2018-2019 Spring Edition 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Spring Edition [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Rules and Regulations


Academic Regulations

Students’ Rights and Responsibilities

 Catalog Rights and Continuous Enrollment (effective Fall 2009)

 

Catalog Rights

Because course requirements for degree and certificate completion may change from one catalog year to the next, students may establish “catalog rights” when they first take classes at Saddleback. Establishing catalog rights protects the student from being held for additional requirements that may be added to a later catalog. Policies printed in the college catalog are in effect for the academic year, fall, spring, and summer.

Beginning in fall 2009, the number of years allowed for students to complete a certificate or degree program and maintain catalog rights from when they first took classes at Saddleback College will be no more than six years.

Students who were enrolled prior to fall 2009 shall be afforded the catalog rights from when they first took classes at Saddleback College, if they have met the standards for continuous enrollment given below.

For the purposes of meeting graduation or certificate requirements, students may elect to meet the requirements of any of the following, provided they maintain continuous enrollment and meet the six year time frame for certificate and degree program completion:

  1. The catalog was in effect at the time they began taking courses at Saddleback College, or
  2. Any catalog that is or has been in effect during the time that they have maintained continuous enrollment before graduation, or
  3. The catalog that is in effect at the time they file an application for a degree or certificate.

Continuous Enrollment

Students maintain catalog rights by maintaining continuous enrollment in the South Orange County Community College District- that is by receiving a letter grade of “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “F”, “P”(C), “NP” (NC), “RD”, “W”, “MW”, or “I” on their transcripts for at least one course per academic year.

Catalog rights apply only to Saddleback College graduation and program requirements. If other institutions change their requirements for entrance, graduation, satisfaction of general education patterns, or in other ways, it may be necessary for the student to meet the new requirements upon transfer, even if continuous enrollment has been maintained.

Unless otherwise requested by the student on the Petition for Graduation, the catalog used to determine eligibility will be the catalog in effect at the time the student began continuous enrollment at Saddleback College.

Documented military or medical leave will not be considered an interruption of enrollment. Absence related to an approved educational leave or for attendance at another accredited institution of higher learning is not considered an interruption, providing the absence does not exceed two years.

Some programs require that students complete specific courses within an established time frame. In such cases, recency requirements supersede catalog rights.