Academic Policies

Course Repetition

Certain Courses Are Approved for Repetition

The Board of Trustees of San Mateo County Community College District has adopted a policy (District Rules and Regulations, Section 6.12) which permits a student to repeat certain courses for credit a maximum of 3 times (for a total of four class enrollments). These courses/subjects that have been approved by College of San Mateo Committee on Instruction as "repeatable" because they require increasing levels of student performance or provide significantly different course content each subsequent semester. Such courses are designated as "may be repeated for credit" in the College catalog. Courses which are not so designated may not be repeated under this policy. Further information on this policy is available from counselors/advisors.

Course Repetition for Purpose of Grade Alleviation - (For student who has received a grade of D, F, or NC/NP)

A student who has received a grade of D, F, or NC in a course taken at a college of the San Mateo County Community College District may repeat the course up to two times for the purpose of grade alleviation. This allows a student a maximum of three attempts to successfully complete the course. The permanent academic record shall be annotated in such a way that all course be annotated in such a way that all courses attempted remain on the transcript showing a true and complete academic history. Course repetition completed at any San Mateo County Community College District will be honored. In no case will the unit value of a course be counted more than once.

Extenuating Circumstances

A student who has had three attempts to successfully complete a class, the original attempt plus two repetitions, and received Ds, Fs, or NC/NP may petition to take the course one additional time only if documentable extenuating exist that match the dates and times of the courses. Examples of extenuating circumstances are accident, illness, death in the family, evidence of caretaking responsibilties, verifiable disability. Documentation is required to support circumstances that relate specifically to the date of the course.

Course Repetition for the Student Who Has Recieved a Grade of A, B, C or CR/P

Courses which have been completed with a grade of A, B, C, or CR/P may be repeated for the purpose of improving the grade or proficiency only in the following two cases. One, the course is documented by the employer as mandated for training requirements as a condition of continued paid or volunteer employment. Two, the official course outline has been updated and the class content has changed substantially.

If a student successfully completed a course (grade of "C" or higher or P) and a significant length of time has passed (normally 3 or more years), the course may be repeated for subject recency only and the units and grade from the second attempt are not part of the student's grade point average or cumulative units.

Mandated Training Requirements and Course Repetition

Course repetition shall be permitted, without petition, in instances when such repetition is necessary for a student to meet a legally mandated training requirement as a condition of continued paid or volunteer employment. Written verification from the employer is required. Such courses may be repeated for credit any number of times, regardless of whether or not substandard work was previously recorded, and the grade received each time shall be included for purposes of calculating the student's grade point average.