Unit of Credit
A semester hour is the unit of credit usually earned by attending a non-laboratory class for at least 50 minutes a week per semester. A class that meets three periods a week is considered a three-semester-hour course unless changes are specified. In laboratory courses, one semester hour of credit is granted for two or three hours of laboratory per week.

Planning Programs of Study
Students often have an idea of their areas of educational interest. Some only wish to take a few courses related to their jobs or for personal enjoyment. Although St. Charles Community College recognizes that the first responsibility
for selection of programs of study rests with the student, the college provides career and financial assistance counseling as well as academic advisement and orientation to general college services and opportunities.

The contact for students who want help in planning programs of study is the Student Development Office. If you are concerned about transfer of credit to SCC, you should contact the registrar.

Change of Program
You may petition to change your program (or major) by filing a form available in the Admissions Office.

Credit by Examination
St. Charles Community College recognizes that some people may have gained knowledge and experience during their lifetimes that qualifies as course work credit. Therefore, you may be able to translate your previously acquired knowledge into college credit through one of the non-traditional avenues that SCC offers.

Credit by proficiency examination is one method of earning college credit. Upon a recommendation of the division dean, a student may complete a department exam and be eligible to receive college credit.

Students also may be awarded credit for the successful completion of the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) or the Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) or the Advanced Placement Program (AP).

College credit may be earned through other processes such as military experience, retroactive credit, articulation, and certification exams.

Corequisite Courses
Certain courses offered at SCC require that a student be concurrently registered for another course. For example, most science lecture courses require concurrent (same time) registration in an appropriate laboratory course. When registering, you must sign up both for the course and for any corequisite. If you later wish to drop the course, you
must also drop the corequisite course. If you should fail one of the courses, you will be allowed to repeat
that course without retaking the corequisite. However, you will not be allowed to advance in a sequence of courses until both have been successfully completed.

Independent Study
Independent study may be used to complete the requirements for regularly offered courses. If you wish to take a course on an independent study basis, you must get approval through the appropriate division dean. The course curriculum must be developed and pursued under the direction of a faculty member.

Distance Learning
Distance learning courses provide alternatives to on-campus courses. Some telecourses and teleweb courses are broadcast on KETC-TV, Channel 9. Copies of the broadcast are available for viewing in the library and may be checked out. These courses are available on videotapes or DVDs that are borrowed from the library for the semester. The WebCT course management system is used for many of these courses. If you wish to take these alternative learning courses, you will need access to the Internet and experience with e-mail and the World Wide Web.

Distance learning courses do not require students to come to campus on a regular basis. Many of these courses will require you to use technology to receive instruction. They may require attendance on campus for orientation, midterm, and final examinations. These courses are equivalent to on-campus courses in terms of content, degree of difficulty, and transferability. Students use textbooks, complete written assignments, and receive assistance from faculty. There may be an additional fee depending on delivery mode. Students who are unable to come to classes on campus are encouraged to enroll in these courses. Visit the distance learning home page on the Web at www.stchas.edu/distance for more details.

Distance Learning office by calling 636-922-8470.

Variable Credit Course
Consult with the instructor before you register so you know what number of hours to declare when you register for the class. The range of credit available is shown with the course in college class schedules that are distributed before each registration period.

International/Intercultural Education
Recognizing the complex interdependency of the world in the late 20th century, SCC has added an international/intercultural dimension to the curriculum. Today's students will be confronted through their lives with political, economic and cultural issues that transcend national boundaries. Thus, an understanding of the forces and issues shaping the contemporary world and an appreciation of different cultures and values is necessary for the fulfillment of one's civic duty in a democracy. SCC encourages and supports international and intercultural education by requiring an international component for graduation with the Associate of Arts degree; offering seminars on international business and international affairs; and offering several foreign language courses each semester.

Withdrawing From Courses
All students who wish to drop a course or all courses must obtain and complete a Registration Form from the Registrar’s Office. It is the student’s responsibility to then return the Registration Form to the Registrar’s Office.

Discontinuing a course will affect your transcript (permanent record) as follows: If you withdraw officially from a 16-week course before the end of the 10th week of class meetings, you will receive a “W” for the course. Courses that are fewer than 16 weeks in duration will have prorated dates for withdrawing. Please check with the Admissions Office.

If you simply stop attending class and do not officially withdraw from the course, you will receive an “F” grade for the course. Leaving the Registration Form with your instructor does not constitute an official withdrawal from the course. The form must be returned to the Registrar’s Office in accordance with withdrawal procedure and dates. A list of important course withdrawal dates may be obtained in the Registrar’s Office. These dates are published in the Credit Class Schedules. The approved withdrawal dates are prorated for all courses that are less than 16 weeks.

All students who receive any type of financial assistance or veterans benefits should notify the Financial Assistance Office before withdrawing from courses.

Withdrawing From College
All students who wish to withdraw from the college should contact the Admissions office and follow the prescribed procedure for dropping classes. If you simply stop coming to classes and do not officially withdraw from the college, you will receive an "F" grade for each course in which you are still enrolled.