In addition to existing NMC policies and standards relating to academic courses, the following policies and standards apply to all courses with an O.P.E.N. format:

STUDENT SUCCESS: The O.P.E.N. learning system is committed to student success. It provides a time-sensitive, competency-based learning format that increases the student's capability for self-directed learning while providing a supportive system. Students must accept responsibility for time management, goal-oriented learning, and communication of their instructional needs to the instructor/assistants.

ORIENTATION: Orientation to the O.P.E.N. learning is required for each semester in which a course is taken in this format. The orientation will be provided as an open meeting at the beginning of the semester and as individualized programs throughout the semester. The student must complete the orientation check sheet and Learning Agreement for that course before beginning the lessons.

LEARNING AGREEMENT: You will be required at your course orientation to complete a written agreement for course completion that specifies course beginning and course end dates. These dates will be used to determine financial aid, and/or withdraw/drop, and/or grade determinations. Learning Agreement end dates may be renegotiated with the course instructor one time for the purposes of grading. However, the original Learning Agreement will be used to determine DROP and REFUND policies. All Learning Agreements must be completed within three weeks of the beginning of the semester, or three weeks from the date of registration within a semester. Failure to do so will result in an administrative DROP from the course.

CLASS CANCELLATIONS/COLLEGE CLOSED: O.P.E.N. course activities will be closed during college closings and holidays. The course notebook has a list of the hours that your instructor will be in the O.P.E.N. office

COMPUTER GUIDELINES: The Center for Learning has guidelines for use of the computer systems. These apply to O.P.E.N. students.

GRADING/ "Incomplete": A grade for the course will be assigned at the end of the contracted course completion date. A grade report will be mailed to the student at the end of the "traditional" semester. A grade of "Incomplete" may be given for O.P.E.N. courses that are in process and are proceeding as contracted by the student. An Incomplete not made up within 16 weeks automatically becomes a 0.0.

FINANCIAL AID/V.A.: You must be registered by the end of the refund period that is established for the full semester to include O.P.E.N. courses in your enrollment status for that semester. Your pre-approved financial aid will be calculated on that enrollment status. Financial aid distribution may be delayed pending receipt of attendance verification for these courses. If your estimated date of course completion extends beyond the official end of that semester, your financial aid for that semester and the following semester may be in jeopardy because your grade status will show on your transcript as an "incomplete". An "Incomplete" grade may cause a probation status on your financial aid record. Students that enroll for O.P.E.N. courses after the established time frame above will not have those credits calculated into their enrollment status for financial aid purposes; these credits will be recorded on the next semester's enrollment report.

DROP/WITHDRAW/REFUND: The refund policy for O.P.E.N., self-paced courses is based on the percentage of the course days elapsed in the student's Learning Agreement or the percentage of course objectives completed, whichever is the greatest. An attendance verification report for the O.P.E.N. course must accompany each Drop/Withdraw/Refund request and must be signed by the instructor of record. These forms may be obtained at the Learning Center office. The "DROP" form must be submitted to the Records office within five (5) business days of the date of the instructor's signature

100% Refund may be received if the DROP form (signed by the instructor of record) is received in the Records office prior to the Learning Agreement start date, or the initial log-in on the course system computer.

90% Refund will be received if the DROP form (signed by the instructor of record) is received in the Record office during the completion of 1%-8% of the elapsed course days as defined in the student's Learning Agreement or 1%-8% of the completion of course objectives, whichever is greater, as determined and documented by the instructor of record.

50% Refund will be received if the DROP form (signed by the instructor of record) is received in the Record office during the completion of 8.1%-16% of the elapsed course days as defined in the student's Learning Agreement or 8.1%-16% of the completion of course objectives, whichever is greater, as determined and documented by the instructor of record.

GRADE STATUS CHANGE: Eligibility to change the status of your grade for enrollment record purposes is also determined by the dates given on the Learning Agreement. An attendance verification report and a request form signed by the instructor of record is required before the Records Office will process your form.

Changing Audit to Credit may occur if the DROP form (drop as an audit and add as a credit) is signed by the instructor of record and received in the Records/Registration Office during the completion of up to 10% of the elapsed course days as defined in the Student's Learning Agreement or up to 10% of the completion of the course objectives, whichever is greater, as determined and documented by the instructor of record.

Drop without Record or Credit to Audit may occur if the DROP form (signed by the instructor of record) is received in the Records/Registration Office during the completion of up to 50% of the elapsed course days as defined in the Student's Learning Agreement or up to 50% of the completion of the course objectives, whichever is greater, as defined and documented by the instructor of record.

Drop with Record (WP/WF*) may occur if the DROP form (signed by the instructor of record) is received in the Records office during the completion of 50.1%-90% of the elapsed course days as defined by in the student's Learning Agreement or 50.1%-90% of the completion of the course objectives, whichever is greater, as defined and documented by the instructor of record. (*withdraw passing / withdraw failing)