Independent Study and Self-paced Classes

Some classes at JCCC are available "by arrangement" with an instructor. The student and instructor meet and agree to a semester schedule that may involve regularly scheduled meetings and assignments or alternative projects, depending on the specific course requirements and content. Before enrolling in a class by arrangement, students should contact the instructor (or the division administrator) to see if this opportunity is available for the specific course they desire. The selection of classes by arrangement is limited.

Independent Study

By enrolling in independent study, students may explore in depth an area not covered in the regular curriculum. A student must show above-average performance in the area to be eligible, and a faculty member must agree to work with the student. For details, students should contact the division administrator for the area in which they are interested.

Self-paced Study

These courses are designed for students who have high levels of self-motivation, self-discipline and organizational skills; they should not be taken as a substitute for late-start sections of the equivalent course. With self-paced study, students may set their own pace of learning to complete the class requirements as rapidly or as leisurely as they care to within the one-year limit.

Enrollment requires completion of a Self-Paced Agreement, which may be obtained in the program office listed for the course along with a section approval waiver from the department. The student is required to meet with the sponsoring instructor to complete the contract and obtain class materials prior to enrollment in the course. The student then must come to the Success Center, second floor, Student Center, to enroll in the course within two weeks from the date of the waiver. If the student waits more than two weeks to enroll, he or she may be asked to get a new waiver. The enrollment deadlines for a self-paced class for each term are:

• Fall semester - November 1
• Spring semester - April 1
• Summer session - July 1

Refunds / Withdrawals in a Self-paced Class:

1-2 weeks - no “W” and 100 percent refund
3-5 weeks - no “W” and 80 percent refund
6-10 weeks - no “W” and 0 percent refund
After 10 weeks - “W” recorded and 0 percent refund

The last date to withdraw from or request a pass/fail grade option for a self-paced class is six months from the date the waiver was issued. Students should complete an add/drop or pass/fail grade option form in the Success Center, second floor, Student Center.

Although students are permitted to take up to one year to complete a self-paced class, credit hours are transcribed only on the semester of initial enrollment, not the semester of completion. For the purpose of enrollment verifications, the credit hours are counted only for the semester of initial enrollment in the self-paced course.

Graduation policy for self-paced courses: When you apply for graduation and the only course enrolled in is self paced, then:

• If you apply for graduation within a year of enrolling in self-paced course(s), the self-paced course(s) will satisfy current enrollment requirements.

• If the self-paced course is needed to meet graduation requirements, then you must complete the self-paced course by the grade deadline for the semester in which you apply to graduate.

• If the self-paced course is not needed to meet graduation requirements, the course will satisfy current enrollment requirement for the semester in which you are applying to graduate. You simply need to complete the course within the allotted year.