SH.02 - Academic Policies

SH.02.A – Academic Integrity Policy

About This Policy

Students at Tulsa Community College are expected to behave as responsible members of the College community and to be honest and ethical in their academic work. TCC strives to provide students with the knowledge, skills, judgment, and critical thinking needed to function in society. To falsify or fabricate the results of one's research; to present the words, ideas, data, or work of another as one's own; or to cheat on an examination corrupts the essential process of higher education and is a disservice to the student, faculty, and staff community. All TCC community members share the responsibility and authority to challenge and report acts of academic dishonesty.

Student Expectations

  • Students expect to receive a detailed course syllabus within the first week of class. Each syllabus should include course and grading policies, instructor expectations, and instructor contact information as suggested by the syllabus template.
  • Students expect to receive a clear explanation of proper documentation in research assignments/projects or be directed to connect with existing college resources that can provide guidance.
  • Students expect academic evaluation that is fair, consistent and provides constructive feedback as outlined in the course syllabus.
  • Students should engage, respectfully and appropriately, in the free and open expression of ideas and opinions.
  • Students should seek guidance from their faculty members on how to correct behaviors that may have led to Academic Integrity Policy violations.
  • Students may appeal alleged violations and sanctions if they believe the accusation does not constitute a violation of the policy or the sanction is not within the policy's guidelines.

Student Responsibilities

  • Students are responsible for adhering to course requirements as specified by the instructor in the course syllabus.
  • Students must follow all written and verbal instructions given by instructors or designated college representatives before taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations.
  • Students are responsible for obtaining authorization from their instructor about posting examination materials, assignments, and/or exams on homework help sites or other Internet sources.
  • Students must do their work and submit only their work on examinations, assignments, and projects unless otherwise permitted by the instructor.
  • Students are encouraged to contact their instructor about appropriate citation guidelines.
  • Students may benefit from working in groups. However, students must not collaborate or cooperate with others on graded assignments, examinations, or other academic exercises unless directed by the instructor.
  • Students assume full responsibility for the content and integrity of the coursework they submit.
  • Students are responsible for continuing their participation in course activities, meetings, and evaluations while a policy violation is being discussed.
  • Students may be asked by their faculty members to complete an Academic Integrity Training workshop to ensure they understand what academic integrity is and behaviors that violate TCC's policy.
  • Students understand that all violations of the Academic Integrity Policy become a part of their disciplinary records. Furthermore, students understand that multiple violations of the policy will result in progressively more severe disciplinary sanctions up to, and including, expulsion from the College by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.

When a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy occurs, the faculty member has the autonomy to address the incident directly and immediately, which may have grade implications. The standard for finding a student in violation is based on the preponderance of the evidence, which means that the faculty member must believe that the evidence provided implies it is "more likely than not" that the student violated the Academic Integrity Policy. Separately accredited or application-based programs within Tulsa Community College will follow their internal processes set forth by their accrediting bodies and can place students on probation, suspension, or even dismiss them from their programs, not the College, depending on the violation. Depending on the level of the violation, the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards may apply additional sanctions, including probation, suspension, or expulsion from the College, which will also be added to the student's disciplinary records.

Categories

Although faculty members may identify other behaviors that violate academic integrity and explain them in their course syllabus, the categories below provide guidance and consistency when determining acts that constitute violations of academic integrity:

Cheating and Unauthorized Collaboration is using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. Cheating is also intentionally collaborating with another student, students, and/or individuals within and outside the TCC system during an academic exercise without the instructor's consent. Examples of cheating and unauthorized collaboration include:

  • Copying from another's test, assignment, or receiving unauthorized assistance from another during an academic exercise or in the submission of academic material.
  • Using a cell phone, calculator, computer, or other materials when not authorized by the instructor.
  • Facilitating academically dishonest acts by others; an unauthorized collaboration of work; permitting another to copy from an exam; writing a paper for another; inappropriately collaborating on home assignments or exams without permission or when prohibited.
  • Taking a quiz or exam or performing a laboratory exercise or similar evaluation in place of another student. Note: it is possible that students involved in such violations may not be enrolled in the instructor's class and there is not an option to assign an academic sanction. In such instances, the reporting party should notify the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards through Report It!
  • Using or possessing crib sheets; pre-programming an electronic device to provide solutions; using notes, and/or texts without the permission of the instructor.
  • Retaining, using, or circulating examination materials that clearly indicate that they should be returned at the end of the exam.
  • Circulating examination materials, assignments, and exams on homework help sites, or other Internet sources without obtaining authorization from the instructor or owner of the materials.

Plagiarism is representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise. Examples of plagiarism include:

  • Word-for-word copying of another person's ideas or words.
  • Internet plagiarism, including submitting downloaded term papers or parts of term papers, paraphrasing or copying information from the internet without citing the source, or "cutting & pasting" from various sources without proper attribution.
  • Misciting or incorrectly quoting another person's ideas or words.
  • Interspersing one's own words within a document while, in essence, copying another's work.
  • Rewriting another's work, yet still using the original author's fundamental idea or theory.
  • Inventing or counterfeiting sources.
  • Intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.
  • Submitting another's work as one's own.
  • Neglecting quotation marks on material that is otherwise acknowledged.

Misuse or Altering of Academic Materials, Records and/or Technology is altering or stealing computer files, papers or other academic products that belong to others. Using academic work for which academic credit has already been earned without authorization. Examples of misuse or altering academic materials, records, and/or technology include:

  • Stealing or destroying computer programs or other software, data, images, art, or text belonging to the College, student, or faculty member.
  • Stealing, destroying or changing one's own or another student's work product such as lab results, papers, or test answers; having such materials in one's possession without the owner's permission; tampering with work either as a prank or in order to sabotage another's work.
  • Unauthorized alteration, forgery, or falsification of academic records.
  • Changing incorrect answers and seeking favorable grade adjustments when instructor returns graded exams for in class review and subsequently collects them; asserting that the instructor made a mistake in grading. Other forms may include changing the letter and/or the numerical grade on a test.
  • Submitting an assignment more than once, either from a current or prior course, without the consent of all involved faculty members.

Resolution and Penalties

Tulsa Community College's Academic Integrity Policy identifies three levels of violations and sanctions that faculty members can apply based on the seriousness of the violation. Below is a list of violations, their definitions, and suggested sanctions:

Minor violations: in general, minor violations involve errors in judgment that, in the faculty member's professional opinion, violate academic integrity. These violations are characterized by honest mistakes and may occur because of inexperience or lack of understanding of what academic integrity is. Minor violations provide the opportunity for faculty to further educate students on the importance of academic integrity in academia.

Suggested sanctions for minor violations:

  • Verbal Warning
  • Written Warning
  • Academic Integrity Training/Workshop
  • Reduced grade on assignment/test
  • Redo/revise the assignment/test
  • Complete an alternative assignment/test

Moderate violations: in general, moderate violations are dishonest acts that directly affect only one student. These violations are more serious in nature and may affect a more significant aspect or portion of the course or coursework.

Suggested sanctions for moderate violations:

  • Academic Integrity Training/Workshop
  • Failure of assignment/test
  • Reduced course grade
  • Probation – applies to students admitted and participating in separately accredited or application-based programs

Major violations: in general, major violations are premeditated dishonest acts that directly affect the student and/or other students' grades. These violations represent the most serious violations and affect a major or essential portion of the course or coursework done to meet course requirements.

Suggested sanctions for major violations:

  • Academic Integrity Training/Workshop
  • Request student to withdraw from the course/program
  • Assign an "AW" as a course final grade
  • Assign an "F" as a course final grade
  • Service hours
  • Restriction of privileges
  • Probation – applies to students admitted and participating in separately accredited or application-based programs
  • Suspension from program – applies to students admitted and participating in separately accredited or application-based programs
  • Dismissal from program – applies to students admitted and participating in separately accredited or application-based programs

Appeals

A student found to be in violation of Tulsa Community College's Academic Integrity Policy may appeal the alleged violations and sanctions applied by filing an Appeal of Academic Integrity Violation Report within five business days following the meeting between the instructor and the student. Students who wish to appeal are responsible for providing evidence demonstrating that they did not violate the Academic Integrity Policy or that the sanction applied contradicts the policy's procedures.

p>The Tulsa Community College Academic Integrity Appeal procedures are based on the following principles:

  • Students and faculty members should communicate regularly and openly about course requirements, assignments, tests, grading procedures, grades, and academic integrity standards.
  • The college faculty member is responsible for creating the curriculum and establishing the students' standards in each course.
  • Faculty members will assign sanctions, which are fair and equitable, in accordance with the Academic Integrity Policy.
  • An accusation or sanction may be changed only by the faculty member who taught the course or by the Faculty Department Chair and Academic Dean within the respective curricular area.

The following questions outline reasons for an academic integrity violation appeal and must be considered in preparing and reviewing an appeal:

  • Is there a preponderance of evidence to support that the student did not violate the Academic Integrity Policy?
  • Is there evidence to support that the sanction applied based on the violation of the Academic Integrity Policy contradicts what is outlined in the policy?

Appeals are reviewed by the Faculty Department Chair or Program Director and their respective Academic Dean. The decision is final, cannot be the basis of a grade appeal, and represents the end of the academic integrity appeals process.

SH.02.B – Academic Advising Policy

TCC Advising Mission

Academic Advising teaches and empowers students to navigate higher education to achieve their goals through engagement, support, and collaboration.

TCC Advising Purpose

Academic Advising is central and plays a significant role in the process of educating students for success. Academic Advisors assist students with clarification of career and major, creating a success plan, course selection, and identifying resources to support student success. The advisor-student relationship is dependent upon effective communication and exchange of information between the student and their advisor.

TCC Advising Requirements

All students seeking a degree or certificate are required to see an advisor to determine their educational and career goals. During these sessions, an advising curriculum is followed which incorporates Appreciative Advising and includes a checklist of items based upon the student’s education level and standing. In addition to degree and certificate-seeking students, those who have the following status: Academic Notice, Probation or Suspension, and Financial Aid Warning, Probation or Suspension, are required to see an advisor prior enrollment to discuss their academic progress. It is the responsibility of non-degree seeking students to seek assistance and engage in the advising process.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will identify fields of study that are consistent with interests, abilities, and life goals.
  • Students will develop and implement an education plan in collaboration with an academic advisor through completion.
  • Students will access appropriate support services to accommodate unique needs.

Advisor Responsibilities

  • Exhibit care, respect, and knowledge in interactions with students.
  • Collaborate with students to develop and implement academic plans and educational experiences that reflect individual interest.
  • Teach students to utilize resources available to achieve their goal — whether it be degree completion, transfer, transition to employment, or personal enrichment — so they can maximize their individual potential.

SH.02.C – Academic Program Dismissal

A program director, dean, or associate vice president of Academic Affairs may place on probation, suspend, or dismiss a student from a program of study for academic and/or performance reasons. Separately accredited or application-based programs within Tulsa Community College will follow their internal processes set forth by their accrediting bodies and can place students on probation, suspension, or even dismiss them from their programs, not the College, depending on the violation.

SH.02.D – English Proficiency

Tulsa Community College diligently strives to provide students with faculty who have competence in written and oral communication. Pursuant to 70 OK.S. Stat § 70-3224, all instructors shall be proficient in speaking the English language so that they may adequately instruct students.

SH.02.E – Attendance

The College does not have an official policy on attendance, but faculty will communicate the importance of attending class and make the consequences of non-attendance clear on the syllabus. Some faculty members establish attendance policies that stipulate how many classes students can miss without jeopardizing their final grades, and some others choose to administratively withdraw (by assigning an AW as the final grade in MyTCC) students who consistently miss class or fail to turn in several assignments. Students are responsible for reading the course syllabus and communicating with their instruction if they have questions related to attendance and absences.

Oklahoma law 38 O.S. 37 states “[n]o school, college, university, or other educational institution may take or permit to be taken any adverse academic action against a student because of the student's service on a grand, multicounty grand, or petit jury.” Therefore, TCC faculty/staff cannot take any adverse academic action against the student for missing class due to jury duty, regardless of what the syllabus might state.

SH.02.F – Grades

After a course ends and instructors post final grades, students can access their records via the MyTCC portal. Official transcripts with updated academic standing are available for students approximately two business days after the faculty grade-posting deadline at the close of the semester/term. For courses ending throughout the term, final grades normally appear on the unofficial student transcript one week after the course end. Additional information on how to request official transcripts can be accessed through the Student Records Office.

SH.02.G – Course Final Grade Appeals

Principles

The Tulsa Community College Course Final Grade Appeal Procedures are based on the following principles:

  • A student has a right to appeal a course final grade that the student believes was contrary to procedures as specified in the course syllabus or was assigned on some basis other than performance in the course, by using standards different from those applied by the same faculty member to other students in the same course, or used different standards than what is listed on the syllabus of record.
  • A student’s grade should reflect the student’s mastery of the subject matter of the course.
  • Students are entitled to a fair and impartial evaluation of their work.
  • Students and faculty members should communicate regularly and openly about course requirements, assignments, tests, grading procedures, and grades.
  • The college faculty member is responsible for creating the curriculum and establishing the standards by which students will be evaluated in each course.
  • Faculty members are entitled to the presumption that the grades they assign are an accurate reflection of the performance of the students in their courses.
  • A course grade may be changed only by the faculty member who taught the course or by the final recommendation of the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee. College administrators may not alter any students’ grades.

Rights and Responsibilities

Both students and faculty members have rights and responsibilities in the grading process:

Students who wish to appeal a course final grade (assigned at the conclusion of a semester) are responsible for demonstrating that the grade they received was contrary to procedures as specified in the course syllabus or was assigned on some basis other than performance in the course, by using standards different from those applied by the same faculty member to other students in the same course, or used different standards than what is listed on the syllabus of record. Students must present clear and convincing evidence to support their request for an appeal.

The following questions outline reasons for a course final grade appeal and must be considered in preparing and reviewing an appeal:

  • Is there evidence to support that there was an error made in calculating any grade that affected the course final grade?
  • Is there evidence to support that the processes of determining the assignment of grades and the course final grade was not clearly communicated to the student? The course syllabus should communicate the grading system for the course.
  • Is there evidence to support that a change to the grading system during the semester may have put the student at a serious disadvantage? Was this change adequately communicated to the entire class?
  • Is there evidence to support that all students were given a chance to improve their grades IF grade adjustment opportunities were made available during the course of the semester?
  • Is there evidence that the faculty member was inconsistent or unfair in applying the course grading system?
  • Is there evidence to support that the final course grade was negatively influenced by improper or irregular course grade recording/posting by the faculty member? In other words, did the student get grades returned in a timely enough manner to understand their standing in the class?
  • Is there evidence that the faculty member singled the student out for discriminatory treatment?

Faculty Responsibility:

  • Faculty members have a responsibility to provide their students with syllabi that clearly explain how student grades will be assigned.
  • Faculty members are responsible for providing their students with timely feedback on their performance on tests, papers, projects, and other graded assignments.
  • Faculty members are responsible for keeping course records, final exams, and other materials on which grades are based (that have not been returned to students) for one long (16-week) semester.

Rights of Faculty and Students:

  • Faculty members have a right to have the grades they assign upheld unless the student provides clear and convincing evidence that a grade was contrary to procedures as specified in the course syllabus or was assigned on some basis other than performance in the course, by using standards different from those applied by the same faculty member to other students in the same course, or used different standards than what is listed on the syllabus of record.
  • Both faculty members and students have a right to have grade appeals resolved in a timely fashion (as prescribed in the timelines given in this document).
  • Both faculty members and students have a responsibility to attempt to resolve grade disputes together.

Grading Disputes during a Semester

Students may not file a course final grade appeal during the semester. Grading issues that remain unresolved during the semester may become the basis for a course final grade appeal once the semester has ended and a course final grade has been assigned. ;The course final grade appeal process may be used only for grading issues that affect the course final grade. For example, if a student disagrees with a grade given on an assignment but changing the grade on that particular assignment will not affect the student’s course final grade, then the issue is not appropriate for an appeal. In this situation, the student may submit a Student Classroom Concern Form about the faculty member’s grading practices through Report It! on the TCC website. The faculty member’s grade stands unless the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee determines there is clear and convincing evidence that the grade was contrary to procedures as specified in the course syllabus or was assigned on some basis other than performance in the course, by using standards different from those applied by the same faculty member to other students in the same course, or used different standards than what is listed on the syllabus of record.

Prior to Filing a Course Final Grade Appeal

Resolution of a Grade Dispute with the Faculty Member

  • The student must attempt to resolve the grade dispute with the faculty member prior to filing a Course Final Grade Appeal.
  • The student should contact the faculty member using TCC email and explain their concerns including specific details of their dispute.
  • The student must initiate the dispute within 30 calendar days after the close of the semester.
    • The student should save a copy of this letter/email for use in a Course Final Grade Appeal if the dispute is not resolved.
  • If the faculty member is no longer with the college or is unavailable, the student must attempt to resolve the grade dispute with the faculty department chair or program director of the appropriate academic school for the course. The faculty department chair will appoint a replacement faculty member to act as a representative of the absent faculty member.

Grounds for a Course Final Grade Appeal

A student may file a course final grade appeal if all of the following conditions are met:

  • The student has attempted to resolve the dispute informally.
  • The grading issues at stake impact the course final grade. (A course final grade appeal may not be filed until the term has ended and a course final grade has been assigned.)
  • The student believes that his or her course final grade was assigned contrary to procedures as specified in the course syllabus or was assigned on some basis other than performance in the course, by using standards different from those applied by the same instructor to other students in the same course or used different standards than what is listed on the syllabus of record.
  • The course final grade appeal is filed no later than the last day of the subsequent semester (whether fall, spring, or summer). Students who fail to file a grade appeal within the time limit may ask the department chair for an exception, but the exception must be based on extraordinary circumstances.
  • Students enrolled in a selective admission program should be aware that the grade appeal petition may affect progression in the academic program due to the timing of the grade appeal meeting.

Filing a Course Final Grade Appeal

A student can file a course final grade appeal by completing the Course Final Grade Appeal Form. The form asks the student to provide a written statement that clearly and specifically states the grounds on which the grade appeal is based. The student must explain why he or she believes that the assigned grade was contrary to procedures as specified in the course syllabus or was assigned on some basis other than performance in the course, by using standards different from those applied by the same faculty member to other students in the same course, or used different standards than what is listed on the syllabus of record. The student must attach supporting documentation to the form including:

  • a copy of the course syllabus
  • a copy of the letter/email communication to the faculty member about the dispute
  • a copy of the graded assignment on which the formal course grade appeal is based (if available)
  • examples of the student’s other graded work from the course, including papers, projects, homework, tests, and other assignments (if available)
  • any other documents the student believes are relevant to the resolution of the course final grade appeal, including email correspondence between the student and faculty member. Communications from other students will only be allowed in rare instances when it directly pertains to the grade and are allowable at the discretion of the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee.

The burden of providing documentation resides with the student who files the course final grade appeal. Without documentation attached to the Course Final Grade Appeal Form, the faculty department chair and dean will be unable to fully review the appeal and consider if it meets the established criteria.

Academic School Review of Course Final Grade Appeals

Faculty Department Chair Review of Appeal

Upon receipt of a Course Final Grade Appeal form, the faculty department chair will review the appeal and attempt to resolve the appeal with the faculty member and student. The faculty department chair may meet with the student and/or faculty member and may also request additional information. The faculty department chair shall, within ten instructional days inform the student if a resolution has been reached. If the faculty member approves the grade appeal, a Grade Change Form shall be completed. If the faculty member denies the appeal, the student shall be informed and may continue with the grade appeal process.

If the faculty member is no longer with the college or is unavailable, the faculty department chair shall appoint another faculty member to represent the faculty member’s interests in the appeal. The faculty member representing the absent faculty member shall act as a good faith representative of the faculty member, whose goal is to resolve the grading dispute fairly. The alternate faculty member may agree to resolve the dispute without going through the process further if he or she believes it is appropriate. For example, if the dispute involves a computational or clerical error and the faculty member representing the absent faculty member agrees with the student, he or she may simply sign the Grade Change Form to change the grade rather than force the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee to resolve the issue. The faculty department chair will inform the student of the status of the appeal. The results will be documented and archived in the school dean’s office.

Faculty Member Statement of Response to Appeal

If the Course Final Grade Appeal cannot be resolved after initial review with the faculty department chair, the faculty member will be asked to prepare a written response to the appeal. The faculty member will be provided with the Course Final Grade Appeal form submitted by the student. The faculty member’s response should be submitted to the department chair within ten instructional days and include the following:

  • a copy of the course syllabus
  • a copy of the class grade book for the student
  • a copy of any relevant graded assignments that had not been returned to the student
  • a written statement responding to the issues raised by the student
  • any other documents that are relevant to the resolution of the course grade appeal including emails and/or narrative

The faculty department chair should continue to pursue a resolution to the dispute if he or she believes that a resolution is possible. The chair may share the faculty member’s response with the student in hopes of finding common ground between the two. If appropriate, the faculty department chair may wish to give the student the opportunity to address issues raised in the faculty member’s response that the student has not previously addressed. Upon receipt of the faculty member’s response, the faculty department chair will inform the student as to the status of the appeal. The faculty department chair’s response and the faculty member’s response will be sent to the school dean’s office to be stored with all records related to the appeal.

School Dean Review of Appeal

If the faculty department chair denies the appeal, the student may consult with the appropriate dean within ten instructional days to request that the Course Final Grade Appeal Process continues. The dean may meet with the student, faculty department chair, and/or the faculty member, request additional information, review the documentation that the faculty department chair previously completed, or make a recommendation based solely on the submitted information. The dean shall inform within ten business days the student if a resolution has been reached. If no resolution is reached, at this point the academic dean can end an appeal if the dean determines there are no grounds for the appeal to proceed, or the dean can recommend the appeal continue to the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee. The dean’s decision is final and will be communicated to the student, faculty member, and faculty department chair in writing. The dean’s written response shall be stored with all records related to the appeal.

The Course Final Grade Appeal Committee

If previous attempts at resolution of the grading dispute fail and the school dean recommends the appeal proceeds, the school office shall send all relevant documentation to the chair of the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee for review at its next scheduled meeting. The committee is comprised of faculty members, student facing staff, and a representative from the Student Government Association, whose appointments and terms are described below.

The Membership of the Grade Appeal Committee

The following appointments and lengths of terms shall determine the composition of the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee. Faculty, student, and student service area directors/supervisors comprise the voting membership. Annual training will be provided and documented in consultation with general counsel.

The Chair of the Grade Appeal Committee

A dean from within Academic Affairs or Student Success & Equity shall chair the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee and will serve a three-year term as a non-voting member. An incoming chair will also be appointed, and will be available to serve as an alternate chair as needed until their term as chair begins. Should a grade appeal case come before the committee from the current chair’s school during his or her term as chair, the incoming chair shall chair the committee during the review of the case to ensure the grade appeal process is fair and impartial.

Faculty

Up to six faculty members shall serve on the grade appeal committee. Faculty should be evenly balanced between transfer and workforce programs, striving for a wide representation from academic schools. Faculty appointments are for three-years, and terms should be staggered.

Student Service Area Representatives

The Vice President of Student Success and Equity or designee shall appoint two representatives from a student service area of the college to serve as a representative to the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee for a three-year term.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Associations, through consultation with the Vice President of Student Success and Equity or designee, shall appoint one student representative to the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee for a one-year renewable term. Two other students shall be named as substitute members should the appointee be unavailable to attend a meeting of the committee.

Responsibilities and Procedures of the Grade Appeal Committee

The chair of the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee is responsible for ensuring that the grade appeal process is completed in a timely fashion. Regular meetings will be scheduled but held only when grade appeals have been submitted to the committee. Exceptional circumstances to this timeline may be determined by the chair. The chair also is responsible for ensuring that the faculty member and student have at least a week to prepare to appear before the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee. Meetings may be conducted in person or virtually.

The Course Final Grade Appeal Committee must have a quorum of five voting members in order to meet and conduct business. Faculty, student facing staff, and Student Government Association members comprise the voting membership. The chair votes only in case of a tied vote.

The Course Final Grade Appeal Committee is responsible for determining the facts in the dispute and making a judgment on the merits of the course final grade appeal. The committee shall review the materials submitted both by the student and the faculty member. The committee may request any other information it deems necessary, including additional faculty member’s records and input from third parties.

The committee will conduct its review based on the materials supplied by the parties and whatever other information the committee may request. The committee’s deliberations shall take place in private. Documents generated by the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee will be retained and kept confidential following the conclusion of the committee’s review.

Both the student and the faculty member have the right to appear before the committee separately. Each will be given up to thirty minutes to present new evidence, answer questions from the committee, or present a statement. Each may bring one support person, but the support person may not address the committee. Attendance at the Course Final Grade

Appeal Committee is optional and non-attendance will not negatively affect or influence the committee’s review of the appeal. If a faculty member or student chooses not or are unable to attend, they are given the option to send a statement to the Chair of the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee to be shared on their behalf at the committee meeting.

Once the members of the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee have determined that they have sufficient information to make a decision, they will vote to either grant or reject the grade appeal. A simple majority of voting members in attendance at the committee meeting is sufficient to decide the issue. If the Committee grants the appeal, it determines the appropriate course grade for the student. The committee chair shall prepare a letter stating the committee’s decision and the justification for that decision. This letter is the only written decision from the committee concerning the grade appeal case and should reflect the majority opinion of the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee. Copies of the letter must be conveyed to the student, the faculty member, the faculty department chair, and the dean of the respective school from which the appeal was filed. If the committee determines that the student’s grade shall be changed, the chair of the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee will prepare a Grade Change Form and submit it to the faculty department chair for processing with the letter attached. The stated reason for the change of grade will be “the determination of the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee.” The chair will sign the form instead of the course faculty member, and the faculty department chair will notify the student of the outcome of the appeal.

Sometimes a course grade appeal raises issues that go beyond the resolution of grading issues. These issues could include questions about compliance with ADA guidelines, concerns about a faculty member following departmental or college procedures, or questions of a student’s academic integrity. At its discretion, the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee may prepare a supplementary report addressing those issues and present it to the dean.

Appealing the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee’s Decision

The decision of the Course Final Grade Appeal Committee is final.

SH.02.H – Denial of Admission or Readmission of Applicants

The Admission Review Committee shall have authority to deny admission or readmission of applicants to attend the College after review and consideration of any applicant's previous action or law violation, misconduct, rule violations, or any acts interfering with the orderly conduct of the College, separately or in combination. In making determinations on the admission or readmission of applicants, the College is controlled by the rules established by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Applicants denied based on non-academic criteria for admission may appeal the decision in writing with supporting documentation. Requests may be sent to the Vice President of Student Success and Equity or the Associate Dean of Enrollment and Retention at:

Office of Student Success & Equity
Tulsa Community College
3727 E. Apache Street, EB 103
Tulsa, OK 74115
studentaffairs@tulsacc.edu

SH.02.I – Students with Prior Felony Records

Applicants who, as a result of a felony, are required to register with any local, state, or college law enforcement agency will be required to submit additional documentation upon request from Tulsa Community College. After review of requested documents and a possible in-person interview, an admission decision will be provided to the student.

SH.02.J – High Scholastic Achievement

Tulsa Community College has numerous ways of recognizing superior scholastic achievement. They include the President’s Honor Roll, the Dean’s Honor Roll, the Honors Scholar Program, and Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges.

A. Honor Roll

  1. The President’s Honor Roll includes students who have a term grade point average of 4.0 with a minimum of 12 credit hours earned during the fall or spring semester
  2. The Dean’s Honor Roll includes the names of students who have a term grade point average of 3.0 to 3.99 with a minimum of 12 credit hours earned during the fall or spring semester
  3. The Part-Time Honor Roll includes students who have a term grade point average of 3.0 to 4.0 and have earned between six and 11 credit hours during the fall or spring semester
  4. The Summer Honor Roll includes students who have a term grade point average of 3.0 to 4.0 with a minimum of six credit hours earned during the summer term

B. Graduation

The College recognizes scholastic achievement at the annual Commencement for students achieving a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher at the end of their last completed term.

  1. “Honors” - Graduating with a 3.5-3.99 cumulative grade point average.
  2. “Highest Honors” - Graduating with a 4.0 cumulative grade point average. Recognition for “Honors” or “Highest Honors” does not appear on the official transcript or diploma.

Students who successfully complete the Honors Scholar program receive the designation “Honors Scholar” on their official transcripts and wear pewter medallions at commencement.