Before adding or dropping a class or classes, students should consult their Academic Advisor.
“Never Attended” Policy
Refunds are given only when eligible students drop in accordance with the refund policy, and within established dates for each semester. As a result, students who are reported by instructors as having “Never Attended,” for a class during the first two weeks of a semester (or during a prorated time frame for alternative semesters) are administratively withdrawn. Those students may remain financially responsible for the classes in which they were enrolled but receive no grades.
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*.
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Alternative Semester Chart (If Day 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 falls on a weekend or holiday, that day will be the first business day following the weekend or holiday.) |
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Semester Length |
Add Period |
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15-16 weeks |
Day 1-7 |
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9-14 weeks |
Day 1-5 |
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7-8 weeks |
Day 1-4 |
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5-6 weeks |
Day 1-3 |
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3-4 weeks |
Day 1-2 |
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2 weeks or less |
Day 1 only |
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 class has not been missed. Once the first class has been missed, the student may add the course with the permission of the instructor* (and advisor if matriculated). 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.
*The program chair or program coordinator may sign the add form if the instructor is unavailable.
Drop Policy
A student who officially withdraws from the College or an individual course by the end of the fourteenth (14th) calendar day of the semester will receive a 100 percent refund of tuition, less nonrefundable fees. Non-refundable fees include the advanced tuition deposit. Students in classes that meet in a format different than the traditional, 15-16 week semester may have seven (7) calendar days from the start of the different semester (not class) to withdraw for a full refund. If the seventh (7th) or fourteenth (14th) calendar day falls on a weekend or holiday, the drop refund date will be the first business day following the weekend or holiday. All refunds require the student to complete an official withdrawal form, unless dropping via SIS within the established due date.
Example: A student in a late-start, 12-week class has seven (7) calendar days from Monday (start of the 12-week semester) to drop with 100 percent refund. Because the seventh (7th) day falls on Sunday, the students may drop with 100 percent refund by the next business day after Sunday.
Exception to Drop Policy
Students in courses that meet for two weeks or fewer must drop by the end of the first day of the course to receive a 100 percent refund.
When a student officially drops a class:
- Up through the 60 percent point of the course, the student will receive a “W” Withdraw grade on his or her transcript.
- After the 60 percent point of the course, the student will receive “WP” Withdraw Pass or “WF” Withdraw Fail on his or her 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:
- 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 at college will be used to meet course requirements where appropriate, subject to the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
- 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:
- The student has not taken any courses at the College for a period of at least 3 years from last semester of attendance.
- The student applies for Academic Amnesty before the start of his or her second semester after readmission.
- The student has never before received Academic Amnesty.
- 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 fill out a College Withdrawal form from the Registrar’s Office or the Drop Form from the College Services One Stop and check the box “This is a College Withdrawal.” 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:
- 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
- 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 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.