Pathfinder - Colorado College

Course Enrollment and Taking Time Off

Blocks Off

Students are expected to be enrolled in four blocks each semester during their first year at CC. As a sophomore, junior, and senior, students may take a block off, with no tuition refund, if they can do so without falling below the minimum progress toward a degree and without jeopardizing academic standing. If students plan to be gone they must have permission from the associate dean of students for academic support prior to their absence. Students are expected to be enrolled full time.
If students plan on being absent during the first block of a semester, they must discuss their plans with the registrar before the semester begins. If they fail to make these arrangements, they risk formal withdrawal from the college for that semester.
Taking a block off at Colorado College can have numerous consequences. Please be aware that 32 units is the minimum required for the B.A. degree. If students do not complete a block (e.g., take a block off with dean of students’ approval, drop a class without replacing it, or fail to register for a block) several considerations apply:

• There is no refund of tuition or room fees for a block off. A board fee rebate may be requested through the student life office, based on extenuating circumstances.
• Not earning credit could jeopardize a student’s status in several ways:
1. Good academic standing (first- and second-year students must earn at least six units per year, and juniors and seniors must earn seven units per year to make “normal progress”)
2. Financial aid (federal requirements impose a minimal registered enrollment time and minimal GPA; Colorado College aid is limited to eight semesters or 32 units of enrollment whether credit is earned or not). If a student earns fewer than three units in any semester, his/her financial aid might be reduced or eliminated.
3. NCAA eligibility for varsity athletics
4. Ability to complete requirements at the desired time
5. Class standing for residence hall room selection

• Students are considered full time unless they are granted a leave of absence. When on a leave of absence or taking a block off, students are considered enrolled at the college for insurance or other status.

Course Attendance

Students are expected to attend courses regularly, and are responsible for all of their course work. Although the college believes in giving students as much freedom as is consistent with their academic progress, excessive absence, excluding illness or emergency, may result in special probation or dismissal from the course with “No Credit.”
If students find it necessary to miss the beginning of the block for reasons beyond their control, they are responsible for informing their professors and for making up any course work missed. The college will not approve requests to miss class days at the end of the block. Students take days off at their own academic risk.
College policy requires all students to attend scheduled classes during the week of all-college holidays and block breaks. We expect faculty members to observe this policy and explain any penalties, such as grade deductions, at the beginning of each block. Students observing religious holidays may miss class, but should make arrangements regarding course work beforehand with their professor.

Course Changes (Drop/Add)

Students are permitted to add a course in progress during the first two days of a block with the signature of the professor. They may drop a course through 5 p.m. Tuesday of the second week. (See “Excused Grade” later in this section for emergencies that necessitate dropping a block after the second Tuesday.) The half-block may be dropped by Thursday at 5 p.m. Students should be aware, however, that adding a course after the first two days of the block will be difficult or impossible, so that credit for the block will be lost if the course is dropped after the first two days. Students may add or drop courses to be taken in future blocks at any time prior to the beginning of those courses without the instructors’ signatures. Exceptions to the procedure must be authorized by a dean and affected professors. Dropping a course without authorization automatically results in a grade of No Credit.
One of the primary goals of the Block Plan is to provide a framework within which students may devote all of their formal academic efforts to one course. Thus, it is not possible to register for more than one principal course during a block. However, students may also enroll in a maximum of three adjunct courses and a maximum of .5 unit of extended-format courses per semester. Students may also take a maximum of ½ unit during the January half-block. Unapproved overloads result in a loss of credit.
During the first or sophomore year, students are urged to consult with the department in which they wish to major to determine an appropriate schedule. To allow students ample time to pursue a sound course of study in their major, they must declare the major before registration for their junior year. However, they may change their major at any time.

Course Registration

Adjunct Courses. Students may take three adjunct courses in addition to their principal course load and earn one­-quarter unit of credit each per semester. Contact the registrar’s office for a current listing of courses.

• Extended-format Courses. Before the end of preregistration, students are responsible for entering their preregistration online. First-year students may not enroll in these courses, and other students may take only one extended-format course each semester. Enroll for extended-format courses in the registrar’s office.
• All-student Spring Semester Preregistration. Approximately two weeks are set aside in Block 7 for preregistration. During this period, students meet with their advisors to plan their academic program for the next year and review their academic progress. This is also a time for them to ask questions about majors and career possibilities.

Before the end of preregistration, students are responsible for entering their preregistration online, which requires their advisor’s PIN. An 80-point sealed-bid system determines who is enrolled in courses with waiting lists. Students will be put on a waiting list when they have not assigned enough points to get into a particular course.
Students are responsible for completing all necessary prerequisites for any course. Consent of Instructor (COI) or Consent of Department (COD) means students must secure the instructor’s or the department chairperson’s PIN before completing registration.

Leave of Absence

Students needing to take 2 or more consecutive blocks away from their studies should contact the student life office. Refer to Leave of Absence or Withdrawal in "Things You Should Know: College Policies and Procedures" section.

New Students and Transfers

New students register for their first two courses — Blocks 1 and 2 — by mail during the summer. During New Student Orientation, first-years meet with their advisors to review course choices. During the second week of Block 2, first-year and transfer students register for Blocks 3 through 8. Transfer students have the option of registering during the summer for Blocks 1 and 2 or for the entire academic year.

Preregistration for New Students

During fall semester, the registrar’s office uses a sealed-bid system to ensure new students fair and equal placement in available courses. These students are given 60 points to bid for six courses. They may assign all 60 points to one course or divide the points in any way they choose as long as the total equals 60.
To help students decide how many points to bid for a course, the registrar’s office will publish a list of vacancies for Blocks 3 through 8. For each course, the list will indicate the maximum class size, the current enrollment, and the number of students on the waiting list (if any). Many courses will show vacancies plus a waiting list. This is not a mistake; it simply indicates spaces reserved for first-year students, who will be admitted until the maximum limit is reached, even if there is a waiting list. After the limit is reached, they will be added to the waiting list according to points.

Validation Periods

All students must validate their attendance for the fall semester on the first day of Block 1, and for spring semester on the first day of Block 5. If students fail to complete validation at these times, they may be withdrawn from the college. The college has the right to withhold transcripts or to suspend an enrolled student for failure to meet financial obligations.

Waiting Lists

Students are permitted to be on one waiting list for each block. When an opening is available in a course, the first student on the wait list is automatically added into the course after a 48-hour notification period. Notification will be sent to the student’s Worner mailbox. If a student is enrolled in another course the same block, this course is automatically dropped. Students who do not wish to be added to the course may come to the registrar’s office to be removed from the first position on the waiting list within the 48-hour notification period. Students who are allowed into class from the wait list by the professor on the first day of class must officially add the course by turning in a signed add form to the registrar’s office. Students who fail to officially add the course lose the option of taking the course on the pass/fail option and must take the course for a grade.