Parents & Family
Student Services: Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)
What do I do if I have a question for my student’s advisor?
If you have a question, you may contact the Student Services Office at (517) 796-8425 or your student’s advisor. Please remember, however, that federal law (FERPA) does not allow advisors or instructors to share specific information about a student with even the parent of the college student, without the student’s written permission.
Will I receive a copy of my student’s grades?
No. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) restricts colleges from sharing student’s records. More information about FERPA appears later in this manual. With online eServices, your student will login to see grades. No grades are mailed.
What is the difference between dropping a class and withdrawing from a class?
A student who drops a class on or before the refund deadline will receive a 100% tuition refund for that class; the dropped class will not be listed on the student’s transcript. A student who withdraws from a class after the drop deadline will receive no refund; the student’s transcript will reflect a “W” grade. See the class schedule and/or the JCC website, www.jccmi.edu, for deadline information.
What if my student had circumstances that interfered with college?
Consult the Class Schedule, Catalog or website for steps to complete in applying for a tuition refund. We will need a letter from your student with the request and explanation and a letter or other proof from a credible third party such as a doctor or employer. This should be done during the semester for which you are requesting a refund.
How is the grade point average (GPA) calculated?
GRADING SCALE
| 4.0 - Excellent | 2.5 | 1.0 - Inferior |
| 3.5 | 2.0 - Passing | 0.5 |
| 3.0 - Superior | 1.5 | 0.0 - Not passing |
GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)
GPA is a weighted average of grades for courses taken at JCC. It does not include the following:
- Grades of W (withdrawn), I (incomplete), Y (audit), P (pass),F (fail)
- Repeated courses (only the highest grade is used for calculation); however all attempts remain on the transcript
- Continuing Education Classes (CED, CEU, CFO, JTI, PDI, CEO)
- Transfer credit (TR) or other credit, such as Advance Placement (AP), departmental exam, CLEP, military service, articulation credit and experiential learning.
GPAs are calculated by semester and also cumulatively. To calculate a GPA:
- Multiply the grade in each course by the corresponding credits to calculate honor points.
- Add the honor points.
- Divide the total number of honor points by the total number of credits to figure your GPA.
Here is an example of how to calculate the GPA.
| Course | Grade | Credit Hours | Total Honor Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 131 | 3.0 | x | 3.0 | = | 9.00 |
| MTH 110 | 2.0 | x | 3.0 | = | 6.00 |
| PSY 140 | 3.5 | x | 4.0 | = | 14.00 |
| BIO 131 | 2.5 | x | 4.0 | = | 10.00 |
| Totals: | 14.00 | 39.00 | |||
| GPA = 39 Honor Points divided by 14 Credit Hours = 2.79 | |||||
What if I don’t approve of the program of study my student chooses?
Experience shows that the “right” program of study for a student may not necessarily be the most in-demand or lucrative one (or the one you would pursue), but one that will allow a student to develop talents or interests revealed through their personal experiences. Many first-year students change majors several times, often with great anxiety and frustration, before choosing the program, or major, from which they graduate. Encouraging your student to extend their “comfort zone” through a wide variety of experiences will help them make the best choice.
If your student’s current program of study does not make sense to you, remember that a student’s choice of programs does not guarantee either career success or failure. In the 21st century economy, employers often value flexibility, initiative, and ability to learn quickly – qualities all successful college students develop – over specific preparation. Many college graduates find interesting, rewarding work outside their majors; Disney CEO Michael Eisner and Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Florina were both English majors.
What credit can my student get from the Career Center?
Go to your Career Center office and as about their articulation credits. This will start the process of finding out what classes from your career center might translate into college credit. Each Career Center has different articulation agreements with various colleges.
Can students get Credit by Exam or AP Credit at JCC?
Yes. Have the results of the AP (Advanced Placement) exams mailed to JCC to receive eligible credit. Many of our courses also offer Credit by Exam. Note, however, that while Credit by Exam can save money off your tuition, no grade is assigned. Without a grade, the credit will probably not be able to transfer to other colleges or universities.
