Decoding LaGuardia Community College Course Codes: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the course codes and academic policies at LaGuardia Community College can initially seem daunting. This guide aims to clarify the various terms, codes, and policies to help students understand their academic journey, from enrollment to graduation. Academic Advisors play a crucial role in assisting students with course selection, understanding college policies, graduation requirements, and monitoring academic progress.

Understanding Academic Years and Semesters

The academic year at LaGuardia Community College is divided into two semesters: Fall and Spring. For instance, the Academic Year 2023-2024 encompasses the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters. A semester includes both Session I and Session II.

Admission Status and Cohort Tracking

A student's admission status is determined at the beginning of each semester. LaGuardia also tracks student cohorts, which are defined groups of students starting their college experience together. A "Fall 2023 cohort," for example, refers to students who began their studies in Fall 2023, either in Session I or Session II.

Academic Assessment and Improvement

LaGuardia Community College employs an organizational assessment process for continuous improvement. This process involves college teams self-reflecting, evaluating, and improving their effectiveness. The AES Assessment Council, composed of individuals from various administrative divisions, advises and supports this assessment. The assessment process is intentionally developmental and iterative, taking place over a two-year cycle, allowing units to review past results and plan for the next cycle.

Degrees, Credits, and Prior Learning

LaGuardia offers Associate degrees, including Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), and Associate of Applied Science (AAS), as well as various certificates. Credit attainment refers to the number of credits a student successfully earns toward their degree. Students can also earn Credit for Prior Learning, recognizing college-level learning gained outside the traditional classroom. A semester-by-semester guide showing students suggested course sequencing assists students in planning their academic path.

Student Categories and Enrollment

LaGuardia categorizes students based on their degree goals and prior experience. Degree-seeking students are enrolled in a program leading to an Associate degree or certificate. The college also tracks degree-seeking students who transfer to other institutions before graduating from LaGuardia. First-time freshmen are students with no prior postsecondary experience. Full-time students are registered for at least 12 credits or equated credits per semester, which is important for financial aid eligibility. Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) is calculated as 1 FTE = 15 equated credits.

Fields of Interest and Gateway Courses

A Field of Interest groups similar majors and programs to help students explore career paths and transfer opportunities. Gateway courses are foundational courses that serve as entry points into a student's major within the CUNY system, facilitating seamless credit transfer between CUNY colleges. These courses include both college-level and co-requisite courses, primarily in English and Math.

GPA and Student Demographics

The Grade Point Average (GPA) is a numerical calculation of a student’s academic record on a 4.0 scale, influencing graduation eligibility, honors, probation, and suspension. LaGuardia tracks student demographics using categories such as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, Native American, and White. Students who self-identify as Black, Hispanic, and Native American are often grouped as Underrepresented Minorities.

Readmission and STEM Majors

Students who return to college after a break are classified with a readmission status. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and LaGuardia distinguishes between STEM and Non-STEM majors.

Financial Aid and Tuition Discounts

TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) is a New York State financial aid grant for eligible residents. ACE offers tuition discounts to LaGuardia Alumni Association members, undergraduates, senior citizens, faculty/staff, and their families, as well as public assistance recipients.

Read also: Explore LaGuardia

Understanding Grade Codes and Policies

LaGuardia Community College uses specific grade codes to represent a student's performance in a course. Understanding these codes is essential for interpreting transcripts and academic standing.

Common Grade Codes

AUD (Audit): A course audited for no credit. Students must request to audit a course before the withdrawal period, pay tuition and fees, and observe attendance regulations. Audited courses do not qualify for full-time status, financial aid, or veteran’s benefits.
CR (Exemption Credit): Credit earned through demonstrated competence in specific areas.
E/G/P: These grades were used prior to Fall 1975. E stood for Excellent, G for Good, and P for Passing.
F (Failure): Assigned when a student's work does not meet course standards. Students may need to retake the course.
FIN (Failure as Incomplete): An INC grade that has been converted to a failing grade.
INC (Incomplete): A placeholder for an incomplete course, to be replaced by a grade or FIN. It is intended for students in good academic standing who have a reasonable expectation of completing the course but are missing a maximum of two major assignments.
NC (No Credit): Used for high school students in college-level courses and students opting for the grade under LaGuardia’s No Credit Policy (effective Fall I 2021).
PEN (Grade Pending): The grade is pending.
R (Repeat): Awarded only in Developmental Education courses, indicating satisfactory progress but not at the level required to pass.
S (Satisfactory): Used in non-credit courses like New Student Seminar and Nursing/OTA/PTA/VTA candidacies.
TCR (Transfer Credit): Given for credits earned at other accredited institutions. A maximum of 50% of certificate requirements or 30 degree credits can be transferred.
U (Unsatisfactory): Used in non-credit courses.
W (Official Withdrawal): Given when a student officially withdraws from a course before the withdrawal deadline.
WD (Withdrew Drop): Assigned when a student drops a class after the Financial Aid Certification date but during the program adjustment period, having attended at least one session.
WA (Administrative Withdrawal): An administrative withdrawal from the class.

Detailed Grade Policies

F Grade Policy:

A grade of "F" signifies that the student did not meet the standards for the course. If a student retakes a course and receives a grade of C or better, the original F grade will not be computed into the Grade Point Average, provided that:

The failing grade was earned after September 1, 1984.
The policy was effective as of Fall 1990.
The maximum number of failing credits that can be deleted from the GPA is limited to 16 throughout CUNY.
The F grade remains on the transcript but is not calculated in the GPA.
For a course taken at LaGuardia, the original failing grade must also have been earned at LaGuardia.
Partial deletions in the calculation of the cumulative GPA are prohibited.

Incomplete (INC) Grade Policy:

The Incomplete grade (IN) is reserved for students in good academic standing (maintaining a passing GPA) who have a reasonable expectation of completing the course but have not completed at most two major assignments or examinations by the end of the course.

Eligibility: The student must have a documented reason beyond their control.
Restrictions: The IN is not initiated without the student’s consent and cannot replace a failing grade.
Documentation: The student must provide a documented reason and fill out an Incomplete Grade Request Form with the instructor.
Completion: The student must submit all completed work before the end of the semester following the one in which the IN is given.
Grade Change: The instructor must submit an official Change of Grade Form by the end of the semester following the one in which the IN was given. Failure to do so results in an automatic conversion of the IN to a FIN (failing grade).
Course Exemptions: Some courses, such as allied health clinical affiliations or COOP internships, may have different IN policies.

R Grade Policy:

The Repeat (R) grade is awarded only in Basic Skills courses. To earn an R, students must:

Comply with the College’s attendance policy.
Complete all assigned work.
Make substantial progress in appropriate skills improvement.

Students who have previously received two or more R grades are not eligible for an additional R after Spring 1990.

Attendance Policy

Class attendance and participation are critical to the learning process. Students are expected to attend and participate in all class sessions, regardless of modality. Specific attendance requirements are outlined in the course syllabus.

Academic Standing: Probation, Suspension, and Reinstatement

LaGuardia Community College reviews the academic records of all students each semester to ensure they meet the required scholastic standards. Students who fail to meet these standards may face academic probation or suspension. However, students are responsible for knowing and adhering to these policies, regardless of whether they receive a notification letter.

Probation

Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements are placed on academic probation for the following semester. During this time, they are expected to achieve the minimum GPA as per the College’s retention policy. If satisfactory progress is made, students will return to good academic standing. Failure to achieve the minimum GPA may result in suspension.

Suspension

Suspended students are ineligible to register for courses for one semester. Students may appeal the suspension in writing to the chairperson of the Academic Standing Committee. If the appeal is approved, students will be expected to show substantial improvement in academic performance, typically requiring a semester GPA of 3.00.

Reinstatement

Students on academic suspension can apply for reinstatement during their suspension period. If reinstated, students must demonstrate substantial improvement in academic performance, usually by maintaining a semester GPA of 3.00. Students who are reinstated but do not achieve a 3.00 GPA or improve their GPA to meet retention policy standards will be suspended again. Students suspended twice are generally not allowed to register at the College again, unless under unusual circumstances approved by the Academic Standing Committee.

tags: #laguardia #community #college #course #codes #explained