Academic & Instructional Services

General Information

This section of the catalog is designed to familiarize the student with college regulations, academic terminology, the College grading system, special courses and programs, and other pertinent student information concerning academic life at Florida Gateway College. For information about the specific programs at Florida Gateway College, contact the departments shown below. For more global academic help, contact the vice president for additional assistance.

Vice President for Academic Affairs: (386) 754-4269

Nursing and Health Sciences

(386) 754-4448, BSN, LPN, PCA, PCT, PTA, HIT
(386) 754-4404, ASDN (RN)

Teacher Preparation Programs

(386) 754-4266

Criminal Justice/Public Service Training Center (Olustee)

(386) 754-4303, Criminal Justice
(386) 754-4303, Firefighting
(386) 754-4347, Corrections
(386) 754-4297, Emergency Medical Services
(386) 754-4383, Law Enforcement

Industrial & Agricultural Programs

(386) 754-4225
        Horticulture
        Industrial Technology
        Cosmetology
        Logistics and Supply Chain Management
        Engineering Technology

Liberal Arts & Sciences

(386) 754-4253

Business Programs

(386) 754-4253

Gaming and Computer Science Programs

(386) 754-4253

Water Resources Training Programs

(386) 754-4308

Course Offerings

The College exercises the prerogative of choosing the courses to be offered during any semester. This offering is announced in the official course schedule for the semester and is contingent on enrollment levels and staff availability. It is subject to change without prior notification.

Academic Assistance

Florida Gateway College provides several sources of academic assistance to students, including convenient access to faculty and staff, peer tutors, Library, Audiovisual Center, tutor.com (an online tutoring center) and the Student Success Center. A student is encouraged to avail himself or herself of all the educational resources available through the College.

Access to Faculty

The College prides itself on providing a caring, friendly atmosphere conducive to the learning process. A student experiencing academic difficulties is encouraged to contact his or her instructor to determine what additional assistance, if any, can be provided. College faculty maintains convenient office hours to provide interactive opportunities for students to discuss class work. Faculty hours are posted on faculty office doors.

Audiovisual Center

The Audiovisual Center, located in the Wilson S. Rivers Library and Media Center, works closely with faculty and staff to provide printed and audiovisual material to the College community.

The Audiovisual Center also maintains a television microwave broadcast system that transmits credit courses to area cable television subscribers within the College’s district. These credit courses, and other videotapes, are also broadcast campuswide over two closed circuit television channels.

Academic Policies

Academic Load

A normal load is 15 credits. The maximum course load for which a student may register without special permission is 19 credits. Maximum course loads are recommended only for students who have a high school average of B or a minimum college grade point average of 3.0. A credit overload must be approved by the appropriate vice president.

Academic Transcripts & Final Grades

A permanent cumulative record is kept on each student. This record shows for each semester/term all credits attempted and earned, all grades earned, term and cumulative grade point averages and academic honors and academic sanctions. A student can retrieve final grades or unofficial transcripts by logging onto MyFGC on our home page. For more information regarding online access of final grades, contact the Office of Enrollment Services in Building 015 or call (386) 754-4280.

Florida Gateway College’s official transcript provider is Credentials, Inc. Official transcripts will be delivered by secure PDF format. The PDF transcript that is produced using this service contains the identical information as the printed transcript and can be certified as unaltered by uploading the file to the company’s website that is provided during the delivery process. Credentials Inc. has been granted the authority to deliver all such electronic transcript requests on behalf of Florida Gateway College and respond to any inquiries regarding the transactions.

There is a $2.50 charge for all transcripts. (There are additional charges for operator assisted orders and printed transcripts.)

To request official transcripts, go to: https://www.fgc.edu/students/registration-and-records/transcripts/.

You may also call Credentials Inc., at 847-716-3005 to request a transcript. There is an additional operator surcharge for telephone orders.

Official printed transcripts are available for an additional charge. Recipient’s mailing address is required.

Declaring a Major

Students who are taking classes, but not seeking a degree at FGC, may be classified as non-degree seeking while taking courses at FGC. All other students who have completed 12 credit hours must declare a major, program, or certificate. Students need to see an academic advisor and complete a Change of Degree form. In order to receive financial aid, student must be in a financial aid eligible program.

Classification of Students

Students may be classified in any number of ways. The following categories are common to most students enrolling at Florida Gateway College:

FRESHMAN: has completed fewer than 30 credits.

SOPHOMORE: has completed 30 or more credits.

JUNIOR: a baccalaureate student who has completed 60, but less than 90, credits.

SENIOR: a baccalaureate student who has completed 90 or more credits.

FULL TIME: is enrolled for 12 or more credits.

PART TIME: is enrolled for fewer than 12 credits.

TRANSIENT: temporarily enrolled at Florida Gateway College based on prior approval from another college or university without the intention of receiving an FGC degree. The student intends to transfer such coursework back to his/her home institution.

AUDIT: is admitted to the College by standard admissions procedure but desires to take credit courses without receiving a grade for those classes. Audit students are charged regular credit fees.

PERSONAL ENRICHMENT: is not a candidate for a degree or certificate but takes credit classes. A student is only allowed to take a maximum of 12 credit hours as personal enrichment unless the student has already earned an associate degree or has signed approval from an appropriate academic vice president. These students must meet regular admission requirements.

NONDEGREE: enrolls in courses for which no credit is given or is not working toward a degree.

OCCUPATIONAL: enrolls in an occupational credit course with the intention to receive a certificate.

Gordon Rule

The State Board of Education has adopted Rule 6A-10.030 popularly known as the “Gordon Rule.” This rule places stringent requirements upon those students seeking the Associate in Arts degree. To meet this rule Florida Gateway College requires that all students seeking associate degrees must take six semester hours of mathematics coursework at the level of college algebra or higher. For the purposes of this rule, applied logic, statistics and other such computation coursework which may not be placed within a mathematics department may be used to fulfill three hours of the six hours required by this section. Entry into these courses has the prerequisite of appropriate entry level test scores or completion of Intermediate Algebra (MAT 1033 ), or other course prerequisites which are detailed in the course description section of this catalog. In order to graduate with the Associate in Arts degree, students also will be required to demonstrate writing ability in a wide variety of English, humanities, and social science courses containing substantial writing requirements. All English courses will have a significant writing requirement. All of these courses are designated in the course description section of this catalog with a “GR.” These courses also have the prerequisite of appropriate entry level test scores or completion of Principles of Writing and Principles of Reading.

A student seeking a transferable Associate in Science degree should see their advisor regarding the Gordon Rule Requirements.

Grades of C or better MUST be earned in GORDON RULE designated courses for all students enrolled in these courses.

Attendance

Regular attendance is expected, and is a course requirement in all Florida Gateway College courses. Attendance requirements will be established by the individual instructor in each course syllabus. The student is responsible for adhering to each instructor’s attendance requirements as set forth in the course syllabus. The instructor will notify the student in writing of excessive absences. After the last date to withdraw from a course, an F grade may be assigned by the instructor. The instructor will determine the validity of absences and whether the student will be allowed to make up class work and/or examinations. The instructor will enter the last date of student’s attendance on the Final Grade Roster when recording an F for nonattendance.

Change of Name, Address, Major

A student should file any change of address, name, residency or citizenship with the Office of Enrollment Services. Students may also update their address through MyFGC. Change of major should be initiated in the appropriate academic department. You are required to keep the College informed as to correct addresses, so that important information will be received by the student.

Grading Policies

Final Examinations and Course Grading

Final examinations are held at the end of each semester/ term. The student should refer to the final examination schedule on the college web page. A grade of F may be assigned to any student who has an unexcused absence from a final examination.

GRADING SYSTEM

Grades: Passing grades are A, B+, B, C+, C, for Gordon Rule courses (GR); otherwise, A, B+, B, C+, C, D+, D, and S. Failing grades are F and U. Grades of I earn no credit and are not counted in the grade point average until the courses are completed, or the I grade changes to an F. Grades of W, S, U, AU, N, and I are not computed in the student’s cumulative or current grade point average (GPA).

Grades of C or better MUST be earned in GORDON RULE designated courses for all students enrolled in these courses.

N Grade

N grades earn no grade points or credits, remain on the student’s permanent record, and prevent the student from receiving academic recognition on the President’s List and the Vice President’s List. The N grade means that the student has continued to attend class but has not attained a sufficient level of skill or knowledge to be granted credit and must register and pay for the course in a future term and demonstrate proficiency before credit can be given. The grade will effect the students completion rate for financial aid purposes.

Incomplete Grade

If a student is unable to complete a course and the withdrawal date has passed, the student may receive a grade of I under the condition that it is practical for the student to complete the requirements of the course in the first three weeks of the next term. The instructor must approve of and assign the I grade and provide the last date of attendance. Registering in the course in the next term is not required in order to change an incomplete to a grade. I grades prevent the student from receiving recognition on the President’s List and the Vice President’s List.

A grade of I must be changed to a letter grade by completing the requirements of the course no later than the first three weeks of the next semester/term, or the I grade will be changed to an F on the student’s permanent record. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor for completion of the course. When course requirements are completed, the instructor will submit a grade change to the Office of Enrollment Services.

Grade Points

To compute an average that indicates the overall quality of a student’s record, grade points are assigned as follows: 4 points for each semester hour of A, 3.5 points for each hour of B+, 3.0 points for each hour of B, 2.5 points for each hour of C+, 2.0 points for each hour of C, 1.5 points for each hour of D+, 1.0 point for each hour of D, and no points for each hour of F, U, I, N, and AU. A grade of A for a three semester hour course earns 12 grade points; a grade of D in a four hour course earns four grade points. Credit hours for I, AU, S, N, and credit by examination are not computed in the grade point average.

Semester Average

A student’s semester average is obtained by dividing the total grade points earned in that term by the total credit hours attempted in that semester/term. A student’s cumulative grade point average may be obtained by dividing the total grade points earned for all semesters/terms by the total number of credit hours attempted. A student’s cumulative grade point average includes any applicable courses transferred from other colleges.

Grade Forgiveness

College Level Courses

A student who receives a D+, D, or an F in a course may choose to repeat the course to raise his/her grade point average. Florida state law limits to two (2) the number of times a course may be forgiven. Florida Gateway College will count only the last grade of a class for grade point average purposes. Students should be aware of the preference given by colleges or universities to students who complete courses on their first attempt. Florida state law mandates additional tuition/fees for the third attempt at any college level or developmental education course.

Florida Gateway College recalculates the GPA when a student repeats a course and receives a grade. Students should check their unofficial transcript on MyFGC to ensure that the GPA has been recalculated. If it has not, contact the Office of Enrollment Services to request the recalculation. All grades will remain on the transcript, even though the last will be the only one used in the grade computation.

Students are discouraged from repeating courses unless necessary to improve poor grades. Many institutions in Florida, either public or private, now calculate the number of attempted classes when making admissions decisions. Students who plan to transfer to a Florida college or university should be aware that withdrawals and/or audits (i.e., repeats) may affect selected college admissions.

Students who are on financial aid should check with their financial aid counselor regarding the status of repeated courses. Florida teachers taking courses for recertification should ensure that repeated courses count for that purpose. The Florida Department of Education is the only definitive source for that information.

NOTE: A student may have only three attempts per college credit course at Florida Gateway College, including the original grade, repeat grades, and withdrawals at any point in the semester. The student must pay full instructional costs (approximately three times normal in-state tuition) for the third and subsequent attempts. A fourth attempt may be allowed only through an academic appeals process based on major extenuating circumstances. All grades from the third and subsequent attempts will be calculated in the GPA.

Developmental Education Courses

Students should be aware that only three attempts in a developmental education class at Florida Gateway College will be allowed. Florida state law mandates additional tuition/fees for the third attempt at a developmental education course. Students who do not complete the same course within three attempts will be prohibited from registering for any college class, whether it is for college level or developmental education level courses. For these purposes, a withdrawal or a change to an audit counts as an attempt.

A student who feels there were extenuating circumstances which prohibited him or her from completing the developmental education class may appeal to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs for an exception to policy. If the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs grants the exception, the student will be charged at regular tuition rates for the third attempt.

A student with questions about repeating college developmental education instruction should contact his or her advisor, or the Office of Enrollment Services, for additional information.

Repeat of Previously Passed Courses: Per Florida Administrative Code 6A-14.0301 repeat enrollment in courses in which a grade of C or above has been earned is prohibited, except for courses designated as repeatable, such as choir, music, or journalism. Repeat of courses designated as repeatable for credit will be allowed up to the maximum allowed attempts. All grades will be shown on the transcript and included in the GPA, unless a grade is below C and qualifies for grade forgiveness as set out in the Grade Forgiveness section of this catalog.

Occasionally, under very special circumstances, repeat permission is granted for courses that are not designated as repeatable. Examples are individualized courses of study; or courses required to be repeated by a regulatory agency; licensure and program requirements; or that are being repeated as part of a regulatory requirement for continuing education to stay current in a field, such as teacher certification. In order for a student to register for repeats of courses that are not designated as repeatable, approval of the appropriate vice president or designee is required. The student should submit the Request for Course Retake with a Grade of C or Better to the appropriate vice president or designee. A copy of the official justification must be attached to the request. Any registration without the required approval will be cancelled, the course dropped, and fees refunded. If the repeat request is approved, the initial grade and the subsequent grade appear on the transcript, but only the first grade is included in the GPA, with credit earned. The second attempt will not earn credit, will not be included in the GPA, and the forgiveness rule will not apply. Attempts at a course include original grade, repeat grades, and withdrawals at any point in the semester. The student must pay full instructional costs (approximately three times normal in-state tuition) for the second attempt.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation or certificate completion requirements may change between published catalogs due to changes in state laws or college policy. Students are encouraged to schedule classes with the assistance of an academic advisor.

Any course substitution or waiver must be approved in writing and made a part of the student’s academic record.

A degree seeking student must complete all graduation requirements as outlined in the Academic section of the catalog.

Credits for Graduation

All applicable credits, whether earned at Florida Gateway College or another regionally accredited college, will be used to compute graduation requirements. Students must meet Florida Gateway College’s residency requirement by completing a minimum of 25 percent of the course credits required for the program through coursework at Florida Gateway College.

Catalog of Entry

A student has five calendar years to fulfill the graduation requirements outlined in the College catalog in effect at the time of his or her first enrollment in a particular major, if he or she is continually enrolled in classes. Continual enrollment is defined as enrollment for at least one semester each year. If a student has not fulfilled the requirements within the five-year period, he or she is subject to the requirements in effect at the beginning of the sixth year. If a student has not been continually enrolled, he or she is subject to the requirements in effect  for the term of readmission to the College. If a student changes majors or adds a different major, the effective term of the change will be the catalog term for the new major. The catalog term for a student accepted into a limited access or baccalaureate program will be the term of acceptance.

It may be to a student’s advantage to change to a more recent catalog term. In that case, the student should contact his or her academic advisor. If the advisor agrees, the advisor should send an email to Enrollment Services to update the student’s catalog term. These decisions are final and may not be reversed. A student may fall under only one catalog per major.

A student enrolled in programs in which curriculum is determined by state legislation, rule, licensing and/or accrediting agencies, or a student enrolled in programs in which significant “state-of-the-art” technological changes have occurred, may be required to satisfy the current catalog’s graduation requirements.

Honors

The President’s List is published after the fall and spring semesters. Students who earned 12 or more credits in that semester with a grade point average of 4.0 in those courses are eligible for recognition on the President’s List.

The Vice President’s List is published after the fall and spring semesters. Students who earned 12 or more credits in that semester with a cumulative semester grade point average of 3.5 and no grade below a C in those courses are eligible for recognition on the Vice President’s List.

Grades of I, N, or U make a student ineligible for the President’s List or the Vice President’s List. These honors are not retroactive due to grade changes or other reasons.

If an A.A. or A.S. student graduates with one of the following cumulative grade point averages in college credit courses, an honors designation will appear on the academic record as follows:

3.75 to 4.0 - Summa cum laude
3.50 to 3.74 - Magna cum laude
3.33 to 3.49 - Cum laude

Graduation Ceremony

The College conducts graduation ceremonies at the end of fall and spring terms, as shown on the academic calendar. To receive a diploma and/or participate in the graduation ceremony, which includes having the student’s name printed in the graduation program, a student must meet all graduation requirements and file an application for graduation with the Office of Enrollment Services in accordance with the published deadline. Graduation applications received after the published deadline will be processed at the end of the term. A student must meet with an advisor when applying for graduation. A student completing all degree or certificate requirements in the current fall or current spring semester, may participate in a ceremony. A student expecting to complete all requirements within the summer semester may participate. Recognition of honors in the graduation ceremony is based on the cumulative GPA in college credit courses at the end of the prior semester.

Graduation information will be sent to the student’s FGC wolves e-mail address on file with the college. Diplomas will be mailed to the current address of record on file with FGC. The student is responsible for updating this information.

In order for a diploma to be issued, all debts with the college must be satisfied.

General Student Complaints

A student may register a general complaint against any college employee. Policy number 6Hx12:09-38 explains this policy and procedure in detail. Complaints may include faculty demeanor in the classroom, rude behavior or treatment from faculty, staff, or administration as perceived by the student, and/or other general complaints that are not associated with harassment, discrimination, misconduct, grades or other academic concerns, and perceived violations of college policy, state statute, or Federal laws. Please refer to those additional policies and procedures for further information.

Academic Appeals

A student who wishes to register an appeal regarding a class, test, assignment, course grade, or other academic issues should first confer with the appropriate faculty member in an endeavor to resolve the problem. If the problem cannot be resolved, then the student presents the completed academic appeal form to the following college personnel in the stated order: (1) relevant faculty member, (2) faculty member’s supervisor, (3) the appropriate vice president, (4) and finally to the Campus Appeals Board, by notification to the appropriate vice president. Resolution of the appeal at any stage halts the progression of the appeal. The Campus Appeals Board is the highest level of academic appeal, and all decisions made at this level are final. A student may involve the ombudsperson at any point in an academic appeal. Many academic issues can be settled through discussion without need for an official appeal. Students are encouraged to discuss academic issues with faculty first, and to utilize the ombudsperson for assistance where needed. Please see FGC Policy 6Hx12:09-39 and the college website under Current Students for additional information and directions. This procedure shall not apply to decisions of agencies other than Florida Gateway College, such as clinical facilities or employers of students and other businesses allowing job-site training of students. The College has no authority over those decisions.

Ombudsperson

A student may appeal to the Office of the Ombudsperson a decision that is related to the student’s access to courses and credit granted toward the degree. The Ombudsperson can be reached at (386) 754-4267.

• The student may contact the Ombudsperson directly.
• The Ombudsperson may serve as a student advocate and/or mediator regarding academic matters.
• The Ombudsperson is accountable to the College President in his/her role as Ombudsperson.
• This information is provided to students in the College Catalog and the Student Handbook which are also available on the college website.

Credit Policies

Definition

Credit is a unit of measure assigned to courses or course equivalent learning. The types of postsecondary credit authorized are:

1. College Credit. College credit is the type of credit assigned by Florida College System institutions to courses or course equivalent learning that is part of an organized and specified program leading to a baccalaureate, associate degree, certificate, or Applied Technology Diploma pursuant to the stipulations in subsections 6A-14.030(5)-(8), F.A.C. One (1) college credit is based on the learning expected from the equivalent of fifteen (15) fifty-minute periods of classroom instruction; with credits for such activities as laboratory instruction, internships, and clinical experience determined by the institution based on the proportion of direct instruction to the laboratory exercise, internship hours, or clinical practice hours.

   1. Lower division college credit. Lower division college credit is assigned to college credit courses offered to freshmen and sophomores (1000 and 2000 level courses).

   2. Upper division college credit. Upper division college credit is assigned to college credit courses offered to juniors and seniors (3000 and 4000 level courses).

2. Clock Hour. A clock hour is the unit assigned to courses or course equivalent learning that is part of an organized and specified program leading to a Career and Technical Certificate or Applied Technology Diploma pursuant to the stipulations in subsections 6A-14.030(6), (9), F.A.C. It applies to postsecondary adult career courses as defined in Section 1004.02(26), F.S. One (1) clock hour is based on the learning expected from the equivalent of thirty (30) hours of instruction. For purposes of Title IV Student Aid Programs under the Higher Education Act, colleges should defer to Title 34 Section 688 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

3. Developmental credit. Developmental credit is the type of credit assigned by Florida College System institutions to courses that provide degree seeking students who wish to enroll in college credit courses with additional academic preparation determined to be needed pursuant to Rule 6A-10.0315, F.A.C. One (1) developmental credit is based on the learning expected from the equivalent of fifteen (15) fifty-minute periods of classroom instruction. Developmental courses provide competency-based instruction to develop college entry competencies in the communication and computation skills described in Rule 6A-10.0319, F.A.C.

4. Institutional credit. Institutional credit is postsecondary credit that is competency-based. Institutional credit is not guaranteed to automatically transfer.

5. Noncredit. Noncredit is a term indicating that credit, as defined herein, is not awarded. It applies to the instructional classifications of noncredit continuing education, adult general education, citizenship, recreational, community education, and community instructional services. The unit of measure is hours of instruction.

Nontraditional and Accelerated Credit

There are many areas of nontraditional learning which may allow for the awarding of college credit. Below are a few of them. Also, the College offers opportunities for academic enrichment and accelerated education. Students should see the academic and admissions sections of this catalog for further information on other areas.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a series of examinations developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) that allows students to demonstrate competency in certain subjects and earn college credit for those courses without attending classes. Credits are recorded with no grades or quality points given. These credits do not affect a student’s grade point average.

The CLEP exams are administered at any center authorized by the College Entrance Examination Board. The student is required to provide their official test scores to the Office of Enrollment Services in Building 015.

The following conditions apply to the acceptance of CLEP credit:

1. Credit for CLEP examinations is awarded based upon the State Articulation Coordinating Committee (ACC) credit by exam guidelines for state universities and Florida college system institutions. Examinations are designed to give credit for knowledge acquired by nontraditional means, such as special interest or self-directed study. Consult Advising Services for further information.
2. Up to 45 credits of coursework may be earned through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).
3. CLEP credits awarded will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
4. No credit will be given for courses not offered through the College on exams administered prior to July 1, 2001.
5. No more than six semester credits shall be transferred in each of the five areas of the general examination on exams administered prior to July 1, 2001.
6. Credit for examinations may be earned in those courses where students have not already earned academic credit.
7. The institution will comply with all applicable state regulations regarding CLEP.

Advanced Placement (AP)

The College allows students to receive credit for Advanced Placement (AP) courses taken in high school. Credits are recorded with no grades or quality points given. These credits do not affect a student’s grade point average.

The student is required to provide their official test scores to the Office of Enrollment Services in Building 015.

The following conditions apply to the acceptance of AP credit:

1. A student must have passed the Advanced Placement (AP) exam in his or her particular subject area(s) with a score of 3, 4, or 5.
2. Credit for AP examinations is awarded based upon the State Articulation Coordinating Committee (ACC) credit by exam guidelines for state universities and Florida college system institutions.
3. Up to 45 credits of coursework may be earned through AP exam credit.
4. AP credits awarded will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
5. Credit for examinations may be earned in those courses where students have not already earned academic credit.
6. The institution will comply with all applicable state regulations regarding AP credit.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is a challenging curriculum offered in high schools around the world, which provides an opportunity for high school students to earn college credit. Credits are recorded with no grades or quality points given. These credits do not affect a student’s grade point average.

The student is required to provide their official test scores to the Office of Enrollment Services in Building 015.

The following conditions apply to the acceptance of IB credit:

1. A student must have passed the International Baccalaureate (IB) exam in his or her particular subject area(s) with a score of 4 or higher.
2. Credit for IB examinations is awarded based upon the State Articulation Coordinating Committee (ACC) credit by exam guidelines for state universities and Florida college system institutions.
3. Up to 45 credits of coursework may be earned through IB exam credit.
4. IB credits awarded will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
5. Credit for examinations may be earned in those courses where students have not already earned academic credit.
6. The institution will comply with all applicable state regulations regarding IB credit.

Cambridge AICE (AICE) Credit

The Cambridge AICE (AICE) program is an international, advanced secondary curriculum and assessment program equivalent to the British system of “A-Levels”. Credits are recorded with no grades or quality points given. These credits do not affect a student’s grade point average.

The student is required to provide their official test scores to the Office of Enrollment Services in Building 015.

The following conditions apply to the acceptance of AICE credit:

1. A student must have passed the AICE exam in his or her particular subject area(s) with a score of A, B, C, D, or E. Grades are not based on the American A-F grading scale.
2. Credit for AICE examinations is awarded based upon the State Articulation Coordinating Committee (ACC) credit by exam guidelines for state universities and Florida college system institutions.
3. Up to 45 credits of coursework may be earned through AICE exam credit.
4. AICE credits awarded will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
5. Credit for examinations may be earned in those courses where students have not already earned academic credit.
6. The institution will comply with all applicable state regulations regarding AICE credit.

Recognition of Experiential Learning

Florida Gateway College will award college credit for experiential learning, under the following procedure. Students with sufficient learning can have that knowledge recognized by documenting their learning activities and receiving college credit. Up to 25 percent of a student’s program may be granted for nontraditional learning. A student must be enrolled in one of the College’s degree or certificate programs and the credits the student seeks must be applicable to that program. Credit is awarded on a course by course basis. Credits can only be awarded in courses in the current course inventory at Florida Gateway College.

To seek college credit for experiential learning, the student must first complete an Application for Preliminary Evaluation of Experiential Learning and forward it to the director of the appropriate instructional division. The course listed in the Florida Gateway College catalog for which the student is seeking credit will be specified by the student in this application. A separate application is required for each course for which the student is seeking credit. If the application is accepted, the student will be notified of acceptance. Assessment may involve written or performance tests, preparation of a portfolio, evaluation of certificates/licenses, interviews with faculty members, and review of external agency recommendations (ACE, AIB, PONSI, etc.). The appropriate academic vice president or division director and faculty member will determine the method of evaluation. There will be an assessment fee of $100 per course. The fee must be paid when the application is submitted. The credit, if awarded, will appear on a student’s transcript as transfer work, and will reflect only S (Satisfactory) and U (Unsatisfactory) grades, which will not be figured into a cumulative average.

If the student must assemble an experiential portfolio, the portfolio must contain evidence of scholarship or work experience that involved the mastery of the expected learning outcomes of the course for which credit is applied. In each case, the portfolio will be an individually assembled body of evidence that supports the claims of course learning mastery. When completed, the portfolio will be reviewed by a committee in the specific discipline, and, if the portfolio is accepted, the appropriate credits will be granted, on a S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory) basis.

The College reserves the sole right to determine experiential learning applicability to Florida Gateway College courses. For more information regarding recognition of experiential learning, contact the Office of Enrollment Services in Building 015 at (386) 754-4280.

Military Credit

Veterans may be eligible to receive college credit for training and/or other courses completed during their military service. A student may request an evaluation of his or her educational experience while in the military through application to the Office of Enrollment Services. The College generally follows the American Council of Education evaluation guide when evaluating armed services coursework, but reserves the right to be the sole determinant of courses applicable for college credit. Credit will be accepted when it applies to a student’s program of study and when it is comparable in content, credit, and value to a course offered at Florida Gateway College.

Other Articulated Credit

As authorized by the state of Florida, students in certain programs who have demonstrated appropriate knowledge and training by obtaining state licensures, industry certifications, or passing state exams may be eligible for the award of articulated credit toward those programs at FGC, as shown in the program requirement section of the catalog. The appropriate academic area will determine if a student has met all requirements to be eligible for the articulated credit. If so, the appropriate form, authorizing award of the articulated credit or industry certification credit, will be initiated by the academic department. Upon approval of the academic vice president or designee, the form is submitted to the Office of Enrollment Services to process the award of credit.

Transfer Credit

Upon receipt of official transcripts from all institutions attended, testing agencies, or department of military services, the Office of Enrollment Services will evaluate the transcripts to determine acceptance and application of transfer credit. It is the student’s responsibility to provide all official transcripts. Students should provide unofficial transcripts for advising purposes.

Evaluation of transcripts from international institutions will be considered only when accompanied by an official transcript evaluation from an approved foreign credit evaluation service. Contact the Office of Enrollment Services for more information at (386) 754-4280.

FGC does not accept credit based upon another institution’s award of transfer or articulated credit.

All transfer credit awarded by FGC will be noted on the student’s transcript.

The decision as to the acceptance of transfer credits will be based on the regional accreditation status of the college. If a college is regionally accredited, FGC will normally accept the credit. There is no differentiation between courses taken on site or online.

All developmental, freshman and sophomore level courses attempted at the prior institution will be evaluated for degree-seeking students. For students requesting admission into a baccalaureate program, 3000 and 4000 level courses also will be evaluated. Only courses relevant to the individual baccalaureate degree, AS, AAS, ATD or certificate program will apply toward those program requirements. Courses taken as part of an A.S., A.A.S., or certificate program and clearly related to specific occupational or professional training, including courses leading to professional licenses or certifications, ordinarily will not apply toward an A.A. degree or an unrelated baccalaureate degree, including acceptance as elective credit. Once applied to the student record, transfer courses will not be removed.

FGC ordinarily will not accept credit for transfer purposes from a non-regionally accredited institution (“transfer institution”), even if the institution has another type of accreditation. There is no differentiation between courses taken on site or online.

Section 1007.24(6), Florida Statutes (F.S.), states that, “Non-public colleges and schools that are fully accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education… . may participate in the statewide course numbering system.” Furthermore, Section 1007.24 (7), F.S., guarantees the transfer of credit between all participating institutions.

Any student who transfers among postsecondary institutions that are fully accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and that participate in the statewide course numbering system shall be awarded credit by the receiving institution for courses satisfactorily completed by the student at the previous institutions based upon Florida Gateway College’s guidelines for transfer credit.

A student wishing to appeal the decision of transferability of a course should contact the Office of Enrollment Services regarding additional requirements. A student will be required to provide additional documentation as to the content and quality of the course and faculty credentials.

To graduate from Florida Gateway College, a transfer student must complete at least 25 percent of program credits through coursework at FGC before graduation.

A student’s cumulative GPA is calculated from the courses transferred in and the earned hours at Florida Gateway College.

Transfer credits awarded shall be determined based upon whether the course was quarter hours or semester hours. If the course was quarter hours, the credit awarded shall be converted to the equivalent semester hours. Due to the conversion from quarter hours to semester hours, a student may be lacking a portion of the hours required, either as general education or subject area requirements. In this case, the student will be required to take a course in the appropriate general education area or subject area to make up any credit hour deficiencies.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS)

MOOCS represent one alternative method for learning important information, and especially for developing skills in reading, writing and mathematics.  However, MOOCS cannot be directly transferred to FGC for credit granting purposes. Students seeking credit for a MOOC must communicate with the relevant credit granting institution, and if applicable and appropriate, request that the institution consider awarding that institution’s credit for the completed MOOC. All such institutional credit awarded on that institution’s transcript will be evaluated for award of transfer credit by FGC, pursuant to FGC’s transfer credit practices. It is the student’s responsibility to provide all official transcripts.

The above process is also required in order for FGC to evaluate and consider award of credit for online coursework taken at other online providers. This also applies to coursework recognized by the American Council of Education (ACE), with the exception of military credit, as identified above.

Distance Learning

Online Courses

You can use the Internet to learn and complete courses, and eventually whole degree programs, while working from your own space. As you take courses, you will meet students, create friendships, and get to know your instructors, all from the comfort of your own work space and at times that work for you.

If you are disciplined, self-motivated, and have a working knowledge of computers and the Internet, our online courses may be a good fit for you. To take an online course, you will need an e-mail account, an Internet connection, and a computer. Online courses are offered through Canvas, a web-based learning management system that contains tools for distance education, such as course content and assignments, a discussion board for collaboration and communication, assignment boxes for submission of homework, and much more. All online courses are instructor-led and offer the same content and rigor of a traditional campus course, such as exams and assignments with due dates. Instructors use a variety of learning methods and assignments in online courses just as they do in a traditional campus course. You may access your online course at  https://fgc.instructure.com. These courses are identified in the schedule with 0I# as the section.

Hybrid Courses

Hybrid courses are courses that combine traditional meeting times on campus with online coursework available in Canvas. In order to take this type of course, students should be familiar with online learning, should have access to a computer with Internet capability, and should have the ability to attend on campus classes on the days prescribed by the instructor. Many of these courses meet only once per week, or perhaps only meet a select number of times during the semester. These courses are identified in the schedule with HI# as the section.

Synchronous Courses

These courses allow students and teachers to interact in real time over the internet. Some online and hybrid courses use a synchronous tool to enhance communication with students. These courses require specific meeting times on campus and/or over the internet. These courses are identified in the schedule with I4# and H4# as the section.

Independent Study

A student wishing to take independent study courses may seek to enroll in either Special Independent Study or Directed Independent Study. The student must secure an Application for Independent Study form from the appropriate division office and submit it to the appropriate instructor and appropriate academic vice president or program director for approval.

Special Independent Study courses are offered when a student is unable to register for a needed regularly offered course due to one of the following reasons: medical, required course for graduation not being offered, a required course was canceled because of insufficient enrollment, or a student is in his/her last semester and has been unable to register for a course required for graduation. Directed Independent Study courses are especially designed to allow a student to pursue a particular topic or subject, under the guidance of a qualified instructor.

The student taking an independent study course works on his/her own to achieve mastery of the material in the course. Periodic conferences are scheduled with the instructor for tutorials and exams, and to ensure that satisfactory progress is being made.

A student may begin an independent study program only after receipt of approval from the instructor and appropriate vice president. The instructor will specify the testing, attendance, term paper, and other requirements of the class. The regular grading system applies to all independent study students. Grades earned through independent study have the same effect as those earned through regular classroom instruction.

Students must register through the Office of Enrollment Services for independent study classes as they do for all other classes, before the end of the add/drop period.

Educational Funding Programs

Florida Gateway College manages a number of state and federal services available to assist students in funding their education and/or training. All programs are coordinated with each other and with other financial aid to maximize service, yet prevent duplication in funding.

Wages

Assists persons who are no longer eligible for public assistance in finding work. Services may include work placement, skill training, occupational training, on-the-job training, childcare, travel, and other support services. Check eligibility with the WAGES office at your local Department of Children and Families offices.

Career Pathways

Assists the communities with high school to college transition of occupational classes, decreasing the possibility of repetition of coursework. Coordinates and supports preparation of middle and high school students in technical content areas. Funding supports delivery of program, not individual student funding. Articulation agreements between the school districts and the College are in place to provide students with:

1. college credit for some occupational education in high school,
2. credit by examination,
3. advanced placement in college programs, or
4. preferential admission to selective admission programs.

For more information, please contact the Education and Training Specialist.

Library

The Wilson S. Rivers Library and Media Center is the newest building on campus and houses the library and media divisions of Florida Gateway College. The library contains a collection of thousands of catalogued books, ebooks, DVDs, CDs, microfilm and original art.

The library has more than 70 computers for student access, as well as wi-fi. The H&H Cafe offers coffee and other beverages, snacks, and sandwiches for purchase. There are five study rooms available for students to encourage individual and group study. Digital microform readers, black & white printing and photocopy machines are also available.

Registered students have online access 24/7 to millions of journal articles and many full-text databases. These are available through the FGC website, www.fgc.edu. A Student ID is required to use library services. The library orientation offers a guide to navigating the databases, and is often required for students to complete. This orientation worksheet is also available on the FGC Library website.

The library maintains cooperative agreements with the public libraries in each of the counties of its district. This provides students with local library support, Internet access to electronic databases, and Reserve services.

The library maintains convenient day and evening hours to support student, faculty, and community needs.

Academic Standards of Progress

All students are expected to maintain progress toward achievement of their academic goals. Students who do not attain Florida Gateway College’s standards of progress are subject to academic warning, academic probation, academic suspension, or academic dismissal, which will be notated on the student’s academic transcript.

A student’s progress will be determined at Florida Gateway College by the relationship of credits of coursework attempted to grade points earned. For each credit hour of A, 4 grade points are earned; for each credit hour of B+, 3.5 points; for each credit hour of B, 3 points; for each credit hour of C+, 2.5 points; for each credit hour of C, 2 points; for each credit hour of D+, 1.5 points; for each credit hour of D, 1 point. No points are earned for any other grades.

To remain in good standing and progress toward an educational goal, a student must earn the grade points necessary to maintain a 2.0 (C) cumulative grade point average (GPA). For a further explanation of how to calculate a GPA, see the section on Grading Policies.

Academic Warning, Probation and Suspension

All students must exhibit sufficient academic progress. Students who do not comply with Florida Gateway College’s standards of progress are subject to academic warning, academic probation, academic suspension, and/or academic dismissal. For these purposes, a student’s cumulative GPA includes all courses taken at Florida Gateway College and any coursework transferred from other colleges.

Warning: A student who does not maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA will be placed in academic warning status.

Probation: A student who does not maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA for two consecutive semesters will be placed in academic probation status. Students in this category will not be allowed to register for more than 13 credits. A student on probation who achieves a 2.0 GPA each semester/term will remain on academic probation until their cumulative GPA is at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Suspension: A student on academic probation who does not achieve a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in each semester will be suspended from the College. Students who are suspended from the College will not be allowed to attend any classes until after the next full fall, spring, or summer semester.

Readmittance After Suspension

Students who are suspended from the College may return after remaining out for one semester. Upon return, they will be placed on probationary status. If they achieve a 2.0 GPA for the first semester, they will again be subject to probation procedures. Reinstatement after academic suspension does not reinstate federal financial aid.

Academic Dismissal

This represents a separation of students from the College for at least one year. Academic dismissal occurs if a student returning from suspension fails to maintain a 2.0 GPA for the first semester after returning.

Students are eligible to apply for readmission to the College after the dismissal period. Admission will be on a petition basis. In order for readmission to be approved, the petition must present evidence of some change in the student’s circumstances. Upon return, students will be placed in a probationary status. If they achieve a 2.00 GPA for the first semester, they will again be subject to regular probation procedures. If a 2.00 GPA is not earned in the first semester, the student will be placed on academic dismissal. Reinstatement after academic dismissal does not reinstate federal financial aid.

Requests to exceed the maximum credit hours for a student on academic probation or to reduce the non-enrollment period for academic suspension and academic dismissal should be submitted to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs.

Continuous Enrollment in Developmental Education Classes

Students who are not exempt from placement testing and who score into developmental education classes through their placement test scores must be continuously enrolled in at least one development education class in each term of enrollment until all required developmental education courses are completed with a grade of C or better.

Students who are enrolled in developmental education class(es) and drop all of their developmental education classes must be dis-enrolled from all classes for that semester.

Students, who enroll in classes, which include developmental education classes, can withdraw from any or all developmental education classes only at the end of add/drop and after the student has attended at least one class meeting for which the student is enrolled.

The withdrawal is an attempt and classifies as continual enrollment in developmental education classes.

Excess Hours Advisory Statement

Section 1009.286, Florida Statutes, establishes an “excess hour” surcharge for students seeking baccalaureate degrees at state universities. It is critical that students, including those entering Florida College System institutions, are aware of the potential for additional course fees. For the 2012-2013 academic year and thereafter, “excess hours” are defined as hours that go beyond 110% of the hours required for a baccalaureate degree program. For example, if the length of the program is 120 credit hours, the student may be subject to an excess hour surcharge for any credits attempted beyond 132 credit hours (110% X 120).

All students whose educational plan may include earning a bachelor’s degree should make every effort to enroll in and successfully complete those courses that are required for their intended major on their first attempt. Florida College System students intending to transfer to state universities should identify a major or “transfer program” early and, by the time the student earns 30 semester hours of college credit, be advised of admission requirements for that program, including the approved common prerequisites. Course withdrawals and/or repeats, as well as enrollment in courses nonessential to the intended major, may contribute to a potential excess hours surcharge.

Academic Amnesty

A student who has not attended FGC in the past five preceding academic years may request academic amnesty for one full semester of college work. A student must petition for academic amnesty prior to re-enrolling at FGC or within the first semester of re-enrolling at FGC. Academic amnesty may only be applied to a term in which no grade of “C” or higher was awarded. Academic amnesty may be requested for only one term and will be for all courses in that term.

Academic amnesty will only apply to FGC coursework. Coursework approved for academic amnesty will be excluded from grade point average (GPA) calculations and in determining graduation eligibility. Students who wish to apply for academic amnesty should first discuss the process with an academic advisor to ensure guidelines are met and secure approval.

Academic amnesty is not available to students who have been awarded a FGC degree or certificate. Upon recommendation of the appropriate academic Vice President, an exception may be made to this condition, if the courses taken in the term for which amnesty is being requested were not applicable to the degree or certificate.

See Policy and Procedure 6Hx12:09-37, for additional information and full details. Students should follow the guidelines set forth in the procedure to apply for academic amnesty at Florida Gateway College (FGC).

Students planning to transfer to another college or university are cautioned that the receiving institution may use all grades attempted when computing a GPA for admissions eligibility or for other purposes. Academic amnesty has no effect on the student’s financial aid award history. Academic amnesty has no effect on the calculation of course attempts related to the multiple course attempts surcharge.

Drop/Withdrawal

Students who register for classes are responsible for all fees associated with those classes. Students who decide not to attend or wish to withdraw from a class are responsible for dropping or withdrawing from class by the appropriate published date (see Academic Calendar). Students, who have not been identified by their instructor as never attending, will not be automatically dropped or withdrawn. Any student not dropped or withdrawn by the published date will remain officially registered, liable for all fees, and assigned an earned grade at the end of the semester.

A course may be dropped only during the published add/drop period. The student may drop the course online through MyFGC or by submitting a form through the office of Enrollment Services. Dual Enrollment students should follow the established dual enrollment drop process.

To withdraw from a course, the student must complete the following before the published withdrawal deadline:

1. Complete the Withdrawal form and submit it to your instructor. The instructor should sign the form and fill in the last date of attendance.
2. The student must then meet with an academic advisor, who will sign the form. (Advising Services, Building 014).
3. Submit the form to the Director of Financial Aid or Director’s designees for signature.
4. Take the signed form to the Office of Enrollment Services for processing before the deadline for withdrawal.

A student will be permitted a maximum of two (2) withdrawals per course. Upon the third attempt at any course, the student will not be permitted to withdraw and will receive a grade for the course. Students who take courses off campus or online or have extenuating circumstances that prevent submission of the Withdrawal form in person, must:

1. Obtain the instructor’s authorization and last date of attendance via email
2. Email the advisor a statement requesting a withdrawal from the course and include the instructor’s email with the last date of attendance.
3. The advisor will complete a withdrawal form, attach the emails from the student and instructor in lieu of signatures and forward the form to Financial Aid.
4. A Financial Aid representative will complete and sign the form and forward the form to Enrollment Services to be processed.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the required documents are submitted to the advisor prior to the designated withdrawal deadline and to understand all financial and academic implications of the withdrawal.  Absence from class or merely notifying the professor does not constitute withdrawal. A student who stops attending class without withdrawing will receive a grade from his/her instructor.

Academic Changes

This catalog is meant to portray academic regulations that were in effect at the time the catalog was printed. There may be changes to the courses and/or the programs after the catalog is published. Students are required to work with their advisors to remain knowledgeable about FGC’s requirements as well as transfer requirements.