III. Academic Life
Overview
Academic life at Oakridge College includes courses, programs of study, advising, attendance, participation, academic records, and progress toward completion.
Students are responsible for understanding their courses, following academic expectations, asking for help when needed, and keeping track of their own academic progress.
The Details
Oakridge College is an academic community. Students are expected to take their studies seriously and participate in classes, programs, and academic activities in good faith.
Academic life is supported by faculty, Department Chairs, Deans, advisors, the Registrar, and Student Affairs. These offices and roles help students understand their options, but students are still responsible for paying attention to their own courses, requirements, and conduct.
Academic Schools and Departments
Oakridge College is organized into Academic Schools.
The Academic Schools are:
- School of Arts and Humanities
- School of Social Sciences
- School of Natural Sciences
- School of Professional Studies
Each School contains academic departments. Departments oversee courses, programs of study, faculty activity, student advising, and academic standards in their field.
Students should usually begin academic questions with their instructor or faculty advisor. If the question concerns a program, department requirement, or larger academic issue, the student may be referred to the Department Chair or Dean.
Programs of Study
A program of study is the academic path a student follows.
Programs may include:
- Certificates
- Associate degrees
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Concentrations within a major
Students should understand the requirements of their program and ask for advising when they are unsure which courses or activities apply.
A student should not assume that a course, event, or activity counts toward a program requirement unless it has been approved by the appropriate department or college authority.
Course Registration
Students are responsible for registering for approved courses through the proper college process.
A course registration should show:
- Course code
- Course name
- Instructor
- Department or School
- Meeting time, if used
- Location, if used
- Enrollment limit
- Any special requirements
Students should review course information before joining a class. If a student is unsure whether a course is appropriate for their program, they should ask their faculty advisor, instructor, Department Chair, or Registrar.
Course Codes
Course codes help students understand the subject and level of a course.
The letters show the subject area.
The number shows the general course level.
Examples:
- HIS 101 is an introductory History course.
- PSY 101 is an introductory Psychology course.
- BIO 201 is an intermediate Biology course.
- LAW 210 is an intermediate Legal Studies course.
- SOC 302 is an advanced Sociology course.
- ENV 420 is a senior or capstone-level Environmental Studies course.
Students do not need to memorize every course prefix, but they should understand that course codes are used to organize academic records and program requirements.
Course Levels
100–199: Introductory
Introductory courses are entry-level courses.
They are usually appropriate for first-year students or students who are new to the subject.
200–299: Intermediate
Intermediate courses assume some basic knowledge or prior coursework.
They are appropriate for students who already have some experience in the subject.
300–399: Advanced
Advanced courses are upper-level courses.
They may involve more specialized content, stronger expectations, or deeper academic work.
400–499: Senior or Capstone
Senior or capstone courses are high-level courses.
They may include seminars, practicums, independent projects, senior work, or capstone requirements.
Course Expectations
Each course should have clear expectations.
Students are responsible for understanding:
- The course topic
- Attendance or participation expectations
- Major assignments or activities
- Classroom conduct expectations
- How to ask for help
- Any special rules for the course space
- Any requirements for completion or credit
Students should ask questions early if they do not understand what is expected.
A student should not wait until the end of a course to raise a problem that could have been addressed earlier.
Attendance and Participation
Students are expected to attend classes, meetings, labs, workshops, events, or activities when attendance is required.
Participation may include:
- Speaking in discussion
- Listening respectfully
- Completing assignments
- Taking part in exercises
- Working with classmates
- Attending required events
- Asking or answering questions
- Supporting group activities
- Following instructions during class
Not every course will require the same kind of participation. A lecture, laboratory, studio, seminar, field activity, and performance course may all have different expectations.
Students should follow the participation rules set by the instructor.
Absences
Students should communicate with the instructor when they know they will miss a required class or activity.
A student who misses class is responsible for finding out what they missed.
Repeated absences may affect:
- Participation
- Completion records
- Course standing
- Program progress
- Eligibility for activities
- Faculty recommendations
- Graduation readiness
If a student has a serious reason for repeated absence, they should speak with the instructor, faculty advisor, Student Affairs, or another appropriate college authority.
Academic Advising
Academic advising helps students understand their courses, programs, requirements, and academic options.
Students may receive advising from:
- Faculty advisors
- Instructors
- Department Chairs
- Deans
- Registrar
- Student Affairs
- Program staff or approved academic support roles
Advising may help students:
- Choose courses
- Understand program requirements
- Plan academic progress
- Discuss academic interests
- Ask about graduation requirements
- Understand academic problems
- Find the right office for support
Advising is guidance. It does not replace official program requirements or college records.
Students are responsible for confirming important academic decisions through the proper office or authority.
Faculty Availability
Faculty should be reasonably available for academic questions.
Availability may include:
- Office hours
- Scheduled meetings
- Class review time
- Department help sessions
- Written replies to academic questions
- Approved advising appointments
Students should respect faculty time.
Students should not expect faculty to be available at all hours or to answer immediately outside normal availability.
Academic Records
Academic records help the college track student progress.
Academic records may include:
- Course registration
- Enrollment records
- Attendance records, if used
- Grade or credit records, if used
- Completion records
- Program requirements
- Graduation records
- Disciplinary academic records, when applicable
Students should not attempt to change, falsify, hide, or misuse academic records.
A student who believes an academic record is incorrect should contact the instructor, Registrar, Department Chair, or another appropriate authority.
Grades, Credit, and Completion
Some Oakridge courses or activities may use grades, credit, completion records, certificates, or other academic markers.
Students should understand what is required before the course or activity begins.
A student should ask:
- Is this course graded?
- Does this course carry credit?
- Does this course count toward my program?
- What is required for completion?
- Who records completion?
- What happens if I miss required work?
Students should not assume that attendance alone is enough for completion unless the instructor or department has said so.
Academic Honesty
Students are expected to complete academic work honestly.
Students should not cheat, plagiarize, falsify records, submit work they did not do, misuse another student’s work, or claim credit for work that does not belong to them.
Academic integrity is explained in more detail in Section VI: Academic Integrity.
Classroom Conduct
Students are expected to support a respectful and functional learning environment.
Students may ask questions, disagree, challenge ideas, and participate in difficult discussions.
Students may not:
- Threaten others
- Harass others
- Repeatedly disrupt class
- Refuse reasonable instructions
- Intimidate classmates
- Prevent others from participating
- Use personal attacks instead of academic disagreement
- Damage classroom equipment or property
- Refuse to leave after being properly removed from class
A student who is removed from class is expected to leave promptly and without further disruption.
Student Concerns About a Course
A student who has a concern about a course should usually begin with the instructor.
If the concern cannot be resolved with the instructor, the student may contact:
- Faculty advisor
- Department Chair
- Dean of the School
- Registrar
- Student Affairs
- Dean of Student Affairs
- Vice President or President, when appropriate
Examples of course concerns may include:
- Confusion about expectations
- Unclear assignment instructions
- Concern about grading or completion
- Repeated class disruption
- Concern about faculty conduct
- Concern about unfair treatment
- Safety concerns in a class space
- Problems with course records
Safety concerns should be reported immediately to Campus Security or another appropriate authority.
Student Responsibility for Progress
Students are responsible for paying attention to their academic progress.
This includes:
- Knowing their program of study
- Attending required courses
- Completing required work
- Asking for help when confused
- Reviewing academic records when needed
- Communicating problems early
- Following registration procedures
- Understanding graduation or completion requirements
Faculty and advisors can help, but students must take an active role in their own education.
Graduation and Completion
Graduation or program completion requires that the student meet the requirements set by the college, School, department, or program.
Requirements may include:
- Required courses
- Required credits, if used
- Completion records
- Capstone work
- Practicum or field activity
- Department approval
- Good academic standing
- Good conduct standing, when applicable
- Registrar confirmation
A student should not assume they are eligible for graduation until their record has been reviewed and approved by the proper authority.
General Rule
Students are expected to take academic life seriously.
This means attending, participating, asking for help, completing work honestly, respecting instructors and classmates, and keeping track of academic progress.
Oakridge College provides guidance and support, but students are responsible for making a good-faith effort to learn and complete the work required of them.