General Information

Statement of Purpose

Vision

Midland College will be West Texas’ premier learner-centered institution offering programs and services that support and inspire student learning and community enrichment. With twenty-first century campuses, the College will empower students to achieve success.

Mission

Midland College is a comprehensive community college that is dedicated to excellence, has a commitment to learning, and promotes a life-long quest for knowledge. The institution supports individual and economic development in its service area and beyond by offering certificates, associate and baccalaureate degrees, workforce and continuing education opportunities, and comprehensive student support services. Midland College also provides a variety of community services, cultural and educational enrichment opportunities to the West Texas region.

Core Values

Upon establishment, Midland College embraced the core values of Faith, Knowledge, Truth, Understanding and Wisdom as evidenced by the College seal. To these, the following have been added:

• Quality - learning experiences to help students achieve their personal and professional goals

• Diversity - commitment to the dignity and worth of all individuals

• Continuous enrichment - academic, professional, and personal growth of students and employees

• Effective learning - preparation of students for roles as citizens in a rapidly changing global economy

• Academic freedom - safe environment where competing beliefs and ideas can be openly discussed and debated

• Stewardship - efficient, effective, and ethical use of public and private resources

• Collaboration - introspection and communication predicated upon a foundation of mutual trust and support

• Accountability - using a student focused, outcomes based approach to demonstrate the quality of a program (or college) to key stakeholders .

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 Student Services 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

Each student’s scholastic performance is evaluated each fall and spring semester. The minimum scholastic standard is achievement of a 2.0 GPA each semester 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 six semester credit hours in a regular semester. A student will be notified when placed on scholastic probation or enrollment restriction. In order to get off scholastic probation, a student must complete six semester credit hours during a regular semester or two 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 Student Services 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 Student Services.

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 Registration 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 Registration Office.

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 Registration Office. The GPA is determined by using only Midland College courses. For posting to the transcript, all Midland College courses are used to determine Honors status.

Midland College Locations

Midland College (MC) has a main campus located at 3600 North Garfield, Midland, Texas and a branch campus, the Midland College Williams Regional Technical Training Center, in Ft. Stockton, Texas.  MC also provides classes at sites throughout its service area. These sites include the Advanced Technology Center at 3200 West Cuthbert, Midland, Texas, the Cogdell Learning Center, 201 West Florida, Midland, Texas, Hanger E. Midland International Airport, 2405 Windecker, Midland, Texas, and several high schools where MC provides dual credit instruction.

Midland College Williams Regional Technical Training Center

The Midland College Williams Regional Technical Training Center (WRTTC), located at 1309 West I-10 in Fort Stockton, was built in 1996 to advance higher education in the region and to enhance workforce development. The WRTTC was approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as the first branch campus of Midland College in 1998. In 2000, the facility size was doubled as a result of an aggressive community fundraising initiative.

The WRTTC campus serves its students through university parallel and occupational/technical certificate and associate degree programs, a wide variety of continuing education offerings, free classes to prepare students to take the GED® test and programs offered in collaboration with the Fort Stockton Independent School District (FSISD). Offerings are supported by advanced instructional technology, interactive television and computerized distance learning technology which link many WRTTC programs to the Midland College campus.

For additional information regarding the WRTTC, visit www.midland.edu/wrttc or telephone (432) 336-7882.