D117 20152016Catalog

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Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-1
2015-2016 CATALOG
Collin College is an equal opportunity institution and
provides educational and employment opportunities
without discrimination on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran
status or other legally protected class. In accordance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and
Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of
1973, Collin College provides accommodations as
required by law to afford equal educational
opportunities to all people. Norma Allen, the
ADA/Title IX/504 Coordinator, is located at CHEC
Room 349; 972.599.3159.
For more information or to request accommodation
services for students, contact ACCESS (Accom-
modations at Collin College for Equal Support
Services) at 972.881.5898 (Voice). For persons who
are deaf or hard of hearing or have speech
impairments, please contact Texas Relay Services by
dialing 711. The Collin College ACCESS Department
Video Phone number is 214.299.8216. Upon request
to the ACCESS Office, the college catalog is available
on computer disk for students with print-oriented
disabilities.
ACCREDITATION STATUS
Collin County Community College District is
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools Commission on Colleges to award
associate degrees and certificates. Contact The
Commission at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia
30033-4097 or call 404.679.4500 for questions about
the accreditation of Collin County Community
College District.
Note: The Commission is to be contacted only if there
is evidence that appears to support the institution’s
significant non-compliance with a requirement or
standard.
ACCREDITING BODIES
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
(ACEN); American Culinary Federation; American
Dental Association’s Commission on Dental
Accreditation (CODA); Commission on Accreditation
for Health Informatics and Information Management
Education (CAHIIM); Commission on Accreditation
for Respiratory Care (CoARC); Commission on
Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
(CAAHEP) through the Committee on Accreditation
of Emergency Medical Services Professions
(CoAEMSP); Commission on Accreditation of Allied
Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) through the
Accreditation Review Council on Education in
Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting
(ARC/STSA); Committee on Accreditation for
Polysomnographic Technologist Education (CoAPSG)
under Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs (CAAHEP)
The programs, policies, statements, fees and courses
contained herein are subject to continual review and
evaluation. Please refer to the college website for the
latest updates. Collin College reserves the right to
make changes or deletions at any time without notice.
This publication is intended for information only and
is not intended as a contract.
Campuses & Locations
To see map of campuses, visit
http://www.collin.edu/campuses
Allen Center (AL)
Allen High School
300 Rivercrest Blvd.
Allen, Texas 75002
972.377.1060
Central Park Campus (CPC)
2200 W. University Drive
McKinney, Texas 75071
972.548.6790
Collin Higher Education Center (CHEC)
3452 Spur 399
McKinney, Texas 75069
972.599.3100
Courtyard Center (CYC)
4800 Preston Park Blvd.
Plano, Texas 75093
972.985.3790
Preston Ridge Campus (PRC)
9700 Wade Blvd.
Frisco, Texas 75035
972.377.1790
Rockwall Center (RW)
2610 Observation Trail
Rockwall, TX 75032
214.771.4573
Spring Creek Campus (SCC)
2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway
Plano, Texas 75074
972.881.5790
http://www.collin.edu
!
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
General Information AC 1-9
About Collin College AC 10-45
Admissions and Registration AC 10-19
Financial Policies and Procedures AC 20-21
Financial Resources AC 22-28
Academic Policies AC 29-36
Student Development AC 37-41
Educational Services AC 42-45
Academic and Workforce Degrees CI 1-136
• AA/AS/AAT General
Education Core Completion CI 5-6
• Associate of Arts Degree CI 8-24
• Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree CI 25-26
• Associate of Science Degree CI 27-35
• Pre-Professional Programs CI 35-36
Workforce Education Programs CI 37-137
• AAS General Education Options CI 38
• Workforce Awards by
Career Cluster CI 39-44
• Associate of Applied Science
Degrees and Certificate Programs CI 45-137
Course Descriptions D 1-119
COLLIN COLLEGE DIRECTORY
Board of Trustees
http://www.collin.edu/leadership/board_of_trustees.html
Leadership Team
http://www.collin.edu/leadership/leadershipteam.html
Administrators
http://www.collin.edu/leadership/provostsanddeans.html
Faculty
http://hb2504.collin.edu/
(course syllabi, professors’ curricula vitae)
RELATED LINKS
Athletics
http://www.collin.edu/athletics
Center for Scholarly and Civic Engagement
http://www.collin.edu/academics/csce
Cisco Systems Networking Academy
http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/cisco_s
ystems.html
Continuing Education and Workforce Development
http://www.collin.edu/ce
Fitness Centers
http://www.collin.edu/studentresources/personal/fit
nesscenters/
Honors Institute
http://www.collin.edu/academics/honors
Learning Communities
http://www.collin.edu/learningcomm
Law Enforcement Academy
http://iws2.collin.edu/lawenforcement
National Technical Honor Society
https://orgsync.com/95652/chapter
Service Learning
http://www.collin.edu/academics/servicelearning
Student Organizations
http://www.collin.edu/campuslife/student_orgs.html
The Arts Gallery
http://www.collin.edu/theartsgallery
The Center for Advanced Studies In Mathematics
and Natural Sciences
http://www.collin.edu/academics/casmns/
Weekend College
http://www.collin.edu/academics/weekendcollege/
!
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-3
COLLIN COLLEGE 2015- 2016 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
FALL 2015
Aug. 12 All College Day
(All Campuses Closed)
Aug. 14 Last day to receive meningitis
vaccine to register for Fall
Aug. 24 Fall Classes Begin
Sept. 7 Labor Day Holiday
(Campuses Closed)
Sept. 8 Fall Census Date
Sept. 18 Plano Balloon Festival-Spring
Creek Campus Closes - 3 p.m.
Sept. 19-20 Plano Balloon Festival-Spring
Creek Campus Closed
Oct. 16 Fall Last Day to Withdraw
Nov. 25-29 Thanksgiving Holiday
(Campuses Closed)
Dec. 7-13 Fall Final Exam Week
Dec. 24-Jan. 3 Winter Break
(Campuses Closed)
SPRING 2016
Jan. 7 All College Planning Work
Session (All Campuses Close
at 11:30 a.m.)
Jan. 8 Last day to receive meningitis
vaccine to register for spring
Jan. 18 MLK Holiday Campuses Closed
(Except for events at SCC)
Jan. 19 Spring Classes Begin
Feb. 1 Spring Census Date
March 7-10 Spring Break (No Classes)
March 11-13 Spring Break
(Campuses Closed)
March 18 Spring Last Day to Withdraw
March 25-27 Spring Holiday
(Campuses Closed)
May 6 Last day to receive meningitis
vaccine to register for
Maymester
May 9-15 Spring Final Exam Week
May 13 Collin College 2015-2016
Commencement at 7 p.m.
SUMMER 2016
May 16 Three-Week May (Maymester)
Classes Begin
May 17 Three-Week May (Maymester)
Census Date
May 20 Three-Week May (Maymester)
Last Day to Withdraw
May 30 Memorial Day Holiday
(Campuses Closed)
May 31 Three-Week May (Maymester)
Final Exams
June 6 Five-Week June and 10-Week
(Summer I/III) Classes Begin
June 14 10-Week (Summer III)
Census Date
June 21 Five-Week June (Summer I)
Last Day to Withdraw
July 4 Independence Day Holiday
(Campuses Closed)
July 7 10-Week (Summer III)
Last Day to Withdraw
July 8 Five-Week (Summer I)
Final Exams
July 8 Fourth of July Make-Up Day for
Five-Week June (Summer I)
and 10-Week (Summer III)
MW Classes
July 11 Five-Week July (Summer II)
Classes Begin
July 15 Required Class Day for Five
Week July (Summer II) and 10-
Week (Summer III) MW
Classes
July 22 Required Class Day for Five-
Week July (Summer II) and 10-
Week (Summer III) TR Classes
July 26 Five-Week July (Summer II)
Last Day to Withdraw
Aug.8-9 10-Week Summer (Summer III)
Final Exams
Aug. 9 Five-Week July (Summer II)
Final Exam
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-4
QUICK REFERENCE
Student Service
CPC
PRC
Academic Advising
972.548.6782 D117
972.377.1779 F109
ACCESS Office
972.548.6816 D118
972.377.1785 F118
Admissions and Records Office
972.548.6710 D118
972.377.1710 F109
Bookstore
972.548.6680 C120
972.377.1680 F159
Campus Police
972.578.5555 D108A
972.578.5555 LH179
Career Services & Off-
Campus Employment
972.548.6747 D117N
972.377.1781 F109
Center for Scholarly and Civic
Engagement
Child Development Lab School
Computer Lab
972.548.6877 C113
972.377.1706 H125
Counseling Services
972.548.6648
B122C, B122D
972.377.1781 F117 F119
Dean of Student Development
972.377.1595 D117
972..881.5902 F136
Developmental Education
eLC (Student Support Center)
972.881.5870
972.881.5870
Financial Aid/Veterans Affairs
972.548.6760 D118
972.377.1760 F109
Fitness Center
972.548.6891 E121
972.377.1758
Alumni Hall
Food Service
First Floor
Alumni Hall
Honors Institute
972.548.6897 D-205
972.377.1827 F135A
Information Center
972.548.6790
First Floor Atrium
972.377.1790
Lawler Hall Atrium
International Students Office
Library
972.548.6860 LA
972.377.1560 L150
Math Lab
972.548.6896 C220
972.377.1639 F148
Maximizing Academic Progress
Program (MAPP) Academic
Probation/Suspension
972.548.6782 D117
972.377.1779 F109
Recruitment and Programs for New
Students
972.377.1627 D117J
972.881.5638 F130
Service Learning Office
Student Development Center
972.548.6770 D117
972.377.1595 F109
Student Life
972.548.6788 C119
972.377.1788 A185
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-5
Student Service
CPC
PRC
Student Lounge
972.377.1788
Alumni Hall
Testing Center
972.548.6849 A109
972.377.1522 F209
Transfer Programs Office
Tutoring (ACCESS Office)
Wellness Center
Writing Center
972.548.6857 A104
972.377.1576 LH141
Administrative Department
CPC
CHEC/CYC
PRC
ADA/Title IX/504 Coordinator
972.599.3159
CHEC 349
Associate Faculty Office
972.548.6830 B331
972.377.1585, 1705,
1554, or 1506 F243,
LH141, H119, L226, or
U111
Cashier’s Office (Bursar)
972.548.6616 A111E
972.985.3724
CYC B101
972.377.1637 F140
The Collin College Foundation
(Scholarships)
972.599.3145
CHEC 429
Continuing Education and
Workforce Development
972.985.3750
CYC 104
Dean of Student Development
Office
972.377.1595 D117
972..881.5902 F136
Instruction Office
972.548.6830 B331
Plant Operations
972.548.6690 E126
972.985.3777
CYC Basement
972.377.1690 Plant
Building
President’s Office
972.758.3800
CHEC 400
Public Relations
972.758.3895
CHEC 411
TSI Information
972.548.6773 D118L
Vice President/Provost’s Office
972.548.6800 C302
972.377.1550 J230
Vice President of Administration
972.758.3831
CHEC 312
Vice President of Student
Development
972.599.3150
CHEC 457
Weekend College
OTHER COLLEGE LOCATIONS
Allen Center
Collin Higher Education Center
Rockwall Center
972.377.1060
972.599.3100
214.771.4573
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-6
Academic Transfer Awards
Associate of Arts (AA) Degrees
Associate of Arts – General Studies
Associate of Arts – Business Field of Study
Associate of Arts – Communication Field of Study
Associate of Arts – Criminal Justice Field of Study
Associate of Arts – Music Field of Study
Associate of Science (AS)
Degrees
Associate of Science – General Studies
Associate of Science – Computer Science Field of
Study
Associate of Science – Engineering Field of Study
Associate of Arts in Teaching
(AAT) Degrees
Associate of Arts in Teaching – Early Childhood-
Grade 6
Associate of Arts in Teaching – Middle Grades
(Grades 4-8)
Associate of Arts in Teaching – High School
(Grades 8-12)
Academic Certificates
Certificate – Core Curriculum Completion
Certificate – Business Field of Study
Certificate – Communication Field of Study
Certificate – Computer Science Field of Study
Certificate – Criminal Justice Field of Study
Certificate – Engineering Field of Study
Certificate – Music Field of Study
Workforce Awards
Animation
Also see Digital Video
AAS – Animation
3-D Animation Track
Game Art Track
Certificate – Animation
3-D Animation Track
Game Art Track
Biotechnology
Certificate – Biotechnology
Business Management
AAS – Business Management
Certificate – Business Management
Child Development
Also see Child Development / Early Childhood and
Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT)
AAS – Child Development
Certificate – Child Development
Certificate – Child Development Associate
MSAA – Child Development Administration of
Programs for Children
MSAA – Child Development Associate Training
Child Development / Early
Childhood
Also see Child Development and
Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT)
Certificate – Early Childhood Educator
Certificate – Infant and Toddler Educator
Cisco Systems Computer
Networking Technology
AAS – Cisco Systems Computer Networking
Technology
Certificate – Advanced Cisco Systems Computer
Networking Technology (CCNP)
MSAA – Cisco Systems Computer Networking
Technology (CCNA)
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-7
Computer-Aided Drafting and
Design
AAS – Computer-Aided Drafting and Design
Certificate – Computer-Aided Drafting and
Design
Certificate – Mechanical Computer-Aided
Drafting and Design
Enhanced Skills Certificate – CADD
MSAA – AutoCAD
Computer Networking
Technology
AAS – Computer Networking Technology
Certificate – Computer Networking Technology
Software (MCSA)
Certificate – Computer Networking Technology
Advanced Software (MCSE)
Computer Systems
AAS – Computer Systems
Computer Support Track
Database Development Track
Information System Track
C++ Software Development Track
Java Software Development Track
Certificate – Computer Systems
Computer Support Track
Database Development Track
Information System Track
Certificate – Software Design
C++ Track
Java Track
MSAA – Computer Applications
MSAA – Database Applications
Convergence Technology
AAS – Convergence Technology
Certificate – Convergence Technology
Culinary Arts
Also see Pastry Arts
AAS – Culinary Arts
Certificate – Culinary Arts
Certificate – Advanced Culinary Arts
Dental Hygiene
AAS – Dental Hygienist
Digital Video
Also see Animation
AAS – Digital Video
Certificate – Digital Video
E-Business Development
AAS – E-Business Development
Media Track
Web Development Track
Android Mobile Development Track
iOS Mobile Development Track
Windows Mobile Development Track
C# .NET Development Track
Visual Basic .NET Development Track
Certificate – E-Business Development
Media Track
E-Commerce Track
Android Mobile Development Track
iOS Mobile Development Track
Windows Mobile Development Track
C# .NET Development Track
Visual Basic .NET Development Track
Certificate – Web Development
MSAA – Interactive Web Programming
MSAA – Studio
MSAA – Web Commerce
Electronic Engineering
Technology
AAS – Electronic Engineering Technology
Certificate – Electronic Engineering Technology
Emergency Medical Services
Professions
AAS – Emergency Medical Services Professions
Certificate – EMS Paramedic
MSAA – Emergency Medical Services Professions
Fire Academy
Also see Fire Science
AAS – Basic Firefighter Certification
Certificate – Basic Firefighter
Fire Science
Also see Fire Academy
AAS – Fire Officer Certification
Certificate – Fire Officer
MSAA – Fire Officer Candidate
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-8
Geospatial Information Science
(GIS)
AAS – Geospatial Information Science (GIS)
Certificate – Geospatial Information Science
(GIS)
Graphic Design
Also see Photography, Commercial
AAS – Graphic Design
Print Track
Web Track
Certificate – Graphic Design
Print Track
Web Track
Green Interior and Architectural
Design
AAS – Green Interior and Architectural Design
Certificate – Level II – Green Interior and
Architectural Design
Certificate – Level I – Green Interior and
Architectural Design
MSAA – Green Interior and Architectural Design
Health Information Management
Also see Health Information Management / Medical
Coding and Billing
AAS – Health Information Management
Health Information Management/
Medical Coding and Billing
Also see Health Information Management
Certificate – Medical Coding and Billing
Health Professions
MSAA – Health Professions
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Track
Electrocardiography (EKG) Track
Phlebotomy (PHLEB) Track
MSAA – Patient Care Technician
Hospitality and Food Service
Management
AAS – Hospitality and Food Service Management
Hotel / Restaurant Management Track
Meetings and Event Management Track
Certificate – Hotel / Restaurant Management
Certificate – Meetings and Event Management
Information Systems
Cybersecurity
AAS – Information Systems Cybersecurity
Certificate – Information Systems Cybersecurity
Certificate – CISSP Information Systems
Cybersecurity Professional
Interpreter Education Program
(IEP)
Also see Associate of Arts – American Sign Language
(Deaf Education) for academic transfer coursework.
AAS – Interpreter Education Program (IEP)
Certificate – ASL Studies
Marketing
AAS – Marketing
Certificate – Marketing
Music, Commercial
Also see Associate of Arts – Music Field of Study, an
academic transfer program.
AAS – Commercial Music
Certificate – Audio Engineering
Studio Track
Live Sound Track
Certificate – Music Business
Nursing (RN)
AAS – Nursing (RN)
Nursing (RN) Bridge for LVN / Paramedic /
Medic
Office Systems Technology
AAS – Office Systems Technology
Certificate – Office Systems Technology
Certificate – Medical Office Support
MSAA – Accounting Support
MSAA – Office Systems Technology
Paralegal / Legal Assistant
AAS – Paralegal/Legal Assistant
Certificate – Paralegal General
Pastry Arts
Also see Culinary Arts
AAS – Pastry Arts
Certificate – Pastry Arts
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-9
Photography, Commercial
Also see Graphic Design and Associate of Arts –
Photography for academic transfer coursework.
AAS – Commercial Photography
Certificate – Commercial Photography
MSAA – Studio Management
MSSA – Studio Production
Police Academy
Also see Continuing Education Basic Peace Officer
program
Certificate – Basic Peace Officer
Polysomnographic Technology
AAS – Polysomnographic Technology
Certificate – Polysomnographic Technology
Real Estate
AAS – Real Estate
Certificate – Real Estate Salesperson
Respiratory Care
AAS – Respiratory Care
Semiconductor Manufacturing
Technology
AAS – Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology
Surgical Technology
AAS – Surgical Technology
Certificate – Central Sterile Processing
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-10
ABOUT COLLIN COLLEGE
MISSION STATEMENT
Collin College is a student and community-centered
institution committed to developing skills,
strengthening character and challenging the intellect.
CORE VALUES
We have a passion for:
• Learning
• Service and Involvement
• Creativity and Innovation
• Academic Excellence
• Dignity and Respect
• Integrity
PURPOSE STATEMENT
Through its campuses, centers and programs, Collin
College fulfills its statutory charge to provide:
• Academic courses in the arts and sciences to
transfer to senior institutions.
• Technical programs, leading to associate
degrees or certificates designed to develop
marketable skills and promote economic
development.
• Continuing adult education programs for
academic, professional, occupational, and
cultural enhancement.
• Developmental education and literacy
programs designed to improve the basic
skills of students.
• A program of student development services
and learning resources designed to assist
individuals in achieving their educational
and career goals.
• Workforce, economic and community
development initiatives designed to meet
local and statewide needs.
• Other purposes as may be directed by the
Collin College Board of Trustees and/or the
laws of the state of Texas.
!
!
ADMISSIONS AND REGISTRATION
ADMISSIONS POLICIES
Collin College operates under an “open door” policy.
Students who are 18 years of age or older are eligible
for admission. Other students may be admitted under
the special admission requirements that follow. The
college reserves the right to guide the placement of
students through assessment, which may include
interviews and a review of past academic
achievement.
Registration options are enhanced and delays may be
avoided by completing all admission requirements in
advance of registration. In all admissions policies and
practices, Collin College does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age,
disability or veteran status in accordance with federal
law.
Official transcripts are required from all regionally
accredited colleges/universities attended. Failure to
provide a transcript will result in future registration at
Collin College being blocked and ineligibility to
receive Collin College transcripts. If no college/
university has been attended, a high school transcript
or GED is required. Documents and transcripts
submitted for admission become the property of Collin
College and will not be returned to the applicant.
ADMISSION TO SPECIAL
PROGRAMS
Programs and certificates in dental hygiene, Fire
Academy and fire science certification, nursing, child
development, polysomnographic technology, health
information management, emergency medical
services professions, pastry arts and culinary arts,
competency-based business management certificate,
respiratory care and surgical technology have specific
program admissions criteria and require approval to
enroll. Refer to the catalog and/or contact the
academic department office for information on
requirements.
Competency-Based Business
Management Certificate
Competency-Based Education (CBE) makes it
possible for students who are knowledgeable and/or
experienced in business to make accelerated progress
toward completing a Business Management
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-11
Certificate. The competency-based certificate
program requires the same courses as the traditional
certificate route. However, progress is governed by
the satisfactory completion of the required
assessments that demonstrate mastery of program
competencies.
Students will engage in self-paced learning on
competencies through online, interactive instruction.
In order to be eligible for the CBE Program, all
courses must be completed in the CBE format.
Registration is by permission only. The competency-
based curriculum is aligned with local employment
needs, trends and specialties necessary to help
advance the student’s career.
CAMPUS WIDE IDENTIFICATION
(CWID) AND E-MAIL
Students at Collin College are issued a Campus Wide
ID (CWID) nine-digit number to be used instead of
their Social Security number to access their records
when they are admitted to the college.
Official communication between students and
faculty/staff is through the campus wide e-mail
system, CougarMail, which is accessed through the
campus portal CougarWeb. For login information,
contact the Admissions and Records Office or visit
http://www.collin.edu .
STUDENTS NEW TO COLLIN
First-Time Freshmen
Students 18 years and older who have never attended
a college/university must submit the following for
admission:
1. A completed application to the Admissions
and Records Office online at http://www.collin
.edu .
2. An official, final high school transcript or GED.
3. Official TSI documentation.
4. Proof of meningitis vaccination, if needed.
Applicants Without a Diploma or GED
Students under age 18 without a high school diploma
or equivalent applying for admission must:
1. Complete the Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) and
the TSI Assessment, if exemption has not
otherwise been met.
2. Provide documentation that he/she is no longer
enrolled in a high school program.
3. Submit an official transcript from the last high
school attended.
4. Submit TSI scores or provide SAT, ACT, TAKS
or STAAR scores showing exemptions (see TSI
section for details).
5. Provide proof of meningitis vaccination, if needed.
6. Provide written parental/guardian permission for
students under 18 years of age.
7. Contact a special admissions coordinator/advisor.
Students admitted under this policy are not eligible
for Title IV benefits.
Applicants over 18 years of age admitted without a
GED or high school diploma will be strongly
encouraged to complete the GED during the first
semester of his/her enrollment at Collin College.
Information about GED testing is available through
the Texas Education Agency’s website at http://www.
tea.state.tx.us. Additionally, the Collin County Adult
Literacy Council, through its website and help line,
offers a referral service for north Texas (http://www.
ccalc.org)
Home-Schooled Admissions
Home-schooled students under the age of 18 must
meet home-schooled admission criteria. Interested
students must be 16 on or before the census date for
the term in which they intend to enroll. Students
under 16 years of age may petition the
special
admission coordinators for college admission. To be
admitted, all home-schooled students under the age
of 18 must:
1.Complete an Application for Admission (online).
2. Provide Official Home School Transcript.
3. Complete the TSI Assessment with the Pre-
Assessment Activity or provide proof of
exemption. (All test scores must be submitted to
Collin College directly from the College Board or
ACT.)
4. Provide proof of meningitis vaccination, if needed.
5. Schedule an interview with Special Admissions
Coordinator.
6. Complete Advising /Registration Form with Collin
College advisor.
High School Enrollment/Dual Credit
The High School Concurrent Enrollment/Dual Credit
program is designed for high school students who are
academically advanced. Students 16 years of age or
older at the high school junior level or above who
meet Collin College’s Special Admission criteria are
encouraged to participate.
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-12
Participating students must be 16 on or before the
census date for the term in which they intend to
enroll. The same criterion applies to home school or
private high school students. Students under 16 years
of age may petition the
special
admission
coordinators for college admission. High school
students interested in concurrent admission to Collin
College must:
1. Complete an Application for Admission (online).
2. Provide Official High School Transcript.
3. Complete the TSI Assessment with the Pre-
Assessment Activity or provide proof of
exemption.
4. Provide proof of meningitis vaccination, if needed.
5. Submit signed Concurrent Permission Form with
appropriate signatures.
6. Complete Advising/Registration Form with a
Collin College advisor.
Home school and high school dual credit students
cannot audit classes or enroll in developmental
courses or flex entry courses.
Students needing academic accommodations must
apply and be approved with ACCESS. See ACCESS
pages AC-37.
International Students
Students on temporary visas or holding permanent
residence cards may be eligible for admission. To
verify residency status, students are required to
present their visa or permanent resident card with
their application to the Admissions and Records
Office.
International Student Admissions (F-1 Visa)
The following deadlines are required for degree-
seeking students residing outside of the United States
seeking the F-1 student visa:
• Fall semester – June 1
• Spring semester – Nov. 1
• Summer semesters – April 1
All international students must submit the following
to the International Students Office (ISO) at Spring
Creek Campus in Room G103:
1. One of the following:
• TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) score of 71 or
higher.
• TOEFL Paper-based Test (PBT) score of 525 or
higher.
• TOEFL Computer-based Test (CBT) score of
197 or higher.
• IELTS (International English Language Testing
System) score of 6.5 or higher.
2. A letter of Guarantee dated within six months of
the beginning of the semester and the supporting
financial evidence statement. For sponsors residing
inside the United States: An Affidavit of Support
form dated within six months of the beginning of
the semester and the supporting evidence
statement.
3. An official transcript (mark sheets, school records)
from the last school attended.
4. Copy of passport ID page showing official name,
date of birth and citizenship.
5. Proof of receiving the bacterial meningitis
vaccine, if needed.
Upon arrival at Collin College, all original
immigration documents including a valid visa (I-94
arrival/departure record), a valid passport, the I-20
and the original financial documents will be copied
and kept on file with ISO.
All students are required to take the Pre-Assessment
Activity and the Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
assessment prior to enrolling in credit classes.
Foreign transcripts will not be evaluated. I-20s will
not be issued for students seeking entrance into the
United States on a permanent basis.
Tuition and fees should be paid in full prior to the
first class day. There is no financial aid available for
international students.
Transfer international students within the United States
(F-1 Visa)
In addition to the above requirements the following
items must also be submitted:
1. A copy of current I-20, passport, visa and I-94.
2. Transfer Verification Form from the international
student advisor at the last college or university
attended.
3. Official TSI test scores or documentation. See TSI
section for details.
4. ESL assessment will be required for placement in
credit level ESL courses. F-1 visa holders, seeking
enrollment in credit level ESL courses only, must
meet all admission requirements as listed
excluding TOEFL.
5. Institutional TOEFL score-reports of 525 (or
higher) from The University of Texas at
Arlington, The University of Dallas, or the
University of Phoenix will be accepted in lieu of
an official TOEFL score report. Students who can
document graduation from the Intensive English
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-13
Language Institute of the University of North
Texas or have completed Freshman English with a
“C” or better will be exempt from the TOEFL
requirement.
6. Official transcripts from all colleges/universities
attended in the United States with a minimum
GPA of 2.0. To ensure enrollment degree-seeking
transfer students should submit admission
requirements prior to the deadlines listed in the
Registration Guide or online at http://www.collin
.edu .
For more information, contact the International
Students Office at Spring Creek Campus, Room
G103, 972.516.5012. To download the required
forms go to: http://www.collin.edu/gettingstarted/
advising/international .
Transferring to Collin College
Transfer students who are in good standing
academically at the last institution of higher
education they attended are eligible for admission to
Collin College. An official college transcript from all
regionally accredited colleges/universities attended,
proof of meningitis vaccination (if needed) and TSI
status documentation is required.
Students who transfer to Collin College from other
institutions of higher education may be awarded
credit according to the conditions that follow.
1. Credit must have been earned at a regionally
accredited institution of higher education. Foreign
transcripts will not be evaluated or accepted.
2. An official transcript from all regionally accredited
institutions of higher education attended by the
student must be on file at Collin College.
3. Official course descriptions from the catalog under
which the student attended may be required for
evaluation.
4. Credit for courses equivalent to those listed in the
Collin College Catalog will be accepted if the
courses are required on the student’s degree plan
for graduation. Other credits may be accepted in
lieu of elective courses depending on the student’s
area of study.
5. Only the highest grade and credits earned for a
repeated course at a previous institution will be
applied toward degree or program requirements.
6. Grades of “D” are accepted from other institutions;
however, a cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for
graduation. Grades of “F” and “I” will not transfer.
7. Waivers for physical education requirements may
be granted for medical reasons. A written statement
from a physician and one additional hour of
electives are required. Credit for PHED courses is
awarded for military training upon receipt of a
student’s DD214 (Honorable Discharge).
8. While there is no limit on the number of hours that
can be transferred into Collin College from other
institutions, there is an 18 credit hour residency
requirement to earn an associate degree from
Collin College. Students obtaining certificates
containing 18 hours or less must complete 15 hours
of coursework in residence at Collin College.
Petitions to transfer credits into certificates
containing 18 hours or less may be made to the
academic dean through the degree plan
coordinator.
9. Time limits and minimum grade requirements may
be imposed for transfer work into select areas of
study. Contact the academic chair or academic
dean for details.
10. Collin College does not evaluate transcripts or
award transfer credit earned at foreign
institutions; however, students may be eligible for
credit through examination at the college.
11. Fall 1985 through Summer 2008 transfer work
was included in students' overall GPA. Beginning
Fall 2008 transfer work is not included in GPA.
Collin College degree plan coordinators conduct
official transcript evaluations. Students must be
currently admitted to Collin College to request a
degree plan.
New Student Orientation
All first-time students to Collin College should attend
New Student Orientation. The purpose of orientation
is to provide a comprehensive overview of available
services, resources and opportunities as well as assist
students in a successful collegiate career.
For additional information including dates and
reservations, please call 972.377.1750, e-mail
orientation@collin.edu or visit our website at
http://www.collin.edu/orientation .
RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS
To be considered a Texas resident for tuition
purposes, students must have clearly established a
domicile in Texas for the 12 months preceding
enrollment. Documentation of Texas residency is
required.
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-14
1. An in-county student is an individual who is a
resident of Texas and who resides in Collin County
on or before the census date of the term.
2. An out-of-county student is a resident of Texas
who resides outside of Collin County on the census
date of the term
3. An out-of-state student is an individual who has
not resided in Texas for 12 months preceding
registration. Most students on temporary visas will
also be classified as nonresidents for tuition
purposes. Contact the Admissions and Records
Office for visas eligible for in-state residency.
The responsibility for registering under the proper
residency classification is that of the student, and any
question concerning the student’s right to
classification as a resident of Collin County must be
clarified prior to enrollment at Collin College.
Students not documenting county or state residency
prior to census date of the term will be charged the
higher rate. Tuition refunds due to residency changes
will only be made for college errors if documentation
was not submitted before census, see the academic
calendar for date. Changes of address, name, etc.
must be reported promptly to the Admissions and
Records Office. This enables students to receive
registration and other information from various
college departments and programs. Changes of
address affecting residency should be reported
promptly to the Admissions and Records Office.
Students (age 24 and under) who are a dependent of a
Texas resident should contact the Admissions and
Records Office for more information.
Documents to Support Residency
Documentation of Texas residency will be required in
order to pay in-state tuition. Generally, the following
documents may be used in meeting residency
requirements:
• Texas public, private, home school or high school
transcript (if enrolled the last 12 months) showing
three years of attendance and a graduation date.
Ad Valorem Waivers
Students who have not lived in Texas for the 12
months preceding registration, but who own property
in Collin County, may be eligible for an ad valorem
waiver. A copy of the deed or most recent property
tax statement is required for verification. If this
waiver is based on a student’s (under age 24) parents’
property ownership, go to the Admissions and
Records Office for the proper form to complete. This
form must be completed each semester until Texas
residency has been established (12 months); ad
valorem waivers expire and additional residency
must be provided. Property owners on most types of
temporary visas are not eligible for the ad valorem
waiver. Students and/or their parents must generally
be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be eligible
for an ad valorem waiver.
RETURNING STUDENTS
Former Collin College students who have not been
enrolled at Collin College during the preceding two
regular (16-week) semesters will need to reapply for
admission. An application for readmission, an official
transcript from all regionally accredited colleges or
universities attended, documentation of TSI status
and proof of receiving the bacterial meningitis
vaccination (if needed) are required.
Students on Academic Suspension
See “Academic Standards” on page AC-29 or contact
an academic advisor on any campus for more
information.
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
Collin College Registration Guide
A Registration Guide is available at the information
desk at CPC, PRC, SCC and online at: http://www.
collin.edu/academics/class_schedule.html. The guide
contains valuable information on important dates and
deadlines, registration procedures, tuition and fees,
student services and more.
Online Registration
Registration is completed online only. Online
registration provides students with an opportunity to
register early in courses for the upcoming semester.
This process is designed for students who have
completed admissions, TSI requirements, assessment
requirements and have met with an academic advisor.
See the current Collin College Registration Guide for
a listing of dates, times and complete instructions.
Add/Drop
Students may add and/or drop classes through the
CougarWeb system through the first two days of
classes during the long terms and through the first
day of class during the summer terms. After the first
two days of a long term (or the first day during
summer/express term), students must come in person
to any campus to make any schedule change.
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-15
Registration for any course will result in full tuition
and fee assessment for the course hours. Any course
dropped on or after the first day of each term or mini-
semester will result in charges for the dropped course
as determined by the state refund guidelines and
approved tuition rates.
All students must initiate the process to be dropped
from classes prior to the first class day or they will be
required to make payment for tuition and fees
assessed. Students receiving financial aid may not be
automatically dropped from classes.
Registration for Continuing Education
and Workforce Development Classes
Each semester Collin College offers continuing
education classes to community members through
Continuing Education and Workforce Development.
Registration for these classes can be done in five
ways:
1. Online registration: (credit card only) Go to
http://www.collin.edu/ce to see instructions or go
to the Continuing Education online registration site
to view the current Continuing Education class
offerings and register for classes.
2. Walk-in registration: Available at Courtyard
Center, Central Park, Preston Ridge or Spring
Creek campuses. Times are listed in the current
Continuing Education Career Skills Training
Schedule.
3. Phone-in registration: (VISA, MasterCard or
Discover only) Call 972.548.6855 or
972.985.3711. Times and dates are listed in the
current Continuing Education Career Skills
Training Schedule.
4. Mail-in registration: Send your registration
information to: Registration, Collin College,
Courtyard Center for Professional and Economic
Development, 4800 Preston Park Blvd., Box 12,
Plano, Texas 75093. See the current Continuing
Education Career Skills Training Schedule for
registration deadlines.
5. Fax-in registration: (credit card only) Check the
current Continuing Education Career Skills
Training Schedule for fax availability. Fax your
registration to 972.985.3723 or 972.548.1702.
STUDENT ID CARDS
All credit students at Collin College are required to
have a Student ID card to use services provided by
college offices and labs including the Admissions and
Records Office, the Collin Bookstore, Career
Services, the Computer Lab, the Fitness Center,
Library, the Math Lab, Student Life and the Testing
Center. Student ID cards are produced by Student
Life. Student ID office hours are listed in the Collin
College Student Handbook.
Once the student has registered and paid for their
courses, the ID card will be issued in accordance with
the dates posted in the Important Dates section of the
Registration Guide. Students must show a form of
photo identification in order to have their student ID
card issued. The ID card will be valid district-wide
throughout the student’s tenure at the college.
Student ID cards will be automatically reactivated
each semester after the student enrolls in courses and
pays the corresponding tuition and fees.
For a fee, a replacement ID card will be reissued for
students whose card has been lost, stolen or damaged;
who have had a name change; or who would prefer a
new photo. Only currently enrolled students with
valid picture ID may request a replacement student
ID card. Contact Student Life for more information.
ASSESSMENT AND
TESTING SERVICES
Testing Centers are located at Central Park, Preston
Ridge and Spring Creek campuses for the Texas
Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment for course
placement, higher level math assessment, credit by
exam testing, limited instructional testing, ESL
assessments and proctoring of correspondence
exams. Collin College is an official testing site for
ACT (American College Testing Program) and CLEP
(College-Level Examination Program). The Testing
Centers are monitored by surveillance equipment.
TSI-Texas Success Initiative
The TSI Assessment is a program designed to
determine if the student is ready for college-level
course work in the general areas of reading, writing
and mathematics. All incoming college students in
Texas are required to take the TSI Assessment, unless
exemption has been met. Based on assessment
results, a student may either be enrolled in a college-
level course that matches his/her skill level or placed
in the appropriate developmental course or
intervention to improve skills and prepare the student
for success in college-level courses.
S
tudents
wanting to enroll only in English as a
Second
Language
coursework can do so
without having taken TSI
assessment.
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-16
Mandatory Pre-Assessment Activity
Before taking the initial TSI Assessment, a student
must participate in a Pre-Assessment Activity. This
activity includes the following:
1. An explanation of the importance of the TSI
Assessment.
2. Practice test questions and feedback.
3. An explanation of your developmental
education options, if the minimum passing
standard is not met.
4. Information on campus and community
resources to assist the student.
A Certificate of Completion will be printed at the end
of this Activity, which is required to take the TSI
Assessment.
Students may seek exemption from TSI based on:
• a
composite ACT score of 23 or higher
(with individual
Mathematics and
English scores of no
less
than
19)
•
a composite SAT score of 1,070 (with a
minimum
of
500 in Mathematics and
Reading)
• TAKS
(11th grade or higher) with a
minimum
qualifying
score of 2,200 Math
and ENLA 2,200 with
Writing
sub-score
of
3
• or high school end-of-course STAAR
with a minimum qualifying score of level
2 English III and level 2 Algebra II
Note:
STAAR and TAKS scores can be no more
than five years old.
Partial Exemptions
Students with an ACT composite score of 23 (or
higher) can be exempt from TSI Math with an ACT
Math score of 19 (or higher) even if the ACT English
is less than 19. Students with an ACT composite
score of 23 or higher can be exempt from the TSI
Reading and TSI Writing with an ACT English score
of 19 (or higher) even though the ACT Math may be
less than 19.
Students with a SAT combined reading and math
score of 1,070 (or higher) can be exempt from TSI
Math with a SAT Math score of 500 (or higher) even
though the SAT Reading may be less than 500.
Students with a combined SAT Reading and math
score of 1,070 (or higher) even though the SAT Math
may be less than 500 can be exempt from TSI
Reading and TSI Writing.
Students with a TAKS Math score of 2,200 (or
higher) can be exempt from TSI Math. Likewise, a
TAKS ENLA score of 2,200 with a writing sample of
3 exempts a student from TSI Reading and Writing.
Students with a STAAR Algebra II score of level 2
(score of 4,000) are exempt from TSI Math. Students
with a STAAR English III score of level 2 (score of
2,000 in Writing and/or 2,000 in Reading) are exempt
from TSI Reading and Writing.
New students will be required to furnish the college
with necessary proof regarding TSI status.
NOTE: For specific current information about the
PAA or TSI Assessment, contact the Director of
Testing at 972.548.6773. All students must be
assessed or provide proof of prerequisites prior to
enrolling in certain courses. Developmental classes
and tutorial assistance are available for students who
need or want this support. Transfer students must
provide documentation of TSI status. Documentation
may be in the form of official TSI score reports or
official transcripts.
Waivers
Students can be waived from TSI requirements if
they:
• are a high school junior with qualifying
PLAN, PSAT, or English II and/or Algebra I
STARR scores.
• are pursuing a Level I workforce certificate
of no more than 42 hours. A change of
major must be completed by the student and
submitted to the Admissions and Records
Office.
• are serving on active duty as a member of
the armed forces of the United States, the
Texas National Guard or as a member of a
reserve component of the armed forces of
the United States and have been serving for
at least three years preceding enrollment
(documentation required).
Mandatory Advising Holds
Students who are below college level in one or two
Texas Success Initiative (TSI) areas (reading, writing
or mathematics) are required to meet with an
academic advisor during their first semester at Collin
College. Students will be required to have regular
contact with an advisor until they are TSI complete in
all three areas
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-17
For students who do not place at college level in all
three Texas Success Initiative (TSI) areas (reading,
writing and mathematics), a departmental
Developmental Education advising session is
required that includes mandatory course registration
in COSU 0300, College Success.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
New students wanting to enroll in an ESL course
must take the ESL New Student Assessment and
meet with an advisor.
ESL New Student Assessment scores are valid for
one year. These scores are used for course placement
only and do not affect the admission status of
students.
Students interested in taking ESL classes through
Continuing Education may call 972.985.3750 for
assessment instructions.
Other Testing Services
The testing centers also offer testing in the following
areas:
• CLEP – College-Level Examination Program
• ACT – American College Testing Program
• Credit by exam subject tests designed by college
faculty
• Correspondence testing
Collin College codes for these tests are:
• CLEP 2290
• ACT (Central Park Campus) 40460
• ACT (Spring Creek Campus) 42090
Students requiring more information on the above
programs should contact the Director of Testing at
972.548.6773.
Non-Traditional College Credit (NTCC)
Various credit options enable persons who have
acquired knowledge and skills in non-traditional
ways to demonstrate academic achievement. For
enrolled students, or students enrolled within the past
year, credit may be given for college-level experience
as demonstrated by acceptable test results regardless
of the means by which the knowledge was acquired,
except for college credit that has been previously
granted. Students may also receive credit for some
previous military training. Please note that a fee for
test administration and transcript recording may be
assessed.
Without special permission from the Vice President
of Academic and Workforce Development, no more
than 18 hours of non-traditional credit may be
counted toward a degree. However, if the student has
an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, a total
of 24 hours of non-traditional credit may be awarded.
The institution may grant fewer than 24. Non-
traditional credit will be added to the transcript (upon
request) only after six hours of traditional, non-
transfer credit is achieved at Collin College.
For additional information regarding the College-
Level Examination Program (CLEP), departmental
examinations, Advanced Placement (AP),
International Baccalaureate (IB), Tech Prep and/or
Armed Forces credit, contact the Director of Testing
or the Admissions and Records Office.
Tech Prep/Career Pathways
Collin College Tech Prep programs were established
to help high school students become successful in
community college and beyond.
Students who elected to take a Collin College
articulated tech prep course in high school may be
eligible to receive college credit for those courses
upon enrollment in Collin College after high school
graduation. These credits are completely tuition free
and are awarded based on performance in the tech
prep classes completed in high school through Spring
2012. The requirements to receive college credit are:
1. Completion of the high school Tech Prep class
with a grade of B or better.
2. Earned an 80* or better on the end-of-course
exam in high school (applies only to select
programs) *Child development courses require an
85 or better.
3. Earn six* non-developmental education
credits and submit the petition for Tech Prep
credit within 24 months after high school
graduation to the Admissions and Records
office at the Central Park Campus. Students
also need to submit an official final high
school transcript along with the petition.
* Students who were concurrently enrolled at
Collin College before high school graduation
need to complete only three additional credits
after high school graduation as a condition of
eligibility.
Upon completion of the above steps, the free college
credits that a student is qualified for will be applied
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-18
to the college transcript at the end of the college
grading cycle.
For more information, call 972.377.1750 or visit the
Tech Prep site at http://www.collin.edu/studentre
sources/techprep.
Advanced Placement Examination (AP)
Students who have received college-level training in
secondary school and who have scores of three, four
or five on the appropriate Advanced Placement
examination may be granted, on request, placement
and credit for comparable courses at the college.
After enrolling, students must complete six semester
hours at Collin College before credit is given. For
more information contact the Director of Testing at
972.548.6773.
AP Examination –
Collin College Equivalent
Art/Drawing I – ARTS 1316
Art General (2-D or 3-D) – ARTS 1311
Art History – ARTS 1303
Biology – BIOL 1406 and 1407
Calculus (AB) – MATH 2413
Calculus (BC) – MATH 2413 (Score of 3)
MATH 2413 and 2414 (Score of 4 or 5)
Chemistry – CHEM 1411 and 1412
Computer Science (A) – COSC 1436
Economics (Macro) – ECON 2301
Economics (Micro) – ECON 2302
English Language and Composition –
ENGL 1301 (score of 3)
ENGL 1301 and 1302 (score of 4 or 5)
English Literature and Composition –
ENGL 1301 (score of 3)
ENGL 1301 and 1302 (score of 4 or 5)
Environmental Science I – ENVR 1401
European History – HIST 2311 and 2312
French Language – FREN 1411 and 1412
German Language – GERM 1411 and 1412
Government – GOVT 2305
Human Geography—GEOG 1302,
Music Appreciation – MUSI 1306
Music Theory – MUSI 1311
Physics (B) – PHYS 1401 and 1402
Physics (C) – PHYS 2425 and 2426
Psychology – PSYC 2301
Spanish Language – SPAN 1411 and 1412
Statistics – MATH 1342
U.S. History – HIST 1301 and 1302
World History – HIST 2311 - 2312
Armed Forces Credit
In addition to using credit earned at other institutions
to achieve advanced placement at the college,
students may also receive such standing by
presenting evidence of having satisfactorily
completed a program of military training for which
equivalent college credit may be given in accordance
with the American Council on Education Standards
and Recommendations. The degree plan coordinator
evaluates Armed Forces credit. Credit for military
training will be awarded upon receipt of a student’s
DD214 (Honorable Discharge).
College-Level Examination Program
(CLEP)
Most publicly-supported colleges and universities
have agreed to accept as transfer credits all CLEP
credit granted by regionally accredited institutions
using the criteria below. Students planning to use
CLEP credit to meet degree requirements at other
institutions should check the requirements of the
receiving institution. CLEP General Exams are not
evaluated for credit at Collin College. The college
uses the following criteria for CLEP Subject
Examination evaluation:
1. CLEP credit shall be recorded on transcripts with a
“CR” in order to be clearly recognized as credit
earned by examination.
2. Collin College will not replace an existing grade
with CLEP credit, including a grade of “W.” Please
note: a course must be dropped before census date
to avoid a “W” grade.
3. Credit is awarded for CLEP Subject Examination
scores at or above the 70th percentile. See the
Collin website or contact the Director of Testing
for specific passing scores. Official score reports
should be sent to the Director of Testing. The
college code for Collin College is 2290.
For each CLEP examination, a non-refundable
administrative and examination fee will be charged.
For information on taking a CLEP subject exam,
please contact the Director of Testing at
972.548.6773.
Credit by Exam (Departmental Exams)
Credit for some courses may be granted
upon
successful completion of a
comprehensive
examination over the content of the course.
A
nonrefundable fee is charged for each
course
examination. Students must be currently enrolled
or enrolled within the past year and have earned
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-19
at least six credit hours at Collin College to
receive credit by examination.
Credit
by
exam may be attempted only once for
any
given
course. Students currently enrolled in
the course
they
wish to test out of must test or
withdraw prior to
the
census date of the enrolled
semester. The
student
must score at or above the
70th percentile to receive credit
for
the course.
Credit for Prior Learning through
Continuing Education
Students who have taken Cisco Networking (CCNA-
only) or real estate licensure courses through Collin
Continuing Education may be eligible to receive
college credit for those courses. The requirements to
receive college credit are:
1. The CE courses were completed within the past 12
months.
2. Successful completion of the same end-of-course
final assessment as the credit students.
3. The course was not repeated more than once.
A non-refundable fee will be assessed for each
course that is transcripted.
A maximum of 50 percent of the courses required for
the industry certification/license and taken as CE
courses can be applied toward a credit certificate or
degree. Non-traditional credit will be added to the
transcript only after six hours of traditional, non-
transfer credit is achieved at Collin College. No
more than 18 hours of non-traditional credit may be
counted toward a degree.
For additional information regarding Cisco
certification or real estate licensure, contact the
Director of Engineering and Technology or the Chair
of Real Estate as appropriate.
International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
The International Baccalaureate diploma is an
international program of courses and exams offered at
the high school level. Collin College will award up to
24 hours course-specific college credit in subject
appropriate areas on all IB exam scores of 4 or above,
with an IB diploma or up to 18 hours with an IB
certificate. Student must have an official IB transcript
sent to Collin College.
Collin College will maintain in residence course
work minimums and the non-traditional credit
maximum for more than 18 hours will be allowed
only for IB credit. For more information, contact the
director of testing at 972.548.6773
Articulated High School College Credits
Students who elected to take Collin College
articulated courses in high school may be eligible to
receive college credit for those courses upon high
school graduation. These credits are completely
tuition free and are awarded based on successful
completion of an end-of-course competency
assessment.
The requirements to receive college credit are:
1. Earn a passing grade* on the end-of-course
competency based assessment in high school.
2. Earn six non-developmental Collin College
education credits and submit the petition for
articulated credit within 12 months of high school
graduation to a special admissions coordinator.
3. Submit an official final high school transcript
along with the petition. Articulated high school
credits must be notated on the high school transcript.
Upon completion of the above steps, the college
credits that a student is qualified for will be applied
to the college transcript at the end of the college
grading cycle. Credit will only be given for college
level coursework, no developmental education levels
will be awarded. For more information, call
469.365.1850.
*Passing course grades may vary, check with a
special admissions coordinator for details.
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-20
FINANCIAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
COST PER CREDIT HOUR EXAMPLE
Per Hour
In-
County
Out-of-
County
Out-
of-
State
Tuition
$32
$71
$131
Bldg Use Fee
$6
$6
$6
Student Life
Fee
$1
$1
$1
$39
$78
$138
FEES
Other fees are applied as required regardless of
residency. Per semester $2 Student Records fee***
Other Fees
Audit fee*** $25 per course
Credit by Exam fee*** $30 per course
Lab and Special Course fees. Board Approved per
lab/course
Late Registration fee*** $10
Returned Check fee*** $25
Installment Plan Service charge*** $25
Late Installment Payment fee*** $25
Transcript Fee*** $5 each
*** Non-refundable
NOTE: Firefighters qualifying for a tuition and lab
fee waiver are required to pay the Building Use,
Student Life and Special Course fees.
NOTE: Valedictorians qualifying for a tuition waiver
are required to pay all fees.
NOTE: Veterans qualifying for a tuition and fee
waiver are required to pay the Student Life, Student
Record and Special Course fees.
NOTE: Fees for Continuing Education courses can be
found in the current Continuing Education Schedule
of Classes.
Payment
MasterCard, VISA and Discover cards, as well as
cash and checks, are accepted as payment. Checks
are processed electronically through the Automated
Clearing House (ACH). When writing a check or
using a credit card, students must also show a picture
identification card and provide their Campus Wide
ID (CWID) number. Incomplete and/or unsuccessful
payments may result in additional fees.
TUITION AND FEE SCHEDULE
$2 Student record fee included in above fees
* Subject to change by the Collin College Board of
Trustees
** Includes $200 minimum required by law
Lab and special course fees vary by lab/course
and are not included in tuition schedule.
REFUNDS
Refund calculations are based on the state-mandated
refund policy. Full (100 percent less non-refundable
fees) refunds are calculated on withdrawals and drops
occurring prior to each term’s first class day. Each
term’s first class day is based on the week the course
begins, not the first day of an individual’s class.
Refunds are processed approximately two weeks
after the first class day of the designated primary
term. The complete refund policy is listed in the
Collin College Registration Guide.
Credit
Hours
In-County
Out of County
Out of
State/Country
$39 cr hour
$78 cr hour
$138 cr hour
1
$41
$80
$209
**
2
$80
$158
$278
3
$119
$236
$416
4
$158
$314
$554
5
$197
$392
$692
6
$236
$470
$830
7
$275
$548
$968
8
$314
$626
$1,106
9
$353
$704
$1,244
10
$392
$782
$1,382
11
$431
$860
$1,520
12
$470
$938
$1,658
13
$509
$1,016
$1,796
14
$548
$1,094
$1,934
15
$587
$1,172
$2,072
16
$626
$1,250
$2,210
17
$665
$1,328
$2,348
18
$704
$1,406
$2,486
19
$743
$1,484
$2,624
20
$782
$1,562
$2,762
21
$821
$1,640
$2,900
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-21
EXEMPTIONS AND WAIVERS
Students eligible for tuition waivers and/or tuition
and fee exemptions should contact Admissions for
waivers and Financial Aid for most exemptions.
SENIOR CITIZEN REDUCED
TUITION
Texas residents who reach 65 prior to the census date
of the term are eligible for a tuition waiver. A degree
plan must be on file.
Proof of date of birth is required. Contact the
Admissions and Records Office for more
information.
STUDENT FINANCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY
Registration is required for students to attend courses
at Collin College, and registration constitutes a
contractual financial obligation and agreement to pay
tuition and fee charges for which the student is liable.
Student tuition bills are posted online and are
accessed through CougarWeb. Billing notices are
sent to the student’s college assigned email address,
the official means of communication with Collin
students.
Payment deadlines and student account balances are
available online. Meeting payment deadline
requirements is the student’s responsibility,
regardless of whether an e-bill is received. Each term
has an advertised early registration payment deadline
(see term specific Registration Guide). As of the
initial payment deadline, any balance on the student
account is due the same day the charge is incurred.
Funding must be in place in compliance with
payment deadlines to ensure course enrollment status.
Unfunded balances may result in course registration
being changed to a dropped/withdrawn status. It is
the student’s responsibility to review student account
balances, comply with financial aid eligibility
requirements and third party funding guidelines, and
meet payment deadline requirements. Student
accounts with an unpaid debt are subject to changes
in course registration status, holds preventing
registration, withholding grades, transcripts and
degrees. Delinquent accounts may be placed with an
outside collection agency and/or reported to the
national credit bureau system.
Students are responsible for all late fees, percentage-
based collection fees (not to exceed 33.33 percent),
attorney fees, interest, and any costs and charges
necessary for the collection of any amount not paid
when due. All disputes about registration or payment
will be governed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Texas. The venue for any lawsuit regarding
collection of a delinquent debt will be in Collin
County, Texas.
Per Texas Education Code 54.007(2)(d):
A STUDENT WHO FAILS TO MAKE FULL
PAYMENT OF TUITION AND MANDATORY FEES,
INCLUDING ANY INCIDENTAL FEES, BY THE
DUE DATE MAY BE PROHIBITED FROM
REGISTERING FROM CLASSES UNTIL FULL
PAYMENT IS MADE. A STUDENT WHO FAILS TO
MAKE FULL PAYMENT PRIOR TO THE END OF
THE SEMESTER OR TERM MAY BE DENIED
CREDIT FOR THE WORK DONE THAT SEMESTER
OR TERM.
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-22
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
FINANCIAL AID
As a service to Collin College students, the Financial
Aid Office administers a comprehensive financial aid
program that includes grants, loans and part-time
employment for those who meet the eligibility
requirements. A primary purpose of the Collin
College financial aid program is to provide assistance
for students who might otherwise find it difficult or
impossible to attend college. All students are
encouraged to apply for financial aid.
If students have questions or need assistance, they
can contact the Financial Aid Office via phone or
visit any campus Financial Aid Office. Financial aid
staff is trained to assist students in realizing their
educational goals by answering questions, providing
appropriate forms and instructions, and referring
students to other resources as needed.
For more information, please visit the Financial Aid
Office webpage at: https://www.collin.edu/getting
started/financialaid/ .
Students receiving financial aid should not withdraw
from all of their classes without first consulting the
Financial Aid Office. In addition, all financial aid
students must become familiar with the standards of
academic progress required to remain eligible for
financial aid.
Federal law requires a financial aid student to
complete at least 60 percent of each semester. If a
student completely withdraws before the 60 percent
point in the semester, that student will need to repay a
portion of the financial aid funds received. A
financial aid student who earns a grade of “F” for all
courses in a semester must have at least one (1)
instructor provide proof to the Financial Aid Office
that the student was in an academically related
activity for 60 percent of the semester. Otherwise,
that student will owe money back to the financial aid
program.
APPLYING FOR AID
Students can apply for aid online using the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
located at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov . Collin College’s
Title IV School Code is 016792 and must be reported
on the FAFSA application in order for aid to be
processed by Collin College.
DEADLINES
Students must apply for financial aid each year.
Students wanting to receive priority consideration
should apply as early as possible. The new FAFSA is
typically available after Jan. 1 each year. Students
who meet the priority deadline will have aid in place
before the payment deadline. Students who miss the
priority deadline will still be processed. However,
these students should make arrangements to pay for
their own tuition, fees, books, and supplies before the
payment deadline. A file is considered having met
the priority deadline if the FAFSA is on file, and
any/all required documentation is complete, correct,
and submitted by the priority deadline.
Priority deadlines are as follows:
Fall Semester – April 1
Spring Semester – Nov. 1
Summer Semesters – March 1
FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS –
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
Actual award amounts are determined by federal
guidelines, a demonstration of need and the student’s
enrollment. Collin College participates in the
following financial aid programs:
Federal Pell Grant – Eligibility for the Pell Grant is
based on the financial need of the student and/or the
student’s family, as well as the student’s enrollment
status.
Financial need is determined by the U.S. Department
of Education from information provided on the
student’s FAFSA (Free Application for Federal
Student Aid). The standard formula, established by
Congress, produces an Expected Family Contribution
(EFC) that indicates how much a student, and their
spouse or family, is expected to contribute financially
toward the cost of their education. EFC’s within a
particular range (varies by year and consists of those
students determined to have the “most need”) will be
eligible for Pell Grant provided the student meets all
other eligibility criteria.
In general, only undergraduate students are eligible to
receive a Pell Grant. A student who has earned a
baccalaureate or a first professional degree is not
eligible to receive a Pell Grant.
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-23
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunities
Grant (FSEOG) – FSEOG is limited by the
availability of funds and is awarded to those students
considered to have exceptional financial need.
Priority is given to federal Pell Grant recipients.
Federal Work Study – Students demonstrating
financial need may be considered for the work study
program. Students are employed part-time at various
jobs on campus or at other College District approved
sites. Students are allowed to earn the amount
designated in their award package as long as they
maintain a 2.0 GPA and are enrolled in at least 6
credit hours.
Federal Direct Loan Program – This program
permits students to borrow low-interest loans from
the Department of Education provided the student is
enrolled and attending at least half time and
otherwise meets eligibility criteria. The federal
government pays interest on the subsidized (need
based) amount borrowed until the student graduates
or ceases to be enrolled at least half time.
Unsubsidized loans (non-need based) are also
available to otherwise eligible students. Students are
responsible for the interest accruing on these loans
while attending school. The interest rate for
subsidized and unsubsidized loans for the 2014-2015
academic year was 4.66 percent.
Direct Parent Loans to Undergraduate Students
(PLUS) – PLUS loans are available to parents who
want to borrow money to help defray the cost of their
dependent children’s education. Like Direct loans,
PLUS loans are offered by the Department of
Education. Parents may borrow up to the cost of
attendance minus any other educational resources and
financial aid awarded to students. These loans have a
higher interest rate than Direct loans and the
borrower is responsible for paying all the interest that
accrues. The interest rate on PLUS loans for the
2014-2015 year was 7.21 percent
FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS –
STATE ASSISTANCE
Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) – The
TPEG program is a state financial aid program
designed to assist students in attending state-
supported colleges. Students must demonstrate
financial need and be making satisfactory academic
progress toward their educational goals. The actual
amount of the grant varies depending on the
availability of funds to the college, the student’s
financial condition and enrollment, and other aid, the
student may be receiving.
Texas Equal Opportunity Grant (TEOG) –
Community college students working on their first
associate’s degree may be eligible for this grant if
they:
• Are a Texas resident
• Do not have a felony drug conviction
• Are within their first 30 hours of college
• Registered for Selective Service, if required
• Have an Expected Family Contribution
(EFC) as determined by FAFSA of $4,800
or less for initial awards and unmet need for
renewal awards
• Are enrolled at least half-time (six hours)
Students who meet the qualifications are eligible for
up to 75 hours at a community college. Additionally,
a student receiving this grant may become eligible for
the Texas Grant once they transfer to a university.
For the first year, students must meet the college’s
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.
(Please refer to the Institutional Policy of Satisfactory
Academic Progress listed below for more
information.) To continue receiving this grant, the
student must complete 24 hours each academic year,
maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA, and complete at least
75 percent of their coursework.
For additional information about either of the above
grants, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC
PROGRESS (SAP)
School policy: 34 CFR 668.16(e); Student eligibility:
34 CFR 668.32(f), 34 CFR 668.34
To be considered administratively capable, a school
must have a satisfactory academic progress policy for
a Federal Student Aid (FSA) recipient that is the
same as or more strict than the school's standards for
a student enrolled in the same educational program
who is not receiving assistance under a FSA program.
Basic Elements of a Satisfactory Progress Policy
According to these federal rules, a school's policy
must contain certain basic elements:
• a qualitative component consisting of
grades or comparable factors that are
measurable against a norm (a GPA
component)
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-24
• a quantitative component that consists of a
maximum time frame in which a student
must complete his or her educational
program, subdivided into increments (aka
the 150 percent rule)
• a measurement of progress, meaning the
student must be completing a certain
percentage of classes to be considered
making adequate progress.
Student Eligibility
To be eligible for Federal Student Aid (FSA) funds, a
student must make satisfactory academic progress as
defined by the school.
What is your SAP Status?
An explanation of the different SAP statuses can be
found on the college’s website at http://www.collin.
edu/shared/shared_finaid/pdf/Explanation_of_SAP.p
df .
Students can also see this explanation in the financial
aid section of their CougarWeb.
INSTITUTIONAL POLICY OF
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC
PROGRESS FOR FINANCIAL AID
(Effective November 2013)
This is an official statement of Collin College policy
related to the financial aid operational definition of
Satisfactory Academic Progress for students at Collin
College effective for 2013-14 and subsequent
academic years.
At the end of each period of enrollment, the Financial
Aid Office evaluates satisfactory academic progress
of all enrolled students. This evaluation considers
Financial Aid GPA*, the percentage of hours
completed and maximum allowed hours attempted.
Please note the evaluation takes place at the end of
fall, spring and summer III (the summer calculation is
inclusive of all summer terms (Maymester, Summer
I, II and III).
At the end of each period of enrollment, a student
must meet the following requirements:
I. Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement
A student must maintain a Financial Aid GPA* of 2.0
or higher in order to receive federal student aid. The
Financial Aid GPA is the calculation of grades from
all credit coursework, including developmental and
ESL coursework. Please note, that the Financial Aid
GPA* may differ from the Academic GPA.
II. Percent Completion Requirement
A student must complete 67 percent of all attempted
hours; calculated by dividing the total number of
hours the student has successfully completed by the
total number of hours attempted.
a. Successfully completed hours: Passing grades of
A, B, C and D, (including developmental and ESL
coursework), accepted transfer coursework and
repeated courses (one time only for previously passed
course).
b. Attempted hours: Withdrawals, grades of F,
incomplete courses, repeated courses, courses taken
during the summer sessions, developmental and ESL
coursework, accepted transfer coursework and all
hours for which student received passing grades are
counted toward attempted hours. Please note, all
periods of enrollment count when assessing progress,
even periods in which a student does not receive
federal student aid.
III. Maximum Time Frame Requirement
The maximum number of hours a student may
attempt is limited to 150 percent of the published
length of the program. For example, a certificate
program that requires 30 hours would have a
maximum time frame of 45 credit hours.
All hours, including those taken while not receiving
Title IV aid, those taken under a different major,
hours attempted during summer sessions, remedial
hours, ESL hours and hours transferred in from
previous/other institutions, etc., shall be counted
towards total hours attempted and earned. Students
that reach the maximum time frame are immediately
given a status of “Exceeds Max Hours,” making them
ineligible for any student aid, including student loans,
state aid, etc.
Complete Withdrawal
A student who completely withdraws from a semester
while on student aid or receives grades of “F,” “W,”
and/or “I” in all coursework in a given semester will
immediately be placed on financial aid suspension
and is no longer eligible to receive any student aid.
This includes all summer coursework. This type of
suspension does not go away and can only be
removed with an appeal for rare, extenuating
circumstances. Note: All outstanding charges must be
paid before an appeal can be considered.
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-25
Failure to Meet the Standards of Academic
Progress - GPA and Percent Completion
A student who fails to meet the requirements in I
and/or II above will automatically be placed on
warning for the next semester of enrollment. Students
on warning will still be able to receive student
financial aid they would otherwise be eligible to
receive. At the end of the next semester of
enrollment, the student must be making Financial Aid
satisfactory academic progress (Financial Aid GPA*
of 2.0 or greater and a cumulative percent completion
of 67 percent or higher.) If the student is not making
satisfactory academic progress by the end of the
semester, they will automatically be placed on
financial aid suspension and will no longer be
eligible for any student aid including loans, state aid,
etc.
Students on financial aid suspension for Financial
Aid GPA* and/or percent completion will remain on
suspension until such time that the Financial Aid
GPA* and/or percent completion reaches the
minimum requirements. Once the minimum
requirements are met, the student will again be
considered to be in good standing.
The Appeal Process - GPA, Percent Completion
and Complete Withdrawal
In rare circumstances, a student is allowed to appeal
his/her financial aid suspension. These circumstances
may include a serious personal illness documented by
a doctor, the serious illness of an immediate family
member where the doctor documents that the student
was required to give care to the family member and
other rare, exceptional circumstances that prevent a
student from attending class. The circumstances must
have occurred during the semester(s) of attendance.
Please note that appeals will not be accepted without
documentation and that appeals submitted with
documentation are not automatically approved.
The deadline for submitting an appeal is 30 days after
the official first day of classes for a semester.
A student who meets the condition to appeal must
complete and submit the Financial Aid Satisfactory
Academic Progress Appeal form, along with required
documentation that supports the rare circumstances,
to the Financial Aid Office. The appeal must also
contain a typed letter explaining the circumstances
that the student faced and what measures have been
taken so that the same problem does not negatively
impact their academic progress.
The Appeal Process - Maximum Timeframe
An appeal to request an extension of hours can be
submitted if there are extenuating circumstances that
caused the student not to be able to complete within
the 150 percent time period, but those circumstances
must be documented. Extenuating circumstances
include: a serious personal illness documented by a
doctor, the serious illness of an immediate family
member where the doctor documents that the student
was required to give care to the family member and
other rare, exceptional circumstances that prevent a
student from attending class.
A student who meets the condition to appeal must
complete and submit the Financial Aid Request for
Extension of Max Hours form and a degree audit,
along with required documentation that supports the
rare circumstances, to the Financial Aid Office. The
appeal must also contain a typed letter explaining the
circumstances that the student faced and what
measures have been taken so that the same problem
does not negatively impact their academic progress.
A student is not allowed to appeal the maximum time
frame if his/her Financial Aid GPA* is below 2.0
and/or completion rate is below 67 percent.
The Appeals Committee
An appeals committee has been established at Collin
College to review all financial aid appeals. The
committee will meet as needed to review the appeals.
The determination of the appeal will be sent to the
student through CougarWeb. Appeals without
documentation or that do not meet the requirements
of the appeal process will automatically be denied.
A student, whose appeal is approved for GPA or
percent completion, must complete a financial aid
academic plan. In order to remain eligible for
financial aid while on an academic plan, the student
may not withdraw from any coursework and must
make a grade of at least “C” in every class until the
student is back in good standing.
A student whose appeal is approved for maximum
timeframe will have the approved hours added to the
150 percent of the program length.
All decisions of the Financial Aid Appeals
Committee are final.
Additional Information: Return of Title IV Funds
Title IV aid is earned in a prorated manner on a per
diem basis up to and including the 60 percent point in
the term. After the 60 percent point all aid is
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-26
considered earned. The percentage earned is
calculated by dividing the number of days completed
by the number of days in the repayment period. It is
the unearned percentage of aid that determines the
amount that must be returned to the Title IV
program(s) in the following order: Unsubsidized
Direct Loan, Subsidized Direct Loan, Direct Parent
PLUS Loan, Pell Grant and SEOG. The student is not
responsible for returning funds to any program to
which the students owes $50 or less. The grant funds
returned by the student are applied to the following
sources in the order indicated, up to the total amount
disbursed from that grant program minus any grant
funds the school is responsible for returning to that
program. Title IV Grant Program sources include:
Pell and SEOG. The Department of Education
considers a student who earns all “F”s to have
unofficially withdrawn unless an instructor can prove
otherwise. The college, as well as the student may be
required to return to the federal government the
unearned portion of the Title IV funds. The
institution will require students to repay charges
resulting from the institution’s portion of the return
of unearned Title IV aid. This may cause the student
to owe both the college and the federal government.
Students withdrawing prior to disbursement may be
eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement. Students
who are considering withdrawing should contact the
Financial Aid Office for a thorough explanation of
how this policy will affect them.
FINANICIAL AID PROGRAMS –
OTHER
Tuition Exemptions
State tuition waivers and exemptions provide
qualifying students with exemptions from certain
tuition and fee charges in public colleges.
For the 2014-2015 year, the State of Texas
Legislature updated the rules and requirements for
exemptions under SB1210. The new rules state that
for most types of exemptions, students must:
• Be seeking a degree or certificate
• Have prior credit evaluated and applied
toward the degree or certificate* (this
includes both transfer work and any prior
credits earned at Collin College)
• Meet the Financial Aid satisfactory
academic progress requirement of a 2.0
GPA (excludes hours earned exclusively by
examination, hours earned when the student
is dual-enrolled and hours earned for
developmental coursework)
• Have not completed, at the beginning of
each semester, more than 30 hours over and
above the number of hours required by the
degree or certificate in which the student is
enrolled.
*In order for prior credit to be evaluated, students
must submit a degree request form to the Financial
Aid office (not to Admissions).
If on the completion of any semester, a student fails
to meet any of the above eligibility requirements, the
student may not receive the exemption for the next
semester in which the student enrolls. Students may
become eligible in a subsequent semester if they
complete a semester or semesters on their own and
are once again meeting the eligibility requirements.
For students with a rare, extenuating circumstance (as
described in the Financial Aid section), they may
submit an appeal with supporting documentation. See
the instructions for submitting appeals in the
Financial Aid section of this catalog or on the
College’s website at: http://www.collin.edu/
gettingstarted/financialaid/SAP.html .
Contact either the Financial Aid Office or the
Admissions and Records Office for additional
information regarding a specific waiver or
exemption. A few of the state exemptions and
waivers are listed below.
Financial Aid Exemptions
Deaf/blind students • adopted students and students
who were in foster care • children of deceased or
disabled fireman and peace officers • children of
prisoners of war or persons missing in action •
firemen enrolled in fire science courses • police
officers enrolled in law enforcement or criminal
justice courses • children of professional nursing staff
• Hazlewood Act • orphans of national guard
members
Admissions Waivers
Ad-valorem tax • concurrent enrollment • contract
training for out of district students • dual agreement
with Dallas County • senior citizen
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
AC-27
VETERANS EDUCATIONAL
BENEFITS
Students requesting veterans educational benefits at
Collin College should submit all documentation to
the Financial Aid (FA)/ Veterans Affairs (VA) Office
at least six weeks prior to registration, if possible.
The steps necessary to do this include:
1. Gain admission to Collin College through the
Admissions and Records Office.
2. Submit a degree plan request and all required VA
forms to the Financial Aid/Veterans Affairs Office.
3. Ensure all official transcripts from prior institutions
are submitted to the degree plan coordinator
(Admissions and Records Office) for transfer
evaluation. *
PLEASE NOTE: Only after an official degree plan is
on file will notification of enrollment be sent to the
Department of Veterans Affairs. Only classes that are
on the official degree plan will be paid for. It is the
student’s responsibility to ensure the degree program
selected is a program approved by the Texas
Workforce Commission and the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
* A degree plan will NOT be completed until all
OFFICIAL transcripts and the DD214 (where
applicable) are on file with the Admissions and
Records Office. Failure to submit all official
transcripts (and the DD214 where applicable) in a
timely manner will result in a delay of certification of
enrollment and/or non-certification if the student
registers for courses for which previous credit may be
granted.
Any class that is recommended but not required by a
degree program cannot be certified with the VA.
Additionally, classes required for graduation at
another institution, but not by Collin College, cannot
be certified. Developmental courses will only be
certified if the student has assessed into the course(s)
and only if the class is a “traditional” class. A
traditional class is where the student physically
attends the class and a teacher instructs the class at
each meeting. Online, pod, flex and blended courses
are all considered distance courses (not traditional
courses) by the VA. Therefore, they are not eligible
for certification.
Veteran students’ enrollment is certified according to
the date of registration as long as the degree
evaluation has been completed. Therefore, it is
strongly recommended that veteran students register
for classes as early as possible each semester.
It is the student’s responsibility to notify the
Financial Aid/Veterans Affairs Office whenever they
change their schedule (i.e., add or drop classes).
The student is responsible for registering for the
correct courses. The VA will only pay for courses
required for graduation. Please be careful when
taking elective course. They may not be eligible for
certification.
It is assumed that continuing students want to be
certified for any subsequent enrollment unless they
notify the Financial Aid/Veterans Affairs Office in
writing. Requests for certification of a prior term
will be processed in accordance with standard VA
policy and will not be processed ahead of the normal
scheduled workload for that term.
If the student has not been in attendance for two
regular 16-week semesters, additional VA documents
will be required, as well as any transcripts from any
schools in attendance during the break.
All degree plan changes must be made through the
financial aid/veterans affairs office. Please contact
the FA/VA Office on campus. Allow at least six
weeks for the new degree plan request to be
evaluated. It is the student’s responsibility to notify
the FA/VA Office once the degree plan has been
completed.
Veterans Academic Progress
Students receiving veterans benefits must maintain
satisfactory academic progress while attending Collin
College. Satisfactory academic progress is defined as:
1. Maintaining a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Students
failing to make satisfactory academic
progress will be reported to the Veterans Regional
Office as being on academic suspension at the end
of the second consecutive semester when the
cumulative GPA remains below 2.0. Developmental
courses will be included to determine the cumulative
GPA.
2. A grade of “D” or better received at Collin
College or any other college is a passing grade and
may not be repeated for benefits. If a non-punitive
grade of “I” is assigned to a course and is not
converted to a punitive grade, this will be reported
to the Veterans Affairs Regional Office within 30
days and benefits will be reduced accordingly.
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Students receiving a grade of “F” may repeat the
course with benefits one time at Collin College.
3. Withdrawal from a class, whether self-initiated or
otherwise, may result in the student being obligated
to repay any overpayment of benefits unless the VA
approves written extenuating circumstances
submitted by the student.
4. Regular class attendance is required to provide
necessary documentation of attendance.
COLLIN COLLEGE FOUNDATION
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Through generous contributions from individuals,
corporations and private foundations, the Collin
College Foundation awards scholarships to students
annually. Scholarships, available to both new and
continuing students, provide opportunities to pursue
academic excellence and secure the degrees of
choice. Awards are based on financial need, field of
study, civic engagement, academic achievement and
merit. Transfer scholarships are also available,
although limited. All students are encouraged to
apply.
Students are encouraged to visit the Foundation
website at http://www.collin.edu/foundation . Please
check the Foundation website for priority deadlines
for submitting applications. Scholarship applications
are accepted online only. Additional scholarship
information is available in the Foundation Office at
the Collin Higher Education Center, Suite 429; the
Financial Aid Office at Central Park Campus, Room
D118; Preston Ridge Campus, Room F141; and
Spring Creek Campus, Room G119.
COLLIN COLLEGE ATHLETIC
AND DEPARTMENTAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are also available for men’s and women’s
basketball and tennis. Athletic Competitive Scholarships
are awarded on the basis of athletic ability, contribution
to Collin College as a student-athlete and NJCAA eli-
gibility. Scholarships are awarded in compliance with
National Junior College Athletic Association by-laws.
Contact the Athletic Department for scholarship infor-
mation.
Additional scholarships may be available through aca-
demic departments. For more information, contact the
respective dean.
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AC-29
ACADEMIC POLICIES
Academic Standards
All students are encouraged to work toward
achieving their goals and maintaining scholastic
progress throughout their enrollment at the college.
Good Academic Standing
Students are considered in good academic standing if:
• a 2.0 or better grade point average (GPA) is
maintained each semester
AND
• a 2.0 or better grade cumulative GPA is
maintained.
Academic Progress
Academic Progress occurs when
• a student has earned a term GPA of at least a
2.0.
Maximizing Academic Progress Program
(MAPP)
The Maximizing Academic Progress Program
(MAPP) assists students whose cumulative GPA has
fallen below 2.0. Students in this status are required
to:
• meet with an Academic Advisor to develop
an individualized plan for success. An
Unsatisfactory Progress Hold will be placed
on students’ records.
• enroll in classes before the probation
deadline for the term (see Registration
Guide “Important Dates” for exact
deadline). This includes regular classes (i.e.,
16-week) and all express and flex entry
classes.
Students who do not earn a cumulative 2.0 GPA will
be placed on one of the following academic actions:
• Academic Warning
• Academic Probation
• Academic Suspension
Academic Warning
Academic Warning occurs immediately following the
first semester students do not maintain Good
Academic Standing. A hold will be placed on the
students’ registration status requiring them to meet
with an Academic Advisor. Students will complete a
MAPP Contract and Personal Academic Action Plan.
Students will submit a Progress Report (PR) prior to
the semester withdrawal date (see Registration Guide
“Important Dates” for exact deadline).
Students will be removed from Academic Warning
the semester that Good Academic Standing is
achieved.
Academic Probation Academic Probation
occurs immediately following Academic Warning.
Students, who do not raise their cumulative GPA up
to a 2.0, will be required to meet with an Academic
Advisor prior to the next term’s registration. Students
will be limited to a maximum 13 credit hours for a
full-term semester and 6 hours for a summer semester
Students will complete a MAPP Contract and the
Continual Academic Action Plan in conjunction with
a College Success class or Learning and Study
Strategies Inventory (LASSI). Students will submit a
Progress Report (PR) prior to the semester
withdrawal date (see Registration Guide “Important
Dates” for exact deadline). Students entering
Academic Probation for a Maymester term will only
be permitted to enroll in a College Success class. If
students maintain Academic Progress, they will be
able to continue to enroll for future semesters and
complete a Progress Report until Good Academic
Standing is achieved.
Academic Suspension (one year)
Academic Suspension occurs when students on
Academic Probation do not maintain Academic
Progress. Students on Academic Suspension cannot
enroll for one (1) academic year.
Students who participate in early registration and do
not maintain Academic Progress by the end of the
semester, will be dropped from their classes for the
subsequent semester and will be placed on Academic
Suspension.
Appeals
Students placed on Academic Suspension have the
right to appeal to the Academic Progress Appeals
Committee (APAC). The process allows students to
appeal a suspension for unsatisfactory academic
progress based upon: (a) the death of a relative, (b) an
injury or illness of the student or (c) extenuating
circumstances. Students can only appeal one (1) time
during their tenure at Collin.
Readmission after a Period of
Academic Suspension
After one year of Academic Suspension, students can
reapply to Collin College under an Academic
Probation status and must continue to maintain
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Academic Progress each semester. Students must
meet with an Academic Advisor to obtain a MAPP
contract, Continual Action Plan and Progress Report
before the probation deadline (see Registration Guide
“Important Dates” for exact deadline).
Transfer Students on Probation,
Suspension, or Dismissal from
Other Colleges
Transfer Students on probation, suspension or
dismissal from other colleges may seek enrollment at
Collin College on Good Academic Standing. Contact
Academic Advising for details.
Adding/Dropping Courses
A change in a student’s schedule may be made online
through the first two days of classes during the two
long terms and through the first day of class during
the summer terms. After the first two days of a long
term (or first day during a summer/express term),
students must come, in person, to any campus to
make any schedule change.
Registration for any course will result in full tuition
and fee assessment for the course hours. Any course
dropped on or after the first day of each term or mini-
semester will result in charges for the dropped course
as determined by the state refund guidelines and
approved tuition rates.
Students may withdraw from a course with a grade of
“W” through the end of the eighth class week during
a regular (16-week) term, through Tuesday of the
third week of classes in a short (five-week) summer
term and through Thursday of the fifth week of
classes in a long (10-week) summer term. Contact the
Admissions and Records Office for withdrawal
deadlines for other terms.
International students should contact the International
Student Office, and students receiving financial aid
or veteran’s assistance should see the appropriate
college official before dropping or withdrawing. See
“Withdrawal from the College” on page AC-36 for
exact procedures.
Students should contact their professors prior to
initiating a drop or withdrawal. A student who
discontinues class attendance and does not officially
drop or withdraw from the course will receive a
performance grade.
AUDITING COURSES
Students who are auditing classes will not receive
grades or credit for the course, but their transcript
will indicate that the course was audited. Students
who are auditing classes will not be required to take
tests; however, participation in regular class activities
is expected. Foreign language, sign language,
developmental education, applied music lessons
(MUAP), computer systems, technology and
engineering classes may not be audited. (Continuing
Education offers foreign language classes. See the
current Continuing Education Schedule of Classes.)
Any student intending to audit a course may register
for that course in person on the first day of classes.
Audit students are subject to the usual registration
process and must meet all admissions policies and
guidelines. A non-refundable audit fee is assessed for
each class in addition to regular tuition and fees.
Students who audit are not eligible to print from
computers in the library or computer lab.
Those registering for credit during this time may not
later change their status to audit (non-credit).
However, audit students may change to credit status
prior to the term’s census date. Students admitted
under special admissions are not eligible to audit.
CLASS ATTENDANCE
Regular classroom attendance is expected of all
students. Professors determine class attendance
requirements; therefore, students should ascertain
each professor’s attendance policy on the first day of
the class. Students who receive Department of
Veterans Affairs educational benefits must conform
to attendance and academic standards as established
by the college. It is the veteran’s responsibility to
understand this policy.
Enrollment Verification for Students
(Self-Service)
This program provides students with online access to
enrollment verification services from the National
Student Clearinghouse. By using a link on the college
website, students can achieve the following:
• Print a certificate of enrollment that can be
forwarded to a health insurer, housing provider,
credit issuer, employment agency or other
student service providers.
• View enrollment information that may have been
provided to a student service provider.
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• View electronic notifications and deferment
forms that have been sent to lenders, service
providers and guarantors.
• View a list of their lenders and link to real-time
student loan information details, such as
outstanding principal balance and the next
payment due date that some lenders provide. Go
to http://www.collin.edu . Click on the
CougarWeb link and log into CougarWeb. Click
on the Home Page tab. Click on “Enrollment
Verification” under the Student Quick Links tab.
Follow the instructions for printing an
enrollment verification.
Students may contact the National Student
Clearinghouse directly at 703.742.7791 or
http://www.studentclearinghouse.org for further
questions concerning their enrollment verifications.
RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS
In accordance with Section 51.911 of the Texas
Education Code, the college will allow a student who
is absent from class for the observance of a religious
holy day to take an examination or complete an
assignment scheduled for that day within a
reasonable time. Students are required to file a
written request with each professor within the first 15
days of the semester to qualify for an excused
absence. A copy of the state rules and procedures
regarding holy days and the form for notification of
absence from each class under this provision are
available from the Admissions and Records Office.
GRADING SYSTEM
At the completion of each term, the college will
determine the student’s semester and cumulative
grade point averages, which will be recorded on the
student’s official transcript. Grades earned in
developmental education courses are not included in
the grade point average. Grades are available through
the CougarWeb Registration system.
Grade Points Per Semester Hour
A Excellent 4
B Above Average 3
C Average 2
D Below Average 1
F Failure 0
W Withdrawn 0
(Not included in GPA or Earned Hours)
WS 0
Withdrawal Affected
(Not included in GPA or Cumulative Hours
Counts in State six W/D limit.)
WZ 0
Withdrawn by Department
(Not included in GPA or Earned Hours)
I Incomplete 0
AD
A - Developmental 0
BD
B – Developmental 0
CD
C – Developmental 0
DD
D – Developmental 0
FD
F – Developmental 0
AT Excellent 0 (Transfer)
BT Above Average 0 (Transfer)
CT Average 0 (Transfer)
DT Below Average 0 (Transfer)
AU Audit 0
(Not included in GPA or Earned Hours)
CR Credit 0
(Included in Earned Hours but not GPA Hours. Used for
Advanced Placement, College Level Exam Program, Credit by
Exam, Articulated Credit and Tech Prep)
P Pass 0
(Not included in GPA or Earned Hours)
T Non Course Base 0
TASP remediation
XF 0
Administrative Assignment of Failure
(Not included in GPA or Earned Hours)
XW 0
Administrative Withdrawal
(Not included in GPA or Earned Hours)
Z No grade reported. Instructor did
not assign a grade.
ZW 0
Administrative withdraw due to a fraudulent act
of scholastic dishonesty.
(Not included in GPA or Earned Hours)
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AC-32
INCOMPLETE GRADES
AND CONTRACTS
The “I” grade is assigned only for extenuating
circumstances. Incomplete contracts must be agreed
to and signed by the student, professor, chair and
appropriate academic dean before the end of the term
in order for a grade of “I” to be assigned.
The contract must define the exact requirements (not
to exceed 20 percent of the coursework) the student is
to fulfill in order to receive a performance grade. If
remaining work is greater than 20 percent of the
coursework, the approval of the Vice President/
Provost is required. Requirements of incomplete
contracts must be completed as specified in the
contract, but no later than the end of the next long
semester.
The contract will state that if the work is not
completed as specified, the grade will be changed to
a performance grade based on the quality and amount
of work completed. If the instructor does not initiate
a grade change by the end of the next semester, the
grade will be changed by the Admissions & Records
Office to an “F” or other performance grade indicated
on the original contract.
PASS/FAIL GRADE OPTION
Non-degree seeking students may select a pass/fail
grade option for foreign language, sign language and
creative writing courses. This option is not available
for students working toward a degree plan or
intending to transfer to another institution. To select a
pass/fail grade, complete the appropriate form at the
Admissions and Records Office on or before the
census date of the term. Pass/fail students may
change their status to credit before the census date of
the term in the Admissions and Records Office.
REPEATING COURSES
All courses taken will be recorded on the student’s
transcript. The highest grade earned will be used in
computing the grade point average and applied
toward degree or program requirements.
Beginning fall 2002, a course in which a grade
(including “W”) has been received can be repeated
only one time to replace the grade. The grade
received does not affect the student’s ability to repeat
a course. Registration holds will be placed on courses
that have been attempted twice.
When a course is repeated:
1. Only one course/grade will be counted in a
student’s GPA
2. The highest grade will be used in GPA
calculations
Courses repeated before fall 2008 will have only the
last grade and credits (whether higher or lower)
earned used in computing the grade point average
and applied toward degree or program requirements.
Veterans should consult the Director of Financial
Aid/Veterans Affairs before repeating any course.
Students planning to transfer to another college or
university should check with a Collin College
academic advisor or with receiving institutions for
their repeat policies.
GRADUATION
The college offers Associate of Arts, Associate of
Arts in Teaching, Associate of Science and Associate
of Applied Science degrees and certificate programs.
Students who plan to graduate from Collin College
should request a degree plan prior to the completion
of 30 credit hours. Students must be currently
admitted to Collin College to request a degree plan.
Students may graduate under any approved degree
plan from the preceding five years as long as they
were enrolled during that year; however, students
may benefit from graduating under the requirements
of the current degree plan. Degrees and certificates
that have been deactivated by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board (THECB) must be
completed within three years of the date the program
ended.
A student who completes specific course
requirements for a degree or certificate with a
minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is a
candidate for graduation. Any student who entered
Collin College prior to Fall 2008 and had transfer
coursework transcripted will have those transfer
course grade points included in their Collin College
grade point average.
TSI requirements must be complete in order to be
considered a candidate for graduation.
Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts in Teaching,
Associate of Science, Associate of Arts or Science in
a Field of Study or Associate of Applied Science
degree honors will be awarded to students with the
following cumulative grade point average at Collin
College:
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AC-33
4.0 Summa cum laude
3.75-3.99 Magna cum laude
3.5-3.74 Cum laude
Honors are calculated using all Collin College
college-level coursework and transcripted transfer
coursework prior to Fall 2008. (Grades earned in
developmental education courses are not included.)
Students participating in commencement ceremonies
must purchase graduation regalia (cap and gown)
from the college bookstore.
Associate Degrees
Students may earn the following degrees:
- Associate of Arts or Associate of Science
- Associate of Arts in Teaching
- Associate of Arts or Science in a Field of Study and
Certificate
- Associate of Applied Science and certificates
- Texas Certificate
See pages CI-1 for specific degrees. To graduate,
students must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours
at Collin and satisfy all other degree requirements.
Non-traditional and developmental course credit do
not meet this residency requirement. Candidates for
an associate degree should submit an application for
graduation at the beginning of the semester of degree
completion.
Certificate Programs
Students obtaining certificates containing 18 hours or
less must complete 15 hours of coursework in
residence at Collin College. Petitions for transfer
credits into certificate programs containing 18 hours
or less may be made to the academic dean through
the degree plan coordinator. Students earning
certificates may participate in commencement
ceremonies. Candidates for a certificate should
submit an application for graduation at the beginning
of the semester of completion.
Marketable Skills Achievement Awards
Marketable Skills Achievement Awards (MSAA) are
nine to 14 credit hour awards that add to the student’s
marketability or make the student eligible for
immediate employment. These awards are also
designed as a stepping stone toward earning
certificates or the AAS degree.
Graduate Guarantee for AAS Graduates
The Graduate Guarantee shall be used for
accountability purposes. The guarantee shall ensure
the graduate’s employer that the graduate has met
program competencies and shall offer up to nine
tuition-free hours of education for a program
graduate judged by the employer to be unable to
perform on the job the competencies as specified in
the college program. The program can be initiated by
the employer or graduate, within 90 days of the
graduate’s initial employment, by submitting a
written request to the Vice President/Provost.
Summer Graduates
Students with six hours or less remaining toward
completion of an associate degree may participate in
the current year’s graduation ceremonies provided
they are pre-registered for the appropriate summer
courses. Students planning to complete graduation
requirements during a summer session and participate
in graduation ceremonies must file for graduation by
the preceding spring semester deadline. Otherwise,
summer graduates may participate in the following
year’s ceremonies.
High Academic Achievement
All students who complete 12 or more quality credit
hours during a regular (16-week) term with a current
3.5 GPA or above qualify for the Deans’ List. All
students who complete 12 or more quality credit
hours during a regular (16-week) term with a current
4.0 GPA qualify for the President’s List.
STUDENT RECORDS
Procedure to Inspect Education Records
Students may inspect and review their education
records upon written request to the Registrar.
Students should submit a written request to the
Registrar that identifies as precisely as possible the
record or records they wish to inspect. Contact the
Registrar for procedures on students’ rights of
inspection, review and correction of educational
records.
Disclosure of Education Records
The college will disclose information from a
student’s education records only with the prior
written consent of the student, except with regard to
the law that provides for disclosure without consent
as indicated by the following:
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1. To school officials who have a legitimate
educational interest in the records.
2. To other schools.
3. To certain officials of the U.S. Department
of Education, the Comptroller General, and
state and local educational authorities in
connection with certain state or federally
supported education programs.
4. In connection with a student’s request for or
receipt of financial aid, as necessary to
determine the eligibility, amount or
conditions of the financial aid, or to enforce
the terms and conditions of the aid.
5. If required by a state law requiring
disclosure that was adopted before Nov. 19,
1974.
6. To organizations conducting certain studies
for or on behalf of the college.
7. To accrediting organizations to carry out
their functions.
8. To comply with a judicial order or a
lawfully issued subpoena.
9. To appropriate parties in a health or safety
emergency.
10. As it relates to directory information, unless
the student restricts directory information.
11. To the student.
12. Results of disciplinary hearing to alleged
victim of a crime of violence or sexual
harassment.
13. To Collin College’s Police Department in a
health or safety emergency.
Directory Information
In compliance with the Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, Federal Law 99-
380, information classified as “Directory
Information” may be released to a qualified
individual or organization that files a written request
with the Registrar
without the consent of the
student.
Directory
information is defined
as:
1. Student name
2. Student address
3. Home phone number
4. Major field(s) of study
5. Participation in officially recognized activities
and sports
6. Weight and height of athletic team members
7. Dates of attendance/enrollment
8. Most recent previous educational institution
attended
9. Degrees and awards received
10. Photograph
A student may request that directory information be
withheld from the public by completing and filing a
written request with the Admissions and Records
Office. If no request is filed, directory information
will be released upon inquiry. Filed requests are valid
until revoked by the student in writing. Directory
information is the only part of a student’s record that
may be released without the student’s prior written
permission, except with regard to the law that
provides for disclosure without consent.
STUDENT CLASSIFICATIONS
Freshman: A student who has successfully completed
fewer than 30 quality hours.
Sophomore: A student who has successfully
completed 30 or more quality hours, but has not
earned an associate’s degree.
Full-time: A student enrolled for 12 credit hours or
more in a regular (16-week) semester, six credit
hours or more in a five-week summer session, or nine
credit hours or more in a 10-week summer session.
Part-time: A student enrolled for 11 credit hours or
less in a regular (16-week) semester, five credit hours
or less in a five-week summer session, or eight credit
hours or less in a 10-week summer session.
Classification varies for courses meeting on
alternative or accelerated schedules.
STUDENT LOAD
A full-time student load is a minimum of 12 credit
hours per 16-week semester. Students taking 11
credit hours or less per 16-week semester are
classified as part time students. Full-time status
during the summer sessions or accelerated sessions
may vary. For clarification, see Student
Classifications or contact the Registrar. Students
may, with special permission from the Registrar,
enroll for more than 18 credit hours during a regular
session and seven hours in a summer session.
Permission will not be granted unless the student has
a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and plans to
carry no more than 21 hours during a regular (16-
week) semester or nine hours during a summer
session. Students are limited to one course
(maximum three credit hours) during the Maymester
sessions.
STUDENT RIGHT TO KNOW
Under the terms of the Student Right to Know Act,
the college maintains and annually updates student
persistence, graduation rates, transfer rates and other
relevant statistics. To access this information, go to
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Collin’s Institutional Research Office website
http://www.collin.edu/aboutus/statistics/ .
TRANSFER OF CREDIT
The ultimate goal at Collin College is to produce
educated and productive students, knowledgeable in
their chosen field of study. As part of Collin
College’s commitment to transfer students, the
college has partnered with various colleges and
universities to establish transfer articulation
agreements, special pre-admission agreements and
degree plans that provide students access to and
linkages with their baccalaureate degree-granting
institutions. Not only do these partnerships help
students transition from Collin College to their
chosen four-year institution – they also foster a more
confident and successful student. Transfer resources
for students are located on the Transfer U website at
http://transferu.collin.edu .
Common Course Numbering
To help meet the transfer needs of its students, Collin
College is a member of the Texas Common Course
Numbering System (TCCNS) Consortium. All Texas
community/junior colleges and many Texas
universities are also using this numbering system.
The Texas Common Course Numbering System
provides a shared, uniform set of course designations
for students and their advisors to use in determining
both course equivalency and degree applicability of
transfer credit on a statewide basis.
Students should not assume that only courses with
common course numbers will transfer and should see
a Collin College academic advisor for assistance.
Guarantee for Transfer Credit
Collin College guarantees the transferability of
course credits to Texas colleges and/or universities
that participate in the Guarantee for Transfer Credit
program. The guarantee applies to students who have
met the requirements for its Associate of Arts,
Associate of Arts in Teaching or Associate of
Science degrees and students who have met the 60
credit hour transfer plan.
This guarantee is designed for Collin College
students who have made firm decisions about their
major and the transfer college or university to which
they plan to transfer, and who have followed a
written transfer guide for that transfer institution.
If these courses are rejected, a student may take
tuition-free alternate courses at Collin College that
are deemed acceptable by the college or university to
which he/she wishes to transfer. Special conditions
that apply to the guarantee program are available on
request.
Resolution of Transfer Disputes
Collin College works closely with colleges and
universities to make the transfer process as smooth as
possible for courses transferred to Collin College
from the other institutions and follows guidelines to
resolve transfer disputes.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has
established procedures (see below) to be followed
when transfer credit for lower division courses listed
in the Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM) is
disputed. The individual courses covered by this
procedure are defined in the coordinating board’s
guide entitled, “Transfer of Credit Policies and
Curricula.”
Procedures for Resolution of Transfer
Disputes
The following procedures shall be followed by public
institutions of higher education in the resolution of
credit transfer disputes involving lower-division
courses. If an institution of higher education does not
accept course credit earned by a student at another
institution of higher education, the receiving
institution shall give written notice to the student and
to the sending institution that transfer of the course is
denied. The receiving institution will also give the
reasons for denying credit for a particular course or
set of courses at the request of the sending institution.
The two institutions and the student shall attempt to
resolve the transfer of the course credit in accordance
with board rule and/or guidelines.
If the transfer dispute is not resolved to the
satisfaction of the student or the sending institution
within 45 days after the date the student received
written notice of denial, the institution whose credit is
denied for transfer shall notify the commissioner of
the denial.
The Commissioner of Higher Education or the
commissioner’s designee shall make the final
determination about the dispute concerning the
transfer of course credit and give written notice of the
determination to the involved student and institutions.
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TRANSCRIPTS
Requests for official transcripts are made online
through the college website (http://www.collin.edu)
and cost $5 each.
WITHDRAWAL FROM
THE COLLEGE
Withdrawal Policy: Texas Education
Code 51.907 Course Drop Limit
Provisions
Students who enroll as an entering freshman or a
first-time college student in undergraduate courses at
any Texas public community college, technical
institute, health sciences institution or any public
university offering undergraduate courses must
comply with the legislation of TEC51.907.
TEC51.907 states that students who enroll for the
first time during the fall 2007 semester or any
subsequent semester are subject to the course drop
limit of six course drops. This includes any course a
transfer student has dropped at another institution.
Students may withdraw with a grade of “W” through
the end of the eighth week during the regular (16-
week) semester or Tuesday of the third week during
the short five-week summer term and through
Thursday of the fifth week in a long 10-week summer
term by completing a form in the Admissions and
Records Office. Students may also withdraw from the
college by mailing a written request for such action.
The request must include the student’s signature,
address, CWID number, date of birth, phone
number(s) and the course names and numbers. The
date postmarked on the envelope will be the official
withdrawal date.
Students should contact their professor prior to
initiating a drop or withdrawal. Withdrawal from the
college must be student initiated.
Students who discontinue class attendance and do not
officially withdraw will receive a performance grade
for the course.
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STUDENT DEVELOPMENT
ACADEMIC PLANNING
The Academic Planning Department is dedicated
primarily to assisting students in defining and
achieving their academic goals. This is an integral
component necessary for each student’s success at
Collin College.
Productive academic advising is dependent upon a
continuous collaboration between the academic
planning consultant and the student. Students can
contact an academic planning consultant in the
Academic Planning Department located within the
Student Development Center on their campus.
Successfully achieving academic goals requires
active and timely participation from both students
and academic planning consultants. Therefore,
students are strongly encouraged to meet with an
academic planning consultant each semester to
evaluate their academic progress and pre-plan their
next registration. Academic planning consultants and
their phone numbers are listed by instructional
division in the college catalog. The Student
Responsibilities for academic planning are:
• Read and respond to your CougarMail
• Maintain regular contact with your academic
planning coach/advisor during each semester
• Be an active learner by participating fully In the
advising experience
• Keep a personal record of your progress toward
meeting your academic goals
• Clarify goals and provide your academic
planning coach/advisor with accurate information
• Be knowledgeable about Collin College
instructional programs
• Be prepared and accept responsibility for your
decisions
ACADEMIC ETHICS
Collin College expects all members of the academic
community to demonstrate honesty and integrity in
every endeavor. Plagiarism, collusion, cheating and
other acts of scholastic dishonesty lessen the entire
process of learning and acquiring knowledge.
For more information on Scholastic Dishonesty, see
the current Collin College Student Handbook or
contact the Dean of Student Development Office.
ACCESS
Disability Services
ACCESS (Accommodations at Collin College for
Equal Support Services) is a comprehensive
accommodations program for all Collin College
students with disabilities.
Following the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amended
in 2008, guidelines and Section 504 of the Vocational
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, reasonable
accommodations for students with documented
disabilities are provided.
Students with disabilities are encouraged to make an
appointment with an ACCESS advisor at least one
month prior to the beginning of classes. For students
in applied science programs, check the ADA
statement for more information on documentation
guidelines. Dual Credit students with disabilities
must apply and be approved for accommodations by
ACCESS. Services include, but are not limited to:
interpreters, CART, note takers, scribes, readers,
special seating and testing accommodations.
The law requires that students must self-identify to
the ACCESS Office and provide required current
documentation to that department. Documentation
will be reviewed by committee and a decision will be
given to the student in 2-4 weeks. Students have the
right to appeal the decision through an appeal process
starting with the Director of ACCESS. It is the
student’s responsibility to pick up their
accommodations letter each semester to receive
requested accommodations.
Assistive technology and software are available on
each campus for students with disabilities. Please
contact the ACCESS Office for more information.
Students must notify the ACCESS Office
immediately upon registering for classes each
semester to request a deaf/blind tuition exemption.
The deaf/blind tuition exemption does not apply to all
courses and will be determined on a per course per
semester basis. Approval for the deaf/blind
exemption is not an academic accommodation. The
final decision on this exemption is determined by the
Financial Aid Office, based on Satisfactory
Academic Progress.
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The ACCESS Office is located at Spring Creek
Campus, Room D140, Central Park Campus, Room
D-118J and Preston Ridge Campus, Room F118.
ACCESS staff members are available to meet
students on any campus. Please contact the office at
972.881.5898 for services on all campuses.
Air Force ROTC
Collin College students are given the opportunity to
participate in the Air Force ROTC program as
crosstown students at the University of North Texas
in Denton, Texas.
Students are required to attend an academic class,
leadership laboratory and physical training at the
University of North Texas once a week during the
fall and spring academic semesters.
The AFROTC mission is to develop quality leaders
to serve our country as officer in the United States
Air Force. As a part of the program, you will prepare
yourself to become an Air Force Officer while
completing your degree as a college student. Students
may participate in the four-year or three-year
programs.
Students enroll in AFROTC classes at the same time
and in the same manner as other Collin courses.
Business and Computer Systems administers the
offering of Air Force ROTC courses for Collin
College; students register and pay via Collin College
in accordance with published payment deadlines.
For more information please visit
www.afrotc.unt.edu or email det835@unt.edu .
COLLIN COLLEGE POLICE
DEPARTMENT – 972.578.5555
Collin College’s police officers are licensed peace
officers of the State of Texas and are trained and
educated to protect life and both college and personal
property. These officers are vested with full authority
to enforce all Texas laws and regulations.
All Texas motor vehicle laws will be enforced on
Collin College campuses. As indicated by section
51.205 (Higher Education Code) all parking
regulations will be enforced on Collin College
properties.
The college complies with the provisions of the
Campus Security Act of 1990, Public Law 101-542.
In compliance with the Campus Sex Crimes
Prevention Act (Section 1601 of Public Law 106-
386) and the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against
Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration
Act, all persons required to register as part of the
State of Texas’ Sex Offender Registration Program
are required to provide notice of their presence on
campus.
For more information, contact the Collin College
Police at 972.578.5555 or visit http://www.collin.edu/
campuspolice/ .
COUNSELING SERVICES
The college’s counseling program supports and
assists students who have personal issues that impact
their college experience. The college is aware of the
interaction between personal development, emotional
wellness and success in academic pursuits. Coun-
seling Services offers assistance in the areas of
therapeutic intervention, prevention and support.
Staffed by licensed professionals and supervised
interns. Counseling Services provides individual
personal and career counseling, sponsors personal
growth and health education seminars and
encourages awareness of issues of concern to both
traditional and non-traditional students. Confidential
services include:
•!Exploring concerns in a non-judgmental
setting
•!Tapping into internal strengths and resources
•!Achieving clarity of thoughts and feelings
•!Managing overwhelming situations
•!Improving communication and coping skills
•!Promoting optimal mental health
•!Identifying avenues of learning, growing,
healing, and changing
•!Enhancing educational and academic success
•!Developing career plans and goals
•!Skill building and job search assistance
For additional information or assistance with
counseling concerns, call 972.881.5126.
For Career Services, call
Central Park Campus – 972.548.6747
Preston Ridge Campus – 972.377.1781
Spring Creek Campus – 972.881.5781
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AC-39
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Safety and security is a concern for all members of
the college community including students, college
employees and visitors. Possession of firearms or
other lethal weapons on campus or at college-
sponsored events is illegal, except for by
commissioned police officers as prescribed by law.
See the Student Code of Conduct in the current
Collin College Student Handbook for detailed
information.
In compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and
Communities Act Amendment of 1989 (Public Law
101-226) and Texas House Resolution 2253 and
Senate Resolution 645 (passed in 1987), the college
forbids the unlawful delivery, manufacture,
possession, sale, purchase, use or distribution of
illegal controlled substances (as defined in the Texas
Controlled Substance Act) such as alcoholic
beverages, steroids, inhalants, herbal/ “natural”
euphoriants, look-alike products, substances referred
to as “designer drugs” and the inappropriate or illegal
use of over-the-counter or prescription medication at
the college, on college property, at Century Court
Apartments or while attending college-sponsored
activities on or off campus.
For more information, refer to the current Collin
College Student Handbook, Dean of Students,
Director of Counseling or Director of Human
Resources. Information can also be found at
http://www.collin.edu/campuspolice/ .
Emergency Closing of the College
If classes have been cancelled, an announcement will
be posted on the college’s website (http://www.collin
.edu) and CougarAlert. In addition, announcements
will be made on local radio and television stations. A
decision to cancel classes will usually be made by 4
p.m. for evening classes and by 6 a.m. for day
classes.
CougarAlert
CougarAlert is the official emergency notification
system for Collin College, providing critical
information via text message, phone message, e-mail
or social media. CougarAlert may be triggered for
evacuation, inclement weather, power outages or
unscheduled closure but not for promotional
purposes. During emergencies, go to http://www
.collin.edu for details. If a closure notice is not posted
on the website, the college is open. College-issued e-
mail and home phone numbers are automatically
loaded for students, but text messaging and additional
emails can be added. See http://www.collin.edu
/cougaralert.html for instructions. (Standard text
messaging fees from service providers may apply.)
Reporting Emergencies
If an emergency should arise on campus, call Collin
College Police at 972.578.5555, report it to the
campus VP/Provost’s Office or to the building liaison
at the Courtyard Center for Professional and
Economic Development. Contact faculty within the
classroom if a problem should arise during a class.
Emergency medical services will be notified for
students when necessary.
If an emergency arises at an off-campus location,
immediately notify a faculty member or contact
emergency medical services as necessary.
HEALTH SERVICES
The college is dedicated to the total well-being of its
students. Health fairs, alcohol and drug awareness
programs and aerobic and other fitness courses are
geared toward student wellness. Although the college
does not employ a nurse or physician, first aid
supplies are available at the VP/Provost offices,
Information Center, Fitness Center, Physical Plant,
Student Life offices and academic department offices
on each campus.
Bacterial Meningitis
This information is being provided to all new college
students in the state of Texas. Bacterial Meningitis is
an infection of the brain and spinal cord that causes
inflammation of the membranes that surround the
brain. Several different types of bacteria can cause
meningitis. The leading cause of bacterial meningitis
in the United States is Neisseria meningitidis, also
called meningococcal meningitis (CDC,
Meningococcal Disease, 2013).
Bacterial meningitis strikes about 1,500 Americans
each year, and about 15 percent are adolescents and
young adults (National Meningitis Association,
2013).
Symptoms may vary but may include some or all of
the following:
• High fever
• Rash or purple patches on skin
• Light sensitivity
• Confusion and sleepiness
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• Severe headache
• Vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Nausea
• Seizures
There may be a rash of tiny, red-purple spots caused
by bleeding under the skin. These can occur
anywhere on the body. This is a sign of a very serious
infection that needs immediate medical care.
How is Bacterial Meningitis diagnosed?
Diagnosis is made by a medical provider and is
usually based on a combination of clinical symptoms
and laboratory results from spinal fluid and blood
tests. Early diagnosis and treatment can greatly
improve the likelihood of recovery.
How is the disease transmitted?
The disease is spread through air droplets or through
direct contact with infected people. Direct contact
can happen when people kiss, cough, share drinks or
cigarettes, or if they provide certain types of medical
aid to a person with bacterial meningitis. When it is
spread, exposed people typically become ill within
three (3) to seven (7) days (CDC, Meningococcal
Meningitis, 2013).
Who is at an increased risk of
getting bacterial meningitis?
Vaccination against meningococcal disease is
recommended for persons at an increased risk of
getting bacterial meningitis. Those persons include,
but are not limited to, adolescents from ages 11–18
years, college freshman living in dormitories (or
sharing apartments), anyone who has a damaged
spleen or whose spleen has been removed, and people
who have been exposed to meningitis during an
outbreak (CDC, Vaccination Information Statement,
2011).
What are the possible consequences
of the disease?
While most people recover fully, 11 percent of
people who have blood or brain infections caused by
Nisseria meningitidis will die. About 20 percent of
people who survive meningococcal disease will have
permanent effects such as hearing loss, brain damage
or the loss of a limb (National Meningitis
Association, 2013).
Can the disease be treated?
Antibiotic treatment, if received early, can save lives
and chances of recovery are increased. However,
permanent disability or death can still occur.
Vaccinations are available and should be
considered for:
• Those living in close quarters
• College students 22 years old or younger
Vaccinations are effective against four of the five
most common bacterial types that cause 70 percent of
the disease in the United States (but does not protect
against all types of meningitis).
Vaccination takes seven to 10 days to become
effective, with protection lasting three to five years.
After five years, you will need to get a booster. The
cost of vaccine varies, so check with your health care
provider. Vaccination is very safe – most common
side effects are redness and minor pain at injection
site for up to two days.
How can I find out more information?
Contact your own health care provider. Contact your
local or regional Collin County Health Care Office at
972.548.5532. Contact websites: http://www.cdc.gov
/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo or http://www.co.collin
.tx.us/healthcare_services/ .
Immunizations
Due to recent measles outbreaks, the Texas State
Board of Health is requesting students born after Jan.
1, 1957, confirm appropriate immunizations or
immunity to the following diseases: tetanus/
diphtheria, mumps, measles and rubella.
Mental Health Leave of Absence
The College District may permit a temporary leave of
absence for a student due to a mental health
condition. The leave of absence will be at the request
of the student or designee and must occur by the
following deadlines:
Fall Semester – First Monday in December
Spring Semester –First Monday in May
Summer I – Last Friday in June
Summer II/III – Last Friday in July
For detailed information, see FDAC (LOCAL) at
http://pol.tasb.org/policy/code/304?filter=fdac or
Counseling Services at any campus.
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Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
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AC-41
STRATEGIES OF BEHAVIORAL
INTERVENTION COMMITTEE
Collin College’s Strategies of Behavior
Intervention (SOBI) Committee provides a process
to refer, report, assess and assist students who may
display various levels of distressed, disturbed,
and/or unregulated behavior. SOBI responds to
distressed and threatening behavior by providing
assistance and/or redirection while preserving a
constructive learning environment. SOBI actions
are not a substitute for disciplinary procedures.
Reports of Student Code of Conduct violations will
be referred directly to the Dean of Student
Development Office.
To refer concerning behavior, submit a referral
online at http://www.collin.edu/studentresources
/SOBI or contact SOBI directly at sobi@collin.edu.
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
Collin College students are both citizens and
members of the academic community. As citizens
and students, they enjoy the same freedom of speech,
peaceful assembly and right of petition that other
citizens enjoy. As members of the academic
community, they are subject to the obligations that
are theirs by virtue of this membership.
Collin College expects its students to conduct
themselves in a manner that reflects credit upon the
institution they represent. There are two basic
standards of behavior required of all students:
1. They shall adhere to Collin College policies and
municipal county, state and federal laws; and
2. They shall not interfere with or disrupt the
orderly educational processes of Collin College.
Students are entitled to only those immunities or
privileges by law as enjoyed by other citizens. For
more information, contact the Dean of Student
Development Office. To review the complete Student
Code of Conduct, please refer to the current Collin
College Student Handbook.
STUDENT LIFE
The Office of Student Life strives to enhance student
learning and development. It is the goal of Student
Life to provide co-curricular civic, educational,
leadership and social programs. Students can also
join student organizations and committees, work on
special projects or enjoy social activities with peers.
Student Life offers a wide variety of opportunities to
enrich students’ college experience including
educational programs; entertainment and cultural
programs; field trips; guest speakers; leadership
training; officer training; social, cultural and civic
events; and student organizations.
See Student Life (http://www.collin.edu/campuslife
/studentlife/) for detailed information on how to get
involved in student activities, student organizations
and institutional governance.
Involvement in Institutional Governance
Students are encouraged to become involved with
institutional governance by expressing their thoughts
and feelings about college policies, procedures and
activities. The President, vice presidents and all
college employees are interested in student ideas,
opinions and suggestions.
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AC-42
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
BOOKSTORE
For information on store hours, call:
972.548.6680 (Central Park Campus),
972.985.3710 (Courtyard Center for Professional and
Economic Development),
972.377.1680 (Preston Ridge Campus),
972.881.5680 (Spring Creek Campus) or
visit the bookstore website at
http://bookstore.collin.edu/
Bookstore Refund Policy
• A valid receipt is required for all refunds or
exchanges.
• All items (except course materials and
hardware/software) unopened and in original
condition returned within 15 days of purchase
may be exchanged or refunded to the original
form of tender.
• Clearance items and study guides are non-
refundable.
• All items purchased with a check may have a 10-
day waiting period.
Course Materials (Textbooks):
• A full refund will be given for textbooks returned
prior to the semester census date. Materials
purchased after the return deadline must be
returned within two business days of purchase.
• Materials purchased for a one-day class or during
final exams are not returnable. Textbooks with
open access codes are not returnable.
• Digital textbooks and open access codes are not
returnable.
Hardware and Software:
Unopened computer hardware and software may be
refunded or exchanged within seven days of
purchase.
TEXTBOOK BUYBACK POLICY
We buy books at up to 50 percent of the original
purchase price during final exams week at the end of
each semester subject to the following conditions:
• Books may be bought back for as much as 50
percent of the original book price during major
buyback periods.
• Books must be clean and in saleable condition.
• All pages, bindings, and covers must be intact.
• Textbooks with water damage or excessive
highlighting are not considered “good condition.”
Check cashing: With government issued identifica-
tion, checks may be cashed in the amount of $10 with
or without a purchase.
MasterCard, Visa, and Discover Credit Cards, as well
as checks and cash, are accepted as payment.
Textbook Rental Agreement
The Textbook Rental Program provides students
currently enrolled at Collin College the opportunity
to rent selected textbooks for the current semester. In
consideration of the opportunity, students agree to
accept and abide by the following terms and
conditions.
• Renter certifies that he/she is at least 18 years of
age, is currently enrolled at Collin College and
has read and understands the terms of this
agreement.
• Renter agrees to rent the book(s) listed on the cash
register receipt for a single payment of the rent
listed and return the same book(s) in clean, lightly
marked and fully resalable condition on or before
the rental return due date.
• Renter agrees to allow the Collin Bookstore to
charge the Renter's credit card for any current new
book replacement cost if the rental book(s) listed
are not returned by the rental due date, for any
reason, including loss or theft, or returned items
are not in resalable condition, such as when
damaged by liquids (rain, snow, coffee, etc.),
chemical spills, tooth marks, or when missing
components, having a damaged spine, or
otherwise having damage and/or deemed not
resalable by College Bookstore staff.
• The last day for return of a book for a full refund
of rent is the same date that is posted for any
textbook purchase return.
• Rent for books rented after the return date is non-
refundable.
• Renter has 14 days from the first day of a
semester to apply the rental payment toward the
purchase of the same book. Purchase price will
be based on the current retail price.
• Renter agrees that non-returned and/or damaged
items will be billed at the current new
replacement cost.
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• Renter agrees to maintain the credit card in good
standing throughout the duration of the rental
period.
• All rentals remain the property of the Collin
Bookstore while in the renter's possession.
• Renter accepts all responsibility for risk of loss
from any cause, including theft, lost item(s) or
return in non-resalable condition, such as damage
caused by liquids (rain, snow, coffee, etc.),
chemical spills, tooth marks, missing
components or spine damage.
• Renter agrees to pay any attorney and/or
collection fees incurred by the Collin Bookstore to
enforce this agreement.
• Per Education Code 54.007(2)(d): A student who
fails to make full payment of tuition and
mandatory fees, including any incidental fees,
by the due date may be prohibited from
registering for classes until full payment is
made. A student who fails to make full
payment prior to the end of the semester or
term may be denied credit for the work done
that semester or term.
DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION
(DE)
Developmental Education courses are designed to
provide students with basic skills needed to achieve
success in college-level courses and to complete TSI
(Texas Success Initiative) requirements. Although
students receive grades for DE courses, those DE
courses do not apply toward a degree or certificate,
the DE credit does not transfer to other institutions,
and the DE grades are not calculated as part of the
GPA shown on transcripts (but might be considered
when applying for scholarships, financial aid, veteran
benefits, etc.).
DE courses include English as a Second Language,
College Success, Developmental Mathematics and
Integrated Reading/Writing courses. The instructional
formats of DE courses vary and include computer-
based, lecture, online, express, weekend, self-paced,
and non-course-based formats. If a student’s scores
on the basic skills assessment indicate that a student
would be better prepared by taking a DE course prior
to enrolling in a college-level course in a related
field, the student must enroll in the DE course and
complete the sequence before enrolling in college-
level courses in that field of study. Collin requires
that students demonstrating a need for remediation in
reading, writing or mathematics complete the
appropriate sequence of DE courses in consecutive
semesters; this excludes summer semesters.
For students who do not place at college-level
courses in all three Texas Success Initiative (TSI)
areas (reading, writing and mathematics), a
departmental DE advising session is required that
includes mandatory course registration in COSU
0300, College Success.
DE courses may be taken for a combined total of no
more than 27 credit hours. In addition, students may
attempt to successfully complete any DE course only
twice. Dropping a course before census day does not
count as an attempt. After two unsuccessful attempts,
students must complete the course at another
institution and provide proof of successful course
completion upon returning to Collin College. The
policy of “enrolling no more than twice” applies to
all DE courses.
Home school and high school students are not
allowed to enroll in DE courses.
Call the DE office at 972.881.5720 for additional
information.
College Success
COSU 0300, College Success, is a Developmental
Education course available for students to enrich their
development in study skills, career planning and
personal development. For more information, see the
course description section starting on page D-26.
COSU 0301, Test-Taking and Study Skills for Non-
Native English Speakers, is also available and is a
course in test-taking techniques and study skills for
English as a Second Language (ESL) students,
designed to help non-native English speaking
students. For more information, see the course
description section starting on page D-26.
English as a Second Language
The college offers a program designed to prepare
non-native English-speaking students for academic
and workplace success. Courses offered include ESL
Listening/Speaking, Pronunciation and Accent
Reduction, ESL Grammar, ESL Integrated
Reading/Writing, ESL Vocabulary and Idioms.
Administrative Withdrawal
Participation in class is an essential requirement for
success. A student should maintain contact with the
instructor if unable to attend class or complete an
assignment on time. If more than 20 percent of the
meetings of a Developmental Education class are
missed between the beginning of class and the
college withdrawal date, a student may be
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administratively withdrawn from the class.
Administrative withdrawal may have academic,
financial, financial aid and visa implications. It will
count toward Collin’s Repeat Policy and the 27-hour
limitation on DE courses. Administrative withdrawal
will take place after the full refund period, and if a
student is administratively withdrawn from the
course, the student will not be eligible for a tuition
refund. For questions about the administrative
withdrawal policy, please contact the instructor or an
advisor.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING LABS
A variety of learning laboratories are in use at the
college to facilitate experiential learning by students
including the American Sign Language Laboratory,
the Computer Writing Classroom, the Math Labs,
Student Computer Labs and the Writing Center.
American Sign Language and
Interpreting Laboratories
The American Sign Language (ASL) Laboratory is
designed to simulate, as close as possible, a deaf
culture environment on a college campus. The
college employs native or near-native ASL language
models who work with students to develop culturally
appropriate behavior, second language acquisition
and interpreting skills with continuous language
exposure. The ASL Laboratory is located at the
Spring Creek Campus in Room BB108. The
Interpreting Laboratory is at the Spring Creek
Campus in Room D210. Hours of operation are
posted outside the lab each semester.
Math Labs
The Math Labs assist Collin College students
enrolled in developmental mathematics, college-level
mathematics and natural science courses that have
mathematics-based assignments. The staff includes
faculty, lab instructors and tutors. Students may use
videos, graphing calculators and computers to
complete homework assignments. Hours for drop-in
assistance vary and are posted at each campus.
Writing Centers
The Collin College Writing Centers provide a place
for students to seek advice on writing assignments in
courses across the curriculum. Each center’s primary
purpose is to help students strengthen their writing
skills by guiding them through the various stages of
the writing process.
Writing Centers are located at the Central Park,
Preston Ridge and Spring Creek campuses. An
appointment schedule is conveniently posted near the
door of each center, and walk-ins are welcome at
posted times.
For further information, call the Writing Center
(Central Park Campus, 972.548.6857; Preston Ridge
Campus, 972.377.1576 or Spring Creek Campus,
972.881.5843) or visit the Writing Center homepage
at http://www.collin.edu/studentresources/writing
center . Each Writing Center offers a series of free
workshops each semester to provide additional
support for writing. Information about these
workshops is available on the Writing Center
homepage under “Workshops (by Campus).”
Students may access the online services (OWL -
Online Writing Lab) by going to the Writing Center
homepage and clicking on “Access OWL.”
THE LIBRARY SYSTEM
Collin College’s library system, with branches on the
Central Park, Preston Ridge and Spring Creek
campuses, embodies the college’s commitment to
academic excellence. The Collin College president
and Board of Trustees believe that first rate libraries
are central to maintaining a scholarly community and
fostering student success.
Facilities
Central Park Campus opened a 46,000-square-foot
library in the summer of 2009. A library of
comparable size, 50,000 square feet, was opened at
the Preston Ridge Campus in 2005, and a new Spring
Creek library of 57,750 square feet opened in 2013.
The Collin College libraries were visited over one
million times last year. New high speed, networked
computers are provided for students in each library.
All libraries also have laptops available for check out,
wireless network access and printers. Private study
rooms provide quiet space for individual and group
study or media viewing.
On-Site Services and Materials
Each campus library holds large collections of
scholarly books, journals, music recordings and
videos. Reference librarians provide quick assistance
with essays or presentations and are invaluable for in-
depth research. Liaison librarians consult with faculty
members to prepare print and online instructions for
students on how to best use the library’s vast
electronic and hard copy resources to complete
specific assignments. Individual students are also
encouraged to make appointments with reference
librarians for one-on-one research assistance.
!
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
AC-45
Traditional services, such as book check out and
interlibrary loan, are available at each library. In
order to share materials, the library electronic catalog
system allows students to have books sent to them
from another campus.
Faculty members may place material on reserve at a
circulation desk for in-library use or may choose to
make documents available on the web through the
library’s electronic reserves system.
Services and Collections for
Off-Campus Students
All library electronic resources and services are
available through CougarWeb. The library website is
a portal to millions of authoritative documents,
scholarly databases, streaming media and full-text
electronic journals and books. Online library services
provided include voicemail, e-mail, texting and chat
reference, as well as the library catalog, electronic
reserves and interactive tutorials. These services may
be accessed by computers and mobile devices to
benefit distance learners, off-campus students, as
well as students present in one of the libraries.
Visit the Library tab on CougarWeb for more
information about these services and resources.
Electronic Collections
More than 100 different electronic collections are
available to Collin College students wherever they
have access to CougarWeb. Streaming video of
Shakespeare plays from the BBC, the Smithsonian’s
collection of music from around the world, the New
York Times archived from 1850, and thousands of
current full text medical and technology books,
animations and videos are just a small sample of what
is available.
Special Services
Adaptive equipment for the visually impaired is
available for student use at each library through each
campus’s Access Office. Scanning software can read
papers, books or webpages aloud to users.
The Consumer Health Information Center, located at
the Central Park Campus Library, offers faculty,
staff, students and community members an extensive
collection of materials on a wide range of medical
conditions. Materials are selected to be accurate,
reliable and useful to laypersons wishing to manage
their own health care, assist their loved ones or
conduct academic research on health topics. Skilled
and experienced librarians are available to assist in
the use of this special collection.
STUDY SKILLS SEMINARS
Developmental Education (DE) offers free Study
Skills Seminars that teach students basic academic
skills to increase college success. A schedule of these
free seminars is published each semester and copies
are available at the Information Center on each
campus.
TESTING SERVICES
Testing Centers are located at Central Park, Preston
Ridge and Spring Creek campuses for proctoring,
credit by exam testing, limited instructional testing,
assessment for course placement and tests for TSI
purposes. Collin College is an official testing site for
the ACT (American College Testing Program) and
CLEP (College-Level Examination Program).
TUTORING
Free tutoring services are available for all students at
the college. For information about tutoring, contact
the Coordinator of Student Support Services located
at the Spring Creek Campus, Room D140,
972.881.5128.
The ACCESS Office is located at Spring Creek
Campus, Room D140, Central Park Campus, Room
D-118J and Preston Ridge Campus, Room F118.
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
CI-1
ACADEMIC AND
WORKFORCE
PROGRAMS
UNDERSTANDING COURSE
TYPES AND CREDIT HOURS
Collin College awards academic transfer degrees and
certificates as well as technical workforce degrees and
awards. Four types of Associate-level degrees are
awarded: the Associate of Arts (AA), the Associate of
Science (AS), the Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT),
and the Associate of Applied Science (AAS). Collin
also awards Level One and Level Two Certificates,
Marketable Skills Achievement Awards (MSAA), and
post-associate degree Enhanced Skills Certificates
(ESA). Degrees and certificates are awarded only after
successful completion of designated courses and a set
number of earned credit hours.
COURSES TYPES
Developmental Education
Courses (DE)
Developmental Education (DE) courses, including
College Success Skills (COSU) and English as a
Second Language (ESL), are designed to help students
be successful in college level courses. DE courses do
not apply toward a degree or certificate and are
designated with a (D) at the end of their course
descriptions.
Workforce Courses (W)
Technical or workforce courses are designated by a (W)
at the end of their course description. Workforce
courses provide an opportunity for students to obtain
skills and knowledge needed for career exploration,
licensure, and specific job qualifications. Workforce
courses do not always transfer or apply to academic
degree programs at four-year colleges and universities.
Some programs have transfer or articulation agreements
in place to facilitate the transfer of workforce credits.
Check with an academic advisor or transfer institution
for more information.
Academic Transfer Courses
Academic courses apply toward associate degrees and
transfer to be applied to baccalaureate degrees at
colleges and universities. These courses are designated
by an (A) at the end of their course description. There
are advanced study opportunities for some sections of
academic courses designated as “Honors” and
“Advanced Study” on a student’s transcript. See
Advanced Study Opportunities section for a description
of eligibility for these courses.
COURSE CREDIT HOURS
Course names and numbers contain useful information.
In the Texas Common Course Numbering System each
course is identified by a four-character "rubric" (i.e.
discipline abbreviation) and a 4-digit number:
The rubric is always four upper-case alphabetic
characters. The first digit of the course number
denotes the academic level of the course; the second
digit denotes the credit value of the course in semester
hours; and the third and fourth digits establish course
sequencing and/or distinguish the course from others of
the same level, credit value, and rubric. The course
ACCT 2301 is used to illustrate this system.
Rubric ACCT 2301
Course level = 1st digit
0 = subfreshman
1 = freshman
2 = sophomore
Credit value = 2nd digit
Credit value of the course, expressed
in semester hours. Typically credit value ranges from
0-4 semester credit hours (SCH).
Course ID = 3rd & 4th digits
The course ID is used to uniquely identify the course
within the course name.
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
CI-2
Course numbers beginning with zero (0)
Course numbers beginning with zero include
developmental education, English as Second Language
(ESL) courses, and study skills courses. These courses
prepare students to be successful in college-level work.
They are not college-level courses and therefore do not
apply to college degrees or other awards, nor do they
transfer.
Course numbers beginning with one (1) or
higher
Any course with a number that starts with a one (1) or
higher is considered a college-level course. Completion
of a college-level course with a D or higher will earn
college credit.
Earned Course Credit Hours
Credit hours are earned upon successful completion of
college credit courses. Each degree, certificate or
award requires the completion of a specific number of
credit hours. The second digit in a course number
indicates the number of credit hours earned upon
successful completion of the course.
ADVANCED STUDY
OPPORTUNITIES
ADVANCED STUDY IN MATHEMATICS
AND NATURAL SCIENCES
The Center for Advanced Study in Mathematics and
Natural Sciences (CASMNS) provides speakers,
research opportunities for selected students, and
advanced study opportunities in biology, chemistry,
geology, mathematics, and physics. Upon successful
completion of a CASMNS course, the student will
receive an “Advanced Study” notation on their official
Collin transcript.
Qualified students enrolled in selected sections of these
courses may be eligible for CASMNS credit activities:
o BIOL-1406, BIOL-1407
o CHEM-1411, CHEM-1412, CHEM-2423,
CHEM-2425
o GEOL-1403
o MATH-2413, MATH-2414, MATH-2415
o PHYS-1401, PHYS-1402, PHYS-2425,
PHYS-2426
Students desiring CASMNS opportunities should speak with a
CASMNS faculty member during CASMNS orientation to
schedule an interview, and if appropriate, the student will be
assigned a supporting instructor.
Note: See the course descriptions for complete information on
these courses.
HONORS COURSEWORK
The Honors Institute at Collin College can provide a
student with a challenging learning experience designed
for students with advanced academic skills and a
commitment to learning. Honors courses are specially
designated academic course sections, shown in the
registration schedule by an “H” at the end of a course
number. Enrollment in an honors course will be
recorded on the student’s transcript and may qualify the
student for honors scholarships. The student must have
a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) to be
eligible for enrollment in honors courses.
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
CI-3
ACADEMIC TRANSFER
ASSOCIATE DEGREES AND
CERTIFICATES
An Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Arts in
Teaching (AAT), or Associate of Science
(AS) is awarded to students who earn a minimum of 60
college-level credit hours, which include 42 credit
hours of General Education Core and 18 credit hours of
degree requirements and recommended general studies
electives.
The AA, AAT, and AS degrees are designed for
students planning to transfer course credits to a
baccalaureate degree program at a college or university.
Students should visit with an academic advisor to select
courses that apply to their AA, AAT, or AS degree
program at Collin College in addition to the major for
their chosen transfer college or university. The selection
of science, math and elective credit courses is often
based on the requirements of the specific transfer
college or university.
CHOOSING AN AWARD OR DEGREE
PLAN
Collin College offers a variety of plans designed to
prepare students for a college or university degree.
Some options include pursuing an associate degree,
completing the General Education Core or a Field of
Study or beginning coursework in a pre-professional
program. Go online to Collin Academics / Degree Plans
and Programs for a complete description of all available
awards and their requirements.
Smart Planning for A Degree Program
or Area of Study
Choose A Program:
If you need help selecting a program that matches
your skills and personality, go to Collin’s Career
Services for help identifying your career goals.
To obtain workforce details (such as projected
earned wages) for programs offered at Collin
College and other Texas schools, explore Career
Coach and the Texas CREWS website.
Before you register, choose an area of study or a
degree/certificate. It is important to establish a
degree plan, outlining all of the courses needed
and the sequence as well as the semester in which
the courses will be taken. Work with a Collin
College Academic Advisor to complete the two-
page form: a “Request for Degree /Certificate
Plan”. The degree plan will help you make the
right decisions so that you avoid taking courses
that do not apply to your degree or certificate.
If you are planning to earn a 4-year baccalaureate
degree, choose the 4-year college(s) you want to
attend and select a baccalaureate degree as soon
as possible. It is important to consider the
specific degree requirements of the colleges
where you want to transfer. Make these choices
early in the planning process; ideally, when you
first start at Collin. If uncertain about a transfer
institution, try picking one or two top choices.
Work with a Collin College Academic Advisor to
determine which courses from Collin will apply to
the transfer institution.
Stay on Track:
Plan ahead for registration each semester. It is
important to meet with a Collin College Academic
Advisor at least a few weeks before Priority
Registration to ensure that you are taking courses
that apply to your degree plan and keep you on
track toward your ultimate goals. Advisors help
ensure you are following your degree plan in the
most efficient way possible.
Run your personalized Degree Audit every
semester before registering. The Degree Audit
report shows which requirements for your
degree/program you’ve completed, and which
ones you still need to complete. It also gives lists
of courses you can use to complete specific core,
elective and program requirements. The degree
audit can be accessed by logging onto CougarWeb
and clicking on “Degree Audit” in the Student
Quick Links box. Note, courses that you are
currently taking and for which you do not yet
have a grade do not show up on the degree audit,
so you will need to include them in determining
remaining requirements.
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
CI-4
Know before you go:
Students who complete a Degree Program (AA, AS,
AAS) or the Core Curriculum at Collin College are
more likely to be successful (compared to those who
do not complete an award) as they continue their
education at other higher education institutions.
Unfortunately, many students take courses at Collin
College that are not needed for their degree/program
requirements. This can waste time and money.
Meeting with a Collin College Academic Advisor
helps to ensure that you take only the courses you
need.
CHOOSING A PLAN YEAR
Students who plan to transfer to a college or university
have a choice to make regarding the requirements for
graduation. Specifically, they may choose to graduate
in accordance with the program requirements that are in
effect during one of their terms of enrollment. If a
degree or certificate is terminated during their
enrollment, they will have three years in which to
complete the terminated program under the old
requirements. They should consult a Collin academic
advisor or the program description for the year of their
choice to learn about all requirements and limitations
that may apply. Students are advised to keep a copy of
the program requirements and transfer guide(s) in effect
during their enrollment at Collin College. Students
should also keep their course syllabi to assist with
transfer.
Collin College 2015-2016 Catalog
Please refer to http://www.collin.edu/academics/programs/index.html for the most current information.
CI-5
GENERAL EDUCATION CORE
(SEE TABLE ON PAGE CI-6)
The Texas Education Code requires all public colleges
and universities to have a General Education Core and
every degree has a General Education Core
requirement. General Education Core is defined as “the
curriculum in the liberal arts, humanities, sciences, and
political, social and cultural history that all
undergraduate students of a particular Texas institution
of higher education are required to complete before
receiving an associate or baccalaureate degree. The
General Education Core focuses on strengthening six
basic competencies that help define the educated
person: Communication skills, critical thinking,
empirical and quantitative reasoning, teamwork, social
responsibility, and personal responsibility.
Core Curriculum Completion
Certificate
A Core Curriculum Completion Certificate is awarded
to all students completing Collin’s General Education
Core. The State of Texas guarantees acceptance by a
public four-year university of any complete General
Education Core transferred from any other Texas public
college.
The General Education Core at Collin College is the
collection of 42 credit hours of general education
courses selected by Collin faculty in eight areas that
have been approved by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board to build a basic core of knowledge.
Course options are displayed by area and discipline in
the AA/AS/AAT General Education Core Table. Unless
otherwise stated, all general education core course
options shown in the General Education Core Table can
be used to satisfy both core and degree requirements for
the AA, AS or AAT degrees.
Students should visit with an academic advisor to
ensure the best selection of courses to complete the
General Education Core and/or an associate degree, and
to transfer to their chosen major for a baccalaureate.
Becoming Core Complete for Students
Who Transfer to Collin College with 3,
6 or 7 credit hours of Life and Physical
Science Credits
All core courses in the Life and Physical Sciences
Component at Collin College earn four credit hours,
which are distributed as three hours applied to the 6-
credit hour requirement for the Life and Physical
Sciences Core Component, and one lab credit hour
applied to the Component Area Option (CAO)
requirement. There are several transfer scenarios for
becoming core complete for the student who transfers
in 3, 6, or 7 credit hours of Life and Physical Sciences.
If a student transfers to Collin with one 3-credit hour
Life and Physical Science course with a grade of D or
better, three credit hours will be applied toward the 6-
credit hour Life and Physical Sciences Core