Student Policies (Attendance, Grading, Withdrawal, etc.)

Right to Know Act

Anyone wishing to obtain information about first-time students’ rate of persistence and/or graduation rates should contact the Office of the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning.

Cape Fear Community College measures and reports retention, graduation, and transfer rates, along with seven other institutional performance standards, on an annual basis and in accordance with definitions and standards established by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. Establishment of these common performance measures of institutional effectiveness, along with definitions and standards for each, is the result of a mandate by the N.C. General Assembly to review past performance and define standards of performance to ensure the quality and effectiveness of programs and services in all of the 58 community colleges.  Please refer to CFCC’s performance report on these measures. Historical data and additional details may be viewed on the Institutional Effectiveness, Planning, and Compliance webpage.

What is FERPA?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students certain rights with respect to their education records. (An “eligible student” under FERPA is a student who is 18 years of age or older or who attends a postsecondary institution at any age.)

What rights do students have under FERPA?

FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. 

These rights include:

1. The right to inspect and review their education records. Cape Fear Community College requires written authorization from the student prior to the release of academic records.  A minimum of 48 working hours will be required by the College to access the requested academic information.  The student may inspect, copy, and review his/her records in the Registrar’s Office.  There may be a charge for copies. The Registrar will arrange for access and will notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. A student who wishes to ask Cape Fear Community College to amend a record should write the Registrar, clearly identify the part of the record the student wants changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested, the College will notify the student in writing of the decision and the student’s right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. FERPA does not address issues involved with assigning grades for academic work. A student interested in appealing grades should follow the grade appeal procedure found in the College Catalog.
3. The right to provide written consent before Cape Fear Community College discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. The College discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is typically a person employed by Cape Fear Community College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the College who performs an institutional service of function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent or a student volunteering to assist another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official typically has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibilities for the College. Upon request, the College may also disclose education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. See more on this below under the area titled “Disclosure without student consent.”
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Cape Fear Community College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Written complaints should be sent to:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue SW

Washington DC 20202-5920

What is Directory Information at Cape Fear Community College?

The following items are designated as “Directory Information” and this information may be released at the discretion of the College without the student’s consent unless a student files a request to withhold directory information:

• Name
• City/county of residence
• Major field of study
• Full time/Part-time enrollment
• The most recent college attended
• Dates of enrollment
• Degrees and awards received
• The College assigned email address

How may a student request to withhold disclosure of Directory Information?

Students have the right to withhold disclosure of any directory information to third parties by completing the “Disclosure Request Form” with the Registrar’s Office. The request will remain active for the duration that a student is attending the College, unless the student rescinds the withholding. The College assumes that a student’s failure to file a request for non-disclosure indicates approval for disclosure.

Third-party requests for directory information:

The request for student directory information from third-party individuals or companies must be submitted through the college’s “Public Information Request Form” online. Directory information will only be disclosed at the discretion of the Registrar. Requests that could potentially violate college policies, be considered harmful to the students, or without specific purpose, may be denied. If the request is denied, the Registrar will respond in writing.

How may a student authorize for the college to release information to parent, spouse, or another person or third party?

Cape Fear Community College recognizes that some students would like to authorize someone else to have access to or to be able to discuss their grades, financial records, academic records, and other records.

When a student, regardless of age, enters an institution of higher education such as Cape Fear Community College, all rights to inspect and review the education record transfer from the parent to the student under FERPA. With a student’s written permission, we may share the student’s records (academic records, account/billing information, and/or financial aid records) with the student’s parent(s), spouse, and/or other individuals the student chooses to designate. This privacy release will remain in effect for the duration of the student’s enrollment at Cape Fear Community College, unless rescinded by the student in writing. If a student would like to grant access to release his/her student records to someone such as a parent, the student must complete the “Disclosure Release Form” with the Registrar’s Office and allow at least 48 hours for processing.

Disclosure without student consent:

FERPA permits the disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from students’ education records, without consent of the student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in § 99.31 of the FERPA regulations. Eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures.

More information about disclosures that do not require student consent can be found on the U.S. Department of Education website. 
 

Solomon Amendment & FERPA

The Solomon Amendment is a federal law that allows military recruiters to access some address, biographical, and academic program information on students age 17 and older who have not filed any full block FERPA restrictions.

The U.S. Department of Education has determined the Solomon Amendment supersedes most elements of FERPA. An institution is therefore obligated to release data included in the list of “student recruiting information,” which may or may not match our FERPA directory information list. Solomon Amendment “student recruitment information” includes:

• Name
• Address
• Telephone (not specific if local or permanent)
• Electronic mail addresses (which shall be the electronic mail addresses provided by the institution, if available)
• Age and date of birth
• Place of birth
• Level of education
• Academic major
• Degrees received
• Educational institution in which the student was most recently enrolled

This information may be distributed once per term to each of the 12 eligible units within the five branches of the service.

Faculty and FERPA

The faculty of the College have a legitimate educational interest in a student’s academic records.  Therefore, access to those records is authorized by the institution.  Along with this access comes certain obligations and responsibilities.

A faculty member shall not access educational records of any student for which he/she does not have a direct advisory responsibility.  Those with direct advisory responsibility include the current instructors of the student, the student’s faculty advisor, and the appropriate department head and division chair.  A faculty member not professionally associated with a student shall not access educational records of the student without the written consent of the student.

A faculty member shall not disclose any information from a student’s record to a third party (i.e., other students, other faculty members, employers, etc.) without the written consent of the student. Parents of the student do not have special access rights and should not be given information without the student’s written consent.

A faculty member shall be responsible for the security of all academic information in his/her possession.  These records must not be accessible to students and unauthorized personnel.

A faculty member shall refrain from disclosing academic information by phone without the expressed written consent of the student.

Administration and FERPA

Student Services and Enrollment Management and specifically the Registrar’s Office, has the responsibility of maintaining and safeguarding the academic records of all students of the College. Consistent with this responsibility, the personnel of Student Services and Enrollment Management will access student records as needed. However, these individuals bear the responsibility for ensuring that no unauthorized disclosure of student academic information occurs without the expressed written consent of that student.

The president, vice presidents and deans of the College may access student records when needed to facilitate the student’s educational pursuit. College administrators may disclose a student’s educational records to appropriate parties in connection with a health or safety emergency.  Furthermore, College administrators have the right to contact parents of any student under the age of 21 who has violated a federal, state, or local law, or any rule or policy of the institution, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.

The educational records of a student will not be accessed for employment decisions without the expressed written consent of the student.  Information from student academic records may be shared in aggregate for educational research purposes.

Patent and Copyright Policy

Every invention, discovery, material, work, product, or any part thereof, that results from the efforts of a full or part-time employee, student, or outside consultant carried out while in the employment of, or under contract or agreement of any kind with, the College and that is produced or brought about in any fashion with the aid of the College’s facilities, staff, or through funds administered by the College shall, as between the College and the full or part-time employee, student, or outside consultant, be the property of the College.  Any patents, trademarks, trade names, and/or trade secrets shall belong to the College and any legal protection applied for shall be applied for by the College or through an authorized agent, assignee, or licensee in the name of the College.

As a general rule, all rights to copyrightable material are the property of the creator.  The creator shall be deemed to be the College where a specific contract so provides, where a full or part-time employee, student, or outside consultant is employed for the purpose of producing a specific copyrightable work, or where necessary to reflect the contribution of the College to the work, as in the case of software or audiovisual material of any kind.

As between the College and The State Board of Community Colleges, ownership of any of the above-described items shall be determined in accordance with applicable regulations of the State Board of Community Colleges.

The College may charge a reasonable rental fee for use of any of the above-described items and, further, if such item is a learned journal, work of art, book, publication, textbook, library book, form bulletin, or instructional supply, then it may, as allowed by the Umstead Act, be offered for sale by the College.

This policy shall be deemed to be a part of any existing and/or future employment or consulting agreements of the College. (approved by the CFCC Board of Trustees, March 17, 1994)

Online Learning & Student Information

Verification of Student Identity

The College’s Computer Acceptable Use Policy governs students’ use of account names and login credentials in any classes that have an online component: “An access account assigned to a user must not be used by any other individual. Users are responsible for the proper use of their accounts, including proper password protection and appropriate use of the College’s computing resources. Obtaining another user’s password, allowing friends, family, co-workers, or any other individual use of your or another user’s account, or other unauthorized use of an access account is a serious violation of this policy.” The College may employ a variety of measures, including multi-factor authentication and biometric assessments, to verify that a student who accesses and participates in a class with an online learning component is the same student who registered for and receives credit for that class.

Privacy Information

Cape Fear Community College has procedures in place to protect the privacy of all students and their education records, whether students are enrolled in online learning activities or attend class on campus. Cape Fear Community College protects the security, confidentiality, and integrity of all student records (including online learning students) in accordance with the US Department of Education Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). Students are notified of their rights under FERPA during student orientation, through the CFCC website, and the CFCC Catalog and Student Handbook. New faculty and staff receive FERPA information during the mandatory new employee orientation. Faculty and staff also receive annual online refresher training on FERPA. Faculty and staff agree to a statement regarding the confidentiality of student records each time they access the College’s student information system (Colleague Disclosure Statement), the College’s electronic means of accessing student records.

The College’s online services employ encryption to protect the data in transit and at rest. Data in transit is protected by Secure Socket Layer (SSL), providing authentication of the server, encryption of all data sent to and from the server, and integrity checks of the data.  Data at rest is protected by full disk encryption (ex: Bitlocker or AWS EBS encryption). Encryption is used for myCFCC, Blackboard, Self-Service, and Google Apps.

All students and employees accessing the myCFCC portal agree to the College’s Acceptable Use Policy.

Change of Name, Address, Phone Number

It is extremely important for the College to have accurate name, address, and phone information for each student. Name, address, phone number, or personal e-mail updates may be requested by completing and submitting the “Change of Student Information” form through Softdocs or in person at the Registrar’s Office. Name changes requested while a student is actively in process of any course(s) will be held and processed by the college after the conclusion of the course(s). Legal name changes will require government issued documentation such as a signed social security card, driver’s license, passport, government-issued visa, or applicable court documents.

Chosen Name & Identity Policy

Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) acknowledges and supports personal expression in hopes to provide a safe and inclusive learning and working environment for its students, employees and visitors of the college.  A student or employee may request to identify by a chosen name (sometimes called a preferred name) instead of their legal name.  Where appropriate, the chosen name will be recorded and a good faith effort will be made by the college to utilize when made available by the individual.  Due to certain legalities, only the first name may be designated for the chosen name, and the last name must remain the individual’s legal last name. As such, all individuals should routinely identify themselves with their chosen name to ensure consistent records, to streamline processes, and offer name recognition as accurately as possible.

Definitions:

Chosen Name – A chosen name is an alternative to the individual’s legal name, as designated by the individual, instead of using their legal name, whenever reasonably possible.

Legal Name – A legal name is the name a person uses for official governmental documents, such as a license, passport, social security card, and tax forms; and within the requirements of the college’s information systems, an official transcript.

It should be understood that even when a chosen name has been entered in various college information systems, the legal name may be required for college business, or to satisfy legal needs. CFCC cannot guarantee that the chosen name will display in all college communications, applications, information systems, databases, and processes.

Specific examples that may require use of a legal name include, but are not limited to:

• Financial, medical, and law enforcement documents
• CFCC Student ID Cards
• Official transcripts
• W-4 forms, I-9 forms, and payroll documents
• Visa/immigration documents
• Employment-related documents and personnel files
• Background check documents
• Insurance documents
• Financial Aid records
• Student account, billing, and/or cashier’s records
• Federal reporting
• Inability for college information systems, learning management systems, databases, or processes to display

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) a student’s chosen name or legal may be disclosed to the public as “directory information” per the college’s FERPA policy, unless the student chooses to opt out by contacting the Registrar’s office.

CFCC reserves the right to refuse a chosen name if it is deemed inappropriate, includes offensive or obscene language, and/or interferes with college business or the mission of the college. Chosen names cannot be used for misrepresentations, avoiding legal obligations, or in any manner that violates CFCC policies or federal, state, or local laws.

Attendance Policy

College instruction is designed for students to learn by way of class attendance, and regular attendance is a key to academic success.  Attendance is based on class meetings and calculated from the first class meeting, not based on when the student enrolls in the class.  Students are expected to punctually attend all class sessions in the courses for which they are registered.  Late arrivals and/or early departures may count toward total absences in classes.

Students who have not attended at least once by the Census date of the course may be administratively dropped as a “No Show.”  No-Show students will be removed from the class roster and will not be allowed to continue in the class.

Within their respective departmental guidelines, instructors are responsible for stating their own course attendance and tardiness requirements on course syllabi distributed at the beginning of the academic term. It is the student’s responsibility to know and understand the attendance requirements for each instructor and to understand how attendance in class might affect his or her final grade.  Regardless of how attendance is used in grading, faculty are required to keep a timely record of attendance for each student through the end of the semester using college-approved, record-keeping software.

Attendance in online (Internet, Internet Synchronous, Hybrid, Blended, and Hyflex) courses is measured not only by completion of an initial enrollment verification assignment (on or before the Census Date of the course) but also by completion of the required coursework and/or online participation, as defined by the instructor on the course syllabus.  In courses with synchronous meeting times (Internet Synchronous, Hybrid, and Blended), students MUST meet on the required meeting dates specified (first class meeting, lab, etc.). Log into MyCFCC from the CFCC website for course information or contact your instructor.

Attendance policy for students enrolling in a prerequisite English or math course: Students who enroll in a prerequisite math or English course must attend at least 80% of the meeting dates.  Students who exceed the maximum allowable absences in the prerequisite support course may be administratively withdrawn by the instructor and may receive a grade of “W”.

Special note: Some programs may require that students participate in instructional activities during a holiday or semester break when students are normally off. When such occurs, students must participate. Some examples are Marine Technology and Veterinary Medical Technology.

Adding a course late: After the last day to add a class for a term, students who wish to add a class or be reinstated to a class, must complete a Late Add/Reinstatement Request Form for review & approval or disapproval.

Excused Absences due to Public Health Emergencies

If a student is asked to remain home due to a public health emergency, every effort will be made to ensure that the student remains on track with all coursework.  This may include allowing the student to complete assignments and participate in the class remotely when possible.  Absences incurred during the recommended or directed self-isolation period will not violate an instructor’s attendance policy as long as the student has contacted the Dean of Students’ office prior to missing class.  The college acknowledges that some classes include content and experiences that cannot be completed remotely. In these cases, instructors, department chairs, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Vice President of Student Services will discuss what options are available to assist students in completing their course of study.

Veteran & Military Service Member Attendance Policy

CFCC recognizes the unique situations that our students who are veterans and/or military service members of the US Armed Forces sometimes endure situations which can affect their attendance. If a veteran and/or military service member student receives orders for unexpected short-term deployment or training, or for medical appointments and/or hospitalization due to service related injuries, absences that result from these orders or appointments will not count toward the total number of absences allowable per the attendance policy of each class in which that student is enrolled.

A student seeking an excused absence should first present military orders and/or medical documentation from an approved provider (Military Hospitals, Veterans Healthcare Administration, and/or Veterans Community Care Program) in relation to service-connected injuries to the Director of Veterans Affairs or Veterans Services Coordinator, to be verified for the respective department chair and the student’s instructor. CFCC will adhere to the Excused Absence for Military Service policy, prescribed by the State Board of Community Colleges (SBCCC.500.1), for those service members forward deployed or in training, contingent upon orders submitted to the Director of Veterans Affairs and Veteran Services Coordinator.

The college acknowledges that some classes, such as biology and clinicals in nursing and allied health programs, have unique content; it may not be possible for a student to receive an extension on the assignments in these courses.

We also recognize that there will be unique cases that will require the exercise of sound judgment. Instructors, department chairs, and the Director of Veteran Affairs and Veteran Services Coordinator will collectively discuss these cases to determine the best way to assist our veteran and/or military service member students in completing their course of study.

Students who are currently serving in the Guard/Reserve must adhere to the College’s No Show policy by attending all of their classes before the deployment or training begins. Students unable to attend class on or prior to the census date (10% point of class) should register for another class session when available.

Religious Observance Notification 

Students will be allowed two days of excused absence each academic year for religious observances required by the faith of the student. Students are required to provide written notice of the request for an excused absence by completing the Religious Observance Absence form available in Student Services and Enrollment Management. The completed form must be submitted to the Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management or his/her designee a minimum of ten (10) school days prior to the religious observance. The Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management or his/her designee will notify the instructor within three (3) school days of receiving the request. Students will be given the opportunity to make up any tests or other work missed due to the excused absence and should work with their instructors in advance of the excused absence to delineate how to make up the missed coursework (N.C.G.S. 115D-5).

College Closings or Delays

In the event of inclement weather, Cape Fear Community College may close or delay classes depending on the weather forecast and local conditions. All official college closings and delays will be posted on the college website at www.cfcc.edu, myCFCC online portal, the CFCC Emergency Information Hotline (877) 799-2322, and through the local news media. Students who subscribe to the text messaging alert system through CFCC online portal will be notified of closings and delays through text messages. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these resources as soon as possible.

Inclement Weather

While the College makes every effort to provide a safe environment on campus, the College does not take responsibility for student safety while traveling to and from campus. During periods of inclement or hazardous weather, students must use their best judgment when deciding to come to class. College officials do not expect students to take extreme risks to their personal safety to attend class. However, if a student chooses not to come to class due to inclement weather when the college is open, the student will be counted as absent in accordance with the attendance policies for that student’s class(es).  Classes that are canceled due to inclement weather may, at the discretion of a class’s instructor, be made up using the online or web-assisted components of those classes to deliver instruction.

Modifications to Instructional Methods

CFCC values the importance of offering students a variety of instructional delivery options, including traditional face-to-face instruction, online instruction, and blended (face-to-face and online) instruction. In certain circumstances such as public health emergencies or natural disasters, it may be necessary for the college to transition face-to-face and blended classes to online delivery; by modifying the start and end dates of a class; or by other methods of adjusting instructional delivery arrangements in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of CFCC students, faculty, and staff. Should such changes in instructional delivery become necessary, CFCC will notify all students in a timely manner and will make every effort to assist students with the transition through outreach and offering services such as Counseling, Tutoring, Learning Lab, etc. In such circumstances, CFCC instructors will work to ensure that students continue to have the opportunity to attain the learning outcomes listed in the course description. 

Grades

Grading and Grade Point Averages

Grading is done by the traditional method of “A” through “F.”  Grades are assigned a numerical value when determining a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA).

Grading System

Grading Scale

The College grading scale is:

* Please note: Some program specific courses within the College may adopt a different grading scale due to accreditation requirements. Students should consult course syllabi for specific scale information.

Translating Course Grades into GPA

By taking the number of semester hours assigned to a course and multiplying that credit value by the value of the grade, you determine the grade points for each course attempted.  Example:  If you take five courses that are assigned a total of 18 semester hours, you may determine your term GPA in the following manner:

Divide the total quality points by the number of credit hours attempted (per the example this is 47 divided by 18) and that will give you your GPA; in this case 2.61 is the GPA. If a course was repeated, only use the course with the best grade when calculating the GPA. For example, if ENG-111 was taken in the spring 2020 term with an earned grade of D and then it was retaken in the fall 2020 term with a grade of B, you will only include the attempt from fall 2020 which has the highest grade. Only the highest grade per course is used in the GPA calculation at CFCC.

Final Grades

Final grades will be available through Self Service for students after the end of each academic session.  Course grades, along with semester and cumulative grade point average (GPA), will be displayed.  Grade reports are not mailed to students.

Incomplete Grades

A grade of incomplete (I) will be given only when circumstances justify additional time to complete a class. Students must contact their instructor in writing to request a grade of incomplete at least one week prior to the last day of classes of the section for which they are requesting an incomplete. Students must have successfully completed at least 75% of the required coursework for a class to be eligible to receive a grade of incomplete. Students may be required to provide documentation of the circumstances justifying their request for additional time. When an incomplete is granted, the class requirements must be completed within six weeks of the beginning date of the next academic semester (including summer). Incompletes (I) not finalized within the appropriate time frame will convert to a grade of “F”. After the Incomplete Grade form has been approved by the student, the student must proceed with the Incomplete and cannot later request to be issued another grade such as a “W” for withdrawal. Extensions to the six-week time frame may be requested by faculty and must be approved by the Vice President of Academic Affairs in consideration of students’ extenuating circumstances.

Course Repeat Policy

Courses that are repeated fall into three different categories:

1. Courses with an earned grade of “C” or better may be repeated two times.
2. Courses with an earned grade of “D,” “F,” “W,” “WP,” “XF,” or “WF” may be repeated until successfully completed.
3. Audit courses may be repeated a maximum of two times unless an exception is made.

When a course has been repeated, the higher grade will be used in the Grade Point Average (GPA) calculation.  Lower grades will be removed from GPA calculation; however, these grades will continue to appear on the academic transcript.

Students who receive veteran benefits or financial aid should be advised that they may not receive funds for repeating courses which they have already passed.

Also, students who have received a degree from CFCC should be advised that the policy will not apply to courses which were taken to fulfill previous graduation requirements.  A final student program GPA is computed at the time of graduation, and this GPA may not be recalculated as courses are repeated.

Academic Forgiveness

Academic Forgiveness is designed to provide returning students with low grades a fresh start upon re-enrolling after at least three terms of non-enrollment at CFCC (one full year). Prior to applying for academic forgiveness, the student must demonstrate a renewed academic interest and effort by earning at least a 2.0 term GPA in the first six (6) semester hours completed after re-enrollment. Developmental course credits will not count toward the first six (6) hours. At the time of application for Academic Forgiveness, the student should not have any failing grades during the re-enrollment period. Students returning to their same program of study may be best served by retaking courses for replacement grades instead of pursuing Academic Forgiveness.

After completing 6 credit hours with a 2.0 or higher term GPA, students should consult with their CFCC assigned academic advisor and/or counselor to determine if they are eligible for academic forgiveness. If the determination is made that the student is eligible for academic forgiveness, then the student must complete and submit the Academic Forgiveness form. Once submitted, the Registrar’s Office will review the student’s academic record for eligibility and students will be notified of a decision via their CFCC student email account.

The following points apply regarding the consideration of academic forgiveness:

1. Academic forgiveness is not reversible and may only be applied once during an academic career at CFCC.
2. Students granted academic forgiveness will have their cumulative grade point averages recalculated. While the forgiven grades will continue to appear on the official transcript, they will be marked as forgiven.
3. Grades which may be disregarded from students’ grade point averages are “F,” “XF,” “WF,” and “NC.” Grades of D may be forgiven if it is determined by the Registrar that the course is unable to be retaken for a better grade.
4. Courses that have been applied toward an awarded certificate, diploma, or degree at CFCC are not eligible for academic forgiveness.
5. Grades that are included in academic forgiveness are not exempt from academic progress relating to financial aid and VA educational benefits.
6. Since developmental course work does not count in the student’s cumulative GPA, developmental course grades are not eligible for academic forgiveness.
7. Academic Forgiveness has no bearing on any other institution or how they calculate grade point averages. Students planning to transfer should ask their receiving institution how Academic Forgiveness will be considered.

Note: The three-term period of non-enrollment starts the term after the last enrollment and goes for three full terms. For example, if the student stops attending after the Fall term, they must not enroll the following Spring, Summer, or Fall to be eligible.

Grade Appeal Procedure

The purpose of the Student Grade Appeal Procedure is to provide an orderly and equitable process for resolving differences between students and faculty relating to final grades where the student believes he/she is being treated unfairly or arbitrarily.

Procedure

Step 1. The student with the conflict must first make an appeal in writing to the class instructor to attempt to resolve the difference. This initial appeal must be made by the student within five (5) weekdays of the posting of final grades for the term. Every reasonable effort should be made to resolve the matter at this level (Step 1). The instructor will notify his/her department chair in writing of the grade appeal.

Step 2. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of his/her instructor in Step 1, he/she may, within five (5) weekdays of the date of notification of the instructor’s decision on the grade appeal, file a written appeal to the instructional dean responsible for the course in question. The dean will review and evaluate the appeal to determine what action, if any, should be taken to resolve the conflict. Written notification of that determination will be sent to the student within five (5) weekdays of receipt of student’s written notice.

Step 3. If the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of Step 2, he/she may, within five (5) weekdays of the date of notification of Step 2, file a written notice of appeal to the Vice President for Student Services. The Vice President for Student Services will convene the Academic Subcommittee of the Judicial Board to hear the appeal and make a determination regarding the appeal. The Vice President for Student Services will then notify, in writing, the student, the dean, the department chair, and the instructor of the Academic Subcommittee’s decision. The student may appeal the Academic Subcommittee’s decision to the President of the College or his/her designee. This appeal must be made within ten (10) weekdays of the student’s receipt of the Academic Subcommittee’s decision. The appeal process consists of the President of the College or his/her designee reviewing the written record submitted to date and does not involve an additional hearing. The President of the College or his/her designee will respond with his/her final decision to the appeal within ten (10) weekdays of receipt of the appeal.

Students dismissed from the clinical area in Health Sciences and Nursing programs will follow the appeals process outlined in the program student handbook.

Academic Standing: Warning and Probation

The policies governing academic standing at CFCC are intended to assist students in successfully completing their programs of study. Procedures are designed to identify students experiencing academic difficulty and to ensure effective corrective action. These procedures are supported by both faculty and staff, who are committed to

1. informing all students of minimum academic standards and grading procedures
2. identifying and alerting students displaying signs of academic difficulty early in the semester through an early alert process
3. providing recommendations and opportunities for corrective actions to such students
4. immediately notifying students with a cumulative grade point average of below a 2.0 following the end of the semester

Students enrolled in a degree, diploma, or certificate program are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of the requirements for their program. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 is required to graduate with a credential from CFCC.

Academic Warning

Students whose cumulative grade point averages fall below a 2.0 for any given semester will be placed on academic warning for the following semester. The notice of the warning will be sent to the students and their advisor for documentation purposes. Students on academic warning are encouraged to access CFCC resources including the Learning Lab, Counseling, enrolling in  ACA 122 (if applicable to student’s program), the Academic Advising Center, Student Accessibility Services, Financial Aid, and/or Career Services.

Academic Probation

Students on academic warning whose cumulative grade point average remains below a 2.0 for the subsequent semester will be placed on academic probation for the upcoming semester. Students on academic probation are required to meet with their assigned Counselor to develop an Academic Improvement Plan before registering for classes. The Academic Improvement Plan may include the following interventions to assist the student with improving his/her GPA:

• Limiting the number of courses in which the student may register in the subsequent semester. The student may not be allowed to register as a full-time student. Based on the student’s academic record, a Counselor and/or Academic Advisor has the authority to limit students to a reduced course load. This information will be outlined in the student’s Academic Improvement Plan.

• Repeating a course in which the student earned a low grade.

• Meeting with someone in the Learning Lab, and attending appropriate student success seminars and/or tutoring sessions.

Furthermore, students on academic probation whose cumulative grade point average remains below 2.0 in any subsequent semester thereafter will remain on academic probation until the 2.0 cumulative GPA is met. Students continuing on academic probation are required to meet with their assigned Counselor as determined in the Academic Improvement Plan until their cumulative GPA reaches 2.0.

Students receiving financial aid must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) to be eligible to continue to receive funding. All earned grades will be used to determine a student’s compliance with the 2.0 cumulative GPA requirement, and all attempted hours will be included in the calculation of maximum time frame.  For specific details students should contact their Financial Aid Coordinator.

Academic Integrity / Cheating and Plagiarism

Academic-Related Violations include, but are not limited to the following:

A. Plagiarism – Plagiarism includes submitting as one’s own work or creation of any kind that which is wholly or in part created by another. All sources, including Internet content, whether paraphrased or quoted, must be cited correctly. Direct quotes must have quotation marks around them, or they are considered plagiarism even if the quote is correctly cited. Rearranging parts of an author’s sentences or substituting a few words is NOT paraphrasing and also constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism also includes submission of any work that is generated using artificial intelligence (AI) software or applications that auto-generate content. CFCC used detection software for plagiarism and AI content.

B. Cheating – is any practice which gives one student a dishonorable advantage over another student engaged in the same or similar course of study. It shall include, but is not limited to the following: securing or giving assistance during examinations or on required work; the improper use of books, notes, or other sources of information; or the altering of any grade or academic record.

C. Aiding Acts of Academic Dishonesty – Providing information to another student and knowing, or reasonably should have known, that the student intends to use the information for cheating or other deceptive purposes.

When a faculty member observes an academic-related violation on the part of the student, the case shall be handled in accordance with the following procedures:

1. The faculty member shall notify the student who has been observed cheating or plagiarizing that he/she will receive a grade of “F” on the assignment for the first offense. Notation should be made for the assignment in the Collge LMS that the failure occurred due to plagiarism. Subsequent violations will result in a grade of “F” for the assignment or a grade of “F” for the course at the instructors discretion, or “F” in the course. For programs that have additional accreditation requirements, a grade of “F” may be given for the course as a result of any violation. The faculty member, however, shall afford the student an opportunity to clarify their position. If the faculty issues an “F” in the course, and the student wishes to appeal the final grade, the student may remain in the class until due process is completed.
2. The faculty member shall submit a written report of the incident stating the facts and the action taken to the appropriate department chair, academic dean, and Dean of Student Affairs, within five (5) weekdays from the time the incident was discovered. Upon request, the student shall receive a copy of the written report as submitted by the faculty member.

*All College departments are required to adhere to this policy and not allow for seperate inidividual faculty and/or departmental policies.

Right of Appeal

If the student and department chair and/or academic dean fail to reach a mutual agreement, the student may submit a written appeal to the Vice President of Academic Affairs within five (5) weekdays.

The Vice President of Academic Affairs will present the appeal to the Dean of Student Affairs to serve as a student advocate and to coordinate a hearing with the Academic Subcommittee of the Judicial Board within ten (10) weekdays of notification.  To ensure the student receives due process, the student will meet with the Dean of Student Affairs prior to the hearing to answer any questions or concerns that the student may have during the appeal process.

The subcommittee of the Judicial Board should include:

 a. Two (2) faculty and/or staff members appointed by the Dean of Student Affairs.

 b. The Vice President of Academic Affairs will serve as the chair without a vote (unless there is a tie). At the conclusion of the appeal hearing, the Vice President of Academic Affairs will notify the student, faculty member, department chair, and dean of the committee’s decision. The student may appeal the Academic Subcommittee’s decision to the President of the College or his/her designee. This appeal must be made within five (5) weekdays of the student’s receipt of the notification made by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The appeal process consists of the President of the College or his/her designee reviewing the written record submitted to date and does not involve an additional hearing. The President of the College or his/her designee will respond with his/her final decision to the appeal within ten (10) weekdays of receipt of the appeal.

Withdrawal from a Course

During the add/drop period, students can drop classes using Self-Service. After the add/drop period ends, students must follow the withdrawal process. Students who wish to withdraw from a course after the add/drop period should first consult their instructor and/or assigned counselor before requesting to be withdrawn from a course. Students that are dual enrolled at CFCC should consult with their high school counselor and/or CFCC Career Coach prior to withdrawing from a course. Course withdrawals also may impact a student’s financial aid status; therefore, students are strongly recommended to consult with a financial aid representative prior to withdrawing. Veteran students should consult with the Veterans Services Coordinator in financial aid.

To officially withdraw from a class, students must submit a Course Withdrawal Request form. Students who officially withdraw from a class by the established withdrawal deadline (75 percent point of the class) will receive a grade of “W” on their official record and transcript.

Exceptions to 75% Withdrawal Date (Extenuating Withdrawal)

The Vice President of Student Services may make exceptions to extend the 75% date when warranted in cases of extenuating circumstances at his/her discretion. Such cases shall include, but are not limited to, national or local emergencies, weather related events, or student medical related absences. In such cases a grade of “W” will be issued during the final twenty five percent (25%) of the academic term. In addition, if another grade was already issued for the course(s) prior to an appeal approval, it will be changed to the grade of “W.” If the request for an extended withdrawal originates from a student (or their legal power of attorney or guardian in cases where the student is incapacitated) for the purposes of medical related absences, they must comply with the following steps:

1. Submit medical documentation supporting a request for a medical withdrawal within thirty (30) calendar days of the last attended class unless medical documentation is provided that satisfactorily explains a longer time period. It is most feasible that the request and documentation be submitted before the end of the semester (and end of the classes) in question. The documentation must be submitted to the Vice President.
2. The decision of the Vice President will be communicated to the student via registered mail, hand-delivered, or electronically with confirmation of receipt from the student. The Vice President’s decision is final.
3. Students who are granted medical withdrawals will receive the grade of “W” in all courses in progress and/or specified in the request.

Withdrawing may have a negative impact on students’ Satisfactory Academic Progress status, and as a result, withdrawals may lead to a loss of eligibility for future financial aid (including loans). Students are urged to review the college policies on Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients and contact the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing to discuss potential impact on their bill and/or financial aid eligibility.

Unofficial Withdrawals:

• An “unofficial withdrawal” occurs when a student stops attending a course and does not actively and consistently participate in any academic-related activities beyond the 60percent date of the term.
• Students who are unofficially withdrawn will be issued final grades of XF. The grade of XF will be assigned as a student’s course grade when all of the following conditions are met:
  • Failed a course (no credits earned).
  • Attended a course at least once in the first 10 percent of the course.
  • Stopped attending and/or did not participate in any academic-related activity (as defined below) on or before the 60 percent date of the term.
  • Did not officially withdraw or return to the course beyond the 60 percent date of the term.

No tuition or fee adjustments will be made. The XF grade will calculate the same as an F (failure) grade, affecting GPA in the same manner as an F. Students who receive an XF or W grade may be required to repay a percentage of their Federal Aid back to the Department of Education or to the Veterans Administration.

Notes:

Examples of “academic-related” activities that may count as attendance are inclusive of (but not limited to): physically attending class, participating in class with a “clicker” device, submitting an assignment/exam/tutorial, attending a study group assigned by the instructor, or participating in an online discussion about academic matters. Simply logging into an online course does not count as an academic-related activity.

Please refer to the Academic Calendar for the withdrawal deadlines for each term.

Go to http://cfcc.edu/finaid/ for more information about financial rules and policies.

Computer Acceptable Use Policy

Purpose

College-owned or operated computing resources are reserved for the educational, instructional, research, and administrative computing needs of the faculty, students, staff, and other individuals authorized by the College.  The College’s computing resources include but are not limited to all College computers and hardware, access to the Internet or access to any College intranet provided through College-owned or operated computers, online and offline storage, and network and communications facilities.  Access to these computing resources is a privilege and, therefore, it is essential that all users exercise responsible ethical behavior when using these resources.  Users are expected to read, understand, and comply with the College’s Acceptable Use Policy.

The College monitors access to the computing resources and reserves the right, without prior notice to users, to access the College’s computing resources and to use any and all information retrieved from the computing resources. Users do not have an expectation of privacy regarding their use of the computing resources, and by accessing and using the College’s computing resources, users expressly consent to such monitoring, access, and use by the College.  Further, information contained on the College’s computing resources and in College accounts, including but not limited to e-mail, may be subject to inspection under the Public Records Law of the State of North Carolina.

The College does not attempt to articulate all required or unacceptable behavior by its users.  Therefore, each user’s judgment on appropriate conduct must be relied upon.  To assist in such judgment, users will follow this policy:

1. College computing resources are to be used only for educational, research, or instructional purposes for which access is provided, and are not to be used for any unauthorized purpose, including but not limited to commercial purposes, unauthorized access to remote computers or non-College related activities.
2. An access account assigned to a user must not be used by any other individual. Users are responsible for the proper use of their accounts, including proper password protection and appropriate use of the College’s computing resources. Obtaining another user’s password, allowing friends, family, co-workers, or any other individual use of your or another user’s account, or other unauthorized use of an access account is a serious violation of this policy.
3. Users may not attempt to impersonate another person or organization. Users may likewise not misuse or appropriate the College’s name, network names, or network address spaces.
4. All computer software is protected by federal copyright law.  In addition, most software is proprietary and protected by legal licensing agreements.  Users are responsible for being aware of the licensing restrictions for any software used on the College’s computing resources.
5. Users shall not download, reproduce and/or distribute copyrighted or licensed materials without proper authorization from the author or creator.  Additionally, users shall not publish information, messages, graphics, or photographs on any web page, without the expressed permission of the author or creator.
6. Users shall not engage in activities to damage or disrupt the hardware, software, or any communication associated with the College’s computing resources, such as virus creation and propagation, wasting system resources, overloading networks with excessive data, or any attempt to circumvent data protection schemes or uncover security loopholes.
7. Users shall not waste, monopolize, interfere or misuse the College’s computing resources by, for example, requesting an excessive number of copies from a printer, playing games or participating in chain letters or Ponzi schemes.
8. Users shall not access or damage any portion of the College’s computing resources or other College property, such as College records, applications or data.  The College’s computing resources shall not be used for illegal activities.
9. Users learning of the misuse of the College’s computing resources or violations of the Acceptable Use Policy must notify a faculty member of the College or other College official immediately.
10. Any student identified as initiating or participating in the verbal, social, or physical bullying; whether in person, through social media or through electronic devices will be subject to disciplinary action as determined by the Office of the Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management.

Enforcement

Failure to follow the Acceptable Use policy and/or any misuse of the College’s computing resources may result in the suspension or revoking of access accounts, removal from the class with a grade of “F”, as well as other College disciplinary sanctions including but not limited to conduct warning, probation, suspension, or dismissal from the College.  All College policies and procedures are applicable to users of the College’s computing resources.  A violation of the Acceptable Use Policy is considered participation in an activity which disrupts the educational process of the College and is a violation of the Code of Conduct, as well as other applicable policies and procedures of the College.  Any conduct, which violates local, state, or federal laws, will result in the immediate loss of all access to the College computing resources and will be referred to appropriate College offices and/or law enforcement authorities.

*Last updated: Approved 1/19/17

Children on Campus Policy

Children cannot be taken into classrooms, laboratories or shops unless authorized by College personnel.  Children cannot be left unattended on campus including the Learning Resources Center, lounge areas, registration sites, administrative offices or parking lots.

Failure to comply with this policy will lead to disciplinary action as outlined in the College Catalog, Student Handbook and Faculty and Staff Handbook.  Visitors violating this policy will be notified of the violation and continued violation will result in the individual being asked to leave campus.

Alternative Transportation Policy (Skateboards)

CFCC is a pedestrian-friendly commuter campus that understands the importance of alternative and active modes of transportation. Due to safety implications and concerns, all wheeled conveyances, including but not limited to, scooters, segways, skateboards, rollerblades/in-line, skates, hoverboards, razors, one-wheels, excluding bicycles, must adhere to the City of Wilmington, N.C., Code of Ordinance, Chapter 11, Street and Sidewalks, Article I., In General, Sec. 11-15. (b), and more importantly, give the right of way to any pedestrian on campus or immediately adjacent on the public sidewalks and streets.  Any individual, whether, student, employee, or visitor, should use caution when traveling to and from campus and respect all pedestrian’s right-of-way to ensure a safe college community.

Additionally, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), any wheelchair, mobility aid, or other power-driven mobility devices, including the aforementioned equipment, may be utilized as medically assistive transport or for the aid of the physically limited or disabled person. These individuals are allowed on public sidewalks and throughout all CFCC’s campus buildings owned and operated by the college.

Alternative transportation devices, including bicycles, are strictly prohibited inside any building, hallway, stairwell, or common area owned or operated by the college, including parking decks.  Individuals will be removed from campus and could be legally responsible for any damage to College property.  Any student or employee who violates this policy may be referred to the Dean of Student Affairs or Human Resources respectively for disciplinary action. Visitors who violate this policy may be subject to prosecution under the city code of ordinance and/or state law.  Continued non-compliance may be subject to trespassing.

Dress & Attire

In an effort to provide a professional and safe learning environment that is inclusive for all students, CFCC expects all individuals to dress appropriately and in a manner that will not disrupt or distract from the educational purpose of this institution.  Students are required to wear shoes at all times to ensure safety and promote good hygiene.  Clothing or attire that is objectively offensive, and/or sexually explicit is not acceptable.  Students enrolled in certain Technical/Vocational or Health Science curriculum, may be required to wear special attire for clinical or laboratory classes. If special attire is required, students may not attend classes, laboratory, or clinical site work if their dress is in violation of specific program requirements. 

Furthermore, students’ should take positive steps to exercise good hygiene and personal care in order to improve their physical and mental well-being, and overall health. If a student’s dress or hygiene interferes with the learning process, the student will be referred to counseling and/or the Dean of Students.  Failure to adhere to these minimum standards and guidelines could result in the denial of admission, re-enrollment, and/or removal from CFCC premises/property.

Tobacco Free Campus Policy

Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) is committed to a Tobacco-Free Campus to ensure the health and safety of its students, employees, and visitors of the College. CFCC recognizes the use of tobacco products on college premises is detrimental to the health and safety of its students, employees, and visitors and exercises the legal authority to prohibit tobacco use pursuant to G.S. 143-599.

For the purposes of this policy, tobacco is defined as any type of tobacco product including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, bidis, hookahs, smokeless or spit tobacco or snuff, e-cigarettes or any product simulating smoking instruments.

Use of tobacco is prohibited by students, employees, and visitors:

• in all campus buildings, facilities, or property owned, maintained, or leased by Cape Fear Community College and outside areas of the campus;
• on campus grounds, facilities, or in vehicles that are the property of the college;
• in personal vehicles while on property owned or leased by Cape Fear Community College;
• at lectures, conferences, meetings, and athletic, social, and cultural events held on college property;
• except at a specific location(s) on the North Campus, Surf City, and Burgaw Centers as approved by the college President due to unsafe conditions going off-campus.

The sale or free distribution of tobacco products, including merchandise, on campus or at college-sponsored events is prohibited.

Student clubs/organizations are prohibited from accepting money or gifts from tobacco companies, including, but not limited to:

• events sponsored by tobacco companies and allowing them to distribute free, reduced-price, or fully priced tobacco products (T-shirts, hats, etc.) on campus;
• all tobacco advertising, such as billboards and signs in all campus buildings, facilities or property owned or leased and operated by Cape Fear Community College.

Tobacco advertisements are prohibited in college-run publications and on grounds or facilities, including athletic facilities, owned or operated by Cape Fear Community College.

Cape Fear Community College will provide access to tobacco cessation programs on campus.  These tobacco treatment programs shall be publicized regularly in student and employee publications by Student Services and/or Human Resources respectively.

Implementation & Compliance:

To assist with compliance of this policy, the college provides appropriate signage and other physical indicators. Violators of the policy shall be issued a verbal reminder. Employees who repeatedly violate the policy shall be referred to their supervisor, and if warranted, Human Resources. Repeated violations by employees can result in further personnel action such as verbal or written reprimand. In accordance with the CFCC student Code of Conduct, students who violate this policy shall be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action. Visitors who repeatedly violate the policy shall be asked to leave campus, and if warranted, referred to Campus Safety.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

1. Cape Fear Community College does not differentiate among unlawful users, sellers, or pushers of drugs or alcohol. Any employee or student who unlawfully uses, possesses, sells, gives, or in any way transfers alcoholic beverages or a controlled substance is subject to disciplinary proceedings by the College, and referred for prosecution.
2. The term controlled substance means any drug listed in CFR part 1308 and other federal regulations, as well as those listed in Article V, Chapter 90 of North Carolina General Statutes. Generally, these are drugs which have a high potential for abuse such as: Marijuana, Cocaine, PCP, Heroin, and Crack among others.  They also include legal drugs that are not prescribed by a licensed physician.  The term alcoholic beverage includes beer, wine, whiskey and any other beverage listed in Chapter 188 of the General Statutes of North Carolina. Persons within the College community are responsible for knowing about and complying with the Cape Fear Community College Drug/Alcohol Policy.
3. Any employee or student who is convicted of violating any criminal drug or alcoholic beverage statute while in the workplace, on College premises, or as part of any College sponsored activity will be subject to disciplinary action by the College up to and including termination or expulsion and referred for prosecution. Specifically, any such person convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor which results in an active prison sentence will, if a student, be expelled, or if an employee, be terminated from employment (subject to existing disciplinary policies applicable to state or federal law which may apply to employees).  Other misdemeanors or convictions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and the specific penalties may range from written warnings with probationary status to enrollment expulsions and employment discharges.  The College may also require the employee or student to successfully complete a drug abuse treatment program as a precondition for continued employment or enrollment. Persons charged with illegal drug/alcohol involvement may be suspended pending any legal proceedings, if it is determined by the president or designee that the persons continued presence within the College would pose a serious and immediate danger to the health or welfare of other persons within the College.
4. Each employee or student is required to inform the Executive Director of Human Resources or the Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management, respectively, in writing within five (5) days after a conviction of any criminal drug or alcoholic beverage control statute where such violations occurred in the College workplace, on College premises, or as part of any College sponsored activity. A conviction means a plea or a finding of guilt (including a plea of nolo contendere) and the imposition of a sentence by a judge or jury in any federal or state court.
5. College Administrators have the right to contact parents of any student under the age of 21 who has violated a federal, state, or local law, or any rule or policy of the institution, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.

For those students or employees receiving or working under a federal grant, the College must notify the United States governmental agency from which a grant was made within ten (10) days of receipt of such notice from the grant employee, or otherwise after receiving actual notice of a criminal drug conviction.  Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken by the College within 30 calendar days from the receipt of such notice.  The law requires that all employees abide by this policy as a condition for continued employment on any federal grant.

Legal Consequences

The illegal use of drugs and alcohol constitutes a serious crime under federal, state and local laws.  Convictions may result in imprisonment, fines and/or mandatory community service.  A drug conviction can disqualify a student for federal student aid.  A record of a felony conviction may prevent a person from entering a chosen career.  North Carolina law makes it illegal to manufacture, to sell or deliver, to possess with intent to sell or deliver, or to traffic controlled substances.

Under North Carolina law, the minimum age to purchase, possess, or consume any alcoholic beverage is 21 years old.  Consumption of liquor or fortified wine by anyone 18 years old and younger is a Class 1 misdemeanor.  Those 19- and 20-year-olds who drink beer or wine will be charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor.  A person convicted for the first time of selling or providing alcohol to someone under 21 will receive a minimum sentence of a $250 fine and 25 hours of community service.  For a second or subsequent offense within four years, the penalty is no less than a $500 fine and 150 hours of community service.  A person convicted of aiding and abetting the sale or provision of alcohol to someone under 21 for a second or subsequent offense within four years, the sentence is no less than a $1000 fine and 150 hours of community service.  A driver may not consume any alcoholic beverages while driving.  Driving after drinking with an alcohol concentration of .08 means a person is driving while impaired.  No person may transport in the passenger area spirituous liquors in any container other than the manufacturer’s unopened original container.  Violations may result in imprisonment, fine, mandatory community service and/or loss of driving privileges.  Therefore, 19- or 20-year-olds who are convicted of an alcohol violation may have a criminal history that would affect professional organizations, and employers could use such a record to reject an applicant.

Federal Penalties and Sanctions for Illegal Possession of a Controlled Substance

• 21 U.S.C. 844(a) – 1st conviction: Up to 1 year imprisonment and fined at least $1000 but not more than $100,000, or both.  After 1 prior drug conviction: At least 15 days in prison, not to exceed 2 years and fined at least $2,500 but not more than $250,000, or both.  After 2 or more prior drug convictions: At least 90 days in prison, not to exceed 3 years and fined at least $5,000 but not more than $250,000, or both.  Special sentencing provisions for possession of crack cocaine: Mandatory at least 5 years in prison, not to exceed 20 years and fined up to $250,000, or both, if:

  • 1^st conviction and the amount of crack possessed exceeds 5 grams.
  • 2^nd crack conviction and the amount of crack possessed exceeds 3 grams.
  • 3^rd or subsequent crack conviction and the amount of crack possessed exceeds 1 gram.
• 21 U.S.C. 853 (a)(2) and 881 (a)(7) Forfeiture of personal and real property used to possess or to facilitate possession of a controlled substance if that offense is punishable by more than 1 year imprisonment. (See special sentencing provisions re: crack)
• 21 U.S.C. 881(a)(4) Forfeiture of vehicles, boats, aircraft or any other conveyance used to transport or conceal a controlled substance.
• 21 U.S.C. 844a Civil fine of up to $10,000.
• 21 U.S.C. 853a Denial of Federal benefits may apply, such as student loans, grants, contracts, and professional and commercial licenses.
• 18 U.S.C. 922(g) Ineligible to receive or purchase a firearm.

Miscellaneous: Revocation of certain Federal licenses and benefits, e.g. pilot licenses, public housing tenancy, etc., are vested within the authorities of individual federal agencies.  Note: These are only federal penalties and sanctions.  Additional state penalties and sanctions may apply.

Health Risks

No illicit drug is free of health risks.  Most carry the danger of psychological or physical addiction.  All cause distortion of brain functioning and can alter thinking, perception, and memory, as well as, affect behavior. The use of intravenous drugs also presents the risk of infection with potentially deadly diseases (e.g. AIDS develop as result of damage to the respiratory, circulatory, and other body systems).  Every illicit drug has the potential to result in death-whether from the body’s own reaction to the abuse of drugs or from accidents caused by persons who are impaired. Although alcohol is not an illegal substance when consumed by adults over the age of 21, it presents many of the same health risks as illicit drugs.  Alcohol consumption causes a number of marked changes in behavior.  Even low doses significantly impair the judgment and coordination required to drive a car safely, increasing the likelihood that the driver will be involved in an accident.  Low to moderate doses of alcohol also increases the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts, including spouse and child abuse.  Moderate to high doses of alcohol cause marked impairments in higher mental functions; severely altering a person’s ability to learn and remember information.  Very high doses cause respiratory depression and death.  If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower doses of alcohol will produce the effects just described.  Repeated use of alcohol can lead to dependence.  Sudden cessation of alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions.  Alcohol withdrawal can be life threatening.  Long-term consumption of large quantities of alcohol, particularly when combined with poor nutrition, can also lead to permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and the liver.  Mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy may give birth to infants with fetal alcohol syndrome.  These infants have irreversible physical abnormalities and mental retardation.  In addition, research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk than other youngsters of becoming alcoholics.

Available Resources

Many public and private resources are available for those needing assistance with drug or alcohol issues.  In New Hanover County, call (910) 251-6530.  In Brunswick County, call (910) 253-4485.  In Pender County, call (910) 259-5476.

Another resource is the Alcohol/Drug Council of NC Information and Referral Service: (800) 688-4232.  This is a drug abuse information and treatment referral line where individuals can get information and referrals to appropriate treatment facilities.

Counseling and Rehabilitation Services to Prevent Substance Abuse

Students, faculty, and staff may seek assistance with an alcohol or drug-related problem through Cape Fear Community College.  A listing of available services and referrals will be provided in the Counseling Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management.

A copy of this policy is distributed annually to students and employees.

Zero Tolerance Statement

The College reserves the exclusive right to immediately suspend any activity that is not being conducted in exact accord with the college-approved description of the activity or any activity that substantially disrupts or materially interferes with the work, discipline, and/or educational activities of the College (e.g., by violating reasonable college rules and regulations, interrupting classes or other college programs or activities, or inciting or producing imminent violence or other lawless action on college premises) as adjudged by designated college officials.  The College reserves the exclusive right to disband any student organization and/or club that; (1) conducts such inappropriate and/or unapproved activities; and (2) fails to follow the College guidelines.

Moreover, Cape Fear Community College has “zero tolerance” when it comes to drugs and alcohol consumption while representing the College during college events.  Any violation will result in immediate suspension from the College for one academic year and complete withdrawal from all current classes; no exceptions.  In addition, the suspended individual will have a notation placed on their permanent CFCC record.

Cape Fear Community College does not differentiate among unlawful users, sellers or pushers of drugs or alcohol.  Any student who uses, possesses, sells, gives or in any way transfers alcoholic beverages or a controlled substance is subject to disciplinary proceedings by the College and referred for prosecution. For more information refer to the Cape Fear Community College’s Drug and Alcohol Policy.

CFCC Student Code of Conduct

The College makes every effort to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment for its students and employees alike.  When a student is in violation of the Code of Conduct, they will be subject to disciplinary action by the College, and if warranted, referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency.  It is expected that students are courteous, respectful, accountable, and conduct themselves as responsible members of the College community.  Participation in any activity which, in the opinion of the administration, disrupts the educational process or functioning of the College may result in disciplinary action.  Specific violations of the Code of Conduct and/or college policy include, but are not limited to the following:

Academic Integrity (cheating and/or plagiarism)

Bullying/Hazing (initiating or participating in verbal, social, or physical bullying; whether in person, through social media, electronic devices, or any other means)

Children on Campus

Communicating Threats

Computer Acceptable Use

Destruction of College Property

Discrimination

Drug, Alcohol and Controlled Substance

Fighting

Forgery

Fraud

Gambling

General Disruptive Behavior

Harassment

Larceny/Theft

Profanity/Obscene Language

Sexual Misconduct 

Substance Abuse and/or Possession (any drug as defined under North Carolina General Statutes)

Tobacco Free Campus 

Violation of Federal, State, or Local Law

Weapons on Campus (possess or carry, any weapon on campus, whether openly or concealed)

Zero Tolerance 

Violation of these rules of conduct and/or policy will not be tolerated in or on any part of the campus, its satellites, equipment it operates, or wherever its employees or students are required to be while performing their duties as employees or students.  Any violation of these standards of behavior may result in disciplinary sanctions and/or dismissal from the College.  Additional classroom rules may be designated by instructors or supervisors and must be followed at all times.  College administrators have the right to contact parents of any student under the age of 21 who has violated a federal, state, or local law, or any rule or policy of the institution, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.

Any person observing a conduct violation(s) should immediately contact the Dean of Student Affairs or the Vice President for Student Services.

Conduct Warning, Probation, Suspension, and Expulsion

CFCC students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with college rules, regulations, policy and/or local, state or federal law.  Any student whose conduct or behavior becomes unsatisfactory may be placed on conduct warning, probation, suspension, or may be expelled from the college.  If an act of misconduct threatens the safety, health or well-being of the College community or severely disrupts the educational process/learning environment, the Dean of Student Affairs or his/her designee, may impose an interim suspension, or campus ban, from the College and/or College premises until disciplinary proceedings are completed and due process is provided to the student.  Interim suspension may result in exclusion from class and/or other College related privileges or activities until a final decision can be made concerning the alleged violation.  A student is subject to immediate suspension and expulsion, if deemed necessary, by the Dean of Student Affairs or Vice President for Student Services..  CFCC has the right and responsibility to protect the welfare of the college community and has the discretion to impose disciplinary sanctions under the CFCC Student Code of Conduct.

Warning – is a status of “conduct warning” through the duration at CFCC.

Probation – is a status of “conduct probation” for the duration at CFCC.

As part of conduct probation a student may have restrictions placed on specific student privileges or may be required to satisfy certain conditions to return as determined by an administrative hearing and/or the Dean of Student Affairs. In the event of a further violation of the Code of Conduct, or other College rules while on disciplinary probation, the College may seek the penalty of suspension or expulsion if warranted.

Suspension – is the status of “conduct suspension”, which involves immediate removal from campus, withdrawal from enrollment for a specific period of time, registration privileges revoked, and will remain on the student’s permanent record.

Expulsion – is the permanent dismissal of a student from the College. Expulsion will result in immediate removal from campus, withdrawal from enrollment, registration privileges revoked, and will result in a permanent notation on the CFCC official transcript.

Conditions to Return

Any student that is on conduct probation, suspension or removed from classes due to a code of conduct violation may be required to submit appropriate documentation or satisfy certain conditions to return as determined by an administrative hearing and/or the Dean of Student Affairs.  Those conditions may include, but are not limited to, counseling, evaluation/assessment by a mental health provider, anger management, proof of rehabilitation and/or other required documentation.

All suspended students must meet with the Dean of Student Affairs or designee to make clear the terms of their suspension from the College. Re-enrollment after a suspension period requires that the student apply to the Dean of Student Affairs at the close of the imposed period, and the Dean will determine whether the student has met the conditions imposed and is otherwise eligible for re-enrollment. To ensure due process, a denial may be appealed to the Judicial Board.

Cape Fear Community College has the authority, exercised in its reasoned judgment, to ban students, employees, and visitors, using existing policies, and/or procedures (i.e. Code of Conduct suspensions, expulsions). Likewise, the college may ban a student on an interim basis if he or she is deemed to pose an imminent threat to college property or operations, to the safety or well-being of others, or otherwise has engaged in unacceptably disruptive conduct that disturbs the CFCC learning and working environment.  During the term of suspension and/or expulsion, the student may not come onto campus (campus ban) and may be served with a No-Trespass Order. Failure to abide by this condition may result in arrest for criminal trespassing and/or referred for prosecution.

A student who is suspended or expelled after the deadline for withdrawal (“W”), shall be assigned a grade of “W” and administratively withdrawn regardless of academic performance.

Right of Appeal

If a student wishes to appeal a conduct sanction or action taken by the College, he/she may file a written appeal within five (5) weekdays of the incident to the Vice President for Student Services.

The Vice President of Student Services will present the appeal to the Dean of Student Affairs to serve as a student advocate and to coordinate a hearing with the Code of Conduct Subcommittee of the Judicial Board within ten (10) weekdays of notification.  To ensure the student receives due process, the student will meet with the Dean of Student Affairs prior to the hearing to answer any questions or concerns that the student may have during the appeal process.

The subcommittee of the Judicial Board should include:

1. Two faculty and/or staff members appointed by the Dean of Student Affairs.
2. The Vice President of Student Services who will serve as the chair without a vote, (unless there is a tie).

At the conclusion of the appeal hearing, the Vice President of Student Services will notify the student and Dean of Student Affairs of the committee’s decision. The student may appeal the Code of Conduct Subcommittee’s decision to the President of the College or his/her designee. This appeal must be made within five (5) weekdays of the student’s receipt of the Code of Conduct Subcommittee’s decision. The appeal process consists of the President of the College or his/her designee reviewing the written record submitted to date and does not involve an additional hearing. The President of the College or his/her designee will respond with his/her final decision to the appeal within ten (10) weekdays of receipt of the appeal. 

Judicial Board

Cape Fear Community College supports students’ constitutional right to due process.  The Judicial Board is the vehicle to ensure the right of appeal.

The right of appeal is granted to any student who has a grievance concerning final grades, academic integrity (cheating/plagiarism), conduct suspension or expulsion, or feels he/she has been discriminated against or denied service on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability or sex.

The Judicial Board will consist of seven (7) representatives from all areas of the College including faculty, staff, and administration.  The Judicial Board’s subcommittees will act on the following categories of student appeals. The Judicial Board will hear appeals concerning final grades, academic integrity, conduct suspension or expulsion, and charges of discrimination and/or denial of service on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, handicap or sex.  The subcommittee’s areas of responsibility of the Judicial Board are listed below.

Academic Subcommittee of the Judicial Board

The Academic Subcommittee will hear appeals in the matter of academic integrity (cheating or plagiarism) and grade appeal (final grades).  The subcommittee will consist of members selected from the Judicial Board membership and others as deemed necessary by the Dean of Student Affairs.  The committee will consist of two  (2) or more representatives from the Judicial Board and the Vice President of Academic Affairs will serve as chair.

Code of Conduct (Disciplinary and Sexual Misconduct) Subcommittee of the Judicial Board

The Code of Conduct Subcommittee will hear appeals concerning conduct from the college’s Office of Student Affairs.  The subcommittee will consist of members selected from the Judicial Board membership and others as deemed necessary by the Dean of Student Affairs.  The committee will consist of two (2) or more representatives from the Judicial Board and the Vice President of Student Services will serve as chair.

Title IX & Sexual Misconduct

Grievance Procedures

If you believe that you have a legitimate grievance against another CFCC student or college employee, in a matter other than those covered by the aforementioned, or those outside the jurisdiction of the CFCC Code of Conduct, you may seek a resolution of that grievance through an informal written complaint to the Dean of Student Affairs. If your grievance cannot be resolved at an informal level, you may file a formal complaint with the Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management to initiate a hearing with the Judicial Board to seek additional understanding and/or resolution.

Student Complaint Procedures

As a matter of practice, CFCC subscribes to the philosophy that student complaints are best resolved on an informal basis. When a student has a complaint he/she should attempt to resolve concerns with college personnel having responsibilities directly at the source of the complaint. When informal procedures do not resolve concerns, written student complaints should be sent to the Dean of Student Affairs who will determine the appropriate college personnel to review the complaint. The student should receive written acknowledgment of receipt of the complaint from the Dean of Student Affairs or designee within 24 hours.

The complaint will be reviewed and a collaborative effort will be made to resolve the complaint within twenty (20) working days of receipt of the complaint. The student will receive notification of the resolution of the complaint, or of the College’s position on the complaint.

Public Complaint Procedures

Members of the public may also file a complaint by forwarding a written statement, signed by the complainant, to the Office of the President, Cape Fear Community College, 411 N. Front Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.  CFCC will not entertain complaints that are not in writing or which are anonymous, nor will it consider complaints sent electronically or through facsimile transmission.  The President, or the President’s designee, may require further information from the complainant and may seek information from appropriate college offices, as needed, to respond to the complaint.

Cape Fear Community College has an online incident reporting system where students, employees, and/or visitors of the College may file a grievance, complaint, report concerns such as code of conduct violations, Title IX or sexual misconduct, concerning or threatening behavior, etc.  This incident report can be located through the Office of Student Affairs webpage.

Graduation

Requirements for Graduation

To receive an Associate Degree, Diploma, or Certificate, a student must maintain satisfactory grades in all laboratory and class subjects and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. Students must earn a minimum of 25 percent of credit hour requirements at Cape Fear Community College. Credit for Prior learning credit cannot count towards the 25% requirement.

Regalia decorations or adornments motivated by animosity against a person or group based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, disability, religion, age, veteran status, or any other protected class, which may infringe on the rights and freedoms of others, will not be permitted. To respect the significance of this occasion, CFCC reserves the right to ask any individual to remove any adornments deemed disruptive, harassing, inappropriate, or to be a safety risk or distraction prior to entering the commencement venue. Refusal or failure to comply, an individual may be asked to leave the college premises immediately. 

Intent to Graduate

Candidates for graduation must file an Intent to Graduate online for Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates. At that time, candidates will also complete the Graduating Student Opinion Survey. Deadlines to file the Intent to Graduate are:

Academic Year 2024-2025

• Fall - Friday, November 1, 2024
• Spring - Friday, February 7, 2025
• Summer - Friday, June  6, 2025

Upon completion of program requirements, the College may award the credential without student request.

Commencement exercises are held following the spring semester (May) and at the end of the summer session (August).

Students who graduate in December are invited to participate in the May commencement exercises.

Upon graduation, a student’s Program of Study will end.  Therefore, students must contact Academic Advising to declare a new Program of Study if they plan to continue enrollment at CFCC.

Graduation Honors

President’s Award

Graduating students who have achieved an “A” average, defined as a cumulative grade point average of 4.0, by the end of the term preceding graduation are recognized each year at commencement exercises for academic excellence. Courses numbered below the 100 level are not used to determine Graduation Honors.

Departmental Honors

Students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, attitude and ability will be awarded Departmental Honors.  Recipients for these awards are selected by lead instructors in cooperation with appropriate faculty.

Graduation Needs

Orders for caps and gowns will be accepted by a company representative or the bookstore during announced dates. Students who anticipate participating in spring or summer graduation ceremonies will be provided a limited number of commencement tickets. The number of tickets distributed to each graduate is determined by how many graduates plan to walk in the ceremony. Other graduation items may be purchased from the company vendor or the college bookstore. Students completing graduation requirements at the close of the fall academic session will be invited to participate in the May ceremony.

Academic Honors

Academic Honors are calculated at the end of each term in which a student is enrolled and become part of the student’s permanent academic record.  Courses numbered below the 100 level or that are considered developmental are not used to determine Academic Honors.

President’s List

Students who complete 12 or more credit hours during fall and spring semesters and 9 or more credit hours in the summer semester who have earned a grade point average of 4.00 will be placed on the President’s List.

Dean’s List

Students who complete 12 or more credit hours during fall and spring semesters and 9 or more credit hours in the summer semester who have earned a grade point average of 3.50 with no grade lower than a “C” will be placed on the Dean’s List.

Honors List

Students who complete at least 4 credit hours and earned a grade point average of 3.50 with no grade lower than a “C” will be placed on the Honors List.  For the fall and spring semesters this would be 4 to 11 completed credits and for summer this would be 4 to 8 completed credits.