the institutional budget. The College seeks to provide high-school students, on-campus students, and working adults with synchronous and asynchronous educational options, as well as electronically available resources to supplement and enhance learning.

The Dean of Academics, charged with DL, acts as the chief supervisor of DL courses, programs, services, standards, and protocols. S/He shares the responsibility of maintaining the quality standards set forth by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC, formerly NCA) and MnSCU, with the V.P. of Academic Affairs, Academic Affairs staff, Administration, IT, Marketing, and Faculty. The development, approval, delivery and support of DL shall comply with the specific requirements and procedures.

Approved: June 30, 2004
Revised: September 29, 2008

203 - General Education

It is the policy of the College to provide General Education courses that are designed to enhance and support technical studies and that meet the requirements of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. General Education courses/categories include: communications, mathematics, natural science, social science, humanities, and computer literacy.

Approved: March 24, 1998
Revised: February 15, 2000; June 30, 2004; September 29, 2008

204 - Outside Work-Program Labs

The College endorses and supports shop/lab activities for students that involve “outside” or “live” customer work when these arrangements will give students training opportunities and skills development that are substantiated by the program course syllabi. See Guidelines.

Approved: April 28, 1997
Revised: February 15, 2000; June 30, 2004; September 29, 2008

 

205 - Program Review and Quality Assurance

Legal Reference: MnSCU Board Policy 3.10

The College supports and maintains a program review and quality assurance process, consistent with MnSCU policy. The process ensures that the College’s academic programs and departments contribute to its mission and academic master plan and, perform according to MnSCU accountability standards as well as accreditation, licensure or certification requirements. See the Program Review and Quality Assurance Procedures.

Approved: June 30, 2004
Revised: September 29, 2008

211 - Changing Program Majors

Students may transfer from one program major to another with the assistance of a counselor and the academic advisor and the submission of the appropriate form to the Student Affairs office. See the Changing Program Majors Procedures for details.

 Approved: June 17, 1997
Revised: February 15, 2000; June 30, 2004; September 29, 2008

 

212 - Course Substitution Policy

Students are permitted to request that a particular course be substituted with a course that is equivalent in both content and rigor. Approval of the request is handled on a case-by-case basis and requires the recommendations of the Academic Advisor and approval through the Academic Affairs Office. No reduction of program length is allowed. Students must request approval of the substitution by submitting a Substitution of Required Course form at least one week prior to registration for the course. See the Course Substitution Policy Procedures for more details.

Approved: June 17, 1997
Revised: February 15, 2000; June 30, 2004; September 29, 2008

213 - Dropping/Adding Courses

Students may drop or add a course(s) by completing a Drop/Add Form and presenting it to the Student Affairs office in accordance with the procedures supporting this policy. Students are entitled to attend one class session without obligation. Students may not drop a course after 75% of the term is completed. Students may add a course only within the first five instructional days of the term. Students will be billed tuition for the additional credits. Refunds and special circumstances are outlined in the Dropping / Adding Courses Procedures.

Approved: June 17, 1997
Revised: February 15, 2000; June 30, 2004; September 29, 2008

214 - Total Withdrawal from the College

Students may withdraw totally from the College prior to 75% of the course(s) being completed subject to tuition/fees. Refund guidelines are outlined in the Total Withdrawal from the College Procedures.

Approved: February 28, 2002
Revised: June 30, 2004; September 29, 2008

215 - Course Credit Transfer

Legal Reference: MnSCU Board Policy No. 3.21

It is the policy of the College to provide students the ability to transfer credits to and from other higher education institutions to meet program major requirements. The transfer of credit shall be accomplished in accordance with the policies of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

The College has several formal transfer agreements in place with in-and out-of-state institutions. This information is available upon request.

Refer to the Transfer Credits From/To Another Institution Procedures for specifics on how to transfer credits from another institution.

Approved: March 12, 1997
Revised: February 15, 2000; June 30, 2004; October 8, 2008

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE:

221 - Academic Integrity Policy

Academic integrity, one of the most important values in higher education, requires that each student’s work represents his/her own personal efforts and that the student acknowledges the intellectual contributions of others. Southeast Technical students are expected to honor the requirements of the Academic Integrity Policy. The following are unacceptable academic practices, called “academic fraud,” that are violations of the Academic Integrity Policy:

• Plagiarism: The presentation of another’s work as one’s own by failing to cite the source, by failing to enclose direct quotations within quotation marks, or by paraphrasing in language that too closely resembles that of the source.
• Cheating: Using, or attempting to use, unauthorized materials in any academic exercise or having someone else do the required work; e.g., cheat sheets or copying from another’s paper, test, and/or homework.
• Fabrication: Inventing or falsifying information; e.g., creating data for a required lab experiment that was not done or was done incorrectly.
• Enabling academic fraud: Intentionally or knowingly helping another commit an act of academic fraud.
• Deception or misrepresentation: Unauthorized alteration, forgery, or falsification of academic records or academic work. Violating stated guidelines on an assignment.
• Damaging other’s work: Sabotaging or damaging the work of others.
• Multiple submission: Submitting work without instructor’s permission as if it were new work, even though it has already been used in another class.

The college may impose sanctions whenever a student engages in academic fraud. The responsibilities of faculty and students, and the pertinent sanctions and appeal processes are described in our Academic Integrity Procedure.

Approved: April 27, 2006
Revised: September 29, 2008

 

222 - Academic Forgiveness

Students who have earned a cumulative grade point average of less than 2.0 may, upon applying for re-admission to the College, appeal the removal (forgiveness) of those grades/credits with the following stipulations/conditions:

• The student may not have previously graduated from a program at Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical.
• The student must not have been enrolled at the College for at least two years prior to the appeal for forgiveness.
• Academic forgiveness will be granted only once.
• The student must complete one term of full-time enrollment with a grade point average of at least 2.0 after re-enrollment prior to petitioning for academic forgiveness.

The procedures for appeal, and the responsibilities of the Committee and the Registrar are defined under the Academic Forgiveness Procedures.

Approved: October 28, 1999
Revised: February 15, 2000; June 30, 2004; October 8, 2008

 

223 - Credit For Prior Learning in Non-Credit/Experiential/Credit by Exam

The college may grant course credit on the basis of proficiency acquired through experience other than formal education.  Students passing a nationally recognized examination, a college course challenge examination (Test Out), a college course competency demonstration examination (a Test Out of physical skills) or that have acquired Military training or service that meets the standards of the American Council on Education (ACE) or the equivalent shall be granted college credit.

The following is a list of nationally recognized examinations that are acceptable for college credit transfer:  (See Registrar for minimum scores required)

• Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• Thomas Edison College Examination Program (TECEP)
• Excelsior examination of New York University Foreign Language Proficiency (NYUFLP)
• National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI)
• DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)

College course challenge exams and competency demonstration exams must be completed within the first five (5) days of a term.  Students may not Test Out of a course that they have previously failed or from which they have withdrawn.  Students shall have one (1) opportunity to complete and pass the examination.  Credits earned through this method are not considered residency credits.  A per-credit fee is assessed for these examinations. 

The following is a list of college course challenge and competency demonstration examinations that are given at the college:  (See department faculty for possible other opportunities)

• MATH1510, Basic Mathematics, 2 credits
• MATH1515, Introductory Algebra, 2 credits
• MATH2515, Intermediate Algebra, 3 credits
• ENGL1510, Basic English, 2 credits

Students with Military training or service shall receive credit in accordance with Minnesota Statute 197.775, Subdivision 2, if the training or service course meets the standards of the American Council on Education (ACE) or the equivalent.

Students looking for other credit for prior learning opportunities may go to www.mnscu.edu

 Credit Exam Procedures

Approved: October 6, 1999
Revised: February 15, 2000; June 30, 2004; October 8, 2008

224 - Grading System

A student’s grade point is determined by adding all grade points and dividing by the sum of all credits passed and failed. All courses, except pass/no credit, enter into the grade point average. If a course is repeated, credits are counted only once and the grade from the last attempt is used in computing the GPA. See the Grading System Procedures for specifics on grades and grade points, incomplete's, repeated courses, pass/no-credit, withdrawals, audits and student challenge of a grade.

Approved: April 10, 1997
Revised: February 15, 2000; June 30, 2004; October 8, 2008

 

225 - Graduation Requirements

The College’s Associate of Science Degree (A.S.), Associate in Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.), Diploma or Certificate of Specialization will be conferred upon all students who have:

• Completed all program course requirements;
• Maintained a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0;
• Met all financial obligations to the College;
• Completed graduation applications within the first five (5) days six (6) weeks of their final term.

To be eligible for a certificate, degree or diploma, a student must earn 10 credits or one third of the program’s major graduation requirements, whichever is less, at Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical. This requirement is not in effect for students transferring from other MnSCU two-year institutions.

Approved: April 10, 1997
Revised: February 15, 2000; June 30, 2004; October 5, 2008

 

226 - Honors

The College recognizes academic achievement of students by announcing its “President’s List” each semester. A student who completes a minimum of 12 credits at the College during an academic term and achieves a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or above will be named to the President’s List.

At graduation, students who have achieved a cumulative 3.5 GPA and higher are honored. Honor status is given to students graduating from a diploma, AAS or AS program and who have completed a minimum of 25 resident credits including credits from the last term before graduation. Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 to 3.74 receive Honors designation. Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 to 4.00 receive High Honors designation. Final Honor status is determined after final grades are received. Honor status designation will appear on the student transcript at the time of official graduation. Gold honor cords are given to all Honors and High Honors graduates attending a graduation ceremony.

Approved: July 6, 1993
Revised: April 15, 1997; February 15, 2000; February 13, 2003; June 30, 2004; October 8, 2008

 

227 - Satisfactory Academic Progress

The College identifies standards required for satisfactory academic progress, which includes both quantitative and qualitative components. To meet satisfactory academic standards, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale and complete 67% of all credits attempted. See Standards for additional information.

Approved: June 17, 1997
Revised: February 15, 2000; June 30, 2004, January 6, 2006; October 8, 2008