Course Numbering

FPCC college level credits are numbered 100 through 299. Some of the courses numbered within this range are designed for terminal certificate or degree programs and are not intended to be transferable courses. Courses numbered lower than 100 are not transferable and should be selected only upon the advice of the student’s advisor in an effort to build skills important to accomplishing college level course work. Courses numbered 100 through 199 are intended to be taken in the first year of enrollment and courses numbered 200 through 299 are to be taken in the second year of enrollment.

Challenging Courses

Challenge courses provide the student with the opportunity to earn college credits and grade points without formal course attendance. A student who has completed the work of a college course on his or her own initiative and time may, upon the approval of the instructor and the Academic Vice President, take a comprehensive examination in the subject matter of the course. Performance in the examination will become the basis for a grade in the course and the results will be recorded on the student’s permanent record. A student must register for the course challenged and pay tuition and fees. Official permission forms must be secured in advance from the Office of the Registrar. A student must be registered at FPCC at the time the challenge examination is taken.

The challenge examination for credit in a course that is a prerequisite to a second course must be taken before registration of the second course. Students who have enrolled and received a grade other than a “W”, or have taken a regular course for zero credit, may not challenge that course. Challenges are not permitted in any workshops or special topics courses.

No course in which any part of the grade is dependent on the student’s physical participation (e.g., science labs, physical education, or speech/debate) or courses numbered lower than 100 may be challenged. If a student challenges and fails the challenge examination, an “F” grade will be recorded on the transcript. The student will then be expected to take the regular course in that subject again with full costs to better the failing grade. The challenge fee is $70.00 per credit. Incomplete grades cannot be given for challenge courses.

Repeating a Course

Students who repeat a course will have the most recently earned grade counted toward the grade point average and graduation requirements, even if it is lower.

Directed Study

Directed Study is for a course listed in the catalog, but not offered during the term requested. Directed Study should be used to complete degree requirements. If a student fails a Directed Study course, he/she must take the regularly offered course.

Directed Study is usually provided for a single student who is not able to enroll in the regular course. Incomplete grades may not be given in Directed Study. No more than one (1) course per semester will be allowed. A fee of $70.00 per credit will be charged, and faculty agreement must be secured.

Independent Study

Independent Study (e.g., 190 and 290) is a course with a new title not listed as a regular course in this catalog. An Independent Study course is usually taught to one student. Independent Study classes for 1 to 4 credits may be taken more than one time. Incomplete grades may not be given in Independent Study. A  fee of $70.00 per credit will be charged, and faculty agreement must be secured.

Special Topics

Special Topics (e.g., 180 and 280) are courses with titles not listed in the FPCC Catalog. Special Topics may be offered for 1 to 4 semester credits and may be taken more than one time.

Special Community Interest Course

FPCC offers special interest courses periodically which are scheduled to meet requests from the community at large. The courses do not carry credit, are not transferable, and do not apply to any degree.

Workshops and Seminars

Periodically during the year, FPCC offers special workshops or seminars to meet the needs of the community for industry related, governmental, or recertification training. These workshops and seminars may carry college credit and are advertised well in advance. These credit/s may also be offered for Continuing Education Units (CEU).

Addition and Withdrawal of Courses

All changes in course schedules are not official until formally recorded by the Registrar. All additions and withdrawals from classes must be entered on a Student Add/Drop form. The student must complete the form, obtain the necessary signatures, and return the form to the Registrar prior to the deadline announced in the semester schedule. The last day to add classes for Fall Semester and Spring Semester is the 10th day of instruction. See the College Calendar for the dates of Student Add/Drop deadlines.

Students who wish to add classes should do so as soon as possible in order to keep pace with the class. Accepting a student into a class after the first day of instruction is the decision of the instructor. There are courses in which late additions are not allowed. The Academic Vice President as well as the instructor must approve additions made after the 10th day of instruction.

The Academic Vice President may permit withdrawal from a class after the last day to withdraw if the student can document exceptional circumstances. No changes in the student’s registration will be made unless the proper procedures have been followed. Failure to make an official withdrawal will result in a permanent letter grade for the class.

Withdrawal from all Courses

A student who must completely withdraw during a semester should do so by the deadline announced in the semester schedule. The date the withdrawal form is filed in the Registrar’s Office is the official date of withdrawal from the college.

A student who leaves the campus without officially withdrawing his/her registration or withdraws after the deadline will receive “F” grades in all registered courses.

Withdrawal by Instructor

The instructor may initiate the withdrawal process when a student has not been in class for more than three weeks and has made no formal contact with the instructor explaining the absence.

Fresh Start Option

Students may eliminate part of their past coursework at FPCC under the Fresh Start option. Several restrictions apply to this policy and it may not be available to all students. This policy allows students to erase a maximum of two consecutive semesters of previous FPCC coursework. The coursework will remain on the student’s academic transcript but the credits and the grades will not be included in the student’s cumulative grade point average. Once the student exercises the fresh start policy, the effects of this policy may not be rescinded. To be eligible for the fresh start option, students must:

• Be on academic probation when returning to college
• Not have been enrolled in any institution for a minimum of two calendar years;
• Have completed 12 semester credits with at least a 2.50 grade point average or 24 semester credits with at least a 2.00 grade point average upon readmission or transferring to FPCC;
• Apply for the Fresh Start Option within two calendar years after returning to Fort Peck Community College.