Course Policies

Course Load

A typical full-time student course load is 30 credit hours for the academic year.  Students registered in 12 or more credit hours in the fall and winter semesters or 6 hours in the spring semester are considered full-time.  Requests to register for more than 18 credits hours per semester must be made in writing to the Registrar for approval by the Vice President Academic.  For student loan and immigration purposes, 9 credit hours is the minimum full-time requirement.  The Diploma in Theatre Arts (Playhouse North School of Theatre) is a self-contained, conservatory-style theatre program and credits hours are not applicable.

Course Hours

Each course is assigned a number of hours from 1 to 4.  A 1-hour course meets 50 minutes per week for a full semester.  A 3-hour course meets 150 minutes per week for a full semester.  Most classes are 75 minutes long, so most 3-hour courses meet twice a week.  The number of hours also equals the number of hours of credit received for completing the course.  The number of hours of credit are added together to complete the credit hour requirements of a student's program. 

Auditing a Course

No academic credit is received for audit courses.  If a student attends a minimum of 75% of the classes, an 'AU' grade is applied to the transcript.

Challenge by Examination Course

Students may challenge a course in which they have developed considerable expertise.  Fees are established by the administration.  The following apply:

• Courses challenged must have a major component of cognitive material.  The Vice President Academic may deny permission to challenge a course in this manner if it does not lend itself to challenge by examination.
• Approval will be granted only to a student who has completed at least 15 hours of studies at RMC, or acceptable alternative, and who gives reasonable chance of a successful attempt at the course.
• A student must register for the course and complete it within the semester for which it is registered.  There are no incomplete grades for credit by examination.
• A grade of less than B is considered an F grade to ensure that there is mastery of the material involved.
• Grade results are recorded on the student's transcript, including an 'F' grade for failure. 

Prior Learning & Recognition (PLAR) (formerly Credit for Learning by Experience)

Students applying to receive academic credit for past, extensive, learning experience must make application to the Vice President Academic.  A portfolio of learning experiences is to be attached to the application.  PLAR credit is applied to the student transcript as PLAR transfer credits.  The college sets a PLAR application fee.

Distance Learning Course

In consultation with the Registrar, a student may apply a maximum of 15 credit hours of distance learning course work to degree programs; 6 credit hours towards certificates and diplomas.

Elective Course

If a program allows for electives, a student may choose a course within the guidelines of the elective area of study (i.e. Biblical Studies, General Arts, Professional Studies) if all prerequisites have been met.  Personal interest electives may be chosen from any area of the curriculum where prerequisites have been met.

Repeating a Course

A course in which a failing or low grade is obtained may be retaken once. The transcript will record each time a course is taken and the grade given. However, only the highest mark is considered in computing the cumulative G.P.A.

Class Attendance

Attendance at each class session is important for learning and for the development of personal discipline. Each professor will clearly communicate attendance requirements and penalties for absences in the course syllabus.  A loss of a maximum of 20% of the final grade of the course may be applied.  The Vice President Academic reserves the right to determine whether a student who has missed more than three weeks of classes can continue the work of the semester.

Last Day to Accept Semester Assignments

All assignments for the semester must be submitted by the due dates outlined in the course syllabus. No papers, make up examinations, reading reports, or any other type of assignment will be received after noon of the last day of final examinations, except those granted an Incomplete by prior permission of the Vice President Academic.