COURSE REPETITIONS

A. SUBSTANDARD ACADEMIC WORK

1. Course repetitions, as defined in this part of the administrative regulation, will be allowed for a course or courses in which substandard academic work has been recorded.

2. Substandard academic work is defined as a final grade of D, F, or NC.

3. The approval of a counselor or advisor is required to repeat a course more than once.

4. The transcript will be annotated in such a manner to indicate that only the most recent course grade will be used to determine the cumulative grade-point average (GPA) for the term of course repetition or any subsequent terms. The original course grade and the cumulative GPA recorded for each term prior to course repetition will remain on the transcript to reflect a complete academic history. The cumulative College of the Redwoods GPA will reflect only courses taken and/or repeated at College of the Redwoods.

B. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Repetition of a course in which the student has earned a grade of A, B, C, or CR shall be permitted only upon petition of the student and with the written permission of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will rely on the advice of the division chair/director/campus vice president of the area, in consultation with a faculty subject-matter expert.

The following are circumstances that may justify such a repetition request:

1. The course content has changed sufficiently that it is deemed appropriate for the student to upgrade his or her academic training. Determination of content change will be made by the division chair/director/campus vice president of the course area, in consultation with a faculty subject-matter expert. In this case both the original grade and the repeated course grade will be used to determine the cumulative GPA subsequent to the term of repetition. The transcript will be annotated in such a way to show that the original course was repeated.

2. The course content has remained the same, but sufficient time has elapsed since the course was taken such that the student is no longer current in the subject matter. In this case the original grade will continue to be used in the calculation of the cumulative GPA. The repeated course grade will be shown on the transcript but will be annotated in such a way to show that it is not used in determination of the cumulative GPA.

C. REPEATABILITY OF SPECIAL CLASSES

Special classes are instructional activities that are offered consistent with the provisions of Title 5 Section 56000 and that are designed to address the educational limitations of students with disabilities who are admitted to the institution pursuant to Education Code Section 76000, et seq., and who would be unable to substantially benefit from regular college classes even with appropriate support services or accommodations.

Title 5 Section 56029 provides that a district may authorize repetition of special classes for students with disabilities beyond the limits imposed by Sections 55761-55763 and by Section 58161, where this is necessary to accommodate a student with a disability pursuant to federal nondiscrimination law set forth in Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, 29 USC Section 794. Section 56029 does not authorize students with disabilities to exceed the normal repetition limits when they are taking regular classes. Nor does it provide a blanket authorization for unlimited repetition of all special classes.

Within this regulation the following circumstances may be reasons for repetition of special classes:

1. When repetition of a specific special class is required for the student to meet the performance criteria of that class.

2. When repetition of a special class is essential for supporting a student's success in other courses outlined in the student's educational plan (SEP).

Repetitions will be permitted only upon petition of the student and with written approval of the Director of Disabled Students Programs and Services, following consultation with the appropriate faculty subject-matter expert.

Both the original grade and the repeated course grade will be used to determine the cumulative grade-point average subsequent to the term of repetition. The transcript will be annotated in such a way to show that the original course was repeated.

Approved: March 6, 1989
Revised: 9/10/92, 3/1/93, 12/2/96; 1/4/05