Registration

Baccalaureate, AA, and AS degree students are required to register at the beginning of each semester or session for assignment to classes. College credit registration will be accepted until the last day prescribed for each semester or session as shown in the college calendar. Exceptions are Workforce Development Programs that may accept students whenever space is available, and courses that begin at various times throughout the semester, as listed in the class schedule.

Drop/Add a Course

At the beginning of each semester or summer term, students may change classes according to the cutoff date for drop/add, as specified in the college calendar. Schedule changes or refunds are allowed until this date, except in classes that do not follow the college calendar.

Re-Admission

Students who have not been in attendance at Chipola College for one calendar year or more, exclusive of the summer term are required to submit an application to ensure that the College has accurate directory and degree information on file. If the student attended another institution in the interim period, an official transcript must be submitted from that college or university. The student will complete requirements for graduation under the catalog in effect at the time of re-entry.

Credit Hour

In accord with Federal Regulation, SACSCOC policy, and Florida Administrative Code, a credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates

1. Not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

The credit hour definition applies to all credit-bearing activities whether they take place on the college campus, at another site, or online. An online credit hour represents the equivalent amount of work as a credit hour for all courses with the same course number and description.

Load

The minimum academic load for full-time classification is 12 credit hours for fall or spring term and 6 credit hours per summer term. All others are classified as part-time students.

The maximum academic load for the fall or spring term is 18 credit hours; each summer term is 9 credit hours. Students on scholastic probation are limited to loads of 16 credit hours per fall and spring term and 6 credit hours per summer term.

Students seeking to enroll in more than the maximum number of academic hours in a single term must have prior approval of the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs. Factors to weigh in granting approval may include the following: student’s GPA and past record, nature and level of courses, total course time requirements, student’s work schedule and/or other outside commitments.

Workforce Development students enrolled in clock hour programs will be classified as either full-time (30 clock hours per week) or half-time (15 clock hours per week). Students who attend fewer than 30 clock hours per week will be considered part-time.

Distance Learning (Online) Courses

The purpose of Chipola College Distance Learning is to provide accessible, affordable, quality educational opportunities for area citizens through the use of technology. Online courses are not assessed a Distance Learning fee. The college is committed to delivering instruction to students who are separated from their instructor by time and space, and providing high quality course offerings to students who cannot regularly attend campus classes and complete coursework by traditional methods. 

Online courses may be taught through several course delivery methods: online, online synchronous, modified face-to-face synchronous, and modified face-to-face asynchronous, and paired courses.

However, students enrolled in these courses are required to complete proctored assignments and/or exams under the supervision of an approved proctor, that is, someone authorized by Chipola to conduct these tests, such as the college Testing Center, online proctor or an approved off-campus proctor location. Dates for proctored assignments and/or exams are specified on Canvas, in the syllabus or first day handout for each course.

Course syllabi and assignments will be available online on Chipola College’s eLearning system, Canvas. Students taking a Distance Learning class must meet the placement testing and admissions requirements of the college. All college policies and deadlines apply. Coursework should be completed during the term it begins. Students must register during the registration dates listed in the college calendar.

Upon admission to the college, students should have received a letter from Chipola College with notification of their email address and instructions for accessing the Canvas system. Canvas login instructions are also available at the myChipola portal at https://my.chipola.edu. Students will be able to access their online classes on the first day of each term. Failure to access the course in Canvas the first week of class may impact your ability to receive financial aid and/or scholarship awards. Students should review the course syllabus and the First Day Handout which will provide information regarding any instructional materials (such as the textbook or any other software required) and an overview of the Canvas course content as well as the name of the instructor.

Because a Distance Learning class has course materials online, students are expected to have an understanding of Internet basics and access to fast speed Internet. The Technology Center on the second level of the Library is equipped with 30 computer workstations. These workstations are available to Chipola College students who present a current college ID. For Library and Technology Center hours, please call 850-718-2274.

Chipola College Distance Learning students, who have completed the internal institutional grievance process and the applicable state grievance process, may appeal non-instructional complaints to the FL-SARA PRDEC Council. For additional information on the complaint process, please visit the FL-SARA Complaint process page.

Course Delivery Methods

In an effort to provide students with various opportunities for course/instructional delivery, Chipola College is providing the following instructional modalities.

Traditional Face-to-Face. Face-to-Face is the traditional classroom delivery mode where all contact hours are performed on campus in a physical classroom. Technology may be used for classroom interaction and students may be required to use computers and internet to complete assignments. These courses are designated with a section number of 001, 002, etc.

Online. An online course is administered asynchronously through the institution’s learning management system, Canvas. On-campus meetings are not required. However, online courses require proctored exams, either in-person or through HonorLock. Students will need reliable internet, a computer, and a webcam. These courses are designated as sections 700, 701, etc.

Online Synchronous. An online synchronous course is administered through the institution’s learning management system, Canvas. On-campus meetings are not required. However, the course requires students to sign in to class via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or other online platform on specific days and times to attend class online. Courses require proctored exams, either in-person or through HonorLock. Students will need reliable internet, a computer, and a webcam.

Directed Study Courses

Students may wish to pursue Directed Individual Study (DIS) courses. These are individualized courses that may not be offered in the current schedule. Students who desire to register for DIS courses may appeal to the Vice President of Instructional Affairs. DIS course work should be completed during the term in which it is started.

Directed Individual Study classes (Section 050) and Independent Study (Section 400) classes cost an additional $30 per credit hour. Students should contact the appropriate academic department dean for further information.

Classification of College Credit Students

• Freshman: A student having fewer than 30 semester hours of earned credit.
• Sophomore: A student having 30 or more semester hours of earned credit.
• Junior: A student having 60 or more semester hours of earned credit.
• Senior: A student having 90 or more semester hours of earned credit.
• Full-Time: A student who registers for 12 or more semester hours.
• Part-Time: A student who registers for fewer than 12 semester hours.
• Transient: A student who is temporarily registered (for one term) at Chipola with the approval of some other college or university where he or she is regularly enrolled, or a Chipola College student who is temporarily in attendance at another college or university with the approval of Chipola College.
• Audit: A student admitted to college classes on a noncredit basis. Audit students must complete the standard admission procedures. Attendance requirements are established by the instructor. Charges for audit registration are the same as for credit registration. Audit courses will be included on academic records with a grade of “X.” Courses in limited access programs may not be audited.