When it comes to repeating classes, American River College students get three strikes then they’re out.
If you are a first year student or just coming back to college after a break, it’s important to know that there have been recent changes to policies regarding course repeatability throughout all California community colleges.
Due to budget cuts, a high demand for classes and an impacted system, students will only be permitted to enroll in the same credit course a total of three times.
This means if you fail, withdraw, or a combination of both from the same class three times you will not be allowed to enroll and take the class again.
“What has been happening is students have been repeating, [three times] and not passing, and taking away from other students. It’s hard enough to get classes.” says ARC counselor, Rene McGinley.
“Three times if you can’t pass, you need to pick another class. It’s hurting the financial aid system by repeating like that,” adds McGinley.
Students who do not complete or pass a required class to graduate or transfer will need to find another way to take that class, such as enrolling through another district.
If the student receives a satisfactory grade of a C or better he or she will not be able to retake the course again.
When a student withdraws or is withdrawn from a course by its professor it shows as a W on the student’s academic record. While this W does not count against you in your GPA, this will factor in when you try to enroll again.
“Three attempts is plenty. The system is very impacted and a lot of people need to get their classes,” says Jack Shea, a second year English and business major. “Three [attempts] is overly generous actually,” Shea adds.
The course repeatability policy is different for physical education and visual art classes, as students are only given one chance to enroll. Student with questions about these classes should visit their counselors.
When picking classes for next semester students may want to consider these changes and be sure they are committed before enrolling. Also, it will be critical that students pay attention to deadlines about when you can drop classes without it being marked as a withdrawal.
Counselor McGinley urges students who feel they are struggling and cannot pass to use the resources they have access to at ARC, such as their instructor and tutoring labs.
