Academic Requirements and Policies
Academic Credits
Each course is assigned a number of credits based on the time obligated for formal enrollment in that course. The allocation of credits is normally according to the following formula:
One credit represents a) one hour of classroom
work per week; or b) two or three hours of laboratory per week; or c) three
to five hours of clinical experience per week for a semester.
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In certain instances a student who has been accepted into a degree program may present evidence that would suggest that he or she may be eligible to receive credit for a course or courses either through aggregate educational experience or through some combination of occupational experiences. In such cases, an application for a credit-by-examination must be made within the first two weeks of a semester and be approved by the student's Department Head.
The head of the department offering the course will assign a faculty member who will discuss the subject area to be tested with the student and administer the test. A fee is required from the student for each examination administered under this policy. The fee is $25 per credit hour. The credit-by-examination will be comprehensive in nature.
Grades for credit-by-examination will be either "pass" (E grade) or "no pass," with full course credit granted for a grade of "E" (pass). A student receiving a grade of "no pass" in an examination representing a required course will be required to satisfactorily complete that course. Prior to 2005, students who passed a credit-by-examination were issued a "P" grade.
A student who has previously received a failing grade in a course (or less than "C" for transfer) may not request credit-by-examination in that course. See Program Residency Requirement.
Financial Aid does not cover courses for which a student earns credit through Credit by Examination.
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Credit for Experiential Learning
Credit
for experiential learning is available only through the Associate in Science
in General Studies program. If a matriculated student in this program receives
credit for experiential learning and later transfers to another NHTI degree
or certificate program, that student must complete the required courses in
the new program or take the appropriate credit-by-examinations. Exceptions
to this policy may be made through consultation with the specific department
head involved and the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Financial Aid does not cover courses for which a student earns credit through Experiential Learning.
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Students wishing to broaden their individual learning experiences may participate in academic research by utilizing the independent study option offered. This format allows students to study a topic in greater depth or to study a topic not currently offered at NHTI. Please refer to the Independent Study policy. Financial Aid does not cover credits earned via Academic Research or Independent Study.
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A Dean's List is published at the end of each semester. It includes the names of all full-time students whose Grade Point Average (GPA) for that semester is 3.3 or higher. Students who achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher graduate with high honors, and those who achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.3 to 3.69 graduate with honors. Cumulative GPA is calculated using all courses completed at NHTI.
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Honors courses offer academically strong, highly motivated students the opportunity to learn in smaller classes with a stimulating and creative environment that promotes active engagement with subject matter, and allows for a rigorous and individualized approach to learning. Each course which offers an honors section is identified in the Course Description section in the catalog. Student qualification for honors courses is based on a variety of criteria which may include prerequisite grades, NHTI assessment test scores, and/or scores on nationally recognized standardized tests.
Students who successfully complete honors courses receive an honors designation on their transcript. This designation may strengthen transfer to other colleges or candidacy for competitive programs at NHTI, such as Nursing, Dental and Radiologic Technology programs.
NHTI Honors Course Offerings (Download and Print or Request to be Mailed)
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Phi Theta Kappa - International Honor Society
Phi Theta Kappa is the largest International Honor Society in American higher education with more than 2 million members and over 1,200 chapters internationally. The Alpha Upsilon Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa has been established to provide opportunities for scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship for Phi Theta Kappa students at NHTI, while providing an intellectual climate for continued academic excellence.
Academic excellence is the primary hallmark of Phi Theta Kappa. To be eligible for membership consideration, a student must complete a minimum of twelve credit hours of associate degree course work and earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher at the college. Eligible students are invited to join the Phi Theta Kappa honor society each semester, and inductions ceremonies are held each Fall and Spring semester. Once inducted, students must maintain a high academic standing of 3.3 cumulative grade point average throughout their enrollment in the college, which allows them to retain lifetime membership in Phi Theta Kappa.
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Vice President’s Award for Academic Excellence
The Vice President's Award for Academic Excellence is presented each year at the May Commencement to the student(s) achieving the highest overall cumulative Grade Point Average in the graduating class. The following criteria apply for this award:
- A minimum of 48 credit hours must be used in the calculation of the cumulative GPA;
- All students are eligible for the award, including those who have exercised Academic Amnesty, those who have changed programs, and those who have previously graduated from an NHTI program;
- For purposes of this award, students who have previously graduated from an NHTI program will have their GPA calculated using courses taken in the new program and any prior courses that may be applicable in the new program;
- Students who have exercised the Academic Amnesty option will have their GPA based only on courses taken after the option has been exercised. No previous courses will be used;
- Students who have changed majors will have their GPA calculated on the basis of all courses taken at NHTI and not just those in the new program.
Any student whose academic progress is deemed less than acceptable by his or her department may be referred to the Academic Standards Committee. The Committee includes: the Vice President of Academic Affairs, who chairs the Committee; an elected representative of each of the academic divisions; the Vice President of Student Affairs; the Director of Enrollment and Retention; and the Department Head of the department in which the student is enrolled. The Director of Counseling, the Registrar, and the Director of the Learning Center serve in advisory capacities. The Committee considers all pertinent aspects of each individual case and recommends action to be taken by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. That action may involve, but is not limited to, a warning, academic probation, suspension from a specific program or from the Institute as a whole for a specified period of time, conditional probation or dismissal. Dismissal is permanent.
All credit courses, regardless of the grade received, are used for this calculation. Students entering with advanced standing should add their transfer credits to those credits earned at the Institute to determine their positions in the guidelines.
In addition, any matriculated student registered for two or more courses during any semester will be subject to review by the Academic Standards Committee.
Academic progress may affect financial aid. Check with the Financial Aid Office for more information.
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At mid-semester, Academic Warnings are formally issued by faculty to students with grades of “C-” or below, “NP” or “PP.” Warnings are submitted by faculty to the Registrar’s Office from which formal mid-semester warning letters are mailed to students.
Warnings may also be issued at any time during a semester when deemed appropriate by faculty.
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Academic Probation usually will last for one semester only. The student’s Department Head will recommend to the Committee if a student can take courses in their major field during the Academic Probation. Students placed on Academic Probation may be eligible to continue receiving financial aid if they meet the minimum GPA requirements. To ensure that adequate academic progress toward a degree is being made, the College also uses the following guidelines in determining which students are automatically brought to the attention of the Academic Standards Committee:
| Total Credits Accumulated (GPA Hours) | Minimum Acceptable
Grade Point Average |
|---|---|
| 0—13 | 1.5 |
| 14—27 | 1.7 |
| 28—40 | 1.8 |
| 41 or more | 2.0 |
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Suspension may be for any period of time established by the Academic Standards Committee, but must be for a minimum of one semester excluding the summer semester (unless the summer semester is required by the student’s program). A matriculated student suspended from a program may not take major field courses during the suspension in either the Day Division or the Division of Continuing Education. Non-major field courses, however, may be taken in either division at NHTI. In lieu of a department head or other faculty advisor, students under program suspension may seek course selection and academic planning help from the Academic Advising Office, Room S-148, Sweeney Hall. A matriculated student suspended from NHTI may not take any courses in either the Day Division or the Division of Continuing Education during the period of suspension. Students who have been suspended from the College or a program for academic reasons who wish to return must, prior to the completion of the suspension, apply for readmission by submitting a new application, with an explanatory letter, to the NHTI Admissions Office.
Guidelines for Suspension
Other Suspension Guidelines
Total Credits
Accumulated
(GPA Hours)Minimum Acceptable
Grade Point Average0-13 .50 14-27 1.10 28-40 1.25 41 or more 1.50
- NP or F in clinic
- Academic Probation status for 3rd consecutive semester
- Violations of the Student Code of Conduct
- Failure to meet published technical standards
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Conditional Probation Partnership
The Conditional Probation Partnership assists students whose cumulative GPA after the first semester is between .80-1.40. The Conditional Probation Partnership involves a contractual arrangement with the student incorporating mentoring/counseling elements. At the end of the first semester, a Department Head designates students for this program when making the usual recommendations to the Academic Standards Committee. Students are recommended on the basis of the Department’s judgment that they could reasonably be expected to achieve academic success with guided assistance and realistic academic goals. An agreement is then forwarded to the student along with a letter from the Vice President of Academic Affairs explaining that in lieu of suspension the student is being given an opportunity to continue, if he/she agrees to the conditions of the agreement.
The student is then asked to sign the agreement and return it to the Academic Affairs office by a predetermined date. If the student chooses not to sign the agreement, status will be determined by the guidelines for suspension or probation.
One requirement of the Conditional Probation is to attend an orientation session
during the week before classes begin. Adjustments to the agreement may
be discussed at this time and any changes in registration could also be processed.
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Appeal of Suspension or Dismissal
A
student who wishes to appeal an academic suspension or dismissal may do so
by writing a letter of appeal to the Academic Standards Committee and forwarding
it to the Office of Academic Affairs. Each suspended or dismissed student
receives a letter at the end of the semester specifying the deadline for
filing the written appeal. The student should then plan on appearing personally
before the Academic Standards Committee to present his/her appeal. All appeal
hearings are scheduled on one day only, determined by the Vice President
of Academic Affairs. Students whose letters arrive by the deadline are contacted
by the Office of Academic Affairs to schedule their appearance before the
Committee on the scheduled day.
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Students may add or drop courses or change sections by consulting their academic advisor and then notifying the Registrar's Office prior to the published date for "Last Day to Withdraw with Full Refund" (see Academic Calendar and NHTI Refund Policy). After that date, students may add a course or change a section only with the approval of the instructor and department head and only with the notification of the Registrar's Office via completion and submission of the appropriate form (ADD form or SECTION CHANGE form).
Students should always consult with an academic advisor prior to withdrawing from a course to avoid adverse consequences such as loss of financial aid eligibility, loss of athletic eligibility, loss of residence life eligibility, or inability to meet program completion expectations.
Therefore, students wishing to drop a course after the "Last Day to Withdraw with Full Refund" should be aware that the Registrar's Office is the official authority within the college designated to accept withdrawal notification. Students are urged to consult with their academic advisor and to submit a signed Withdrawal/Drop form to the Registrar's Office to show their intent to withdraw. Students may also withdraw from the college by phone, fax or mail to the Registrar's Office. Officially dropping a course prior to the completion of the 60% of the scheduled duration of the course will result in a grade of "W" being entered on the transcript with no effect on cumulative GPA. Officially withdrawing after the 60% completion date requires the instructor to issue a grade of "WP" or "WF" on the DROP form. A grade of "WP" will not affect the cumulative GPA; however, a grade of "WF" will be calculated into the cumulative GPA (see Grading System).
Registering for a course obligates a student to pay for that course unless the appropriate notification has been provided as described above. If a student ceases attendance without providing official notification, the default withdrawal date will be the midpoint of the semester. All students who stop attending class after the add/drop period shall receive an AF from the instructor at the end of the semester, which will affect the cumulative GPA and financial aid.
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Any matriculated student who has paid the student activity fee and has registered for at least twelve hours of course work in the current semester will be eligible to participate in intercollegiate* athletics, provided other College/Conference eligibility guidelines are met.
A student will lose his/her eligibility to participate in any category described above if:
- The student does not register for and maintain a minimum of 12 hours of course work in the current semester; or
- The student does not pay the required student activity fee; or
- More than one course is failed at the end of the preceding semester; or
- The student does not maintain the minimum standards of academic progress as noted below:
| Total Earned Hours | Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average |
|---|---|
| 0—13 | 1.5 |
| 14—27 | 1.7 |
| 28—40 | 1.8 |
| 41 or more | 2.0 |
* In the event that a student seeks eligibility to participate on
an intercollegiate athletic team, conference rules, if more stringent, will
take precedence over College regulations.
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Attendance (individual course participation expectations)
Registration for any course offered in any format presupposes that the student will participate in all scheduled activities. In addition to academic issues relative to attendance, veterans and students receiving financial aid from some sources are expected to be in regular attendance as a condition of receiving such aid.
While occasional circumstances, over which the student has no control, may necessitate absence, the content presented in the activities missed by the student is a segment of a broad base of information being taught. For any course offered in any format there is a limit to the amount of time and content a student can miss without compromising the integrity of the learning experience and the credit award. If illness, accident, emergency, or an NHTI-sponsored activity prevents a student from meeting attendance obligations, it is the responsibility of the student to inform faculty in a timely manner to discuss either the requirements for continued enrollment in the course or the options for withdrawal from the course.
Instructors may include an assessment of attendance behaviors (absence and tardiness) into their overall grading structure for the course. Such assessment strategies will be published in the course syllabus distributed at the start of the course. A faculty member may issue a grade of AF at any point in the semester at which he/she feels a student's absence record precludes the reasonable possibility of meeting course objectives based on published attendance expectations. (See also Withdrawal Policy and Add/Drop/Change Procedure)
Any student who has been suspended or dropped from a course for failure to meet published course attendance requirements may appeal following the procedures outlined in the Grade Appeal/Grade Change Policy.
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Under the Audit policy students may enroll in courses which provide an opportunity to learn more about the challenges of college work, explore a discipline of interest, refresh prior learning, or supplement existing knowledge. Typically, a student attends lectures, seminars, and/or labs but does not complete graded assignments. When enrolled as an audit, the student will not be given a final grade nor will credit towards graduation be given for the course (the academic transcript will reflect an AU for the course).
Not all courses can be taken for audit, and entry into a course as an auditing student is by permission of the instructor. A student must complete a registration as an audit during the first week of classes. Once admitted as an audit the student may not change to credit status after the designated add period; likewise, a student registered for credit may not change to audit status after the designated add period.
Exceptions to the above may be made by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Students must pay the full tuition for the course. Financial Aid does not cover costs for an audited course.
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Currently enrolled matriculated students may request a change in their major program of study by using the “Change of Program Form” available in the Registrar’s Office and the Admissions Office. Signatures must be received from the current major and new major Department Heads. Signatures do not guarantee or imply acceptance into the new program.
The request must be made within the ADD period at the beginning of a semester for the same semester.
Requests for the subsequent semester made after the ADD period will not take effect until after final grades for the semester have been reviewed. The student will be informed of the decision in writing by the Admissions Office. Students will follow the curriculum in effect for the semester to which they are accepted.
When calculating the grade point average (GPA) for
a student who has changed programs, all courses taken at NHTI as well as
courses taken in the new program will be used to calculate the new cumulative
GPA. For purposes of academic review the Academic Standards Committee will
consider the student’s semester-by-semester performance in the new program
rather than the overall GPA.
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Clinical/Practicum/Internship Evaluations
Evaluations are conducted on all students who enroll in any course designated as a clinical, practicum or internship experience. It is the student’s responsibility to understand the goals, objectives and evaluation criteria of each clinic/practicum/internship and to adhere to all policies, rules and procedures outlined by the student’s department and/or clinic/practicum/internship site. Students enrolled in these educational experiences are evaluated not only on their technical skills and knowledge, but also on their behavior, attitude and attendance as well as adherence to policies, rules and procedures set forth by NHTI, the academic department and the participating agency to which the student is assigned.
A student will be removed from a clinic, practicum
or internship site if performance or behavior is deemed unsatisfactory or
unsafe as a result of an evaluation conducted by a faculty member/agency
supervisor in accordance with department criteria and procedures.
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A
student may be eligible to substitute a higher-level course for the course
prescribed in the curriculum if indicated by an evaluation of the student’s
competencies. The substitution can be made only with the joint approval
of the student’s Department Head and the Department Head of the area offering
the course. The approval form is available in the Registrar’s Office. In
addition, a student may substitute a comparable course from another program
to meet degree requirements with the common agreement of the Department Heads
and the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
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A course may be waived by the Director of Admissions in consultation with the Department Head of the course only if a higher level course has been completed at another accredited college or university with a grade of 'C' or higher. Waivers apply only to transfer of credits from accredited colleges or universities and not prerequisites for a given program.
Students should be advised that a waiver is for
the course only and that credit will not be awarded for the waived course.
All students must complete a minimum of 64 credits to be awarded an Associate
in Science or Associate in Arts degree. Students falling below 64 credits
as a result of a waiver must make up the credits. Any make-up credits must
have the approval of the student’s Department Head.
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Under certain circumstances, a matriculated student with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher may take a course via Directed Study in a semester when the course is not offered either during the day or through the Division of Continuing Education. A Directed Study allows a matriculated student to pursue the published learning objectives/outcomes for a course independently under the guidance of a qualified faculty member. However, the student must explain why the course was not taken in a previous semester and demonstrate compelling reasons why the course could not be taken in a subsequent semester (e.g., adversely affects student’s anticipated graduation date in that semester). Barring exceptional circumstances, a Directed Study will not be granted for a course currently being offered in the day or DCE division. Non-matriculated students are not eligible for a Directed Study.
A Department Head who requests that a student take a course via Directed Study must present a proposal to the Vice President of Academic Affairs detailing the rationale for the request, the specific learning activities that will be required of the student, and the specific assessment and evaluation tools that will be used to evaluate the student’s learning. In addition, the proposal should identify the faculty member who will supervise the Directed Study. The Directed Study Proposal Form is available from the Academic Affairs Office and the Registrar’s Office.
A student may not take a Directed Study for a course which he/she has taken at NHTI and failed or for a course taken at another institution and received a grade that will not transfer to NHTI.
The Vice President of Academic Affairs must give final approval to all proposals for Directed Study.
Grading of Directed Study projects will follow the standard NHTI policies and procedures.
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Matriculation
A matriculated student is one who has formally been accepted to and is actively enrolled in a program. To be formally accepted to a program, students must provide all the documentation required for admission to a specific program (degree, diploma, professional certificate or certificate) and be officially notified by the Admissions Office of acceptance to that program. Only matriculated students are eligible to graduate from a program and to receive an official completion credential from the College.
Students wishing to apply for financial aid must be matriculated. In addition, matriculation may be required for enrollment in discipline-specific courses. (See Individual Course Enrollment)
Students who are enrolled in courses but who have not been formally accepted into an academic program are referred to as non-matriculated students.
Full-time and Part-time
(Also see What is Student Financial Aid)- Student enrollment at NHTI is defined according to the number of credits for which a student is enrolled in a particular semester as follows. For general purposes, this is defined as follows:
- Full-time = 12 or more credits per semester
- Part-time = fewer than 12 credits per semester
- For financial aid purposes, NHTI defines student enrollment more specifically as follows:
- Full time = 12 or more credits per semester
- ¾ time = 9-11 credits per semester
- Part-time = 6-8 credits per semester
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New Hampshire Technical Institute has implemented a letter grade system in which each grade reflects a level of achievement measured against specific course objectives.
Grade | Point Equivalent | |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 pts | An honor grade representing achievement of a level of understanding and ability which is excellent and distinctive. |
| A- | 3.7 pts | |
| B+ | 3.3 pts | Represents achievement of a level of understanding and ability of consistently high quality. |
| B | 3.0 pts | |
| B- | 2.7 pts | |
| C+ | 2.3 pts | Represents achievement of a level of understanding and ability consistent with those levels required for successful entry into the student’s chosen career field. |
| C | 2.0 pts | |
| C- | 1.7 pts | |
| D+ | 1.3 pts | Represents some evidence of achievement, but substantially below the level required for successful entry into the student’s chosen career field. |
| D | 1.0 pts | |
| D- | 0.7 pts | |
| F | 0.0 pts | Represents negligible academic achievement. A student who receives an “F” grade in a course which is a prerequisite to other courses must repeat the failed course with a passing grade before being eligible to continue with the course sequence. |
| P | Pass (not calculated into GPA) | |
| E | Pass grade issued for Credit-By-Examinations (not calculated into GPA) | |
| PP | Provisional Pass; warning (not calculated into GPA) | |
| NP | No Pass; unsatisfactory (not calculated into GPA) | |
| I | Incomplete grade. Indicates that a student has not completed a major course assignment due to extraordinary circumstances. It is not used to give an extension of time for a student delinquent in meeting course responsibilities. The "I" grade is not calculated into the GPA. However, all work must be completed by the end of the third week of the subsequent semester or the grade defaults to an F. See Incomplete Grades policy. | |
| AF | Instructor or administrator initiated withdrawal at any time for reasons other than poor grade performance-e.g., failure to meet attendance requirements, as published in the instructor's syllabus, violation of the Student Code of Conduct, disruptive behavior, etc. The grade may also be issued if a student registered in a clinic, practicum, internship or lab is deemed unsafe or performing in an unsatisfactory manner as determined by an evaluation by a faculty member/agency supervisor in accordance with department criteria and procedure. Calculated in GPA as an "F." | |
| W | Student initiated withdrawal from a course at any time prior to completion of the drop deadline (60% of the course). Does not affect GPA. Can be initiated by the instructor if the student, because of extenuating circumstances, is unable to initiate the process (e.g., catastrophic illness or injury, job transfer to another state). | |
| WP | Student initiated withdrawal from a course after the drop deadline (60%) of the course; student has a passing grade at time of drop, as determined by the instructor. Does not affect GPA. Can be initiated by the instructor if the student, because of extenuating circumstances, is unable to initiate the process (e.g., catastrophic illness or injury, job transfer to another state) | |
| WF | Student initiated withdrawal from a course after the drop deadline (60%) of the course; student has a failing grade at time of drop, as determined by the instructor. Calculates in GPA as an "F." | |
| AU | A course taken as an audit does not earn credit and cannot be used to meet graduation requirements. Admission by permission of the instructor. Not all courses can be taken for audit. See Audit policy. | |
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Grade Appeal/Grade Change
Any appeal of a grade must be initiated by the student with the instructor before an ensuing semester has elapsed. Students should be advised that in most instances a grade may be changed only by the instructor. Only in a case of obvious computational error or blatant abuse of the grading prerogative, can the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), the only other individual on campus empowered to change a grade, alter a student’s grade.
Students who believe they have a valid ground for a grade appeal will use the following process to resolve the issue:
- Meet with the instructor. The student shall contact the faculty member and schedule a meeting to discuss the grade appeal and attempt to resolve the conflict. The faculty member and student shall meet within the next five (5) work days.
- Meet with the Program Director/Department Head. If the issue was not resolved in Step 1, the student has three work days from the date of the faculty member’s decision to file a written appeal with the faculty member’s Program or Department Head, or with the VPAA if the faculty member is also the Department Head or Program Director. Within three work days the Department Head (or VPAA) will mediate the dispute either through discussion with the instructor, or with the student in the company of the faculty member. If no resolution is reached, proceed to step 3.
- Meet with the VPAA. If the issue is not resolved in Step 2, the student has three work days to file a written appeal with the VPAA. The VPAA will meet with all parties concerned within the next three work days to attempt to resolve the dispute. The VPAA will have three work days from the last meeting to render a decision on the grade appeal. The decision of the VPAA is final.
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The Grade Point Average (GPA) is indicative of the overall quality of performance of a student. It is used by academic institutions and prospective employers as a means of describing academic achievement.
Three factors are used in computing the GPA: credit hours, point value, and letter grade earned. Letters such as A, B, B+, and C have point values.
For example, if a student is enrolled in five courses carrying 4, 4, 6, 3 and 5 credits and earns grades of B+, C-, A, D, and C respectively, his or her GPA for the semester would be calculated in the following manner:
| Letter Grade | Credits | Point Value | Grade Points |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B+ | 4 | X | 3.3 | = | 13.2 |
| C- | 4 | X | 1.7 | = | 6.8 |
| A | 6 | X | 4.0 | = | 24.0 |
| D | 3 | X | 1.0 | = | 3.0 |
| C | 5 | X | 2.0 | = | 10.0 |
| 22 | 57.0 | ||||
The GPA is calculated by multiplying the number of credits times the point value, then dividing the sum of the grade points (57.0 in the example) by the sum of the credits (22 in the example). The GPA in the example is 2.59.
The cumulative GPA for all semesters the student
has been at the Institute may be calculated in the same manner by using total
credits and total grade points.
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Graduation from an Associate Degree, Diploma or Professional Certificate Program
NHTI holds one commencement ceremony in May of each year, at which associate degrees, diplomas and professional certificates are awarded (see Certificate Program Completion section below for information regarding awarding of credentials for certificate programs completion.)
Except for those programs which are regularly scheduled to end during the summer, students must achieve a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in order to participate in the annual commencement ceremony. A student whose program is regularly scheduled to be completed in the summer term following the May commencement (Dental Assisting, Radiation Therapy) may participate in the ceremony. However, at the end of the Spring semester the student must have achieved a minimum GPA of 2.0 and complete all other course requirements to be eligible to participate. All other students who complete their program requirements during the Summer semester or at the end of the Fall semester will be invited to participate in the subsequent May commencement.
Degrees are officially awarded on the following schedule:
Potential graduates must file an "Intent to Graduate" form according to the following schedule:
All forms must be signed by the Department Head of the academic program in which the degree will be conferred.
All students filing "Intent to Graduate" forms will be charged the required $75.00 graduation fee. The fee is refundable ONLY to persons who do NOT meet graduation requirements.
A $20.00 fee will be charged for replacement of a diploma.
All financial and other obligations to the College must be met for degrees, diplomas, professional certificates and transcripts to be released.
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Certificate Program Completion
Students who are matriculated (formally accepted) in a certificate program must complete a Certificate Request Form in order to receive their certificate of completion. (Certificates are not awarded at the Commencement ceremony.)
Certificate Request Forms are available in the Registrar's Office, Continuing Education Office, or on the NHTI web site (www.nhti.edu). Completed forms should be returned to the Registrar's Office.
Once the Certificate Request Form has been received, an academic audit will be performed. Students must meet the following requirements to earn a certificate from NHTI:
- Completion of all program requirements;
- Achievement of a passing grade for all courses required by the specific program;
- Achievement of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in those courses required for the specific program;
- Completion of 6 credits or 25%, whichever is larger, in NHTI controlled courses.
Certificates are officially awarded on the following schedule:
- September 1st for students completing in the Summer Semester
- January 1st for students completing in the Fall Semester
- June 1st for students completing in the Spring Semester
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The NHTI, Concord's Community College shall confer degrees, diplomas (LPN), professional certificates, and certificates in accordance with the policies set forth in the Community College System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees Manual's most current edition.
Students must meet the following requirements to earn an associate degree from NHTI:
- Completion of a minimum of 64 credits and all program requirements (see also Program Residency Requirements);
- Achievement of a passing grade for all courses required by the specific program;
- Achievement of a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; all courses taken at NHTI will be used to calculate the CGPA (see Academic Amnesty Policy and Change of Program Policy);
- Completion of the General Education core distribution with passing grades.
The General Education core consists of courses that are drawn from the sciences, the social sciences, the humanities, and other courses which prepare the student for life experiences. They are essential elements in the achievement of identified competencies and are not directed toward specialized study or specific occupational or professional objectives.
Courses fall into the areas as follows:
General Education Academic Area Credits English Composition
and Literature or Communication6 credits Science 3-4 credits Math 3 credits Social Science 3 credits Humanities/Fine Arts/Foreign Language 3 credits Liberal Arts electives (minimum of two courses
selected from the five categories above)6 credits Total credits required in General Education area 24-25 credits
Students must meet the following requirements to earn an LPN diploma, professional certificate, or certificate from NHTI:
- Completion of all program requirements;
- Achievement of a passing grade for all courses required by the specific program;
- Achievement of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in those courses required for the specific program.
- 6 credits or 25% of the required program credits, whichever is larger, must be taken in NHTI-controlled courses (see also Program Residency Requirements).
Students may earn additional associate degrees either by concurrent completion of the requirements of the several degrees or by subsequent study after the first degree is received. The requirements for earning additional degrees are as follows:
- Complete all requirements of each program of study, including general education requirements; and
- Earns a minimum of 15 additional credits at the college, beyond those required for the first and subsequent degrees.
As required by the U.S. Department of Education, 34 CFR Part 668, Student Assistance General Provisions, “An institution shall make readily available to all enrolled students and prospective students, through appropriate publications and mailings, the Institution’s completion and graduation rate (or a projected completion or graduation rate) of its full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students who enroll for the first time" at NHTI “and have not previously enrolled at any other institution of higher education.”
Of the 617 full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students entering NHTI in Fall 2003, 190 completed their programs within 150% of the normal time, resulting in a graduation rate of 31%.
Students in good standing who are matriculated in Allied Health programs (Nursing, Paramedic Emergency Medicine, Radiation Therapy, Radiologic Technology, Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene) and who interrupt their education by not enrolling in the subsequent semester (including Summer where applicable) will be declared inactive and no longer considered a student in the program. The student must then file a request for readmission through the Admissions Office. Students will be admitted pending available space.
In all other programs, students in good standing who interrupt their education by not enrolling for three consecutive semesters (including summers) will be declared inactive and no longer considered a student in the program. The student must file a request for readmission through the Admissions Office. Students will be admitted pending available space.
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An Incomplete Grade (I) indicates that a student has not completed a major course assignment (usually a final exam or culminating final assessment) due to extraordinary circumstances, such as serious illness, death in the family, etc. The grade is applied only in those instances where the student has a reasonable chance of passing. It is not used to give an extension of time for a student delinquent in meeting course responsibilities.
The work must be completed by the student through formal arrangement with the instructor no later than:
- the end of the third week in the Spring semester for a grade issued in the Fall semester;
- the end of the third week in the Fall semester for a grade issued in the Summer term;
- three weeks from the earliest start date of the summer term for a grade issued in the Spring semester.
Should the student fail to complete the work within the designated period, the grade will automatically become an F. Exceptions to the above deadlines may be made by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
“I” grades will not be included in the computation of Grade Point Average. An “I” grade may affect a student’s financial aid. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office for further information.
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Opportunities for credit-bearing Independent Study are available to matriculated students with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher who wish to explore areas of a discipline not covered in the normal curriculum. Independent Study is not available to non-matriculated students.
The intention of Independent Study is to expand a student's learning experience beyond the normal program curriculum. Therefore, an Independent Study cannot be taken in lieu of any course existing in any of NHTI's catalogues. Students wishing to pursue existing NHTI courses on an independent basis should consult the NHTI policy on Directed Study.
Students wishing to take advantage of an Independent Study opportunity must consult with a supervising faculty member to prepare a proposal detailing the specific learning outcome(s) to be pursued, the specific learning activities that will occur, and the specific forms of assessment and evaluation that will be used to determine the final grade. In addition, the proposal should indicate the number of credits requested for the Independent Study (usually 1-2 credits). The Independent Study Proposal Form is available from the Academic Affairs Office and the Registrar's Office.
The student must obtain the following signatures as indicated on the form: the student's Department Head; the faculty member who will supervise the learning experience; the Department Head of the supervising faculty member; and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Grading of Independent Study projects will follow the standard NHTI policies and procedures.
Exceptions to the above policy require approval from the Department Head and the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Financial Aid does not cover courses for which a student earns credit through Independent Study.
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Independent Study
A matriculated student who, due to a serious medical condition that requires extended in-patient treatment in a medical facility and/or ongoing outpatient medical treatment, becomes unable to complete his/her academic requirements and/or who becomes unable to meet the program's technical standards and/or the requirements of the Student Code of Conduct, may apply for a formal Medical Leave of Absence for up to two consecutive semesters.
Students considering a Medical Leave of Absence should be aware that granting of such leave does not relieve a student from financial responsibility to the college. A student who is seeking a Medical Leave of Absence who is also a financial aid recipient should contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss the leave and any potential implications for changes in financial aid eligibility. Students who have concerns about continuing health insurance coverage may also wish to consult http://www.michelleslaw.com for important information.
Students requesting Medical Leave of Absence must:
- Provide a letter to the Vice President of Academic Affairs identifying their program of study, the medical reason for the request, the proposed date on which the leave would begin, and the proposed date of readmission, and;
- Provide the Vice President of Academic Affairs documentation of the medical condition from a licensed health care professional directly involved in the treatment of the student's particular condition that is sufficiently comprehensive to facilitate the decision-making process.
The Vice President of Academic Affairs (or designee) will make a determination regarding the appropriateness of the leave request and notify the student in writing whether the request for Medical Leave of Absence was granted and what conditions for readmission may apply. Students whose Medical Leave requests are granted will not be required to re-apply for admission at the end of the leave period provided that all conditions for readmission have been met.
Conditions for readmission may include, but are not limited to, submission of documentation from a licensed heath care professional directly involved in the treatment of the student's particular condition that is sufficiently comprehensive to provide reasonable assurance that the returning student will be able to meet all college and program academic, technical, and behavioral requirements. Other conditions for readmission may include a required in-person meeting with the Vice President of Academic Affairs and/or the student's program Department Head; compliance with any new admission criteria implemented in the student's absence; following a new curriculum plan that may have been implemented in the student's absence; and/or repeating courses and/or clinical experiences to ensure clinical competence following an extended absence. (Please note that students wishing to return to a residence hall may be required to meet additional, separate criteria from those required for return to an academic program. Students should directly negotiate any return to residence life with the college's Student Affairs Office.)
Students who choose to seek Medical Leave under the provisions of this policy should be aware that information they voluntarily disclose during the application and readmission processes will be handled under the confidentiality guidelines of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and disclosed only to those persons with a direct academic need to know.
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Plagiarism/Cheating Policy and Procedures
- Faculty will gather all material evidence (e.g., papers, crib notes, copied materials and the source(s) from which it came, et al.) If the charges have arisen from an inconsistency in quality, prior work samples, along with the work in question, should be presented to the student. Names of those who have pertinent knowledge of the situation will also be presented.
- Once the information is gathered a meeting between the individual faculty member and the accused should be held within 5 class days (or within 5 business days of a final exam) to discuss the matter. All parties shall maintain confidentiality at this point. The faculty member, however, may seek advice/counsel from his/her Department Head. The student may seek advice/counsel from an individual of his/her choice.
- Following the meeting the faculty member shall have the following options available if he/she feels disciplinary action is warranted:
- Have the student redo the assignment or do a different assignment;
- Reduce the student’s grade a specified amount;
- Give the student an “F” grade for the assignment;
- Give the student an “AF” or “F” grade for the course;
- Issue the student a letter of sanction (copies to Registrar and student’s Department Head);
- Other options as appropriate, not including those outlined in #4 below.
- Options available needing the approval of the Department Head and Vice President of Academic Affairs:
- Suspend the student from the program or the College for one semester;
- Suspend the student from the program or the College for more than one semester;
- Dismiss the student from the program or the College;
The faculty member’s decision will be put in writing to the student within two class days of the meeting. If another student, not in the class, was complicit in the cheating/plagiarism, the faculty member has the obligation to pursue disciplinary action against that student. Disciplinary action against a student not in the class would be limited to 3e and f or 4a-c above.
- A student may appeal actions covered in number 3a-d above through the Grade Appeal/Grade Change process; a student may appeal actions covered in 3e and 4a-c above through the Student Judicial process (see the Student Judicial process section of the Student Handbook at www.nhti.edu/studenthandbook/).
Prerequisite and Corequisite Courses
Many courses at NHTI are dependent upon knowledge learned in preceding courses. NHTI requires that students pass all listed prerequisite courses prior to proceeding with courses for which there are prerequisites. Prerequisite courses may be waived only with the prior approval of the head of the department in which they are taught. Such a waiver does not, however, suggest that those prerequisite courses need not be taken, but only that credit for them may be gained at a subsequent time.
Corequisite courses are those that must be taken concurrently (at the same time) with another course, as listed in a particular course description. (Note that with departmental permission, a corequisite course may sometimes be taken in advance of the course for which it is a corequisite.)
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Program Residency Requirements
To be eligible to receive an NHTI associate degree, a student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 16 credits of course work in NHTI-controlled courses with at least half of these credits in last semester major field courses. To be eligible to receive an NHTI diploma, professional certificate or certificate, 6 credits or 25% of the required program credits, whichever is larger, must be taken in NHTI-controlled courses. (See also Basic Graduation Requirements). Exceptions to this policy require the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Academic Standards Committee.
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Students may access their personal information online using the Student Information System. Class schedules and final grades are no longer mailed. Class schedules, mid semester warning grades, final grades, account information, financial aid status, and academic history may be obtained by logging on to NHTI’s home page at www.nhti.edu.
Contact the Registrar’s Office at (603) 271-7142 with questions regarding the Student Information System or to request official grade documentation. Access the Student Information System here.
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A student may repeat a course for credit one time. Registration for further repetitions of the same course will require permission from a matriculated student’s Department Head or, for a non-matriculated student, from one of the college’s academic advisors. For purposes of calculating the cumulative GPA (CGPA), when a student repeats a course at the same CCSNH institution, the grade achieved in the most recent course will be the grade used in the CGPA calculation. All previous grades will remain on the transcript but not used in the calculation. Only those repeated courses completed at the student’s college of matriculation will be used in the calculation of the CGPA; repeated courses completed at an institution outside of the CCSNH system and transferred into the student’s college of matriculation will not be used in the calculation of the CGPA. In addition, students wishing to repeat a course should consult with the Financial Aid Office to re-assess their continuing Financial Aid eligibility status.
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Transferring to Other Institutions
Department Heads and the Career Counseling and Placement Office assist students who wish to continue their education at other colleges or universities. A number of formal and informal articulation agreements exist some and are specific to particular majors. While some of these agreements are listed by major in the “Programs of Study” section of this catalog, students who plan to transfer to other colleges or universities should meet with their Department Head, the Director of Career Counseling and Placement and the affiliated institution for advice and assistance. Please see specific academic program pages for listings of institutions with which NHTI has current affiliations.
More information on Transferring to Other Institutions may be accessed here
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Transfer policies vary from institution to institution. The receiving college or university has sole discretion in determining the credits to be awarded. Students should not make assumptions about which credits are transferable even if an articulation agreement exists. Whether a student is transferring into or out of NHTI, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the appropriate person at the receiving institution in order to discuss their policy, learn what documentation is required and, finally, to determine and confirm transferrable credit.
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NHTI reserves the right to cancel a class that it deems underenrolled.
Students are advised that occasionally a day class may be cancelled for
insufficient enrollment, and students will be asked to attend that same class,
if it is also available in the evening, through the Division of Community
Education. However, NHTI recognizes its obligation to run courses
in the semesters indicated in the program curriculum section of the catalog.
Therefore, NHTI will not cancel a day class unless the same or
a comparable course is available in the same semester in the evening
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The Registrar's Office is the official authority within the college designated to accept withdrawal notification. If a student communicates to a staff person in the Registrar's office while that person is acting in an official capacity, that communication in whatever form (verbal or written), is considered official notification. Students are urged to submit a signed withdrawal form to the Registrar's Office to show their intent to withdraw. The date the form is submitted to the Registrar is the withdrawal date and the date of notification to the school. Students may also withdraw from the college by phone, fax or mail. For a phone withdrawal, the Registrar's Office will fill out the appropriate form and date stamp it with a notation that is was a phone withdrawal; for a fax or mail withdrawal, the Registrar's Office will fill out the appropriate form and date stamp it with the mail/fax attached.
If such withdrawal occurs at the 60% or later period, the student is subject to the same academic assessments and actions as students completing the semester.
Students who have officially withdrawn in good standing may apply for readmission by submitting a new application, with an explanatory letter, to the NHTI Admissions Office. (See also Withdrawal and NHTI Refund Policy.)
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Revised June 12, 2008