Matriculation is an ongoing process that helps you attain success and achieve your educational goals. The matriculation process is designed to help you match your interests — as abilities, needs, and goals —with the College’s courses, programs, and services.
All students are encouraged to go through the matriculation process, which includes orientation, educational assessment, and academic counseling to design a program of courses that meet your educational goals.
For more detailed information, please see the SMC catalog.
1. Orientation: Orientation informs students about the wide range of services and support that the College provides, including academic counseling to help sort out educational and career goals, health and psychological services, financial aid, scholarships, job referral services, tutoring services, and support programs for students with special needs.
2. Assessment of English, ESL, and math skills and educational background: To help students get the most out of their education, the College requires assessment of a student’s general educational background and skills in math and English or English as a Second Language. The assessment process helps students select the educational programs that are realistic and in line with their level of academic preparation and experience.
3. Definition and development of educational and career goals: While some students arrive at Santa Monica College with a very clear and firm idea of what their educational goals are, most have several different areas they wish to pursue, and others have no particular direction at all, often because they have too many different interests. The College has three educational planning “tracks” to help students meet general education requirements while developing their educational goals:
• The Certain Track, for students focused on a specific educational goal and anxious to pursue it in the most direct way possible. Students following this track design a study program that leads directly to their transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a specific major, or to their certification in a vocational or occupational field.
• The Exploring Track, for students with a variety of interests they wish to explore before settling into one particular field. Most students fall into this category. As they learn more about particular fields and their own capabilities in those fields, they are able to sort out their interests and eventually focus on a particular program of study.
• The Undecided Track, for students truly undecided about what educational goals to pursue. Many students fall into this category and need help to sort out their values, interests, and what they want their education to contribute to their life and wellbeing.
4. Academic Counseling: The College provides a professional staff of academic counselors to help students identify their educational track and plan how to pursue it. Counseling services vary according to the particular educational track that a student selects to follow. The Transfer/Counseling Center helps Certain Track students develop an educational plan that outlines the courses they need to meet a specific transfer, occupational certificate, or AA degree goal, and helps Exploring Track students develop and select a plan to meet general education requirements and choose a major and a transfer institution. The Career Services Center helps students on the Undecided Track sort out potential majors and educational goals through discovery exercises based on a student’s interests, aptitudes, and values.
5. Other Support Services: The College also provides a caring and committed faculty, along with a Transfer/ Counseling Center, a Career Services Center, a Latino Center, an African American Collegian Center, an International Students Center, a Women’s Center, tutoring services, financial aid, and a number of other means to support students in their pursuit of higher education. Many of these services are described in detail on the preceding pages of this Schedule of Classes and in the Student Planning Guide for Success available online (www.smc.edu/guide).
1. Enrollment in classes is done by either web or telephone. Beginning the first day of the Fall Semester, you will need an Instructor Approval Code to add any courses, even if there is space available.
2. To add or drop a class by web or phone, carefully follow the instructions available online or as noted on the Touch Tone Phone Registration Worksheet. Please see instructions in the Enrollment Section.
3. Computers for enrollment are available in the Admissions Office lobby, the Cayton Center, and the library. Enrollment can also take place by using a home computer with Internet access. Telephones dedicated to enrollment are located in the Admissions Office, the Letters and Science building, and the library.
A STUDENT ENROLLED IN ANY CLASS AT SMC MUST ATTEND ALL SESSIONS OF THE CLASS THAT MEET DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF THE CLASS OR RISK BEING DROPPED FROM THE CLASS BY THE INSTRUCTOR.
Since attendance is essential for normal progress in a class, a student is expected to be in class regularly and on time. Faculty will determine the consequences of absences and late arrivals.
To withdraw from a class, a student may use either the web or telephone registration system. It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from a class—informing the instructor is NOT sufficient notice. Failure to withdraw (officially drop) from a class could result in a grade of F (0.0).
The Admissions Office is not responsible for incomplete web or telephone transactions. Please make sure your withdrawals are confirmed. If withdrawing by web, print and review your revised schedule. If withdrawing by phone, be sure that you have received a confirmation number before hanging up.
First Week: A student must attend ALL class sessions of the course that meet during the first week of the course; otherwise he or she may be dropped by the instructor or may receive an F (0.0) for nonattendance.
First Three Weeks: To avoid a W on the transcript, a student may withdraw from one or all classes during the first three weeks by web or phone. Short-term and open-ended courses have their own deadlines (see www.smc.edu/admissions/enrollment_dates_deadlines.htm for details).
Deadline: Sunday, September 18, 2005, by web or telephone.
Fourth through Eighth Week: Students will receive W grades on their transcripts, and units will be included in “enrolled units,” as defined in the progress probation policy. Students must not expect faculty to initiate withdrawal procedures for them. It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from a class. Failure to observe this procedure can result in a grade of F (0.0).
Deadline: Sunday, October 23, 2005, by web or telephone.
Ninth through Twelfth Week: A student may petition for withdrawal from one or all classes by filing the proper forms with the instructor’s signature in the Admissions Office. A grade check will be made by the instructor. If the student was earning a C (2.0) or higher grade at the time of last attendance and has provided written documentation of extenuating circumstances (such as verified cases of an accident, illness, or other circumstances beyond the student’s control), the student may receive a W grade. All other students, including those who cease to attend the class without notifying the instructor or the Admissions Office, may receive a grade of F (0.0).
Deadline: 1:30 p.m., Friday, November 18, 2005, in person.
After the Twelfth Week: Friday of the twelfth week is the last day a student may request to withdraw from one or all classes. All students who have not withdrawn by this deadline will receive a grade of A (4.0), B (3.0), C (2.0), D (1.0), F (0.0), CR (Credit), or NC (No Credit) from the instructor.
A student may petition for late withdrawal due to extenuating circumstances (such as verified cases of an accident, illness, military obligation, or other circumstances beyond the student’s control). The student must be earning a C (2.0) or better, file a Petition for Late Withdrawal in the Admissions Office, and obtain approval from the faculty members involved and the Dean of Enrollment Services or designee. Retroactive withdrawals from classes are normally not permitted, but may be granted under certain limited circumstances. Check the SMC Admissions Office for details.
ATTENTION: New Payment Policy
• Early Enrollment (by phone or web) for the Fall Semester is from May 10 to August 1, 2005. During this period, you may enroll on or after the date and time assigned to you.
• Payment of enrollment and related fees for courses you enroll in during the Early Enrollment period is due no later than 10 p.m. on Monday, August 1, 2005. Failure to pay by this date may result in your being dropped from your classes for nonpayment of fees.
• Payment of enrollment and related fees for courses you enroll in on or after Tuesday, August 2, 2005, is due immediately.
No automatic dropping will occur during this period, so remember it is your responsibility to drop any course you do not wish to continue.
• If you do not drop a course that you don’t wish to attend by the refund deadline, you will be responsible for paying the fees and a hold will be placed on your records, even if you do not go to class. The hold will remain in place until all fees are paid. A hold on your records prevents you from future enrollment in courses at SMC and restricts access to services offered by the Admissions Office, such as providing transcripts, enrollment verification, issuing diplomas, etc.
This is a state-mandated student enrollment fee of $26 per unit. The fee is subject to change without notice.
This is an optional fee of $18 that includes the fee of $8, which funds the cost of the Student Universal Access I.D. card, and the Associated Student Membership fee of $10, which funds services and activities for the entire Santa Monica College student body.
The Student Universal Access I.D. Card fee and Associated Students Membership fee are both optional. Contact the Admissions Office at time of enrollment if you do not wish to pay these fees.
Health Services Fee
This is a mandatory fee of $12 that provides a variety of health services. Students who are exempt from paying the Health Services fee are:
• Students who are enrolled exclusively in noncredit courses,
• Students who are verified as eligible for financial aid through the Financial Aid Office, and
• Students who verify through a personally-signed statement that they depend exclusively on prayer for healing in accordance with the teachings of a bonafide religious sect.
Nonresident Tuition Fee
All students enrolled in a community college are classified either as residents or as nonresidents. The mandatory fee for students who have been classified as nonresidents (including students who are both citizens of a foreign country and hold only temporary resident status in the United States) is $180 per unit, and $155 per unit for other students who do not meet the residency requirements of the State of California.
On-Campus Parking Permit Fee
This is a fee that is required only if you wish to use the on-campus parking facilities at SMC’s main or Academy of Entertainment & Technology campuses. Regular parking permits are $75 for the Fall or Spring semester and $35 for the Winter or Summer session. Carpools of three or more are eligible to purchase a carpool permit for $20 for the Fall or Spring semester and $10 for the Winter or Summer session. The funds received from this fee are used to maintain and improve the parking facilities.
Students who qualify and receive a BOG A Fee Waiver because they or their family are currently receiving benefits under Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF/CalWORKs), or SSI/SSP (Supple-mental Security Income), or General Assistance/ General Relief are eligible for discounted rates on parking permits. BOG A recipients are eligible to purchase an on-campus parking permit for $20 for the Fall or Spring semester and $10 for the Summer or Winter session.
To apply for a BOG Fee Waiver, students need to visit the Financial Aid Office.
Returned Payments/Outstanding Balances
Returned checks and rejected credit card payments are subject to a $45 fee and are taken care of at the Auxiliary Services Office, located at 1738 Pearl St. An administrative hold will be placed on your records until the matter is resolved. If you leave SMC owing a balance and do not pay the amount owed, you will be responsible for paying all collection costs and/or attorney’s fees. This debt may also be reported to all three major credit bureaus.
Enrollment Fee
No refunds of enrollment fees are available to those who withdraw after Sunday, September 11, 2005. If you withdraw prior to this date, you will receive a 100% refund of enrollment fees (minus a processing charge of $10). If you are eligible for a refund, it will be processed and mailed to you within 45 days of the start of the term. See the SMC website (www.smc.edu) for more information on withdrawal refunds.
Nonresident Tuition
Apply for your tuition refund with the nonresident specialist in the Admissions Office. If you are eligible, your refund will be processed and mailed to you within 45 days of the start of the semester. If you withdraw from Santa Monica College during the first 2 weeks of the semester, you will receive a 100% refund, minus any relevant processing fees.
Student Services, Activities and Health Fee
If you are eligible for a refund, it will be processed and mailed to you within 45 days of the start of the semester. If you withdraw from Santa Monica College during the first 2 weeks of the semester, you will receive a 100% refund for the $12 Health Fee (or $9 for Winter or Summer sessions); however, $8 of the I.D. fee and $2 of the A.S. fee are nonrefundable.
On-Campus Parking Permit Fee
The parking fee is not refundable after the first three weeks of the Fall Semester or the first two weeks of any short-term class. To obtain a refund, present your parking permit and receipt at the Bursar’s Office (formerly known as Station C), Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., and Friday 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Programs of twelve (12) units or more are considered “full time” for most purposes. Specific study load requirements include:
• Athletic Eligibility:
Men — twelve units
Women — twelve units
• Veterans:
Full Time — twelve units
Three-Fourths Time — nine to eleven units
Half Time — six to eight units
• Social Security Recipients:
All — twelve units
• Health & Automobile Insurance Policies:
Most policies — twelve units.
Students who are in good standing may take up to sixteen (16) units during the Fall or Spring semester. Exceptions to the above rule must be approved by a counselor.
Students who have not completed prerequisite or corequisite courses at Santa Monica College or other universities may submit a Prerequisite Challenge Petition to the Transfer/Counseling Center. Prerequisites may be challenged under one or more of the following grounds, and the student bears the initial burden of proof to show that grounds exist for the challenge. Every reference to prerequisites in this procedure also refers to corequisites.
1. The prerequisite has not been established in accordance with the District’s process for establishing prerequisites.
2. The prerequisite is in violation of Title 5 §55201.
3. The prerequisite is either unlawfully discriminatory or is being applied in an unlawfully discriminatory manner.
4. The student will be subject to undue delay in attaining the goal of his or her educational plan because the prerequisite course has not been made reasonably available.
5. The student has the ability or knowledge to succeed in the course despite not meeting the prerequisite.
6. The student seeks to enroll in a course that involves intercollegiate competition or public performance, or that limits enrollment to a group of students with specific qualifications (e.g., the qualifications required to participate in the Nursing Program); there is no equivalent course offered; and the course in question is required to complete the degree or certificate.
7. The student seeks to enroll in a course that has a prerequisite established to protect health and safety, and the student demonstrates that he or she does not pose a threat to himself or herself or to others.
If space is available, a student will be provisionally enrolled in the course in question. Each prerequisite challenge will be investigated and resolved by a designated committee no later than five (5) working days from the day that the challenge is filed. If the designated committee fails to resolve the challenge in five (5) days, the student will be officially enrolled in the course. If no space is available, and the challenge is upheld, the student will be permitted to enroll for the course in the subsequent term.
Students wishing to take courses on a credit/no credit basis must apply in the Admissions Office no later than Friday of the fourth week of the Fall Semester for full semester courses, Friday of the third week for 12-week courses, Friday of the second week for 6-8-week courses, and Friday of the first week for 4- and 5-week courses. To be eligible, the student must not be on either academic or progress probation, or on disqualified status.
The decision to take a course on a CR/NC basis is irrevocable after the deadline has passed. Late requests will not be approved.
Santa Monica College does not permit auditing of classes. All students attending credit or noncredit classes at Santa Monica College must be officially enrolled through SMC’s Admissions Office. Seniors attending free, noncredit classes on topics of interest to older adults must be enrolled through Emeritus College. Students attending fee-based not-for-credit classes to explore personal interests or gain professional certification, or attending free English as a Second Language (ESL) and other noncredit adult education classes offered through SMC Continuing & Community Education (CCE) must be enrolled through the CCE office.
A grade of “Incomplete” in a course may be approved when illness, accident, emergency, or special circumstances beyond the student’s control prevent the student from taking the final examination or completing other immediate “end of semester” course requirements. The student must be passing the class with a grade of C (2.0) or better prior to the final exam or final project. An “Incomplete” may not be used to extend deadlines the student might reasonably be expected to meet for coursework.
To receive an “Incomplete” for a course, a student must fill out a “Request for Incomplete” form available at the Admissions Office and submit it to the instructor of the course before the instructor’s submission of final grades for that course or the College’s official deadline for submission of final grades, whichever comes first. Instructors may approve the “Request for Incomplete” if they believe that such an approval is appropriate and that the student has justifiable reasons to warrant the “Incomplete.” Instructors may require documentation that supports the student’s request. However, instructors are not required to grant an “Incomplete” to a student, and such decisions by instructors are final and may not be appealed by the student.
The instructor will determine the date by which the student must complete the required coursework, which shall be no later than one year from the end of the term in which the original “Incomplete” was assigned. The instructor shall record with the Admissions Office the conditions necessary for the removal of the “Incomplete” and the grade to be assigned—A (4.0) through F (0.0)—if those conditions are not met. The student and instructor will both receive copies of those conditions, and an “I” will be temporarily entered on the student’s record.
Incomplete grades will be counted in “units enrolled,” but will not be included in “units attempted” or “units completed,” and no grade points will be assigned.
State law does not permit students to repeat courses they have completed except under special circumstances specified in California Code of Regulations Title 5 §58161, which allows a student to repeat a course if it is:
1. A course originally completed with an unsatisfactory grade of D (1.0), F (0.0), or NC (No Credit);
2. A refresher course needed to advance to a higher level, as long as the course was originally completed at least three (3) years prior to repeating it;
3. A course needed to meet a legally mandated training requirement; or
4. A course the College has designated as repeatable (note the repeat maximums stated after a course’s title in this Schedule of Classes).
In some cases, courses designated as repeatable are grouped together according to an activity and have a cumulative course repeatability of three, for a total of four course completions. For example, a student repeating KIN PE 48A once (two completions) and then completing KIN PE 48B and KIN PE 48C have accumulated four completions in a group of courses. As a result, the student may not enroll in KIN PE 48D, because doing so would exceed the maximum number of course repetitions permitted.
A student may not repeat more than 15 units.
A student who wishes to repeat a course must meet with a counselor, file a petition for course repetition in the Transfer/Counseling Center, and receive written permission to enroll in the course. Only the most recent grade will be used in compiling the student’s grade point average (GPA). Check the Santa Monica College catalog for additional details.
The Associate in Arts (AA) degree is granted upon successful completion of sixty (60) units (state and local requirements, major field, and electives) with at least a C (2.0) average. Students who have studied at institutions other than Santa Monica College must have on file official transcripts from all other colleges attended and must complete a minimum of twelve (12) units at Santa Monica College.
You must file a Petition for Graduation with the Admissions Office during the semester in which you plan to complete requirements for graduation.
Deadlines for filing (check the Santa Monica College catalog for details):
Spring — March 1 to May 1
Summer — July 1 to August 1
Fall — October 1 to December 1
Check the Santa Monica College catalog for additional details, including requirements for graduating with honors.
Certification of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) for the University of California and the California State University systems, and certification of general education requirements for the California State University system, may be requested by filing the appropriate petition with the Admissions Office during the following dates:
Spring — March 1 to June 1
Summer — July 1 to August 1
Fall — October 1 to January 15
The petition should be filed during the last semester in which the general education or IGETC requirements necessary for certification will be completed.
The policy of the Santa Monica Community College District is that, unless specifically exempted by statute or regulation, every course, course selection, or class offered and maintained by the District and reported for state aid shall be fully open to enrollment and participation by any person who has been admitted to Santa Monica College and who meets the prerequisites established according to regulations contained in Article 2.5, Subchapter 1, Chapter 6, Division 6 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
Santa Monica College continuously strives to foster a work and learning environment that welcomes and supports a diverse student body and staff reflective of our pluralistic society. The College is committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, status as a Vietnam-era veteran, sexual orientation, or marital status for admission to the College, enrollment in classes, student services, financial aid, and employment, in accordance with provisions of Title VI and VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).
It is crucial that students, staff, and all others associated with the College understand the importance of reporting concerns about possible violations of this policy. The College’s commitment to equal opportunity demands full investigation of possible violations and an opportunity for a fair and impartial hearing on any matter relating to these laws and policies.
Any person seeking information concerning these laws and policies or claiming grievance because of alleged violations of the laws listed above should contact:
• SMC Human Resources Office, regarding any complaint of unlawful discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual discrimination — (310) 434-4415; office located on the second floor of the SMC Administration Building, 2714 Pico Blvd.; or
• Sandi Burnett, ADA/504 Compliance Officer, regarding disability discrimination complaints — (310) 434-4442; office located in Room 104 of the Physical Education bungalows.
All grievances will be reviewed in terms of Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, and Section 504 law, and persons involved will be advised of the provisions of the law and their legal rights. If normal channels are not available or fail to meet legal requirements, the necessary action will be initiated. A record of all Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 grievances will be maintained, and the general nature of such grievances and progress toward their resolution will be reported to the Affirmative Action Committee.
De acuerdo con los provisos de los Títulos VI y VII de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, el Título IX de las Enmiendas Docentes de 1972 y la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973 (P.L. 93-112), Santa Mónica College se compromete a la igualdad de oportunidades para ingresar en el College, para matricularse en las clases, para utilizar los servicios estudiantiles, para ayuda financiera y para empleo, sin discriminar por razones de raza, color, religión, sexo, país de origen, edad, impedimento físico, preferencia sexual, estado civil o por ser veterano de la época de Vietnam.
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Lack of skills in English will not be a barrier to enrollment in vocational programs. All Career Certificates offered at Santa Monica College are designed to provide students with necessary skills to compete successfully in related job markets. The following Vocational Education Programs are offered at Santa Monica College: Accounting , CAD Production & Design (Interior Architectural Design), Computer Animation (AET), Computer Business Applications, Computer Programming, Computer Science, Cosmetology, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Intervention Assistant, Early Childhood Intervention Teacher, Entrepreneurship, Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Graphic Design, Interactive Media Level I (AET), Interactive Media Level II (AET), Interior Architectural Design I, Interior Architectural Design II, International Business, Management/Leadership, Marketing, Merchandising, Photography, Professional Accountant, Set Design & Art Direction for Film & TV (Interior Architectural Design).
La falta de Inglés no es barrera para matricularse en estos programas vocacionales. Todas las carreras certificadas que Santa Mónica College ofrece estan diseñadas para proveer a los estudiantes la capacidad necesaria para competir exitosamente en mercados relacionados de trabajo. Los siguientes programas de vocación estan disponibles en Santa Mónica College: Contabilidad, Producción & Diseño CAD (Arquitectura Interior), Aplicaciones de Computación para Negocios, Animación por Computadora (AET), Programación de Computadoras, Ciencia de Computación, Cosmetología, Educación para Niñez, Asistente en Educación para Niñez, Maestra de Niñez, Empresario, Diseñador de Moda, Comercio de Moda, Diseño Gráfico, Medios Interactivos Nivel I (AET), Medios Interactivos Nivel II (AET), Arquitectura Interior I, Arquitectura Interior II, Negocios Internacionales, Manejador/Dirección, Mercadotecnia, Comercialización, Fotografía, Contabilidad Profesional, Diseñador de Sets y Director de Arte en Cine & TV (Arquitectura Interior).
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The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 protects the privacy of a student’s education records—as print or electronic documents—by placing limits on who may have access to the records, what information may be shared or disclosed, and how that information may be used. Santa Monica College complies with FERPA and has strict policies and procedures in place governing student records.
In general, the College does not permit access to a student’s records or disclose information in them to anyone (including a student’s parents) without the student’s written consent, aside from exceptions that FERPA authorizes. Exceptions include access to selected records by official agencies, groups, or individuals specifically mentioned in FERPA, and the sharing of “directory information.”
SMC’s policy on sharing directory information limits the types of student information that may be disclosed to the following, unless written permission to share additional information is provided: names of students who participate in activities and sports officially recognized by SMC; height and weight of members of SMC athletic teams; previous dates of attendance and previously attended colleges or universities for purposes of determining athletic eligibility; and degrees and awards received. Students who do not wish to have their directory information disclosed should file a written request with the Admissions Office.
Under FERPA, students have the right to inspect and review their own student records. All requests must be made in writing and filed with the Admissions Office.
For a full explanation of FERPA and its implications for college students, please contact the Admissions Office.
To comply with the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-542), Santa Monica College makes available the completion and transfer rates of first-time, full-time students seeking certificates, degrees, or transfer, as well as statistical information about the types and number of crimes on campus. The College provides this data to inform all current and prospective students—as “consumers” of higher education—on how well Santa Monica College compares with other colleges.
Completion & Transfer Rates
The student success rates are based on tracking a group (cohort) of first-time, full-time students seeking certificates, degrees, or transfer for a three-year period that begins with the Fall semester of the year the students first enroll in college. The completion and transfer rates presented here are derived from the most current data available at the time this Schedule of Classes went to press, and the success rates apply only to those students who entered SMC in Fall 2001.
Of the Fall 2001 cohort, 51.7% of the first-time, full-time students earned a degree or certificate at Santa Monica College or transferred from SMC to a University of California or California State University campus or to another California Community College.
Within that group, 63.4% of the students earned a degree or certificate or became transfer-prepared at SMC between Fall 2001 and Spring 2004; and 36.6% transferred to a UC or CSU campus or to another California Community College between Spring 2002 and Spring 2004 before attaining a degree, certificate, or becoming transfer-prepared at SMC.
Crime Statistics for the College Community
The following chart reflects the types and number of crimes for the years 2002-2004.
|
Crimes |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
|
Homicide |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Rape |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Aggravated Assault |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
Simple Assault
|
12 |
14 |
8 |
|
Burglary |
8 |
9 |
5 |
|
Auto Burglery |
23 |
11 |
6 |
|
Motor Vehicle Theft |
4 |
2 |
4 (2 recovered) |
|
Alcohol Violations |
6 |
6 |
7 |
|
Drug Violations |
5 |
4 |
1 |
|
Weapons Violations |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Arson |
— |
— |
4 (trash cans) |
SMC complies with State and Federal law with regard to modifying academic requirements as needed to ensure that they do not discriminate, or have the effect of discriminating on the basis of handicap, against qualified handicapped applicants or students. For details on adjustments, please contact the Center for Students with Disabilities, located in Room 101 of the Admissions/Student Services Complex; phone (310) 434-4265; TDD (310) 434-4273.
The procedure for seeking an adjustment is:
1. Prior to or at the beginning of the semester, a qualified handicapped student contacts the relevant instructor(s)—or requests staff at the Center for Students with Disabilities to initiate the contact—with a request for an academic adjustment;
2. The instructor(s) discuss the request with the student and confer with the staff at the Center for Students with Disabilities to determine an appropriate adjustment; and
3. If the student, instructor(s), and staff at the Center for Students with Disabilities are unable to agree on an appropriate adjustment, the matter may be referred to Sandi Burnett, ADA/Section 504 Compliance Officer. Her office is in Room 104 of the Physical Education bungalows. You may also call her at (310) 434-4442, or send e-mail to Burnett_Sandra@smc.edu.
Santa Monica College is committed to providing a broad range of academic courses, student services, and specialized programs to help students succeed and meet their goals. Students are expected to take responsibility for meeting the SMC Student Success Standards of “Academic Achievement” (maintaining an overall GPA of 2.0 or better) and “Timely Progress” (completing the required percentage of units in which they have enrolled). Failure to meet these standards can lead to:
• Academic probation or progress probation, either one of which will limit how many units a student may enroll in to a specified number of units, which cannot exceed a maximum of 9 units in a Spring or Fall semester, or 6 units in a Winter or Summer session;*
• Academic disqualification; or
• Progress disqualification.
Students who are disqualified must meet with a counselor to determine whether reinstatement is possible and what they are required to do—which, in the case of multiple disqualifications, can include waiting for up to one year to re-enroll—to be reinstated at SMC. Disqualified students who are reinstated are generally limited to enrolling in a specified number of units, which cannot exceed a maximum of 6 units per term. For details, please visit www.smc.edu/counseling/faq.htm, stop by the Transfer/Counseling Center, or call (310) 434-4210. Additional information on academic and progress probation, academic and progress disqualification, and requirements for reinstatement is also available in the SMC catalog.
* F-1 VISA STUDENTS PLEASE NOTE: Federal law requires students with an F-1 visa to complete 12 units during each Fall and Spring semester, regardless of academic status. If there is ANY possibility that you may be placed on academic or progress probation or be disqualified, you should IMMEDIATELY make arrangements to discuss your situation with a counselor from the International Education Center.
Santa Monica College has a Code of Academic Conduct and a Student Conduct Code, and may discipline students in accordance with code provisions. The College also has the authority to remove students from a class or program if they are disruptive of the instructional process, they do not respect the rights of others, they cannot benefit from instruction, or they present health and/or safety hazards to others. To protect the interests of both the College and its students, SMC has an established “due process” through which its disciplinary and removal powers are exercised. As a further safeguard of student rights, an appeal procedure exists for these policies, as well as for appeals of grades, matriculation, and disqualification. The Student Conduct Appeals Committee will hear student appeals. Check the Santa Monica College catalog for additional information.
Code of Academic Conduct
Santa Monica College is a community-oriented, open-door educational institution whose purpose is to educate and enlighten members of the community who seek knowledge. In order to uphold the academic integrity of the institution, all members of the academic community—students and faculty alike—must assume responsibility for providing an educational environment of the highest standards, characterized by a spirit of academic honesty.
Under no circumstances will academic dishonesty be tolerated at Santa Monica College.
Academic Dishonesty Defined
Santa Monica College defines academic dishonesty as the act of or assistance in deceiving, including fraud or deception in any academic exercise. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, certain actions not authorized by the instructor or testing officer, such as using notes or testing aids, allowing someone else to assume one’s identity, falsifying records, plagiarism, changing answers on a previously scored assignment or exam, copying, inventing information to complete a lab experiment or case analysis, and talking or giving information by any means during an exam. Check the SMC catalog for additional details, including information on the consequences for academic conduct violations.
Student Conduct Code
Students enrolled in the College have an obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the College’s function as an educational institution. Some examples of misconduct that are considered “good cause” for imposing disciplinary sanctions on a student are: continued disruptive behavior; habitual profanity or vulgarity; assault, battery, or threat of violence upon anyone on the College campus; sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape, forced sodomy, forced oral copulation, rape by a foreign object, sexual battery), or threat of sexual assault; conduct resulting in death or injury to a student or College personnel or visitors; theft or injury to real or personal property at the College; willful or blatant misuse of e-mail or other inappropriate forms of communication to faculty, staff, or students, including communication by written notes, phone, voicemail, or any form of electronic communication; use, sale, or being under the influence or in possession of any controlled substance; smoking in prohibited areas; dishonesty of any kind, including academic dishonesty; obstruction or disruption of any authorized College activity; unauthorized entry to or use of College facilities, supplies, or equipment ; violation of campus regulations; disorderly or lewd conduct; failure to comply with College officials performing their duties; stalking; hate crimes or hate incidents; and possession of alcoholic beverages, firearms, explosives, or any other dangerous weapons on campus property or at College-sponsored activities.
For a complete copy of the Student Conduct Code (SMC Admin. Reg. 4410), please see the College Disciplinarian.
Disciplinary Sanctions
Disciplinary sanctions include, but are not limited to, verbal or written reprimands, probation, a disciplinary hold, removal from class, ineligibility to participate in extracurricular activities, suspension, and expulsion. If a written report is placed in the student’s disciplinary file, the student has the right to inspect and appeal the information as specified in California Education Code §76232. The College Disciplinarian is responsible for enforcement of these sanctions. For a complete copy of the Student Conduct Code (SMC Admin. Reg. 4410), please see the College Disciplinarian.
Students with complaints, grievances, and personal concerns about Santa Monica College or any of its policies are encouraged to discuss them with the College Ombudsperson. The Ombudsperson provides support and encouragement to students, and attempts to present options and solutions. Complaints are handled confidentially on a case-by-case basis. Students with complaints about a grade should discuss this with the Ombudsperson as soon as possible. Deadlines for filing a formal appeal (Petition for Review of Grade) are:
• October 30 for Spring semester grades,
• November 30 for Summer session grades,
• April 30 for Fall semester grades, and
• May 30 for Winter session grades.
For more information, contact Tina Feiger or Lucy Kluckhohn Jones, who share the role of College Ombudsperson, or visit the Ombudsperson’s webpage (www.smc.edu/ombuds). The Ombudsperson’s office is located in Room 140 of the Letters and Science building. Office hours are posted on the door and on the Ombudsperson’s webpage. If the times are inconvenient, you may request a special appointment by sending e-mail to Ombuds@smc.edu or leaving a voicemail message at (310) 434-3986.
The abuse of alcohol or other drugs causes serious risks to a person’s health.
California state law prohibits the use, sale, or possession on campus of alcohol, or presence on campus of students who are under the influence of any controlled substance. (Cal. Ed. Code §§76032-76033)
The Santa Monica College Health and Psychological Services Center provides short-term psychological counseling, referral, and substance abuse/alcohol abuse information.
Students enrolling in the College assume an obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the College’s function as an educational institution. SMC will impose disciplinary sanctions for the use, sale, or possession of alcohol or presence of any prohibited controlled substance, which include, but are not limited to, verbal or written reprimands, disciplinary probation, removal from classes, ineligibility to participate in extracurricular activities, suspension, expulsion, or possible referral to local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies.