Modification of Graduation Requirements

General Modifications

This policy is intended as an alternative for a very limited number of students who may be granted the opportunity to meet modified college graduation requirements.

Such modification might include an alternative learning experience, the substitution of another course for a requirement, or waiver of a requirement. The modified requirements are to be individually designed to fit the student's capabilities while matching as closely as possible the definition and intent of the college's graduation requirements. (Approved October 15, 2001)

Definition of Criteria
In order to be considered for graduation under modified requirements, a student must have been enrolled as a matriculated student for at least one semester. The following conditions must also apply:

• Accommodations for disabilities must be coordinated through the O'Neill Center for Student Access and Support.
• Any disability that may prevent the student from successfully completing a requirement must be formally documented by an appropriate licensed clinician, (e.g. physician, clinical psychologist or certified school psychologist.)
• A record must be presented demonstrating that a reasonable attempt is being made at Cape Cod Community College to satisfy the unmodified requirements, all available support options are or have been exhausted, and all reasonable alternatives have been explored.
• Evidence must be presented that the disability has affected similar performance by the student in the past.
• A record must be presented verifying that the student has discussed the problem and possible solutions with college faculty and support services staff and pursued any recommended courses of action.
• Under Section 504 the student must be qualified in all other aspects.

A student meeting the established criteria must present a written request for consideration of the modification of graduation requirements to either his/her Program Coordinator if seeking an Associate of Science Degree or to the appropriate area Academic Dean if seeking an Associate of Arts Degree.

Upon evaluating the request, the Program Coordinator or Dean may either deny the request with suggested recommendations or convene and chair a Review Committee consisting of the student's faculty advisor or faculty representative, staff member from the O'Neill Center for Student Access and Support, and a faculty member representing the area of study to be waived or substituted.

If a waiver or substitution of a graduation requirement is unanimously agreed to, the decision is presented to the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs for review and action.

Course Challenges provide Cape Cod Community College students an opportunity to earn college credit for prior learning experiences by demonstrating proficiency in the content of a course. Students may request a Course Challenge when there is no CLEP examination available. Developmental Education courses and Independent Study cannot be challenged. Academic departments determine courses that are eligible for challenge and the competencies necessary for the student to demonstrate for awarding credit. Course challenge credits earned do not apply to residency requirements. 

Procedure

• A student who believes he/she has sufficient knowledge or skills must contact the Department Chair, Program Coordinator, or Dean to determine eligibility to challenge a course for academic credit.
• The student submits a Course Challenge form with an explanation of the reasons why he/she believes he/she has mastery of the material, presentation of any appropriate evidence, and submission of any supporting documentation.
• A faculty expert will be identified by the Dean in consultation with the Department Chair and Program Coordinator.
• The expert's recommendation and process of evaluation is reviewed by the department to ensure uniformity of treatment.
• Once approved by the department, the student pays and registers for the course challenge.
• The expert determines the applicant's subject matter competence using the approved evaluation.
• The faculty expert records the grade at the end of the term. If successful, the course, its credits, and a grade of "P" for pass is recorded. If unsuccessful, a grade of "NG" is recorded. The "NG" grade does not show on the transcript.
  (Passed at the College Meeting March 31, 1981; amended May 15, 1986; revised October 30, 1990; revised May 1, 2017)

(Revised March 6, 2017)
Additional information pertaining to CLEP including links to list of exams can be found at the Student Readiness Office website.

The following is the policy regarding the College Level Examination Program (CLEP):

• Credit is granted to those students who are matriculated at the college (have applied and been accepted).
• College Composition Exam is required to earn 3 credits equivalent to CCCC ENL101 English Composition I.
• Analysis & Interpretation of Literature is required to earn 3 credits equivalent to ENL102 English Composition II.
• Credit will be given to students who earn at or above the required score of 50 on the examinations. This is the score recommended by the American Council on Education. (Please note exceptions for French Language, German Language and Spanish Language exams.)
• Students may earn up to a maximum of 36 credit hours.
• Only actual credits awarded will be recorded on the student's permanent record, no grade will be recorded.
• Credits awarded will not be computed in any grade point average.
• Students successfully completing the College Level Mathematics exam will satisfy the mathematics core requirement.
• Students successfully completing the Biology and Chemistry exams may register for a one credit laboratory course to earn a total of 4 credits at CCCC.
• Up to two exams may be taken on each test administration date.
• Student may retake an exam after 90 days.

(Approved October 15, 2001; Revised February 6, 2017)

For those seeking an Associate of Science Degree

• The student must meet the conditions listed under "Definition of Criteria" as presented in the document Modification of Graduation Requirements and pass the Pre-Algebra course (MAT025).
• Having met the above minimum criteria, a student with documented significant math learning disability must meet with his/her Program Coordinator to discuss the essential level of mathematical competency required by that Program. If the Program Coordinator deems it appropriate to continue with the waiver process, the student must submit a formal letter of request to his/her Program Coordinator and submit a copy to the Mathematics Department Chair.
• The Program Coordinator will convene and chair a Review Committee consisting of the Mathematics Department Chair, the student's most recent math instructor and a staff member from the O'Neill Center for Student Access and Support.
• The Program Coordinator will determine if an alternative learning experience is appropriate and if so, will define it.
• In cooperation with the Learning Disabilities Specialist or Coordinator of Disability Services, the student will need to develop a comprehensive plan of strategies and accommodations to pursue vigorously all recommended courses of action suggested by the Program Coordinator and the Review Committee.
• If a waiver or substitution of a graduation requirement is unanimously agreed to, the decision is presented to the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs for review and action.

For those seeking an Associate of Arts Degree

• The student must meet the conditions listed under "Definition of Criteria" as presented in the document Modification of Graduation Requirements and pass the Pre-Algebra course MAT025.
• Having met the above minimum criteria, a student with a documented significant math learning disability must proceed to the Algebra for Non-STEM course (MAT035).
• In cooperation with the Learning Disabilities Specialist or the Coordinator of Disability Services, the student must develop a comprehensive plan of strategies and accommodations and proceed to document all aspects of this plan, including individual tutoring as provided by the College.
• Either a or b:
  a. If, after one attempt, the student is unable to pass Algebra for Non-STEM (MAT035) he/she must submit a letter of request for consideration of the modification of graduation requirements to the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs/Science, Technology, Mathematics and Business with a copy to the Mathematics Department Chair.
  b. If the student passes Algebra for Non-STEM (MAT035), he/she must proceed to a 100-level MAT course. If the student is unable to pass one of these courses, he/she must submit a letter of request for consideration of the modification of graduation requirements to the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs/Science, Technology, Mathematics and Business with a copy to the Mathematics Department Chair.
• Upon evaluating the request, the Dean may either deny the request with suggested recommendations or convene and chair a Review Committee consisting of the Mathematics Department Chair, the student's most recent math instructor and a staff member from the O'Neill Center for Student Access and Support. The Review Committee will meet at least once a semester to review the student's progress and to determine if a waiver or substitution is appropriate. 
• If the student is unable to complete the mathematics requirement successfully, the Review Committee could substitute a third science course or another appropriate alternative course.
• If a waiver or substitution of a graduation requirement is unanimously agreed to, the decision is presented to the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs for review and action.

Academic departments determine the industry certifications that are appropriate for meeting program requirements. Departments will identify Cape Cod Community College courses that are equivalent in content for the purpose of awarding credit. The list of department-approved equivalent courses will be sent to the Registrar.

Students having industry certifications shall submit the original certificate to the Registrar for evaluation. Those certificates for which comparable Cape Cod Community College courses are approved will have the appropriate credits recorded on their transcripts. Credits received for industry certification do not meet the residency requirement. (Approved by College Meeting April 25, 2016)

In June 2008, the Department of Higher Education accepted the Final Report from the Commonwealth Transfer Advisory Group which included a new statewide transfer policy: MassTransfer. MassTransfer seeks to provide a broad population of students with straightforward and understandable options toward the completion of associate and baccalaureate degrees, clearing the way for student access and student success in the Massachusetts public higher education system.

Students planning to transfer to one of the participating state-supported universities or colleges in Massachusetts are eligible for MassTransfer. MassTransfer provides community college graduates who complete designated associate degrees with the benefits of the full transfer and applicability of credit, guaranteed admission and a tuition discount. MassTransfer also provides students in the Massachusetts public higher education system the intermediate goal of completing a portable general education transfer block of 34 credits which satisfy the general education/distribution/core requirements across public institutions.

Detailed information pertaining to MassTransfer may be found at www.mass.edu/masstransfer.

MassTransfer Appeal Policies

Transfer In
An incoming transfer student may request that the registrar re-evaluate the student’s transcript. As part of this request the student may submit additional information such as a course syllabus, or other course materials. If the student is not satisfied after the transcript is re-evaluated, he/she may request that the appeal proceed to Level Two.

The student submits a written appeal to one of the Deans of Academic and Student Affairs. Supporting documents must be submitted. The Dean will consult with academic departments. The Dean will reply in writing to the student within ten (10) working days. If the appeal is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student at this level or the student has not received a reply within ten (10) working days, she/he may take the appeal to Level Three.

The student submits the written appeal, with supporting documentation, to the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. The Vice President will investigate the appeal and deliver a decision to the student within ten (10) working days. A transfer appeal will proceed no further than Level Three; the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs has the final say.

Transfer Out
The following process will be utilized if a student has a complaint about how the benefits of Mass Transfer have been applied in the transfer process to another state institution. Initially, the student appeals to the Transfer contact person at the state college or university and follows that college’s appeal process. If the appeal is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student may present the transcript evaluation and the reason for appeal to the transfer advisor at CCCC. The CCCC transfer advisor will contact the state college or university and try to resolve the appeal. The CCCC transfer advisor will respond to the student in a reasonable period of time, not to exceed twenty (20) working days. If the issue is still not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student with the assistance of the CCCC Transfer Advisor may submit the appeal to the state Subcommittee for Appeals.

Academic Credit Evaluation Policy
For information pertaining to the Valor Act: VALOR Act Academic Credit Evaluation Policy