Academic Policies
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Academic Year
Leech Lake Tribal College functions on an academic semester system. An academic year is two semesters in length. Each semester is approximately 15 weeks in length. The college may or may not have a summer session. When summer sessions are held, the semester credits earned may be applied toward the fulfillment of a student's degree requirements.
Academic Status
The number of credit hours a student is officially registered for the semester determines a student's enrollment status. Following is the enrollment status listing:
- Full-time – 12 or more credit hours
- Three quarter time – 9 to 11 credit hours
- One half time – 6 to 8 credit hours
- Less than halftime – 1 to 5 credit hours
Any student registered for less than 12 credit hours is considered a part-time student.
A student is considered full-time for financial aid purposes if he/she enrolls in 12 or more credits each semester. For academic purposes, however, students should note that an average of 16 credits must be completed in each semester for four semesters if a 64 credit hour degree is to be completed in two years (4 semesters) of enrollment. To register for 18 or more credits, the student must make application through the Enrollment Manager. The student will also be required seek the approval of the Associate Vice President of Academics.
Note: If you wish to graduate in two years, it will be necessary to take an average of 15-16 credits per semester.
Academic Advising
Each new degree-seeking student will be assigned an academic advisor during the first semester of enrollment in the College. The academic advisor will approve the student's registration form each semester. The advisor must also sign drop/add forms. No student will be allowed to register for classes at Leech Lake Tribal College until the registration form is completed and signed by both the student registering and his/her academic advisor.
Students are strongly encouraged to meet with advisors during each semester to discuss their academic performance and progress toward degree completion, to discuss and review degree and career consideration, and to select appropriate courses. Advisors are also available to discuss and help solve any problems students may encounter in achieving their educational goals. Academic Advisors will have posted office hours.
Classification of Students
Students who have completed up to and including 29 semester credits are classified as first-year students. Students who have completed 30 or more semester credits are classified as second-year students.
Classification of Courses
Courses numbered below 100 are developmental courses. Courses numbered 100-199 are first-year courses. Students should try to select these classes in their first year of study, because these courses often provide the knowledge and skills necessary to complete courses that are more advanced. Courses numbered 200-299 are second year courses. Some of the second-year courses may require the completion of 100 level courses before enrollment. Recommended or required pre-requisites are noted in the course descriptions.
Definition of a Credit Hour
Leech Lake Tribal College utilizes the semester system. Three semester credits are earned for the completion of a course covering one semester (15 weeks). Each course the college offers has a determined number for credit hours assigned to it. A course credit can range from one to four credits. A credit hour is defined as the contact time or the time a student spends in class. A three-credit course would have three contact hours. A three-credit course might be offered one hour a day, three times a week, or one and a half hours two days a week, or three hours in one day. In addition to the credit contact hour requirements, some courses have a laboratory time requirement. A rule of thumb is that each hour of in-class time requires two hours of study, reading, or research outside of class (for lecture courses).
