Instruction

Developmental Courses

Developmental courses are designed for students identified as needing additional academic background before pursuit of college credit courses. These courses provide competency-based instruction in the areas of reading, English/writing, and mathematics. Developmental courses do not apply toward B.S., B.A.S., A.A., A.S., A.T.D. or certificate program requirements, but may meet prerequisites for continued pursuit of college credit courses.

Required Enrollment in Developmental Courses

Students whose entry level placement scores are below the levels specified in Florida Administrative Code are required to enroll in the appropriate developmental courses. Students meet with an advisor or counselor prior to their first term of enrollment at the college. Once the developmental requirement is satisfied, the student may progress to college credit courses in the subject area.

Successful completion of the developmental requirement is defined as:

• A grade of “C” or higher in each required developmental course and
• Attainment of a passing score on each required developmental exit examination.

Degree-seeking students must begin developmental instruction as soon as they earn 12 credit hours, but it is recommended they begin in their first term. Students enrolled in developmental courses may, at the same time, take college credit courses for which they are qualified. In this manner, a student may begin earning credits that apply toward his/her program of study while completing developmental requirements.

Developmental Exit Examination

Florida Statutes require that a student successfully complete a developmental exit examination at the close of each developmental course sequence in which he/she is required to enroll. Accordingly, an exit examination will be administered in each developmental subject area in coordination with the final course in the developmental English, mathematics, and reading sequences. In order to proceed into college credit course work in the subject area, a student must successfully complete both the developmental course and the appropriate exit examination.

Alternative Developmental Instruction:

Florida law requires that all students whose placement test scores indicate the need for remediation be given the opportunity to satisfy the remediation requirement through traditional college developmental instruction or through alternate instructional options. Examples of alternate options include independent study, non-credit courses, and instruction through other colleges and private providers. Students who elect to pursue an alternate option may enroll in up to twelve credits of other college courses. Students who elect to pursue one of the alternate options must meet with an advisor prior to registration in order to discuss the impact of the choice on his/her degree progress. To continue enrollment after completion of twelve credits, the student must do one of the following:

• Retake the PERT and demonstrate an appropriate cut-off score,
• Provide official transcripts showing successful completion of an equivalent developmental course at another accredited institution
• Enroll in traditional developmental course(s) at NWFSC.

Repeat Enrollments/Attempts in Developmental Courses

Per Florida Statute, a student is eligible for no more than three attempts to successfully complete a given developmental course. All official enrollments after Summer of 1997 are considered attempts, regardless of the grade received. However, if a withdrawal is processed prior to the close of the Drop/Add period, or if audit status is granted prior to the close of the Drop/Add period, the enrollment will not be counted as an attempt. Students may not audit a developmental course unless advance approval is granted through the Office of Academic Affairs. If a student receives a grade of D, F, W, X, or U in a developmental, he/she may repeat the course to improve the grade and meet developmental requirements. On the third attempt, however, the student will be awarded the letter grade earned (A, B, C, D, F, S, U, or P) and will not be allowed to withdraw or to re-enroll. The prohibition for re-enrollment extends to any public postsecondary institution in Florida.

Once a student has exhausted his/her course attempts in a given developmental area, the only ways to satisfy the developmental requirement are: a) retake the placement examination and demonstrate a score above the established minimum for that subject area, or b) provide documentation of successful completion of an equivalent or higher-level course at a private postsecondary institution. Students not eligible to re-enroll in a given developmental course may, however, continue enrollment at the college in other developmental courses, or in other courses for which they are eligible. In the latter case, an appeal through the Office of Academic Affairs may be necessary to continue enrollment.

3rd and 4th Attempt

Florida Statutes also mandate that after the second attempt in a given developmental course, a student will be required to pay the full cost of instruction (approximately four times the usual matriculation fees) to repeat the course. Financial Aid will pay for no more than thirty (30) credit hours of developmental coursework. In documented cases of financial hardship or extenuating circumstances, an exception to the full cost requirement may be granted. Exceptions must be appealed through the Office of Academic Affairs or the Registrar’s Office prior to registration

Alternatives for Students No Longer Eligible for College Developmental Enrollment

Once a student has exhausted his/her course attempts in a given developmental area, the only ways to satisfy the developmental requirement are: a) retake the placement examination and demonstrate a score above the established minimum for that subject area, or b) provide documentation of successful completion of an equivalent or higher-level course at a postsecondary institution.

NWFSC is committed to student success and has developed several strategies for students in this circumstance. The student should work closely with an advisor to identify alternatives for which he/she is eligible and to develop a plan for continued study. These strategies are also appropriate for an individual who is subject to the full cost requirement and is unable to afford the increased cost of enrollment.

1. The student may continue enrollment in other appropriate developmental courses, or continue enrollment in other appropriate developmental and college credit courses and pursue one of or a combination of the following strategies. After an appropriate skill-building effort, the student may then retake the placement exam.
   • Enroll in an appropriate alternate developmental course in the subject area
   • Enroll in an adult basic education class(es) to build skills in the given area
   • Pursue individualized study in the Academic Success Center and/or Math Lab to build skills in the given area
   • Work with a college tutor to build skills in the given area
   • Enroll in a college non-credit basic skill refresher course in the given subject/skill area
   • Attend a Skill Refresher Workshop(s) in the given subject/skill area
2. The student may consider a revised program of study which does not carry a developmental requirement. The college offers several college credit and vocational certificates for which placement testing and developmental instruction are not applicable. Students pursuing an A.S. degree may wish to change to a companion college credit certificate which offers the technical skills needed for employment. After completion of the certificate courses, the student may acquire sufficient skills to perform better on the placement examination and eventually progress to an associate degree program of study. See the “Certificates ” section of this catalog.
3. The student may temporarily “stop-out” of credit courses, concentrate on skill development, through his/her own resources, then retake the placement examination.
4. The student may enroll in an equivalent or higher level course in the subject area at a postsecondary institution. Upon successful completion of that course work, the student may transfer the course back to NWFSC and/or re-take the placement exam. Students wishing to pursue this option should work closely with an advisor to be sure the alternate course(s) selected will satisfy the developmental requirement. Ideally, the student should submit a transient study form and secure advance approval. Depending on the nature and level of the transfer course, the student may still need to demonstrate minimum skills through the placement exam.

English Placement into College Credit Courses

Students with a minimum PERT Reading Score of 104 and English score of 99 – 112 are advised, but not required, to enroll in LIN 1670 - Writing and Grammar . LIN 1670  is a college credit course that serves as a prerequisite to other higher level college credit English courses and prepares students who have placement scores at this level to be successful in ENC 1101 . LIN 1670  may be used as an elective, but does not meet Gordon Rule requirements for B.S., B.A.S., A.A., or A.S. transfer students.

Students with a minimum PERT Reading score of 104 and minimum English score of 113 may enroll in ENC 1101 - English Composition I .

Mathematics Placement into College Credit Courses

Students with PERT math scores that fall between 113 -122 must enroll in MAT 1033A - Intermediate Algebra . MAT 1033A  is a college credit course that serves as a prerequisite to other higher level college credit math courses. MAT 1033A  may be used as an elective, but does not meet Gordon Rule requirements for B.S., B.A.S., A.A. or A.S. transfer students.

Students with PERT math scores greater than or equal to 123 should consult with an advisor to determine the mathematics courses most appropriate for their background and program of study.

Reading Placement into College Credit Courses

Students with PERT reading scores of 104 or higher may enroll in any college credit reading course or Gordon Rule writing course. Students with PERT Reading scores less than 104 are not eligible to enroll in any college credit Gordon Rule course until all developmental courses are completed or until a PERT Reading score of 104 is obtained.

College and Personal Success Classes

Courses focusing on college and personal success strategies are beneficial to a student’s academic career and can be used as an elective in some degree programs. NWFSC offers the following college credit courses:

• SLS 1101 - College Success : SLS 1101  is a required course for all students enrolled in the first level of developmental instruction of reading, mathematics or English, or for any student that is required to take any two or more developmental courses regardless of the level. It is a co-requisite requirement that must be taken with the student’s first developmental course.
• SLS 1201 - Service Learning Seminar : SLS 1201  is required for Presidential Scholarship students.

Directed Independent Study

Directed independent study provides opportunities for students to earn college credits in standard courses by working with a college instructor on an independent basis. Students enrolling for courses under Directed Independent Study (DIS) are expected to accomplish the goals and objectives as specified in the course syllabus and are expected to attend such class meetings, group sessions, and working conferences as specified by the instructor. Courses are scheduled on a flexible basis as approved by the instructor, the department chair, and by the Vice President of Academic Affairs with the understanding that final exams will be taken and grades awarded during the term in which they begin. All regular fees apply to DIS courses.

DIS course enrollments are authorized under the following conditions:

• A documented need exists for the student(s) to enroll for the course immediately rather than taking an alternate course or waiting until the next term in which the desired course would be offered.
• The student is able to identify an instructor who is willing to teach the course as DIS.
• The student understands the extensive burden which he or she is undertaking.
• Enrollment is approved by the Department Chair and Vice President of Academic Affairs.
• When it is not feasible for the course/section to be scheduled concurrently and taught at the same time and locations as another course/section.

eCampus

The use of technology and the Internet are integral parts of the education process at NWFSC. In keeping with current educational practice, students will be expected to use computer technology and internet communication throughout their college experience. All classes offered at NWFSC may require use of the Internet; such use may vary depending on the class delivery mode (traditional, hybrid, or online).

NWFSC’s eCampus website (http://eCampus.nwfsc.edu) supports student learning through various methods and serves as the portal for online and hybrid classes. The site provides access to online classes for Distance Learning students and for students in traditional and hybrid classes using the Desire2Learn (D2L) online learning environment.

In addition, all students may access other technology tools from this site, such as videos of instructors’ lectures, web conferencing software, and plagiarism prevention software. Technical support for students using these resources is also available on the eCampus website. At NWFSC, the following learning opportunities serve students who elect to learn outside the traditional classroom:

On-line Classes

Online instruction, using the D2L platform, reaches students needing flexibility and convenience. Online courses are facilitated virtually, yet they may require a proctored component. In compliance with SACSCoC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges), the proctored component is intended to verify identity of online students thereby ensuring the integrity of online programs within NWFSC.

Hybrid Classes

Hybrid classes are traditional college classes combined with online activities to reduce class seat time. Hybrid classes provide the advantages of limited face-to-face instruction combined with the convenience of online learning. Thus, hybrid classes meet less often than a traditional class but provide the same course credit as a traditional class.

Online Instruction

NWFSC offers students the convenience and flexibility of earning course credits through various delivery modes so that students may take control of their own education by working and learning at times and places convenient to them. Online and Hybrid classes carry the same course numbers and credits as their traditional counterparts and appear on the student’s transcript just as any other course does; there is no designator on the transcript identifying a course as online or hybrid. Credits earned are transferable and are applicable to graduation requirements in the same manner as traditional classes. All NWFSC courses, including all online and hybrid courses, are taught by faculty holding credentials in the relevant subject matter. The majority of eCampus instructors are full-time faculty who also teach traditional classes and whom online or hybrid students may contact or visit during office hours. Students can search for online and hybrid classes by clicking the Class Schedule link at http://eCampus.nwfsc.edu.

Online Course Orientations

To ensure the success of each student, every online instructor will provide an online orientation experience. Course orientations contain crucial information, such as course pace, how to submit assignments, grading requirements, testing arrangements, and strategies for improving student success. A face-to-face orientation may be required for specialized programs, such as nursing, please see the class schedule for details.

Online Support Services

NWFSC is committed to offering students the same quality of education through online and hybrid courses as it offers in the classroom. Students have full access to college services at all locations. They may use on-campus resources, such as the Academic Success Center, the Career Resource Center, advising services and computer labs.

On-line and hybrid courses are subject to the same rules as traditional, in-class courses for refunds, prerequisites, placement, withdrawals, repeat rules, grading, and other academic policies. Depending on student eligibility, financial assistance is generally available for these courses in the same manner as it is for traditional courses.

For more information, contact the eCampus/Learning Technologies Office at (850) 729-6464 or visit the eCampus website at http://eCampus.nwfsc.edu.

Final Examinations

Final examinations for both traditional and Distance Learning classes are held at the end of each term and must be taken at the scheduled time unless other arrangements are approved in advance by the appropriate division director or department head. Final exam schedules are printed in the Schedule of Classes and on the NWFSC website for each term.

Dean’s and President’s Lists

When the quality of a student’s work is superior, the college is pleased to honor such work for students enrolled in all programs - Baccalaureate, Associate or Certificate programs through recognition as follows:

PRESIDENT’S LIST:

Any student with nine (9) or more college credits in the term and a term grade point average of 3.80 - 4.00 in college level courses is placed on the President’s List.

DEAN’S LIST:

Any student with nine (9) or more college credits in the term and a term grade point average of 3.50 - 3.79 in college level courses is placed on the Dean’s List.

Standards of Academic Progress

The college has set academic standards ranging from recognition of excellence for superior progress to discontinuance of enrollment for inadequate progress towards these standards. In determining academic progress, college credit and vocational courses are combined. The standards apply to full and part-time students. They apply to those students who are seeking a degree or award and those who are not. Students enrolled in a Limited Admission or Limited Access program should contact the appropriate department or division office for information on programmatic certification and/or professional accreditation standards as they pertain to demonstrating satisfactory academic progress as these may vary by program.

Good Standing

A student is considered in academic good standing at the college as long as the student maintains the appropriate cumulative grade-point average (GPA) specified in the following schedule for satisfactory academic progress. However, students who complete less than 50% of their attempted course work may be subject to additional advising requirements prior to future registration.

Not in Academic Good Standing

When students fail to achieve the schedule of credit hours with the appropriate cumulative GPA, the college may place certain restrictions on their future registrations and the courses for which they may enroll. In order to return to “Academic Good Standing”, a student must increase his/her cumulative grade point average for all work attempted to at least the level specified for “Academic Good Standing.” Students “Not in Academic Good Standing” are encouraged to take advantage of the tutorial services offered in the Academic Success Center. There are three states of being while “Not in Academic Good Standing” and the following regulations apply to these states:

Academic Warning

The first time students fail to achieve “Academic Good Standing” (after twelve [12] credits have been accumulated), they will be placed on “Academic Warning”. Their records will be coded to reflect this status. Students who are placed into this status should meet with a counselor or academic advisor to determine what course of action will return them to “Academic Good Standing”. This will probably include repeating certain courses in which the student was unsuccessful or the timely scheduling of courses so as not to overtax the student’s time available for academic requirements.

Academic Probation

Students who are in the status of “Academic Warning” and fail to achieve “Academic Good Standing” at the end of that term, will be placed on “Academic Probation”. Their records will be coded to reflect this status. Students who are placed into this status should meet with a counselor or academic advisor to determine what course of action will return them to “Academic Good Standing.” This will probably include repeating certain courses in which the student was unsuccessful or the timely scheduling of courses so as not to overtax the student’s time available for academic requirements. The student has one term to return to “Academic Good Standing.” Students who during this term achieve a term GPA of “C” will be continued in this status one more term; however, veteran students are ineligible for VA benefits beyond two consecutive terms if they are on academic warning/academic probation. Veteran students who are removed from VA benefits following the second term of their academic warning/academic probation period may be recertified for veteran benefits only after attaining the minimum required grade point average.

Academic Suspension

Any student who has for one term been in the status of “Academic Probation” and has not attained a term GPA of “C” or better during that term shall be considered as not making satisfactory progress and may be suspended for a term. If the student is registered for credit courses in the next term, he/she may be administratively withdrawn from those courses and a refund will be processed for any tuition/fees paid for that term. In this status, a student is eligible to register only for non-credit continuing education courses. After the terms of the suspension have been met, upon return to the college, the student will be placed on “Academic Probation” and subject to those regulations.

Students may appeal the decision of “Academic Suspension” through the Admissions Committee. Contact the Admissions Committee advisor at (729-5235) for details. If approved, the student will meet with a counselor or an academic advisor to determine what course of action will return them to “Academic Good Standing”, and the student will be placed on “Academic Probation” and subject to the regulations under that state.