Educational Approach and Grading

Oklahoma City Community College subscribes to an outcomes-based instructional philosophy.
The ultimate goal of the instructional program is to enable each student to attain
his or her highest possible level of learning.

Outcomes-based instruction is characterized by predetermined outcomes shared with
students in the form of observable and measurable learning objectives for each course.
Assessment occurs through test items matched to specific objectives in terms of content
and level. Student evaluations are based upon a student’s achievement of predetermined outcome
levels rather than on a comparison to other students’ performance. Each student is
presented a course syllabus containing learning objectives and the procedure for determining
final grades in the course.

Appealing a Grade

It is the student’s responsibility to review his/her academic transcript at the end
of each semester to verify grades. An appeal of any final grade must be initiated
within 90 days of the end of the semester. APPEALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS
DEADLINE.

A student choosing to appeal a final grade should first consult with the course instructor.
If an agreed upon solution is not possible, the student may contact the division office
for further procedures.

Policy # 4030 Student Appeal of a Grade

1.0 A student who believes a final grade in a course was incorrectly administered
may appeal that grade.

2.0 DEFINITION: Working Day means any day, excluding Saturday and Sunday, on which
the College is open for business, even if classes are not in session.

3.0 PROCEDURE FOR STUDENT APPEAL OF A FINAL GRADE:

3.1 The student must meet with the instructor who assigned the final grade and attempt
to resolve the matter. The initial meeting with the instructor should occur as soon
as possible and must occur within 90 calendar days after the final grade in question
was placed on the student’s permanent record. The student may obtain help in establishing
an appointment with the instructor from the appropriate academic division office.
If the instructor is no longer available, the student must meet with the appropriate
Department Director, Department Chair, or Program Director, who will act on behalf
of the instructor.

3.2 APPEAL TO DIVISION DEAN: Within ten (10) Working Days following the meeting with
the instructor, if the student continues to believe the final grade is incorrect,
the student may submit a fully completed “Student Appeal of a Grade” form to the appropriate
academic Division office. The appeal must contain the student’s name, student identification
number, current address, and telephone number; the instructor’s name; the course number,
section number, and semester involved; the specific issue in question; the student’s
position on the issue; and pertinent documentation relating to the issue. The Division
Dean will request relevant information from the instructor and arrange a meeting with
the student. The instructor may be present during the meeting. After meeting with
the student and reviewing the appeal and any other available information, the Division
Dean will make a recommendation to the instructor. Within ten (10) Working Days of
the Division’s receipt of the Student Appeal of Grade form, the Division Dean will
notify the student in writing by certified mail of the instructor’s decision.

3.3 APPEAL TO GRADE APPEAL COMMITTEE: If the student continues to believe the final
grade is incorrect, the student may appeal the instructor’s decision by requesting
an appeal hearing before a Grade Appeal Committee. The student’s appeal must be in
writing directed to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and must be
received by the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs within five (5) Working
Days of the student’s receipt of written notification from the Division Dean. If the
student fails to submit the written request for an appeal hearing within this five
(5) Working Day time period, the student loses all rights to appeal the instructor’s
decision.

3.3.1 Within ten (10) Working Days of Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs’
receipt of the student’s request for an appeal hearing, the Grade Appeal Committee
shall be activated. The Grade Appeal Committee will be composed of faculty from each
of the academic divisions, who have been elected by the faculty in the respective
divisions, not to include the instructor involved in the case. The Grade Appeal Committee
will also include three (3) students selected by the Vice President for Student Affairs.

3.3.2 The hearing to consider the appeal of the student will be scheduled for a date
not more than 15 Working Days from the date the Associate Vice President for Academic
Affairs receives the student’s request for an appeal hearing. If, during the Summer
Session, the Vice President for Academic Affairs determines that there are insufficient
faculty for an appeal hearing, this time frame may be extended to September 1. All
Grade Appeal Committee Hearings will be closed meetings.

3.3.3 At the hearing, the Committee shall evaluate the request and allow the student
and the instructor to present their positions and any supporting information. The
student and the instructor shall have no more than one hour each to present their
positions and any supporting information or evidence. The student shall present first,
followed by the instructor. The student shall then have 15 minutes to rebut the instructor’s
evidence. The burden of proving that the assigned final grade is incorrect rests at
all times with the student. Neither the student nor the instructor shall be represented
by an attorney at the hearing.

3.3.4 The Grade Appeal Committee shall consider all information and documents presented
by the student and the instructor, and the recommendation of the relevant Division
Dean. The Grade Appeal Committee may also consider other documents the Committee deems
relevant to the proceedings, and the instructor and the relevant Division Dean shall
provide the Committee access to such documents.

3.3.5 Extenuating circumstances involving sequential and prerequisite courses offered
in less than 16-week formats will follow an accelerated procedure permitting student
to provisionally enroll in next course until appeal process concludes. Certified mail
and official College email will be used for official communication with the student.

3.4 COMMITTEE DETERMINATION: At the end of the Grade Appeal hearing, the Committee
will meet privately to discuss the case and make a determination. If the Committee
determines by unanimous vote that it is highly probable that the assigned final grade
is incorrect, then the final grade will be changed. If the vote is not unanimous,
the assigned final grade will stand. The Committee will provide its determination
in writing (not electronically) to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
within three (3) working days of the Committee’s reaching its determination. The Associate
Vice President for Academic Affairs will notify the instructor and student by certified
mail of the Committee’s determination within five (5) Working Days of the Associate
Vice President’s receipt of that determination.

4.0 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION: The Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs shall
be responsible for the administrative action required to make any necessary final
grade changes on the student’s record resulting from the Committee’s determination.

5.0 RECORD RETENTION: A record of the committee’s results and supporting documents
submitted by all involved parties will be archived in the Vice President for Academic
Affairs’ office indefinitely.

Definitions and Provisions

At the conclusion of a course, one of the following grades will be listed on the student’s
transcript along with the course title.
A - (4.0 Grade Point) Excellent
B - (3.0 Grade Point) Good
C - (2.0 Grade Point) Average
D - (1.0 Grade Point) Below Average
F - (0.0 Grade Point) Failure

NOTE:

To satisfy degree requirements, students majoring in certain programs must earn a
C or better or B or better in specified courses.
S-(Satisfactory)
In a limited number of courses, the grades S and U are used. An S is a neutral mark
indicating minimal competencies have been met. An S is also used to indicate credit
earned through advanced standing examination. The grade of S is not used in computing
grade point averages.

U-(Unsatisfactory)
The grade of U indicates that a student did not meet minimum requirements in a course
designated for S/U grading. The grade of U is not used in computing grade point averages.

I-(Incomplete)
When, in the instructor’s judgment, justifiable circumstances exist, the instructor
may issue an I grade. The instructor prepares a contract specifying the work which
must be completed, and the date by which it must be completed. The normal I contract
period extends through the late registration period for the next major enrollment
period, but may be as long as a period of one year. When the student completes the
specified work, the instructor will replace the I grade with the appropriate grade:
A, B, C, D, F, S, or U. If the instructor has not replaced the I grade within one
year, the I grade will remain permanently on the student’s transcript. The I grade
is not used in computing grade point averages.

W-(Official Withdrawal)
The student has officially withdrawn from the course. The student may withdraw as
late as the twelfth week of a sixteen-week semester (or 3/4 of the duration of a shorter
course) and automatically receive the grade of W. The W grade is not used in computing
grade point averages.

AW-(Administrative Withdrawal)
The student has been “involuntarily” withdrawn by the institution during the designated
semester for disciplinary, financial, or other administrative reasons. An Administrative
Withdrawal for disciplinary or financial reasons requires approval by the Vice President
for Student Affairs. An AW grade is not used in computing grade point averages.

AU-(Audit)
The student audited the course. The student receives no credit for the course and
the grade of AU is not used in computing grade point averages. Note: A student may
request a change in enrollment status from audit to credit through the late enrollment
period. A student may change enrollment status from credit to audit through the official
withdrawal period.

Cumulative GPA

Includes all coursework attempted with the exception of developmental (zero-level)
coursework.

Graduation GPA

This GPA is the same as the retention GPA, but excludes physical education activity
courses.

Retention GPA

Includes all coursework attempted with the exception of developmental (zero-level)
coursework and hours which have been forgiven through the Repeat, Reprieve, or Renewal
provision. Neither activity nor performance courses can be used to raise a retention
GPA during a semester in which a student is on probation.

Grade Reporting

Grades are posted to the official transcript within five working days of the last
day of the semester or term of enrollment. They may be accessed through the OCCC Portal.

On-campus PCs are available for accessing the web site. Students may also request
and receive a transcript from the Office of Records.

Grading Systems

Students at Oklahoma City Community College successfully complete courses when they
demonstrate that they have accomplished objectives at the levels required for the
courses. Student performance is measured against standards set by program faculty.
The grades which the students earn reflect the quality of their performances when
measured against these standards.

Oklahoma City Community College conforms to the definitions of grading terms and the
academic forgiveness provisions set forth by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education.

Entry-Level Assessment

The academic background and skill level of any student enrolling in credit courses
at Oklahoma City Community College will be assessed, and the student’s placement will
be based on the results. Placement will be required in developmental coursework (this
coursework does not apply to a degree program or GPA) where a need is indicated. Assessment
will include an evaluation of entry-level basic skills and educational readiness as
defined below.

Mathematics*

The ability to perform basic operations with real numbers and polynomials, graph in
the Cartesian coordinate system, solve linear and quadratic equations, and model applications
using linear and quadratic equations.

These are minimum entry-level skill requirements. If there is a higher level prerequisite
skill or course, it would be used for placement. Guidelines and specific requirements
are available through the Office of Student Success Advising.

Reading and Writing*

The ability to read and comprehend at the college entry level; to write developed
compositions that demonstrate the principles of unity, coherence, and organization
and which contain specific details and effective use of language; to communicate using
academic language and conventions of Standard American English; and to understand
and interpret information to solve problems and think critically.

These are minimum entry-level skill requirements. If there is a higher level prerequisite
skill or course, it would be used for placement. Guidelines and specific requirements
are available through the Office of Student Success Advising.

*The college prep courses may be found under English (ENGL) and Mathematics (MATH).
Tutorial services are also available in the Writing Center, Math Lab, Biological Sciences
Center, Physical Science Center, Computer Science Lab, Accounting Tutorial Center,
and on an individual basis.