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An applicant for admission who is a Texas resident may seek to enter this institution pursuant to the Academic Fresh Start Statute, Texas Education Code, 51.931. If the applicant informs the Admissions/Records Office in writing of the election, the institution will not consider academic course credits or grades earned by the applicant 10 or more years prior to the starting date of the semester in which the applicant seeks to enroll. An applicant who makes the election to apply under this statute may not receive any course credit for courses taken 10 or more years prior to enrollment.

Grading System

A student's standing in his/her work is expressed by grades obtained from class work and examinations. College grades are important because they become a part of the student's permanent record and may be used as the basis for many decisions related to the student during his or her lifetime. The student's grade point average (GPA) is significant in determining eligibility for continued financial aid, for continuance in school, for acceptance at a transfer institution, for graduation, and eventually for employment after completion of a formal education. A system of point values exists to convert alphabetical grades into a numerical system. The following grades have the indicated number of points assigned for each semester hour of credit earned:

The grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted.

*Developmental Studies Only: Receiving a "Q" can only occur once per developmental class. If the student fails to retake the class the following semester, the "Q" remains on the transcript and is treated as a "W" for state reporting purposes and Financial Aid. If a student is awarded a "Q", he/she must repeat the same course the next long semester or retake and pass a TSI assessment before the next long semester begins. The repeated class will receive the grade earned, but the "Q" from the previous semester will not be amended. Students who are TSI deficient in two or more areas may not skip a semester if a grade of "Q" is attributed. If a student who received a "Q" decides to retest rather than take the course again, the existing TSI policy in regards to retesting will hold true. His/her "Q" from the previous semester will remain on his/her transcript. In the case where a student has been given an "I", after the 6 week completion period the "I" may be changed to an "F" or "Q" if the student meets the criteria.

Grade Reports

Grade reports are no longer mailed to students. Semester grades are available to students through the college's online services. Mid-semester deficiency grades of "D" or "F" are filed by the instructor for semester-length classes. These grades are assigned to the students and are also available online, but they do not become a part of the student's permanent record. Students may obtain specific information about mid-semester grades on an individual basis from their instructors.

Repeating a course to improve a grade

Grades cannot be changed. The only way a course grade may be raised is by the student repeating the course and making a higher grade. If a course is repeated, both grades will remain on the transcript but the highest grade becomes the grade of record and is used in calculating credit and overall GPA. The student is cautioned, however, that all colleges do not follow this practice. Taking the course at another college in an attempt to improve a grade will neither change a grade nor figure into the GPA at Panola College.

Incomplete course work

Incomplete ("I") is a temporary grade indicating that a student has satisfactorily completed the requirements of a course with the exception of a final examination or other work delayed by illness, emergency, or authorized absence. In the meantime, the grade of "I" is non-punitive and is not used in computing the GPA. Before awarding an "I", the instructor must secure the permission of the Vice President of Instruction. The student must complete work within six weeks after the end of the semester in which the grade was issued or receive an "F" for the course. Any exceptions must be approved by the Vice President of Instruction.

Course withdrawal

If it becomes necessary for a student to withdraw from a course, the student must contact the Admissions/Records Office. The grade of "W" (withdrawn) is given during the first 12 weeks of the semester. The grade of "W" has no negative effect on the student's GPA. If the student does not contact the Admissions/Records Office and exits a class unofficially, a grade of "F" will be award by the instructor.

Challenging a grade

Challenging a grade must occur before the end of the fall or spring semester immediately following awarding of the grade. Students with questions concerning grades should contact the Admissions/Records Office.

Scholastic probation

Probation occurs when the quality of a student's work falls below the accepted standard of satisfactory progress. Scholastic probation is a conditional permission for a student to continue in college. A student must maintain a cumulative "C" (2.0 GPA) on all course work completed and/or accepted in transfer at Panola College. A student who fails to achieve a 2.0 GPA after accumulating 12 semester hours will be notified of his/her probationary status. The student should visit with a counselor concerning recommendations for improvement. A student on probation may not register for more than four academic courses and two one-hour courses without the approval of the Vice President of Instruction. Students will have their status reviewed after the completion of each additional 12 semester hours. Should a student fail to achieve a cumulative 2.0 GPA at the end of the second consecutive evaluation, the student will receive notification that he/she must report for counseling before being allowed to register and continue on a probationary status. If a student fails to achieve a cumulative 2.0 GPA at the end of the third consecutive evaluation, he/she will be placed on academic suspension. Students on probation who achieve a "C" (2.0 GPA) for any given semester will be allowed to continue on probation for the next semester even though the cumulative average is below 2.0. Students on probation for the third consecutive semester who do not have a "C" average for the immediately preceding semester will not be allowed to attend Panola College for the next long semester. A grade of "I" will be considered a failing grade in computing averages for removal from probation.

Scholastic Suspension

A student on Scholastic Suspension is denied the privilege of registering for one spring or fall semester, as appropriate. Following the semester of suspension, the student may re-enroll on a probationary status. The student remains on probation until a cumulative 2.0 or better GPA is earned. Students who have been on suspension from Panola College or another college, who are allowed to register, must earn a "C" average on courses attempted that semester, or they will be suspended for one year. NOTE: Exceptions to this policy may be made through written appeal to the Vice President of Instruction. Students may enroll in the summer sessions without restriction. Students who are on scholastic suspension or probation may attend summer school for the purpose of raising their grade point averages.

Dean's list

Only full-time students (minimum of 12 semester credit hours) with a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.79 will be included on the Dean's List. Only courses that apply toward an associate degree or a certificate are included in this computation.

President's list

Only full-time students (minimum of 12 semester credit hours) with a grade point average between 3.8 and 4.0 will be included on the President's List. Only courses that apply toward an associate degree or a certificate are included in this computation.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 was designed to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their educational records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings.

Disclosure of student records

In general, no personal information from a student's educational records will be disclosed without written consent from the student. Two exceptions may be made:

1. Directory Information will be released unless the student requests that it not be released (see below).
2. Records may be released to parents of students who are dependents as defined by the internal revenue code.

Directory Information

In compliance with the Family Educational and Privacy Act of 1974, the College may release only information classified as "directory information" to the general public without the written consent of the student. Directory information includes: 

• Student name
• Student address
• Telephone number
• Dates of attendance
• Classification
• Previous institutions attended
• Major field of study
• Awards and honors (includes Dean's List and President's List)
• Degree(s) conferred (includes dates)
• Past and present participation in officially recognized sports and activities
• Physical factors (height and weight of athletes)

Directory information is disclosed unless a request to withhold the release of information has been made in writing. Each student may request that any or all of this information be withheld from the public by making a written request to the Admissions Office.

Review of records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, provides the student with the right to inspect and review the contents of his/her educational records (except as limited under the law). Areas in which records are maintained:

1. Academic: registrar, continuing education, and faculty offices.
2. Placement and testing records: registrar and counseling offices.
3. Financial: financial aid and business offices.

The student is entitled to obtain copies, at his/her expense, to receive explanations or interpretations of the records, and to request a hearing to challenge the content. Access to records must be requested on a form available from the official in charge of the particular record. 

Informal Review: Follow the procedure requesting examination of records. An official will date and sign a summary of action form which will be maintained in the student's file. 

Formal Review: If the question of accuracy is not resolved during the informal review, the student may request a formal review. The Academic Appeals Committee will hear challenges concerning these records. Challenging a grade must occur before the end of the fall or spring semester immediately following awarding of the grade.