Attendance
Students who choose to attend Columbia Basin College also choose to participate actively in the learning process offered by the College. Students are expected to attend all class sessions.
Attendance in online classes is determined by engaging in academic activity required for the course. This may include participating in an online discussion, taking a quiz or viewing a lecture. Solely logging in to Canvas or asking a logistical question of the faculty member does not count as attending the online class.
Consult “College-Initiated Withdrawal” section to review how student may be withdrawn from a class due to excessive absences.
Students should consult individual faculty members and syllabi for specific attendance requirements regarding online portions of courses.
Grading Policy
Grades are available on the CBC website at columbiabasin.edu/mycbc approximately one week after the end of the quarter.
CBC uses a decimal grading system for all lecture and laboratory courses numbered 100 and above, and for MATH 40, 50, 60, 62, 70 and 72.
Numerical grades may be considered equivalent to letter grades as shown below.
| Decimal Grades | Letter Grade |
| 4.0 - 3.8 | A |
| 3.7 - 3.5 | A- |
| 3.4 - 3.2 | B+ |
| 3.1 - 2.9 | B |
| 2.8 - 2.6 | B- |
| 2.5 - 2.3 | C+ |
| 2.2 - 2.0 | C |
| 1.9 - 1.6 | C- |
| 1.5 - 1.3 | D+ |
| 1.2 - 1.0 | D |
| 0.9 - 0.0 | F |
Note: Each instructor determines individual course grading procedures. Grading information is contained in course syllabi presented at the beginning of each course. Please refer to individual degrees for specific graduation grade requirements.
Letter Grades
Letter grades are awarded in the following categories:
I –– Incomplete - no grade points (see statement on incomplete grade policy)
N –– Audit* - enrollment under non-credit status
P –– Passing** - has no grade point value and is not used in grade calculations
W –– Student-Initiated Withdrawal - not calculated in grade point average
WA –– College-Initiated Withdrawal
Y –– No grade reported by a faculty member
Z –– No credit awarded*
*A student enrolled in a non-credit or audit course does not receive credit for the course and does not receive a grade. Students must pay regular tuition and fees for the non-credit or audit course and may not be required to do the assigned work or take examinations. Students may change from audit to credit on or before the 10th day of instruction. A change, however, from credit to audit requires instructor permission and must be made on or before the 40th day of instruction. Contact the Student Records Office for the proper procedures.
P (Passing) Grades
Columbia Basin College issues a P (passing) grade in certain predesignated courses or experience-related evaluations for college-level credit. A P grade is earned when performance is certified at a 2.0 grade point minimum. A P grade in a course may satisfy a prerequisite requirement if the performance level is certified at the established minimum defined in the course description.
Students receiving a P grade may use a maximum of 10 credits* earned through classroom instruction from an accredited (see the list of approved accrediting agencies under “Transfer Information”) college. These credits will be applied toward degree requirements as follows:
- Associate in Arts and Sciences and Associate in Science Transfer Degrees: electives
- Associate in Applied Science: Major and Major Support (consult with program advisor or completion coach for approval)
- Experiential learning credit, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST) is limited to use within the restricted electives
*With the exception of College Board Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge International (CI).
Students who earn credit via Academic Credit for Prior Learning (ACPL) and receive a P grade should refer to the ACPL section of this catalog for more information regarding how credits are applied toward degree requirements.
Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution are advised to consult with their transfer institution regarding how P grades are applied toward requirements.
Incomplete Grades
An incomplete grade (I) indicates work in progress but was not completed before the end of a quarter. Specific arrangements for completing the required work is agreed to by the faculty member and the student. Incomplete grades are subject to instructor’s discretion. An incomplete grade will be changed to a failing grade if the work is not completed within the first 20 calendar days of the succeeding quarter. The exception is when the incomplete is given in the spring quarter. In this case, the succeeding quarter is the following fall quarter, not the summer quarter.
Computation of Grade Point Averages (GPA)
Grade point averages (GPA) are calculated by dividing grade points earned at Columbia Basin College by the credit hours attempted. Classes numbered 100 and above, not graded with an I, N, P, W, WA, Z or Y are included in the GPA. Credits/GPA earned at previous institutions may be factored into the evaluation of graduation requirements.
Grade Appeal Process
Students are responsible for reading and understanding Columbia Basin College’s academic policies and practices as found in the Washington Administrative Code, CBC Catalog, course syllabi and course policies as established by the individual faculty members. Students are also responsible for meeting the standards of academic performance established by each faculty member in course syllabi and addenda. Evaluations will represent the faculty member’s professional judgment of the student’s performance in meeting these standards. At the same time, students are protected from academic evaluations that are arbitrary, prejudiced or capricious.
If a student has documentary evidence that an end-of-course course grade was assigned incorrectly, they may initiate an appeal of that grade. Students should understand, however, that a grade appeal may result in a higher grade, a lower grade or no change to the grade. Students may not use the grade appeal process as a means of voicing non-specific or unsubstantiated complaints about grades, grading policies or grading standards, nor will the College act on such complaints. Students may not appeal a final grade by contesting the grades on individual assignments after the fact or by objecting to the published grading standards after the course has ended. (Questions about grades or grading criteria should be raised as assignments are graded and returned.) Grade appeals may involve final examinations, term papers or other end-of-course assignments that are graded and returned to students in the last week of classes or after the last day of class, for which, as a result of timing, the student doesn't have time to seek clarification or redress before the term ends.
A grade appeal must be initiated within the first 20 calendar days of the academic term succeeding the term in which the grade in question was assigned.
A student who wishes to appeal a grade will take the following steps:
- The student will gather all relevant documentation regarding the assigned grade, including copies of the course grading policies and standards, all graded assignments that bear on the appeal (with comments, scores, rubrics or other faculty member feedback) and copies of correspondence with the faculty member relevant to the student’s grade, especially attempts to clarify or correct the grade.
- The student will meet with the faculty member to discuss the course grade. If the faculty member is no longer employed by CBC or is otherwise unavailable, the student will meet with the appropriate division dean. Deans will not take action on a grade appeal unless the student has been unable to meet the faculty member and has made a good-faith effort to do so during the specified time period.
- The student will explain the specific basis for the grade appeal and provide the supporting documentation.
A faculty member who receives a grade appeal will take the following steps:
- If the student has evidence of an error, the faculty member will meet with the student within the first 30 days of the term succeeding the term in which the grade was assigned.
- The faculty member will review the evidence and discuss the basis of the student’s appeal; if an error is verified, they will recalculate the student’s grade as appropriate.
- If the recalculation results in a different grade, the faculty member will submit a grade change eform to correct the grade within 10 days of the recalculation.
At his or her discretion, the faculty member may resolve a grade issue informally in discussion with the student.
After this process is followed, students may request a meeting with the dean. The dean will gather and review all relevant information including meeting with the faculty member. The decision made by the dean will be considered final.
Grade appeals may involve final examinations, term papers or other end-of-course assignments that are graded and returned to students in the last week of classes or after the last day of class, for which, as a result of timing, the student does not have time to seek clarification or redress before the term ends.
Grade Forgiveness
Students may petition to have grade records forgiven for courses taken at CBC. This does not remove records from a student’s transcript, rather, an asterisk symbol (*) is marked on the transcript to identify course(s) that will be disregarded when calculating a new cumulative GPA. Federal Financial Aid regulations do not recognize grade forgiveness. Some transfer institutions may not accept grade forgiveness since each institution interprets transcripts according to its own policies.
Grade forgiveness petitions are available in the Counseling/Advising Center. Students must meet with a Counselor or completion coach no later than one quarter before graduation. Students may use this petition provided:
- They are currently enrolled at CBC
- The grade records to be forgiven are at least three years old and the student has not attended CBC during that three-year (12 consecutive quarters) period
- They have earned a minimum of 30 credits consecutively with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA at CBC following the three-year period
Students choose the grade forgiveness quarter to begin, which must be within the time period prior to the three-year absence. If approved, the set aside notation (an asterisk symbol (*)) begins at the requested quarter and includes all prior quarters. Students may not choose specific courses or quarters to be set aside.
Grade records will:
- Not be reinstated once grade forgiveness is granted
- Not have been used toward a previously earned degree or certificate
- Be forgiven only once
Course Repeat Policy
Upon successful completion of a repeated course, a request may be submitted to calculate the highest grade into CBC’s grade point average (GPA). If approved, this request will result in the lowest graded course(s) having a grade identifier of “R” posted next to the grade(s) on the transcript and that grade will be excluded from the GPA computation. Courses not eligible to repeat are those with letter grades (e.g., P, Z, W, WA, N, I, Y), courses with different credit amounts, or courses utilized to complete a transcribed degree/certificate.
To request a course repeat, a student must complete the intended course, which must be equivalent in credit and content to the initial course.
Students receiving financial aid or veterans benefits should consult the respective office prior to repeating a course as financial penalties may be imposed. Other colleges and universities may include repeated course grades in their eligibility for admissions and/or graduation.
A student who takes a course at CBC and repeats the course at another fully accredited college or university shall be granted a repeat, upon request, with the following conditions:
- The student must be enrolled at CBC.
- The course must be evaluated by CBC and verified as substantially equivalent in credit and content via official transcript.
- All courses and earned grades will remain on the transcript. An R will be posted next to the lowest grade and that grade will be removed from the GPA computation.
- A notation will be entered on the CBC transcript indicating the course was repeated via transfer.
Quarterly Honors Designations
Students who earn 12 cumulative credits and achieve a quarterly GPA of 3.85-4.00 are named to the President’s Honor Roll.
Pass/Fail graded classes are not included in the 12 credit requirement for quarterly honors designations.
Graduation Honors Designations
Students who earn a CBC bachelor's degree, an associate degree or a one-year certificate are eligible to receive scholastic honors as established by the College. The cumulative GPA for all credits earned at CBC is used to calculate eligibility for honors. The honors GPA calculation is based on the last quarter in which all degree requirements have been completed. Credits and grades transferred to CBC from other colleges and universities are not included in the calculation for the honors designation.
Students who earn an associate degree or one-year certificate according to the standards above are eligible to receive honors. The honors designation will be noted on the official transcript and on the diploma or certificate.
Honors: 3.50 to 3.84
High Honors: 3.85 to 4.00
For purposes of the graduation program and ceremony regalia, the honors designation will be based not on the final quarter completed for degree or certificate requirements, but on the GPA as established from the winter quarter transcript for the graduating year.
Students who earn a CBC bachelor's degree are eligible to receive scholastic honors as established by the College. The cumulative college-level GPA for all credits earned at CBC is used to calculate eligibility for honors. The honors GPA calculation is based on the last quarter in which all degree requirements have been completed. Credits and grades transferred to CBC from other colleges and universities are not included in the calculation for the honors designation.
Cum Laude (with honors): 3.50 to 3.69
Magna Cum Laude (with high honors): 3.70 to 3.89
Summa Cum Laude (with highest honors): 3.90 to 4.00
Standards of Academic Progress & Performance
A student’s enrollment at Columbia Basin College is a partnership among the student, the College and the state of Washington. CBC has a responsibility to each student, but also to the state, that helps fund each student’s college education, to develop standards of academic progress and performance. The College utilizes various resources and support programs to assist students toward successful academic performance and program completion.
The College provides detailed information about degree and certificate requirements at mandatory advising, registration and orientation programs for new degree- and certificate-seeking students. The College monitors student progress and academic performance throughout enrollment and intervenes when expectations are not being met.
CBC does not intend to discourage or penalize students who are sincerely trying to make good use of the College’s resources. Nevertheless, there may be instances when the College may determine that a student is not benefiting from continued enrollment. In such cases, the College may take steps to do either of the following:
- Limit or deny future enrollment
Academic Performance
Columbia Basin College’s Academic Performance Policy includes both grade performance and credit completion components. Students in a degree or certificate program must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Additionally, excessive withdrawals from classes are problematic as they delay students’ completion and decrease the College’s ability to efficiently manage class enrollment.
Early Warning Signs of Academic Difficulty
Students are strongly encouraged to seek advice from a CBC Counselor or completion coach as well as use College resources when they first begin to show signs of academic difficulty. These signs include, but are not limited to:
- Failing FYI
- Class instructor concerns about their academic performance
- Students’ own acknowledgement they are not understanding class material or doing well in their coursework
- Quarterly GPA below 2.0
Academic Sanctions
Students who have a quarterly and/or cumulative GPA below 2.0 will be placed on academic warning or probation that could progress to academic dismissal if future academic performance does not improve. CBC may block students’ ability to register for future classes until they have met specific intervention requirements. When students improve their cumulative and quarterly GPA to 2.0 or higher, they will be removed from unsatisfactory performance status. However, the College reserves the right to continue to monitor student progress and performance as it deems appropriate.
Warning – Students who have a quarterly GPA below 2.0 but have maintained a cumulative GPA above 2.0 will be placed on warning status. Students with a second consecutive quarter below 2.0 will be placed on probation status regardless of cumulative GPA.
Probation - This sanction applies to the first quarter a student receives a cumulative GPA below 2.0, or two consecutive quarterly GPAs below a 2.0 regardless of cumulative GPA. A block will be placed on the student’s ability to register until the student has successfully completed the online Distress to Success workshop. For further information, contact the Counseling/Advising Center.
Subject to Suspension – Students on probation who have a second consecutive quarter below 2.0 will be placed in Subject to Suspension status. Under this sanction, the student will receive a warning letter that the next academic sanction is academic suspension. The student may be required to meet with a CBC completion coach so that they can begin to address whatever issues or barriers may be impeding their academic success. The student will remain in subject to dismissal status as long as they receive quarterly GPAs of 2.0 or higher and until the cumulative GPA reaches 2.0.
Suspension - CBC will academically suspend the student who is in subject to suspension status when their subsequent quarterly GPA is under 2.0 and/or their cumulative GPA remains below 2.0. During Academic Suspension, students may not register for any classes and may not participate in any events or activities reserved for students. Academically suspended students may re-enroll in one of three ways: 1. Appeal the academic suspension (see Appeal of Academic Suspension section); 2. Complete an Academic CPR (HDEV 110) course; or 3. Petition for reinstatement.
- A student may return from academic suspension by completing CBC’s Academic CPR workshop. Workshops are offered each quarter. After passing the workshop, the student may return to CBC the subsequent quarter. To learn more about the option to complete Academic CPR contact the Counseling/Advising Center to schedule an appointment to meet with a Counselor.
- Students also have the option to sit out two quarters and petition for reinstatement. The student will be scheduled to meet with a Reinstatement Committee who will decide if the student will be allowed to be re-admitted to CBC and/or set conditions to be met upon return.
Conditional Enrollment - Students reinstated after completing the Academic CPR workshop or through the Reinstatement or Appeals Committee will be placed on conditional enrollment status and must maintain a minimum 2.0 quarterly GPA. Those who do not fulfill the performance standards via Academic CPR or while on conditional enrollment status may be Academically Dismissed and required to sit out for a least two quarters, not including summer.
Academic Dismissal – Students who fail to maintain a 2.0 quarterly GPA while on Conditional Enrollment will be academically dismissed. During Academic Dismissal, students may not register for any classes and may not participate in any events or activities reserved for students. Academically dismissed students may re-enroll in one of two ways: 1. Appeal the Academic Dismissal (see Appeal of Academic Dismissal section); 2. Petition for Reinstatement after setting out for 2 quarters not including summer. The Petition For Reinstatement application must be submitted at least 90 days prior to the start of the quarter in which the student plans to return. Students who have been previously suspended will not be allowed to repeat Academic CPR.
Appeal of Academic Suspension/Dismissal Students may appeal an academic suspension or dismissal based on extraordinary circumstances that affected their performance during the quarter leading to the academic dismissal. Students must submit an Appeal of Academic Dismissal form to the Dean for Student Retention and Completion no later than 10 calendar days from the date of the dismissal. Documentation to support a statement of extenuating circumstances is required. The Dean may request a meeting with the student prior to deciding. If the appeal is granted, the student will be allowed to register at the start of the next quarter.
Conditional Enrollment
Students reinstated after completing the Academic CPR workshop or through the Reinstatement Committee will be placed on conditional enrollment status and must maintain a minimum 2.0 quarterly GPA. Those who do not fulfill the performance standards via Academic CPR or while on conditional enrollment status may be Academically Dismissed and required to sit out for a least four quarters.
Students on conditional enrollment are not able to self-register for classes and are required to meet with a counselor to register or adjust their schedule. CBC reserves the right to limit the number of credits taken by students on Conditional enrollment.
Appeal of Academic Dismissal
Students may appeal the academic dismissal based on extraordinary circumstances that affected their performance during the quarter leading to the academic dismissal. Students must submit an Appeal of Academic Dismissal form to the Dean for Student Retention and Completion no later than 10 calendar days from the date of the dismissal. Documentation to support a statement of extenuating circumstances is required. The Dean may request a meeting with the student prior to making a decision.
- If the academic dismissal is reversed, the student will be allowed to register at the start of the next quarter. Students who fail to maintain the academic standards for Conditional Enrollment (above) will be academically dismissed for a period of one year without the right to a second appeal.
- If the academic dismissal is affirmed, the student will not be allowed to re-enroll at CBC until either completing an Academic CPR workshop (if not previously attempted) or sitting out for four consecutive quarters and petitioning for reinstatement (see Academic Dismissal above).
Education Records
Annual Notification of Rights under FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students and the College certain rights with respect to education records. They are:
1. The right of the student to inspect and review their education records within 30 business days of the day Columbia Basin College receives a request for access.
Requests to review your records must be made in writing to the Registrar. The Registrar
has up to 30 business days to schedule a time for you to visit Student Records to
review your records on campus. Copies* may be provided to you only, and a fee may
be assessed at an amount not to exceed the actual cost to the College.
*Copies of official transcripts from other educational institutions are prohibited.
Please contact the institutions from which the transcripts originated to obtain official
transcripts.
Student records will be maintained according to the retention policy set out by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
The College reserves the right to refuse to permit the inspection and review of:
- Financial statements of the student’s parents
- Confidential letters and confidential statements of recommendation placed in the education record if the student has waived his or her right to inspect and review those letters and statements and the letters and statements related to the student’s admission to a program, an application for employment or receipt of an honor or honorary recognition
- Confidential letters and statements placed in the education record except when these documents have been used for any purpose other than that for which they were originally intended
- Records that contain information about other students
- Documents excluded from the FERPA definition of education records
2. The right of the student to request the amendment of their education records that the student believes is inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights.
Students may request that the College amend a college-initiated record that they believe is inaccurate, misleading or otherwise inappropriate. They should submit their request in writing to the Registrar/designee, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed and specifying why the record is inaccurate, misleading or otherwise inappropriate.
The College will provide a written response to student requests, either demonstrating the change in the record that has been made or the decision not to amend the record as requested. In the latter case, the College will notify the student of their right to a hearing regarding the request for the amendment as well as provide additional information regarding the hearing procedures.
3. The right of the College to release personally identifiable information contained in a student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent (section 4).
One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to College officials with legitimate educational interests. College officials include parties who contract with the College or are required by law to provide services to the College and have a legitimate educational interest in a student’s education records.
A legitimate education interest applies to individuals who are:
- Performing a task or service specified in the official’s position description or contract
- Performing an instructional task directly related to the student’s education
- Performing a task related to the discipline of a student
- Providing a service or benefit related to the student or student’s family, such as healthcare, counseling, job placement, financial aid or health and safety emergency
- Providing legal services to the College
- Acting on behalf of accrediting organizations
4. The right of the College to release directory information without student consent.
Directory information may be disclosed without consent if it is determined the party requesting the information has a legitimate need for the information. A list of current directory information is available at columbiabasin.edu/FERPA. Additionally, per the Solomon Act, the College is required to provide military recruiters with name, address, phone number, age and degree program for enrolled students over age 17.
Columbia Basin College may disclose personally identifiable information designated as directory information from a student’s education records without prior consent. Students who do not wish to have any or all of such directory information published without their prior consent must submit a Disclosure of Directory Information form to the Registrar within 15 calendar days after the beginning of the quarter. If a student places this hold on their account, it will remain in effect until otherwise notified. This request will prevent any release of information to a third party without a signed release from the student. In addition, the electronic record will be annotated preventing the electronic release of information, with the words privacy block in the student records. This certification does not preclude the verification of degrees awarded for graduation purposes.
5. The right of the College to release educational records without student consent.
Institutions may disclose to parents or legal guardians the educational records or components thereof without written consent by the student if it is determined that the student violated any federal, state or local law or any institutional policy or rule governing the use of alcohol or controlled substances (refer to Article V of the CBC Code of Conduct) and the student is under the age of 21 at the time of the disclosure to the parent. FERPA allows higher educational institutions to share information as necessary in a crisis or in situations where students are a potential harm to themselves or others.
6. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Columbia Basin College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
Records Retention
Columbia Basin College academic records will be maintained according to the state retention guidelines. For further information, contact the Registrar at records@columbiabasin.edu.