Post Admissions Requirements

Once admitted, it is important to understand the policies the administration has put into place concerning students here on the campus.

ORIENTATION AND REGISTRATION

Matriculation to the College is granted only at the beginning of each academic year. Materials concerning orientation, registration, class schedules, and laboratory assignments will be sent during the Summer months to all students accepted to the new first-year class. Orientation and registration for entering students are held prior to the first day of instruction. Orientation provides an introduction to the College environment and gives the students both formal and informal opportunities to meet the administration, faculty and students.

The College requires regular attendance at all lecture, laboratory and clinic sessions to which the student is assigned. The record of attendance is the responsibility of each individual instructor. Permission to be absent must be obtained from the Dean of Academic Affairs. Instructors are not obligated to provide special consideration in the case of unexcused absences. Repeated unexcused absences may result in a student being placed on professional probation.

The academic credits at the Southern California College of Optometry are described in terms of quarter units. One unit of credit represents one hour per week in the classroom throughout the quarter, or a specified period per week devoted to laboratory or clinical work.

All students within a class follow the same academic schedule. The program approximates 17-22 quarter units for each of the 12 quarters. Students who are registered for 12 or more quarter units are considered full-time students. If students must carry a smaller academic load, permission must be obtained from the Dean of Academic Affairs.

Final examinations are held in each course and are required of all students taking the course. At the discretion of the instructor, other examinations may be required during the quarter. Failure to take or to pass any examination shall result in such deficiencies as the instructor may impose. Course grades are assigned by the instructor of record.

Academic standing of students is indicated by the following grades:

A--Outstanding
B--Above Average
C--Average
D--Below Average, Passing
F--Failing

The grade point system indicates the academic attainment of the student. Under this system, grade points are assigned for each course according to the following scale: 4 grade points for each unit of A; 3 grade points for each unit of B; 2 grade points for each unit of C; 1 grade point for each unit of D; 0 grade points for each unit of F. No grade points are assigned for courses that were incomplete or for courses that have been audited by the student. A student's grade point average is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of units attempted. A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 for all work taken at the Southern California College of Optometry is required for graduation.

Also used are grades E, Incomplete; W, Withdrawal; P, Pass; AS, Advanced Standing; AUD, course audited without credit; FD, remediated failing grade. See the SCCO Catalog, page 26.

Students will be placed on academic probation if any of the following occur:

1. Cumulative grade point average is below 2.00.
2. Grade point average for each of two consecutive didactic quarters (excluding the Summer Clinical Quarter) is below 2.00, though cumulative average is above 2.00.
3. When the student receives a grade of F, or failure.
4. When a student receives three or more grades of D in a quarter.
5. When a student receives two unexcused E (incomplete) grades in a quarter.
6. Following a quarter while on probation, a student fails to achieve a quarterly GPA of 2.00 or greater.

A student on probation may not participate in work-study nor hold office in a Class, Student Association, fraternal, or any other student organization. Students placed on academic probation may be referred by the Dean of Academic Affairs to the Counseling Consultant to ascertain whether counseling is indicated to assist the student in successfully completing the academic program. Students on academic probation will be required to participate in the faculty-sponsored Mentoring Program. In addition, students wishing to participate in off-campus meetings during the academic year must have a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA and may not be on academic probation.

Note: Students who are not making satisfactory progress will not be eligible to receive loan monies through programs of the federal government. Students are considered to be making satisfactory progress if they have completed each professional year's coursework within a maximum of two academic years.

Students are subject to academic dismissal when any of the following conditions occur:

1. Grade point average at the end of the first quarter of the first professional year in optometry is less than or equal to 1.00.
2. Cumulative grade point average at the end of the second quarter of the first professional year is less than or equal to 1.50.
3. Cumulative grade point average at the end of the third quarter of the first professional year is less than 2.00.
4. Cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 after having been on probation any previous quarter, with the exception of first-year professional students.
5. When the student attains less than a 2.00 quarterly grade point average in any of three consecutive quarters (excluding the Summer Clinical Quarter).
6. When the student receives more than one failure grade in a quarter.
7. When a student is eligible for probation for the third time.
8. If the student has failed to remediate a grade of F within ten (10) weeks following the completion of the quarter. In the case of fourth-year students, completion must occur prior to the end of the subsequent rotation or within a time specified by the instructor of record.
9. In situations not covered by the above rules, if at any time the Committee on Academic Standing determines that the student's academic progress is unsatisfactory.

A student may appeal one notice of academic dismissal. The appeal must be in writing, addressed to the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs. Students who are dismissed are generally presumed to be dismissed indefinitely. Should a student dismissed for academic reasons be readmitted, he/she will be placed on academic probation and may be required to meet other performance criteria as specified by the Dean of Academic Affairs. A dismissed student may not continue in any degree program of the College as an audit student, observer or participant, unless an appeal of dismissal is under consideration.

The administration of the College, with the assistance and endorsement of the Student Association, has established minimum standards of honorable conduct and dress befitting student members of the optometric profession. These standards are set forth in the "Ethics and Professional Standards" and the "Professional Standards of Dress" that are published in the SCCO Student Handbook. All members of the Student Association, faculty and administration are expected to adhere to and enforce these standards, as well as, all other regulations published by the College.

Students will be placed on professional probation if any of the following occur:

1. Failure to comply with the published "Ethics and Professional Standards."
2. Failure to comply with the published "Professional Standards of Dress."
3. Failure to comply with published College policies.
4. An unexcused absence from a clinical assignment.
5. Repeated unexcused absences from lecture and/or laboratory sessions in any quarter.
6. Failure to meet the behavioral standards expected of a health care professional.

A student who has been placed on professional probation may not hold office in a Class, Student Association, fraternal or other student organization.

A student is subject to professional dismissal if any of the following occur:

1. When the student's action and/or conduct reflects discredit on the institution or the profession.
2. If, while on academic or professional probation, a student violates the "Ethics and Professional Standards" or the "Professional Standards of Dress" policies or manifests behavior that does not meet the institution's minimum standards of conduct.
3. Failure to correct the matter(s) that initially caused the student to be placed on professional probation.

A student may be suspended from participating in the College's academic/clinical programs for a period of time up to one year if found guilty of failure to comply with the published "Ethics and Professional Standards."

There are two types of official withdrawal from the Southern California College of Optometry.

The first is withdrawal with the "Intent to Return" during the next academic year. This type of withdrawal may be granted to students who are not subject to dismissal under the College's Academic Standing Policy and have met all financial obligations to the College. Withdrawal with the "Intent to Return" allows the student to be readmitted in the following academic year without going through the admissions process. This special "Intent to Return" can only be used for the academic year occurring immediately after the official withdrawal. Should the student who has withdrawn with the "Intent to Return" classification fail to rematriculate at the start of the next academic year, he/she forfeits the special privilege granted by the "Intent to Return" provision and must consequently submit a new Application for Admission to the Southern California College of Optometry and follow the established admissions procedures.

The second type is "Resignation." "Resignation" clearly indicates that the student does not desire to continue in the program at the Southern California College of Optometry. This resignation is accepted only when the student has met all financial obligations to the College. After resignation has been approved, should the student have a change of mind and wish to be considered for readmission in a subsequent academic year, he/she must submit an Application for Admission to the Southern California College of Optometry and follow the established admissions procedures.

The official date of withdrawal is the date on which the request for withdrawal is acknowledged in writing by the Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs. Under no circumstances will a request to withdraw be accepted once final exams for that quarter have begun.