Academic Load
The typical academic load ranges from 14 to 18 semester credit hours. Students carrying 12 hours or more are considered full-time students. Students enrolling in more than 20 hours of credit in the fall or spring semesters must receive approval from the Vice President of Academic Affairs before enrollment. Students enrolled in more than seven credit hours in a four-week summer or late fall session or 15 credit hours in the summer session must obtain permission from the Vice President of Academic Affairs before enrollment. Enrollment includes hours taken on and off-campus and online.
Performance-Based Scholarship Policy
CCC students receiving a performance-based (i.e., athletic, co-curricular, band, and vocal) scholarship will be required to take a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester they are receiving the scholarship. Also, these students shall have 40 percent of their degree completed by the end of their first year (excluding zero-level courses). These students must attend at least one Financial Aid Workshop each semester unless they can provide evidence that their FAFSA and all necessary paperwork has been completed. Failure to meet these expectations may result in academic probation or revocation of the scholarship in extreme circumstances. This includes but is not limited to, the NJCAA Letter of Intent and Scholarship Agreement. Students transferring in credit hours and receiving a scholarship must be granted written permission by the Vice President of Academic Affairs to take less than 15 credit hours a semester, as long as they meet or are on track to meet 40 percent completion towards their degree.
All scholarship grade point average requirements and eligibility rules remain applicable.
Course Numbering
Courses numbered 001 to 099 are designed for basic skill development and do not count toward graduation requirements. Courses numbered 100 to 199 are primarily for first-year students, but sophomores and others may enroll in them for credit. Courses numbered 200-299 are primarily for sophomores, but first-year students and other students may be admitted to them for credit if they meet all qualifications.
Credit Definition
“Credit hour” is the basic unit of collegiate-level instruction as determined by the Kansas Board of Regents in a subject or course offered at a level not higher than those subjects of courses usually offered to first- and second-year students in four-year institutions of post-secondary education. One credit hour is at least one hour of classroom or direct instruction plus two hours of out-of-class student work each week for a semester (or its equivalent). Utilizing the Carnegie Unit, one hour” of instruction or class work equals 50 minutes. Credit hours do not include instruction in a subject or course taken by a student enrolled for audit or any subject of course not approved by the Kansas Board of Regents. The Kansas Board of Regents shall determine whether the subject and courses offered in the community colleges are at the level of first-year courses or sophomore courses offered in the state educational institutions and shall not approve a subject or course offered at a higher level. An equivalent amount of student work (minimum three hours per week for a semester of combined direct instruction and out-of-class student work) must be represented for a credit hour in other academic activities such as laboratories, internships, practical labs, studio work, and other academic work.
Auditing Classes
Students who audit a course attend regular class sessions but do not receive college credit. Students are subject to all of the admissions policies set forth by Colby Community College. Students may elect to audit a course only during the regular registration period, with no changes being made after that. Students who choose to audit will be subject to tuition and fees for the course. Examinations are at the student’s request and the instructor’s consent. Audited courses are marked “AU” on the college transcript.
Repeating a Course
Students may repeat courses previously taken at Colby Community College. Before spring 1990, both grades were used to compute the grade point average and were recorded on permanent records and transcripts. Effective spring 1990, only the highest grade received is counted in the grade point average, but both grades are recorded on permanent records and transcripts. The credit hours for a single course number are only counted once toward the 62 hours needed for graduation.
Life Experience Credit
Life Experience Credit is learning that has yet to be transcripted by a regularly accredited higher education institution. Colby Community College may award college credit for life experience to encourage and assist students in completing a degree. To be awarded life credit, you must meet the following requirements:
- All students seeking life credit must be enrolled at CCC and have declared a degree objective.
- Life Experience Credit will not be awarded for general education classes due to non-transferability.
- Students seeking Life Experience Credit must provide validated documentation stating the knowledge, skills, and dates of employment when the experience was gained. Failure to supply such will result in non-approval. If requested, students must be able to demonstrate proficiency to the designated party/parties.
- The Vice President of Academic Affairs, with the responsible program director, will review and approve or disapprove the application for Life Experience Credit.
- Students must complete at least 15 credit hours at CCC with a cumulative 2.0 GPA before Life Experience Credit will be awarded. To qualify for any degree, students must earn at least 15 hours of credit and have a cumulative 2.0 GPA from Colby Community College.
- No student will be awarded more than 12 hours of Life Experience Credit through Colby Community College.
- All Life Experience Credit (tuition only) must be paid for before the credits will be added to their transcript.
- Any questions regarding Life Experience Credit should be directed to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Academic Renewal
The Academic Renewal policy recognizes that a student’s ability to succeed academically changes over time as life situations and maturity levels change. If approved, an academic renewal is recorded. A student eligible for consideration may apply for academic renewal by petitioning the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
- Academic renewal will be granted only once at CCC.
- Only one semester can be applied to academic renewal.
- The student must be enrolled and have completed at least 12 hours with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA at the time of petition.
- None of the credits completed in the semester for which renewal is petitioned will count toward a degree.
- All “forgiven” coursework will continue to appear on the transcript but will not be included in the student’s CCC cumulative GPA nor be counted toward a degree granted by CCC.
- All paperwork must be on file with the Registrar and Financial Aid offices before any grades can be changed.
- A petition for academic renewal will not be considered if the student has completed a degree from CCC.
- Granting academic renewal does not affect or alter a student’s record for athletic eligibility.
- This policy refers to CCC only.
Students applying for Academic Renewal are responsible for investigating the potential impact on Financial Aid, transfer admission, Veteran’s Affairs, and other agencies and organizations.
The policy does not bind other institutions receiving a CCC transcript for transfer of courses. They may calculate students’ transfer GPA to include ALL grades, even those excluded under this policy.
Credit by Examination
A student enrolled in regular semester classes or a prospective student who subsequently enrolls in 12 credit hours at Colby Community College may be permitted to earn college credits through institutional credit by examination. The student must have the necessary qualifications, and the course must be approved by faculty in the discipline and the Division Chair to qualify for credit by examination. The Vice President of Academic Affairs grants final approval.
A maximum of 24 hours of credit by examination courses will qualify for credit toward graduation from CCC. Academic credit will be awarded for credit by examination courses after the student has successfully completed 12 credit hours at CCC.
A student indicating background knowledge in a college course offered by CCC may contact the appropriate Division Chairperson to obtain information on credit by examination. The student must petition the Vice President of Academic Affairs for credit by examination. Credit by examination will not be given if the student has previously received credit for a more advanced course in the same discipline.
A non-refundable $15 examination fee will be charged for each examination. The student will be required to be enrolled in the class for which they desire credit and pay the current standard rate for tuition and fees. The test fee and tuition and fees must be paid to the Student Accounts office before the examination. Following completing 12 credit hours at CCC and completing the examination, a grade of “CR” (credit) will be recorded on the transcript for the course for which the student petitioned to receive credit by examination. The student is responsible for contacting the transfer institution to determine its policy on institutional credit by exam coursework.
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
CCC will accept credit for CLEP subject exams provided the student has successfully completed the exam(s) and has requested that credit be placed on the transcript. A list of approved CLEP subject exams is available in the Registrar’s office.
The student has the right to ask that the results of the CLEP exam not be included on the transcript, and the exam will not be used to satisfy graduation requirements. Credits received for CLEP exams may not be used for financial assistance eligibility.
If the student does choose to include a CLEP Exam, the transcript will indicate the exam used to earn the credit. Credit hours will be placed on the transcript with a “P” for a passing grade and counted toward graduation requirements.
CCC does not guarantee the transferability of any credits received via the CLEP examination.
A student will receive credit comparable to the courses offered by CCC as indicated by this policy.
The student must complete 15 credit hours at CCC before any CLEP credits can be placed on the transcript. A maximum of 12 credit hours earned from CLEP exams may be included on the transcript for credit.
The College will not require additional testing to verify the results of a CLEP exam.
CCC is not a test site. The student will pay all costs related to administering CLEP exams.
The Kansas Board of Regents has approved the following CLEP exams:
| CLEP Subject Examination |
Minimum Score for Transfer Credit |
Credit Hours Awarded |
| American Government |
50 |
3 |
| American Literature |
50 |
3 |
| Biology |
50 |
5 |
| Calculus |
50 |
5 |
| Chemistry |
50 |
5 |
| College Algebra |
50 |
3 |
| College Composition |
50 |
3 |
| Financial Accounting |
50 |
3 |
| Information Systems |
50 |
3 |
| History of United States I |
50 |
3 |
| History of United States II |
50 |
3 |
| Human & Growth Development |
50 |
3 |
| Introductory Business Law |
50 |
3 |
| Introductory Psychology |
50 |
3 |
| Introductory Sociology |
50 |
3 |
| Principles of Macroeconomics |
50 |
3 |
| Principles of Management |
50 |
3 |
| Principles of Marketing |
50 |
3 |
| Principles of Microeconomics |
50 |
3 |
| Spanish Language I |
50 |
5 |
| Western Civilization I |
50 |
3 |
| Western Civilization II |
50 |
3 |
Military Service Credit
CCC awards credit for military training and experience. Evaluation is based on recommendations in “A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services,” published by the American Council on Education, as these recommendations apply to students’ degree programs. Credit hours will be placed on the transcript with a “P” for “Pass” and counted toward graduation requirements.
Students must provide documentation of training completion and assignment to military duties. Please ensure all prior educational transcripts: DD-295, DD-214, Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS), Coast Guard Institute Transcripts, and Sailor/Marine/American Council on Education Registry (SMART) are submitted for evaluation promptly. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all transcripts are submitted to the Registrar.
Academic credit earned for courses appearing on an official transcript from a regionally-accredited college will be evaluated according to College policies and accepted subject to the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Transfer credits based on a different unit of credit than the one utilized by CCC are subject to conversion before being transferred. Only the official transcript and course evaluations performed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs are final. Any preliminary reviews by campus personnel are unofficial, not binding, and subject to change.
- All students must be enrolled in at least six hours at CCC and have declared a degree objective.
- The Vice President of Academic Affairs will review and, if applicable, seek advice from the responsible Division Chair and full-time faculty to approve or disapprove the military credit.
- Students must complete at least 15 credit hours at CCC with a “C” before military credit will be awarded.
Placement Testing Policy
To assess reading, writing, and math skills, CCC uses multiple measures to place students in appropriate classes. Previous college credit, ACT/SAT scores, Accuplacer scores, high school GPA, and high school transcripts can all be used to determine a course sequence that helps ensure accurate and appropriate course placement. Students who are exempt from placement testing include:
- If students feel their course placement is inaccurate, they may request admission into a higher-level course by contacting the Trojan Advising Center. Students requesting entry into a higher-level course must demonstrate adequate course mastery and provide reasonable proof of their mastery to receive approval from the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
- Students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree or an Associate degree;
- Those students who have successfully completed the developmental education sequence in math, reading, and writing are exempt from the assessment requirements for those subjects;
- Those students who successfully completed (with a “C” or higher) English Composition I or its equivalent are exempt from the assessment requirement for English and reading;
- Those students who successfully completed (with a “C” or higher) a 100-level or above algebra course are exempt from the assessment requirement in mathematics;
- Those students who have taken the ACT/SAT and Accuplacer test within three years before enrollment and have scores that meet or exceed the acceptable scoring range in English, reading, and math sections (see Placement Matrix) are exempt from placement testing in those subject areas where they met or exceeded and acceptable score (see Placement Matrix).
Students who test into developmental education courses must follow the sequence of developmental courses and earn at least a “C” or higher, to move to the next course level unless retesting results indicate a higher course placement.
Students may retake the Accuplacer test for $5 per section for the following reasons:
- Students who feel placement test results do not accurately reflect their academic abilities;
- Students who feel they have improved their skills through a course refresher or the successful completion of developmental education coursework;
- Students who feel the course grade earned inaccurately reflects their academic abilities and prevents them from advancing in the course sequence.
Students planning to use accommodations for the Accuplacer placement test should follow the steps below:
- Contact Disability Services at disability@colbycc.edu or 785.460.5510.
- Submit proper documentation to Disability Services. See the Disability Services page for information regarding appropriate documentation.
- Disability Services will notify students if their documentation has been approved. Students may schedule an appointment to take an exam at 785.460.5510.
Placement Policy Guide
Multiple Measures is a placement method used at CCC. Multiple Measures refers to using a combinations of assessment methods to determine the appropriate academic placement in English and mathematics courses. This approach considers various factors including high school GPA, cumulative high school English and mathematics GPAs, standardized test scores (ACT/SAT), and placement tests like the Accuplacer. By considering multiple measures, the College aims to make more accurate placement decisions, ensuring that students are placed in courses that match their skill levels and academic needs. This approach helps to enhance retention and student success rates and to improve completion rates.
| English Courses |
High School GPA* |
High School GPA in Discipline |
Previous College Courses |
ACT Reading & Writing Score |
ACCUPLACER Reading & Writing Score |
SAT Reading & Writing Score |
| EN076 - Fundamentals of Reading and Writing |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
0-11 |
200-230 |
0-229 |
| EN079 - English Composition I Workshop |
N/A |
N/A |
Per Transfer Policy |
12-17 |
231-254 |
230-489 |
| EN176 - English Composition I |
Cumulative 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
Can use six (6) semester GPA if not yet graduated |
3.0 or higher in English courses |
Thirty (30) or more credit hours earned
Cumulative 3.5 on a 4.0 scale |
English Score AND Reading Score 18 or above |
Writing Score AND Reading Score 255 or above OR 231-254 AND WritePlacer 5-8 |
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 490 and above |
*Courses must have been completed within the past four years.
**Students withdrawing from the workshop must also withdraw from English Composition.
A student who determines course placement is inaccurate may request admission into a higher-level course by contacting the Trojan Advising Center. Students requesting admission to a higher-level course must demonstrate adequate knowledge and provide reasonable proof to receive approval from the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Advanced Placement Program
CCC accepts credit for Advanced Placement exams, providing that the student has successfully completed the exam(s) and has requested that credit be placed on the transcript. The student is responsible for requesting that all examination results be sent to the Registrar. The Registrar will contact the appropriate division and program chair to determine credit eligibility. The student has the right to ask that the results of the Advanced Placement exam not be included on the transcript, in which case the exam cannot be used to satisfy graduation requirements. Natural Science exams will not satisfy laboratory science requirements.
Credits received for Advanced Placement exams may not be used for financial assistance eligibility. If a student does choose to include an Advanced Placement exam, the transcript will indicate the exam used to earn the credit. The student may also select either a letter grade based on the equivalency sheets on file in the Registrar’s Office or a grade of “P” for “Pass.” A student will receive credit comparable to the courses offered by CCC, as indicated in a current catalog.
The student must complete 15 credit hours at CCC before any Advanced Placement credits will be placed on the transcript. A student may bring in up to 12 credit hours by taking Advanced Placement exams. The College will not require additional testing to verify the results of an Advanced Placement exam. The student pays all costs related to administering the Advanced Placement exams. CCC does not guarantee the transferability of any credits received via AP examination.
Credit for all AP exam scores of three (3) or above for the equivalent course or courses at their institution, except for the following courses:
Art History, a score of 4; Physics I, a score of 4; Physics II, a score of 4.
Transcripts
To request a transcript to be sent to other colleges, universities, or employers, students must first register at www.parchment.com. CCC transcripts are exchanged electronically where applicable. Students can sign in anytime to select the destinations to send transcripts and can track the status of requests. To receive copies of official transcripts, students pay a fee which varies by delivery method (electronic or USPS. Most transfer institutions do not accept transcripts directly from students as official.
Transfer Students
A student transferring to CCC from any accredited college or university must have official transcripts mailed to the Registrar’s Office (Colby Community College; 1255 S. Range Ave.; Colby, KS 67701). A student may be eligible for an Associate of Arts Degree, Associate of Science Degree, Associate of General Studies Degree, Associate of Applied Science Degree, or a certificate utilizing the credit hours transferred from another accredited institution. A minimum of 15 semester hours must be completed through CCC.
Student Classification
| Freshman |
First-year students who have earned fewer than 32 credit hours. |
| Sophomore |
Second-year students who have earned 32 to 64 credit hours. |
| Special |
Special students are students who have earned over 64 hours of credit. |
| Part-time |
Part-time students are enrolled in less than 12 credit hours. |
| Full-time |
Full-time students are enrolled in 12 or more credit hours. |
Grading System
| Grades |
Grade Points |
| A |
Excellent |
4-grade points per semester hour |
| B |
Above Average |
3-grade points per semester hour |
| C |
Average |
2-grade points per semester hour |
| D |
Below Average |
1-grade point per semester hour |
| F |
Unsatisfactory |
0-grade points per semester hour |
| I |
Incomplete |
The conditional grade is given only with a signed contract |
| W |
Withdrawn |
A student is withdrawn from the course |
| PS |
Pass |
Used in some instances instead of a traditional grade
Pass grades are not calculated in a student’s GPA |
| NG |
|
If no grade has been received when grades are printed, NG (no grade) is recorded. |
| TRD |
|
Transferred in D |
| TRM |
|
Transfer Requirement Met but no credit hours towards AA and AS |
| AU |
Audit |
|
Pass/Fail Courses
A student may enroll under the Pass/Fail option for any elective course offered under this option. The course cannot be a specified requirement in their program of study. Courses specified by name or number for General Education or courses required for degree completion cannot be taken as Pass/Fail. Students who request to take a course Pass/Fail must request permission from the Vice President of Academic Affairs; The proper paperwork must be filed with the Registrar before the certification day of each session. A grade of D or above will be considered a “Pass” and will not count in their GPA. However, those hours will count toward graduation requirements. A “Fail” grade will affect the student’s GPA, and the hours still count in their hours attempted at CCC.
Honor Rolls
President’s Honor Roll–A student must be enrolled in 12 or more hours, receiving letter grades only with no Fs or Incompletes and a GPA of 4.0.
Vice President’s Honor Roll–A student must be enrolled in 12 or more hours, receiving letter grades only with no Fs or Incompletes, and a GPA of 3.75-3.99.
Assessment
The CCC assessment program enhances the quality and effectiveness of the institution’s curriculum, programs, and services. Assessment activities are completed each semester and focus on analytical, quantitative, communicative, and aesthetic skills.
CCC Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy Academic Standing
The academic standard is a semester grade point average of 2.00 or higher and a cumulative Colby Community College (CCC) grade point average of 2.00 or higher. Students who have met these standards are considered to be in Good Academic Standing. Academic standing is determined by all attempted coursework at CCC. Attempted coursework is defined as any course that received a grade of A, B, C, D, or F. Courses that received a grade of W are not included in attempted coursework for the CCC Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
A student can hold a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater and earn a semester GPA below 2.0. All students with a semester GPA below 2.0 will be placed on Academic Progress Warning or Probation depending on their semester GPA.
Visiting students are exempt from this policy if they enroll in a single semester/ term (e.g., including, but not limited to, Late Fall or Smarter Summer courses. Non-degree seeking students are exempt from this policy.
The office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs communicates directly with students regarding their academic standing (including communications regarding Academic Progress Warning, Academic Suspension, Academic Probation, and academic reinstatement appeals).
Academic Progress Warning
Students with a semester GPA below 2.0 will be placed on Academic Progress Warning. Students can enroll in up to 15 credit hours during the Academic Progress Warning period. They must complete an Academic Action Plan with their advisor before registering for courses. Failure to adhere to the terms of the Academic Action Plan will result in students not being permitted to enroll in courses in the following semester/term. Students must register in classes to be eligible to live in the residence halls or be members of athletic teams.
Students on Academic Progress Warning failing to adhere to the terms of their Academic Action Plans at mid-term will be required to attend weekly meetings with their advisor for the remainder of the semester/term.
Students on Academic Progress Warning who desire to enroll in a summer term must seek written permission from their advisor before enrolling in the summer term. At a maximum, these students will be allowed to register for seven credit hours in that term.
Academic Suspension
Students on Warning who do not meet these standards by the end of the next semester will be placed on Probation or Suspension, depending on their semester GPA. Students on Probation who are not making progress toward meeting academic standards will be placed on Suspension and may not continue their studies until re-admitted after serving a term of suspension or reinstated on appeal. The purpose of suspension is to give students sufficient time to develop a new plan for academic success. Students with the standing of Suspension may not continue their studies as non-degree-seeking or degree-seeking students for a specified period of time. The terms of suspension are as follows:
| If Suspended at End of: |
May Not Attend: |
May Apply for Re-admission for: |
| Fall |
Late Fall, Spring, Summer |
Fall |
| Spring |
Summer, Fall, Late Fall |
Spring |
| Summer |
Fall and Late Fall |
Spring |
If a student is pre-enrolled in a term they are not allowed to attend, they will be dropped from their courses. A student is responsible for returning rental books and requesting refunds for purchased books.
Appeal Process
Students may appeal only a standing of Suspension. Appeals must be submitted at least ten days before the term start date to be considered for reinstatement in the same term.
Suspension appeals are limited to those based on unforeseen circumstances that occurred during the Probationary period that prevented the student from earning a semester grade point average of 2.0 or higher. Unforeseen circumstances include but are not limited to serious injury or illness of the student or a family member, death of a family member, or similarly disrupting experiences.
Students make an appeal by submitting an appeal packet consisting of a signed Academic Action Plan, a personal statement, and documentation of the unforeseen circumstances. All responses must be typed; handwritten responses will not be accepted. Appeal packets are received at the Registrar’s Office and are reviewed by the exceptions Committee. Students granted approval of their appeal will be placed on Academic Probation (see guidelines below).
Students who choose not to appeal, or are not granted their appeal, will not be permitted to enroll for the following semester/term. Upon their return to classes, these students will also be placed on Academic Probation. Students not enrolled in classes are not eligible to live in the residence halls or be members of athletic teams.
Academic Probation
Students who are granted reinstatement will be allowed to enroll in up to 15 credit hours under Probationary Status, and will be required to complete an Academic Action Plan with their advisor, before enrolling in classes. Failure to adhere to the terms of the Academic Action Plan will result in students being placed back on Suspension Status.
All academically-related Satisfactory Academic Progress questions should be directed to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Academic Calendar
For the most current Academic Calendar, refer to the CCC website.
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