Adding/Dropping Courses

Before adding or dropping a class or classes, students should consult their academic advisor.

No Show/Never Attended Policy

Students will receive a 100% reversal of tuition and fee charges, less non-refundable fees, for each class in which they are reported as a No Show/Never Attended by their faculty. Non-refundable fees are defined as advance tuition deposits, payment plan fees and Accuplacer test fees. All other fees are to be considered refundable. This includes but is not limited to academic instruction fees, comprehensive student services fees, and program clinical charges.

For online classes students must submit an assignment or engage in an academically related activity, such as contributing to an online discussion or initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a course related question, to be considered as “attending”.

Please note the reversal of charges without student-initiated withdrawal encompasses only students who are reported as “No Show/Never Attended” by their faculty. Otherwise, students must initiate withdrawal by timeframes described in the Course Drop with a Refund Policy

Academic attendance and academically-related activity includes but is not limited to:

• Physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students;
• Submitting an academic assignment or working draft;
• Taking a quiz or exam or completing an interactive tutorial;
• Attending a study group assigned by the school;
• Participating in an online discussion or text chat session about the academic subject; and
• Initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the course’s academic subject.

The definition of academic attendance and academically-related activity does not include activities where a student may be present, but not academically engaged, such as:

• Submitting a self-introduction;
• Logging into Canvas or a website without active participation; or
• Participating in academic counseling or advising.

Add Policy

Students are allowed to add classes up to and including the seventh (7th) calendar day of the semester (prorated for alternative semester lengths - see chart below), if space is available.  Students who add classes are subject to the full attendance policy and held responsible for all course materials and assignments.  Before adding a class, the student should consult with the instructor to determine the extent of make-up work necessary for success in the course.  A course may be added after the seventh calendar day of the semester with the permission of the instructor*.

Example:  If class started on Thursday, but the semester started on Monday, Day 1 would be that Monday, not Thursday.

Exception to Add Policy

Lab Classes:  If the semester has started, a student may add a class with a lab component if the first lab has not been missed.  Once the first lab has been missed, the student may add the class with the permission of the instructor, Program Coordinator or Department Chair.  Examples of lab classes include lab sciences, computer technology, information systems technology, and drawing.  Final decisions regarding what is considered a lab class rest with Academic Affairs.

Lab Attendance Policy

A student who misses the first on campus lab will be, at the request of the instructor, dropped from the class and the charges reversed.  The student may add the class again with the permission of the instructor, Program Coordinator or Department Chair (see exceptions*).  Final decisions regarding what is considered a lab class rest with Academic Affairs.

* Exceptions include whether the student has previously taken the course or is able to attend the first lab in another section.  Any student who qualifies for an exception must contact the instructor as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours after the missed lab.  All exceptions are at the discretion of the instructor.

A Course Drop with a Refund or Reversal of Charge Policy

Students who drop full semester courses (15 -16 weeks) by the end of the 14th calendar day of the semester will have 100% of tuition and fee charges, less non-refundable fees, reversed on their account, and any resulting credit account balance will be refunded.

Students in classes that meet in a format shorter than the traditional semester (15-16 weeks) will have 7 calendar days from the designated start of the alternative formatted semester to drop a course and have 100% of tuition and fee charges, less non-refundable fees, reversed on their account and any resulting credit account balance will be refunded. (See exceptions below)

If the 7th or 14th calendar day falls on a weekend, holiday, or school closure, the drop date will be the next business day.

Exceptions:

1. Students in courses that meet for 2 weeks or fewer must drop by the end of the first day of class to have 100% of tuition and fee charges, less non-refundable fees, reversed on their account and any resulting credit account balance will be refunded. 

2. Summer semester dates may vary, see individual college’s academic calendar or webpage for drop deadlines.

Non-refundable fees are defined as advance tuition deposits, payment plan fees and Accuplacer test fees. All other fees are to be considered refundable. This includes but is not limited to academic instruction fees, comprehensive student services fees, and program clinical charges.

The deadline for a full refund for workshops, such as through an Office of Workforce Development, will be set by the respective offices.

In extenuating circumstances, the president (or designee) is authorized to offer alternative consideration in the form of tuition credit or waiver to students on a case by-case basis. Tuition credit on a student account must be used within one calendar year from the date of authorization.

In accordance with federal regulations, refunds for an amount less than $1.00 ($.99 or less) will be forfeited.

When a student officially drops a class:

1. Up through the 60 percent point of the course, the student will receive a “W” Withdraw grade on the transcript.
2. After the 60 percent point of the course, the student will receive “WP” Withdraw Pass or “WF” Withdraw Fail on the transcript. The “WP” is not calculated in the GPA. The “WF” is calculated in the GPA as an “F”.

Academic Amnesty

A student who attended Great Bay Community College previously and is admitted at a later time may be eligible for Academic Amnesty, which provides for the following:

1. All grades taken during the student’s previous time at the College will no longer be used to calculate the student’s new, cumulative GPA.  However, grades of C- and above taken during the student’s previous time in college will be used to meet course requirements where appropriate, subject to the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
2. Even though previous grades will not be used to calculate the new, cumulative GPA, all previous grades will remain on the student’s transcript.  To be eligible for Academic Amnesty, a student must meet all of the following conditions:
   1. The student has not taken any courses at the College for a period of at least 3 years from last semester of attendance.
   2. The student applies for Academic Amnesty before the start of his or her second semester after readmission.
   3. The student has never before received Academic Amnesty.
   4. The student achieved a cumulative GPA below 1.7 during previous attendance.

Withdrawal from the College

Any student needing to withdraw from the College should submit a signed statement to the Registrar’s Office.  Withdrawing students are required to see the Business Office to settle any unpaid balances or arrange for any refunds.

Medical Leave Policy

A matriculated student who, due to a serious medical condition requiring extended, in-patient treatment in a medical facility or ongoing outpatient medical treatment, becomes unable to complete established, academic requirements, or who becomes unable to meet a program’s technical standards, or the requirements of the Student Code of Conduct, may apply for a formal Medical Leave of Absence for up to two consecutive semesters.

Students considering a medical leave of absence should be aware that approval of a medical leave does not release a student from financial responsibility to the College.  Any student seeking a medical leave of absence as a financial aid recipient should contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss the leave and any consequences that may result in a change in financial aid eligibility.

Students requesting Medical Leave of Absence must:

1. Provide a letter to the Vice President of Academic Affairs indicating program of study, the medical reason for the request, a proposed date on which the medical leave will begin, and a proposed date for readmission. AND
2. Provide the Vice President of Academic Affairs with documentation of the medical condition from a licensed health care professional directly involved in the treatment of the student’s condition. The documentation should be substantial to facilitate the decision-making process.

The Vice President of Academic Affairs will notify the student in writing the decision to approve or deny the request and state the conditions for readmission.  Students whose medical leave requests are granted will not be required to reapply for admission at the end of the leave period, provided that all conditions for readmission are met.