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The unit represents the academic work of a single block of three and one-half weeks. There are eight blocks in the academic year, and under normal circumstances a student can earn eight units of credit per year and 32 units in four years. Each unit is equal to four semester hours. Adjunct courses provide one-quarter unit credit each and extended format courses provide up to 1/2 unit per semester. The January half block allows students to earn 1/2 unit of credit. Any first-year student who enrolls for fewer than eight blocks, and any other student who enrolls for fewer than seven blocks, must have the prior approval of a dean within the first two weeks of the semester of reduced enrollment. The College provides a two-track system for all students. In a given course students may choose to be graded by either the designation of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C- and No Credit (G track) or simply Pass and No Pass (P/NP track). There are no restrictions placed on the number of courses a student may choose under each option. However, students are expected to choose the option by which they wish to be graded at the time they register for courses. No change in the grading option is permitted after the fourth day of class. Students who do not choose a grading track for a course are automatically assigned to the G track by the Registrar. The College believes its grading system options offer a desirable versatility because they provide a commonly understood set of grades for consideration beyond the campus while preserving a simpler option for students who wish to be free of certain kinds of grading pressures. This "optional system" encourages students to take courses they might otherwise shun out of fear of poor grades, and in general makes students much less "grade conscious"; on the other hand, the College avoids the risk that some of its students could be disadvantaged by the College's grading policy in the competition for jobs or graduate and professional school admissions. |