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What is the difference
between the Catalog and the Credit Course Schedule? |
The Westchester Community College Catalog
lists all courses for specific curricula or courses of study. A
student's obligation or contract with the college is to fulfill the
requirements of the catalog of the year of entry to the college. The
Credit Course Schedule, sometimes called the Schedule of Instruction (SOI),
lists all courses offered during a particular semester.
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What does Core Curriculum
mean? |
Westchester Community College mandates
"common curriculum experiences stressing those areas of knowledge and
skill which form a base for establishing lifelong learning patterns."
The College has established two core curricula, one for the A.A. and A.S.
degrees and the other for the A.A.S. degree. Consult your Catalog or
Academic Advisor for further information. Top |
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Which courses fulfill the
Humanities, Behavioral Sciences and Social Sciences course requirements?
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Humanities are
those courses listed under Arts, Dance, Drama, Film, Music, Philosophy,
Foreign Language and, in the Humanities Curriculum, Literature.
Behavioral Sciences are those courses listed under Anthropology,
Psychology and Sociology, and Introduction to Social Science I. Social
Sciences are those courses listed under Economics, Geography, History,
Political Sciences and Introduction to Social Science II.
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Are Mathematics and Science
courses required? |
Yes. For the
A.A. and A.S. degree, two Mathematics and two Science courses are
required. For the A.A.S. degree, one Mathematics and two Science courses
or two Mathematics and one Science course are required.
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Is there a Foreign Language
requirement? |
Some curricula
either require or recommend Foreign Language courses. Consult your
Catalog or Faculty Advisor. Top |
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I am fluent in another
language. Can I test out of that language and use the test results for
Humanities credit? |
Yes. Please
contact the Counseling Department for information about College Level
Examination Placement exams (CLEP). Top |
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Do you give credit for "Life
Experience"? |
Westchester Community College does not
give credit for "Life Experience"; however, credit may be available at
the four-year College when you transfer.
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What are the entry
requirements for college level English and Mathematics courses?
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All students
wishing to earn a degree are required to take placement tests and write
an essay prior to enrolling in English and Mathematics courses. The
scores from these tests will indicate whether or not you have the
required skills to enter college level credit classes and which courses
you will be permitted to take. Testing covers reading, writing,
numerical skills and algebra, as well as an essay on a topic determined
by the examiners. Top |
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I am required to take
college preparatory courses; do they count toward graduation?
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Only ESL
Advanced Writing and Advanced Reading count toward graduation as free
electives. However, they may not transfer to four-year institutions.
Other preparatory courses DO NOT COUNT toward graduation but will appear
on your transcript together with the grade for the course. They are also
used to determine enrollment status and financial aid eligibility.
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How do I know which
non-credit or credit courses I am required to take? |
It depends on
your test scores. You will be given your essay and placement results
shortly after completing the tests. It is required that you enroll in
skills courses, if necessary, prior to taking English and Mathematics
college level courses. See your Academic Advisor for more information.
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I have taken Basic Skills
courses at another college. My scores on the WCC placement tests were
below the "cut off." Do I still have to take the preparatory courses?
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All students
who score below the "cut off" on various tests of the placement exam
must take the required course even though they have already taken a
similar course at another college. You may not proceed to the college
level course until a satisfactory grade in the preparatory course is
achieved. Top |
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May I transfer my courses
from my other college? |
You may
transfer a maximum of 32 credits as long as they are C grade or better
and are the grade point equivalent of 2.0. Top |
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I am a transfer student
from another college. When will my transfer credits be evaluated? |
If you are a
new student, you should send your college transcript from the other
college to the Admissions Office or to the Registrar's Office if you
have been at Westchester Community College for some time. You must then request that your
transcript be evaluated. Top |
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I went to see an advisor
and my transfer credits were not listed on my transcript by name. What
should I do? |
The names of
your transferred courses will not appear on your Westchester Community College transcript. Bring
your own copy of your former college's transcript or Westchester Community College's Statement of
Transfer Credits every time you see an advisor for advisement so that
you can receive appropriate help. Top |
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If I change majors, is it
necessary to reevaluate my transfer transcript? |
Yes. Request
that your transcript be sent to your new Curriculum Chairperson.
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After graduating from Westchester Community College
I intend to transfer to a four-year school. At what point do I start
this process? |
It is
recommended that you start looking into the process and exploring your
plans as early as possible. The Transfer Office, your Counselor and
Curriculum Chairperson can assist you with your decision.
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How many credits may I
take in one semester? |
If you are a
full time student, you may take up to 19 credits. On rare occasions,
permission to take more may be obtained from the Associate Dean and the
Curriculum Chairperson. Part-time students may take up to 11 credits.
Students may not register for more than 12 credits during the summer or
more than 6 in one session without special permission from the
appropriate Associate Dean and the Curriculum Chairperson.
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How do I get special
permission for a course overload? |
Westchester Community College does not
endorse overloading of classes. If you have a concern see your Academic
Advisor or the appropriate Associate Dean. Top |
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How much time after
classes begin do I have to change a class? |
One week. We
call this the Add/Drop time. If you are dropping a class, no refunds
will be given after the third week of class. Top |
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Why can't I switch my
class to a different professor once the Add/Drop time limit has
elapsed?
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It is
official College policy that at the closing of the Add/Drop time, no
further changes may be made or processed. Top |
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What are the standards
for Academic Dismissal? |
A student,
either matriculated or non-matriculated, whose
academic record does not meet college standards (see chart below) shall be
Academically
Dismissed and may subsequently register for a maximum of eight (8) charged
credits per semester, after meeting with a member of the counseling
department. A matriculated student's status is changed to
non-matriculated. Dismissed students may not take advantage of early
registration.
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Academic Standards
for Dismissal * |
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Cumulative
Credits Attempted |
Cumulative
GPA |
12-31
32-47
48 or more |
below 1.00
below 1.50
below 1.75 |
* When
the semester and the cumulative GPA's each yield a different academic
status, the more severe status will have priority.
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I need to be reinstated.
What is the procedure? |
Students may be
reinstated (and thereby regain matriculated status and the right to take
more than eight charged credits):
- By raising their academic averages to
satisfactory levels (by repeating or taking new courses) students are
automatically reinstated in to the former curriculum.**
Alternatively, after raising their averages, students may work with
the counseling office to transfer to a new curriculum.**
- By working with the counseling office,
a student may petition the right for reinstatement to a former or new
curriculum. Where circumstances warrant, a student may be accepted
back into full-time matriculated status or may accept a student into
an academically restricted status.
Note: Reinstatement
into a curriculum does not automatically mean Financial Aid
reinstatement, since some Financial Aid programs are governed by
independent standards.
** Reinstatement or
entry to Nursing, Dietetic Technology, Respiratory Therapy, Radiologic
Technology, and Human Services requires the permission of the curriculum
chair.
(please see the
current college catalog for more details)
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What happens if I fail a
course? |
You must repeat
the course if it is required for graduation. You may repeat any course
in which you received an F. Your failing grade will always remain on
your transcript but your new grade will be the grade used in computing
your GPA. However, a four-year college may recompute the average
including the F grade. All CUNY institutions recompute. Courses repeated
after graduation will not change the graduation average.
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Can I repeat courses if
my grades are weak? |
On a one-time
basis, students may repeat courses they have completed with a grade of D
or F. Taking a course more than twice requires the approval of your
Curriculum Chairperson, Associate Dean or a Counselor. Repeating a
course in which a grade of C or better was earned also requires
approval. Your financial aid may be affected. Top |
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I need tutoring. Is help
available on campus? |
Help is
available through the Academic Support Center. Subject tutorials are
also available. Speak with your instructor about your needs. Look for
the brochure "Don't Drop Out, Drop In" which is available throughout the
campus or see your Counselor. Top |
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I received an Incomplete.
What do I do? |
Speak to your
instructor about why you received an Incomplete. You have one semester
to complete the work of the course.
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How do I change my major?
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You may change
your major by seeing a Counselor who will give you the form to take to
the Curriculum Chairperson and the Registrar's Office.
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How do I file for
graduation? |
You must file
for graduation in the Registrar's Office usually by the end February for
the May Commencement Exercises. Students who complete their graduation
requirements in the summer or at the end of the fall semester are
invited to participate in the Commencement ceremony the following May.
It is important to see your Curriculum Chairperson to make sure that you
have fulfilled the requirements to graduate.
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If I want to stop
attending a class, must I withdraw officially? |
Absolutely. You
may withdraw from a course without penalty during the first nine weeks
of the semester by completing a withdrawal form, having it signed by
your instructor or a counselor and bringing it to the Registrar's
Office. After that time, see your Counselor. Top |
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The withdrawal date has
passed and I have to leave the college. What should I do?
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You may
withdraw from the college without penalty up until the last day of
classes before final exam week. See your Counselor for information about
withdrawing and/or taking a leave of absence.
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How do I know who my
advisor is? |
Contact the
Counseling Office for assistance in making an appointment to see a
Counselor for academic advisement or to find out who your Faculty
Chairperson is. Top |
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I have some special
needs. Where do I go for help? |
The following
services are available: Career and Transfer Counseling, Academic and
Personal Counseling, Disability Services, Financial Aid, International
Student Services, Honors Program, Student Activities, Women's Forum and
more. See your Counselor for additional assistance. Top |
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I have additional
questions. Where can I find more information? |
See the Westchester Community College
catalog and the Credit Course Schedule and/or go to the Counseling
Office, Room 217 in the Student Center, for additional assistance.
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PLEASE NOTE: These policies are subject to change.
See the Westchester Community College Catalog and the Credit Course Schedule book.
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