Academic Regulations

Grading

shoreline.edu/advising/grades.aspx

Guidelines

1. Timeline for Assignment of Possible Grades in the Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters

2. Timeline for Assignment of Grades in the Summer Quarter

Our Enrollment Services Department publishes the timeline for the Summer Quarter. (See Academic Calendar .)

3. Grading System 

Shoreline Community College uses the numeric grading system and grade-point values, outlined in the Grading System Table above, for reporting and recording academic achievement in most courses.

Grades of 0.7 or above earn credits. Students need to receive a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 1.0 to transfer any credit to four-year colleges or universities that accept the Associate of Arts - Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA) in Washington State. 

Some programs and purposes may have different minimum requirements for GPA. These include technical courses, general education requirements, progression in a sequence of classes, and to meet a prerequisite.

H: Hold Grade

Hold Grades mean that a course is still in progress and a student is working on the required assignments. It is used for courses that end after the official end date of the quarter. Instructors will issue final grades to replace the Hold Grade on student transcripts after the course ends.

Hold Grades are not included in Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations. 

I: Incomplete Grade

Incomplete Grades mean that a student needs to submit additional coursework to complete the course successfully. Instructors may give Incomplete Grades on or after the second day of the seventh week of a regular quarter (or Summer Quarter equivalent) only after a student requests it. 

Incomplete Grades are not included in the Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations.

N: Audit Grade

Audit Grades let students participate in a course without getting credit or a grade but they still must enroll in the course and pay the regular tuition and fees. They can change their status to or from “audit” with their instructor’s permission by submitting an Audit Request to our Enrollment Services Department by the first day of the seventh week of the quarter (or the equivalent in the Summer Quarter).

Audit Grades are not included in Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations. 

P/NP: Pass/Not Pass Grade

Pass/Not Pass (P/NP) Grades can only be given for courses that offer this option. P Grades mean students received a grade of at least 2.0 which counts for course credit and affects Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations. NP Grades mean students did not receive at least a 2.0 GPA which does not affect Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations. However, some degrees and programs require all grades to be decimal-graded. Degrees and programs that allow P/NP allow no more than 30 credits to be applied as P/NP. 

Students can request P/NP grading by submitting a Student Option Grading Form signed by their instructor to our Enrollment Services Department by the mid-point of the course for college-level classes (numbered 100 and higher) or by the last day of instruction for pre-college level classes (numbered 99 and below).

W: Official Withdrawal Grade

Official Withdrawal Grades mean that a student officially withdrew from a course within the quarterly withdrawal period. They can only be given if a student submits a request to our Enrollment Services Department. Students can not withdraw from a course to avoid the consequences of cheating, plagiarism, or other intellectual dishonesty. 

Official Withdrawal Grades do not count for course credit and do not affect Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations.

Z: Hardship Withdrawal Grade

Hardship Withdrawal Grades mean that, after the end of the quarterly withdrawal period, an unforeseen crisis and/or unusual, extreme circumstance happened that affected a student’s ability to attend class and continue to complete coursework at a passing level.

Hardship Withdrawal Grades can be given on or after the second day of the seventh week of a regular quarter (or Summer Quarter equivalent) only if a student submits a request to our Enrollment Services Department. Students can not withdraw from a class to avoid the consequences of cheating, plagiarism, or other intellectual dishonesty.

Hardship Withdrawal Grades do not count for course credit and do not affect Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations.

4. Dropping or Withdrawing from a Class

Dropping Classes Before the Withdrawal Period

Students can withdraw from or drop classes on or before the tenth day of class in a regular quarter (or Summer Quarter equivalent) in ctcLink or by contacting our Enrollment Services Department. They will not receive credit for classes dropped before the withdrawal period, and no record of enrollment in those classes will be listed on their transcript. 

Withdrawing Classes During the Withdrawal Period

Students can withdraw from classes during the withdrawal period by following processes established by our Enrollment Services Department. Students will not receive credit for classes dropped during the withdrawal period. However, a Withdrawal Grade will be listed on their transcript, which does not affect Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations. 

Withdrawing Classes After the Withdrawal Period

Students who experience an unexpected crisis and/or unusual, extreme circumstance that interferes with or disrupts their ability to attend class and continue completing passing coursework after the withdrawal period ends may request a Hardship Withdrawal. Students will not receive credit for classes dropped after the withdrawal period. However, a Hardship Withdrawal Grade will be listed on their transcript, which does not affect Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations.

5. Repeating a Course

Students can repeat courses up to two times to improve their grades which means they can take the same class two more times after the first time. Students can only receive credit once for a repeated course. The highest grade earned for the repeated course will be used to calculate the Grade Point Average (GPA) at Shoreline Community College. Other colleges and universities might have different rules for repeated courses, and they may handle the grades differently if they accept the course for transfer.

 “Repeat - Excluded” will be listed on the student’s transcript next to the lowest grade(s) for the course. “Repeat - Included” will be listed on their transcript next to the highest grade for the course.

Students will need to enroll in the class again, pay all the required fees, and submit a Repeat Course Notice Request Form to our Enrollment Services Department to repeat the course. 

Some performance-based degrees and programs may allow certain courses to be repeated for credit.

6. Calculation of Grade Point Average (GPA)

We calculate Grade Point Average (GPA) by following the steps below:

• multiply the grade earned in a course by the number of credits for the course to get your grade points.
• add up all the grade points from all the courses.
• divide the total number of grade points by the number of credits earned and round to the nearest hundredth.

H, I, N, NP, P, W, and Z Grades are not assigned “weights” and do not affect GPA calculations.

7. Grading Systems

Courses at Shoreline Community College can use one or more of the following grading systems.

• BEdA (Basic Education for Adults)
• Graded
• Pass/Not Pass
• Student Option

Grading systems available for each course are listed in the quarterly class schedule (and a grading system is not available for a specific course if it is not listed). Each instructor can decide which grading system to use for their courses. They will report any changes in grading systems to planning councils and the College’s Curriculum Committee. 

BEdA (Basic Education for Adults)

Most courses labeled as BEdA (Basic Education for Adults) use the Pass/Not Pass (P/NP) grading system. Instructors of these courses can give grades of P/NP or give other grades like H, I, N, W, or Z, as described above.

Some courses labeled as BEdA may also be labeled “Student Option Grading” in the course description. Instructors of these courses can give grades from 4.0 to 0.7 in 0.1 increments, or 0.0, give grades of P/NP, or give grades H, I, N, W, or Z as defined above.

Graded

Instructors of courses labeled as Graded can give decimal grades from 4.0 to 0.7 in 0.1 increments, or 0.0, or give grades H, I, N, W, or Z as defined above.

Pass/Not Pass

Instructors of courses labeled as Pass/Not Pass (P/NP) can give grades of P/NP or give grades H, I, N, W, or Z as defined above.

Student Option

Courses labeled as Student Option use Graded as the default grading system and the instructor will give decimal grades from 4.0 to 0.7 in 0.1 increments, or 0.0, or use grades like H, I, N, W, or Z.

However, students enrolled in these courses can choose to either receive a decimal or Pass/Not Pass (P/NP) grade. Students can request P/NP Grades by submitting a Student Option Grading Form signed by their instructor to our Enrollment Services Department by the mid-point of the course for college-level classes (numbered 100 and higher) or by the last day of instruction for pre-college level classes (numbered 99 and below).

Grade Reports

Students can view their grades and unofficial transcripts anytime in ctcLink at no cost. We do not mail grade reports.

Grade Changes

Instructors can request a change to a student’s final grade for up to one calendar year after the end of a quarter. They might do this if they made a mistake calculating the grade or if a student completed the work needed to change an Incomplete Grade to a final grade.

High Scholarship

Shoreline Community College’s Faculty Senate Council and leadership team determine who is eligible for these lists. The eligibility rules can be periodically reviewed and changed.

President’s List

Students have their names listed on the President’s List if they are enrolled at Shoreline Community College full-time (taking at least 12 credits), have earned at least 30 credits that count towards their Grade Point Average (GPA), and have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or higher. Students with a GPA between 3.9 to 4.0 are listed as President’s Scholars at graduation.

Courses that receive a Pass/Not Pass Grade do not count towards this requirement.

Vice President’s List

Students have their names listed on the Vice President’s List if they are enrolled at Shoreline Community College full-time (taking at least 12 credits), have earned at least 30 credits that count towards their Grade Point Average (GPA), and have earned a quarterly GPA of 3.9 or higher. These students are listed as Vice President’s Scholars at graduation.

Courses that receive a Pass/Not Pass Grade do not count towards this requirement.

Honors List

Students have their names listed on the Honors List if they are enrolled at Shoreline Community College full-time (taking at least 12 credits), have earned at least 30 credits that count towards their Grade Point Average (GPA), and have earned a quarterly GPA between 3.6 to 3.89. These students are listed as Honors Graduates at graduation.

Courses that receive a Pass/Not Pass Grade do not count towards this requirement.

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK)

shoreline.edu/honors/phi-theta-kappa.aspx

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is a national honor society for two-year colleges in the United States. PTK recognizes students for their hard work and achievements, and membership is an indicator to employers and universities of a student’s dedication and academic accomplishments. Students who have earned 12 college-level credits at Shoreline Community College with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher are eligible to join.

• Members of PTK are eligible for exclusive scholarships listed in an online database.
• Additional benefits of membership include recognition, career training, leadership opportunities, assistance for successful transfer to a four-year college or university, and more.

Students who are eligible can become members by submitting a Phi Theta Kappa Membership Application and a local Pi Iota Chapter Application, and paying a $75 fee.

Academic Standards

shoreline.edu/advising/low-gpa.aspx

Shoreline Community College is committed to helping students successfully complete their academic goals through resources such as Academic Advising, the Counseling Center, and the Student Learning Centers.

Academic Notice

Students who have earned a quarterly Grade Point Average (GPA) of less than 2.0, or who do not earn at least half of their attempted credits, for one quarter are notified that they have not met Academic Standards. Students are encouraged to use college resources and meet with an advisor. 

Academic Intervention

Students who have earned a quarterly GPA of less than 2.0, or who do not earn at least half of their attempted credits, for two consecutive quarters are placed on Academic Intervention. Students on Academic Intervention are notified that a hold will be placed on their student account which prevents them from enrolling in additional courses until they meet with an advisor and submit an Academic Self-Assessment. 

Students will develop steps for success and learn about support services.

Academic Restriction

Students who have earned a quarterly GPA of less than 2.0, or do not earn at least half of their attempted credits, for three consecutive quarters are placed on Academic Restriction. Students on Academic Restriction are notified that a hold will be placed on their student account which prevents them from enrolling in additional courses until they meet with an advisor and submit an Academic Self-Assessment.

Students will have the opportunity to explain their circumstances, further develop steps for success, and learn about support services.

Fresh Start

shoreline.edu/apply-and-aid/registration/documents/freshstart.pdf

Students who have not attended Shoreline Community College or any college or university for 18 months can request the elimination of their previous credits and Grade Point Average (GPA) earned at Shoreline Community College. They can request this fresh start by submitting a completed Fresh Start Form.

Students who receive a fresh start will still have the previous courses and grades earned listed on their transcripts but the grades for those previous courses will not be used in the calculation of their GPA, and those previous credits earned may not be used to satisfy graduation requirements. Students who have received a fresh start and plan to transfer to another college or university may have their credits accepted and their GPA recalculated according to the policies of the receiving college or university.

Credit Information

Credit and Credit Loads

The academic year at Shoreline Community College has three quarters: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Each quarter is 11 weeks long. We also have an eight-week Summer Quarter.

Generally, classes that meet for one hour a week offer 1 credit hour per quarter, and classes that meet for five hours a week offer 5 credit hours. Laboratories and some other classes may have a different credit structure.

Awarding Academic Credit by Prior Learning Assessment

See Policies for Students  for more information.

Placement Reciprocity

shoreline.edu/placement

Students placed into pre-college and college-level English and Math courses at other community and technical colleges in Washington State can request the same placement at Shoreline Community College. The recommendation for placement needs to have been made within the last 2 years.

Common Course Numbering

ccn.sbctc.edu

Common Course Numbering (CCN) helps students identify which courses can easily transfer between community and technical colleges in Washington State because equivalent courses have the same labels at all colleges. Courses labeled with an ampersand (‘&’), like ACCT& 201, have a CCN and are easily transferable. 

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all their classes and follow the requirements of their instructor(s).

Students who know they will miss class for religious holidays should notify their instructor(s) in writing during the first two weeks of the quarter. Their notification should include the specific date(s) they will be absent. Their instructor(s) will then work with the student to reschedule any exams or activities they will miss.

Student Classification

Students are considered freshmen until they have completed 45 credits, at which time they become sophomores.

Final Examinations

shoreline.edu/apply-and-aid/registration/final-exams.aspx

We generally hold final examinations at the end of each quarter and on the last day of class for the summer quarter. Students need to take their final exam(s) at the specified time and date to get credit for the course.

Students who have three or more final exams on the same day, and cannot arrange a new schedule with their instructors, can submit a written petition to the department’s or program’s dean at least two weeks before their final exams start. The dean will discuss the petition with the relevant instructor(s) before making a decision. 

Official Transcripts

shoreline.edu/apply-and-aid/transcript-requests.aspx

An official transcript is a record of the student’s academic grades. It shows courses taken, credits earned, grades received, transfer credits accepted, and degrees or certificates received at Shoreline Community College.

Official Transcripts may be needed to support an application to another college or university. They include the signature of Shoreline Community College’s Registrar and the College’s official seal. Students can request Official Transcripts online through Parchment or by submitting a Transcript Request Form in person or by mail at no cost.

Requests for transcripts are typically processed within 3-5 business days. Same-day transcripts can be requested by mail, email, or in person for an additional fee of $20.00.

Graduation Regulations

shoreline.edu/apply-and-aid/graduation/graduation-application.aspx

Students can officially graduate when they have completed all the requirements for their degree or certificate. They need to apply to graduate and have met all the specific program and general college requirements.

Students can choose to graduate under the degree or certificate requirements listed in the catalog from when they first enrolled at Shoreline Community College if they remain enrolled and finish within five years, or choose to graduate under the degree or certificate requirements listed in the current catalog when they finish their studies. Those who enroll in at least two quarters each academic year are considered to be continuously enrolled. Students who take an extended break from their studies will graduate under the degree or certificate requirements listed in the current catalog when they re-enroll. 

General Graduation Requirements

• maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 for all college-level courses (numbered 100 and higher).
• earn at least 25 credits or 25% of the credits for the degree or certificate (whichever is lower) from Shoreline Community College.
• meet all specific degree or certificate requirements.
• meet all general and specific college requirements.
• submit all required documents like official transcripts from other colleges and proof of prior learning if applicable.
• pay all financial obligations to Shoreline Community College.

Program-Specific Requirements

• some programs at Shoreline Community College require a separate application to enroll and may have different requirements for GPA or graduation.
• students can choose to meet the requirements of these programs from when they started or when they completed their studies.

Application for Graduation

• students need to complete an Application for a Degree or a Certificate of Proficiency one quarter before finishing their program or degree of study.
• degrees are awarded quarterly, and certificates of less than 45 credits are automatically awarded and will appear in the student’s academic record.
• students do not need to be physically present at Shoreline Community College to apply for graduation.

Transferring Credits

• colleges or universities to which students transfer after completing their associate degree at Shoreline Community College may calculate the Grade Point Average (GPA) differently and may have higher requirements for GPA.
• students who transfer to a four-year college or university before completing their associate degree but after completing 60 credits or more of transferable coursework at Shoreline Community College can transfer credits back to Shoreline Community College to use toward completion of a two-year academic transfer degree.

Graduation Ceremony (Commencement)

shoreline.edu/apply-and-aid/graduation/commencement.aspx

Commencement is an opportunity for students at Shoreline Community College who have completed their studies in fall, winter, or spring quarters (or will be completing their studies in summer quarter) to celebrate their accomplishments with families, friends, faculty, and staff in a formal ceremony at the end of the academic year. 

Students should first submit a Graduation Application and make sure they have met all program-specific and general college requirements to participate. Diplomas are mailed to students around eight to twelve weeks after the end of the quarter their degree is earned.