Grading System

The grading system at Brookdale is as follows:

A student’s term grade point average is computed by multiplying credits times grade points and dividing the total by the number of credits attempted. For example: If a student got an A in a 3 credit course, a B in a 4 credit course and a C in a 3 credit course the total amount of grade points = 4.0 x 3 = 12 + 3.0 x 4 = 12 + 2.0 x 3 = 6 = 30 and the GPA = 30/10 = 3.0.

Pass/No Credit Option for Above Zero-Level Courses

A student may take a course at the 100 level or higher on a Pass/No Credit basis. A grade of “Pass” is earned if the student completes the course at the “Satisfactory” (C) level or above. A grade of “No Credit” is recorded if the student fails the course or completes the course at the “Marginal” (D) level. A student may change from Pass/No Credit to the A-F grade option or from the A-F grade option to Pass/No Credit, up to the end of the third week of the Fall or Spring Terms or 20% of any shorter term. A maximum of two courses (maximum eight credits) taken on a Pass/No Credit basis may be used toward the degree. This option may not be used for a course in the student’s major.

Incomplete

An Incomplete (INC) may be assigned at the discretion of the course faculty for students who have extraordinary circumstances of documented hardship or emergency. These are students who have been actively participating throughout the term and have completed a significant portion of the course in a satisfactory manner but approach the end of the term without completing all assignments. The following process should be followed:

• The student contacts the faculty member with the appropriate documentation.

• The incomplete contract is completed by the faculty member and must be signed by both the faculty member and the student.

• Students will be notified by email to check their grades and to speak to their counselor about the impact of the incomplete.

• All course work should be completed by the twenty-first (21st) day after the end of the current semester, exclusive of official College closings.

• When a student completes the work satisfactorily, the faculty member will submit a change of grade.

• If work is not completed satisfactorily, the Registrar will change the INC to an F. Students will be notified by email.

• For the purpose of calculating academic standing, the INC will be treated as an F.

Withdrawal

Students are allowed to withdraw from a course, without academic penalty until four-fifths of the course or semester has been completed (i.e., the twelfth week of a fifteen week course). Review the Important Term Dates found on the Brookdale website under the Admissions and Aid tab for term specific dates. Students must officially withdraw by completing an add/drop form in the Registration Office or online if eligible, or they will not be dropped from the class. Students wanting to withdraw from foundational studies (zero level) classes must get approval from a Counselor or Advisor.

Financial Aid students should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing since it may affect current and/or future aid.

Audit

A student who wishes to attend a class but does not want to receive credit or a grade may register for the class and request permission to audit the class. All tuition and applicable fees are charged for the course. Students may not change from credit to audit or from audit to credit after the end of the Add/Drop period. See the Important Dates for specific end dates.

Repetition

If a course is repeated, both grades will appear on the transcript but only the higher grade will be included in the GPA calculation.

Changing Grades

If a student thinks a grade received was not a true representation of efforts, then the student should consult with the faculty member. If a decision to change the grade is made, then the faculty member will submit a change of grade form. Check student on-line information from WebAdvisor a few weeks later to make sure the new grade is properly recorded on the student transcript. If not, contact the faculty member or Institute office for assistance.

Grade Changes - Time Limit

Grade changes should be made as soon as an error is detected or an appeal is granted. All grade changes must be submitted in person, within one (1) year of the original grade assignment, to the Registrar’s Office by the instructor or a representative from the appropriate Institute Office. All grade changes exceeding the one (1) year time limit require the Institute Dean’s and Vice President for Learning’s written approval. Students are responsible for accessing their grades through their WebAdvisor accounts from the MyBrookdale tab on the Brookdale home page.

Dean’s List Criteria

Full-Time and Part-Time Students

The Office of the Vice President for Learning will compile the Dean’s List at the conclusion of each long term for full-time students and during the summer months for part-time students.

Following is the eligibilty criteria for the Dean’s List:

1. The student must be a matriculated student.

2. They are in good academic standing.

3. They have completed 12 college-level credits or more in any long term.

4. They have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.5.

5. They have achieved a C grade or higher in every class.

Any grade of W or NC disqualifies a student from the Dean’s List. Foundational studies courses do no apply to Dean’s List for consideration. Dean’s List will be compiled immediately following the deadline for completion of INC grades. Grades changed after this deadline are ineligible for Dean’s List Consideration.

Part-time students who have a total of at least 12-college level credits from July to June, and have met the grading standards noted above are eligible for Part-time Dean’s List. Students enrolled for 12+ college level credits during the long terms, in the July to June period, would not be eligible for Part-time Dean’s List.

Letters of Recognition for Part-Time students: Students are eligible for a Letter of Recognition from the Vice President for Learning if they have met the following criteria:

1. They have a total of 6-11 college-level credits after a long term.

2. They have met the grading standards required for the Dean’s List.

Distinguished Scholar Award

The Distinguished Scholar Award applies only to graduates from Associate Degree programs that have a 3.7 or higher cumulative grade point average at graduation, along with a 95% cumulative course completion rate.

Outstanding Student

The Outstanding Student Award applies to graduates from Associate degree programs who have exhibited outstanding academic and personal growth at Brookdale. Criteria to be considered for this award include personal achievements and activities while pursuing a degree, a 3.5 grade-point average, and active participation in the learning process. Each Academic Institute will select students to receive this award at graduation. Nomination and selection process begins in February each year, students are notified by April.

College Regulation for Academic Standing

The objective of the College Regulation for Academic Standing is to establish standards for determining whether a student is in satisfactory academic standing and to establish a process for monitoring student academic standing.

Regulation Statement

(NOTE: For purposes of this regulation, degree credits refers to credits for courses at the 100-level or above, whereas non-degree credits refers to credits at the 0-level.)

A. Satisfactory Academic Standing - A student is considered to be in Satisfactory Academic Standing if the following two criteria are met:

1. The student must meet the minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) as outlined in the Academic Standing Table below.

2. Once more than 11 credits (either degree or non-degree) have been attempted (not including official withdrawals), a student enrolled in Foundational Studies courses, as defined in the Foundational Studies regulation, must pass 50% of those courses each semester he or she is enrolled in Foundational Studies courses. A student must have a CGPA of 2.0 to be eligible for graduation.

B. Warning Notices - A student who has attempted 1-11 degree credits and whose CGPA is less than a 2.0 will receive a warning. A student who has attempted more than 11 degree credits and is in Satisfactory Academic Standing but whose CGPA is less than a 2.0 will also receive a warning. The students will be notified that they may be in jeopardy of losing Satisfactory Academic Standing and must choose future courses carefully in order to maintain Satisfactory Academic Standing.

C. Academic Probation - A student who is not in Satisfactory Academic Standing will be placed on Academic Probation. The student will be required to meet with a Counselor or an Advisor and plan the next semester with Satisfactory Academic Standing as a goal. The student will be restricted to a maximum of 14 credits or four (4) courses, and the counselor’s/advisor’s signature is required for registration. If, at the end of the first semester of Academic Probation, the student achieves Satisfactory Academic Standing, the Academic Probation period ends. If, at the end of the first semester of Academic Probation, the student does not achieve Satisfactory Academic Standing, the student continues for another semester on Academic Probation.

If at the end of the second semester of Academic Probation, the student still does not achieve Satisfactory Academic Standing, the student may continue for a third semester of Academic Probation if they fall into one of the following categories:

1. The student has fewer than 32 degree credits successfully completed and in the second semester of probation, successfully completes* 100% of credits attempted and earns at least a 2.0 Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) for degree credits attempted.

2. The student has at least 32 degree credits successfully completed and in the second semester of probation, successfully completes* 100% of credits attempted and earns at least a 2.3 Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) for degree credits attempted.

*Successful completion includes grades of D or higher.

D. Academic Suspension - A student who has been on Academic Probation and has not achieved Satisfactory Academic Standing by the end of the probation period will be suspended from the College for at least one long semester (Fall or Spring). The suspended student will not be permitted to attend Winterim or Summer terms. Once the Academic Suspension period has expired, the student may return to the College under the conditions specified below - F. Reinstatement after Suspension or Dismissal.

E. Appeal of Academic Suspension - A student placed on academic suspension may appeal the suspension, based on extraordinary circumstances, through the following process: The student must meet with a counselor/advisor within seven (7) days of notification of suspension and discuss the reason for the appeal. The counselor/advisor supports or denies the appeal. If the counselor/advisor supports the appeal: the student must write a letter to the Director, Student Services explaining in full the basis for the appeal, the extenuating circumstances, and a plan for academic success. All appropriate documentation must be included. The Director must receive this letter, along with a letter of support from the counselor/advisor, within ten (10) days following notification of suspension. Within ten (10) days following notification of suspension, the student must make an appointment to meet with the Director, Student Services. The Director will make a determination on the appeal. The results will be forwarded to the counselor/advisor and the Registration Office. The Director’s office will notify the student of the results within seven (7) days of the meeting. The decision of the Director is final. The student who successfully appeals the suspension may return to the College on Conditional Reinstatement. The student is governed by the conditions outlined below - F. Reinstatement after Suspension or Dismissal.

F. Reinstatement After Suspension or Dismissal - A student who is reinstated after Academic Suspension or Academic Dismissal will be required to meet with a counselor/advisor and plan the next semester with Satisfactory Academic Standing as a goal. The counselor/advisor signature is required for registration. Upon reinstatement, the student will be placed on Conditional Reinstatement and will have, with the exceptions noted below, one semester to achieve Satisfactory Academic Standing. Students who do not achieve Satisfactory Academic Standing in the semester following reinstatement will remain under Conditional Reinstatement until they have attempted 14 additional degree credits and if they fall into one of the following categories:

1. The student has fewer than 32 degree credits successfully completed and in the semester of reinstatement successfully completes* 100% of the credits attempted and earns at least a 2.0 Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) for degree credits attempted.

2. The student has at least 32 degree credits successfully completed, and in the semester of reinstatement successfully completes* 100% of the credits attempted and earns at least a 2.3 Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) for degree credits attempted.

*Successful completion includes grades of D or higher.

G. Academic Dismissal - A student who has returned after Academic Suspension must meet the conditions outlined above -  F. Reinstatement after Suspension or Dismissal. If these conditions are not met, the student is placed on Academic Dismissal for a minimum of one full year. Once the minimum for Academic Dismissal has ended, the student may submit a written request for reinstatement to the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs. If the student does not return for three (3) or more years, the student may apply for Academic Amnesty.

H. Appeal for Reinstatement - A student in Academic Dismissal may appeal for reinstatement in writing to the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs. The appeal letter must be received at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of the next long semester. The student must explain in full the basis for the appeal, any extenuating circumstances, and a plan for academic success. The Appeal for Reinstatement will be judged by an Academic Review Committee composed of:

• Associate Vice President of Student Affairs (or designee)

• Director of Student Services (or designee)

• Registrar (or designee)

• Two Institute Deans

• Two Faculty

The Academic Review Committee must have 60% of its members present to act on an appeal.  The Academic Review Committee may grant an Appeal for Reinstatement by majority vote. The committee will notify the student in writing of its decision at least one week prior to the start of the semester for which the student wishes to register. The decision of the Academic Review Committee is final.

Academic Amnesty

Academic Amnesty allows students to restore their academic standing by eliminating previous academic credits below Credit or C grade from the current Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) with the following provisions:

1. Academic Amnesty can be granted one time only with final approval determined by the Vice President for Learning.

2. All previous coursework will continue to appear on the student’s transcripts; however, all courses with grades below Credit or C level during the student’s previous attendance will not be included in the calculations for the cumulative G.P.A. when Academic Amnesty is declared.

3. The designation “Academic Amnesty Applied” will appear on transcripts to indicate the separation of past coursework from the current.

4. Academic Amnesty does not affect or alter student’s records for financial aid eligibility.

Students who attended Brookdale Community College in the past and attained very poor academic records are eligible to apply for Academic Amnesty if the following conditions are met:

1. At least three years have elapsed since the end of the last term attended and the return to credit enrollment at the College.

2. The student’s academic standing upon return to the College is unsatisfactory (i.e., Warning, Probation, Suspension or Dismissal) or the cumulative G.P.A. is below 2.0.

3. The student is activated in a degree program under the Catalog current at the time of return with additional courses needed to complete the degree program’s requirements.

Procedure:

1. Upon return to the College, the student must meet with a Counselor/Advisor before applying for Academic Amnesty to ensure the initial eligibility requirements are met.

2. The Counselor/Advisor will then provide approval to preliminarily initiate an Academic Amnesty Application with the Counselor indicating intent to achieve amnesty.

3. The student must maintain regular contact with their Counselor/Advisor to monitor academic progress toward Amnesty and must consecutively complete at least twelve (12) credits, with a C grade or higher (i.e., no D’s, F’s, or W’s) and the G.P.A. for all course work taken during this time must be at least a 2.0.

4. Upon completion of the twelve (12) credits, the student provides the Academic Amnesty Application to the Registrar’s Office for initial approval.

5. The approved application is forwarded by the Registrar to the Vice President for Learning for final approval.

Health Science Programs

In order to ensure patient safety, additional separate grading policies (Academic Progress Policies) exist for all Health Science programs. These policies and other policies governing these programs can be found in the Health Science Student Handbooks or on the individual department web pages.

Additional Degrees

Requirements for earning additional degrees from Brookdale Community College are:

• The completion of all requirements specific to the additional degree, with a minimum of 15 additional credit hours beyond the previous degree.

• The Graduation Application must specify that the student is seeking a subsequent degree.

• Additional certificates may be granted by meeting the requirements for the additional certificate(s).

Degree Audit

Students can review an online degree audit evaluation of their progress in satisfying the requirements of their current academic program (major) or of an academic program they would like to consider. This online degree audit evaluation is provided as a tool to help students keep track of their progress towards graduation and is best used in consultation with their Counselor/Advisor to insure that the information is accurate. The Degree Audit Evaluation is NOT an official transcript.

NOTE: It is the student’s responsibility to check with their Counselor or Advisor, or consult the appropriate Brookdale catalog, to verify the active program and catalog year are correct and the courses the student takes are fulfilling the graduation requirements for the program, and if applicable, are tracking the transfer requirements of the institution that they plan to attend. To check Degree Audit log in to WebAdvisor from the MyBrookdale tab, select the Student Menu and under Academic Profile, click Degree Audit-Progress Toward My Degree.

Transcripts

Official transcripts of grades are available through the Registration and Records Office. Effective July 1, 2015, the fee for official transcripts is $6.00. Transcript requests must be made by the student and will not be accepted on behalf of the student from other individuals.

To obtain official transcripts, students have a few options (E-mail and fax requests ARE NOT accepted):

1)     Request an Official Transcript Online for Credit Card Payments Only 
For credit card payments only, you may request an official transcript through our online system with Parchment.

2)     Request an Official Transcript Via Postal Mail for Check/Money Order Payments Only 
Students may request an official transcript with a written mailed request by completing and mailing a Transcript Request Form. A check/money order should be made out to Brookdale Community College. Do not send cash through the mail.  

3)     Request an Official Transcript In Person 
Students may request an official transcript in person at the Lincroft campus or at one of our regional locations.*

*Transcripts typically take 7-10 business days to process during non-peak periods. During peak times (January, June and August) transcript processing time could take approximate 2-3 weeks to complete. Students should plan their transcript requests accordingly to meet posted deadlines.

Student Grade Appeal Process

The Student Grade Appeal Process provides the student with an opportunity to appeal a final course grade. Although the instructor of the course is the only individual who can change the final grade, this process provides an unbiased forum to discuss and dispute the final course grade. The student must initiate the process and be prepared to present supporting documentation. No adverse action will be taken against a student who chooses to utilize this process. THE GRADE APPEAL PROCESS MUST BE STARTED BEFORE THE END OF THE NEXT LONG (15-WEEK) TERM.

The Student Grade Appeal Process includes the following steps:

Step 1: The student must meet with the course faculty member and discuss the issue of the grade appeal. If there is no resolution and the student intends to pursue the appeal, the student must obtain a Student Grade Appeal Form from their counselor/advisor, or any Institute office. The Student Grade Appeal Form must be completed, dated and signed by the course faculty member.

Step 2: If the issue is not resolved at Step 1, within two (2) weeks of completing Step 1, the student must contact the department chair-person* to arrange a meeting. The faculty member may be invited to this meeting if the department chairperson deems it appropriate. The student must attend the scheduled meeting and discuss the issue of the grade appeal with the department chairperson. The Student Grade Appeal Form must be completed, dated and signed by the department chairperson.

*If the faculty member is also the department chair, proceed to the next step, if applicable.

In order for the Grade Appeal to continue to Step 3, at least one of the following criteria must be present:

• A data entry or arithmetic error was made.

• The grade was determined by different standards than those used for other students in the course section.

Step 3: If the issue is not resolved at Step 2, and at least one of the two criteria identified above is present, within two (2) weeks of completing Step 2, the student must contact the Institute Dean* to schedule a meeting. The student must attend the scheduled meeting and discuss the issue of the grade appeal. The Institute Dean will conduct an investigation of the situation. The Student Grade Appeal Form must be completed, dated and signed by the Institute Dean.

*If the faculty member is also the Institute Dean, proceed to the next step.

Step 4: If the issue is not resolved at Step 3, within two (2) weeks of completing Step 3, the student must send a copy of the Student Grade Appeal Form to the Office of the Vice President of Learning and schedule a meeting. After meeting with the student and discussion with faculty, the Vice President will review the appeal to determine if the student has appropriate grounds for appeal based on the statements in the syllabus and other instructor documents. If warranted, the Vice President will convene the Academic Appeals Committee, which is a recommending body, to convene a hearing. If not, the Vice President makes the determination that the grade stands. The student will be notified in writing of the Vice President’s decision.

Academic Appeals Committee:
The Academic Appeal Committee is convened by the Vice President for Learning after Step 4 when the grade is still in dispute and the Vice President determines that the student has grounds for an appeal. The Academic Appeal Committee will be made up of two (2) faculty members, two (2) students and the Vice President (or designee), who will be a non-voting member, except in the event of a tie. The faculty member and student involved in the appeal will have an opportunity to be heard before the Appeals Committee, and any employee involved in Steps 1-3 may be asked to comment before the Committee. Any other individuals who wish to participate must receive prior approval from the Vice President. Within two (2) weeks after the hearing, the participants will be informed, in writing, of the Committee’s recommendation.

The faculty member must complete the following steps within two weeks:

1. Review the recommendation.

2. Make the final decision if the recommendation is to change the grade.

3. Submit grade change if necessary.

4. Notify the Vice President for Learning of final decision.

The Vice President for Learning will notify the student within one (1) week.

All employees involved in the Academic Appeal Process will keep a confidential record of their part of the process or a copy of the Appeal Form. Records of appeals will be confidential and will be maintained by the Office of the Vice President for Learning. The records will be destroyed upon the student’s graduation from Brookdale or three (3) years from the date of the Committee’s recommendation, whichever comes first. Records may not be used in any detrimental way against the student or faculty member.