Class Attendance: Regular and prompt class attendance is expected of all students. It shall be the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor(s) of anticipated or unavoidable absences and to make up work missed as a result of absences. (Policy Haw 7.505)

No Show: A student is responsible for attending both of the first two class sessions of the course, or the first session for classes meeting once a week. If a student misses both of the first two class sessions, or the first session for classes meeting once a week, he/she may be dropped by the instructor. (Policy Haw 7.505)

Satisfactory academic progress is defined by the College as maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Note: Federally-sponsored financial aid programs also define satisfactory academic progress in terms of a minimum number of credits completed each semester. Consult the Financial Aid Office for details of the expected amount of successfully completed credits.( Policy Haw 7.520)

A student whose semester GPA is less than 2.0, but cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher, will be placed on academic warning and will be encouraged to seek academic counseling. (Policy Haw 7.520)

A student whose cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 will be placed on academic probation. (Policy Haw 7.520)

Following a semester on academic probation, a student will be placed on continued academic probation if the GPA for the semester just completed was 2.0 or higher, but the cumulative GPA remains less than 2.0. (Policy Haw 7.520)

A student whose semester and cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of a semester of academic probation, continued academic probation, or probation after dismissal will be dismissed from the College. He/she may appeal the academic dismissal in writing to the Dean of Student Services within 10 working days of receiving the notification of academic dismissal.  The student will be readmitted only under circumstances deemed as acceptable to the Dean of Student Services.  (Policy Haw 7.520)

A student, who has been dismissed from the College for academic reasons and who did not appeal or whose appeal was not granted, may apply for readmission one year after the date of academic dismissal. (Policy Haw 7.520)

Upon finding that a student is suffering from a physical or mental condition detrimental to the student and HawCC, the Dean of Student Services will, on professional advice, recommend proper action to the appropriate Dean or Chancellor of the campus. The Dean or Chancellor of the campus may then request that the student be officially withdrawn , without prejudice or academic penalty. (Policy Haw 7.520)

Grade Points are given for all courses in which grades are reported. They are computed as follows:

For each semester hour of a course, 4 grade points are granted if the grade is "A," 3 if "B," 2 if "C," and 1 if "D."

Courses are assigned semester credit values determined by the number of hours of study per week required of the student in and outside of the classroom or laboratory. Although semester credit hours normally are fixed, some variable credit courses are offered. The amount of credit given for a variable credit course must be approved by the instructor.

Students receive one grade for each course taken. The grade represents a combination of course work, tests, and final examinations. Grades are indicated by letters, each of which is assigned a certain value in grade points per semester hour of credit, as shown in the table below:

Students can repeat courses once without restrictions. For any subsequent repeats, students must register during late registration on a space-available basis with instructor approval. All entries remain a part of the student’s permanent academic record.

Repeating courses for a higher grade: If a student is repeating any course for a higher grade, credit is allowed only once. The GPA is computed by using the highest of the grades received.

Repeating courses for additional credit: Certain courses may be designated as repeatable for credit and are identified in the catalog. The course may only be used once as an area requirement towards the Liberal Arts (AA) degree. When repeated, the course will count as a general elective. Cross-listed courses may be repeated for credit under one alpha only. (Policy Haw 5.304)

In a few instances, a single course has been approved as satisfying more than one of the area requirements for the Liberal Arts (AA) degree. However, students completing such a course may only receive credit to one area requirement. They will be offered their choice of which requirement is satisfied and will be expected to fulfill the other requirement(s) with other courses. (Policy Haw 5.607)

A cross-listed course is one that has the same course title, description and number, but listed under two alphas. To qualify as a cross-list, the course content is made up of approximately 50% of material from each discipline. A cross-listed course will only count once toward graduation. (Policy Haw 5.305)

Final examinations  are normally required in all courses. All such examinations are to be conducted during the final examination period specified in the HawCC Academic Calendar and Schedule of Classes or, in the case of modular classes only, on the last day of class. The academic discipline may choose to establish a student’s course grade based on the semester’s work and may elect not to give final examinations. Students are advised to consult with their instructor and check their course syllabus.

No comprehensive examinations are allowed in the two weeks preceding the final examination period. (Policy Haw 5.504)

Students may earn academic credits through Independent/Directed Studies in any of the areas in which credit courses are offered or to pursue other individual academic interests not included in credit courses. Independent/Directed Studies require the sponsorship of a member of the faculty, a description of the work to be undertaken, and appropriate instructor/division chairperson approval prior to the registration period.

A description of the work to be undertaken must contain an outline of the study topic, specification of the work to be done, the type and frequency of faculty-student contact, the amount of credit to be given, and a statement of the evaluative criteria to be used by the faculty member.

For Independent/Directed Studies:

Students at the College are eligible for three forms of credit by examination:

Advanced Placement AP, CLEP, and CBIE, also, credit for previous non-English language study, and credit for military service.

Credit for comparable HawCC courses, as well as advanced standing, may be granted to students who complete Advanced Placement Tests offered by the College Entrance Examination Board. Advanced placement credit decisions are made by the faculty of the appropriate HawCC academic discipline. Students should consult individual Division/Department Chairs for advanced placement policies. (Policy Haw 5.603)

The College Level Examination Program enables students to earn college credit by examination in areas approved by the disciplines. Regular students may take CLEP tests to demonstrate college level competency no matter when, where or how this knowledge has been acquired: through formal study, private reading, employment experiences, noncredit courses, military/industrial/business training, or advanced work in regular high school courses. This program gives individuals the opportunity to validate and receive credit for college-level knowledge they already possess.

Criteria for passing the CLEP general and subject examinations are determined by the appropriate academic discipline. A score of 50 on these examinations may yield course credit. Students should consult individual Division/Department Chairs for CLEP policies. The essay portion of the CLEP subject examination may be required by the academic discipline.

No student is eligible to take CLEP general examinations for HawCC credit after reaching sophomore standing (i.e., the student must have completed not more than 24 semester hours of college work). (Policy Haw 5.606)

Most HawCC courses require hands-on, time-on-task practice and day-to-day attendance for students to receive the full benefit of the educational experience; such courses are NOT appropriate or available for Credit by Institutional Exam (CBIE). CBIE is available only in a limited number of courses determined to be appropriate by the faculty members and Division Chair of the discipline involved. (Policy Haw 5.601)

To be eligible to earn credit by examination, the student must be officially enrolled at HawCC.

The student should:

Students who have learned non-English languages outside of the University of Hawai‘i may earn credit for their language in one of three ways:

Upon submission of official service documents and certificates, the Records Office will consider and evaluate all educational experiences undertaken during military service in accordance with the credit recommendations of the Commission on Accreditation of Service Experiences and the Guide to Evaluation of Educational Experiences in Armed Forces. The Records Office will transmit its evaluation and recommendations to the relevant discipline for action as to the amount and kind of credits, if any, which are to be accepted. College courses satisfactorily completed through the Defense Activity for Nontraditional Educational Support (DANTES) may be accepted for advanced standing upon the recommendation of the Records Office and approval by the appropriate faculty member(s). (Policy Haw 5.605)

Any student may petition the Dean of Instruction for a waiver or a substitution of any academic policy or regulation. The petition should include clear and convincing justification for the action requested.

Classified students who wish to change their major should consult with their counselor or faculty advisor before completing a Change of Major Request Form. A change of major may impact:

At HawCC, certificate and associate degree students shall have as much time as necessary to complete their curriculum requirements. However, any credits they earned more than ten years before graduation in courses which have materially changed in content or standards may not be applied toward the certificate or associate degree. Acceptability will be determined by the Dean of Instruction and the appropriate division chairperson.

Please note that the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for financial aid has a maximum time frame for financial aid eligibility while a student completes degree/certificate requirements. (Policy Haw 5.650)

A student must satisfy either the graduation requirements in effect at the time he/she first enrolls as a classified student in a specific HawCC degree or certificate program, or the requirements in effect at the time of his/her graduation. A student whose enrollment is interrupted for two or more consecutive semesters (excluding summer sessions) must complete the requirements in effect at the time the student is readmitted or the requirements in effect at the time of his/her graduation.

Students are responsible for submitting a Petition to Graduate by the published deadline and verifying that they have completed all courses required for their degree or certificate program. It is highly recommended that students meet with their academic major advisors during the semester prior to their graduation. This will allow them the opportunity to take any missing required classes during their last semester.

A minimum 2.0 GPA from HawCC courses is required for graduation in all programs. (Policy Haw 5.702)

An application for graduation from any of the certificate or degree programs offered by the College is available at the Records Office. Once completed, and checked by Records Office staff, it should be submitted to the Business Office for processing by the deadline specified in the HawCC Academic Calendar.

A non-refundable graduation fee of $15.00 is payable at the time a student submits an application for graduation. A separate graduation application and fee are required for each degree or certificate being completed. Students applying for an Associate of Arts, Associate in Applied Science, Associated in Science, and Certificate of Achievement may also purchase a Hawaiian language diploma in addition to, not an alternative for, the English language diploma for an additional $15.00.

If the student does not graduate that semester, the application can be transferred to ANOTHER semester. However, another application for graduation must be submitted along with proof of prior payment by the published deadline for that semester. If there is an increase in the fee, the student will be charged the difference.

Graduation ceremonies are conducted only during the Spring semester; however, the previous Summer session and Fall semester graduates are eligible and are invited to participate in the ceremonies. Students should keep in mind that final course grades are due after the graduation ceremonies. Therefore, participation in the graduation ceremonies does not guarantee a student has officially completed his/her program requirements. (Policy Haw 5.701)

Student academic achievement shall be recognized each semester by the Dean’s List, and at the time of graduation by graduation with honors.

Dean’s List: Students who complete 12 or more credits for a letter grade and who achieve a GPA of at least 3.5 for that semester will have their names included on the Dean’s list.

Honors at Graduation: The designation of Honors at Hawai‘i Community College is determined at the time of graduation and is based upon the cumulative GPA for credit earned while at this college. The Honors designation shall be determined in the following manner:

Students may earn, concurrently or sequentially, more than one degree at the College under the following conditions:

A student may obtain an official transcript of his/her HawCC academic record by filing a Request for Transcript form at the Admissions & Records office on the Manono campus and the West Hawai`i Student Services office. The following fees apply:

All transcripts released to students are stamped "ISSUED TO STUDENT." These transcripts are official documents as they bear the Hawai‘i Community College seal and Registrar’s signature. The stamp "ISSUED TO STUDENT" makes it clear to a third party that the student once possessed the transcript.

The student should determine if the program he/she wishes to pursue is offered by that community college. If it is, the next step would be to complete the UH System Application and submit it by that campus’ application deadline. The student should request an official copy of his/her HawCC transcript to be submitted now and another transcript to be sent when the final grades are entered. Students wishing to apply for financial aid should contact that campus’ Financial Aid Office to obtain any supplemental forms needed besides the FAFSA.

A HawCC student can transfer to UH Mânoa, UH Hilo, or UH West O‘ahu to pursue a bachelor’s degree. A student interested in transferring to one of these campuses should refer to the institution’s college catalog or website to check on the requirements for transfer students.

In general, a student will need at least 24 transfer level college credits and have at least a 2.0 GPA (resident) or 2.5 GPA (non-resident). Some majors will require a higher GPA. The GPA is used for admissions purposes, but is not transferable.

If a student has less than 24 transfer level credits, the high school record will be used for determining admission. This will include the high school MPA, SAT or ACT scores, and college prep courses taken.

A student who has earned an articulated Associated in Arts (A.A.) degree from a UH Community College shall be accepted as having fulfilled the general education core requirements at all other UH campuses. However, in addition, a student must also complete any specialized lower-division, major, college and degree/graduation requirements, such as writing-intensive or foreign language requirements. Some of these additional requirements may be completed within the AA degree.

It behooves a student to have an academic plan, which anticipates transferring to a specific campus. A student planning to transfer either before or after completing the AA degree is advised to see a HawCC counselor for assistance in selecting AA degree courses, which also will meet requirements of the campus and the program to which the student will be transferring.

The student must submit a UH System Application by the deadline and also request an official copy of his/her HawCC transcript to be submitted with their application and another transcript to be sent when the final grades are entered and after the degree is conferred. The latter should be requested if applicable.

A HawCC student who plans to transfer to another campus should obtain information regarding the following: majors offered, cost (including transportation), financial assistance available, size (student population and physical layout), housing, student services, academic support programs, extra-curricular activities, climate, urban/rural/suburban setting, and requirements for transfer students. This information is in the college catalog. Many colleges and universities now have their college catalog on the Internet.

A HawCC student who plans to transfer to a non-UH campus will need to obtain application information and the application forms, and request the necessary official transcripts from HawCC be sent to the campus to which the student will transfer. The student should also obtain any supplemental financial aid forms aside from the FAFSA if he/she plans to apply for financial aid.

HawCC is an approved educational institution for education and training under the Veteran’s Educational Assistance Act (GI Bill) and the Dependents’ Act. Information regarding eligibility, entitlement and types of training authorized may be obtained from the Veterans Administration Regional Office. For more information, call 1-800-827-1000.

Veterans who are registered for the first time under the GI Bill must present a copy of Form 22-1990 (Application for Education Benefits) to the Records Office. Dependents of disabled veterans and survivors of veterans whose cause of death was service-related, who register for the first time under any provision of the Federal Veterans’ Bill, must complete and present VA Form 22-5490 to the HawCC Records Office, Manono Campus. For more information call the VA Representative at(808) 974-7662.

Chapter 31 Disabled Veterans should contact the Hâ‘awi Kokua Program at (808) 933-0702 [TTY].

Transfer students are those who were previously enrolled at a college or university (including UHH) other than HawCC. Students who are transferring to HawCC must arrange for their official transcripts, printed in English, to be sent to the Records Office directly from institutions previously attended. For all institutions outside of the University of Hawai‘i System, the student must keep in their possession a course catalog or course description for all courses. Do not send this information to the Records Office. You will be contacted if these course descriptions are needed. An official evaluation will be processed after the student registers. The materials submitted become the property of HawCC.  Courses will be processed for possible transfer credits only if applicable to the student’s current major and if the course was completed with a grade of "D" or better. When applicable, transfer credits may be counted towards the specific requirements of a program; otherwise, they will be counted as general electives. However, neither grade points nor grade point averages earned at other institutions are used in the computation of HawCC accumulative grade point average. (Policy Haw 7.208)  Transcripts received from other educational institutions must be printed in English. These official transcripts become the property of HawCC. Students should arrange for such records to be sent directly from the original educational institutions. Students can request a copy of their transcripts from any institution where credits were earned. Students are advised to keep copies of their transcripts from other institutions at all times.

Auditors must fulfill all requirements for regular admission. Persons wishing to participate in courses as auditors may apply for the privilege by completing and submitting the auditor’s form no earlier than the first day of instruction, and no later than the deadline published in the academic calendar. Permission of the instructor is required. (Policy Haw 7.207)

Any student who terminates his/her enrollment at HawCC during the semester and returns the following semester is considered a continuing student. A student who terminates his/her enrollment and is gone for one complete semester or more will be required to reapply for admission. Upon returning, the student will follow the catalog requirements in effect during the returning semester. If the student attended another institution of higher learning in the interim, he/she must reapply as a transfer student.