Academic Information

Student Academic Information

Student Classification and Load

Student classification is defined as follows:

The normal student load during a regular semester is 12 to 15 hours with a maximum of 19 hours. Maximum load during the summer session is 7 hours for each six-week term. Appeals for an overload should be directed to the Vice President of Instruction or a designee.

The following guide is offered to help evaluate the number of hours a working student should try to complete in one semester.

Scholastic Standards

Student retention is essential to the Midland College mission and every effort is made to promote student success. Each student’s scholastic performance is evaluated each regular semester. The standard is achievement of a 2.0 GPA and completion of at least half of the semester hours attempted. A student is in good scholastic standing if he/ she has no previous academic record at Midland College or has met the minimum scholastic standard.

A student who falls below the minimum scholastic standard will be placed on scholastic probation and will be allowed to enroll for a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in the next regular semester. A student who fails to meet the minimum scholastic standard for the last two regular semesters will be placed on enrollment restriction and will not be allowed to enroll for more than 6 semester credit hours in a regular semester. A student will be notified when placed on scholastic probation or enrollment restriction. To remove this restriction, a student must complete 6 semester credit hours during a regular semester or 2 consecutive summer sessions with a 2.0 GPA.

A student will not be placed on scholastic probation or enrollment restriction as a result of scholastic performance during summer sessions. However, scholastic performance during summer sessions may be used to remove scholastic probation or enrollment restriction. Only semester credit hours and grade points earned at Midland College are used for calculations of scholastic standing.

Upon student request, a counselor/advisor may grant an exemption to the enrollment limits resulting from scholastic probation or enrollment restriction. If a student’s request for exemption is denied, he/she may appeal this decision in writing to the Vice President of Instruction or his/her designee.

Grades

A grade is assigned for each credit course which a student completes, and a passing grade may be earned only if the student is enrolled for the duration of the course. The instructor of record determines all grades for a course. The method of determining a grade is included in the syllabus that is presented to students at the beginning of the course.

Grades or transcript notations and their corresponding rating values are as follows:

A semester hour is the standard unit of measurement of college work. Semester hours are assigned to courses based on instructional hours per course in lecture, laboratory and/ or external learning experience as approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The second digit of the course number indicates the semester-hour credit. Course numbers beginning with “0” are not college-credit courses.

Grade point averages (GPA) are computed by dividing the total number of grade points accumulated by the total number of semester hours attempted. Grades of “W” are not included in calculations of grade averages, and incomplete grades are not included until the final grades have been recorded.

Honors Program

The Midland College Honors Program provides an enhanced, creative, and supportive learning environment and special recognition for talented students. The curriculum includes interdisciplinary humanities courses, special honors sections, and independent honors contracts in regular classes. These opportunities provide a flexible and individualized program designed to develop the special abilities and interests of the participants. Graduation as a “Midland College Scholar” is possible with 12 semester hours of honors credit including one humanities course HUMA 1301 or 1302. Other students in the program, but with fewer credits, will receive “Honors” designation on their transcripts. For further information and application forms go to Midland College Website midland.edu/honors or contact Director Dr. Paula Marshall-Gray, MHAB 155, (432) 685-6811, or contact the Division office MHAB 176 at (432) 685-6830.

Honor Roll

The honor roll is published after the fall and spring semesters. The purpose of the honor roll is to recognize academic achievements for full-time and part-time students enrolled in 6 or more credit hours. Students earning a semester GPA of 4.0 will be included on the President’s List; those earning 3.50 to 3.99 will be included on the Dean’s List. Only credit level coursework is calculated in the GPA.

Graduation/Degree Posting

Each spring, Midland College holds commencement to recognize those students who have completed degree and certificate programs during the course of the year. All students who have completed graduation requirements for an associate’s degree or a certificate of at least 24 hours, are encouraged to participate in the commencement ceremony in May. A student who has not completed all graduation requirements may participate in commencement if:

1. he/she lacks nine semesters credit hours or less of required course-work;
2. all non-course requirements for graduation have been met;

Exceptions may be made by the Vice President of Instruction.

Students must file an application for graduation early in the semester in which they will complete their coursework. The application may only be filed by the student or college official either in the Registrar’s office or online. Students who plan to participate in the May ceremony must apply for graduation by March 1. Students are also responsible for filing all transcripts from other colleges with the Registrar.

All students who meet completion requirements for a Certificate/Degree will be processed and awarded.

Degrees and certificates are posted to transcripts only after the student has completed all requirements. Transcript postings are made at the end of the Spring, Summer and Fall semesters.

Graduation with Honors or High Honors is calculated by the Midland College Registrar. The GPA is determined by using only Midland College courses. For the printed graduation program, the calculation is made only on those courses that have been completed through the fall semester preceding spring graduation. For posting to the transcript, all Midland College courses are used to determine Honors status.

Permian Basin Higher Education Alliance

The Permian Basin Higher Education Alliance is a unique partnership with Odessa College.  It allows students from Midland to take courses at Odessa College at the in-district tuition rate and vice versa.  The following programs are offered by Odessa College to Midland students:

• Culinary Arts
• Industrial Machine
• Radiologic Technology
• Surveying

The following programs are offered by Midland College to Odessa College students:

• Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology
• Aviation Maintenance
• Drafting/Computer Graphics
• Respiratory Care

For Midland College programs, please refer to the appropriate department for contact information.