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 System and GPAs

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

Your GPA (Grade Point Average) shows how well you are doing in your classes. It's calculated by multiplying the grade points for each class by the number of credits, then dividing by the total credits. Only grades earned at St. Louis Community College are included in the calculation of grade point averages for degrees and certificates.

Grades: Not Computed in Grade Point Average

I—Incomplete

An "I" grade is given when a student has finished most of the course but, for an approved reason, cannot complete all work on time.

Students must finish the remaining work within the timeframe set by the instructor, usually up to one year, using a written agreement that outlines what needs to be done, how it will be graded and the deadline. Once all work is completed, the instructor will update the grade.

If the work isn't finished within one year, the "I" becomes a permanent F. Extensions may be granted with the instructor's approval, and the department chair ensures all remaining work is evaluated if the instructor leaves STLCC.

PR—Progress Re-enroll

This grade may be given when a student makes progress in a course but doesn't finish the minimum required work, if the instructor allows it and the course permits PR grades.

A "PR" grade does not earn credits and does not affect GPA. Students can retake the course, but tuition must be paid again.

R—Credit for Prior Learning

This signifies shows you earned credit through an exam or prior learning assessment. It does not count toward the residency requirement for graduation.

T—Audit

A "T" grade means the student is auditing the course, not earning credit. 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 of "S" (Satisfactory) means you earned credit for the course. These credits count toward your degree, but they don't affect your GPA.

Only courses specifically approved by the College can give grades of "S" or "U" (Unsatisfactory).

U—Unsatisfactory

A grade of "U" (Unsatisfactory) means you did not earn credit for the course. It doesn't affect your GPA.

Only courses specifically approved by the College can give grades of "S" (Satisfactory) or "U".

W—Withdrawal—

Student officially withdraws from a course after the add/drop period but before the withdrawal deadline. It does not affect GPA, but excessive withdrawals may impact academic standing or financial aid eligibility.

NG—No Grade

This is a temporary indication that the instructor has not assigned a grade.

Grades: Transfer Credit

Transfer grades indicate courses you completed at another school that STLCC has approved for credit. While these grades don't count toward your GPA, the credits can be applied to your degree if the courses meet STLCC program requirements.

The following codes indicate the letter grade earned at the previous school:

• TRA - Transfer credit accepted with a grade of A
• TRB - Transfer credit accepted with a grade of B
• TRC - Transfer credit accepted with a grade of C
• TRD - Transfer credit accepted with a grade of D
• TRP - Transfer credit accepted as Satisfactory/Pass

TR was the older code for transfer credit. Starting Summer 2024, the new letter-specific codes are used.

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.