Policy 8.5 Catalog Policy

History This policy was revised and approved by AGC on March 11, Implementation of the policy began August 26, 2014 for a Fall 2014 implementation.

Proposal Requesting an approval to reword the recently adopted policy. The Policy Statement may be confusing and may not state our current practice clearly.

Policy Summary Statement: Issue 1 Statement Summary currently reads, “Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) students are required to fulfill the graduation and program requirements of the Catalog in effect at the time they officially declare their program as a degree-seeking student.” Issue 1: There is confusion and uncertainty as to what catalog should be used to advise a student who declared a program of study in a catalog year different than the one in which he/she began taking classes.

Our Practice For example, if a student selects his/her program in February 2015 but does not begin classes until Fall 2015, a counselor would recommend he/she take courses that are listed in the more recent catalog (2015/16) and not in the previous catalog (2014/15). Practice: Counseling and the Catalog Year Implementation Team have agreed the catalog year is decided when the student first begins classes.

Policy Summary Statement: Issue 2 “For a student declaring multiple academic programs, the date of declaration determines the catalog requirements for each academic program.” Issue 2: This work is not being done as it would complicate the new changes required in enrollment reporting for financial aid.

Recommendation Reword the Policy Statement to the following: Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) new students are required to fulfill the graduation and academic program (major) requirements for the Catalog in place when they begin taking classes as degree-seeking students. If current students change their academic program (major), they must fulfill the graduation and academic program (major) requirements for the Catalog in place for the academic year in which the students made the change. Students returning after an extended absence (greater than two years) from the College will be required to fulfill the graduation and academic program (major) requirements of the Catalog in place at the time they begin re-taking classes as a degree-seeking student. Students may petition to fulfill the graduation and academic program (major) requirements of the Catalog in place at the time of graduation instead of being governed by the above three guidelines.

Next Steps Take this back to your departments for discussion. Send comments or concerns to Diane Patrick by Tuesday, March 31, A vote will be taken at the next AGC meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2015.