| General Information AB540
Students
On October 12, 2001, Governor Davis signed into law
Assembly Bill 540 (Stats. 2001, ch.814) which adds a
new section to the California Education Code.
Section 68130.5 creates a new exemption from payment
of nonresident tuition for certain nonresident
students who have attended high school in California
and received a high school diploma or its
equivalent.
- The new law does not grant residency, it
requires that certain nonresident students be
exempted from paying nonresident tuition.
- Students exempted from paying nonresident
tuition pursuant to section 68130.5 do not
become residents for eligibility purposes for
any state-funded program (e.g., EOP&S, Cal Grant
programs, or for purposes of a BOG Fee Waiver).
- Students who meet the exemption requirements
and who are unlawful immigrants are not eligible
for any federal or state financial aid program.
Many private sources have created scholarships
specific to students not eligible for
traditional financial aid programs. (scholarship
link)
- Students exempted from paying nonresident
tuition pursuant to section 68130.5 are not
eligible for the Governor’s Merit Scholar
Programs because these scholarships are only
available for California residents.
- Students must meet all requirements in
section 68130.5 (a) (1) – (4) to be eligible for
the exemption.
a. The student must have attended a California
high school for three or more years. There are
no provisions for partial attendance (e.g. two
years and 7 months). The law does not require
consecutive attendance nor require that the
student attended the last three years in
California (in the case of four-year high
schools).
b. Such attendance could be at multiple
California high schools. Attendance at
continuation high schools, charter high schools
and K-12 approved independent education is
acceptable.
Attendance at a home school is not acceptable
unless the home schooling was provided in a
manner recognized under state law. The law does
not distinguish between public and private high
schools. There is no time limit on how far in
the past the student might have attended a
California high school.
c. The student must have graduated from a
California high school or attained the
equivalent thereof (e.g., a GED or a high school
proficiency exam).
d. Except for nonimmigrant aliens, any
nonresident student who meets the first two
requirements shall be exempted from nonresident
tuition even if he or she is a US citizen or
lawful immigrant.
e. If the student has filed an application with
the INS to legalize status, the student may
already be eligible for resident fee status if
the student has resided in California for more
than one year since the time of INS application.
(See Title 5 Section 54045.)
- Students who are nonimmigrant aliens (the
most common being the F series student visas and
B series visitor visas), are not eligible for
this exemption. (A full description of
nonimmigrant alien classification may be found
in paragraph 15 of subsection (a) of Section
1101 of Title 8 of the U.S. Code.) People who
entered the country as nonimmigrant aliens but
subsequently have gone out of status are not
eligible for this exemption until they apply to
INS to change their status to something other
than nonimmigrant.
- High School transcripts are required to
apply for AB540.
Advanced Placement Test
Credit may be given for Advanced Placement Tests
with scores of 3, 4, or 5. Contact the counseling
office.
Attendance: First Class Meeting
All registered students should be present at the
first meeting of the class unless other arrangements
have been made with the instructor. Students who are
not present by the end of the first class may lose
their place to someone who is in attendance and
wishing to enter. If you do not attend you must drop
the class to insure your record is clear.
Auditing
Students will not be permitted to attend classes for
which they are not officially enrolled.
Basic
Skills Enrollment
The California Education Code limits students to no
more than 30 semester units of pre-collegiate basic
skills units. ESL and learning disabled students are
exempted. Students who feel they would benefit by
taking more than 30 semester units of pre-collegiate
basic skills courses should see the Dean of
Counseling and Student Development.
California Residency
If asked, a student must provide proof of California
residency (or in some cases, parent residency) for
the past 12-24 consecutive months. If the student is
unable to document proof of California residency,
he/she may still enroll but must pay non-resident
fees. To establish residency a student must be able
to prove eligibility, physical presence and the
intent to remain as a resident (12 months) or 24
months of physical presence. Some visa types are
precluded by federal law from establishing
residency. In addition to other requirements, a
student must be able to prove residency for one year
and one day prior to the beginning of the semester. Selected exemptions from
non-resident fees are provided in law: such as
certificated public school employees, agricultural
workers, military personnel and their dependents. If
you feel that you might qualify for an exemption, or
have questions about residency, please contact the
Admissions and Records Office.
Campus Security Policy
Rio Hondo College is responsible for the preparation
of the Annual Security Report in compliance with the
Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy
and Crime Statistics Act. This report is prepared in
cooperation with the local law enforcement agencies
surrounding the Rio Hondo College campus as well as
the Santa Fe Springs Fire Academy, in addition to
the information compiled by campus security and the
Office of the Dean of Student Life. Statistics are
compiled by the College for certain crimes reported
by a victim or witness to the campus security or a
campus official with significant responsibility for
student and campus activities. This report also
includes certain crimes reported to the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s Department as required by the Act.
An updated report is made available by October 1st
of each year, with a full text of the report located
on the Rio Hondo College web site at http://www.riohondo.edu
/facilities/security.htm
Changes in Schedule
Rio Hondo College reserves the right to make changes
in the class schedule. When enrollment in any class
is not sufficient to justify its continuance, the
class may be cancelled.
Classification of Students
Freshman -Students with 0 to 29 units
Sophomore -Students with 30 to 59 units
Fall/Spring
Students enrolled for:
0 - 5.99 units - Less than 1/2 time
6 - 8.99 units - Half-time
9 - 11.99 units - 3/4 time
12 units and above - Full-time
Summer Students enrolled in 4 units are considered
full-time.
Credit by Examination
Credit for some courses may be earned by successful
completion of an examination depending on
departmental policy. Application forms are available
in the Admissions and Records Office. Student’s
transcript will denote credit earned by credit by
exam.
Pass/No Pass Petitions
Students may enroll in one course each semester on a
pass/no pass basis. Those who choose this option and
successfully pass the course requirements will not
receive a letter grade (A, B, C) but will receive
credit earned. P (pass) is defined as a grade of “C”
or better. The option is designed to encourage
students to explore classes in which they might not
otherwise enroll. The deadline to petition P/NP
classes is as follows:
Deadlines for P/NP petitions:
Dean’s Honors List
The Dean’s Honors List is published each semester.
It includes all students whose semester grade point
average is 3.5 or higher in 12 or more graded units
completed (fall and spring semesters only).
Directory Information
This is to serve as public notice that the following
information is regarded by Rio Hondo Community
College District as “Directory Information,” and may
be released for distribution unless stop action is
initiated by a student on the Rio Hondo College
Directory Information Denial of Release form
available in the Admissions Office. Directory
Information includes: a student’s name, whether or
not he/she is currently enrolled, participation in
officially recognized activities and sports, weight
and height of members of athletic teams, degrees and
awards received. A request for directory information
will be denied to any parties if the college
determines that such release is not in the best
interest of the student (Board Policy No. 5040).
Further information may be obtained from the
Admissions and Records Office.
Directed Study
The course is intended for students who have the
ability to assume responsibility for independent
work and to prepare written and oral reports; who
possess a 3.0 overall grade point average, or for
whom the instructor feels an exception should be
made. Directed study may be developed from any topic
arising from or related to a course of study that
will result in developing breadth and depth in that
subject area. The project selected will be described
in the contract agreed upon by the student and
instructor. (Arranged: 48 hours per unit, 6 hours of
which must be with the instructor.) The contract
must be turned in to the Office of Student Learning
Support located on the third floor of the Library
before the end of the fourth week of the current
semester. Limited to 1 to 3 units.
Entrance Requirements
High school graduates or individuals 18 years of age
or over who show evidence that they can profit from
instruction may enroll in Rio Hondo College. All
classes are open to the public. No person shall on
the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, age or physical or mental disability be
excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under
any educational program or activity sponsored by Rio
Hondo College. HS transcripts are required at the
time of application.
Exception to the 18 unit (15 unit) Limit
Students are limited to 18 units (15 units for
summer sessions) unless they receive written
approval from a counselor to take additional units.
Students adding over 18 units (15 units for summer
sessions) must add during open or late registration.
Grades
Students who want grades will need to
access them in the following way:
Determination of a student’s grade by the
instructor, in the absence of mistake, fraud, bad
faith, or incompetency, shall be final. Grades given
in error will be expunged from the record. Grades
from a grading scale shall be averaged on the basis
of the point equivalencies to determine a student’s
grade point average. Computing a student’s degree
applicable grade point average will include only
grades earned in degree applicable course work. See
College Catalog for more details on grades.
Name Change Procedure
Continuing or Returning Student who wish school
records to reflect a name change must provide
acceptable legal documents before a name change is
made. Acceptable evidence includes, but is not
limited to, marriage license and court documents.
Open Enrollment in all Classes
In compliance with the policy of Rio Hondo Community
College District, every class offered, unless
otherwise indicated in the official catalog and
schedule of classes, shall be fully open to
enrollment and participation by any person who meets
the academic prerequisites of such classes and who
is otherwise eligible for admission to and
enrollment in the college. Every person, otherwise
eligible, shall be allowed to enroll in and attend
any class wherever offered throughout the District.
Repetition of Course Guidelines
It is a violation of state law and college policy
(Board Policy 4225) to repeat a course unless
certain conditions are present. This policy shall
not take precedence over any existing state or
federal regulation.
Guidelines
- A course in which a student grade of a D, F
or NC has been recorded may be repeated only
once.
• In computing the Grade Point Average (GPA) of
a student repeating courses, the most recent
earned grade shall be used for courses repeated
for a grade of D, F or NC for the first 20 units
of coursework repeated. In order to ensure a
true and complete academic record, the original
grade record shall not be changed or removed on
the official academic transcript.
• Students may use coursework from an accredited
college to replace Rio Hondo College coursework
in which an F, D or NC was recorded provided the
courses are articulated as being equivalent.
• A student must complete a Course Repetition
with Previous Substandard Grade form available
in Admissions and Records in order to remove the
effects of the F, D, or NC grade from the GPA.
- A course in which a student grade of a CR or
C or better has been recorded may not be
repeated except under extenuating circumstances
or a significant lapse of time.
• Any student wishing to repeat a course for
which they received a CR or C or better grade
must complete a Course Repetition with Previous
CR/C or Better Grade form available in
Admissions and Records and submit it with
appropriate signatures and approvals to
Admissions and Records.
• In computing the GPA of a student approved to
repeat a course because of extenuating
circumstances or significant lapse of time, the
most recent grade will not earn additional units
or grade points towards improving or changing
the previous grade earned in the class.
• Successful repetition of a course originally
passed does not carry additional unit credit
towards a degree or certificate
- Students who repeat a course without
appropriate authorization will be
administratively dropped from the class.
- A student’s record will be appropriately
marked indicating those courses that have been
repeated.
- A course may be repeated without a petition
if it is listed in the college catalog as a
repeatable course.
Student Financial Obligations
Students with any outstanding financial obligations
to the college (e.g., library fines, laboratory
fees, etc.) will have student privileges withheld,
including, but not limited to, notification of
grades, sending of transcripts, and right to
register.
Student Grievance Procedures
Students who have a grievance against any faculty or
staff member may request a hearing of the College
Review Board. A grievance is an alleged wrongful act
by a Rio Hondo College staff or faculty member which
has an adverse effect upon a student’s academic or
personal status at Rio Hondo College (See
Administrative Procedures). The Review Board is
composed of three members of the full-time faculty,
three members of the student body and one member of
the administrative staff. Students may petition for
a hearing before the College Review Board by filing
a request in the Office of Student Life. The
recommendation of the College Review Board is
advisory to the Superintendent/President of the
College.
Student Records/Transcript
Upon written application, a document verifying
grades or enrollment will be issued by the Office of
Admissions and Records. The first two copies
requested are issued free of charge. Thereafter, a
fee of $3.00 for each record is charged. Forms are
available in the Office of Admissions and Records.
Withdrawal From Courses
There are three types of course withdrawal.
- Withdrawal without receiving a “W.” If a
student withdraws from a course before the
listed “last day to drop without a ‘W’”
deadline, there is no “W” grade on the students
record (transcript).
- Withdrawal with a “W.” A student who
withdraws after the “last day to drop without a
‘W’” deadline and before the deadline to drop a
class, gets a “W” grade. The “W” grade is not
used to calculate a student’s grade point
average, but is used for progress
probation/dismissal.
- Military withdrawal. This occurs when a
student who is a member of an active or reserve
U.S. military service receives orders compelling
a withdrawal from courses. Upon verification of
such orders, a student can petition to withdraw
from classes and when authorized, the student
will be withdrawn with a “MW” Military
Withdrawal note on the student’s transcript.
Military withdrawals are not counted in progress
probation and dismissal calculations. Withdrawal
petitions are available in the Admissions and
Records Office.
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