Academic Advising

All students enrolled in a degree or certificate program will be assigned an advisor. The Academic Advising Center processes initial advisor assignments, typically by the end of the first week of the semester. Students can find their advisor assignment by logging into MyGCC and selecting the “Find Advisor” icon.

There are three types of advisors at GCC—success coaches, faculty advisors and dual enrollment advisors.

Success coaches are staff members in the Advising Center who help students understand GCC policies and systems, implement strategies that will help them be successful, and connect to campus resources that will contribute to their academic success. New and returning students in a degree or certificate program are prioritized for Success Coach assignments.

Faculty advisors are experts in their field. They guide students toward opportunities like internships, career options and transfer programs.

Dual Enrollment Advising
High school-age students are considered “dual enrolled students” and are assigned a dual enrollment advisor to assist them with the high school-to-college transition, academic planning, course registration and college and career readiness resources and referrals. Dual enrollment students will work with the same advisor throughout their dual enrollment experience at GCC. Upon high school graduation, students planning to attend GCC to complete a degree-seeking program will transition to working with a success coach in the Academic Advising Center.

Changing Advisors
Students are encouraged to develop and maintain close relationships with their faculty advisors and success coaches. Initial advisor assignments are based on students’ programs of study and caseload capacity. Students may request a change of advisor at any time by contacting the Advising Center directly at advising@gcc.mass.edu. Please note: Dual enrollment students are not able to switch advisors. These are assigned based upon the student’s high school/homeschool program.

Academic Honesty

The faculty and staff of Greenfield Community College expect students to uphold academic honesty in all their work. Students must give credit to the creators–whether human or artificial intelligence (AI)–of any information, images, ideas, and expressions that they use in their work.  A failure to do so constitutes intellectual theft (i.e. plagiarism), for which a student may face code of conduct charges as outlined in the Massachusetts Community Colleges Student Code of Conduct. GCC’s library staff offer resources and one-on-one help with citations, both in-person and online.

Academic Honors

President's and Dean's Lists
The President’s List and Dean’s List are two ways that Greenfield Community College recognizes superlative student academic performance each term.
To be included on the President’s List students must be matriculated in a program and have:

• achieved a term GPA of 4.0;

• earned at least 12 credits at GCC;

• earned at least 6 college-level graded credits for a term;

• no incomplete grades at the end of the term*;

• no grade less than a C in the term*; and

• achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 at the end of the term.

To be included on the Dean’s List students must be matriculated in a program and have:

• Achieved a term GPA of 3.50 or higher but less than 4.0;

• Earned at least 12 credits at GCC;

• Earned at least 6 college-level graded credits for a term;

• No incomplete grades at the end of the term*;

• No grade less than a C in the term*; and

• Achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 at the end of the term.

* Completed work that changes a student’s grade will be considered in determining qualification once incomplete grades are converted per the date on the Academic Calendar.

Dual Enrollment Academic Recognition
Dual enrollment students who meet the following qualifications are recognized each term. To be included on the Dual Enrollment Student Academic Recognition list, students must have:

• Achieved a term GPA of 3.50 or higher;

• Earned at least 12 credits at GCC;

• Earned at least 6 college-level graded credits for a term;

• No incomplete grades at the end of the term*;

• No grade less than a “C” in the term*; and

• achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 at the end of the term.

* Completed work that changes a student’s grade will be considered in determining qualification once incomplete grades are converted per the date on the Academic Calendar.

Phi Theta Kappa

Students with a 3.5 GPA or better that adhere to the school conduct code and possess recognized qualities of citizenship will be invited to join the Alpha Sigma Omicron chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. Each candidate for membership in Phi Theta Kappa must have completed 12 semester hours of associate degree or certificate work, with a GPA of 3.5 or better. A GPA of 3.25 or better must be maintained to continue membership. Upon graduation, PTK membership will show on a student’s transcript.

Academic Standing

GCC focuses considerable attention on ensuring students’ academic success. The academic standing policy is the criteria by which the college evaluates academic progress. The college recognizes that various obstacles may interfere with making satisfactory academic progress, and the academic standing policy also provides a warning system to alert and respond to students who experience academic difficulty. The categories of academic standing follow:

GCC recognizes that unusual circumstances may affect any of the academic standing actions described above. Students may request a review of their individual circumstances to determine if they warrant additional action by contacting the Director of Advising. Students receiving federal financial aid should refer to the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress or the Financial Aid Information section of the student handbook. Please be advised that different rules exist when considering status related to the college’s academic standing rules and those for Financial Aid’s Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Add/Drop

Students may add a course through the first week of classes. If a student has a registration PIN they can add using self-registration. If the student does not have a PIN, courses can be added by meeting with their assigned advisor or success coach.

Students may drop a course up until the withdrawal deadline as posted in the academic calendar. Courses dropped during add/drop periods (100% and 75% refund windows) will not appear on a student’s transcript. Courses dropped after these dates, but before the withdrawal deadline, will appear with a grade of “W” on the transcript. Consult the Academic Calendar for specific dates.

Official drops will not be processed after the posted withdrawal deadline. Students who stop attending class will receive a grade as assigned by the instructor. Drops/withdrawals cannot be processed for a class that has already ended. To drop a course, students should consult their advisor and Financial Aid (if applicable), then complete the “Drop a Class” form found in the “Submit a Form” section of MyGCC. Otherwise, the change will not become official. Simply telling the instructor is not enough. If the change does not become official, students may jeopardize their eligibility for tuition refunds, financial aid, and continued enrollment. Students with extraordinary circumstances requiring dropping a course after the withdrawal deadline should discuss the possibility of making an exception with the Registrar’s Office by emailing registration@gcc.mass.edu.

Attendance/Absences

Regular class attendance is expected. Absences may jeopardize academic status and financial aid, in addition to lowering grades. Individual instructors and program coordinators have the authority to establish attendance standards appropriate for their courses, and they will inform students in writing of those standards at the beginning of the course.

Pregnancy & Childbirth Absences

In accordance with Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, absences due to pregnancy or related conditions, including recovery from childbirth, shall be excused for as long as the student’s doctor deems the absences to be medically necessary. When the student returns to the college she shall be reinstated to the status she held when the leave began, which includes the opportunity to make up any missed work. The college may offer the student alternatives to making up missed work, such as retaking a semester, taking part in online instruction, or allowing the student additional time in a program to continue at the same pace and finish at a later date.

Religious Absences

Religious beliefs may occasionally cause students to miss class or other college activities. Under Massachusetts state law, students are excused from class on a particular day when it conflicts with their religious beliefs. Instructors must provide students with the opportunity to make up a missed examination or class work, provided that such makeup examinations or work do not create an unreasonable burden on the college. Students should work directly with their course instructors to make arrangements when needed.

Auditing Courses

Students may audit a course (i.e., participate in the class) without earning a grade or academic credit. Students must meet the prerequisite requirements for the course before registering. The student is encouraged by the instructor to participate fully in the learning process. Students must state their intention to audit at the time of registration and are required to pay all tuition and fees associated with the class. Financial aid does not cover the cost of audited classes. Changes to or from an audit status are treated as adding a class and must be processed prior to the end of the published add period. Contact the Registrar’s Office for information on changing audit status.

Course Contact Hours

Course contact time is established in compliance with the federal definition in NECHE’s Policy on Credits and Degrees. NECHE has adopted the federal definition of a credit hour: an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is consistent with commonly accepted practice in postsecondary education and that reasonably approximates not less than

1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or

2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

In determining the amount of work associated with a credit hour, the institution may take into account a variety of delivery methods, measurements of student work, academic calendars, disciplines, and degree levels.

Course Load Maximum

Students may not carry a course load of more than 18 credits (fall and spring semesters) or 12 credits (summer semester) without approval of the Registrar or the Vice President of Academic Affairs. To be eligible, students must be in good academic standing.

Course Periodicity

The college does not offer all courses every semester. The course descriptions indicate how often a course is offered. Work with your advisor to map out the semester-by-semester plan for program completion.

GCC will make every effort to adhere to the periodicity listed within the catalog. However, each semester’s offerings will be scheduled in accordance with enrollment trends and students’ needs in mind. If a course offering is not able to be run within the periodicity listed, students’ advisors will work with them to make appropriate adaptations to their plans in order to keep them on track. GCC is constantly updating and improving programs to meet students’ needs and help them achieve their degree goals.

Course Repeats

Students may repeat any course, but may not earn credit twice for the same course unless the course has been explicitly set up to be repeatable. When a course is repeated, the latest grade replaces the previous grade in the calculation of grade point average and in determining graduation requirements even if the newer grade is lower than a previous grade. Both grades will show on the transcript. Students will not receive financial aid for any repeated course unless they are replacing a grade of F. Students should discuss options with their advisor or instructor. No student, regardless of financial aid status, may re-take a course more than twice without express written permission from the vice president of academic affairs (or their designee) of the college.

Developmental Classes

Developmental courses are for improving basic skills and will not be used to fulfill associate degree or certificate requirements. Grades earned for these courses will not be used in calculating grade point average. The grades for these classes are differentiated by putting a prefix of “D” in front of the earned grade (i.e. a “B” in a developmental class shows on the transcript as "DB").

Discontinued Programs

Discontinuation of an academic program of study or certificate comes after a great deal of consideration by the college. Within the limits noted below, students will have the opportunity to complete a program or certificate within which they are matriculated:

• When an associate degree program is closed, students who have matriculated in that program during the past five years, and are still matriculated in that program, will have the opportunity to complete the program of study within two years after closure of the program. Students who are not currently matriculated in the program at the time of closure cannot complete that program. Note: options that fall under the Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts may be closed without the two year completion deadline as students can still complete the Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts.

• When an associate degree with special admission processes is closed, or when a certificate program is closed, students currently matriculated in the program and who began the program within the past two years prior to closure will have the opportunity to complete the program of study or certificate within two years after the closure of the program.

Contact the Registrar’s Office at registration@gcc.mass.edu for specific information on completing a closed degree program or certificate.

Fresh Start Option

Greenfield Community College has a “fresh start” option for students. Once in a lifetime, if a student returns to GCC after an absence of at least two full years, and has not already been awarded a degree or certificate, they are eligible to apply for a "fresh start". Once a “fresh start” option is approved, courses earned before the semester when “fresh start” is approved, may be eligible to count towards graduation requirements but the grades will not be used to calculate a student’s grade point average (GPA). Classes taken before the “fresh start” will only be eligible to be used for graduation if they meet the normal criteria for a particular program (e.g. passing grade, grade higher than a C for certain courses in Nursing).

The transcript will include a statement noting this “fresh start” option. All coursework including grades will show on the student’s transcript. Grades for courses before the “fresh start” semester will be denoted with an “*” in front of the original grade (e.g. a grade of “D” will be changed to “*D” to distinguish them.

The student must fill out the Fresh Start Option Petition form in their MyGCC portal, under the Submit a Form menu. The form will be reviewed and the student notified via email of the petition decision. If approved, the student’s record will be updated (e.g. grades and GPA). Students wishing to pursue this option must submit this form no later than 2 weeks (14 calendar days) after the start of the semester in which they returned to GCC.

Grading

Course grades are reported in letter symbols which include credit/no credit (CR/NC) and pass/fail (PA/FA). Grade reports are posted on MyGCC at the end of each semester. In the middle of each semester, early progress reports of academic deficiency are also posted on MyGCC for each course in which a student is earning grades of “D,” “F,” or “O.” In GCC’s grading system, plus (+) and minus (-) symbols may be used only for grades of “B” and “C,” while a minus symbol may be used for the grade of “A.”

Grades for developmental classes have a “D” as a prefix to the grade (e.g. “DA,” “DB+”) to denote that the grade is for a developmental class. These grades are not included in the GPA and the classes are not used towards graduation requirements.

IN — Incomplete: indicates work of acceptable quality where the student has failed to complete course requirements and the instructor wishes to allow time for the completion of the work. The incomplete must be removed within four weeks of the beginning of the next semester or it is replaced by the previously assigned grade (i.e. IB converts to B; IC converts to C, etc). Pass/Fail and Credit/No Credit courses are not eligible for incomplete grades. If the assigned incomplete grade for a prerequisite course is not sufficient to meet the prerequisite before the start of classes for the next term, the student will be withdrawn from the course roster.

W — Withdrawn: indicates an official withdrawal from a course or the college. Withdrawal from the college requires submission of a completed withdrawal form available in MyGCC in the Submit a Form section.

AW — Administrative Withdrawal: indicates administrative withdrawal for failure to fulfill financial, medical, or property obligations to the college. Once administratively withdrawn, a student may not be reinstated during that semester.

AU — Audit: carries no credit and has no grade point equivalent. AU grades cannot be used to satisfy graduation requirements.

CR* — Credit: only used for courses that have a credit/no credit grading mode, not for letter graded courses.

NC* — No Credit: only used for courses that have a credit/no credit grading mode, not for letter graded courses.

PA** — Pass

FA** — Fail

O — Insufficient Basis for Evaluation: Indicates a student has discontinued attendance without formally withdrawing from the class or the college prior to the final withdrawal date. The “O” grade will be treated as an “F” in the calculation of the grade point average. The “O” grade is considered an indication of unsatisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes.

* In courses designated CR/NC, students must perform work of “C” quality or better to earn credit (CR). Such courses often are not transferable to other institutions.

** Note: Full-time students may elect to take one course each semester on a PA/FA basis, in addition to courses normally graded PA/FA, provided that at least nine credits of coursework are taken on a graded (A, B, C, D, F) basis that semester. Students must perform work of “C” quality or better to earn credit (PA). This option must be selected at the time of registration. Courses taken on a PA/FA basis often are not transferable to other institutions. A grade of FA will count negatively into student GPA calculations.

Grade Point Average
At the end of each semester or after any grade change processed after final grades are processed, semester and cumulative grade point averages are calculated. These averages provide a general indication of academic performance; student transcripts will reflect both a semester GPA and a cumulative GPA.

To calculate a grade point average (GPA), all letter grades are converted to numbers, called grade points, as follows:

Once the letter grades have been converted to grade points, grade points are multiplied by the number of credits for each course, resulting in what are called quality points. All of the quality points are totaled and the sum is divided by the total number of credits, resulting in the grade point average. In calculating a grade point average, only the grades listed above with their corresponding grade points are considered. No other grades affect the grade point average in any way.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible to graduate, students must be matriculated into the appropriate degree or certificate program. Only matriculated students are eligible for graduation. To be considered for graduation, a student must be enrolled in their final program requirements in that semester. Please consult with your advisor/success coach if you have questions about your status. Note, however, that final/official determination of degree/certificate completion status lies within the Registrar's office.

GCC awards degrees three times a year, following the summer, fall and spring semesters. The Commencement ceremony is held once per year for all students, and is generally held at the end of May. Students do not have to participate in Commencement in order to earn their degree. Additional information is available at gcc.mass.edu/registrar.

In order to earn an associate’s degree or a certificate, students must be matriculated in the degree or certificate program, complete the course requirements of the curriculum, achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 for all courses taken at GCC (excluding developmental courses) and be in good academic standing with the college. All associate degree programs require at least 60 credits of coursework. Students must complete at least 25% of the credit hours used to fulfill the requirements of the associate’s degree at GCC. To earn a certificate at GCC, students must complete at least 75% of the credit hours required for a certificate program at GCC.

Students should work with their advisor to determine when they will the requirements for their degree or certificate.

To earn more than one associate’s degree student must:

• Meet all specific requirements of each degree program;

• Each degree program must include at least 15 credits of course work that meets program requirements that was not used to complete any other degree

Note: a student may not earn more than one Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts degree.

Normally, students must fulfill the degree or certificate requirements that were stipulated in the catalog at the time the student matriculated into the college. However, if the degree or certificate requirements change after initial enrollment at GCC, students may elect to fulfill the requirements that were in effect in the catalog of the year when they matriculated or in any subsequent catalog year as long as the catalog requirements are not more than five years old. NOTE: a student must have been enrolled at GCC in a specific program in that catalog year in order to be eligible for this option. Please contact the registrar's office for information.

If external certification and/or licensure requirements change, the college strongly recommends that students complete the new requirements to ensure that the student graduates with current skills and abilities.

Graduation with Honors
To graduate “with honors” students must earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 based on at least 30 credits of letter-graded course work completed at GCC in an associate degree program. Honors designation does not apply to certificate programs.

Exceptions to Graduation Policy
Students with unusual or extenuating circumstances that justify an exception to an academic graduation requirement may request an exemption using an Academic Requirements Exemption (GRB) form. The form must be submitted to the Graduation Review Board by a student’s advisor by the deadline set each term. Advisors or the registrar's office can provide additional information.

Program Types

Associate in Arts (AA) degree programs are designed primarily for transfer and consist of a combination of core courses and student-designed course choices. AA in Liberal Arts options (as listed in the catalog) provide course selection guidance to position students to transfer in a specific field at a four-year institution as a junior.

Associate in Science (AS) degree programs consist of a small set of core courses supplemented by substantial specialized course work which may include studies in humanities, social and behavioral sciences, business, natural and physical sciences, mathematics, and technology (in addition to specific career fields). AS degree programs are typically designed to prepare students for either employment or transfer to a bachelor's degree program.

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree programs prepare students to enter the workforce. The degree emphasizes applied science or technical skills. Students’ coursework is primarily centered on technical courses directly related to their chosen area of study.  AAS degree programs include 20 credits of general education courses that are designed to prepare the student for study in their field and are transferable should they choose to continue their education.

Certificate programs have fewer credits than associate degrees and provide concentrated coursework in career fields. Certificates can prepare students for early employment and improved job skills. In many cases, students can apply completed certificate courses toward progress in an associate degree in the same field. 

Total credits for a program indicate the minimum credits required to complete the program. Depending on your course selection, you may earn more than the minimum credits to complete a program. Students must complete at least 25% of credits of coursework used to fulfill the requirements of an associate degree at GCC to receive a degree, and at least 75% of credit hours to receive a certificate.

School Records

Greenfield Community College allows students to inspect and review their education records. Requests must be made in person or in writing with valid identification. Request forms are available at the relevant office. The college will provide access within a reasonable timeframe, typically within two (2) business days but no later than 45 days. A designated official will be present during the review to offer explanations if needed.

The following list identifies the types and locations of the education records which students may request to review and inspect:

Students may request amendments to their education records if they believe the information is inaccurate, misleading, or violates their privacy or other rights. Such requests must be submitted in writing to the official responsible for maintaining the records. The official will review the request within a reasonable time and notify the student of their decision. If the request is denied, the student has the right to appeal through a formal hearing. If the hearing results in a decision to amend the record, the college will do so and notify the student. If not, the student has the right to add a personal statement to their record explaining their disagreement.

The college maintains a record of individuals, agencies, and organizations that have requested or accessed student education records unless exempted by law. This record includes the reason for access and is available for student review upon written request.

Transcripts

Students may request transcripts of their GCC academic record for themselves, other colleges, or employers by using the transcript request process found at gcc.mass.edu/registrar/transcripts. Transcripts are handled by our transcript provider, Parchment. Payment is via credit card as part of the request process. Both electronic and paper transcripts can be requested. Providing complete information in the request will aid in the processing of the request. If there are any issues with the request, you will be notified. Unofficial transcripts are obtained by logging into your MyGCC as they are not supplied by the college or by Parchment.

VALOR Act

Greenfield Community College complies with the Massachusetts VALOR Act and all MA DHE regulations regarding academic credit for military experience.  Student veterans may contact the Registrar’s office for guidance on the VALOR Act Academic Credit Evaluation Policy.  Student veterans must submit official documentation (i.e. Joint Services Transcript, CCAF transcript) if they are seeking to receive credit for their military experience.  

Withdrawals

Students may withdraw from the college any time up to the withdrawal deadline listed in the academic calendar, provided they are not enrolled in a class that has already ended. No record will appear on the transcript for withdrawals processed within either add/drop period (100% or 75%), as listed in the academic calendar. Students withdrawing after the add/drop period, but before the withdrawal deadline, will receive grades of “W” for all courses in which they were enrolled. Students who stop attending class after the withdrawal deadline will receive the grade assigned by the instructor. Students cannot withdraw from a class that ended prior to the submission of a withdrawal request.

Students considering withdrawing from GCC should consult with their academic advisor and instructors first. To withdraw officially, students must meet with their assigned advisor/success coach or an academic advisor in the Academic Advising Center and submit the Withdraw From Classes, located in the "Submit a Form" section of MyGCC. As with dropping a course, simply stopping attending class or telling instructors of plans to withdraw do not lead to official withdrawal and may jeopardize eligibility for tuition refunds, financial aid, and future enrollment at GCC.

Below are withdrawal options that are available to students outside of the standard withdrawal process outlined above:

Administrative Withdrawal – Administrative withdrawal is the result of an action taken by the college when a student fails to fulfill financial, medical, property, or other obligations to the college during the semester. Students who have been administratively withdrawn may not be reinstated until the next semester.

Late Withdrawal – Students needing to withdraw from the college for non-medical reasons after the posted withdrawal deadline may request a late withdrawal by submitting the "Withdraw From Classes" form available in the Submit a Form section of MyGCC. In the form select “Yes” to the “Is this a Late Withdrawal?” question and provide the requested additional information. The completed form must be submitted within 60 days of the end of the term. The request will be reviewed and the student will be notified of the decision via their GCC email. The decision on a late withdrawal request is final, with no appeal process. Any supporting documentation provided as part of the late withdrawal request will become part of the student’s record. Late withdrawals follow the same refund schedule as any other withdrawal. Please contact the Registrar's Office for further guidance on late withdrawals.

Medical Withdrawal – Students needing to withdraw from the college for health reasons may request a medical withdrawal by submitting the appropriate medical withdrawal forms to the dean of students. The medical withdrawal form is available in the Submit a Form section of MyGCC. A note from a doctor, therapist, psychologist, etc. on letterhead stationery or a completed provider information form must accompany medical withdrawal requests. Submit the completed documentation to the dean of students within 60 days of the end of the term. The request will be reviewed and the student will be notified of the decision via mail and email. The documentation, along with the original request, will become part of the student’s record. Medical withdrawals follow the same refund schedule as any other withdrawal. Please contact the Dean of Students for further guidance on medical withdrawals.