Academic

All students are expected to read their college email regularly and respond appropriately. If students choose to forward their student email to another email provider, they are still responsible for receiving all college communications. The college also has an Emergency Alert text messaging system. Students can choose to sign up for this service through The Q, the college’s student and faculty portal.

Assessment of Student Learning

Quinsigamond Community College employs the traditional practice of assessment of student learning wherein the quantity of learning is measured by the number of credits (semester hours) earned, and its quality is recognized by an award of a grade for the learning experience. The design of this college practice shall be, so far as practicable, responsive to the needs of students enrolled in a course or program. The status of the student in a program shall be determined by accumulated course grades earned.

Grading Policy

1. The grading policy shall be in conformity with the College mission of access and quality.
2. Grades shall be awarded only for demonstrated student learning.
3. Program goals shall be achieved through successful completion of established learning outcomes of educational experiences in the program.
4. Learning outcomes of educational experiences shall constitute the basis for assessing student learning.
5. The criteria for assessing learning outcomes shall be as objective as possible.

The status of the student may also be indicated by the following designations which will not be computed in the QPA.

I: The student has satisfied the major requirements of the learning experience, as judged by the instructor, and can complete the assigned work by the end of the twelfth week of the following full semester.
I/R: The student has agreed to repeat the course within the following year. Not computed in the QPA until converted to an academic grade.
AU: The student is registered in the learning experience as an audit student. Not computed in the QPA.
W: The student has officially withdrawn on his/her own from the learning experience. Not computed in the QPA.
WA: The student has been withdrawn administratively for failure to fulfill financial or immunization obligations or for medical or disciplinary circumstances. Not computed in the QPA.
X: The student has not officially withdrawn from the learning experience, and the instructor has judged there is insufficient basis for evaluation. The X grade is considered an indication for unsatisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes.
P: The student has satisfactorily completed the learning experience with a C grade or better. Not computed in the QPA but computed in credits attempted.

Grading Regulations

1. The letter grades A,B,C,D,F shall be awarded for learning outcomes for an educational experience achieved through alternate delivery systems only if a QCC faculty member is responsible for the entire experience. The letter grade of P shall be awarded for acceptable learning outcomes for a prior learning experience.
2. The minimal passing grade for developmental courses (courses numbered below 100 level) shall be C.
3. The grade of I will be converted to an academic grade by the end of the twelfth week of the following full semester. Students who have not completed the course requirements by the end of the twelfth week will have the course grade changed to F.
4. When a grade of I is issued, the instructor will indicate on a specified form assignments which will remedy the deficiency, or that the course is to be repeated.
5. This form will be filed in the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar will send the form to the student.
6. If an instructor wishes to use P instead of A,B, or C, he/she must receive written permission from the Academic Vice President at the beginning of the semester.
7. Instructors’ course requirements, expected learning outcomes, methods of evaluation, and attendance policy will be published in writing and will be submitted to students by the end of the first week, or equivalent, of class.
8. Evaluation of the student learning will be made according to the instructor’s stated learning outcomes. Auditors do not receive official grades on examinations or other class assignments although they may be asked to fulfill all course requirements. No change to or from audit status will be permitted after the first ten weeks of class (or equivalent class hours).
9. If a course is repeated, only one grade will be used in computation of the QPA. However, both the original and the second grade earned will remain on the student’s permanent record.
10. Students may add or drop courses during the Add/Drop period, in accordance with the established procedure. The Add/Drop period is posted in the enrollment guide and college calendar.
11. If the student wishes to withdraw prior to the tenth week of class (or the equivalent), he/she may complete the form, obtain the signature of the instructor or their academic advisor and return it to the Registrar’s Office. After the tenth week (or equivalent), the student must get the instructors signature. The instructor will then designate if the student withdrew while passing or withdrew while failing.
12. A student intending to withdraw from a course after the Add/Drop period must do so prior to the last day of classes: Obtaining a withdrawal form from the Registrar’s Office or the Advising Office and return the completed withdrawal form to the Registrar’s Office.
13. Any student who cannot attend classes, take an examination, study, or fulfill work requirements on a particular day due to his or her religious beliefs, shall be excused from such obligations. The student will be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination(s), study, or work requirements.

Grading System

The individual faculty member may determine what numerical equivalent, if any, to assign to the various grade designations. Faculty may use an absolute numerical value or they may grade on the class average. The following table indicates recommended by nonmandatory numerical/letter equivalents for awarding grades. Note: the quality point for each letter grade is a college-wide policy, not merely recommended as a guideline:

Academic Dismissal and Probation

All students matriculating in a degree or certificate program, other than first semester freshmen (cumulatively  enrolled for under 17 credits), must meet the following requirements:

1. First semester freshman (cumulatively enrolled for under 17 credits) who do not meet a minimum QPA of 1.00 will be put on academic probation.
2. Academic probation and dismissal will occur on the basis of the cumulative grade point average.
3. Only courses in which W grades or audits are received will not count in determining full-time and part-time enrollment status.
4. Students who are on probation for two successive semesters are subject to academic dismissal.
5. Academic probation/dismissal will not apply to winter/intersession and summer sessions.
6. All dismissals are subject to review by the Academic Vice President.
7. Students who are academically dismissed from the college may qualify for readmission by the following methods:
8. attending courses as a non-matriculating student, improving their QPA to the minimal acceptable level, and earning a minimum of six credit hours;
9. remain away for one year;
10. petition the Vice President of Academic Affairs for reinstatement.

Academic Standing

“Satisfactory Academic Standing” and “Satisfactory Academic Progress” are synonymous with meeting the standards outlined in Item 2 of Academic Dismissal and Probation. Students on academic probation for one semester meet minimum requirements for good academic standing and satisfactory progress, but if they are on a dismissal status, they will be deemed as not meeting the minimum requirements. A Quality Point Average of 2.00 is the minimal level for graduating in any degree or certificate program.

1. Any student who is academically dismissed may appeal his/her case.
2. The student appealing his/her case does so in writing giving reasons supporting his/ her reinstatement into the College. Directions for filing appeals are mailed with the student’s dismissal notice.
3. If a student’s appeal is granted, and the student is subsequently reinstated to the College, the recommendations of the reinstatement (course load, grade minimums, etc.) must be followed.

Petition Process

If a student believes there are unusual or extenuating circumstances which justify the exemption from an academic regulation (i.e., graduation course requirement), you can obtain a student petition on The Q on the Registrar’s Office pageor the Advising Center (Welcome Center in the HLC). After completing the form, the student should return it directly to the Registrar’s Office. It will be forwarded to the Academic Vice President for a final decision.

Request to Change Study Option

A student can request to change from one degree or certificate program to another by completing a Study Option  Change Request. This form is available in the Admissions Office in the HLC. In order to be approved to change from one academic program to another, the student must meet the minimum academic admissions requirements for the program he/she is requesting to enter. Admission is based on space availability.

Course Changes

Students should have semester course schedules in final form by the end of the registration period. If a student wishes to make a change in the schedule, he/she must contact the Registrar’s Office (Room 152A) or the Advising Center, (Welcome Center in the HLC) during the Add/Drop Period. However, it may not be possible to accommodate every request for a course or section change.

Repeating a Course

If courses are repeated, only one grade will be used in the computation of the QPA. However, both the original and the second grade earned will remain on the permanent record.

Progress Reports

During the eighth week of classes each semester, faculty have the option of submitting a midterm progress grade.  Progress grades are intended only as indicators of progress in specific courses. 

Restricted Courses

To insure the availability of required courses for students enrolled in specific programs, certain courses may be designated as “restricted.”

• Restricted courses will be identified by the Academic Vice President or his/her designee.
• Admission will be prioritized according to criteria set by Academic Vice President/designee as follows:
• Students enrolled in the program;
• Students on the related QCC program waiting list; and other students (with the approval of the Academic Vice President or designee).

Sequential Courses

In curricula where sequential courses must be arranged in the order of difficulty, the beginning courses will present a basic knowledge of the discipline, including the philosophy, techniques, and terminology as appropriate; and the contents of the succeeding courses will be based upon that knowledge.

• A course prerequisite will be established when a body of knowledge or skills level is necessary for a sequential course.
• Any student registered for a course for which he/she does not have the listed prerequisite, will be withdrawn from that course.
• The Instructional Dean or a designee will place the incoming student at the appropriate academic level according to his/her demonstrated performance or achievement.
• In sequential courses, where the first semester course is a prerequisite for the second semester course, a student receiving a 12 week “I” must petition the appropriate Instructional Dean for admittance to the sequential course.
• A matriculating student who has earned credit in a course with a prerequisite may not subsequently enroll in or receive a grade in the prerequisite course.
• The Program Coordinator or designee will annually review course sequencing and prerequisites to assure their continuing validity.

Class Cancelation

From time to time faculty will find it necessary to cancel their class. Notification of class cancellation for both day and evening absences are posted on The Q – the Student & Faculty Portal at www.QCC.edu and outside Room 127 in the Surprenant Building and outside the Registrar’s Office Room 152A in the Administration Building.

Student Honors

Dean’s and Merit Lists

QCC recognizes the academic achievement of its students each semester. Students who meet the following criteria are eligible for recognition:

• All grades must be C or higher (no grades of I or X are permitted)
• Semester QPA must be 3.5 or higher and cumulative QPA must be 2.0 or higher
• All courses must be college-level

Dean’s List: Students who meet the stated criteria and have earned 12 or more credits in a given semester are named to the Dean’s List.
Merit List: Students who meet the stated criteria and have earned 6 or more credits in a given semester but fewer than 12 credits are named to the Merit List.
Individual Honors are noted on the student’s transcript each semester.

Phi Theta Kappa is the international honorary scholastic society for American Community and Junior Colleges. Its purpose is to recognize and encourage scholarship, leadership, fellowship and service among two-year college students. Each semester, a limited number of students who have particularly distinguished
themselves at QCC are inducted into membership.

Who’s Who Among Students in American Community and Junior Colleges is one of the most highly regarded honors programs in the nation, earning the respect of college faculties and administrators. Recognition as one of the outstanding campus leaders in America is a major achievement. Each year, several QCC students are named to Who’s Who.

Graduation Honors

At graduation, QCC honors students for their outstanding academic achievement. Students with a Cumulative Point Average of at least 3.6 prior to graduation qualify for Highest Honors. Students with a Cumulative Point Average of 3.3 or 3.0 prior to graduation qualify for High Honors and Honors, respectively.

Withdrawal Procedure

1. A student intending to withdraw from a course prior to the tenth week of class should:
   1. Obtain a withdrawal form from The Q on the Registrar’s Office page, the Registrar’s Office (152A) or the Advising Office (Welcome Center in the HLC).
   2. Obtain signature from advisor or instructor and return the form to the Registrar’s Office ( Rm. 152A).
2. A student intending to withdraw from a class after the tenth week of class should: Obtain the instructor’s signature and the instructor will designate if the student withdrew while passing or withdrew while failing
3. Students intending to withdraw from the College should: Contact the Advising Staff. Email: advising [at] qcc.mass.edu or phone 508.854.4308. An Advisor will assist student in completing a withdrawal form and discuss possible resources and referrals if appropriate.
4. Students receiving financial aid should: Check with the Financial Aid Office (Rm. 165A) prior to withdrawing to determine the impact the withdrawal will have on their financial aid.

Withdrawal from the College

To officially withdraw from the College, a student must complete a withdrawal form which is available in the Advising Center (Welcome Center in the HLC). Prior to withdrawing, students will be asked to meet with an advisor for an exit interview. If students withdraw after the tenth week and before the last day of classes, they will receive grades from their instructors in accordance with the College’s grading policy.
Students receiving financial aid should check with the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing to determine the impact of their withdrawal on their Financial Aid.

The Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services (Room 133A) receives all requests and documentation to withdraw for medical reasons. The Vice President will consult with appropriate personnel at the College, as well as the medical services provider of the student. After consultation, he/she will inform the student of the decision. If circumstances warrant, a process for future readmission will also be communicated.

Students Called to Active Military Duty

1. Students who are unable to complete a semester because they are called to active United States Military Duty shall, upon verification, be granted the option of a refund or credit of tuition and campus fees. With respect to any health insurance fee, the refund policy is subject to the concurrence of the institutions insurance carrier.
2. Any students who have received any form of Financial Aid, including a full or partial scholarship, or student loan, or who expect to receive such, should contact the Financial Aid Office at their respective institutiion to make appropriate arrangements.
3. Students shall receive non-punitive withdrawals in all courses from which they are required to withdraw.
4. Verification shall be provided by furnishing the Director of Veteran Affairs with a copy of the Order to Active Duty within one week (7 days) of receipt of the Order
5. The institution's President may waive or suspend any institutional policy or regulation that negatively impacts student in their withdrawal or subsequent readmission to the institution, due to a call to active duty.
6. The institution, upon request of a student, should assist the student in filing mitigating circumstances forms with external State or Federal agencies (for example, Veterans Affairs) in an attempt to prevent overpayment charges being made against the student.
7. Any student required to withdraw due to being called to active duty shall be given priority in enrollment in the program of his or her choice, upon return to the institution for the two semesters immediately following his or her discharge from active duty.

CORI & SORI Information

Introduction
Many consumers of services in our Field Placement Sites are particularly vulnerable. Some agencies conduct a very in-depth screening of potential employees to assure the highest quality of care and minimize placing the consumers at additional risk. One procedure used to accomplish this goal is a CORI check. Student interns and potential employees may be required to submit to a CORI check as a condition of employment.

Criminal Offender Record Information and Sex Offender Registry Information Checks

In order for a student to be eligible to participate in an academic, community or clinical program that involves potential unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly, the student may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check and/or a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check. Any student taking a course in the Child Study Center will have a SORI/CORI/Department of Children and Families (DCF) check completed. Students found to have certain criminal convictions, DCF findings, or pending criminal actions will be presumed ineligible to participate in such activities. The College is authorized by the Commonwealth's Criminal History Systems Board, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 6, Sections 167-178B, to access CORI records. The College shall refer to regulations issued by the Commonwealth's Executive Office of Health and Human Services, 101 Code of Massachusetts Regualtions 15.00-15.16, as guidance when assessing student CORI records. Sex Offender checks shall be performed pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 6, Sections 178C-178P.

Clinical Affiliate Random Drug Screening Analysis

Please be advised that students enrolled in the QCC Healthcare programs may be required to undergo and pass a drug screening analysis in order to be eligible for and/or remain at an assigned clinical affiliate of their program. Students who either fail to pass or refuse to submit to a drug screening analysis will be deemed ineligible for clinical placement, which may affect their status in the program. Testing positive for Marijuana, even with Massachusetts medical use card,  is not allowed by the clinical affiliates and school’s liability insurance. If you have any questions pertaining to this policy, please contact the Office of the Dean of Healthcare programs.

Health programs in which students are subject to Drug Screening Analysis: Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Emergency Medical Services, Medical Support Specialist, Nurses Aid, Nurse Education, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy/EKG, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care, and Surgical Technology.

Unanticipated Clinical Exposures to Communicable/Infectious Diseases

Upon notification of exposure, the Program Coordinator, Clinical Coordinator or Dean of Healthcare, shall contact the Clinical Instructor and students impacted by unanticipated clinical exposure, to determine follow-up action.  Participation in clinical activities at the clinical agency may be suspended, while an investigation is pending.  The decision to suspend clinical activities during this time rests with the Program Coordinator, Clinical Coordinator or the Dean of Healthcare. 

The Program Coordinator, Clinical Coordinator or Dean of Healthcare must also report this to the college Health Consultant, who will report this to the college Chief of Police within the same time frame.  When available, full demographic, clinical and epidemiologic information, must be included.

Finger Printing

Students may be required to undergo Finger Printing prior to placement in clinical/field rotations. If there is a cost associated with this request, the student will be responsible for the cost.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Quinsigamond Community College complies fully with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 as amended.

Quinsigamond Community College reserves the right to disclose “directory information” in accordance with regulations published by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare for enforcing the Family Rights and Privacy act of 1974. For the purpose of this institution, “directory information” includes the following information: a student’s name, student’s address, major field of study, dates of attendance, full-time/part-time status, degree and awards received, and participation if officially recognized activities and sports.

For the purpose of this Policy, Quinsigamond Community College uses the following definitions of terms:

Student – Any person who attends, or has attended, Quinsigamond Community College.

Education Records – Any record (in handwriting, print, tapes, film, or other medium) maintained by Quinsigamond Community College, or by a party acting for the College which is directly related to a student, except:

• A personal record kept by a staff member, if it is kept in the personal possession of the individual who made the record, and information contained in the record has never been revealed, or made available to any other person, except the maker’s temporary substitute
• An employment record of an individual whose employment is not contingent on the fact that she, or he, is a student, provided the record is used only in relation to the individual’s employment.
• Records maintained by Quinsigamond Community College Public Safety Department, if the record is maintained solely for law enforcement purposes, is revealed only to law enforcement agencies of the same jurisdiction and the Department does not have access to education records maintained by the College.
• Records maintained by the Health Office, if the records are used only for treatment of a student and made available only to those persons providing the treatment.
• Alumni records which contain information about a student after he or she is no longer in attendance at the College.

Records Directory

Student Notification of Rights

The Family Educational rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access.Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the College official to whom the request was submitted does not maintain the records, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request an amendment of student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading or otherwise in violation of the student' s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask the College to amend should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to provide written consent before the College discloses personally identifiable information from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
4. The right to be notified annually by the College of what student record information the College designates as "directory information," and the right to request that no student information be designated as directory information.

The College identifies the following student information as directory information: a student's name, student's address, major field of study, dates of attendance, full-time/part-time status, degree and awards received, and participation if officially recognized activities and sports.

Directory information may be released by the College to a requesting third-party without a student's prior written consent. A student has the right to request that no student information be designated as directory information. A student must notify the College's Registrar, in writing, within two (2) weeks of the beginning of each academic semester if they do not wish to have any student information designated as directory information.

Notwithstanding the College's definition of directory information, the Department of Defense (the “DOD”), pursuant to the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (the “Solomon Amendment”), identifies the following information as “student recruiting information”:  NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE LISTING, AGE (or year of birth), PLACE OF BIRTH, LEVEL OF EDUCATION (e.g., freshman, sophomore), DEGREE AWARDED, MOST RECENT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION ATTENDED, and CURRENT MAJOR(S).

If the College receives a request for student recruiting information from the DOD, or one of its affiliated agencies, the College will release the student recruiting information requested.  Because the information sought by the DOD may include information not designated as directory information under the College’s policy, compliance with the DOD’s request may result in the release of personally identifiable information.  When student recruiting information is released pursuant to a DOD request, notice of the request and the release of the information will be posted in a conspicuous location in the College's Registrar's Office for a period equaling one academic year.

If a student has exercised his/her right to request that no information be designated as directory information, then no information shall be released to any third party, including the DOD.

5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.Washington, DC 20202-5901.

Annual Notification

Quinsigamond Community College is required by Section 99.7, of the FERPA Regulations, to provide students annual notification of their FERPA rights. Quinsigamond Community College uses the following methods to notify students annually: Students will be notified of their FERPA rights, annually, by publication in the Student Handbook and College Catalog.

Record of Requests for Disclosure

Quinsigamond Community College will maintain a record of all requests for information from a student’s education records, except when the disclosure was made to:

1. The eligible student.
2. A school official who has been determined to have legitimate educational interest.
3. A party with written consent from the eligible student.
4. A party seeking Directory Information only.

The record will indicate the name of the party making the request, any additional party to whom it may be redisclosed and the legitimate interest the party had in requesting or obtaining the information. The record may be reviewed by the parents or eligible student.

Correction of Education Records

Students have the right to ask to have records corrected that  they believe are inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their privacy rights. Following are the procedures for the correction of records.

1. A student must ask (an appropriate official of) Quinsigamond Community College to amend a record. In so doing, the student should identify the part of the record he or she wants changed and specify why he or she believes it is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of his or her privacy, or other rights.
2. Quinsigamond Community College may comply with the request, or it may decide not to comply. If it decides not to comply, Quinsigamond Community College will notify the student of the decision and advise him or her of his or her right to hearing to challenge the information believed to be inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s rights.
3. Upon request, Quinsigamond Community College will arrange for a hearing and notify the student, reasonably in advance, of the date, place and time of the hearing.
4. The hearing will be conducted by a hearing officer who is a disinterested party; however, the hearing office may be an official of the institution. The student shall be afforded a full and fair opportunity to present evidence relevant to the issues raised in the original request, to amend the student’s education records. The student may be assisted by one or more individuals, including an attorney.
5. Quinsigamond Community College will prepare a written decision based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing. The decision will include a summary of  the evidence presented and the reasons for the decision.
6. If Quinsigamond Community College decides that the challenged information is not inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s right of privacy, it will notify the student that he or she has a right to place in the record a statement commenting on the challenged information and/or a statement setting forth reasons for disagreeing with the decision.
7. The statement will be maintained as part of the student’s education records, as long as the contested portion is maintained. If Quinsigamond Community College discloses the contested portion of the record, it must also disclose the statement.
8. If Quinsigamond Community College decides that the information is inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s right of privacy, it will amend the record and notify the student, in writing, that the record has been amended.

Disclosure of Education Records

Quinsigamond Community College will disclose information from a student’s education records only with the written consent of the student, except:

1. To school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the records. A school official is:
   • A person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research position.
   • A member of the Board of Trustees.
   • A person employed by or acting for the College to perform a special task; such as, the attorney or auditor.
   • A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official is:
   • Performing a task that is specified in his or her position description.
   • Performing a task related to a student’s education.
   • Performing a task related to the discipline of a student.
   • Providing a service or benefit relating to the student or student’s family, such as Health Care, Counseling, Job Placement or Financial Aid.
2. To officials of another school, upon request, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
3. To certain officials of the United States Department of Education, the Comptroller General and state and local educational authorities, in connection with certain state or federally supported education programs.
4. In connection with a student’s request for or receipt of Financial Aid, as necessary to determine the eligibility, amount or conditions of the Financial Aid, or to enforce the terms and conditions of the aid.
5. If required by a state law requiring disclosure that was adopted before November 19,1974.
6. To organizations conducting certain studies for, or on behalf of, the College.
7. To accrediting organizations to carry out their functions.
8. To parents of an eligible student who claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
9. To comply with a judicial order or a lawfully issued subpoena.
10. To appropriate parties in a health or safety emergency.
11. To an alleged victim of any crime of violence of the results of any institutional disciplinary proceeding against the alleged perpetrator of that crime, with respect to that crime.

Retention of Education Records

Quinsigamond Community College adheres to the Massachusetts Statewide Records Retention Schedule relative to the retention of education records. 

Student Admissions/Registration Records are retained for matriculated students for 3 years after graduation or separation from the institution and for applicants who don’t matriculate records are retained for 3 years.  Expulsion Records for matriculated students are retained for 25 years. Academic transcripts for matriculated students are kept forever.

The Financial Aid Office at Quinsigamond Community College adheres to the Massachusetts Office of Student Assistance requirements in regards to record retention.

The following is from the publication by the Massachusetts Office of Student Assistance on Guidelines and Procedures for the Massachusetts State Financial Aid programs.

Notice of Technical Standards

All students are hereby given notice that many Quinsigamond Community College’s programs of study have technical standards. These technical standards specify the physical and/or logistical requirement for completion of the program and/or the internship, externship and for field work.

All qualified students may request a reasonable accommodation in order to complete a technical standard, unless to provide such an accommodation would substantially alter the program and/or impose an undue hardship on the college. Reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to, seeing and hearing devices, voice activated technology, sign language interpreter etc. Any student concerned about his/her ability to satisfy a technical standard, with or without a reasonable accommodation, should immediately contact the Vice President of Academic Affairs at 508.854.4284 or the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) coordinator at 508.854.4475. (Students will be required to sign this document within their program of study)

Health Requirement Deadlines

Students must show evidence of being compliant with the immunization requirements specified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Additional immunization and clinical affiliate requirements will be required in order to be eligible for and/or remain at an assigned clinical affiliate of their program. Students who either fail to submit their completed health files or refuse to maintain immunization and clinical affiliate requirements will be deemed ineligible for clinical placement, which may affect their status in the program.

Students who have not submitted their completed health files by the dates listed below to their respective programs will be removed from program (major) courses and will need to file for readmission into the program for the next available semester.Readmission is always based on space availability. Please review the readmission policy outlined in the QCC Handbook. Deadline dates and programs are listed below:

• Dental Assisting: July 31
• Dental Hygiene: July 6
• Medical Assisting: September 9 and January 8
• Nursing Education: July 20 and January 4
• Occupational Therapy Assistant: July 1
• Paramedic: September 1 and January 19
• Practical Nursing: July 20
• Radiologic Tech: June 1
• Respiratory Care: August 15
• Surgical Technology: August 15

Readmission for Health Programs

Readmission would include students who left their program due to withdrawal or academic/clinical failure.

The following is the general procedure for Readmission for the programs listed below:

• Dental Assisting
• Dental Hygiene***
• EMT-Paramedic
• Medical Support Specialist
• Medical Assisting          
• Nurse Education (Associate Degree in Nursing) ***
• Occupational Therapy Assistant ***
• Practical Nursing***
• Respiratory Care***
• Radiologic Technology***
• Surgical Technology

***Programs have additional requirements that can be found in the respective Program Handbooks.

After withdrawal or dismissal from a health care program, students should immediately contact the Admissions Office to declare a major; e.g., Healthcare. Failure to do this, may affect the students’ future financial aid status.

Students who have been dismissed or administratively withdrawn from a program within the School of Healthcare at Quinsigamond Community College for reasons of “clinically unsafe practice/behavior” or who violate the College’s Student Code of Conduct or Policy on Affirmative Action are not eligible for admission/ readmission to any Healthcare program.

1.Students seeking readmission into the first semester of a program listed should complete a new admissions application (https://www.qcc.edu/application-admission) to the program. Students will need to qualify for the healthcare program. The admissions office will notify the qualified students when they can anticipate starting the program. After a student has the waitlist letter, the qualified student:

1. may choose to remain on the waitlist and not use their one-time readmission.     

2. can meet with the Program Coordinator to establish the steps that must be taken to request their one-time readmission for an earlier start. The student will be required to complete a Request for Readmission Form on which the Program Coordinator will list the specific steps that must be completed prior to consideration for readmission, and will note dates for completion of each step.

2. Students seeking readmission into a subsequent semester of a program listed above must meet with the Program Coordinator to establish the steps that must be taken to request their one-time readmission. The student will be required to complete a Request for Readmission Form on which the Program Coordinator will list the specific steps that must be completed prior to consideration for readmission, and will note dates for completion of each step.

Specific timeline for initiating and completing readmission criteria are detailed in each program’s handbook. A copy of the Request for Readmission Form will then be given to the student and will be made part of the student’s permanent file in the office of the specific program.

Once the student completes the requirements by the date specified and outlined on the Request for Readmission Form, a Review Committee, consisting of faculty member(s) from within the department, will meet and make a recommendation regarding the student’s readmission. This Committee’s recommendation will then be sent to the Dean of Healthcare for recommendation and then to the Vice President of Academic Affairs for a final decision. After the final decision is made, the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs will forward the completed Request for Readmission form to the Admissions Office. The student will then be notified of the decision in a letter from the Admissions Office.​

3. Students should review the Program Handbook for their individual program for dismissal policies prior to requesting readmission to the program.

Specific Health Programs only

4. TEAS (Test for Essential Academic Skills) are required by specific health programs for readmission. The numerical value of the TEAS test used for readmission into the specific health program will be the same as those used for admission into the program. All students reentering a health program must meet the TEAS requirement of the specific health program.​

Students who leave the program after successfully completing Cluster C (ECE 231, 251, 253) must return to the program within one year. If a student remains out longer than 1 year they must repeat ECE 231, 251 and 253 in order to move on to Cluster D ECE 232, 252 and 254.

Plagiarism

Our purpose in the classroom is to seek the truth; this work requires trust and honesty between teacher and student. If we are not honest about what we know and don’t know, our learning will always be impaired. Because our teaching and learning depends on this honest communication, we expect all students to understand what plagiarism is and why it is unacceptable.

Plagiarism means taking someone else’s ideas or words and presenting them as one’s own. The offense can take many forms including cheating on a test, passing in a paper taken from the Internet or from another student, or failing to properly use and credit sources in an essay. Sometimes the issue is subtle, involving getting too much help on an assignment from someone else. In every instance, plagiarism means cheating both oneself and the owner of the source. Since the cheating sabotages a student’s learning experience, consequences range from no credit for the assignment to failure for the course and possible expulsion from the college.

See Plagiarism in Code of Conduct for more information