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ECC LOCAL

INSTRUCTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: STUDENT COURSE LOAD AND SCHEDULES

Course Load

The normal course load for the fall or spring semester shall be five course semester hours. Course loads in excess of 18 hours] semester hours shall require approval by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The maximum course load shall be no more than 18 semester hours.

The normal course load for the summer session shall be seven semester hours for each five-week term or five courses for a full summer semester. Course loads in excess of eight semester hours per term or 18 semester hours per summer semester shall require approval by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The maximum summer credit hours earned shall be eight semester hours for one term or 18 semester hours for a full summer semester.

Limitation on Number of Dropped Courses

A College District student shall not be permitted to drop more than six courses taken while enrolled at the College District or another public institution of higher education. For the limit to apply:

  1. The student must be permitted to drop the course without receiving a grade or being penalized academically; 

  2. The student’s transcript must indicate or will indicate the student was enrolled in the course; and

  3. The student must not have dropped the course to withdraw from the College District.

Exceptions

Good Cause

A student shall be permitted to exceed the limit on the number of dropped courses for any of the following reasons:

  1. A severe illness or other debilitating condition that affects the student’s ability to satisfactorily complete a course;

  2. The care of a sick, injured, or needy person if providing that care affects the student's ability to satisfactorily complete a course;

  3. The death of a member of the student’s family as defined by law;

  4. The death of a person who has a sufficiently close relationship to the student as defined by law;

  5. The student’s active military duty service;

  6. The active military service of a member of the student’s family or a person who has a sufficiently close relationship to the student; 

  7. A change in the student’s work schedule that is beyond the student’s control and affects the student’s ability to satisfactorily complete the course; or 

  8. A disaster declared by the governor that prevents or limits in-person course attendance for a period determined by the College District, in accordance with law, to significantly affect the student’s ability to participate in coursework. 

Reenrolled Students

A qualifying reenrolled student may drop a seventh course in accordance with law.

Course Dropped During a Bachelor’s Program

A course dropped by a student while pursuing a bachelor’s degree that the student ultimately earned may not be counted toward the limit on the number of dropped courses.

Dual Credit or Dual Enrollment Course

A dual credit or dual enrollment course dropped by a student before graduating from high school may not be counted toward the limit on the number of dropped courses.

COVID-19 Pandemic

A course dropped by a student during the 2020 spring or summer semester or the 2020–21 academic year because of a bar or limit on in-person course attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic may not be counted toward the limit on the number of dropped courses.

Procedures

The Vice President of Academic Affairs shall develop procedures to implement this policy and shall publish the procedures in the College District catalog.

The Vice President of Academic Affairs is responsible for reviewing and updating this policy. Policy reviews are made in accordance with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness Policy Tracking document.

DATE ISSUED: 11/3/2023

ADOPTED: 08/2024

UPDATE 42

ECC (LOCAL) - AJC