Advising

Academic Suspension Appeal Form

Petition for Re-Entry Form

Guidelines

All RRCC students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress. Recognizing the value of measuring academic progress for all students, RRCC has established the following practice and procedures for measuring academic standing. This procedure is intended to be informational and helpful, but also establishes clear standards of academic progress that must be met and maintained in order to be a successful student at RRCC. A student’s academic standing at one Colorado Community College System (CCCS) college will impact academic standing at another CCCS college.

Process

For students who have attempted fewer than 9 credit hours, RRCC will monitor satisfactory progress through an Academic Alert process. These students are not subject to Academic Standing. Academic Standing applies to all students who have attempted 9 or more credits at a CCCS college, regardless of the number of term credits they attempt from that point forward. Academic Standing is applied consistently and uniformly within each CCCS institution. RRCC will determine Academic Standing following the posting of the majority of term grades for each semester. Students placed on probation or suspended will be notified of their status. Suspended students will not be allowed to attend any CCCS college in the subsequent semester/s unless an appeal is approved. Academic Standing status will be noted on the advising, official, and unofficial transcripts. The Academic Standing of a student is not specific or limited to RRCC as it will impact a student’s enrollment at other CCCS colleges.

Definitions

• Only college level classes will be used to calculate term and cumulative GPAs (grade point averages).

• This includes summer term courses.

 • Only courses taken "in residence" will be used for this procedure; "In residence" means courses taken at RRCC. Courses taken elsewhere and transferred in do not apply. The GPA calculations for this procedure may not match those used for financial aid purposes.

Standards

Initial Standing: Student has attempted fewer than 9 cumulative credit hours with a cumulative GPA that is greater than or equal to 2.00 for all classes attempted.

Academic Alert: Student has attempted fewer than 9 cumulative credits with a cumulative GPA less than 2.00 for all classes attempted.

Good Standing: Student has attempted at least 9 cumulative credit hours and has a cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.00 for all classes attempted.

Probation: Student has attempted at least 9 cumulative credit hours and has a cumulative GPA less than 2.00 for all classes attempted. Returning to Good Standing: By the conclusion of the Academic Probation term, the student must raise his or her cumulative GPA to at least 2.0. If this condition is met, the student returns to Good Standing.

Probation (continuing): If a student on Academic Probation earns a term GPA of at least 2.00 for all classes attempted during the term, but fails to raise his or her cumulative GPA to at least 2.0 for all classes attempted, the student will be allowed to attend the next term, but will remain on Academic Probation.

Suspension: If a student on Academic Probation earns a term GPA of less than 2.0 for all classes attempted, the student will be suspended and will not be allowed to enroll at any CCCS college for the next term, excluding summer term (as summer term may not be used as a "suspension term").

Suspension Rules

• Summer term may not be used as a "suspension term".

• Summer term may be used to remediate (improve) the GPA if approved by RRCC. If a student wishes to enroll for summer term after being suspended, the student will need to follow RRCC’s Suspension Reinstatement Procedure.

 • Initial suspension is for one term, excluding summer term.

• A second suspension is for two terms, excluding summer term.

• If a student, who has served the suspension time for initial suspension or second suspension, wishes to return, the student will be allowed to re-enroll only after meeting with a RRCC academic or program advisor. The student will be placed on Academic Probation.

• A third suspension is for two full years, or four academic terms, excluding summers.

• If a student, who has served the third suspension time of two years, wishes to return, the student must meet with a RRCC Academic or program advisor. Suspension Appeals

• A student may appeal his or her suspension by following the RRCC Academic Suspension appeal process. If a student intends to transfer to another CCCS college, the student must appeal to the transferring CCCS college.

• If the student’s suspension appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Academic Probation.

• Students put on Suspension will be dropped from all courses for any future terms. Students will not be able to register for courses until they meet the requirements outlined in the Academic Suspension appeal process. Students are ultimately responsible for their enrollment and need to check their enrollment schedule for accuracy.

Suspension Reinstatement

Students wishing to appeal their suspension need to fill out the suspension appeal form that is emailed to them and schedule an appointment with an Advisor to appeal. The Advisor will consider the student’s appeal and make a final determination. If approved, students will be eligible to register, but in a probationary status.

What services do academic advisors provide?

• Academic Advising – Assist you in identifying what courses are needed to fill academic requirements.
• Guidance – Help undeclared majors choose the next course of action.
• Information – Provide information for course sequencing and prerequisites.
• Assessment – Help you choose appropriate courses and programs based on assessment results.
• Referrals – Refer students to faculty for further program information and assistance in choosing a major.
• Semester/Degree Planning – Assist with planning a semester schedule before registration.
• Transfer Assistance– Program plan for students intending to transfer to a four-year school.
• Graduation Evaluation– Evaluate courses to make sure you meet graduation requirements for your degree.

When should I see an advisor?

You should meet with an advisor at least once a year and whenever:

• You have filled out an application and completed a placement test or submitted your ACT scores or transcripts
• You want to change or declare your major
• You want assistance selecting your classes prior to registration
• You want to know how adding/dropping or withdrawing from courses will affect your academic standing
• You are having difficulties in your classes and would like to see what resources are available to you
• You are on academic suspension or probation
• You want to discuss transfer programs
• You want to investigate career options
• You need clarification of a college policy or procedure
• You are considering changing your academic focus or direction
• You think you are close to graduating

What if I have a quick question for advising and/or don’t have time to wait?

Emailing the advising office is a a great way to get your questions answered without having to stop by the advising office.  You will receive a response within 48 business hours from the time it was received. 

Please note that students should utilize their student email account (____________@student.cccs.edu ) due to privacy laws and policies. If you are a new student and don't have a student email account yet, you can use your personal email for general questions. Click the Ask an Advisor link to the right if you’d like to email an advisor.

How do I schedule an advising appointment?

Please refer to the "Schedule an Appointment" section above for detailed information. You can also schedule an appointment in person by stopping by the advising office front desk or calling 303.914.6275.

Do I need to meet with an advisor every semester to register?

You are not required to meet with an advisor prior to registering for classes. However, meeting with an advisor can help to ensure that you achieve your educational and professional goals in a timely and cost-effective manner. Setting up an appointment with an academic advisor to create a degree plan can keep you on track and let you know what classes you need to complete and achieve your goal, whether it’s to earn a certificate, associate’s degree, or to transfer to a four-year college/university.

What courses should I take?

Degree Programs

• Associate of Arts Degree Options
• Associate of Science Degree Options
• Associate of General Studies
• Associate of Applied Science Degrees and Certificate Programs*

*Students interested in Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degrees or certificates can view the requirements on the department website or schedule an advising appointment.

Prerequisite Requirements

• Test scores must be less than five years old and transcripts must be on file prior to registration.
• Check out the list of courses that require English prerequisites. All math and many science classes require additional math prerequisites.
• One of following prerequisites will be required to register for General Education Courses:
  • English ACT of 18 or higher
  • Placement test results in Reading Skills of 96 or higher and Essay Score 5
  • Placement test results in Reading Skills of 80 or higher and Essay Score 6
  • ENG 090, CCR 092, or CCR 094 with a "S/C" or better

Where do I go for tutoring?

RRCC has different tutoring options to support learning. Visit RRCC Tutoring for more information.

Where do I go to explore career options?

RRCC offers career counseling, as well as career exploration services.

For job and internship opportunities, Career Success Center

Where do I go to find information on transferring to a four-year school?

Red Rocks Community College is proud to have transfer agreements with some of the best colleges and universities in the state of Colorado.

Your AA or AS Degree will transfer to all Colorado public 4-year colleges and universities if you complete your AA or AS degree with a C or better, and the remaining 60 credit hours will be completed at the four-year public institution of your choice. Be advised that many majors at the four-year school require specific courses, and that must be completed as part of the AA or AS degree. Also, note that some majors may exceed the typical 120 credits required to graduate. Please see an academic advisor for specific college to college course planning. Check out our online Transfer Guide for more information about transferring.

What should my parents/guardians know about the privacy of my student records?

FERPA – Family Education Rights and Privacy Act  FERPA is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of student records.

Why is this important to parents?

If a parent or guardian inquires on behalf of a Red Rocks student, the parent or guardian can expect to receive only general college policies and procedures information from campus offices. Only a student has full access to his/her records. Students can access these records in person or through the college portal The Rock.

If a student would like his/her parent or guardian to be able to access student record information they will need to fill out a FERPA release form with admissions.

How do I schedule a campus tour?

Visit our online scheduling form for more information to schedule a group or individual tour.

Clearing Prerequisites

Prerequisites are not cleared automatically (unless taken at Red Rocks Community College).

Prerequisite clearance requests should be requested two weeks prior to your registration date either in person or by emailing advising@rrcc.edu using your Student Email Account.

Requests to clear any prerequisite MUST be initiated by the student and include the following:

• Student Name
• Student ID Number (Social Security numbers are not accepted)
• Course(s) you wish to be cleared for
• Documentation (acceptable forms of documentation are transcripts, grade reports, and AP/IB test scores)
  • Note: Whether or not your transcripts are on file, you will need to provide documentation

Overriding Prerequisites

How do I meet the Prerequisite requirement?

You can meet a prerequisite using one of the following:

Send a copy of your scores (excluding the Red Rocks self-guided assessment scores) along with your Student number (S#) to student.records@rrcc.edu:

Your UNOFFICIAL transcript should be:

Upload your transcript and include your name, student number (S#), and the course(s) you wish to register for. Your request may take up to 5 business days; please plan ahead.

OR

You may meet with an Advisor at either the Lakewood or Arvada campus, or remotely, to discuss your academic plan and the prerequisites you will need. Please provide your advisor with a copy of your transcript(s).

In order to have your courses transferred to Red Rocks, you must send an official transcript to our Student Records Department and submit a Transcript Credit Evaluation Request Form
 

In certain subject areas, a prerequisite override may be an option. Please see the appropriate campus academic department if you feel this applies to you.

1. Test Scores - any of the following
   • Red Rocks Self-Guided Assessment Scores
   • Appropriate SAT/ACT scores (less than 5 years old)
   • High school transcript documenting chemistry courses, 2 semesters with grades of C or better
   • AP test scores
   • CLEP scores
   • DSST scores
2. Previous College Coursework:
   • Prior college-level credit earned from a regionally accredited university or college completed with a grade of "C-" or higher. STEM courses must have been taken in the last 10 years to be used.  Please provide us with an official transcript.
   • Mailed to :
     Student Records, Box 8
     Red Rocks Community College
     13300 W 6th Ave
     Lakewood CO 80228-1255
      
   • Emailed to: student.records@rrcc.edu
   • Fax to: 303.989.6919
   • Hand carried to: Student Records (This option is not available while staff is working remotely)
   • Submit your Prerequisite Override Request.

With Smart Track the legwork of scheduling is done! These associate degrees offer a two-year sequence of courses that are arranged and waiting for you to register. Once enrolled in a Smart Track degree, you'll have your schedule of courses in advance, so you know where you can fit in work and other commitments. Smart Track degrees make it easier to complete your degree in two years. All Smart Trace courses are offered Monday through Thursday during the day.

Meet with an RRCC advisor for questions to get started

The Smart Track PDF can be downloaded here and offers an Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree paths as well as a path for Integrated Nursing Pathway.

Integrated Nursing Pathway–Associate of Science Degree

Note: Competitive application process. Red Rocks Community College and the University of Colorado’s College of Nursing offer a unique, integrated pathway to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. The Integrated Nursing Pathway (INP) program provides outstanding preparation for professional nursing practice. Designed to increase access for community college students to a B.S.N. degree. It emphasizes the value of a diverse student  population. This program serves to achieve excellence in practice that is reflective of the cultural diversity of health care recipients.

ou plan to graduate from RRCC and would like to apply transfer credit from other institutions to your RRCC certificate or degree program, please complete the Transfer Credit Evaluation Request form and submit official transcripts to Student Records. 

How can you submit official and unofficial transcripts?

• Mail: (Please allow for longer processing times while Student Records is working remotely)
  Student Records, Box 8
  Red Rocks Community College
  13300 W 6th Ave
  Lakewood CO 80228-1255 
• Emailed to: student.records@rrcc.edu
• Fax to: 303.989.6919 – Unofficial transcripts only (Please allow for longer processing times while Student Records is working remotely)
• Hand carried to: Student Records (THIS OPTION IS NOT AVAILABLE WHILE CAMPUS IS CLOSED AND STAFF ARE WORKING REMOTELY)

Note: Consult the “Credit for Prior Learning Handbook” for information on alternate forms of learning that might be eligible for college credit.

For full details on our evaluation policy and what RRCC can and cannot accept, please see our Transfer Credit Policy Page.

If you change your degree program after your initial evaluation, please submit a Re-Evaluation of Credit Form.   We will then conduct another evaluation. Note: We cannot remove credits that have already been posted. We will only transfer in credits that are applicable to the degree/certificate program you are pursuing.

Once the transfer evaluation is complete, you can review the results by accessing your unofficial transcript online.

• Log into The Rock
• Click on the Student tab
• Click on Unofficial Transcript in the My Student Information section