FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions

How do I drop a class without record?

How do I withdraw from the class with a "W" grade?

What is Shasta College's grading policy?

How do I get a refund?


 

What is an “advisory on recommended preparation”?

Advisories are intended to identify skills which will broaden or deepen a student’s learning experience, but without which the student can still succeed in the course. The college does not block enrollment in a course for lack of advisory skills.
 

Where can I find advisories for each course?

If a class has an advisory, it will be stated as part of the course description in the Catalog, and will be listed with the course in the Schedule of Classes.
 

What is a “limitation on enrollment”?

All courses are open to enrollment to any student who has been admitted to the college, with the following exceptions. Title 5 Section 58106 allows the college to limit enrollment in specific courses or programs by using: 1) prerequisites and corequisites; 2) health and safety considerations; 3) practical considerations such as facilities limitations, faculty availability and funding limitations; 4) registration systems such as a first-come-first-served, or priority system; 5) statutory, regulatory, or contractual requirements; 6) auditions and tryouts for intercollegiate competition, honors, or public performances courses, 7) blocks of courses for cohorts of students.

NOTE: Shasta College enforces limitations on enrollment.
 

How do I know which classes have limitations on enrollment?

If a class has a limitation on enrollment, it will be specifically stated as part of the course description in the Catalog, and will be listed with the course in the Schedule of Classes.
 

What is a “prerequisite” or “corequisite”?

"Prerequisite" means a condition of enrollment that a student is required to meet in order to demonstrate current readiness for enrollment in a course or educational program. (Title 5, Section 55200(a)) Such a condition of enrollment can be a course or other preparation a student must have before being permitted to enroll in a target course. Prerequisites provide the student with knowledge and/or a set of skills that substantially increase a student's success. For example: Introduction to Managerial Accounting (ACCT 4) has a prerequisite of Introduction to Financial Accounting (ACCT 2) with a grade of “C” or higher.

There are two types of corequisites: two-way corequisites and one-way corequisites. A “two-way” corequisite is when two (or more) courses are so intertwined that neither course stands alone. A student would not have a reasonable chance to be successful in either course without being concurrently enrolled in both courses. A “one-way” corequisite is when one of the courses depends on the content of the other course, but not vice-versa. Here, only one course would list the other as a corequisite. Often, with one-way corequisites, if you have previously completed the corequisite course, you may be qualified to enroll in the target course.
 

Why does Shasta College enforce prerequisites and corequisites?

We are legally required to enforce prerequisites. The Shasta College faculty has carefully selected prerequisites by evaluating the skills and concepts needed for success in a target course. They are intended to ensure that a student has a reasonable chance for success. For these reasons, enforcement of prerequisites is in the interest of all students.
 

How can I satisfy a Prerequisite?

There are three ways you can satisfy a prerequisite at Shasta College.

1. You received a grade of C or higher in the prerequisite course at Shasta College.

A. If you completed the prerequisite course with a grade of C or higher, you will be allowed to enroll in the target course (as long as space is available.)

B. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite course at the time of registration, you will be allowed to conditionally enroll in the target course (as long as space is available). However, when grades are submitted at the end of the semester, if you did not receive a grade of C or higher in the prerequisite course, you will be dropped from the target course.

2. You satisfied the prerequisite through Course Equivalency.

There are three ways to satisfy a prerequisite through Course Equivalency: 1) You received a grade of C or higher in an equivalent course at another college, 2) You have a qualifying score on the AP Exam, or 3) You received CLEP credit for the prerequisite course. (For further information about AP Exam scores and CLEP credit, see a counselor, or refer to the Catalog.)

If you believe you have satisfied the prerequisite through Course Equivalency, then before registration, you should contact Admissions and Records staff, who will direct you through the Course Equivalency Procedure. It is your responsibility to provide supporting documentation, such as transcripts and course description(s) from your previous college(s). You will be allowed to enroll conditionally in the target course for ten working days. If, at the end of ten working days, you cannot provide documentation that you have met the prerequisite through Course Equivalency, then you will be dropped from the course.

3. You satisfied the prerequisite through Multiple Measures.

Shasta College recognizes that you may have gained the prerequisite skills for some courses by means other than the two mentioned above. For example, you may have completed high school courses that covered the same topics as the prerequisite course. Or, perhaps you gained the prerequisite skills through work experience. Whatever the means, if you have gained skills that are equivalent to those that you would get by taking the prerequisite course at Shasta College, you should take your supporting documentation to a Shasta College counselor before you try to register. The counselor will direct you through the Multiple Measures Procedure.

Note: If you are attempting to register in a course that has Math, English or Chemistry as a prerequisite, then part of the Multiple Measures Procedure might include taking an Assessment Test at the Assessment Center. You are free to take the Assessment Test before you see your Counselor.

Note: Because you will be unable to enroll in the target course until a counselor determines that you have satisfied the prerequisite through Multiple Measures, it is in your best interest to see a counselor before attempting to register for the course.

Note: If you have a disability and believe that you could be successful in the class with reasonable accommodations then see the Counselor for Disabilities, or Learning Disability Specialist, (530) 225-3973, before attempting to register for the course.
 

What is a Placement Level Number?

In some cases, such as in Math and English, the prerequisite is stated in terms of a Placement Level. Your Placement Level is a number that is based on many factors which may include high school course work and Assessment Test scores. You will be assigned a Placement Level after completion of the Course Equivalency and/or Multiple Measures process.
 

Can I challenge a prerequisite or corequisite?

Yes, you can. The five grounds for a student to challenge a prerequisite or corequisite are:

1) The student has the knowledge or ability to succeed in the course or program despite not meeting the prerequisite or corequisite

2) The prerequisite or corequisite has not been established in accordance with the district’s process for establishing prerequisites and corequisites

3) The prerequisite or corequisite is in violation of Title 5

4) The prerequisite or corequisite is either unlawfully discriminatory or is being applied in an unlawfully discriminatory manner

5) The student will be subject to undue delay in attaining the goal of his or her educational plan because the prerequisite or corequisite course has not been made reasonably available, or accessible. For a full description see Title 5, Section 55201(f).
If you believe you have grounds for filing a challenge, go to the Office of Admissions and Records for information on the Prerequisite Challenge Procedure. If you choose to file a challenge, you have the responsibility of showing that grounds exist for the challenge.
Note: If you are citing reason # 1 as the basis for challenging the prerequisite/corequisite, you must first have failed to meet the prerequisite/corequisite through the Multiple Measures Procedure. You should seek advice regarding the challenge from a Counselor.
 

ADDING A CLASS: Students may add a class through the 10% point of the class.  After the second class meeting, approval of the instructor is required to add the class, which includes both the signature of the instructor and the first date of attendance. IT IS THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY to pick up the form from the Admissions and Records Office and take it to the instructor for approval. The student must then return the form to the Admissions and Records Office or Extended Education Center for processing before the add is finalized.

 
Dropping A Class Without Record: Students may drop a class, and have no notation appear on their transcripts through 30% of the class.  IT IS THE STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DROP CLASS(ES). The necessary forms are available from the Admissions and Records Office, Extended Education Centers, or by mail. Students may may not drop classes over the phone. If a student intends to drop a class and stops attending, but fails to file the necessary forms, the instructor may assign a failing letter grade.
 

Withdrawing From A Class With A "W" Grade: Students may drop a course with a "W" up to 75% of the course.  The notation "W" will appear on the student's transcript and will not be used in calculation of grade point average. Excessive "W's" shall, however, be used as factors in probation and dismissal procedures.  Students who have not dropped or withdrawn from a class before the end of the fourteenth week or 75% of the term will be assigned a course grade.  Students unable to process transactions in person or via MyShasta may designate another person to process transactions on their behalf by proxy. A proxy form is available at www.shastacollege.edu or through the Admissions & Records Office. The form must be signed and returned to the college Admissions Office prior to the transaction.

ONLY OFFICIALLY REGISTERED STUDENTS MAY ATTEND CLASSES. STUDENTS WHOSE NAMES DO NOT APPEAR ON INSTRUCTOR’S OFFICIAL CLASS LIST ARE NOT REGISTERED AND WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT OR GRADES.

GRADING POLICY: Several of the major parts of the Shasta College grading policy you should be aware of are:

    1. There are two types of probation, ACADEMIC and/or PROGRESS, based upon 12 accumulated units.

    2. Students opting for Credit/No Credit must do so no later than 30 percent into the class.

    3. Incompletes can be given only under limited conditions, and are written contracts between the instructor and student stipulating work to be done to complete the course and the evaluative grade the student will receive if he/she does not complete the work during the one-year limit.

    4. A student goes on Academic Probation if his/her GPA drops below a 2.00 in 12 units, even if the units are accumulated over more than one semester. A student goes on Progress Probation when 50 percent of his/her grades in 12 accumulated units are I, NC, and/or W (6 units out of 12). All Shasta College work done since Fall 1981 counts toward determining Academic and Progress Probation.

    5. You may not repeat a course in which you receive a C or better. Students receiving a D, F, or NC grade in a course may repeat the course once.
 

REFUND POLICY: The Enrollment Fee, parking, and/or material fees are refundable if a class is dropped during the first 10% of the class. The Student Health and Campus Center Fees are refundable if a student withdraws from all classes during the first 10% of the class. The Activities Fee is not refundable. Please check with your instructor and/or Admissions Office for specific dates.

Refunds of out-of-state tuition for full-term classes for each unit dropped will be made as follows:

Prior to and during the first week of instruction: 100%

During the second week of instruction: 75%

During the third week of instruction:     50%

During the fourth week of instruction:  25%

NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN AFTER THIS POINT.

Out-of-state tuition refunds for classes less than a full-term length will be prorated according to the above schedule.

FEES ARE AUTOMATICALLY REFUNDED WHEN APPROPRIATE: The first refunds will be mailed one week after the first day of classes, and thereafter in weekly cycles. Shasta College reserves the right to change fees and related refund policy without notice. If the State Legislature enacts a fee increase retroactively students will be billed for the difference. Please keep your address current with the Admissions & Records Office.