Student Responsibility Statement

All students at Helena College are responsible for knowing and understanding the requirements of their individual degree programs, and must take final responsibility for making their own academic decisions.

Computer Requirement

Student ownership of and/or permanent access to a computing device is required at Helena College. Students benefit greatly from the ability to work and access online information and services at any time and from any place. For specific program requirements and additional information, please refer to the Computer Recommendations webpage.

Academic Integrity

Helena College expects its students to adhere to a high standard of academic integrity. It is a violation of academic integrity standards and the student code of conduct to present the ideas, designs, works, or words of another person as one’s own efforts, or to permit another person to do so. The following guidelines are intended to clarify these issues for students, faculty, and administration.

The College will regard the following acts as violations of academic integrity constituting academic dishonesty. Although the list and descriptions are not intended to be exhaustive of all types or instances of academic dishonesty, they are presented as examples of behavior to avoid. It is explicitly the student’s responsibility to avoid academic dishonesty of all kinds, and each student is required to seek guidance in advance of taking any questionable action, including but not limited to those enumerated, below.

Plagiarism: A student will be considered in violation of standards for academic integrity if they submit an assignment in any form (written, oral, graphic, or computer-generated, etc.) which consists wholly or partially of the words, work, or ideas of another individual without giving the original author proper credit. A similar violation would occur in cases where a student submits a paper or other project/assignment for one course that was originally created for another course even if that student was the originator of the paper/project/assignment in the first instance. Similarly, using facts, figures, graphs, charts or information without acknowledging the source constitutes plagiarism, which may occur verbally, in written form, through computer programs and files, research methods, designs, particular distinctive words or phrases, ideas and images or any other information that was created by another person without acknowledgement of that person’s role in its creation. Inadvertent or unintentional misuse or appropriation of another’s work (such as relying heavily on source material that is not expressly acknowledged) is still considered plagiarism.

Copying / Cheating: A student will be considered in violation of academic integrity standards if they gain, or attempts to gain, credit for work by dishonest or deceptive means. Examples include the use of crib notes, cheat sheets, books, or any other material or electronic device as aids in an examination or any other graded exercise, unless the instructor of the class has given explicit permission to use such materials. Collaboration with another student on an examination or other graded exercise, unless the instructor has given permission, also constitutes copying. It is the policy of the College to prohibit phones, smart watches, and other similar devices during examinations. Prior to administering an examination, instructors will require all such devices are turned off and stored in an inaccessible place. Failure to comply with this policy will constitute a violation of the academic integrity policy. If a student is found in possession of such a device during an examination, they will be assigned a score of 0 for the examination. Further examples include: copying assignments from another source (classmate, etc.); working with others on exams or homework that is not explicitly permitted by the instructor to be collaborative; looking at another student’s paper or screen during an exam or assignment; disclosing exam content to others during an exam, or after completion of an exam, including allowing such information to be disclosed to you; and/or attempting to or allowing another person to complete assignments for another person (such as in an online course). The above examples are meant to illustrate violations of the principle of academic integrity, and are not intended to be all-inclusive. Additional instances of dishonesty that are not explicitly identified in the above list will nevertheless be treated as violations.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Generated Work: If the faculty suspects that the submitted work was not your own or that AI tools were extensively utilized, the student will be asked to explain the work in detail. If the student is not able to display reasonable understanding of the submitted work, it will constitute a violation of the academic integrity.

Contributing to Academic Dishonesty: A student will be considered in violation of academic integrity standards if they willfully assist another student in an act of academic dishonesty.

Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated. Academic sanctions for a first violation are at the discretion of the instructor and range from a failing grade for the assignment to a failing grade in the course in which the academic dishonesty occurs. When a faculty member assigns a failing grade based on academic dishonesty, they shall notify the affected student(s) and the appropriate Division Director of the violation and provide all supporting documentation to the Division Director. Record of the infraction will be kept on file in the office of the Division Director, although no further official action will be taken unless/until a second infraction is reported. In cases of repeated offenses, the Executive Director of Compliance and Financial Aid will be notified and will administer a range of disciplinary sanctions up to and including expulsion from the College. Students retain their right to due process and may refer to the Student Code of Conduct Handbook or the Executive Director of Compliance and Financial Aid regarding any disciplinary sanctions.

For more information please refer to the Student Code of Conduct Handbook on our website.

Class Attendance & Absence

Students are expected to attend all class meetings and complete all assignments for courses in which they are enrolled. Instructors may excuse brief and occasional absences for reasons of illness, injury, family emergency, religious observance, or participation in a College-sponsored activity. (College-sponsored activities may include required course field trips, ASHC service, or other institutionally supported service.)

Instructors must excuse absences for the following reasons:  military service, mandatory public service (court appearance, jury duty), emergency medical attention of self or immediate family member, and/or death of immediate family member. To petition for an excused absence, the student must contact the instructor of the course and the Division Director(s) responsible for the applicable course(s) as soon as possible, but no more than 5 days following the absence. Contact information for Division Director can be found on course syllabi. Each request will be handled on a case-by-case basis using all available information and documentation to make an informed decision. Part of this determination will be based on whether or not the student can successfully complete the course following the absence. In some cases, class and/or discipline requirements may preclude the possibility of successful completion of the course. Course requirements including assignments, lab work, quizzes, and exams cannot be removed; however, when appropriate, extensions to due dates may be granted. If the student does not agree with the determination of the Division Director, they may appeal to the Dean/CEO.

Instructors may establish absence policies to conform to the educational goals and requirements of their courses. Such policies will be set out in the course syllabus. Customarily, the course syllabi will describe the procedures for giving timely notice of absences, explain how work missed because of an excused absence may be made up, and stipulate any penalty to be assessed for absences.

Students Called to Active Duty

If a student is ordered to active duty while enrolled in one or more courses at an educational institution, the faculty shall, when consistent with accreditation requirements:

• assign a final passing grade in the course if, in the faculty's judgment, enough of the course requirements have been completed;
• assign a military incomplete in the course and extend the period of time in which the student may complete course requirements; or
• allow the student to withdraw from the course, backdating out of the term, and all tuition/fees paid will be reimbursed to the entity that paid it (noting there may be Financial Aid implications), and no grades (including “W’s”) will be recorded.

If a student re-enrolls in one or more courses at an educational institution within 12 months after returning from the active duty that interrupted the student’s previous enrollment at the institution, the student must, to the extent possible, be readmitted with the same academic status that the student had when ordered to active duty, unless the student requests or agrees to admission with a different academic status.

Please fill out a specialized “Students Called to Active Duty” form for the above situations found on the Veterans Benefits/Forms webpage.

Scholastic Requirements

In order to remain in academic good standing at Helena College students must receive a 2.00 or higher cumulative GPA. Students not meeting this requirement will be placed in one of the following statuses at the end of the semester.

Good Standing with Referral: Students that receive less than 2.00 for the term but have a cumulative GPA greater than a 2.00 will receive a referral to the Academic Coach to receive information on tools and support to empower them in achieving they educational goals.

Academic Warning: Students will be placed on academic warning, or continued warning, at the end of any term (including summer session) if their cumulative GPA drops below or remains below 2.00.

All students on academic warning are required to meet with the Academic Coach to better understand their standing and resources.

An “Academic Warning” notation will be posted to a student’s permanent Helena College academic record.

Students placed on academic warning must show satisfactory academic progress – i.e. earn a 2.00 term GPA – during their next term of enrollment (including summer) or face academic suspension. Students who raise their cumulative GPA to the minimum 2.00 will be removed from “warning status”.

Students placed on academic warning will be notified of their status in writing within a reasonable time following the end of the term. Notification will explain resources and conditions for enrollment in the future terms of enrollment.

Academic Suspension: Students will be academically suspended at the end of any semester if they were placed on academic warning in their last semester of attendance and they failed to earn a term GPA of 2.00.

Students placed on academic suspension status may not enroll at Helena College during the next semester (fall or spring, whichever applies), nor summer session if a student is suspended at the end of spring semester. That is, a student who has been academically suspended from Helena College for the first time must “sit out” one regular semester (plus summer session, if a student is suspended at the end of spring semester). An “Academic Suspension” notation is posted to a student’s permanent Helena College academic record.

Students who are suspended for academic reasons will be informed of their status in writing as soon as possible following the end of the term. Any/all future enrollments (future class schedules that exist in Helena College’s computer system through pre-registration prior to the end of the term in question) of academically suspended students will be canceled. Written notification of academic suspension will explain options available to the suspended student.

Readmission Following Suspension: Students who are suspended for academic reasons must apply for readmission to Helena College. Students who seek readmission after “sitting out” the required suspension period must submit:

1. A properly completed Application form;
2. A letter that acknowledges the reasons the student did poorly and steps taken to improve the student’s ability to perform; and
3. An Application for Reinstatement after Academic Suspension form.

The application and letter will be reviewed by a committee. Students reinstated after suspension will be assigned an advisor and follow a strict academic plan. Reinstatements will not be considered for the summer semester.

Student evaluation is reported at the end of each semester. Students may access their final grades online through “MyHC.” A student’s level of academic performance is determined through the calculation of a grade point average (GPA). The grade-point average is determined by dividing total grade points earned by the number of credits carried. Students may access their grades and GPA through “MyHC” on the Helena College website. The meaning of each grade and its value in grade points is as follows:

Grades

Grade	Quality of Work	Grade Points
A	Excellent	4.00
A-		3.67
B+		3.33
B	Above Average	3.00
B-		2.67
C+		2.33
C	Average	2.00
C-		1.67
D+		1.33
D	Passing	1.00
D-		0.67
F	Failing	0
FR	Failing / Remedial	0
NF	Never Attended	0
AUD	Audit	N/A
EC	Credit by Exam (AP/CLEP)	N/A
I	Incomplete	N/A
MG	Missing Grade	N/A
NP	No Pass	N/A
CHCH	Challenge/Pass	N/A
P	Pass	N/A
R	Following a Traditional Grade	N/A1
TP	Tech Prep	N/A
TR	Transfer Course	N/A
R	Retake	N/A
SL	Service Learning	N/A
W	Withdraw	N/A

¹

An “R” following a traditional grade is used for courses numbered below 100 level. These courses are not counted in the GPA.

In order to graduate, students must:

1. Earn a minimum grade of “C-” in each class used to meet the prerequisites or program requirements and
2. Maintain either:
   1. a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (for students seeking Associate of Applied Science Degrees) or
   2. a minimum 2.25 GPA (for students seeking Associate of Arts or Associate of Science Degrees) or
   3. a minimum 2.50 GPA (for students seeking an Associate of Science in Nursing)

Dean’s List

To qualify for the Dean’s List, the student must earn a semester GPA of 3.50 or higher while earning 12 or more semester credits. (P/NP and developmental class credits are not included as earned credits for purposes of determining Dean’s List standing.) Grades of “D,” “F,” or “NP” are not allowed. The student will receive written notification of the offer, and it will appear on his/her transcript for that term.

Incomplete

An incomplete (“I”) grade may be given with the approval of the Executive Director of Enrollment Office when, in the opinion of the instructor, there is a reasonable probability that students can complete the course without retaking it and without instructor participation. The incomplete grade is not an option to be exercised at the discretion of the student and is given only in cases of extreme personal hardship or unusual academic situations.

Eligibility for an incomplete is determined within the following guidelines:

1. An incomplete may be assigned to a student when he/she has been in attendance and doing passing work up to three weeks before the end of the course, and, for reasons beyond his or her control, or he/she has been unable to complete the requirements on time. Negligence, indifference, or excessive absences are not acceptable reasons.
2. The instructor will set the conditions for completion of the coursework. When these conditions have been met, the instructor will assign a grade based upon an evaluation of the total work done by the student in the course.
3. An incomplete (“I”) which is not made up during the next regularly scheduled semester will automatically convert to a grade of “F.”

Pass / No Pass

Student Option: Students who enroll in courses for which their preparedness is in question may enroll in certain courses on a pass/no pass basis at the discretion of the instructor.

No more than six pass/no pass credits may be counted toward program completion. The pass/no pass option does not extend to courses required by the student’s program or program option, except at the discretion of the departments concerned. Courses numbered below 100 are not calculated in the pass/no pass limit or toward program completion.

The grades of pass/no pass are not formally defined in terms of their relationship to the traditional grades of A, B, C, D, and F; a “P” is given for work considered to be passing and therefore deserving credit, and an “NP” for work not passed. “P” and “NP” grades do not affect grade point average.

Election of the pass/no pass option must be indicated at registration time on the registration form. After registration, but prior to the end of the 15th day of instruction, a student may change the grading option from pass/no pass to traditional (A – F) grading, or vice versa, by submitting an add/drop form.

The College cautions students that many schools and some employers do not recognize non-traditional grades (i.e., those other than A, B, C, D, and F) or may discriminate against students who use the pass/no pass option.

Faculty Option: A department may elect to offer an entire class on a pass/no pass basis. This method of grading is used in courses where more precise grading is inappropriate.

Repeating a Course

Students may retake a course to improve their grade by registering and paying tuition and fees for the course. They must submit a Request to Change Grade for Repeated Courses form to the Registrar's Office upon completion of the course. The letter grade for the repeated course will be posted to the student’s transcript, and the previous grade will be replaced with an “R” to indicate that the course was retaken. A grade of “R” is not calculated into GPA.

A student’s academic standing (Dean’s list, probation, suspension, etc.) cannot be retroactively changed by retaking classes.

Academic Forgiveness

A Helena College student seeking his or her first undergraduate degree who returns to the College after a minimum three-year absence and has not attended any other college or university is eligible for Academic Forgiveness.

Academic Forgiveness allows a student who has met the requirements in the previous statement to return to Helena College and continue the pursuit of a degree or certificate without penalty from previous poor academic performance.

Receiving Academic Forgiveness for previous semesters results in all credits and grades, up to two semesters, being forgiven and excluded from the student’s GPA calculation; semesters do not need to be consecutive. A student will not be allowed to select specific grades and credits to be retained while excluding others earned. The excluded courses and grades will remain on the student’s official College transcript; however, they may not be used to fulfill any program or college requirements.

A student will be granted Academic Forgiveness only one time during his or her academic career with Helena College.

Only Helena College grades and credits will be excluded; any transfer courses previously applied to the student’s transcript will remain.

Any student who receives Academic Forgiveness will be bound by the College Catalog in effect at the time of the return to Helena College or any subsequent catalog in accordance with College policy.

A student applying for Academic Forgiveness will be required to pass a minimum of 75% of registered courses after applying for forgiveness and be in good academic standing upon completion of the term before Academic Forgiveness will be granted.

For example, if the student is registered for 12 credits in the fall term after having sat out for the minimum three years, the student must successfully complete 9 credits with a minimum term GPA of 2.00. After such, then and only then will the application for Academic Forgiveness be reviewed.

A student wishing to apply for Academic Forgiveness should contact the Registrar's Office for the appropriate form. The Executive Director of Enrollment will be responsible for verifying eligibility and after review by the appropriate offices, will notifying the student of the decision.

Procedure

1. Provide a written statement that outlines the nature of your request for Academic Forgiveness and the reasons you believe your appeal merits approval.
2. Submit a letter(s) of support from an academic administrator, faculty member, advisor, or other College professional who is familiar with your situation. If the extenuating circumstance involves medical reasons, it is not necessary for the letter(s) of support to contain details of the medical condition.
3. Submit the completed form and required documentation to Executive Director of Enrollment for approval.
4. If approved, the form and documentation will be forwarded to the Executive Director of Enrollment for completion of the process. Academic Forgiveness will result in all credits and grades earned during the semester in question being excluded from the student’s GPA calculation; a student will not be allowed to select specific courses or credits for exclusion. The excluded courses and original grades earned will remain listed on the transcript; however, they may not be used to fulfill any Helena College requirements toward attainment of a credential or degree.

Audit

Registered students may, with the consent of the instructor, enroll in a course for no credit (audit). Auditing students pay the same fee as students enrolled for credit. Auditors are not expected to complete coursework as students who are enrolled for credit, nor will they take tests. Audit enrollments will not count toward financial aid or degree completion requirements. Students must inform the Registrar’s Office within the first 15 instructional days of the course.

Challenging a Course for Credit / Prior Learning Assessment

A student who has completed coursework through prior learning or non-accredited learning experiences has the option of earning college credit by taking a challenge exam for designated courses. It is important to note that not all courses can be challenged. An instructor will determine if the student’s previous coursework and/or experience supports the challenge request. The request must be approved by the Division Director and then validated by the Executive Director of Enrollment. The exam must be completed with passage of at least 80% of the exam contents (written, oral, and/or hands-on content) in order to receive credit for the course. A grade of “CH” will be placed on the student’s transcripts with successful completion of the examination. The grade received for the challenge does not affect the student’s GPA. A fee will be charged for the challenge exam in accordance with Board of Regents policy. Challenged credits will not count toward financial aid.

Course Substitutions

Students are required to complete all program courses in order to be awarded their degree or certificate. Helena College does allow course substitutions when there is a compelling reason to do so. A course substitution must uphold the integrity of the degree. For more information on the procedure for substituting a course, students should see their advisor.

Grade Appeal Process

Final Course Grade Appeal

Every student has the right to appeal the final grade in a course, in accordance with the stipulations outlined below. Such an appeal must be initiated by the student or the student’s agent/representative, who has been identified in writing, no later than commencement of the subsequent semester. Spring grades will normally be appealed in the following fall semester. The initiating student should begin with the INFORMAL process outlined in Section A and then may pursue the FORMAL process in Section B if satisfaction is not obtained informally. Once a formal appeal has been initiated, the process will conclude within two weeks whenever possible.

SECTION A

Student initiated INFORMAL Process

1. Discuss the matter with their instructor. Clerical errors are usually handled in this manner, with the instructor signing the correction of official records. If the student believes the problem is not resolved, the student shall then;
2. Meet with the Division Director who supervises faculty teaching the course to discuss the issue. If the concern still remains unresolved, the student may;
3. Elect to file a formal written Grade Appeal with the Executive Director of Enrollment. The Executive Director records the official filing of the appeal and then refers it to the Peer Review Committee. A formal Grade Appeal may not be filed until steps 1 and 2 above have been completed. It is recommended that students present documentation that may shed light on the appeal. Ask for the Grade Appeal form at the Welcome Center desk

SECTION B

FORMAL Process

Conditions under which grade may be appealed:

1. If there is a dispute over the numerical calculation of the grade, or
2. If the grade assigned appears arbitrary or capricious or inconsistent with syllabus assessment/grading policy.

Faculty Peer Review Committee

Upon receipt of a student’s written Grade Appeal, the Executive Director of Enrollment shall then convene a hearing of the Peer Review Committee. The committee will be formed ad hoc and consist of:

1. A division chairperson from OUTSIDE of the division where the course is offered. This chairperson is non-voting and serves only to facilitate the process.
2. Four faculty members who shall be selected by the Executive Director of Enrollment, with two from the Airport Campus and two from the Donaldson Campus.
3. The student who has filed the appeal must be in attendance or else waive his/her right to attend the meeting in writing prior to its being scheduled.
4. The involved faculty member may attend or send written comments at her/his discretion.
5. The institutional Registrar may be invited to provide information or as a committee resource.

The purpose of the Peer Review Committee is to determine whether or not the grade should be changed. If the Peer Review Committee finds that the grade assigned was miscalculated, or appears arbitrary or capricious or inconsistent with syllabus and assessment/grading policy, the Committee shall make a recommendation as to the appropriate grade to the Executive Director of Enrollment who will have final decision authority.

Assignment Grade Dispute

Every student has the right to appeal a grade while the course is in progress, in accordance with the stipulations outlined below. Such an appeal must be initiated by the student no later than TEN working days after the assignment grade in question is delivered or posted. It is important to note there is NO FORMAL PROCESS for appealing a grade while the course in in progress.

SECTION A

Student initiated INFORMAL Process

1. Discuss the matter with their Instructor. Clerical errors are usually handled in this manner, with the Instructor assigning the correction for official records. If the student believes the problem is not resolved, the student shall then:
2. Visit with the administrator who supervises faculty teaching the course to discuss the issue. If the concern still remains unresolved, the student must wait to:

File a formal written Grade Appeal with the Executive Director of Enrollment according to the process outlined above AFTER the final grade for the course has been posted. The Executive Director records the official filing of the appeal and then refers it to the Peer Review Committee. It is recommended that students present documentation that may shed light on the appeal.

Graduation Requirements

Students will need to take the following steps in order to have their degree/certificate posted to their transcript. 

1. Application for Degree or Certificate: During the semester prior to graduation, students must meet with their academic advisor and submit an Application for Degree or Certificate to the Registrar’s Office. Upon receipt, the Registrar's Office will complete an official degree audit. Any eligible stackable credentials that have not been awarded will be included with the graduation application for that semester. Students will be notified of the audit results through their Helena College email.
2. Final Audit: At the end of the term in which a student plans to graduate, a final degree audit will be conducted. Students will be notified through their Helena College email if any graduation requirements remain outstanding.
3. Submission Importance: Students who do not submit an Application for Degree or Certificate will not receive an official audit and may not be awarded a degree or certificate.
4. Additional Requirements:
   • Students must earn a “C-“ or higher in all classes used to satisfy certificate or degree requirements per Montana Board of Regents Policy 301.5.3.
   • A cumulative GPA of 2.00 (unless specified otherwise by their program) is necessary.
   • At least 1/3 of their degree coursework must be completed at Helena College.
   • Program credits must have been taken within the last 5 years, and general education credits within the last 15 years, as per Montana Board of Regents Policy 301.5.2.

Catalog Governing Graduation 

The Helena College catalog in effect at the time of initial enrollment governs a student’s graduation requirements, provided they have been continually enrolled. If a student takes a break for two or more semesters, the catalog at the time of readmission applies. Students may choose to graduate based on any following catalogs.

All program requirements must be completed within five years of enrolling. Students who haven’t met requirements within five years will follow the catalog in use at the time of graduation.

In cases of program changes, Helena College determines appropriate substitutions. If a program is eliminated, an appropriate phase-out process is established for current students.

Graduation Honors

Eligibility for academic honors is based upon the student’s cumulative GPA at the end of the semester prior to commencement for announcement purposes. The final and official honors distinction will be made after all grades have been submitted and calculated by the Executive Director of Enrollment. The official honors distinction will be stated on official transcripts. The honors classifications are identified below:

4.00: Summa Cum Laude

3.80 – 3.99: Magna Cum Laude

3.50 – 3.79: Cum Laude

Outdated Coursework

In accordance with Board of Regents Policy 301.5.2, Helena College uses the following guidelines for evaluating previous coursework taken at Helena College:

• Courses specific to a program of study are guaranteed for evaluation for five years.
• Courses used for general education requirements are guaranteed for evaluation for 15 years.
• Courses used for elective credits are guaranteed for evaluation for 15 years.

Coursework that falls outside of the stated periods is not guaranteed for evaluation/graduation. It is the discretion of the individual program to review coursework older than the above guidelines. Students who have outdated coursework are encouraged to speak with their faculty advisor.

Add / Drop Procedures

Students enrolled in fall or spring semesters may add classes through the first eight instructional days of the semester. During the first three instructional days, classes may be added online through a student's MyHC. From instructional days 4 through 8, students must obtain Instructor approval and submit an add form to complete registration.

Students may drop a class without academic record through MyHC during the first 15 instructional days of the semester. After the 15th instructional day, a drop form must be completed and submitted to the Registrar’s Office. Drop forms may not be used to withdraw completely from the College; students seeking to withdraw from all classes must submit a withdrawal form.

If a student drops a class after the first 15 instructional days and up to five days before the end of the course, a “W” (Withdrawal) will be recorded. Classes may not be dropped during the final five instructional days of the semester. Students who remain enrolled will receive a letter grade based on coursework completed.

Add/drop deadlines for summer semesters are calculated proportionally based on the number of instructional days in the semester session. Specific add/drop deadlines for all semesters are published on the College website.

Administrative Drops

Generally it is the student’s responsibility to drop themselves from classes they will not be completing. There are certain scenarios where a student may be removed from classes administratively. 

Non-Payment of Tuition and Fees

Students that have not paid tuition and fees by payment deadlines will be dropped from classes. Payment deadlines are listed in the academic calendar. Students will receive notification from the Registrar’s Office notifying them when their classes have been dropped. Students may reregister for classes after the drop.

Course Pre-requisites Not Met

Students that pre-register for a course, but fail to meet the pre-requisites will be removed from the course before the start of the semester. Students will receive notification from the Registrar’s Office before the drop occurs. Students will need to receive instructor consent if they would like to add the course back in to their schedule.

Instructor Initiated Drop Due to Non-Attendance

Instructors may drop students during the initial drop period for non-attendance. During this time students will be dropped without record on their transcript and are eligible for a partial refund of their tuition and fees. These dates will be listed in the academic calendar. Non-attendance will be counted as the following:

1. Student fails to attend 2 consecutive class meetings without prior approval from the instructor during a 15-week semester or block semester.
2. Student fails to log into and meet the requirements of active participation in an online or hybrid class within 5 consecutive days during a 15-week semester. Active participation is considered submitting an assignment, quiz, an interactive tutorial, or participate in a discussion.
3. Student fails to attend or log into summer session class during the first two days of the class without prior approval from the instructor.

The instructor will notify the student through Helena College email that they will be initiating the drop. The Registrar’s Office will send the student confirmation of the drop once it is processed. Students will be subject to refund schedule at the time of withdrawal. Students should not rely on this to be dropped from class as it is up to the instructor to pursue.  If a student does not plan to attend the student should take initiative to drop the class themselves.

If students receive notification of an instructor initiated drop and believe it is in error or there are extenuating circumstances they will need to contact the instructor to discuss the option of being added back into the class.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal from the College is the responsibility of the student. To officially withdraw from all classes after the start of the term, students must:

1. Meet with their advisor,
2. Complete and sign the official withdrawal form,
3. Submit the completed form to their advisor.

Withdrawal dates and deadlines are based on the length of the course and are communicated through the Registrar's Office website. Students should review these dates carefully. Failure to meet the deadline will result in receiving the grade earned for the semester. Students cannot withdraw from a course in which they have received an FX for academic dishonesty.

Mitigating Circumstances Appeal

Eligible students may file a Mitigating Circumstances Appeal with the Executive Director of Enrollment to be considered for a complete withdrawal outside of the published withdrawal deadlines and/or to receive a partial refund of tuition, mandatory fees, and course fees.

Mitigating circumstances are catastrophic, unanticipated, and life-altering events that are beyond a student’s control. These circumstances prohibit the student from continuing to be enrolled during a semester.

Mitigating Circumstance Appeals must be submitted no later than 90 days following the final instructional day of the semester during which the mitigating circumstances occurred. Barring extraordinary circumstances, an appeal will only be granted to an individual student once. This appeal is not the appropriate venue to resolve or appeal academic matters.

Further criteria for eligibility:

• The mitigating circumstances prevented the student from remaining enrolled in the semester, and/or from meeting the withdrawal deadline.
• The mitigating circumstances took place before the final day of the semester.
• For all medical and health-related appeals, the student must supply documentation on the medical provider’s letterhead certifying that the student could not complete the semester and confirming the health-related mitigating circumstances with the dates that verify the onset and/or worsening of the condition(s).
• A Mitigating Circumstances Appeal has no bearing on a student’s financial aid appeal. If applicable, a financial aid appeal must be filed separately with the Financial Aid Office. Examples of eligible mitigating circumstances include, but are not limited to:
• A debilitating illness or injury (new or unanticipated) afflicting the student during the enrollment period;
• The death of a close family member;
•  Unanticipated active-duty military service, including training.