Academic Policies and Procedures

Academic Policies

and Procedures

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

ACADEMIC HONESTY/

DISHONESTY

POLICIES

Academic honesty is required of all students.

Plagiarism–to take and pass off as one’s own

work the work or ideas of another–is a form

of academic dishonesty. Penalties may be

assigned for any form of academic dishonesty.

Questions or clarification as to how to include

the ideas and statements of others or how

to avoid other forms of academic dishonesty

should be discussed with your instructor to

avoid unintentional academic dishonesty.

Your instructors are eager to help you succeed

in your studies at Cuyamaca College. But

success means more than just receiving a

passing grade in a course. Success means

that you have mastered the course content so

that you may use that knowledge in the future,

either to be successful on a job or to continue

with your education.

Your success depends on a combination of

the skills and knowledge of your instructors

and your own hard work. You will reach your

future goals only if you gain new knowledge

from every course you take. That knowledge

becomes yours, and can be used by you

only if it is gained through your own personal

efforts. Receiving a grade in a course without

acquiring the knowledge that goes with it

diminishes your chances for future success.

While in college, you are also shaping the

principles which will guide you throughout the

rest of your life. Ethical behavior and integrity

are a vital part of those principles. A reputation

for honesty says more about you, and is more

highly prized, than simply your academic skills.

For that reason, academic honesty is taken

very seriously by the Cuyamaca College

faculty. The following guidelines have been

prepared so that you will understand what

is expected of you in maintaining academic

honesty.

1. Academic dishonesty is normally dealt with

as an academic action by the instructor,

reflected in the student’s grade in the

particular course rather than through

college disciplinary procedures.

2. No specific departmental, divisional or

institutional procedures are established

for academic dishonesty other than the

normal process for review and appeal of an

instructor’s grading procedures.

3. Other disciplinary procedures (e.g.,

dismissal, removal, etc.) will be used

only if the student disrupts the class or is

otherwise abusive or threatening or violates

any other college policy.

4. Academic dishonesty is defined as the

act of obtaining or attempting to obtain

credit for work by the use of any dishonest,

deceptive or fraudulent means. Examples of

academic dishonesty would include but not

be limited to the following:

a. Copying either in part or in whole from

another’s test or examination;

b. Discussion of answers or ideas relating

to the answers on an examination or test

when such discussion is prohibited by

the instructor;

c. Obtaining copies of an exam without the

permission of the instructor;

d. Using notes, “cheat sheets,” or otherwise

utilizing information or devices not

considered appropriate under the

prescribed test conditions;

e. Altering a grade or interfering with the

grading procedures in any course;

f. Allowing someone other than the officially

enrolled student to represent the same;

g. Plagiarism, which is defined as the act

of taking the ideas, words or specific

substantive material of another and

offering them as one’s own without giving

credit to the source.

Options may be taken by the faculty member

to the extent that the faculty member considers

the cheating or plagiarism to manifest the

student’s lack of academic performance

in the course. One or more of the following

actions are available to the faculty member

who suspects a student has been cheating or

plagiarizing:

1. Review – no action.

2. An oral reprimand with emphasis on

counseling toward prevention of further

occurrences.

3. A requirement that work be repeated.

4. A reduction of the grade earned on the

specific work in question, including the

possibility of a failing grade or no credit for

the work.

5. A reduction of the course grade as a result

of item 4 above including the possibility of a

failing grade for the course, if a failing grade

for the work produces such a result.

6. Referral to the office of the Dean of Student

Affairs for further administrative action, such

as suspension or expulsion.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE COPYRIGHTS

Computer software is protected by the Federal

apply to the use of college-acquired software:

1. No copies of software may be made except

in the following cases:

a. Normally an archive copy of software is

allowed for protection against accidental

loss or damage. Archive copies of

software should be securely stored and

not used except to be recopied if the

operational copy becomes damaged.

b. Some software, when site licensed by the

producer, may permit unlimited copies for

use within the college. Such copies must

be made only by the person or persons

authorized to make copies by the terms

of the site license. In this case, duplicates

shall be clearly labeled as Cuyamaca

College copies of licensed software.

c. Some software, in particular

programming languages, allow code to

be copied and incorporated within user-

written software. Such use is generally

permitted as long as the software is

for personal use and not sold, rented

or leased. If distribution or commercial

use is intended for software so

produced, clearance must be secured

from the copyright owner for the use

of the incorporated code, and with the

college for use of the equipment during

production.

2. The intended or unintended piracy, damage,

alteration or removal of any college-

acquired software may be treated as an act

of theft or malicious destruction. Cuyamaca

College may elect not to extend computer

services to persons who have been

identified as engaging in these acts.

3. The user is responsible for complying with

whatever terms or conditions are specified

in the license agreement or copyright

statement which accompanies individual

software acquisition.

ACADEMIC RENEWAL

When previously recorded Cuyamaca

College work is not reflective of a student’s

present level of demonstrated ability, this

policy will allow alleviation of substandard

work. Academic renewal cannot be used to

set aside course work which has been used

to meet degree, certificate or certification

requirements.

When courses are alleviated, grades in

courses remain on the student’s record but

are not used in the computation of the GPA.

Academic renewal does not provide an

exception to the course repetition policy.

CRITERIA

Substandard coursework completed in the

Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College

District may be alleviated subject to all of the

following criteria:

1. The student has requested the action

formally and has presented evidence

that coursework is substandard and not

representative of present scholastic ability

and level of performance.

2. At least one year has elapsed and the

student has completed, at any accredited

post-secondary institution, at least 15 units

of coursework with at least a 2.0 GPA. All

courses taken subsequent to the course(s)

or semester to be alleviated will be used in

computing the GPA. Units completed with

P/NP will not count towards the fulfillment of

this requirement.

3. The student may select Option I or Option II.

The student may not apply for both.

Option I: A maximum of any 24 units of

substandard coursework (grades D or F

only) may be alleviated. This option may be

approved twice subject to a total of 24 units.

Option II: Two complete semesters in which the

semester GPA is below 2.0 may be alleviated.

Courses taken at Cuyamaca College and

Grossmont College during the same semester

shall be combined and counted as one

semester.

PROCEDURE

1. The student must formally request a review

of substandard work to be alleviated.

2. All transcripts from previously attended

colleges must be on file in the Admissions &

Records Office.

3. The Petitions Committee shall review all

requests for academic renewal. The

committee will determine if all criteria have

been met. Determination by the committee

shall be final.

4. In the event of admission to Cuyamaca

College as a transfer student from other

colleges where course work has been

alleviated, such alleviated course work

will be counted toward the maximum of

alleviated work allowed.

5. When such action is taken, the student’s

permanent academic record shall be

annotated so that it is readily evident to

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

Academic Policies and Procedures

all users of the record that no work taken

during the alleviated semester(s), even

if satisfactory, apply toward degree

requirements. However, all work will remain

legible on the record insuring a true and

complete academic history.

ACCESS TO

EDUCATIONAL

PROGRAMS

It is the policy of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca

Community College District Governing Board

that, unless specifically exempted by statute,

every course, course section or class reported

for state aid, wherever offered and maintained

by the District, shall be fully open to enrollment

and participation by any person who has been

admitted to Cuyamaca College and who meets

such prerequisites as may be established

pursuant to Title 5 of the California Code of

Regulations, Sections 55200-55202 and

58102-58108.

ADDING COURSES

During the official add period for each class,

a student may add courses by following the

procedure as outlined in the class schedule.

Visit the website www.cuyamaca.edu.

Students may only enroll in 18 units per

semester or 8 units in summer session.

Students may enroll in more than 18 units per

semester or 8 units in summer session with

an overload petition. Overload petitions can

be submitted prior to the start of the semester

if the class is still open and with approval

from a counselor. Overload petitions must be

submitted with an add code and approval by

a counselor.

ATTENDANCE

REQUIREMENTS

Instructors are obligated at the beginning

of the semester to announce their policy

regarding excessive absences. When

absences exceed twice the number of

hours that a class meets in one week for full

semester-length classes, the instructor may

institute an excessive absence drop. For

short-term classes, the number of acceptable

absences is proportionately shorter. Failure to

attend the first class meeting may result in the

student being dropped from the class.

It is the student’s responsibility to officially

withdraw from any classes not attended and

to discuss anticipated absences with the

instructor. Make-up work for absences is

the responsibility of the student and must be

completed to the satisfaction of the instructor.

AUDITING COURSES

Based on GCCCD Board policy, Cuyamaca

College permits auditing of courses as follows:

1. Audit enrollment will not be permitted until

students have completed the allowable

number of repeat courses. Courses are

determined through agreement between

the department and the appropriate

administrator. Priority class enrollments are

given to students desiring to take the course

for credit. No student will be permitted

to enroll for audit purposes until the day

following census.

2. A nonrefundable audit fee of $15 per unit

plus any required student or instructional

materials fee (e.g., health fee, materials fee)

shall be payable at the time of enrollment as

an auditor.

Fees are not refundable.

3. Students enrolled in classes to receive

credit for 10 or more semester credit units

shall not be charged a fee to audit three

or fewer units per semester. If the student

drops below the 10-unit level, the $15 per

unit audit fee will be assessed.

4. Audit enrollment will be based on “seats

available” and will not be used to count

toward minimum enrollment requirements.

If a class closes after an auditor has

been admitted, the auditor may be asked

to leave to make room for the credit

students. Instructor discretion is strongly

recommended. Audit enrollments which

allow faculty to be eligible for a large class

bonus will not be counted.

5. No student auditing a course shall be

permitted to change his or her enrollment in

that course to receive credit for that course.

6. Permission to audit a class is done at the

discretion of the instructor and with the

instructor’s signed permission.

7. No credit will be received for auditing a

course. The college will not maintain any

attendance or academic records for MIS

reporting.

Courses that may be audited will be listed in

the course schedule.

CANCELLATION OF

COURSES

Cuyamaca College reserves the right to cancel

any course for which there is insufficient

enrollment.

CATALOG RIGHTS

For purposes of graduation from Cuyamaca

College, a student who maintains continuous

attendance in the Grossmont-Cuyamaca

Community College District may elect to

meet the requirements in effect at the time

they began their studies in the Grossmont-

Cuyamaca Community College District, or

any catalog year thereafter. Catalog rights

will start upon enrollment in the Grossmont-

Cuyamaca Community College District and are

maintained by continuous enrollment.

CONTINUOUS

ENROLLMENT

Students may maintain their continuing

student status for catalog rights purposes

provided that they receive an official grade

on their permanent record in the Grossmont-

Cuyamaca Community College District.

Students must attend at least one semester

during an academic year without missing two

consecutive semesters. Summer sessions

are not included in determining continuous

enrollment status.

COURSES TAKEN

OUT OF SEQUENCE

In all cases, a student enrolled in a course

must have met course prerequisites.

Satisfactory completion of courses (i.e.,

English, mathematics, world languages,

etc.) implies competency in the prerequisite

courses; therefore, the college does not grant

credit toward graduation for courses taken out

of sequence.

DROPPING COURSES

A student desiring to drop courses or an

entire program must use WebAdvisor. The

student must initiate this withdrawal prior to

the established deadline. Drops during the

adjustment period do not appear on the

transcript. Drops initiated after the adjustment

period will result in a transcript entry of

“W,” which will be taken into consideration

in determining lack-of-progress probation

and disqualification. Students must clear all

obligations to the college prior to withdrawal.

Late withdrawal from a class after the drop

deadline may be authorized in the event of

extenuating circumstances. Extenuating

circumstances are verified cases of accidents,

illnesses, or other circumstances beyond the

control of the student. The student must file a

petition in the Admissions and Records Office

with documentation for review by the Petitions

Committee. Late withdrawal results in a “W”

on your transcript and no refund of enrollment

fees as per Title 5 section 55024 and 58508.

Military withdrawals shall be authorized when

a student who is a member of an active or

reserve United States military service receives

orders compelling a withdrawal from courses.

Military withdrawals shall not be counted in

progress alert and probation or disqualification

calculations.

It is the student’s responsibility to officially

drop courses they are no longer attending.

If a course is not officially dropped, the

student may receive an “F” for the course.

Once a substandard grade or withdrawal is

recorded on your transcript it becomes a part

of the student’s permanent record.

EMERGENCY

ABSENCES OF

SHORT DURATION

Emergency absences may be requested

through the instructor. Instructors may be

requested to provide make-up assignments

for all work. Emergency absences will not be

granted at the end of the semester when finals

would be missed or course requirements not

fulfilled.

EXAMINATIONS

FINAL EXAMINATIONS

Students may not be excused from final

examinations. Instructors should not give

final examinations at other than the regularly

scheduled time. Instructors shall notify their

Division Dean in writing if an early examination

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

Academic Policies and Procedures

is being given to a student. This notification

should include the title of the course,

the reason why the early examination is

authorized, and the name of the student. In the

event that severe illness or other emergency

prevents the student from taking a final

examination during the regularly scheduled

time, the instructor may allow the student to

make up the final examination according to

provisions of the incomplete grade policy.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION

Credit may be granted, subject to approval

of the appropriate Department Chair, to

any student who satisfactorily passes an

examination approved and conducted by the

appropriate department. Such credit requires

that:

1. The student be registered at Cuyamaca

College and be in good standing.

2. The course be listed in the Cuyamaca

College catalog and identified below as

one for which Credit by Examination may be

granted.

3. The unit value may not be greater than that

listed for the course in the catalog.

4. Units earned in this manner do not count

toward the 12 units required in residency.

5. Students have not enrolled in, or completed,

the same course or an advanced course at

any college in the area in which Credit by

Examination is requested.

6. Petitions for Credit by Examination must be

submitted by the end of the second week of

classes for a semester or by the end of the

first week of classes for a summer session.

CREDIT BY EXAMINATION PROCEDURE

1. Obtain and complete a petition for Credit

by Examination from the Admissions and

Records Office.

2. Make sure all college transcripts are on file.

3. Obtain approval for taking an examination

from the designated instructor. This

approval should be obtained before the

student registers for classes.

4. Take an examination on the established

date.

5. Instructor forwards to the Admissions

and Records Office certification that the

examination was passed satisfactorily.

6. The student’s academic transcript will be

annotated for Credit by Examination credit.

Courses for which Credit by Examination may

be given: ART 120, 124; ASTR 110; AUTO 141;

CADD 115; GD 110; MUS 118, 232, 233.

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL

RIGHTS AND PRIVACY

ACT

Cuyamaca College accords to students all

rights under the Family Educational Rights and

Privacy Act. No one outside the institution shall

have access to nor will the institution disclose

any information from the students’ education

records without the written consent of students

except to persons or organizations providing

student financial aid, to accrediting agencies

carrying out their accreditation function, to

persons in compliance with a judicial order,

and to persons in an emergency in order to

protect the health or safety of students or other

persons. At Cuyamaca College, only those

employees acting in the students’ educational

interests are allowed access to student

education records within the limitations of their

need to know.

Cuyamaca student data is also submitted to

the National Student Clearinghouse so that

research may be conducted which informs

studies regarding transfer rates, college

performance and other college success

indicators. The information shared is

maintained with the strictest of confidence;

individual names or data are not disclosed.

If students wish to restrict their data from

being shared with the National Student

Clearinghouse, they may complete a form at

Admissions and Records which will restrict the

release of their student data.

The Act provides students with the right to

inspect and review information contained

in their education records, to challenge

the contents of their education records,

to have a hearing if the outcome of the

challenge is unsatisfactory, and to submit

explanatory statements for inclusion in their

files if the decision of the hearing panel is

unacceptable. The Dean of Counseling and

Enrollment Services has been designated by

the institution to coordinate the inspection

and review procedures for student education

records.

WHAT IS DIRECTORY INFORMATION?

Directory information is information contained

in an education record of a student that

would not generally be considered harmful

or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. The

Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College

District has defined directory information to

include:

• Name, address, phone number, email

address, dates of attendance and

enrollment status (full-time, part-time)

• Student participation in officially recognized

activities and sports including weight,

height and high school of graduation of

athletic team members

• Degrees and awards received by students,

including honors, scholarship awards,

athletic awards, Vice President’s and

President’s recognition

If you wish to opt-out of directory information,

please visit the Admissions and Records

Office to submit your request.

GRADE

NOTIFICATION

Final grades are available approximately two

weeks after the end of each term. Students

may receive grades in the following ways:

•

VIA THE INTERNET

- Grades are available

by logging on to WebAdvisor at www.

cuyamaca.edu. Select the View/Print Grades

option for the requested semester and year.

•

IN PERSON

- Grades for the previous

semester are available to students who

present a photo I.D. at the Admissions and

Records Office.

GRADES-FINAL

In the absence of mistake, fraud,

incompetency or bad faith, the determination

of the student’s grades by the instructor shall

be final once they have been filed in the

Admissions and Records Office. Questions

regarding final grades should be directed to

the dean of the department.

GRADING SYSTEM

Grades are earned in each course and

recorded on a semester basis on the student’s

permanent record. A copy of the permanent

record is the transcript. Grades should be

interpreted as follows:

A+

Excellent

A-

B+

Good

B-

C+

Satisfactory

Passing, less than satisfactory

Failing

Withdrawal (issued to students

who withdraw before the final drop

deadline). Students who are enrolled

after the final drop date must receive a

letter grade (A-F).

Excused Withdrawal: The “EW” symbol

may be used as described in, and

in accordance with Title 5, section

55024. (1) “Excused Withdrawal” (EW)

occurs when a student is permitted

to withdraw from a course(s) due to

specific events beyond the control of

the student affecting his or her ability

to complete a course(s) and may

include a job transfer outside the

geographical region, an illness in the

family where the student is the primary

caregiver, when the student who is

incarcerated in a California state prison

or county jail is released from custody

or involuntarily transferred before the

end of the term, when the student is

the subject of an immigration action,

or other extenuating circumstances

as described in (a)(2), making course

completion impracticable. In the case

of an incarcerated student, an excused

withdrawal cannot be applied if the

failure to complete the course(s) was

the result of a student’s behavioral

violation or if the student requested and

was granted a mid-semester transfer.

Upon verification of these conditions

and consistent with the district’s

required documentation substantiating

the condition, an excused withdrawal

symbol may be assigned at any time

after the period established by the

governing board during which no

notation is made for withdrawals. The

withdrawal symbol so assigned shall be

an “EW.” (2) Excused withdrawal shall

not be counted in progress probation

and dismissal calculations. (3) Excused

withdrawal shall not be counted toward

the permitted number of withdrawals or

counted as an enrollment attempt. (4)

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

Academic Policies and Procedures

In no case may an excused withdrawal

result in a student being assigned an

“FW” grade.

Military Withdrawal awarded to active

or reserve military personnel upon

receipt of military orders compelling a

withdrawal from courses.

Pass formerly CR (Credit), (C or higher)

units are not calculated in GPA.

No Pass formerly NC (No Credit), (less

than a C) units are not calculated in

GPA. Pass or No Pass may be assigned

only if the course is indicated as pass/

no pass or if the student has elected

this option.

Incomplete - Incomplete academic

work for unforeseeable, emergency

and justifiable reasons at the end of

the term, may result in an “I” symbol

being entered in the student’s record.

An incomplete grade may be given

only after the student has contacted the

instructor; awarding of an “I” is at the

discretion of the instructor.

The “I” may be made up no later than

one semester following the end of the

term in which it was assigned. The “I”

symbol shall not be used in calculating

units attempted nor for grade points. A

student may petition for extension of the

time limit for removal of the incomplete.

The petition must include evidence of

approval from the instructor.

Both the instructor and the student

must complete and sign the Incomplete

Grade Contract form. Procedural details

are printed on the back of that form.

In progress - The IP symbol indicates

that work is “in progress,” but that

assignment of a grade must wait

its completion. The IP symbol shall

remain on the student’s permanent

record in order to satisfy enrollment

documentation. The appropriate grade

and unit credit shall be assigned and

will appear on the student’s permanent

record for the term in which the course

is completed. The IP shall not be used

in calculating grade point averages.

Report Delayed - The RD symbol may

be assigned by the Admissions and

Records Office only. It is to be used

when there is a delay in reporting

the grade of a student due to

circumstances beyond the control of

the student. It is a temporary notation

to be replaced by a permanent symbol

as soon as possible. “RD” is not used in

calculating GPA.

P, NP, W, EW, MW, I, IP and RD grades are not

used in computation of grade point average

but the W, NP and I are used for purposes of

progress alert and disqualification status.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE

Academic achievement is reported in terms

of grade point average (GPA). This is derived

from the following weighting system:

A+

4.0 grade points per unit earned

A-

3.7 grade points per unit earned

B+

3.3 grade points per unit earned

3.0 grade points per unit earned

B-

2.7 grade points per unit earned

C+

2.3 grade points per unit earned

2.0 grade points per unit earned

1.0 grade points per unit earned

0.0 grade points per unit attempted

Grade point average is computed by

dividing total units attempted into total grade

points earned. Decisions on probation and

disqualification, scholarship, eligibility for

graduation, and transfer are all influenced or

determined by grade point average; hence,

students should pay constant attention to their

own grade point standing.

COMMENCEMENT

CEREMONY

The Cuyamaca College Commencement

ceremony is held every May or June for

students who graduated in the Fall of the

previous year, and candidates for Spring and

Summer graduation. Summer graduates must

meet with a counselor to facilitate participation

in the Commencement ceremony.

Information regarding the Commencement

ceremony is available in the Student Affairs

Office. Students wishing to apply to receive

a degree or certificate must file a Petition for

Graduation in the Admissions and Records

Office. Deadlines are printed in the catalog

and class schedule.

GRADUATION WITH

HONORS

Students who have earned a 3.5 or better

GPA in all degree-applicable college work

attempted graduate with honors.

Official transcripts from all colleges attended

must be on file in the Admissions and

Records Office. However, if no course work

on a transcript from another college is used

to meet any degree requirement, students

may exclude that entire transcript from

being used to compute their overall GPA for

graduation. Students electing this option need

to make this request at the time they file an

Evaluation for Graduation Request form in the

Admissions and Records Office. An official

transcript must be on file prior to request for

exclusion. This option only applies to the GPA

used to determine graduation with honors from

Cuyamaca College. It will not affect transfer

GPA and other colleges and universities may

not calculate GPA for honors status the same

way.

HONORS

Students carrying 12 or more units at

Cuyamaca College in which letter grades are

earned (“Pass” grades not included), who

maintain a 4.0 GPA during any semester, are

placed on the President’s List. Students who

maintain a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA during any semester

are placed on the Vice President’s List.

Students carrying less than 12 units at either

Cuyamaca College or Grossmont College, but

carrying 12 or more units in which letter grades

are earned (“Pass” grades not included) at

Cuyamaca and Grossmont Colleges, who

maintain a 4.0 GPA during any semester,

are placed on the District President’s List.

Students who maintain a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA during

any semester are placed on the District Vice

President’s List.

Part-time students are eligible for the Vice

President’s List if they (1) complete 12 units at

Cuyamaca College in one academic year (July

1 through June 30) with a GPA of 3.5 or better

(“Pass” grades not included) and (2) were

enrolled in fewer than 12 units per semester.

MINIMUM LOAD

REQUIREMENTS

Cuyamaca College does not specify a

minimum load except when the student desires

to meet certain requirements such as:

1. Certification to the Department of Health,

Education and Welfare that the student

is attending full-time. Requirement: 12 or

more units a semester, but a student should

average 30 units a year.

2. Veteran Affairs certification for Chapters 30,

31, 32, 33, 35 and 1606.

Fall or Spring Semester

Full-time 12 units

Three-quarter time 9-11

units

One-half time 6-8

units

One-quarter time 3-5

units

Summer Session

Calculated on an individual class basis.

Contact the Veterans Certifying Official in

the Veterans Center for detailed information.

3. International students with an “F-1” visa

issued by Cuyamaca College. Requirement:

12 or more units a semester.

4. Enrollment verifications for insurance

benefits that a student is attending full-time.

Requirement: 12 or more units a semester or

6 or more units for summer session.

5. Athletics - Eligibility to participate in

Pacific Coast Conference intercollegiate

athletics. Requirement: 12 or more units

in courses for which NEW units of credit

may be earned. Students should see Pacific

Coast Conference and Cuyamaca College

regulations for additional requirements.

6. Student Government - Eligibility to

participate in student government as an

office holder or in intercollegiate activities

other than athletics. Requirement: 6 or more

units during the semester of participation.

7. Financial Aid – Enrollment status for

financial aid purposes are as follows:

Full-time: 12 or more units

¾ time: 9 – 11.5 units

½ time: 6 – 8.5 units

Less than ½ time: 0.5 – 5.5 units

This applies to the fall and spring semesters

and the summer session.

PASS/NO PASS

GRADING OPTION

The Pass/No Pass (P/NP) grading option is

offered so that students may explore subject

areas of interest outside those of their known

abilities or assumed competence without

competing for grades with students who are

majoring in that subject. Cuyamaca College

encourages this kind of exploration.

In any course offered at Cuyamaca College,

a student may elect to be graded on a “P/NP”

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

Academic Policies and Procedures

basis providing the course is not part of a

Degree or Certificate of Achievement. In all

cases, a student enrolled in a course must

have met course prerequisites.

A maximum of 12 credit units earned

at Cuyamaca College with “P” grades

may be counted toward satisfaction of

General Education and elective curriculum

requirements for graduation. Grades received

from other accredited institutions, as well as

credits authorized for military courses and

Advanced Placement examinations, may be

applied as “P,” when appropriate, toward

graduation.

Some courses in the curriculum are offered

exclusively on a “P/NP” basis. Credit units

earned in these courses are exempt from

the 12 unit restrictions. In all other courses

that are not part of a Degree or Certificate

of Achievement, the election to be graded

on a “P/NP” basis is at the option of the

student. Students electing to be graded on

a “P/NP” basis shall establish that option

in writing by the end of the fifth week of the

semester. (Short-term classes will be allowed

a proportionate amount of time.) Once the

“P/NP” deadline has passed, the decision is

irrevocable.

A “P” grade shall represent at least a

satisfactory (“C” grade) level of performance

but shall not be counted as units attempted in

computing GPA.

A “NP” grade indicates unsatisfactory

completion of course requirements but

will not be counted as units attempted in

computing GPA. “NP” grades will be taken

into consideration in the determination of

lack-of-progress probation and disqualification

status.

Students intending to transfer to four-year

colleges or universities should check the

specific policies of those institutions pertaining

to transferability of “P” grades.

PRE-COLLEGIATE

BASIC SKILLS

COURSES

Remedial coursework consists of pre-

collegiate basic skills courses. The need for

such coursework shall be determined using

appropriate assessment instruments, methods,

or procedures. Units earned in pre-collegiate

basic skills courses may not be applied toward

a degree or certificate. No student shall

be required to enroll in remedial English or

mathematics coursework that lengthens their

time to complete a degree unless placement

research that includes consideration of high

school grade point average and coursework,

shows that those students are highly unlikely

to have success in transfer-level coursework in

English and Mathematics.

Students may not receive credit for more than

30 units of remedial course work. This limit

shall not apply to the following students:

• Students enrolled in one or more courses of

English as a Second Language.

• Students identified by a college in the

District as having a learning disability.

Students may be granted a waiver to the

limitation upon petition to a college in the

District. Waivers will be granted only when

the student shows significant and measurable

progress toward the development of skills

necessary for college-level courses. Such

waivers will be given only for a specified

period of time or for a specified number of

units.

PREREQUISITES,

COREQUISITES,

RECOMMENDED

PREPARATIONS,

AND LIMITATIONS

ON ENROLLMENT

Prerequisites, Corequisites and

Recommended Preparations are listed in the

Course Descriptions section of the catalog

under each course listing.

A prerequisite is a condition of enrollment

that a student is required to meet in order to

demonstrate current readiness for enrollment

in a course or educational program.

A corequisite is a condition of enrollment

consisting of a course that a student is

required to simultaneously take in order to

enroll in another course.

An advisory or recommended preparation

is a condition of enrollment that a student is

advised, but not required, to meet before or

in conjunction with enrollment in a course or

educational program.

Limitations on enrollment are conditions for

enrollment in Honors courses or courses which

include public performance or intercollegiate

competition.

All courses shall be open for enrollment to any

student who has been admitted to the college,

except that students may be required to meet

necessary and valid prerequisites. In addition,

the District may also limit enrollment in a course

based on health and safety considerations,

facility limitations, or legal requirements

imposed by statute or regulations.

GROUNDS FOR CHALLENGE ARE:

1. Student can demonstrate that the prerequisite

has not been established following the

District’s policy or in accordance with Title 5.

2. Student can demonstrate that the course is

discriminatory or applied in a discriminatory

manner.

3. Student can demonstrate knowledge or skill

needed to succeed in the course without

the prerequisite.

4. Student can demonstrate that attainment

of his/her educational goal will be unduly

delayed because the prerequisite has not

been made reasonably available (impacted

programs).

5. Student can demonstrate that no threat is

posed to self or others in a course which

has a prerequisite established to protect

health and safety.

Students should plan their schedules early and

see a counselor for assistance.

CHALLENGE PROCEDURE

Students who believe that they have sufficient

grounds may challenge a prerequisite,

corequisite, or limitation on enrollment.

Students who challenge a prerequisite or

corequisite after the start of the semester

should speak with the Placment Center.

For more information about prerequisite

clearance and challenges, please visit

cuyamaca.edu/prereqs

PROBATION,

DISMISSAL AND

READMISSION

Cuyamaca College believes that students

who can benefit from higher education should

be allowed admission free of probationary

status. Grades earned at other schools prior to

admission to Cuyamaca College shall not be

considered in determining probationary status.

PROBATION

1. Academic Probation: Any student who

has attempted a minimum of 12 semester

units at Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community

College District (GCCCD) and whose

cumulative grade point average falls below

a 2.0 in courses receiving letter grades

(“W” courses excluded) shall be placed on

academic probation. The student will be

notified of the significance of probation and

the services available.

2. Lack-of-Progress Probation: Any student

who has enrolled in a total of at least 12

semester units at GCCCD shall be placed

on lack-of-progress probation when the

student’s cumulative units indicate 50

percent or more units of “W,” “I” or “NP.” The

student will be notified of the significance of

probation and the services available.

3. Removal from Probation:

a. Any student on academic probation shall

be removed from probation when the

cumulative GPA at GCCCD has improved

to 2.0.

b. Any student on lack-of-progress

probation shall be removed from

probation when the cumulative units of

“W,” “I” or “NP” recorded at GCCCD are

less than 50 percent of the total units

attempted.

DISMISSAL

Any student dismissed from a college within

the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College

District may not attend any college within the

District during the next consecutive semester.

The student may, however, attend the summer

session.

1. Academic Dismissal: Any student on

academic probation whose semester

GPA falls below 2.0 shall be academically

dismissed. Any student on academic

probation whose semester GPA equals or

exceeds 2.0, but whose cumulative GPA for

all units attempted remains below 2.0, shall

be continued on probation.

2. Lack-of-Progress Dismissal: Any student

who is on lack-of-progress probation and

whose semester work indicates 50 percent

or more units of “W,” “I” or “NP” will be

dismissed. Any student on lack-of-progress

probation whose semester work indicates

fewer than 50 percent units of “W,” “I” or

“NP,” but whose cumulative records show

50 percent or more units of “W,” “I” or

“NP,” will be continued on lack-of-progress

probation.

If, at the end of the third consecutive semester

in which the student earned a cumulative

GPA of less than 2.0 or whose cumulative

records show the percentage of units is W,

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

Academic Policies and Procedures

I or NP is greater than 50%, the student will

be dismissed. A notice that the student is

dismissed will be sent to the student informing

him/her that he/she is dismissed.

READMISSION

After being dismissed, a student may not

attend either college in the district for one

semester. The student may attend summer

school. Any student believing to be

unjustifiably dismissed may file a petition

with documentation to the Admissions and

Records Office requesting that such dismissal

be reconsidered. Students are encouraged to

see a counselor for assistance with petitions.

To facilitate the official adding of courses prior

to the published add deadline, a petition for

reinstatement should be submitted no later

than ten working days prior to the published

add deadline.

Any veteran who petitions for readmission to

the college following dismissal must meet with

a counselor and have the counselor make a

recommendation on the petition prior to being

considered for readmission.

PROGRAM

DISCONTINUANCE

Cuyamaca College adheres to the GCCCD

Governing Board Policy when elimination of

a program is determined. When a program is

discontinued, students are notified in writing

of the program discontinuance. Students are

given a timeline for completing the program

and are advised of options.

COURSE REPETITION

Repetition of courses at Cuyamaca College is

allowable only in certain situations.

SUBSTANDARD WORK

A course may be repeated in order to alleviate

substandard academic work (D, F or NP) or

if a “W” (withdrawal) was recorded. Students

will be allowed to enroll in a course three

times under this policy. Military withdrawals

do not count in terms of repetition restrictions.

If the course is offered at both colleges in the

district, the student may repeat the course

at either college. Only the last grade will be

included in determining GPA and only those

units will count towards graduation.

Students with extenuating circumstances

may seek approval to enroll in a course

a fourth time by submitting a petition to the

Admissions and Records Office. Extenuating

circumstances are verified cases of accidents,

illness, or other circumstances beyond the

control of the student. The student must

provide appropriate documentation. If

approved, only the last grade will be included

in determining GPA.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

A student may not repeat a course in which a

“C” grade or higher was earned unless one of

the following special circumstances apply.

1. A course may be repeated due to a

significant lapse of time of no less than 36

months if there is an approved recency

prerequisite for the course or program, or

another institution of higher education to

which the student seeks to transfer has a

recency requirement. Only the last grade

will be included in determining GPA.

2. A student with a disability may repeat a

special class any number of times when an

individualized determination verifies that

such repetition is required as a disability-

related accommodation.

3. A course may be repeated if there are

extenuating circumstances which justify the

repetition. Extenuating circumstances are

verified cases of accidents, illness, or other

circumstances beyond the control of the

student. The student must file a petition with

appropriate documentation. Only the last

grade will be included in determining GPA.

4. A student may repeat a course in

occupational work experience as long

as he/she does not exceed the limits on

the number of units of cooperative work

experience stated in the course description.

The grade received each time shall be

included for purposes of calculating the

student’s GPA.

5. A student may repeat a course any number

of times if it is determined to be legally

mandated. Proper documentation must be

submitted to the Admissions & Records

Office. Only the last grade will be included

in determining GPA.

6. A student may repeat a course as a result of

a significant change in industry or licensure

standards such that repetition of the course

is necessary for employment or licensure.

Proper documentation must be submitted to

the Admissions & Records Office. Only the last

grade will be included in determining GPA.

Academic renewal does not provide an

exception to the course repetition policy. All

courses that are repeated shall be recorded

on the student’s permanent academic record

using an appropriate symbol.

REPEATABLE

COURSES

A course may be repeated if it is specifically

designated as a “repeatable” course in the

course listings. Repeatable courses are as

follows:

A. A course that is required to meet major

requirements of the California State

University (CSU) or University of California

(UC). Proper documentation must be

submitted to the Admissions & Records

Office.

B. Intercollegiate athletics courses and their

accompanying conditioning courses.

C. Intercollegiate academic or vocation

competition courses. Enrollment is limited

to four times for semester courses and

applies even if the student receives a “W” or

substandard grade.

The grade received each time a student takes

a “repeatable course” shall be included in the

student’s grade point average (GPA).

COURSES RELATED

IN CONTENT

A student may not take courses in Art, Exercise

Science, or Music that are related in content

and have a similar primary educational activity

more than four times. The limitation applies if a

student receives a substandard grade or “W”

during one or more of the enrollments.

A maximum of four enrollments in each of the

groupings below in the Grossmont-Cuyamaca

Community College District is allowed.

Enrollment includes: course completed, W, NP,

F, Incomplete.

Cuyamaca Grossmont

College College

Studio Arts Foundation:

ART 120 . . . . . . . . . . . . √ ...........√

ART 129 . . . . . . . . . . . . √ ...........√

ART 148 . . . . . . . . . . . . √

Digital Arts Foundation:

ART 171 .........................√

ART 172 .........................√

ART 175 .........................√

GD 105 .............√

GD 126 .............√

Digital Arts-Drawing and Illustration:

ART 177 ............√ ...........√

ART 184 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . √

ART 240 .........................√

GD 225.............√

Human Figure Drawing:

ART 230 ............√ ...........√

ART 231 . . . . . . . . . . . . √ ...........√

ART 232 ............√

ART 233 ............√

Drawing Foundations:

ART 124 ............√ ...........√

ART 125 ............√ ...........√

ART 224 . . . . . . . . . . . . √

ART 225 ............√

ART 241 ............√

ART 242 ............√

Painting Foundations:

ART 121 ............√ ...........√

ART 220 ............√ ...........√

ART 221 ............√ ...........√

ART 222 ............√ ...........√

Watercolor Painting:

ART 135 . . . . . . . . . . . . √

ART 235 ............√

ART 236 ............√

Photography Foundations:

PHOTO 150 ......................√

PHOTO 151 ......................√

GD 210 .............√

GD 211 .............√

GD 212 .............√

Total Body Fitness:

ES 004ABC ......................√

ES 006ABC ......................√

ES 021ABC.......................√

ES 024ABC .........√ ...........√

ES 011 .............√

ES 019ABC..........√

Mind/Body and Flexibility Fitness:

ES 026 ..........................√

ES 027 ..........................√

ES 028ABC .........√ ...........√

ES 013 .............√

Muscle Development:

ES 005ABC ......................√

ES 023ABC ......................√

ES 014ABC..........√

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

Academic Policies and Procedures

Cuyamaca Grossmont

College College

Cardiovascular Fitness:

ES 0 07ABC.......................√

ES 008ABC .........√ ...........√

ES 009ABC .........√ ...........√

ES 017ABC .......................√

ES 010 .............√

Combative Sports:

ES 180ABC ......................√

ES 185ABC ......................√

ES 180 .............√

Racquet Sports:

ES 060ABC .........√ ...........√

ES 076ABC .........√ ...........√

Individual Sports:

ES 125ABC .........√ ...........√

ES 130ABC ......................√

ES 012 .............√

ES 0 37ABC.......................√

Team Sports/Gym:

ES 155ABC .........√ ...........√

ES 175ABC..........√ ...........√

Team Sports/Field:

ES 170ABC..........√ ...........√

ES 171ABC ..........√ ...........√

ES 172ABC.......................√

ES 176ABC.......................√

Vocal Ensembles:

MUS 136............√

MUS 137............√

MUS 236 ...........√

MUS 237 ...........√

MUS 138.........................√

MUS 139.........................√

MUS 238 ........................√

MUS 239 ........................√

MUS 158............√

MUS 159............√

MUS 258 ...........√

MUS 259 ...........√

Jazz/Popular Ensembles:

MUS 108 ...........√

MUS 109 ...........√

MUS 208 ...........√

MUS 209 ...........√

MUS 156............√ ...........√

MUS 157............√ ...........√

MUS 256 ...........√ ...........√

MUS 257 ...........√ ...........√

MUS 166 ........................√

MUS 167.........................√

MUS 266 ........................√

MUS 267 ........................√

Non-Western Ensembles:

MUS 154.........................√

MUS 155.........................√

MUS 254 ........................√

MUS 255 ........................√

Large Instrumental Ensembles:

MUS 148.........................√

MUS 149.........................√

MUS 248 ........................√

MUS 249.........................√

MUS 150.........................√

MUS 151 .........................√

MUS 250 ........................√

MUS 251.........................√

MUS 152............√ ...........√

MUS 153............√ ...........√

MUS 252 ...........√ ...........√

MUS 253 ...........√ ...........√

SEXUAL

HARASSMENT

Legal Background: Guidelines of Title VII

of the Civil Rights Act focus upon sexual

harassment as an unlawful practice. “Sexual

harassment like harassment on the basis of

color, race, religion or national origin, has long

been recognized by the Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission as a violation of

Section 703 of Title VII of the Civic Rights

Act as amended” (Federal Register, April 11,

1980). Interpretation of Title IX of the Education

Amendments similarly delineates sexual

harassment as discriminatory and unlawful.

Definition: Sexual harassment is defined in

GCCCD Policy 3430 as the following:

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for

sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or

physical conduct of a sexual nature made by

someone from, or in, the work or educational

setting when:

• Submission to the conduct is made a term

or condition of an individual’s employment,

academic status, or progress;

• Submission to or rejection of the conduct

by the individual is used as a basis of

employment or academic decisions

affecting the individual;

• The conduct has the purpose or effect

of having a negative impact upon the

individual’s work or academic performance,

or of creating an intimidating, hostile or

offensive work or education environment; or

• Submission to or rejection of the conduct by

the individual is used as the basis for any

decision affecting the individual.

Process: Complaints must be filed within

180 days of the date the alleged unlawful

discrimination occurred, except that this period

shall be extended by no more than 90 days

following the expiration of the 180 days if the

complainant first obtained knowledge of the

facts of the alleged violation after the expiration

of the 180 days (California Code Regulations,

Title 5, Section 59328e).

If the alleged harasser is a student, initial

action on the complaints shall be the joint

responsibility of the Dean, Student Affairs, and

the Director of Employee and Labor Relations.

If the alleged harasser is an employee, initial

action on the complaint shall be the joint

responsibility of the employee’s immediate

supervisor and the Director of Employee and

Labor Relations.

STUDENT CODE OF

CONDUCT

GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Student conduct must conform to District

and College rules and regulations. If a

Student Code of Conduct violation occurs

while a student is enrolled in any program

of instruction within the District, to include

distance programs, he or she may be

disciplined for one or more of the following

causes that must be District related. These

categories of behavior are not intended to

be an exhaustive list, but are examples of

causes and are good and sufficient causes

for discipline, including but not limited to the

removal, suspension or expulsion of a student.

Other misconduct not listed may also result

in discipline if good cause exists (Education

Code Section 76034).

• Causing, attempting to cause, or threatening

to cause physical injury to another person.

• Possession, sale or otherwise furnishing

any firearm, knife, explosive, or other

dangerous object, including but not limited

to any facsimile firearm, knife, or explosive,

unless, in the case of possession of any

object of this type, the student has obtained

written permission to possess the item from

the Vice President of Student Services or

designee.

• Unlawful possession, use, sale, offer

to sell, or furnishing, or being under the

influence of, any controlled substance

listed in California Health and Safety

Code Sections 11053 et seq., an alcoholic

beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind;

or unlawful possession of, or offering,

arranging or negotiating the sale of any

drug paraphernalia, as defined in California

Health and Safety Code Section 11014.5.

• Committing or attempting to commit robbery

or extortion.

• Causing or attempting to cause damage to

District property or to private property on

campus.

• Stealing or attempting to steal District

property or private property on campus, or

knowingly receiving stolen District property

or private property on campus.

• Willful or persistent smoking in any area

where smoking has been prohibited by law

or by regulation of the college or the District.

• Committing sexual harassment as

defined by law or by District policies and

procedures.

• Engaging in harassing or discriminatory

behavior based on disability, gender,

gender identity, gender expression,

nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual

orientation or any other status protected by

law.

• Engaging in intimidating conduct or bullying

against another student through words or

actions, including direct physical contact;

verbal assaults, such as teasing or name-

calling; social isolation or manipulation; and

cyberbullying.

• Willful misconduct that results in injury or

death to a student or to District personnel

or which results in cutting, defacing, or

other injury to any real or personal property

owned by the District or on campus.

• Disruptive behavior, willful disobedience,

habitual profanity or vulgarity, or the open

and persistent defiance of the authority of,

or persistent abuse of, college personnel.

• Cheating, plagiarism (including plagiarism

in a student publication), or engaging in

other academic dishonesty as defined by

the College’s academic integrity standards.

• Dishonesty; forgery; alteration or misuse of

District documents, records or identification;

or knowingly furnishing false information to

the District.

• Unauthorized entry upon or use of District

facilities.

• Lewd, indecent or obscene conduct or

expression on District-owned or controlled

property, or at District sponsored or

supervised functions.

• Engaging in expression which is obscene,

libelous or slanderous, or which so incites

students as to create a clear and present

danger of the commission of unlawful acts

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

Academic Policies and Procedures

on District premises, or the violation of

lawful District regulations, or the substantial

disruption of the orderly operation of the

District.

• Persistent, serious misconduct where other

means of correction have failed to bring

about proper conduct.

• Unauthorized preparation, giving, selling,

transfer, distribution, or publication,

for any commercial purpose, of any

contemporaneous recording of an

academic presentation in a classroom or

equivalent site of instruction, including but

not limited to handwritten or typewritten

class notes, except as permitted by any

district policy or administrative procedure.

• Engaging in physical or verbal intimidation

or harassment of such severity or

pervasiveness as to have the purpose

or effect of unreasonably interfering with

a student’s academic performance, or

District employee’s work performance, or of

creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive

educational or work environment.

• Engaging in physical or verbal disruption

of instructional or student services

activities, administrative procedures, public

service functions, authorized curricular

or co-curricular activities or prevention

of authorized guests from carrying out

the purpose for which they are on District

property.

• Sexual assault and sexual exploitation

as defined in Education Code section

76033(g), (h).

• Misconduct where good cause exists

(Education Code Section 76033).

TYPES OF DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Types of Student Conduct Action Student

Conduct actions that may be imposed for

violations of the Student Code of Conduct

include the following:

•

Warning:

Written or oral notice to the

student that continuation or repetition

of misconduct may be cause for further

Student Conduct action.

•

Student Conduct Probation:

Specific

period of conditional participation in campus

and academic affairs that may involve

exclusion from designated privileges or

extracurricular activities. If a student violates

any condition of probation, or is charged a

second time with a violation of the Standards

of Student Conduct during the probationary

period, it shall be grounds for revocation of

the student’s probationary status and for

further Student Conduct action to be taken in

accordance with these procedures.

•

Removal from Class by Instructor

(Education Code 76032):

An instructor

may remove, for good cause, any student

from his or her class for up to two (2) class

sessions. The student shall not return to

the class during the period of the removal

without concurrence of the instructor, and

if required the consent of the CSSO or

designee. Nothing herein will prevent the

College President or Designee or CSSO

from recommending further Conduct in

accordance with these procedures based

on the facts that led to the removal. As

used in this rule, “good cause” includes

those offenses listed in the Student Code of

Conduct. The instructor shall immediately

report the removal to the respective Division

Administrator and to the College President

or designee. If the student is a minor,

the College President or designee shall

schedule a conference with the student

and the student’s parent or guardian

regarding the removal. The Administrator

shall arrange for a conference between the

student and appropriate college personnel

regarding the removal. Instructors are not

obliged to provide makeup opportunities

for class work, including quizzes, tests or

examinations, missed during the two (2)

class periods of removal. Suspension or

•

Termination of Financial Aid:

In the event

a student is suspended for willfully and

knowingly disrupting the orderly operation

of the campus, this action will result in

ineligibility for State Financial Aid, as

defined in Education Code Sections 69810

and 69813, for the period of suspension.

•

Immediate Interim Suspension:

The

College President, the President’s designee,

or the CSSO may order immediate

suspension of a student when he or

she concludes that immediate interim

suspension is required to protect lives or

property and to ensure the maintenance of

order. A reasonable opportunity shall be

afforded the suspended person to have

a hearing within ten (10) days of the time

that the CSSO or designee, or the College

President became aware of the infraction

unless mutually agreed upon by the student

and the designated Administrator that

more time is required. In cases where an

immediate interim suspension has been

ordered, the time limits contained in these

procedures shall not apply, and all hearing

rights, including the right to a formal hearing

where a long-term suspension or expulsion

is recommended, will be afforded to the

student according to the provisions above.

In the event that a student does not request

a hearing within the ten (10) days or contact

the College President, CSSO or his or her

designee or Administrator, to establish a

mutually agreed upon time for hearing,

the College where the infraction occurred

will proceed with a due process AP 5520

Student Discipline Procedures (Page 6

of 14) Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community

College District hearing twenty (20) days

after the point that the aforementioned

administrators became aware of the

infraction with or without the accused

student being present. Students placed on

Immediate Interim Suspension shall have

holds placed on all records and transcripts

pending the outcome of the due process

hearing (Education Code Section 66017).

Instructors are not obliged to provide

makeup opportunities for class work,

including quizzes, tests or examinations,

missed during the period of suspension.

•

Short-Term Suspension:

Temporary

exclusion from student status, or other

privileges or activities, one (1) or more

classes for a period of up to ten (10)

consecutive days of instruction. Faculty

members are not obliged to provide makeup

opportunities, including quizzes, tests or

examinations, for class work missed during

the period of suspension.

•

Long-term Suspension:

Tem p o ra r y

exclusion from student status, or other

privileges or activities, the remainder of

the current semester and/or one or more

terms. Instructors are not obliged to

provide makeup opportunities for class

work missed, including quizzes, tests

or examinations, during the period of

suspension. If any student is suspended or

expelled from the GCCCD, he or she shall

not be present on any of the campuses or at

the District Office without authorization from

the College President, CSSO, or the District

Vice Chancellor of Human Resources

and must be escorted by a District Public

Safety officer. The student may not attend

any official campus sanctioned events or

activities during the term of the suspension.

•

Expulsion Subject to Reconsideration:

Permanent termination of student status,

subject to reconsideration by the Board

of Trustees after a specified length of

time. Reconsideration may be requested

in accordance with the procedure for

Reconsideration. Permanent Expulsion:

Permanent termination of student status.

There shall be no right of reconsideration

of a permanent expulsion at any time. On

its own motion, the Board of Trustees may

reconsider such actions at any time.

•

Restitution:

Appropriate restitution shall be

sought from any student found responsible

of theft, vandalism, or willful destruction of

District or College property.

•

Educational Sanctions:

Educ atio nal

sanctions may be assigned instead of, or

in addition to those specified in this section

at the discretion of the Administrator.

Educational sanctions may include,

but are not limited to, reflection papers,

participation in alcohol or drug education

programs, or meeting with college officials.

•

Community Service:

Community Service

may be assigned instead of, or in addition

to, those specified in this section at the

discretion of the Administrator. Community

Services assignments will require a

student to perform unpaid work of benefit

to the College community. Community

Service provides an opportunity for the

student to contribute positively to their

community. The assigned tasks shall

support and supplement services existing

on campus. The Dean of Student Affairs

shall approve the community service

site. Student must present hours to the

Dean of Student Affairs upon completion.

Referral: A student may be referred by the

Administrator to any college/community

resource deemed necessary for the

assistance of the student.

STUDENTS RIGHTS,

GRIEVANCES, AND

DUE PROCESS

The educational philosophy of the Grossmont-

Cuyamaca Community College District

(“District” or “College”) set forth by board

policy BP 1300 Educational Philosophy

states that “The colleges recognize the worth

of the individual and the fact that individual

needs, interests, and capacities vary greatly.”

With acceptance of this principle comes the

recognition that divergent viewpoints may

result and that a process by which these

viewpoints can be aired and resolved must be

established.

The purpose of this document is to provide

a prompt and equitable means for resolving

student grievances. In the pursuit of academic

goals, the student should be free of unfair

or improper action by any member of the

campus community. These procedures shall

be available to any student who reasonably

believes a college decision or action has

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

Academic Policies and Procedures

adversely affected his/her status, rights or

privileges as a student. It is the responsibility

of the student to submit evidence of alleged

unfair or improper action for investigation.

These procedures shall include, but not be

limited to, grievances regarding:

• Course grades, to the extent permitted by

Education Code Section 76224(a), which

provides: "When grades are given for any

course of instruction taught in a community

college District, the grade given to each

student shall be the grade determined

by the instructor of the course and the

determination of the student's grade by the

instructor, in the absence of mistake, fraud,

bad faith, or incompetency, shall be final.”

“Mistake” may include, but is not limited to

errors made by an instructor in calculating a

student’s grade and clerical errors;

• The exercise of rights of free expression

protected by state and federal constitutions

and Education Code Section 76120.

This Student and Grievance Procedure does

not apply to:

• The challenge process for prerequisites,

corequisites, advisories, and limitations on

enrollment; an appeal of residence decision

determination; or the determination of

eligibility, disqualification or reinstatement

of Financial Aid. The appeal procedure for

eligibility, disqualification, and reinstatement

of financial aid may be obtained in the

Financial Aid Office. Information about

other procedures is listed in the schedule

of classes, the college catalog, or may be

obtained from the Chief Student Services

Officer or directed to the administrator in

charge of the specific area of concern.

• Alleged violations of sexual harassment

policies, sex discrimination in education

programs and activities as prohibited

by Title IX of the Higher Education

Amendments of 1972 (see AP 3435).

• Actions dealing with student discipline,

alleged discrimination on the basis of ethnic

group identification, religion, age, gender,

color, sexual orientation, physical or mental

disability. These should be directed to

the Dean of Student Affairs and the Vice

Chancellor of Human Resources.

• Parking citations (i.e., “tickets”) and

complaints regarding citations must

be directed to the Campus and Parking

Services Office.

• Law Enforcement citations (i.e., “tickets”)

and complaints regarding citations must be

directed to the Campus and Corresponding

Police Agency.

• If it is reasonable to conclude that, if

substantiated, discipline of an employee

may follow from a violation, such grievance

is not subject to this process. Allegations

of this nature will be directed to the

appropriate college administrator.

If the grievance is predicated on an alleged

unlawful discrimination on the basis race,

nationality, ethnic group identification, religion,

age, gender, color, sexual orientation, physical

or mental disability, or other legally protected

status, a complaint may be filed with the:

Vice Chancellor of Human Resources

District Office

Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community

College District

8800 Grossmont College Drive

El Cajon, CA 92020

(619) 644-7572

Grossmont College

Dean, Student Affairs

8800 Grossmont College Drive

El Cajon, CA 92020

(619) 644-7600

Cuyamaca College

Dean, Student Affairs Office

900 Rancho San Diego Parkway

El Cajon, CA 92019

(619) 660-4295

Information about grievance procedures and

a copy of this document should be available

to grievant(s) and/or the student respondent(s)

upon request.

Definition of Student Grievance Terms

Academic Senate: The elected representative

body of the faculty at each College of the

District.

Administrator: The College President or other

person or persons designated by him or her.

Dean of Student Affairs: The Dean of Student

Affairs at each college of the District or their

designee.

Associated Student Government: The elected

student representative body at each college of

the District.

Chief Student Services Officer: The Vice

Presidents of Student Services at each College

of the District.

College President or Designee: The Chief

Executive Officer (CEO) at each College of

the District or an Administrator selected by

the CEO to represent him or her in matters of

Student Conduct.

Days: Days during which College is in session

and regular classes are held, including

summer and intersession days, and excluding

Saturdays and Sundays, unless otherwise

specified in the procedures.

Decision: The final outcome of the Grievance

Council. This includes tie votes or no decision.

District or GCCCD: The Grossmont-Cuyamaca

Community College District (GCCCD),

including all Colleges, programs and offerings.

Formal Grievance Hearing Committee:

The Formal Grievance Hearing Committee

is appointed by the College President and

shall consist of two (2) students, two (2) faculty

members, and one (1) college administrator,

supervisor or staff member.

Grievance Council: The Grievance Council

is composed of the Chief Student Services

Officer, the Vice President of Instruction and

the Chief Business Officer of the college or

their designees.

Grievant: A grievant is a person currently

enrolled, or a person who has filed an

application for admission to the college, or a

former student of the District, including both

in-person and online. Former students shall

be limited to grievances relating to course

grades to the extent permitted by Education

Code Section 76224(a) and must file their

grievance within one (1) year of the date

that a reasonable person would have had

knowledge, but not to exceed one (1) year

(to be determined by the Formal Grievance

Committee).

Instructor: Any academic employee of the

District who is the instructor of record for

a class in which a student is enrolled, or a

counselor who is providing or has provided

services to the student, or other academic

employees who provide services related to the

student’s educational program.

Party: The student grievant or any persons

alleged to have been responsible for the

student’s alleged grievance, together with

their representatives. Party shall not include

the Formal Grievance Hearing Committee,

members of the Grievance Council, or the

Dean of Student Affairs.

Respondent: Any party who is a student and

who is claimed by a grievant to be responsible

for the alleged grievance.

Student: A currently enrolled student, a person

who has filed an application for admission to, or

a former student at any college within

INFORMAL RESOLUTION

All parties involved are encouraged to seek

an informal resolution. Informal meetings and

discussion between persons directly involved

in a grievance are essential at the outset of

any dispute and should be encouraged. An

equitable solution should be sought before

persons directly involved in the case have

assumed official or public positions that might

tend to polarize the dispute and render a

solution more difficult.

In an effort to resolve the matter in an informal

manner, the student may, if appropriate,

schedule a meeting with the person with whom

the student has the grievance, schedule a

meeting with the person’s immediate

supervisor, and/or schedule a meeting with the

appropriate college administrator.

The College President shall appoint the Dean

of Student Affairs to assist students in seeking

resolution by informal means. The role of the

Dean of Student Affairs is that of a facilitator

of the grievance process, and not that of

an advocate for either the Grievant(s) or the

Respondent(s). The Dean, Student Affairs and

the student may also seek the assistance of

the Associated Student Organization or any

other appropriate resource(s) in attempting to

resolve a grievance informally.

REQUEST FOR FORMAL GRIEVANCE

HEARING

If the student believes the issue has not been

resolved satisfactorily, the student may obtain

a Written Statement of Grievance form from the

Office of Student Affairs, specifying the time,

place, nature of the complaint, the specific

policy or regulation alleged to have been

violated, if any, and the remedy or correction

requested. This Statement shall be submitted

to the Dean of Student Affairs. A grievance

by an applicant shall be limited to a complaint

regarding denial of admission. Former

students shall be limited to grievances relating

to course grades to the extent permitted by

Education Code Section 76224(a) and must file

their grievance within one (1) year of the date

the grade was awarded.

Following submission of the Written Statement

of Grievance, the student may, if appropriate,

schedule a meeting with the Dean of

Student Affairs to explore student rights and

responsibilities and receive assistance with an

informal resolution.

• During the informal resolution stage of the

grievance process, the Dean of Student

Affairs shall facilitate informal meetings and

discussions that may lead to a resolution of

the grievance.

• The Dean of Student Affairs may gather

information, communicate with all parties

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

Academic Policies and Procedures

and attempt to mediate an informal

resolution.

At the end of fifteen (15) days, barring any

exigent circumstance, following the receipt of the

Written Statement of Grievance by the Dean of

Student Affairs, if there is no informal resolution

of the complaint, the student(s) shall have the

right to request a Formal Grievance Hearing.

The request for a Formal Grievance Hearing

shall be made in writing to the Dean of Student

Affairs within five (5) days, barring any exigent

circumstance, following the conclusion of the

information resolution process. If the Grievant

fails to exercise his/her due process rights

within this time frame, no further action shall be

taken. Any exception to these time restrictions

will be granted at the discretion of Dean of

Student Affairs and will only be granted in

extremely exigent circumstances.

Following receipt of the Formal Grievance

Hearing Form from the Grievant, upon

request from either Party, the Grievant(s)

or Respondent(s), the Dean of Student

Affairs shall meet with the Grievant(s) and

Respondent(s) to outline their rights and

responsibilities.

FORMAL GRIEVANCE HEARING

COMMITTEE

The College President shall establish annually

a standing panel from which one or more

Formal Grievance Hearing Committees may

be appointed. The panel shall consist of a

minimum of:

• Five (5) students recommended by the

Associated Student Government;

• Five (5) faculty members recommended by

the Academic Senate;

• Five (5) administrators, supervisors or staff

selected by the College President.

The College President shall appoint a Formal

Grievance Hearing committee from the

standing panel. The College President shall

ensure that these committee members have

no possible conflict of interest in hearing the

grievance. The committee shall include two

(2) students, two (2) faculty members, and one

(1) College administrator, supervisor or staff

member selected from the panel described

above.

The Formal Grievance Hearing Committee

shall select a chairperson from among its

members.

Once a Formal Grievance Hearing has

commenced, only those committee members

present throughout the Hearing may vote on

the recommendation.

No person shall serve as a member of the

Formal Grievance Hearing Committee if

that person has been personally involved in

any matter giving rise to the grievance, has

made any public statement on the matters at

issue, or could otherwise not act in a neutral

manner. The grievant(s) or the respondent(s)

may challenge for cause any member of the

Formal Grievance Hearing Committee prior to

the beginning of the hearing by addressing a

challenge in writing to the College President,

who shall determine whether cause for

disqualification has been shown. If the College

President believes that sufficient grounds for

removal of a member of the Formal Grievance

Hearing Committee have been presented, the

College President shall remove the challenged

member or members and replace them

with another member or members from the

standing panel.

FORMAL GRIEVANCE HEARING

COMMITTEE DETERMINATION OF

STANDING

Within ten (10) days following receipt of the

Formal Grievance Hearing Request, the

Formal Grievance Hearing Committee shall

meet to select a chairperson and to determine

if the Formal Grievance Hearing Request fulfills

all of the following requirements:

• The request contains facts/documentation

which, if true, would constitute a grievance;

• The grievant is a student as defined in these

procedures, which includes applicants and

former students;

• The grievant is personally and directly

affected by the alleged grievance;

• The grievant conformed with the grievance

procedures and the grievance was filed

in a timely manner; The grievance is not

clearly frivolous or without foundation, or not

clearly filed for purposes of harassment or

retaliation.

If the Formal Grievance Hearing Committee

rejects the request for a Formal Grievance

Hearing, the grievant and the Dean of Student

Affairs shall be notified in writing, within five

(5) days, by the committee’s chairperson. The

specific reason(s) for rejection and the appeal

process outlined in this document shall be

included in this notification.

If the grievant(s) is dissatisfied with the

decision of the Formal Grievance Hearing

Committee not to grant a Formal Grievance

Hearing, a written appeal may be filed with

the Grievance Council via the Dean of Student

Affairs within five (5) days after receipt of

the Formal Grievance Hearing Committee’s

decision. The Grievance Council’s decision on

the appeal is final.

If the request for a Formal Grievance Hearing

satisfies all of the requirements listed above,

the committee Chairperson shall notify the

Grievant and the Dean of Student Affairs, in

writing, within five (5) days.

The Dean of Student Affairs shall schedule

a Formal Grievance Hearing which shall

commence within twenty (20) days barring

any exigent circumstances, following the

decision to grant a Formal Grievance Hearing.

All parties to the grievance shall be given no

less than five (5) days, barring any exigent

circumstance, notice of the date, time and

place of the hearing.

HEARING PREPARATION

The Dean of Student Affairs shall be responsible

for making the necessary arrangements for the

Hearing. Arrangements shall include scheduling

a room, providing for a tape recorder, providing

notice to the parties, notifying members of the

Grievance Hearing Committee, and any other

arrangements deemed necessary.

Parties requesting accommodations in

accordance with the Americans with

Disabilities Act of 2008 or Section 504 of

the Rehabilitation Act (1973) may do so by

contacting the Dean of Student Affairs in

writing at least five (5) days in advance of the

needed accommodation.

During the Formal Grievance Hearing stage

of the grievance process, the Dean of Student

Affairs shall coordinate the preparation and

shall prepare the chairperson on conduct of

the hearing, including providing any additional

necessary training to committee members.

The Dean of Student Affairs shall sit with the

Formal Grievance Hearing Committee but shall

not serve as a member or vote. The Dean

of Student Affairs shall ensure that the entire

grievance process is conducted in an orderly,

fair, and respectful manner.

Right to Representation:

The Grievant(s) or

the Respondent(s) shall represent themselves.

Parties are allowed an advisor of their choice

whose role is to advise, not represent. The

advisor shall not be an attorney or a person

acting as an attorney. The advisor’s name shall

be summited to the Dean of Student Affairs

no later than 48 hours prior to the hearing.

If the student needs assistance finding an

advisor, the Dean of Student Affairs can assist

in finding an advisor. The Grievance Hearing

Committee may also request legal assistance

through the College President. Any legal

advisor provided to the hearing committee may

sit with it in an advisory capacity to provide

legal counsel but shall not be a member of the

panel nor vote with it.

The Dean of Student Affairs shall have the

authority to exclude from the hearing any

individuals who fail to conduct themselves in

an orderly, fair, and respectful manner.

CONDUCT OF THE HEARING

Opening:

The committee chairperson shall call

the hearing to order, introduce the participants,

and announce the purpose of the hearing

Review of Alleged Grievance:

The chairperson

shall distribute copies of the Formal Grievance

Hearing Form submitted by the Grievant to the

members of the Grievance Hearing Committee

and read them aloud on to the record.

Burden of Proof:

The burden shall be upon

the grievant to prove by a preponderance of

evidence (“more likely than not” that the facts

alleged are true.

Statements:

Unless the Grievance Hearing

Committee determines to proceed otherwise,

beginning with the Grievant(s), each party to

the grievance shall be permitted to make or

waive an opening statement. Thereafter, the

Grievant(s) shall make the first presentation,

followed by the Respondent(s). The Grievant(s)

may present rebuttal evidence after the

Respondent(s)' evidence. The burden

shall be on the Grievant(s) to prove by a

preponderance of evidence that the facts

alleged are true and that a grievance has been

established as specified above.

Evidence:

Formal rules of evidence shall not

apply. All relevant information is admissible,

including but not limited to testimony of

witnesses, physical objects, police reports,

photographs, copies of documents, and

signed and dated declarations of witnesses

shown to be unavailable to attend the hearing.

The Grievant(s) and the Respondent(s)

have the right to question all witnesses and

to review all documents presented to the

Formal Grievance Hearing Committee. The

Chairperson shall make all determinations

as to the relevance and/or admissibility of

evidence and testimony.

Exclusion of Witnesses:

Hearings shall

be closed and confidential. Only persons

participating in the hearing shall be present

during the hearing. All witnesses shall be

excluded except when testifying. Both Parties

shall be entitled to call witnesses presented

by the other. Either party may recall a witness,

who again may be questioned by both parties

and the committee. A member of the Formal

Grievance Hearing Committee may ask

questions at any time upon recognition by the

chairperson.

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

Conclusion:

First the Grievant(s), and then

the Respondent(s), shall be afforded the

opportunity to make or waive a final statement.

Formal Grievance Committee Decision:

Upon conclusion of the Hearing, the Formal

Grievance Hearing Committee shall retire

to deliberate with only members of the

Grievance Committee present. Only those

committee members present throughout

the entire hearing may vote on the decision.

The Formal Grievance Hearing Committee’s

deliberations shall not be tape-recorded

and shall be confidential and closed to all

Parties. With permission of the Grievance

Hearing Committee, the Dean of Student

Affairs and/or legal counsel retained on behalf

of the Committee may be consulted during

deliberations to assist in procedural matters.

The Formal Grievance Hearing Committee

shall meet and consider the relevance and

weight of the testimony and evidence

presented. This committee shall reach a

decision only upon the record of the hearing

and shall not consider matters outside of that

record.

Within five (5) days following the conclusion

of the hearing, barring any exigent

circumstance, this committee shall issue a

written recommendation that includes a

rationale for its conclusions. The committee’s

recommendation shall be forwarded to the

Grievance Council through the Chief Student

Services Officer with copies to the Grievant(s),

Respondent(s) and Dean of Student Affairs.

Tape Recording:

The Dean of Student Affairs

shall be responsible for tape recording

the hearing and arranging for safe storage

of the grievance file, including tape(s) and

documents, for a period of no less than seven

(7) years. The hearing shall be tape-recorded

in accordance with the following procedures:

• All oral testimony shall be tape-recorded. If

a person called upon to give oral testimony

refuses to consent to being recorded, they

may not testify at the hearing.

• At the beginning of every hearing, all parties

present for the hearing shall verbally identify

themselves by name for the tape-recording.

• The committee chairperson shall instruct

all parties present for the hearing to identify

themselves when speaking and instruct all

present that only one person is to speak

at a time so the tape-recording will be

understandable.

• Only one tape-recorder shall be allowed at

the hearing. No other recording device shall

be allowed.

Absence of the Party:

If either Party,

Grievant(s) or Respondent(s), do not appear,

and no satisfactory explanation for the absence

is made at the earliest opportunity, or if either

Party leaves the Hearing before its conclusion,

the Formal Grievance Hearing Committee

shall determine if the hearing should proceed

without the party. The committee will decided

whether they can make a determination of the

information that was presented to that point.

GRIEVANCE COUNCIL

The Grievance Council shall be composed of

the Chief Student Services Officer, the Vice

President of Instruction/Academic Affairs, and

the Chief Business Officer of the College or

designees.

Upon receipt of the Formal Grievance Hearing

Committee’s recommendation, the Chief

Student Services Officer shall call a meeting of

the Grievance Council.

The Grievance Council shall consider the

committee’s recommendation and any

materials pertinent to the grievance but

shall not consider matters outside of the

record. The Grievance Council shall render

a written decision to the grievant(s) and the

respondent(s) within five (5) days of receipt of

the Formal Grievance Hearing Committee’s

recommendation.

APPEAL

If either Party is dissatisfied with a Grievance

Council’s decision, a written appeal may be

filed with the College President within five (5)

days, barring any exigent circumstance, of

receipt of the Grievance Council’s decision.

If the College President is a party to the

grievance, the appeal will be submitted

directly to the District Chancellor.

Within five (5) days, barring any exigent

circumstance, the Grievance Council, or the

College President (or District Chancellor if the

President is a party to the grievance) shall

send copies of the appeal to each party.

The College President (or the District

Chancellor if the President is a party to the

grievance), after reviewing the record of the

Formal Grievance Hearing Committee, shall

make a decision on the appeal and notify the

parties in writing within five (5) days, barring

any exigent circumstance.

The College President’s (or the District

Chancellor’s if the College President is a party

to the grievance) decision shall be in writing

and shall include a statement of reasons for

the decision. The College President’s (or

District Chancellor’s) decision shall be final.

The decision of the Grievance Council is

final. Further complaints may be submitted

to the California Community College State

Chancellor’s Office Office (www.cccco.edu/

Complaint-Process-Notice).

GENERAL PROVISIONS

The facts of any Grievance action and the

reasons shall be recorded on the student’s

records subject to access, review and

comment by the student as authorized by

the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act

(FERPA) and Education Code Sections 76200

Legislative Intent through Section 76246. All

access or release of such records to members

of the public shall also be in accordance with

applicable State and Federal laws.

The grievance file, including tapes and all

documents, shall be retained in a secure

location on campus for a period of seven (7)

years. The Grievant(s) and the Respondent(s)

may have access, upon request, to the files

and tapes through the Dean of Student Affairs.

The individual making the request shall pay the

costs of any copies requested.

The records shall be available only to officers

or employees of the GCCCD and only used

when necessary to represent the College

or District in litigation or other legal or

administrative proceedings.

Any specified time limits stated in these

procedures may be shortened or lengthened

by mutual concurrence of all parties.

Technical departures from these procedures

and errors in its application shall not constitute

grounds to invalidate action against a student

unless, in the opinion of the College President

or Designee, the technical departure or error

prevented a fair determination of the issue.

STUDENT SUCCESS

AND SUPPORT

PROGRAM

The Student Success and Support Program

is designed to assist students in planning and

achieving their educational goals. The College

will provide:

Orientation – all new students must

participate unless exempt (see below)

Assessment – all new students must

participate unless exempt (see below)

Counseling for course selection and

assistance in creating a student education

plan

Referrals to specialized support services

Follow-up services to evaluate students’

progress and referral to appropriate

interventions

Each student has the responsibility to:

Participate in assessment, orientation and

advisement

Identify an academic and career goal

Declare a specific course of study

Develop a Student Educational Plan

in consultation with a counselor no later

than the term after completion of 15

semester units of degree applicable credit

coursework

EXEMPTIONS

A student may challenge and be exempted

from the Student Success and Support

Program requirements based on one or more

of the following criteria;

• Has completed an associate degree or

higher;

• Has enrolled at the college for a reason

other than career development or

advancement, transfer, attainment of a

degree or certificate of achievement, or

completion of a basic skills or English as a

Second Language course sequence;

• Has completed these services at another

community college;

• Is enrolling at the college to take a course

that is legally mandated for employment

or in response to a significant change in

industry or licensure standards;

• Is a special admit student pursuant to

Education Code 76001.

Any student exempted from orientation,

assessment, counseling, advising, or

student education plan development shall be

notified and may be given the opportunity to

participate in those services.

CUYAMACA COLLEGE

COMPLAINT

PROCEDURES

There are established procedures for

resolving complaints from not only prospective

and current students, but also community

members. For example, as a standard

practice, the first step should be to seek a

resolution at the local level with the appropriate

department. If the complainant does not feel

Academic Policies and Procedures

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

Academic Policies and Procedures

that the issue has been solved at this level to

his or her satisfaction, the complainant is able

to pursue the matter through the established

chain of command. The process must be

clearly stated and in compliance with Federal

regulation (HEA Title 1V, CFR, Sections 600.9

and 668.4 (3) (b) since all Title 1V eligible

institutions must not only have, but also state

its administered complaint process.

PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING ALL TYPES

OF COMPLAINTS BY PROSPECTIVE AND

CURRENT STUDENTS:

Send an email to the department supervisor

detailing a summary of the problem, including

the steps taken to resolve the issue, and the

desired outcome. If, after meeting with the

department supervisor, you are not satisfied

with the outcome, contact the Administrator

of the appropriate Department or Division.

If, after meeting with the Administrator of the

appropriate Department or Division, you are

not satisfied with the outcome and have taken

the appropriate steps to resolve the matter

through the established chain of command,

contact the Vice President of that Division.

PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING ALL TYPES

OF COMPLAINTS BY COMMUNITY

MEMBERS:

Send an email, detailing a summary of the

problem, including the steps taken to resolve

the issue and the desired outcome to the Vice

President of Administrative Services, Vice

President of Instruction or the Vice President

of Student Services or the College President.

PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING

UNRESOLVED COMPLAINTS FROM

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS, CURRENT

STUDENTS, AND/OR COMMUNITY

MEMBERS TO THE STATE LEVEL:

Although it is our goal to resolve complaints

at the campus level, there may be times

when a complainant is not satisfied with the

outcome. In these situations, the complainant

is encouraged to contact the California

Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. The

form to submit your complaint can be found at

www.cccco.edu/Complaint-Process-Notice.

There is a separate link for discrimination

complaints.

PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING

DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS:

Filing a Complaint

A student or employee of a community college

district who wishes to file a complaint alleging

that they were subjected to unlawful

discrimination may do so by filing a complaint

with their community college district.

Unlawful discrimination complaints can

be directed to: Vice Chancellor Human

Resources, Tim.Corcoran@gcccd.edu

For additional information regarding the

process and appeals, please refer to

www.cccco.edu/About-Us/Chancellors-Office/

Divisions/General-Counsel/Programs/College-

District-Discrimination-Appeals

PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING

ACCREDITATION COMPLAINTS:

If you are submitting a complaint that

pertains to the institution’s compliance with

academic program quality and accrediting

standards, please submit the information to

the Accrediting Commission for Community

and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), which accredits

the academic programs of the California

Community Colleges. The link to submit your

complaint can be found at accjc.org/complaint-

process/. (Nothing in this disclosure should be

construed to limit any right you may have to

take civil or criminal legal action to resolve your

complaints.)

STUDENT RIGHT-TO-

KNOW RATES

For Fall 2014 Cohort:

COMPLETION RATE: 26.07 %

TRANSFER RATE: 9.87 %

In compliance with the Student-Right-To-Know

and Campus Security Act of 1990 (Public

Law 101-542), it is the policy of our collage

district to make available its completion and

transfer rates to all current and prospective

students. Beginning in Fall 2014, a cohort of

all certificate-, degree-, and transfer-seeking

first-time, full-time students were tracked over

a three-year period. Their completion and

transfer rates are listed above. These rates do

not represent the success rates of the entire

student population at the College nor do they

account for student outcomes occurring after

this three-year tracking period.

Based upon the cohort defined above,

a Completer is a student who attained

a certificate or degree or became ‘transfer

prepared’ during a three-year period from

Fall 2014 to Spring 2017. Students who have

completed 60 transferable units for a GPA

of 2.0 or better are considered ‘transfer-

prepared’. Students who transferred to another

post-secondary institution, prior to attaining

a degree, certificate, or becoming ‘transfer-

prepared’ during a five-semester period

from Spring 2015 to Spring 2017 are transfer

students.

TUTORING

We Make Good Students Better! Tutoring

services are free, and students may begin

using services at any point in the semester.

Learning Assistants -- most of whom are current

or former Cuyamaca students, themselves –

help students adapt to college, learn course

skills and content, refine general study skills

and strategies, and become more confident,

independent learners. Tutoring is offered in

online, email, and in-person formats through

various campus locations as well as through

the Cuyamaca Virtual Tutoring Center. For more

information and/or to request an appointment,

please click on the blue “Tutoring” link in your

course Canvas container, email cuyamaca.

tutoring@gcccd.edu, visit the Tutoring website

at www.cuyamaca.edu/tutoring, or leave a

voicemail at (619) 660-4525.

UNIT VALUE AND

STUDENT LOAD

College work is measured in terms of the

semester Carnegie unit. In lecture courses,

one hour in the classroom and two hours of

study preparation per week constitute one

unit of work. In the laboratory, three hours in

the classroom per week with no outside study

time constitute one unit of work. The number

of units of credit is listed with each course

description.

Full-time load is defined as a minimum of 12

units per semester (fall/spring). The load for

full-time students planning to graduate in

four semesters is 15-16 units per semester.

Students desiring to enroll in more than 18

units during the fall and spring term and more

than 8 units during summer, must obtain

approval from a Counselor.

The winter intersession is considered part of

spring; therefore, if the combination of winter

and spring units goes over 18 units a unit

overload approval will be needed.

Overload Maximum Units

Students are Able to

Fall Semester 18 units total for the entire

semester

Spring

Semester

18 units total for the entire

semester

Summer

Semester

8 units total for the entire

semester

To receive unit overload approval all of the

requirements below must be met:

1. Earned a minimum of 12 units with

a cumulative college GPA of 3.0 in college

coursework.

2. Currently not on probation or dismissal

status.

*Final recommendation is based on the

discretion of the Counselor.

WORK EXPERIENCE

REQUIREMENTS

In order to participate in Cooperative Work

Experience Education, students shall be

enrolled as specified in Title 5, Section 55250.

The unit value for work experience or field

experience is one semester unit for 75 hours

of paid work experience or 60 hours of unpaid

work experience completed during the course.

The maximum occupational work experience

units allowable in one semester is eight.

Specific work experience agreements between

the employer-supervisor, the student and the

instructor are required by the Grossmont-

Cuyamaca Community College District Plan

for Cooperative Work Experience Education.

All requirements specified in the Plan must

be met, including the submittal of records

validating attendance and satisfactory

completion of course objectives.

199 COURSES—

SPECIAL STUDY

The special study or project (199) is for the

purpose of allowing students to increase their

knowledge of a subject matter not included

in regular course offerings. These courses

are at times referred to as Independent Study

courses.

Special studies shall be available to those

students who have accumulated the skills and

breadth of academic experience necessary

to utilize this special learning method. Special

study credit shall be limited to nine semester

units at Cuyamaca College. The unit value for

Cuyamaca College Catalog 2022-2023

a special study or project will be determined

on the basis of one semester unit for each

48 hours of work. Coursework is degree-

applicable, but not transferable.

A typewritten one-page paper describing the

goals and methods of the special study or

project is to be written by the student and

attached to the contract. This paper will be

used as a criterion for acceptance or rejection

of the proposal. This paper will also be used

by the instructor to evaluate the extent to

which the stated goals of the special study

have been achieved. Grades will be assigned

by the instructor based on the level of this

achievement. The Cuyamaca College grading

policy applies to special study courses.

Contracts for special studies or projects are

available in the Admissions and Records

Office. The deadline for enrolling in a special

study or project will be the end of the second

week for full-term classes and the end of the

first week for eight week and summer session

classes.

Academic Policies and Procedures