Academic Senate Meeting
May 6, 2016
AGENDA ITEM 4.3
REDWOODS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Administrative Procedure
AP 4101
INDEPENDENT STUDY
Independent Study projects are individual arrangements between instructor and student, and each
academic department within College of the Redwoods has the option to offer Independent Study
courses. Independent study courses offer students the opportunity for individualized instruction
and learning and are intended to substitute for other courses offered by the academic departments
Conditions for Independent Study
a.
b.
c.
d.
Student must have completed 12 semester units at the College.
Student must be in good academic standing and have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0
Students may earn 0.5 -3.0 credits per Independent Study Course.
Discipline must have a current Independent Study course proposal approved by the
Curriculum Committee, the Academic Senate, the Board of Trustees, and the
Chancellor's Office.
e. These courses usually count as electives and generally do not fulfill specific Associate
Degree requirements. However, when a student is faced with extenuating circumstances
an Independent Study course may be used to complete degree or certificate requirements.
For example, if a student has moved out of the area yet needs one course to complete a
certificate or degree, or a course has been discontinued but the student’s catalog rights
require them to have the course.
f. Transfer credit for Independent Study courses is contingent upon an evaluation of the
course by the receiving college or university.
Approval for Independent Study
a. Instructors are responsible for assisting the student in developing the proposal, granting
instructor approval of the proposal, assisting the student in the Independent Study as
necessary, evaluating the results of the study and submitting the final grade to the Office
of Admission and Records.
b. The Independent Study Course Contract must be completed by the student and instructor
of record; then approved by the appropriate Dean or Director.
c. The Dean or Director sends the request to the Scheduling Specialist identifying the
course, number of units and instructor.
Academic Senate Meeting
May 6, 2016
AGENDA ITEM 4.3
d. The student is added to the course when the contract is received. The student contract is
scanned and put in the student record.
e. Independent study courses require weekly or daily census and grades are posted using
WebAdvisor.
Academic Standards
At least one piece of student-generated work and instructor evaluation of the work completed is
required.
Academic standards applicable to courses of Independent Study shall be the same as those
applied to other credit courses offered at the College.
Procedures for Evaluation
Student progress is evaluated in a manner consistent with other courses offered at College of the
Redwoods. Methods of evaluation and grading criteria are clearly stated in the contract and
agreed to by all stakeholders. Independent Study students shall have the same level of access to
the instructor that students enrolled in courses conducted by other instructional methods have,
including office hours.
References:
Title 5 Sections 55230 et seq.
New Policy Approved by Academic Senate ______
Academic Senate Meeting
May 6, 2016
AGENDA ITEM 4.3
REDWOODS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Administrative Procedure
AP 4101
INDEPENDENT STUDY
Independent Study projects are individual arrangements between instructor and student, and each
academic department within College of the Redwoods has the option to offer Independent Study
courses. Independent study courses offer students the opportunity for individualized instruction
and learning and are intended to substitute for other courses offered by the academic departments
Conditions for Independent Study
g.
h.
i.
j.
Student must have completed 12 semester units at the College.
Student must be in good academic standing and have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0
Students may earn 0.5 -3.0 credits per Independent Study Course.
Discipline must have a current Independent Study course proposal approved by the
Curriculum Committee, the Academic Senate, and the Board of Trustees, and the
Chancellor’s Office.
k. These courses usually count as electives and generally do not fulfill specific Associate
Degree requirements. However, when a student is faced with extenuating circumstances
an Independent Study course may be used to complete degree or certificate requirements.
For example, if a student has moved out of the area yet needs one course to complete a
certificate or degree, or a course has been discontinued but the student’s catalog rights
require them to have the course.
l. Transfer credit for Independent Study courses is contingent upon an evaluation of the
course by the receiving college or university.
Approval for Independent Study
f. Instructors are responsible for assisting the student in developing the proposal, granting
instructor approval of the proposal, assisting the student in the Independent Study as
necessary, evaluating the results of the study and submitting the final grade to the Office
of Admission and Records.
g. The Independent Study Course Contract must be completed by the student and instructor
of record; then approved by the appropriate Dean or Director.
h. The Dean or Director sends the request to the Scheduling Specialist identifying the
course, number of units and instructor.
Academic Senate Meeting
May 6, 2016
AGENDA ITEM 4.3
i. The student is added to the course when the contract is received. The student contract is
scanned and put in the student record.
j. Independent study courses require weekly or daily census and grades are posted using
WebAdvisor.
Academic Standards
At least one piece of student-generated work and instructor evaluation of the work completed is
required.
Academic standards applicable to courses of Independent Study shall be the same as those
applied to other credit courses offered at the College.
Procedures for Evaluation
Student progress is evaluated in a manner consistent with other courses offered at College of the
Redwoods. Methods of evaluation and grading criteria are clearly stated in the contract and
agreed to by all stakeholders. Independent Study students shall have the same level of access to
the instructor that students enrolled in courses conducted by other instructional methods have,
including office hours.
References:
Title 5 Sections 55230 et seq.
New Policy Approved by Academic Senate ______