STLCC Enrollment and Attendance Policies
Attendance and Withdrawal
Students officially listed on a class roster are expected to attend all scheduled classes. Excessive absences, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, may impact the student's grade and could result in a failing grade. Attendance requirements should be clearly outlined during the first class meeting.
At the end of the second week of classes (first week for summer and interim sessions), students who have registered and paid but are reported by the instructor as never attending will be dropped from the course. Courses shorter than a full semester may have different administrative drop dates. Dropped courses will appear on the transcript with a grade of W, and students may be eligible for a partial refund of fees. After this period, students will not be automatically dropped and are responsible for initiating a withdrawal. Dual credit students are not dropped for non-attendance.
Students considering a withdrawal are encouraged to consult the instructor and an academic advisor before taking action. To formally withdraw, students must do so online through Archer Connect. Dual credit/enrollment students cannot withdraw online and should contact the office of Dual Credit/Enrollment Partnerships for assistance.
After withdrawal, students may not attend class. To receive a grade of W, the withdrawal must be completed before the end of the 12th week of the semester. Late-start, dual credit, and short-term courses have different withdrawal deadlines. Students should refer to the STLCC College website for the appropriate withdrawal time frame.
Credit Hours and Course Load
The unit of credit at St. Louis Community College is the semester hour. Typically:
- Lecture courses: One credit is earned for each hour of lecture per week during a semester.
- Laboratory courses: One credit is usually granted for two to three hours of lab work per week during the semester.
Course load refers to the total number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled each week. Students taking 12 or more credit hours are classified as full-time and typically carry a course load of 12 to 18 credit hours.
Students wishing to enroll in more than 18 credit hours in a fall or spring semester or 12 credit hours in the summer session must have permission from the Office of Academic, Career, and Transfer Advising.
Students should plan to spend at least two hours of study and preparation outside of class for each credit hour of regular classroom work. For example, a student enrolled in 15 credit hours should budget a minimum of 30 hours per week for study outside class and laboratory sessions.
Final Examinations
Each course requires a final, culminating experience which may take the form of a test, paper, project, or other activity appropriate to the course. Successful completion of this experience is required to receive a passing grade.
At least a portion of the final, culminating experience must occur during the scheduled final exam period. Absences from the final exam and the privilege of a make-up exam must be approved by the instructor.
Academic Records and Grades
The Registrar’s Office maintains records of academic performance for all currently enrolled students. Mid-semester grades, which reflect academic progress, may be obtained directly from the instructor in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). These grades are not recorded on the permanent record and are not reported for any session.
Final grades are recorded on students’ permanent academic records. Students may view their final grades and print unofficial transcripts by logging into Archer Connect.
Grades: Computed in Grade Point Average
The following grading symbols and points are used:
| Grading Symbols | Grade Points | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | Excellent |
| B | 3 | Above Average |
| C | 2 | Average |
| D | 1 | Below Average |
| F | 0 | Failing |
Note: A grade of D may not satisfy requirements in some degree or certificate programs.
How GPA Is Calculated
Cumulative grade point average (GPA) is determined by multiplying the number of grade points for each grade (A, B, C, D) in a course at the College by the number of semester hours for that course, then dividing the total by the number of semester hours attempted. Transfer coursework is not included in the overall GPA.
Grades: Not Computed in Grade Point Average
I—Incomplete
This grade will normally indicate a situation in which the student has satisfactorily completed a major portion of the work and for reasons considered by the instructor to be beyond the student’s control is prevented from completing required course work during the regular College term.
The student must complete the outstanding course work in a time frame established by the instructor, up to one calendar year, in order for the I to be changed to a letter grade. Student and instructor must enter into a written agreement describing the work to be completed, the grading criteria, and the time frame for completion.
Upon satisfactory completion of all work by the student, the instructor will initiate an appropriate grade change. After one year, if all requirements are not met, the I will automatically change to a permanent grade of F on the student’s academic record. With the consent of the instructor, the one-year limit may be extended by the instructor, the department chair, or the dean. The written agreement must be given to the department chair, who, if an instructor leaves the employ of St. Louis Community College will assure evaluation of any work that might be completed.
PR—Progress Re-enroll
Students making progress but not successfully completing course material may be awarded a grade of PR at discretion of the instructor. A PR grade represents no credits earned and will carry no grade point value. Students receiving PR grades may be permitted to re-enroll in the course or courses involved but must pay maintenance fees again. The PR grade is only available to courses below 100-level, PRD courses, and skills courses specifically approved by the district curriculum committee.
R—Credit for Prior Learning
A grade to signify that credit has been earned by examination in situations in which the awarding of letter grades seems inappropriate. It does not count toward the residency requirement for graduation.
T—Audit
A grade indicating enrollment with no intent to earn credit and with no implication concerning class attendance or skill accomplishment. This grade does not affect GPA. Auditing students must still pay tuition, meet prerequisites and follow course requirements. Changes between audit and credit must be made during the 50% refund period.
S—Satisfactory
A grade indicating the award of credit. S grades may be awarded only in courses approved for this purpose under guidelines developed by the College. The earned credit(s) counts toward graduation but is not used in grade point average calculations.
U—Unsatisfactory
A grade indicating the award of no credit and no grade points.
W—Withdrawal—
A grade of W will be issued if a student initiates and completes the course withdrawal process by the end of the 12th week of the regular semester or corresponding times during other terms. Under rare and extenuating circumstances, the instructor or appropriate administrator may initiate a withdrawal on the student’s behalf.
It does not affect GPA, but excessive withdrawals may impact academic standing or financial aid eligibility.
NG—No Grade
This is a temporary designator that the instructor has not assigned a grade.
Grades: Transfer Credit
Transfer grades indicate courses a student has completed at another school that STLCC has approved for credit. While these grades are not computed in the overall GPA, the credits can be applied to a student's declared degree if the courses meet STLCC program requirements.
The following codes indicate the letter grade earned at the previous school:
- TR - Transferable credit earned at another institution that has earned a grade of C or better prior to Spring 2024
- TD - Transferable credit earned at another institution that has earned a grade of D prior to Spring 2024
- TR-A - Transferable credit earned at another institution that earned a grade of A
- TR-B - Transferable credit earned at another institution that earned a grade of B
- TR-C - Transferable credit earned at another institution that earned a grade of C
- TR-D - Transferable credit earned at another institution that earned a grade of D
- TR-P - Transferable credit earned at another institution that earned a grade of P. (P grade mode due to COVID related reasons must be notated on the transfer institution transcript)
Academic Forgiveness
Students returning to St. Louis Community College after an absence of five calendar years may apply for academic forgiveness, which allows for a recalculation of their grade point average (GPA). The application for recalculation must be submitted during the first year of enrollment following the five-year absence.
Academic forgiveness is granted only once in a student’s academic career at the College. All coursework with grades below C will be excluded from the GPA calculation. Courses removed from the GPA calculation will not be used to meet degree requirements, but all coursework will remain on the transcript.
Repeating Courses
When a student repeats a course, the highest grade earned will be used in calculating cumulative credit hours and grade point average (GPA). All enrollments and grades, however, will remain on the transcript.
Students should obtain advisor approval before enrolling in the same course a third time.
Students planning to transfer should note that some institutions may recalculate GPAs for admissions purposes and include all grades earned.