Committee on Course & Standing

QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The City University of New York

ACADEMIC SENATE

COMMITTEE ON COURSE & STANDING

TO:               Dr. Steven Dahlke, Chair, Academic Senate Steering Committee

                     Dr. Janette Urciuoli, Vice-Chair, Academic Steering Committee

                     Dr. Zivah Perel-Katz, Secretary, Academic Steering Committee

                     Dr. Leslie Francis, Parliamentarian, Academic Steering Committee

FROM:         Dr. Daniel Armstrong, Chair - Committee on Course & Standing.

SUBJECT:   Annual Report for Committee on Course & Standing for 2018-2019

• Dr. Daniel Armstrong                          Health Phys. Ed. & Dance

• Prof. Susan Riekert                           Nursing
• Dr. Rose-Marie Aikas                        Social Science             
• Gina Capozzoli                                    Counseling
• Prof Katwicia Desruisseaux                College Discovery
• Dr. Susan Mclaughlin                         Biology Department
• Dr. Fei Ye                                            Mathematic & Computer Science
• Dr. Paul Marchese                              Physics
• Dr. Kathleen Wentrack,                      Art & Design

During the year 2018-2019 the committee met on: September 21^st, 2018, October 12^th, 2018, November 16^th, 2018, January 11^th 2019, March 1^st, 2019, April 12, 2019, May 17^th, 2019, June 12^th, 2019

The Committee typically meets once a month, however, the intervals between meetings are varied to accommodate the needs of the college. Meetings are scheduled so that students are given enough time to submit their appeals after the withdrawal deadline and after the dismissal letters are mailed.  During the Fall and Spring semesters, the meetings are typically scheduled on Fridays at 10 am. During the summer, meeting dates are chosen to accommodate the needs of the college. 

The Committee on Course & Standing meets to review student appeals for changing their ‘WU’ grades which are calculated as ‘F’ grades in their academic record. The appeals are approved or denied based upon the reasons provided by students who are unable to withdraw within the official withdrawal deadline. The Committee reaches a decision on a case to case basis by taking a holistic view of the student’s record, reviews student patterns of withdrawing from classes, their transcripts and, perhaps most importantly, supporting documents to reach a decision to grant or deny their appeal.

The Committee also reviews academic dismissal appeals. Most students who perform better during the semester after they were placed on academic probation are permitted to continue on probation.  Students who have been at QCC for few semesters and have been dismissed are given a chance to improve their performance as against students who have attempted numerous credits and have not reached the required GPA for retention. Most decisions are made on the committee’s judgement of the students’ ability to graduate. Committee member Gina Capozzoli was also a member of the Retention Management Committee of the College, and therefore has added insights into how to evaluate future student success.

The Committee on Course & Standing and the Admissions Committee work closely with each other. Most students who are re-admitting or appealing their dismissal to the Admissions Committee invariably require appealing their ‘WU’ grades and are thus recommended to the Committee on Course & Standing.  This academic year both the Committees worked together along with the registratr and academic affairs to contribute towards developing a fresh start policy. 

There was one policy decision reached during the academic year 2018-2019 

Considering students that have been separated from the college for some time, it was a great concern of the Registrar, Ms. Pat Canale that those students who did not realize their full academic potential during their first attempt at the college experience are to be given a second chance to meet their educational goals without penalty. Through the “Academic Fresh Start”, failed courses will not be calculated in the new GPA computation and will not apply toward the fulfillment of any college requirements. While all courses will remain part of the student’s academic record and will appear on their college transcript, failed courses will be marked as ‘excluded’ and only passed courses will be calculated in the new Academic Fresh Start GPA computation. The proposal was drafted with input from the committee and passed through the academic senate

For the year 2018-2019, all the old members continued on the Committee on Course & Standing. The new Chair for 2018-2019 will be Dr. Fei Ye. Prof. Neera Mohess will serve as the secretary for the committee.

The Chair extends a special thank you to the Registrar’s office for their service to the Committee on Course and Standing. Pat Canale and Florence Farrat continue to be a tremendous source of support and help to the committee.  

The Chair, with approval from the Committee, continues to review appeals independently or in a small group with other committee members, during the semester as well as in the summer between Committee meetings.

Reviewing appeals independently puts a substantial demand on time, especially because of deadlines. The input of the faculty Secretary of the committee is exceedingly helpful. The Chair of CCS receives a 3hr release time for serving in the committee.

New Chair and Secretary for the upcoming year, 2018-2019:

Dr. Fei Ye, Health, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Prof. Neera Mohess, Library Department, respectively.

New Members:

The committee would like to welcome new members, Dr. Wendy Ford, Business,  Prof. Neera Mohess, Library,  and Mr. Arthur Abramov, Academy Advisement. Dr. Armstrong will be leaving the committee after five years of service and one year of chairing the committee.

Final Notes:

Finally, Dr. Armstrong would like to personally thank all the members of the committee for their hard work and dedication during the previous year. The Committee on Course and Standing is one that is truly run on the principles of cooperation and communication between members from all different departments of the college. The committee would not be able to do the important work it does for the college and for its students were it not for the committee members’ respect and admiration for one another. Dr. Armstrong would also like to commend Lisandra Rodriguez for her excellent work on the behalf of the committee and the college’s students. This was Lisandra’s first year working with the committee and her contribution is greatly appreciated. Florence Farrat announced her retirement this year so this was her last full year working on the committee and she will be greatly missed. Her diligent work on behalf of the committee must be acknowledged the committee could not have done its work without her. Dr. Ye is the new chair of the committee, and his experience and dedication to the committee will serve the college well. The committee remains in excellent hands.     

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