2024-25 Catalog & Student Handbook

** WELCOME **

Vision

GCC aspires to be an agent for a more equitable, just, vibrant, and resilient world through education.

Mission

Greenfield Community College provides a high quality education to all who seek the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive and effect positive change in their lives, communities, and the world. With excellence, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to teaching and learning together in an inclusive and caring environment, we empower all learners to reach their full potential.

Purpose

Teaching and learning together

Core Values

• Inclusion
• Transparency
• Creativity
• Integrity
• Innovation
• Sustainability

Principles of Education

These principles articulate the implicit assumptions regarding teaching and learning held dear by members of Greenfield Community College and represent the ideals to which the GCC community aspires. They apply to all members of the GCC community—students, employees and trustees.

These principles intend to provide a foundation on which members of the community develop and teach courses, engage students, hire faculty and staff, design professional development activities and structure budgets. These principles should inform the daily, habitual life of all members of the College, having both immediate and lasting impact. As teaching and learning are at the heart of the College, these principles appropriately shall guide the College into the future.

The college maintains a learning environment that values the process of learning as much as the knowledge taught; an environment that encourages independent thinking and divergent activities; and an environment that elevates members of the community and inspires them to:

• Develop independent and interdependent, lifelong learning strategies
• Nurture their aspirations, confidence, curiosity, imagination, self-respect and responsibility to others
• Explore and adapt to new ideas in both work and leisure
• Understand social change and individual development and take responsibility for sustaining both
• Accept the constancy of change and cope with, adapt to and manage change effectively in all areas of one’s life
• Possess self-determination with a realistic assessment of one’s aptitudes and inclinations

Members of the GCC community have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes that empower them to clarify values, express ideas, solve problems, and embrace learning as a life-long process.

Diversity and Community

The college creates and fosters an environment for work and learning in which one may achieve a level of comfort with one’s individuality and culture, while accepting and respecting the individuality and cultures of others. The college encourages each member of its community to:

• Recognize how the foundation of one’s ideals and values emanate from one’s particular background and experience
• Participate in communities as both teacher and learner, connecting with others, sharing thoughts and creating knowledge while taking advantage of an open environment that values critical thinking and civil discourse
• Enhance one’s understanding of various forms of discrimination and oppression while embracing the principles of access to promote equitable opportunity for all in the teaching and learning experience
• Explore, understand, and respect the tenacity and validity of diverse values and heritage
• Appreciate the interconnectedness of global events and issues and one’s place in the web of life
• Develop an environment that encourages active learning and values the differing approaches of all community members

Literacy and Communication

The college promotes effective expression in many forms for making public meaning and personal significance. Symbolic interpretation and representation of ideas and emotions, using logical and aesthetic systems that cultivate various modes of self-expression, contribute to successful interpersonal and intrapersonal communication. The college policies and practices ensure that all its members continue to develop their capacities to:

• Enhance literacy in all areas—reading, listening, viewing, writing, speaking, creating, and movement
• Reason quantitatively, using numerical data to meet personal and vocational needs and to respond to a world increasingly dependent on the understanding of a broad range of quantitative concepts and processes
• Identify a need for information and know how and where to find it
• Use language to communicate effectively with other individuals and groups, including basic functional ability in a language other than one’s own
• Function constructively in both a leadership and participatory role within groups

Knowledge and Thinking

The college expects members of the community to think critically and to conduct disciplined inquiry, using both their minds and hearts in order to understand the complexity and simplicity of ideas and actions; to prioritize and make decisions; to identify and solve problems; to evaluate and judge; in short, to think independently. The college encourages each member to:

• Access, organize, interpret, evaluate, synthesize and apply information
• Reflect on and assess information and knowledge from differing perspectives
• Develop knowledge of one’s feelings, values and biases and how they relate to one’s thinking and behavior
• Integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines to make thoughtful and informed decisions
• Base decisions on factual and affective evidence rather than on unexamined opinions
• Determine the nature of a problem, analyze the problem and implement an appropriate solution, applying scholarly theories and methods where appropriate
• Evaluate, integrate and adapt to technological change

Adopted by the Greenfield Community College Assembly, May 17, 2004

General Education Abilities

The College expects students to develop foundations and skills for lifelong learning, including the following General Education Abilities:

1. Appreciate diverse cultural and individual perspectives
2. Solve problems collaboratively
3. Reason and act ethically
4. Demonstrate civic knowledge and engagement
5. Communicate in various modes and media
6. Use quantitative concepts and processes
7. Locate, evaluate and use various sources of information
8. Explore the natural and physical world
9. Think creatively and critically
10. Apply, integrate, and synthesize learning

Adopted unanimously by the Greenfield Community College Assembly on May 2, 2011

Statement of Inclusion

As an inclusive community, Greenfield Community College engages in intentional and ongoing reflection of diversity as we seek to create a culture that values, encourages, and embraces a wide range of individual and group differences.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

It is the policy of Greenfield Community College to prohibit unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, color, gender, religion, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, veteran status, social class, or sexual orientation. The College operates under an affirmative action plan and encourages under-represented individuals to apply, both in terms of employment and to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to its students. This policy is in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local statutes, ordinances and regulations. All inquiries concerning the above should be directed to the College’s Affirmative Action Office.

Greenfield Community College
One College Drive
Greenfield, MA 01301-9739
Phone: (413) 775-1000 • Fax: (413) 775-1827 • Website: gcc.mass.edu

College History

Greenfield Community College, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, was founded in 1962 by visionary community members who knew a community college would offer opportunities for growth to the people of Franklin County and southern Vermont and New Hampshire.

In GCC’s first year, just over 100 students attended classes in an old elementary school, a former factory and a remodeled warehouse in the center of Greenfield. The College moved to its main campus in the “The Meadows” area of Greenfield in 1974. In 1999, the College’s campus expanded with the addition of the East Building, which features a fitness center, laboratories, classrooms, the Creative Thinking and Learning Studio, and offices that include Workforce Development and Community Engagement. In 2011, GCC revitalized and redesigned the core of the main building. From the ground-level entrance up through the fourth floor, the new Core incorporates universal design principles to meet the needs of all our students. Students are able to move fluidly from the enlarged Cafeteria/Dining Commons and blended Enrollment Services on the first floor to the Student Activities Center on the second, up to the expanded Library and enhanced Learning Center on the upper floors.

GCC is the smallest of the 15 community colleges in the Massachusetts higher education system and is known for its caring and supportive faculty and staff and strong community support. GCC is fully accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. GCC works closely with bachelor degree granting colleges of the Massachusetts public higher education system, including the University of Massachusetts, and with private colleges and universities, to offer diverse transfer opportunities to GCC students.

The College’s career programs prepare students to enter the workforce or update their skills, while non-credit workshops and seminars are offered for personal enrichment and job training. Day, evening and online classes are offered to accommodate a wide range of student schedules.

Accreditation

Greenfield Community College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), the regional accreditation agency for colleges and universities in the six New England states. GCC’s accreditation was most recently reaffirmed in 2020. Greenfield Community College has demonstrated that it meets the Commission’s nine Standards for Accreditation and complies with its policies. In fall 2013 GCC received general approval from CIHE to offer distance education programming within the scope of its mission. GCC is a Title IV Federal Student Financial Aid eligible institution.

Greenfield Community College is also accredited or approved by specialized accrediting bodies. Specialized accreditation or approval encourages program improvement by applying specific accreditation requirements to measure characteristics of a program and by evaluating the overall quality of a program. GCC programs are accredited or approved by the following:

• Associate Degree Program in Adventure Education—accredited by the Association for Experiential Education
• Associate Degree Program in Nursing—accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN); and approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
• Certificate Program in Outdoor Leadership—accredited by the Association for Experiential Education
• Certificate Program in Paramedic—accredited by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Office for Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) and by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
• Certificate Program in Practical Nursing—approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing
• Associate Degree Program in Early Childhood Education—approved by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• Certificate Program in Medical Assistant is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

** ENROLLMENT SERVICES **

The offices in Enrollment Services serves students who are new to the College as they enter into the community. These offices include Academic Advising and Transfer, Admission, Dual Enrollment, Health Records, Testing and Veterans Services. Current students work closely with these offices during their enrollment on issues regarding changes to their student record and financial aid, academic standing and withdrawals.

General Policy on Admission

Greenfield Community College maintains a policy of open admission to all but a few of its degree and certificate programs. Students who have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent from an appropriately accredited institution are eligible to matriculate into a degree or certificate program. Students who have earned a High School Equivalency Credential or completed an approved home-school plan are also eligible to matriculate. Matriculation means that a student is admitted to a particular degree or certificate program and may be eligible to receive federal financial aid. Prospective students who do not have a high school diploma, High School Equivalency Credential, or a completed approved home school plan may take courses, but are not eligible to matriculate or qualify for the reduced tuition rate through the New England Board of Higher Education Regional Student Program (NEBHE).

Students may be eligible to take GCC courses while also completing their high school or home school education as a Dual Enrollment student.  These students maintain a non-matriculated student status and are not able to apply to a degree or certificate program or receive federal financial aid while still in high school or homeschool status. Dual Enrolled students from New England states pay the NEBHE rate for their GCC courses. Please refer to the General Policy on Dual Enrollment below.

The College reserves the right to limit or deny enrollment of any student in a course or program based on its case-by-case consideration of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the student’s maturity, life experience, placement test scores, prior education, course content, instructional methodology, and risks associated with a particular course or program.

Certain courses may not be suitable for all students. Specific courses or programs may require students and/or their parents or guardians to acknowledge this in writing, and may require additional approval by the appropriate faculty and/or the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Applying for Admission to the College

• Submit an Application for Admission by visiting the College’s website. Contact the Office of Admission for assistance with the online application.
• Students who have graduated from high school, completed a GED or High School Equivalency Test within the last twelve months prior to the start of the term in which they intend to enter GCC are required to submit an official copy of their high school transcript or an official copy of their High School Equivalency Credential to the Office of Admission before the semester begins in order to maintain a matriculated student status. Students who have completed a home school curriculum within the last 12 months prior to the start of the term in which they intend to enter GCC are required to submit evidence that an approved home school plan was completed. Please refer to the Home Schooling policy below for further details.
• Students who have completed secondary school outside of the United States must submit documentation of completion of this work and it must be translated and certified to U.S. standards through a credential evaluating agency or approved translation center. Agencies can be found online at naces.org.
• Students who have Permanent Resident, Asylee, Refugee, or Parolee status must provide the Office of Admission with appropriate documentation as outlined in their admission portal.  Documentation should be uploaded to the student admission portal.
• International students studying on an F-1 Visa are required to provide the College with all documentation outlined in the International Students Admission Policy. Students who hold other non-immigrant statuses and who intend to study at GCC may be required to provide documentation. Contact the Office of Admission to determine these documentation requirements.
• Students who are under the age of eighteen at the time an application is submitted must obtain a parent’s or legal guardian’s consent to apply and complete the Parent/Guardian Consent Form.  The consent form will be sent electronically to the parent or legal guardian listed on the admission application.

Readmission to the College

Students who have had a break in their attendance are required to reapply to the College or fill out a Request to Change Application Term found in their admission portal before registering for courses. If a student has attended another college or university prior to readmission and is seeking transfer credit, an official copy of the student’s transcript should be sent to the Office of Admission for transfer credit evaluation. Breaks of one or more semester for academic standing issues follow general readmission process.

General Policy on Dual Enrollment

Greenfield Community College defines dual enrollment students as students who seek to enroll in credit-bearing courses at the College prior to their secondary schooling completion date. In order to be accepted as a Dual Enrollment student one must do the following:

• Submit an online application. Students who are under the age of eighteen at the time an application is submitted must obtain a parent’s or legal guardian’s consent to apply and complete the Parent/Guardian Consent Form. The consent form will be sent electronically to the parent or legal guardian listed on the admission application; and,
• Demonstrate their readiness for coursework at GCC by scoring satisfactorily on placement tests in reading, writing, and mathematics, by submitting AP Test Scores or college transcripts, or by submitting high school transcripts for multiple measures review.

Dual enrollment students who wish to continue their college studies upon completion/graduation from their secondary institution must complete an application for admission as a new student.

Dual Enrollment Student Support

Dual Enrollment students are assigned an academic advisor to provide support for their transition from high school to college. Students, families, and school officials identify courses to be taken and work with the academic advisor to establish a student schedule.

Specially Funded Dual Enrollment Opportunities

The Educational Transitions Program (ETP), in partnership with Greenfield and Turners Falls High Schools, provides an option for students who want to complete their high school education outside of the traditional high school environment. Working with an assigned GCC academic advisor and their high school guidance office, students have the opportunity to take classes at GCC while completing their high school graduation requirements. This cohort-based program is available to juniors and seniors. Students participate in first-year experience courses designed to learn about resources and develop skills to enhance academic success.

Periodically, the Department of Education provides grants to assist in funding Dual Enrollment students who meet certain criteria. Information about those programs will be provided when they are available.

Home Schooling Policy

All home schooled students, without a high school diploma or High School Equivalency Credential, may apply for admission to a degree or certificate program provided they have successfully completed an approved home school program in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws or the laws of their home state.

How to Apply to Health Occupations Programs

Greenfield Community College offers a variety of health occupation educational programs. Some programs require an additional admission process (ADN, PNC, PMC). In order to be considered for these programs, a student must apply and be accepted to the College prior to applying to the health occupation program of their choice. Detailed information about the additional requirements for eligibility to each health occupation program may be obtained from the College website or from the Office of Admission.

Additional Enrollment Requirements

Immunization and Health Requirements

Greenfield Community College, in compliance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76 Section 15: Vaccination and Immunization, and 105 Code of Massachusetts Regulations 220: Immunization of Students Before Admission to School, has adopted the following immunization policy:

• All full-time students under 30 years of age (enrolled in 12 or more credits)
• All full-time and part-time students under 30 years of age on visas
• All students enrolled in a Health Occupation program regardless of age or number of credits

All students in one of the three categories above must provide the Health Records Office with documentation of immunity to specified communicable diseases within 30 days of starting classes. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in a HOLD being placed on your record, which will prevent you from registering for further classes, adding or dropping classes, or receiving grades or transcripts. Properly documented medical and religious exemptions are allowed.
All college students must also be assessed for their risk of exposure to tuberculosis (TB). A simple three question Tuberculosis Risk Survey is assigned to new students in their MyGCC account to complete online.

All health occupations students must additionally provide the Health Records Office with documentation of a physical exam, tuberculosis testing, and drug screen prior to starting clinical practicums, and influenza vaccination or declination, according to program-specific deadlines. Unmet deadlines jeopardize placement, or continued enrollment in their program, and health occupations students will not be eligible to attend clinical practicums without a completed health record.

For a list of current immunization requirements refer to the Immunization Records form on our website. For questions or assistance in meeting immunization requirements, contact the Health Records Office at (413) 775-1430.

Massachusetts Law requires compliance within 30 days of starting classes, however, final enrollment into some programs may necessitate students follow different deadlines according to program-specific requirements. Students accepted into these programs should refer to the program-specific information they receive upon acceptance.

Note on health occupation requirements: Greenfield Community College requirements meet the highest immunization threshold according to standards set by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the clinical placement facilities where students will participate in their practicum. These may include a higher standard of immunity validation than for general students. Failure to meet these standards may result in disqualification from placement in some or all clinical practicum sites.

Criminal Offender Record Information Checks

Students interested in participating in an academic program that involve working directly with children, the disabled, or the elderly, or includes a clinical affiliation with a private or public health care provider will be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check prior to registering for courses. Programs that require CORI checks are Adventure Education (ADE), Outdoor Leadership (OLP), Nursing (NUR and PNC), Paramedic (PMC), Education (LEO), Human Services (LHS), Medical Assisting (MAC), Criminal Justice (CRJ and CRC) and Addiction Studies Certificate (ASC), as well as some Workforce Development programs. Depending on the contents of a student’s CORI report, participation in an academic program, or clinical affiliation related thereto, may be denied. CORI checks may be performed pursuant to Mass. General Laws, Chapter 6, Sections 167-178B, and consistent with guidelines of the Executive Office for Health and Human Services, and/or the Commonwealth’s Department of Public Health. For more information, please contact the CORI Officer at earl@gcc.mass.edu.

Non-Matriculated Students

Non-matriculated or guest students are not enrolled in a degree or certificate program but are taking GCC classes. Guest students are not eligible to receive financial aid from GCC.

Examples of non-matriculated students include:

• students who are enrolled in degree programs at other colleges or universities and take classes at GCC over January Intersession or during the summer sessions
• students who take college classes while still in high school (note: these students must enroll through the dual enrollment process)
• students who take classes for on-the-job professional development
• students who take credit courses for personal enrichment

If you plan to complete a degree or certificate program at GCC and/or apply for financial aid, you must matriculate by applying to the College as a new, returning, transfer or international student.

To enroll as a guest student, complete a Guest Student Application. The Academic Advising Center will review the application and approve the course registration. If there are issues or concerns the Academic Advising Center will contact the guest student using the email addresses provided on the application. Guest student registrations typically take 2-3 business days to be reviewed.

Orientations

Orientation is required for all students new to GCC and for students who are returning to the College after an absence of three or more years. Through presentations and activities, students are introduced to the GCC campus and community, support services, and resources and connected to important people, places and technology. Orientation provides critical information that enables new students to become a part of the GCC Community and to successfully meet their educational goals. Orientation includes virtual and in-person options offered at a variety of times prior to the start of each semester. New and returning students will be invited to sign up for Orientation activities upon registering for class. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the required portions of Orientation before classes begin.

Transferring Credits

Students applying for admission to Greenfield Community College who have attended other post-secondary institutions must submit official transcripts from those institutions to the Office of Admission. Official transcripts are required if a student:

1. needs documentation of appropriate previous successful college course work for exemption from placement testing, or
2. intends to transfer credit toward a degree or certificate program at GCC, or
3. expects to enter one of GCC’s health occupation programs.

Transfer credit is generally given for those courses that are similar in content, level, and scope to courses offered at Greenfield Community College, and in which at least a C- grade has been earned.   Any student who has earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university (or equivalent) shall be eligible to receive 6 transfer credits for ENG 101 and ENG 112/114/116, upon submission of an official transcript from said institution.

Students must complete at least 25% of credits of coursework used to fulfill the requirements of the associate’s degree at GCC to receive a degree. To earn a certificate at GCC, students must complete at least 50% of the credit hours required for a certificate program at GCC—including at least three courses and 9 credits used to fulfill certificate requirements at GCC. Once transcripts have been received by GCC from another college, they are the property of GCC. Originals and copies cannot be given back to students.

Students are encouraged to review the courses that were and were not credited towards a particular degree requirement. Students who feel there has been an omission in the credit that was previously transferred or who want an evaluation done for a different GCC major from their current enrollment should request a transcript evaluation. If a student changes majors while at GCC a re-evaluation of transfer credit is done as part of the process.

Please note there are stricter standards for criminal justice programs.

Common Transfer Principles

The community colleges of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in order to ease and clarify the process of transferring earned credit from one college to another, whether among themselves or from other public or private institutions; to provide standards for the evaluation of alternative sources of credit; to reduce the time and cost of completing a college education; and to increase the opportunities for graduation of their students, establish common transfer principles. These principles respect the academic standards, quality and integrity of each of the Massachusetts community colleges.

In accepting undergraduate transfer credit from other institutions, the Massachusetts community colleges apply these Transfer Principles to ensure that credit accepted reflects appropriate levels of academic quality and is applicable to a student’s program. Each community college makes these Transfer Principles publicly available to students and prospective students on their websites and other communications. These Transfer Principles reduce unnecessary barriers to protect the Colleges’ academic quality and integrity.

This policy addresses issues of academic credit earned through coursework completed at one institution and transferred to another. It also addresses the related issue of credit earned through alternative sources of credit, such as examinations, professional courses, military training and other prior learning experiences.

Transfer Conditions at GCC Under the Principles

• For credit to transfer, the courses must have been taken at an institution accredited by one of the six regional accreditation agencies in the United States or, when allowed by college practice, by a national accreditation agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Consult the transcript evaluator about any special requirements for online courses.
• Credit earned at international institutions not accredited by one of the six regional United States accreditation agencies may transfer.
• Colleges require official transcripts from the institutions where credit was earned for credit to transfer.
• Students must be accepted by GCC and have declared their major programs of study for credit to be transferred.
• At minimum, credit will be granted for courses that apply to a student’s current program of study.
• Once credit is transferred it becomes part of a student’s permanent records.
• Only credit for college-level coursework will transfer.
• Credit for pre-college-level or developmental coursework does not transfer.
• GCC may choose to use developmental coursework for student placement purposes.
• Grades do not transfer; only credit transfers.Therefore, transfer credit grades are not used in calculating grade or quality point averages.
• Transfer credit is designated on transcripts with an appropriate letter or symbol in the grade field.
• Credit will transfer as (1) the course equivalent at GCC, if it exists, or (2) as an elective equivalent within a comparable department, if it exists.
• Credits earned in a quarter-hour system will be converted to semester-hour equivalents.
• Audited coursework does not transfer.
• Credit will not be granted for duplicate coursework or for two courses that cover the same or similar content.

Minimum Grades

• GCC accepts grades of C- or higher for transfer.
• Grades of D, D+, C- and CD (1.00 to 1.99 on a 4.00 scale) may transfer if they are for courses that are part of the 34-credit MassTransfer Block and students have completed the Block with a cumulative grade or quality point average of 2.00 or higher.
• Grades higher than C (2.00) may be required for admission to certain programs, for use as pre-requisite courses and for application of credit to certain program requirements.
• Grades of Pass (P), Satisfactory (S) or similar grades will transfer only when official transcripts indicate that such grades are equivalent to a grade of C or higher.

Residency Requirement/MaximumTransfer Credit Allowed

To earn an associate degree at GCC, students must complete at least 25% of credits of coursework used to fulfill the requirements of the associate’s degree at GCC. Transfer of the remaining credits will depend upon the associate degree program’s requirements and elective options.

Students wishing to earn an additional associate’s degree must:

• meet all specific requirements of each degree program;
• complete at least 15 credits of course work beyond the previous degree awarded; and of those 15 additional credits, at least 12 must be completed at GCC.

To earn a certificate at GCC, students must complete at least 50% of the credit hours required for a certificate program at GCC— including at least three courses and 9 credits used to fulfill certificate requirements at GCC.

Alternative Sources of Credit

• Credit will be granted for satisfactory scores on Advanced Placement (AP) examinations based on GCC’s policies.
• Credit will be granted for satisfactory scores on College-Level examination Program (CLEP) examinations based on GCC’s policies.
• Official score reports from the College Board are required in order to receive credit for AP and CLEP.
• Credit will be granted for satisfactory scores on challenge or credit by examinations. See gcc.mass.edu/testing for more information.
• Credit may be granted for formal courses or examinations offered by various organizations, including businesses, unions, government and military based on the recommendations of the American Council on education (ACE) as found in its national Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training, a resource of its National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) (see Valor Act Policy).*
• Credit also may be granted for life experience (service learning, internships, learning from experience at work, volunteering in the community, job training, etc.).*
• Members of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium adhere to the Consortium’s Academic Residency Requirements for service members at their institutions.
• Academic credits earned through the evaluation of military occupation, training, experience and coursework are transferable within the Massachusetts public higher education system in accordance with the MassTransfer agreement.
• Credit granted by one institution from alternative sources other than that included above may not transfer to another institution.

* Criminal Justice programs do not award life experience credits or credit for military or police training.

Time Limits

Credit will be transferred without time limits. Certain programs, courses or admission standards may require courses to be taken within a specified time period. See individual programs for specifics.

Student Appeals

• GCC maintains and publishes a process for students to appeal decisions made about transfer credit.
• Students who disagree with the transfer credit decisions at GCC may appeal those decisions as follows. Students should provide evidence, such as course descriptions and syllabi, that the courses in question are either the equivalent of or comparable to courses offered by GCC.
• Students first must appeal the transfer credit decision to the Transfer Credit Evaluator.
• If the disagreement is not resolved with the Transfer Credit Evaluator, students may appeal to the appropriate Department Chair or Program Coordinator.
• If the disagreement is not resolved with the appropriate Department Chair or Program Coordinator, students may appeal to the appropriate Dean.
• If the disagreement is not resolved with the appropriate Dean, students may appeal to the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. The decision of the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs shall be final and not subject to appeal.
• GCC designates an ombudsperson who ensures institutional compliance with transfer policies and procedures.

The VALOR Act Academic Credit Evaluation Policy

Greenfield Community College welcomes students with prior military experience. The College recognizes that much of the training and coursework undertaken by military personnel warrants review and potential transfer as academic credit. To that end, we have established the following guidelines.

• Greenfield Community College will grant academic credit associated with degrees the College offers based on documentation of military occupation, training, experience and coursework.
• Greenfield Community College awards credit based on documentation presented by the student veteran from the ACE Guide to the evaluation of educational experiences in the Armed Services, CLEP and/or DANTES Subject Standardized Tests as related to courses and programs provided through GCC.
• Academic credits earned through the evaluation of military occupation, training, experience, and coursework are transferable into GCC and within the public higher education system in accordance with the MassTransfer agreement.
• The Transfer Credit evaluator is the single point of contact for student veterans to contact for guidance on the VALOR Act Academic Credit evaluation Policy.
• The Transfer Credit evaluator provides individualized, accurate, and complete guidance with regard to the VALOR Act and the transfer of military credits.

Credit by Examination

Students enrolled in a certificate or degree program who wish to earn credit by examination should request an application form and contact information from the Office of Enrollment Services or the Testing Center.  A fee of $40 per credit is charged. Study guides for some examinations may be on reserve in the library.

Courses that are most commonly challenged for credit at GCC are:

• BIO 126, Biology I (for waiver of pre-requisite only; credit not given)
• CIS 140 Computer Applications and Concepts
• FRE 101, Elementary French I
• FRE 102, Elementary French II
• MOM 110, Medical Terminology
• SPA 101, Elementary Spanish I
• SPA 102, Elementary Spanish II

Students cannot challenge a course for credit if they have failed the course at GCC, and challenge exams may only be taken one time.

Currency Requirements for Courses or Programs

A number of courses and programs at GCC require students to satisfy a currency requirement for some required or prerequisite courses. This requirement means students must have taken the course within a stated number of years prior to enrollment in the course or program for which its currency is required. A student who has taken such a course but who does not meet the currency requirement may qualify to take a currency examination. Courses for which a student may demonstrate currency at GCC are:

• BIO 194 Comprehensive Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIO 215 (BIO 195) Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIO 216 (BIO 196) Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• BIO 205 Microbiology
• NUR 101 Fundamentals of Nursing

To qualify for a currency examination for BIO 194, BIO 215 (BIO 195), BIO 216 (BIO 196), BIO 205 and NUR 101, a student must submit a college transcript showing completion of an equivalent course with the required grade for a particular program. Students applying to a health occupations program should check the specific grade requirement for that program.  Currency exams may only be taken one time.

International Students Admission Policy

Greenfield Community College welcomes international students and accepts students who either have already obtained the appropriate Visa to take college courses or who are eligible to obtain such a Visa. International students should submit their completed application to the Office of Admission at least six months prior to the time they plan to attend. Exception may be made for F1 students transferring from other institutions in the United States. All documents must be submitted in English and uploaded to their admission portal. If the credentials must be translated, the original copy (or certified copy of the original) must be submitted with the translation. Transcripts must be officially certified and sent directly by the awarding educational institution or certified by credential certifying agency. Photocopies will not be accepted for transfer credit. Contact the Office of Admission as soon as possible to ensure that all necessary requirements have been met.

International students who wish to transfer credit to GCC from a previously attended college or university outside of the U.S. must provide a course-by-course evaluation from an approved credential evaluation service. The course-by-course evaluation must be sent directly from the credential service. Photocopies will not be accepted for the award of transfer credit.

The College does not have housing. Financial assistance (Financial Aid) through Greenfield Community College is not available under any federally-funded financial aid program for students with visas. Therefore, international students must arrange for their own housing and have ample financial resources to meet their college expenses. The full cost of tuition and fees are payable upon registration each semester.

Estimated Expenses for International Students Per Academic Year *

Tuition and fees	$14,611
Living expenses per year (housing and food)	$10,908
Books and supplies	$1,650
Mandatory health insurance	$3,599
Personal expenses	$2,480
Transportation (after arrival in the U.S.)	$1,840
Total	$35,088

* These costs reflect the tuition and fee schedule for the 2021-2022 school year, based on fifteen credit hours per semester. All costs are subject to change and may vary for each student. International students are required to purchase the College-offered health insurance.

High School Equivalency Assessment

The Testing Center provides people who have not graduated from high school with the opportunity to earn a High School Equivalency Credential. Massachusetts residents who are at least 16 years of age and not currently enrolled in high school may take the High School Equivalency Tests. Free test preparation classes are available at local adult education centers and High School Equivalency Tests are offered at GCC (both HiSET and GED tests). A fee is required for these exams; however. these fees will be covered for Massachusetts residents by the Massachusetts Department of Education. For more information, contact the Testing Center at GCC, (413) 775-1821 or see gcc.mass.edu/testing.

* STUDENT BILLING *

To obtain the most up-to-date information from the Student Billing (Bursar’s) Office, visit our website at gcc.mass.edu/billing.

Student Billing is part of the Student Financial Services Office (C102) located on the first floor of the main campus building. This office is responsible for posting payments to student accounts, processing all refunds due to students, billing and collection assignment.

Contact Information for Student Billing

Regular Office Hours Monday-Friday 9am-4pm

Address:
GCC Bursar’s Office, Room C102
One College Drive
Greenfield, MA 01301

Main number: (413) 775-1301
Website: gcc.mass.edu/billing
Fax: (413) 775-1133
Email: sfs@gcc.mass.edu

For information regarding your Financial Aid award package, call the Financial Aid Office at (413) 775-1109.

For information regarding the official process for adding or dropping a class or withdrawing altogether, contact Enrollment Services at (413) 775-1801/1807 or the Advising Center at (413) 775-1339.

Tuition & Fees

For every credit you register for, we charge a tuition fee and a college service fee. The cost-per-credit depends on multiple factors including whether you take day, D/D, or evening courses and your residency status. Tuition and the College service fee do not comprise the entirety of your bill; other fees apply. See Miscellaneous and Special Course/Program Fees below. The College offers no reduction in tuition and fees for auditing a course.

Note: All fees are subject to change after July 1.

Costs by Residency

Massachusetts Residents and Evening, Online/Remote, Summer, and Intersession Courses

The following rates apply to Massachusetts state residents and to all students taking evening, online, summer, and intersession courses, regardless of residency.

• Total: $237 per credit
• Tuition: $26 per credit
• College Service Fee: $211 per credit

In-State Tuition and College Service Fee Chart

New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) Students (Day and D/D Course Rates)

• Total: $250 per credit
• Tuition: $39 per credit
• College Service Fee: $211 per credit

NEBHE Tuition and College Service Fee Chart

Out-of-State (Day and D/D Course Rates)

• Total: $492 per credit
• Tuition: $281 per credit
• College Service Fee: $211 per credit

Out-of-State Tuition and College Service Fee Chart

Miscellaneous Fees

Fee	Fee Amount
Health Records Administration Fee*	$11 per semester
Late Fee	$35 per semester
Late Payment Plan Fee	$10 for each month payment is more than 30 days past due until account is referred to collections
Online Distance Education Course Fee	$10 per online credit
Payment Plan Enrollment Fee	$35 per semester (non-refundable)
Registration Fee	$20 per semester (non-refundable)
Returned Check Fee	$15 per returned check
Student Activity Fee*	$30 per semester
Student Health Insurance**	$3,573 (fall semester-annual coverage) $2,382 (spring semester-8 month coverage)

 * The health records administration fee and student activity fee are charged for day, D/D, and online classes in each of the fall and spring semesters.
** Fee amount effective for the 2024-2025 school year.

Special Course & Program Fees

Additional fees shown in the following table may be included on your bill for specific programs or courses. Some programs may also require equipment, supplies, or other expenses related to the cost of running the courses within that program. All health occupation students are required to carry College-approved professional liability insurance (information about this charge can be obtained from the Health Occupations Department).

List of Special Program Fees

Explanation of Most Common Charges

Note: All fees are subject to change after July 1.

Health Insurance Charge

Cost (effective for the 2024-2025 school year): $3,573 (charged fall semester; annual coverage); $2,387 (charged spring semester; 8 month coverage)
Description: Under the Massachusetts Mandatory Health Insurance Law, all students who are enrolled in a degree or certificate program for nine or more credits must participate in the student health insurance program. As of the fall 2020 semester, we are required to charge the insurance fee even if some or all of a student’s nine or more credits are remote. This change is due to the required transitioning to online education resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The charge may be waived if the student has comparable coverage. The fee is charged in both the fall and spring semesters only.

If a student is taking classes remotely from another state or country, the area where the student is physically for these classes is considered the location where the student attends school. Students in this situation are eligible to waive the health insurance charge if they have comparable, out-of-state insurance.

Note: If you waive the health insurance under these conditions in the fall, but return to in-person learning in the spring, you may be required to waive the health insurance charge again. Your out-of-state insurance may not be reasonably accessible in the state of MA where you would be taking in-person classes. We are required to verify that you still have comparable coverage if you return for in-person learning.

If you do not waive this fee, you are responsible for paying it and regular billing procedures will apply. Once paid, you will be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance program for the relevant coverage period indicated above.

Registration Fee

Cost: $20 once per semester
Description: This mandatory fee is a non-refundable administrative fee charged for all day and evening credit courses. It is charged for processing your enrollment and registration.  Once your class schedule has been entered in our system, you are responsible for paying this fee even if you decide not to attend GCC.

Tuition

Cost: In-state: $26 per credit; NEHBE: $39 per credit; Out-of-state: $281 per credit
Description: This mandatory charge is assessed for all day and evening scheduled credit courses.  The in-state day tuition portion of your bill is remitted to the state of Massachusetts.  The remainder is used to help defray the costs associated with general operations of the College.

College Service Fee

Cost: $211 per credit (effective for fall 2023)
Description: This mandatory charge is assessed for all day and evening scheduled courses regardless of residency category and is used to help pay for a variety of academic services, equipment, supplies and technology expenses.

Health Records Administration Fee

Cost: $11 once per semester
Description: This mandatory fee is assessed if you have at least one credit of day scheduled (in-person lecture) credit courses or at least one credit of online/distance learning credit courses categorized as Day or Day/DCE. It may be charged for non-standard semester (part-of-term) classes if the charge has not already been assessed for a standard full semester class in that same semester. The fee is charged in both the fall and spring semesters only. It is not charged to (in-person lecture) evening classes, January intersession classes, or, summer classes. This fee is used to help defray the costs associated with administration of student health records as required by law. This fee cannot be waived.

Student Activity Fee

Cost: $30 once per semester
Description: This mandatory fee is assessed if you have at least one credit of day scheduled (in-person lecture) credit courses or at least one credit of online/distance learning credit courses categorized as Day or Day/DCE. It may be charged for non-standard semester (part-of-term) classes if the charge has not already been assessed for a standard full semester class in that same semester. The fee is charged in both the fall and spring semesters only. It is not charged to (in-person lecture) evening classes, January intersession classes, or, summer classes. The student activity fee is used to support student activities and other costs associated with students, including clubs, club membership fees, events, musical and novelty performances, mandatory licensing fees, student travel, student conference fees, guest speakers, Orientation, Commencement, the ADN pinning, campus-wide events, student ID cards, the GCC Student Art Show and theater performances. The student activity fee is allocated by the GCC Student Senate.

Day vs. D/D Tuition & Fee Charges

From a student’s prospective, there is no difference between day and D/D charges. These day charges are categorized as such strictly for college accounting purposes. If your bill shows D/D charges, they are treated as regular day charges for billing purposes. However, D/D charges may not be eligible for certain types of tuition and fee waivers.

Evening vs. Day or Online Classes

Due to the transition from in-person to online classes since the COVID-19 pandemic, these charges showing on student bills may be confusing for some. However, from the student’s prospective, there is no difference in tuition and college service fee costs whether day, evening summer, or online. It’s just the way we categorize the funding source for instructors. Some instructors are funded by the state and others, such as evening or summer courses, are funded by the College. Unfortunately, since our transition from in-person classes to online classes, the categories don’t always make sense to students because they were initially set up for in-person classes. However, summer classes are always categorized as evening, regardless. Additionally, summer and online classes are always charged at the in-state rate per the fee schedule. The only difference is that online classes are also assessed an additional “Distance Learning” fee of $10 per credit.

In-State Residency & NEBHE

Tuition rates are calculated based on your residency status:

In-State Residency Tuition Rate

An in-state resident is a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident who established a residence in Massachusetts and has maintained continuous residency in Massachusetts for at least the six months immediately prior to the date of enrollment. An individual must be able to prove Massachusetts residency for six continuous months and intent to remain in the state. To apply for in-state residency complete an In-State Tuition Eligibility Form. For further details, contact Enrollment Services at (413) 775-1801 or (413) 775-1807.

NEBHE (New England Board of Higher Ed) Tuition Rate

Through the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE), Massachusetts participates in the Regional Student Program (RSP) which enables students from one New England state to attend public colleges or universities in another New England state at tuition rates below those normally charged to out-of-state students. Eligible New England students who reside outside of Massachusetts currently pay 150 percent of the tuition charged Massachusetts residents. To qualify, a student must be a resident of one of the five other New England states and be pursuing a degree or certificate program not offered at a two-year community college in their home state or offered at a Massachusetts community college closer to their home. For more information, contact the Enrollment Services Office at (413) 775-1801 or (413) 775-1807.

Out-of-State

If you do not qualify for in-state residency or NEBHE, you will be charged at the out-of-state rate.

Tuition Estimator

Use our online tuition and fee estimator to estimate your charges based on residency and the number of credits you will be taking.

Estimated Expenses

The cost of attending GCC varies depending on a student’s individual circumstances. In general, total expenses for a full academic year based on 12 credits per semester include: tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses such as clothing, laundry, and recreation. The estimated expenses provided below assume in-state residency at 24 credits for the full 2024-2025 academic year.

Updated 4/29/2024	Full Time Student
Books & Supplies	$1,600.00
Food & Housing	12,520.00
Transportation	3,120.00
Personal	1,600.00
Tuition	624.00
Fees	5,426.00
Total estimated expenses	$24,890.00

Annual Board of Higher Education Affordability Disclosure

Students who attend Greenfield Community College and other public higher education institutions in Massachusetts receive a substantial subsidy of their cost of education through a state appropriation. The state appropriation lowers the cost of tuition and fees to students. Many students that demonstrate greater need also receive financial aid awards to further reduce their costs.

The annual cost information below is an example of the net cost to a Massachusetts resident taking 30 credit hours per year at Greenfield Community College. Individual costs will vary depending on each student’s particular circumstances.

Full annual operating cost per student (estimate)	$30,721
Less: State annual operating subsidy (estimate)	-23,489
Equals: Annual tuition and mandatory fees	$7,232
Less: Student annual financial aid (average)	-3,172
Equals: Net student cost (average)	$4,060
Figures updated 5/3/2024

In addition to the state subsidy and student financial aid, students may also be eligible for federal income tax credits (Hope or Lifetime Learning credit).  Tax credits do not reduce the initial cost to attend college, but are instead a reimbursement of tuition paid. For more information about tax credit eligibility, refer to Internal Revenue Service instructions or ask your tax advisor.

Student annual financial aid includes all federal and state grants and tuition waivers that may be applied directly to the College’s tuition and fees. Tuition and mandatory fees reflect the cost of the courses; it does not include health insurance or other miscellaneous fees.

Your Bill

Billing Due Dates

Term	Charges Available on MyGCC	Bill Due Date
Fall 2024	July 17, 2024	August 5, 2024
Spring 2025	November 9, 2024	January 3, 2025
Summer 1 2025	April 17, 2024	Upon Registration
Summer 2 2025	April 17, 2024	Upon Registration

For class registrations after the billing due date, late start classes, and classes that do not meet for the entire semester, charges are due upon receipt of your bill.

The College’s official means of delivering your billing statement is electronically via your MyGCC account. To receive a paper statement, send a message to sfs@gcc.mass.edu with “Request for Bill” in the subject line.

For the most up-to-date billing charges:

• Log into your MyGCC account. Get help with your username and password if necessary.
• Click on My Account
• Under the Billing menu, click on Account summary by term/Pay Your Bill

For the most recent PDF statement:

• Log into your MyGCC account
• Click on My Account
• Under the Billing menu, click on View Statement
• Choose the most recent date from the drop down menu
• Click View Statement

Any time a new PDF statement is uploaded to your account, an email notification is sent to your GCC student email and any active personal email addresses we have on file.

If you are considering dropping classes, exchanging classes (dropping a class and adding another class of equal credit), officially withdrawing from all of your classes, or simply not showing up for classes after the semester begins, review our refund policy for important deadlines. Our refund policy is also available on the PDF bill statements uploaded to your MyGCC account.

Past Due Bills

Past due accounts are subject to the following actions:

• GCC reserves the right to cancel your class schedule for nonpayment.
• You will be denied additional services such as:  future registration, release of your grades, or release of academic transcripts until your bill is paid in full.
• Past due accounts with balances of $100 or greater will be assessed a one-time $35 late fee per semester.
• Your account will be submitted to a collection agency and you will be responsible for additional collection charges of up to 22.7% of your unpaid balance.
• Your account will be reported to the Massachusetts Debt Intercept Program (balances of $25 or greater) where state and federal payments due you, including state tax refunds, will be intercepted and transferred to Greenfield Community College until your bill is paid in full. Debt Intercept Program: Overdue accounts are subject to Mass. Department of Revenue intercept of state and federal payments, including state tax refunds (MGL C.62D). Please contact the Bursar’s Office to dispute overdue charges or submit a written request for a hearing as allowed under MGL C.30A.
• A $10 late fee may be charged to payment plan accounts for each month a payment is more than 30 days past due.

Pay your past due bill immediately to avoid unnecessary inconvenience.

How to Pay

If you wish to authorize someone to make a payment on your behalf or to discuss the specifics of your student billing or financial aid account with our office, please review our Authorized Payer/Information Release Form.

If a third party (e.g., Veterans Affairs, AmeriCorps, Mass Rehab, etc.) is paying on your behalf, appropriate documentation (e.g., a purchase order or written commitment to pay) must be submitted to our office within 30 days of the start of classes.

Ultimately, the student is always responsible for making sure their bill is paid in full.

GCC accepts eChecks, checks, cash, and credit/debit card payments * (MasterCard, Discover, VISA, and American Express).

* Credit/debit card payments will incur a 3.28% service fee (minimum $1.32 fee). GCC does not receive this fee; it is retained by ACI Payments, Inc., our online credit card processing vendor. Before finalizing your payment, you have an opportunity to review the fee amount and cancel your payment. There is no service fee when paying with an eCheck, check or cash.

To Pay your Bill Online (eCheck and credit/debit cards):

• Log into your MyGCC account. Get help with your username and password if necessary.
• Click on My Account
• Under the Billing menu, click on Account summary by term/Pay Your Bill
• Click Make a payment
• Select the semester for which you are paying. If the semester you are trying to pay for is not listed, please contact us to make a payment over the phone
• Click Submit
• Enter the payment amount and click Submit
• You will be directed to the ACI Payments, Inc. webpage where you will enter payment/payer information, review your payment, and complete your transaction

To Pay by Mail (checks only):

Make checks payable to GCC. Include your student ID number on your check.

Send payments to:
GCC Student Financial Services Office, Rm C102
1 College Drive
Greenfield, MA  01301

• FAQs about Paying Online
• Instructions on How to Pay with an eCheck

Payment Plan

The College offers a payment plan which allows students to make payments in four interest-free monthly installments. A $35 non-refundable payment plan enrollment fee is charged for each semester you are participating in the plan. This $35 fee must be paid with your first installment. The payment plan is offered in the fall and spring semesters. Summer session payment plans may be available on a case-by-case basis for extenuating circumstances. To request a payment plan for summer sessions, send a message to sfs@gcc.mass.edu with “Payment Plan Request” in the subject line. Include your student ID in the message.

• How to Enroll in the Payment Plan

Payment plan bills are made available on your MyGCC account at least 10 days prior to each due date.

Spring 2025 Payment Plan Due Dates

Payment #	Amount Due	Due Date
1	1/4 of Total Bill plus $35 fee	1/3/2025
2	1/4 of Total Bill	2/3/2025
3	1/4 of Total Bill	3/3/2025
4	1/4 of Total Bill	4/3/2025

When signing up for the payment plan, payments for due dates that have passed will be due at the time of sign up. In addition, if a due date is approaching, that payment must be paid by the due date. We reserve the right to assess a $10 late fee for each month a payment is more than 30 days past due.

Who must sign up for the payment plan?

• Students who are not paying their bill in full by the due date
• Students who will have a remaining balance after deducting the portion of their bill that is expected to be paid by other resources such as financial aid, tuition waiver, third parties (employers, government agencies, job training programs, etc.), private scholarships, in-house grant, or other

If you do not pay your bill in full or sign up for the payment plan by the original due date of the bill, you will be charged a late fee of $35 for any past due balance of $100 or greater.

If you add or drop classes that cause an adjustment in your charges after you’ve completed the electronic payment plan form, do not complete the form again. Your remaining payment plan payments due will be adjusted and reflected on subsequent bills.

Health Insurance Charge and the Payment Plan

Student accounts must be paid in full for the term before the College can submit a student’s name to the insurance company for coverage. This applies to students enrolled in the payment plan. Your coverage will be effective retroactive to the first date of the policy period for which you paid. The enrollment deadline to purchase insurance for the fall 2023 semester is November 15, 2023. If you do not make your final payment by that date, you are ineligible for coverage. Learn more about Student Health Insurance.

Authorized Payer/Information Release

Authorized Payer

What is an Authorized Payer? 
An Authorized Payer is someone that the student permits to make an online payment to their account on their behalf.

Limitations of an Authorized Payer
We cannot discuss account information with an authorized payer. See below for the Information Release Form.

How to establish an Authorized Payer

• Log into your MyGCC account. Get help with your username and password if necessary.
• Click on My Account
• Under the Billing menu, click on Account summary by term/Pay Your Bill
• Click Add Payer and complete the form
• Click Submit. An email confirmation message will be sent to you, the person designated as the Authorized Payer and the SFS Office. This email contains payment instructions, information about our policies and helpful links.

Information Release Form

What is an Information Release Form?
Federal law restricts Greenfield Community College from discussing a student’s financial aid status or tuition and fee account information with any third party individual without student consent. An Information Release Form authorizes Student Financial Services staff to discuss specifics of a student’s financial aid and/or tuition and fee account with any third party(s) a student designates (parent, spouse, employer, government agency, etc.).

Limitations of the Information Release Form
Even with the student’s consent, the Student Financial Services Office is prohibited by federal law from sharing FAFSA/financial aid information with third party entities/agencies such as Mass Rehab, SNAP, DTA, and Housing and Fuel Assistance. These agencies must obtain FAFSA information directly from the student.

This form is solely for the use of the Student Financial Services Office. To authorize the release of student academic information, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

Completing the Information Release Form

• Log into your MyGCC account. Get help with your username and password if necessary.
• Click on My Account
• Under the Billing menu, click on Information Release Form
• Complete the form and click Submit
• Share the created password with the named person

• Information Release Form Tutorial

Other Information

• Passwords cannot be the student’s date of birth, any part of their student ID number, their social security number or their MyGCC password
• If any party cannot verify their identity by providing the assigned password, we will not release information specific to the student’s account
• Forgotten passwords can be reviewed on the Release Form on the student’s MyGCC account
• The Information Release Form needs to be completed only once for each individual to whom you are granting access
• Any inquiring third party must provide their name, the student’s name, the student’s ID, and the assigned password
• Authorization can be withdrawn
• Students who choose not to authorize the disclosure of account information to anyone other than themselves do not need to complete the waiver

Financial Aid Payments

When students stop attending classes, officially drop classes, or withdraw from the College, their financial aid payments may be adjusted to reflect the actual percentage of time that they have attended class(es) and/or other educational activity. This percentage will be calculated by the number of days the student has attended divided by the number of days in the semester. The College and student must return any unearned aid to the appropriate funding sources (i.e., Pell grant, SEOG grant, Stafford Loan, etc.). The College will have only thirty (30) days to determine the correct amount of funds the student has earned and notify the student if a refund must be collected for any aid previously disbursed or if there is a balance owed to the College. Students must respond by contacting the Student Billing Office within 45 days from the date of the financial aid notification to arrange an acceptable repayment agreement. Therefore, students will need to work very closely with the Financial Aid Office as they stop attending classes, officially drop classes, or withdraw from the College. For questions on how those actions will affect your Financial Aid package, contact the Financial Aid Office at (413) 775-1109.

Financial Aid & Health Insurance

Federal financial aid funds will not pay this charge without your written authorization. Therefore, if you need to purchase the insurance because you are not covered under a comparable insurance plan, and, if you expect your financial aid to pay this charge, you must authorize it in writing by completing the appropriate section of the “Acknowledgements and Certifications” form required by the Financial Aid Office.

Tuition Waivers

For credit courses, tuition waivers and proof of eligibility must be submitted within 30 days of the start of the semester. For most waivers, fees (including but not limited to college services fees and special class/program fees) are not reduced. Some waivers are subject to approval by the Registrar based on seating availability. There are restrictions when using the Senior Waiver. The value of a tuition waiver or combination of tuition waivers cannot exceed the total cost of tuition. See below to determine waiver eligibility, required documentation and charges eligible for reduction.

Waivers for non-credit workshops are approved on a case-by-case basis by Workforce Development or Community Engagement.

For more information about tuition waivers, contact the Student Financial Services Office at sfs@gcc.mass.edu or visit the Department of Education’s Office of Student Financial Assistance website.

Categorical Waivers

• Adopted Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program (Code 21)
• Armed Forces (Code 14)
• Clients of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (Code 18) or Commission for the Blind (Code 20)
• Foster Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program (Code 21)
• John and Abigail Adams Tuition Waiver (Code 27)
• Koplik Tuition Waiver (Code 22)
• Massachusetts National Guard Tuition Waiver (Code 13)
• Massachusetts National Guard Welcome Home Tuition and Fee Waiver (Code 12)
• Massachusetts State Employee Tuition and/or Fee Waiver (Tuition Remission)
• Native American (Code 1)
• Senior Citizen (Code 2 or Code 42)
• Veteran (Code 11)

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Categorical Tuition Waiver a student must:

• Be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts for at least one year prior to the opening of the academic year
• Be a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Be in compliance with applicable Selective Service Registration laws
• Not be in default of any federal or state loan or owe a refund on any previously received financial aid
• Be a member of an eligible category as defined below
• In accordance with institutional requirements, each student must present documentation of categorical waiver eligibility to the appropriate college officials
• Enroll in at least three undergraduate credits per semester in state supported undergraduate degree or certificate program
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in accordance with federal and institutional standards

Need-Based Waivers

Only day state-supported tuition charges qualify for Need-Based Tuition Waivers (coded as Day Tuition on your billing statement). Charges cannot be waived by multiple waivers. If you already have another type of waiver waiving these type of charges, you will not receive a need-based waiver. The value of a tuition waiver or combination of tuition waivers cannot exceed the total cost of tuition. Tuition waiver awards, in combination with other resources in the student’s financial aid package, may not exceed the student’s demonstrated financial need. Students qualifying for a tuition waiver may be granted partial or full waivers depending upon the institution’s financial aid packaging policies.

Need-based waivers are awarded during the financial aid process as a component of the student’s financial aid package. Students should be notified of tuition waiver awards via their financial aid award letter. Contact the Student Financial Services Office at (413) 775-1109 or sfs@gcc.mass.edu for application requirements or deadlines. You can also call the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance at (617) 391-6070 to obtain more information.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Need-Based Tuition Waiver, a student must:

• Be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts for at least one year prior to the opening of the academic year
• Be a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Be in compliance with applicable Selective Service Registration laws
• Not be in default of any federal or state loan or owe a refund on any previously received financial aid
• Evidence documented financial need as measured by a federally approved system of needs analysis
• Enroll in at least three undergraduate credits per semester in state-supported undergraduate degree or certificate program
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in accordance with federal and institutional standards
• Not have earned a prior bachelors degree or its equivalent

Appeals Process

Requesting a Financial Appeal

When submitting your appeal, you must demonstrate extenuating circumstances. Exceptions to our refund policy are considered on a case-by-case basis depending on your particular extenuating circumstance. Therefore, when submitting your appeal, you should include enough information to allow us to conduct a careful examination of all pertinent facts. Additionally, you must submit supporting documentation that will strengthen your request.

Submit your detailed request to the Student Financial Services Office within two months (60 calendar days) from the date of the event that caused you to withdraw or stop attending your classes. Appeals received more than 60 days after the effective date of your withdrawal will not be considered. You must have completed an online “Request for Withdrawal from All Classes” form and submitted it to the Registrar’s Office. If you simply stopped attending without completing the official withdrawal process, you must do so before filing an appeal. As long as you remain officially enrolled in classes, your appeal will not be considered. If supporting documentation is requested of you, your appeal will not be processed until you provide it. All documentation must be received by the date requested. Appeals will be reviewed in the order they are received. You should receive a reply within 30 days from the date you submitted your appeal.

The preferred method for submitting an appeal is by email. This will expedite the process. Submit your appeal via your GCC email account to appeals@gcc.mass.edu. In the subject line enter “Appeal” along with the semester for which you are requesting an exception to our refund policy. Include your full name and your student ID number. If your appeal request includes supporting documentation, you can send the materials either by mail, fax or scanned attachment. Do not send any personally identifiable information by email.

Alternatively, submit your appeal by mail to:

Greenfield Community College Student Financial Services Office
ATTN: Student Appeals
One College Drive
Greenfield, MA 01301

Medical Appeals

Step 1: If you are requesting an exception to our refund policy based upon medical reasons, a medical withdrawal request must first be submitted and approved. Medical documentation should be sent directly to the Dean of Students. Do not send any medical documentation with your Financial Appeal Request. All required forms are available from the Registrar’s Office or online at gcc.mass.edu/registrar/forms. Please call the Enrollment Services for further guidance on medical withdrawals at (413) 775-1801.

Step 2: After a medical withdrawal has been approved, a separate appeal must then be submitted if you wish to request a reduction in charges based on a Medical Withdrawal approval. Do not include any medical records/documentation. However, you must provide a copy of your Medical Withdrawal approval notice. A medical withdrawal does not guarantee a reduction of charges but may be considered as a basis for an exception to the refund policy.

Refund Policies

Financial Aid, Student Loans & Refunds

Before you change your current enrollment plans, contact the Student Financial Services Office to learn how this may impact your financial aid. Enrollment changes may affect your eligibility for financial aid for the current semester and in future semesters. Students are encouraged to review our Financial Aid Withdrawal Policies. For additional information, contact Student Financial Services at sfs@gcc.mass.edu or (413) 775-1109.

Refund Policy for Credit Courses

Refund periods vary by semester. Please read the policy carefully. You must drop classes or withdraw according to the official policy in order to receive any reduction in charges or refund of payments. In all cases, the date of your formal withdrawal will determine your eligibility for a reduction in charges. A full reduction in charges will be granted if a course or non-credit class/workshop is cancelled by the College. For non-credit classes, refer to our Workforce Development or Community Engagement.

Refund deadlines vary for classes that do not meet for the entire semester (non-standard semesters) and for intersession and weekend class schedules. Most non-standard class refund deadlines are listed by the Registrar’s Office. If you do not see your class listed, please contact Enrollment Services office at (413) 775-1801 or (413) 775-1807 to inquire about those deadlines.

Generally, for the purposes of obtaining a reduction in charges, if you withdraw from regularly scheduled credit class(es) during the refund period dates, you will receive a reduction in charges of both tuition and fees as follows:

Semester	Refund Period	Percent	Effective Dates
Fall 2024	First Week of Semester	100%	Sept. 4 to Sept. 10, 2024
Fall 2024	Second Week of Semester	75%	Sept. 11 to Sept. 17, 2024
Winter 2025 Intersession		100%	Jan. 2 to Jan. 3, 2025
Winter 2025 Intersession		75%	Jan. 4 to Jan. 6, 2025
Spring 2025	First week of semester	100%	Jan. 27 to Jan. 31, 2025
Spring 2025	Second week of semester	75%	Feb. 1 to Feb. 7, 2025
Summer I 2025		100%	May 20 to May 23, 2025
Summer I 2025		75%	May 24 to May 28, 2025
Summer II 2025		100%	July 14 to July 17, 2025
Summer II 2025		75%	July 18 to July 21, 2025

The specific refund period dates for regularly scheduled credit classes are published on the academic calendar and the reverse of all billing statements.

If you are entitled to a refund of any payments after a reduction in charges, please allow 4 to 6 weeks for refund processing.

If you withdraw from all or some of your classes after the refund periods expire, you will not receive any reduction in charges and you will be responsible for paying all charges remaining on your account. 

Withdrawal Prior to Semester Start

If you withdraw from some or all of your credit classes prior to the start of the semester (not before the specific class begins), a full reduction in charges for both tuition and fees, less the $20 registration fee and $35 payment plan fee, will be granted. The registration and payment plan fees will remain on your account and you will continue to be billed for them until paid.

Withdrawal After Semester Starts

Refer to the refund deadlines to determine your eligibility for a refund. If you withdraw from all or some of your classes after the refund periods expire, you will not receive any reduction in charges and you will be responsible for paying all charges remaining on your account. The $20 registration fee and $35 payment plan enrollment fee are non-refundable.

Even Exchange of Classes During Refund Period

An even exchange of classes is only permitted through the last day of the 100% refund period. After that date, if you drop a class and add another class during the 75% refund period, you will pay full cost for the added class and receive only 75% refund for the dropped class. After the 75% percent refund period, you will be charged at full cost for any added or dropped classes.

Withdrawal Due to Medical Issues

If you withdraw for medical reasons, our regular refund policy applies. There is no refund for medical withdrawal after the refund period has expired. Withdrawal due to health issues is treated no differently than a normal withdrawal. You can obtain all required medical withdrawal forms from the Registrar’s Office or online at gcc.mass.edu/registrar/forms. Please call the Chief Student Affairs Officer for further guidance on medical withdrawals at (413) 775-1868.

Refund Policy for Non-Credit Workshops

Effective February 7, 2024 — Students will receive a full refund for any canceled courses.

For workshops that meet for ten (10) days or fewer:

• Official withdrawal by five (5) business days prior to the first meeting of the workshop results in a full refund.
• Official withdrawal between four (4) business days prior to the first meeting of the workshop and the day before the first meeting of the workshop results in a 75% refund.
• No refund will be given for withdrawals submitted from the day of the first meeting of the workshop to the end of the workshop.

For workshops that meet for more than ten (10) days:

• Official withdrawal by five (5) business days prior to the first meeting of the workshop results in a full refund.
• Official withdrawal between four (4) business days prior to the first meeting of the workshop and the day of the second meeting of the workshop results in a 75% refund.
• No refund will be given for withdrawals submitted from the day after the second meeting of the workshop to the end of the workshop.

Withdrawals must be submitted to train@gcc.mass.edu by 11:59 p.m. EST to be considered for that calendar day.

Please allow 3-4 weeks for processing your refund. Learn more from our offices of Workforce Development and Community Engagement.

Refund Appeals: If you are confronted with an unexpected and serious circumstance beyond your control that requires you to withdraw from a workshop, you may submit an appeal to the Dean of Workforce Development in writing requesting a refund. Be prepared to provide sufficient detail and/or documentation to support your claim. Submitting an appeal does not guarantee a refund, and refunds may be granted on a full or partial basis. Appeals must be submitted within 60 calendar days from the date of the event that caused you to withdraw from the workshop. Appeals will be reviewed within 30 calendar days from the date you submitted your appeal.

* FINANCIAL AID *

Many students attending Greenfield Community College receive financial aid from federal, state, institutional, and private or community resources. Receiving financial aid carries certain obligations for the College and for students. Students should be aware:

• A particular academic program and enrollment status may impact the financial aid award. For example, developmental courses, withdrawing from the College, or repeating courses may affect the status of a student’s aid.
• Costs associated with attending the College may not be covered entirely by financial aid.
• All financial aid programs are subject to changes in regulations and procedures.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

To be eligible for federal financial aid, a student must:

• be a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• have a high school diploma or a High School Equivalency Diploma (GED)
• certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant
• be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program at Greenfield Community College
• maintain satisfactory academic progress required under financial aid

All students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for any federal, state, or institutional aid. Greenfield Community College’s federal school code number is 002169. Students may also be asked to complete a Financial Aid Intent to Enroll form.

To be considered for all forms of financial aid, the priority application deadline is May 1, although students may apply for financial aid throughout the academic year. Please note the following changes:

• Students receiving a scholarship from an off-campus group or individual must provide the Student Financial Services Office with an official certification and complete terms of the award as early as possible
• An eligible non-citizen card may be requested if the student is an immigrant (I-94, I-151, I-181, I-181a or I-181b)

Undocumented Citizens Residing in Massachusetts and Tuition Equity

Non-U.S. citizens, or DACA students, who have attended Massachusetts high schools for at least three years and earned a Massachusetts diploma, may be eligible for in-state tuition rates and financial aid at public higher education institutions in the Commonwealth.

To be eligible for Massachusetts Tuition Equity, a student must:

• be an undocumented student
• have attended a Massachusetts high school for at least 3-years
• have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (GED) issued by the state of Massachusetts
• have a Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number, or ITIN
• if male, be registered with Selective Service
• be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program at Greenfield Community College

All DACA students must complete the Massachusetts Application for Student Financial Aid (MASFA) in order to be considered for any state or institutional aid. Greenfield Community College’s federal school code number is 002169.  Students must also complete the Tuition Equity Eligibility and Affidavit form.

New Verification Requirements

Review Your FAFSA Submission Summary

The FAFSA Submission Summary for the 2024–25 award year (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025) is a summary of the FAFSA data you submitted. You (the student) will get your FAFSA Submission Summary after your FAFSA form is processed. Look over your FAFSA Submission Summary carefully, make sure you didn’t make a mistake on your FAFSA form, and make corrections to your FAFSA data if necessary. Find out more about the FAFSA Submission Summary, its purpose, how the method you use to file your FAFSA form determines when you’ll get the FAFSA Submission Summary, and what you should do with the FAFSA Submission Summary.

Provide Required Verification

You might see a note on your FAFSA Submission Summary saying you’ve been selected for verification; or the Student Financial Services Office, C105, might contact you to inform you that you’ve been selected. Verification is the process GCC uses to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA form is accurate. If you’re selected for verification, the Student Financial Services Office will request additional documentation that supports the information you reported.  You can also find any outstanding financial aid requirements on MY GCC.

Verification of High School Graduation

High School Completion or Recognized Equivalent of a High School Diploma — Students who have graduated from high school are required to submit an official copy of their high school transcript to the Office of Admission prior to the start of their first semester. Students completing a High School Equivalency Credential are required to submit an official copy of their High School Equivalency Credential score report to the Office of Admission prior to the start of their first semester. Documentation of completion of secondary work awarded outside the United States must be translated and evaluated to U.S. standards through a credential evaluating agency. Agencies can be found online at naces.org.

Homeschool —  All home schooled students, without a high school diploma or High School Equivalency Credential, may apply for admission to a degree or certificate program provided they have successfully completed an approved home school program in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws or the laws of their home state. Home schooled students must submit, with the Application for Admission, evidence that the home school program was approved by the student’s school district’s superintendent or school committee. If the student is under the age of compulsory attendance (16 years old in Massachusetts) and has completed a home school program, the student’s school district’s superintendent or school committee must provide a letter stating the student is not considered truant and would not be required to attend further schooling or continue to be home schooled. Please contact the Admissions Office at (413) 775-1801 for further details.

Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose

The student must appear in person to an institutionally authorized individual in the Financial Aid Office to verify his or her identity. Verification requires valid government-issued photo identification (ID), such as but not limited to a driver’s license, other state-issued ID or passport. In addition, the student must sign, in the presence of the institutional official, the Statement of Educational Purpose.

FAFSA Application Deadlines and Processing Time

Expect that the complete application process may take two months. Students who adhere to the following deadlines will most likely be informed about their eligibility for financial aid before tuition bills are due:

For the Fall Semester

• Submit the FAFSA by May 1
• Bring all required documents to the GCC Financial Aid Office by June 1
• Applications and files completed after July 15 cannot be guaranteed notification of a financial aid award by the beginning of the Fall Semester
• Files not completed within 30 days of the end of the award year will not be considered for aid

For the Spring Semester 

• Submit FAFSA by November 1
• Bring all required documents to the Financial Aid Office by November 15
• Applications and files completed after December 5 cannot be guaranteed notification of a financial aid award by the beginning of the Spring Semester

Kinds of Financial Aid

In an effort to enable all qualified students to attend GCC, the College offers assistance to students with demonstrated financial need and participates in all major federal and state financial aid programs. GCC’s Financial Aid Office can help students with a combination of three general types of financial assistance:

• Grants and scholarships from federal, state, and institutional sources, which students do not repay
• Loans backed by federal, state, or private sources, which students must repay, usually at long-term, low-interest rates
• Federal work-study, which provides part-time jobs during the summer or the school year, either on or off-campus

The following descriptions provide a general picture of most financial aid funds available through the College but do not include all eligibility requirements. Contact the Financial Aid Office at (413) 775-1109 with questions about specific grants.

Federal Direct (Subsidized and Unsubsidized) Loans

The Federal Stafford Loan Program enables students with financial need to obtain low-interest, deferred-payment loans directly from the federal government. Borrowers begin repayment six months after they graduate, fall below six credits, or withdraw from the College. Loan eligibility requires a FAFSA be filed for the academic year, and loans will not be processed until a student’s financial aid file is complete. Entrance and exit interviews are required. Students requesting an increase to the Federal Direct Loan are expected to complete a financial literacy exercise and budget worksheet.

Federal Pell Grants

The Pell Grant Program provides assistance to students with exceptional need. Pell Grant amounts awarded depend upon the information provided by students and their family on the FAFSA. If you’re eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, you’ll receive the full amount you qualify for based on enrollment. Students must be enrolled for a minimum of 3 credit hours in an eligible program.

Limitations: You can receive a Pell Grant only up to 12 semesters or the equivalent. Equivalency is calculated by adding together the percentage of your Pell eligibility that you received each year to determine whether the total amount has been exceeded. Students lose all Pell grant eligibility once they’ve exceeded 12 semesters, or 6 years of full-time college study. Please refer to the GCC Student Financial Aid Handbook for more information.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is a federally-funded, campus-based program that provides grants for exceptionally needy students, based on the student’s cost of education, the number of credits a student is enrolled, and the funds available to the College.

Federal Work-Study Program

The Federal Work-Study Program offers part-time on-campus and off-campus jobs to students with demonstrated financial need. Work-study offers students an excellent opportunity to earn spending money while gaining work experience. Hours for work-study positions are flexible enough to fit with your academic schedule.

Federal work-study is a financial aid grant, it is not benefited employment. As such, students are paid only for the hours they have worked. There is no compensation for sick days, holidays, or snow days.  Students are allowed to make up hours they missed to due to sick days and snow days within the pay period or within the term period.  Students must be supervised at all times and are not allowed to work during regularly scheduled class times without evidence the class was cancelled.

The work-study award allows the student to apply for an approved and existing FWS position, it does not guarantee job placement.

Institutional Grants

The Greenfield Community College Foundation provides two scholarships: The Greenfield Community College Golf Scholarship (GCCS) and the Deerfield Plastics Scholarship (GDPS). The Foundation conducts a golf tournament in the spring as the primary fund-raiser for the GCCS. The Deerfield Plastics Scholarship has been generously funded by the Barker family as a way to thank the community where they conduct their business. GCC also awards GCC Institutional Scholarships (GCIS). All of these are contingent upon funding.

John and Abigail Adams Scholarship

The Adams Scholarship is based on a student’s performance on the grade 10 English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments of MCAS. It provides a tuition waiver for eight traditional semesters. Students must first apply for financial aid, using the FAFSA. Students who receive the Adams Scholarship must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Massachusetts Cash Grant Program

The Massachusetts Cash Grant Program provides funding to students who demonstrate financial need and have resided in Massachusetts for one year prior to the beginning of the academic year.

Massachusetts Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program

This Massachusetts scholarship provides grants to students matriculated in an eligible program and who have been employed and continue employment in early childhood care. Awards are determined by the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Massachusetts Grant Program (for Full-Time Study)

The Massachusetts Grant Program provides assistance to students who are studying on a full-time basis (12+ credits each semester), who have been legal residents of the state for one year, have completed the FAFSA by May 1, and who demonstrate financial need.

Massachusetts MASSGrant Plus Program

The Massachusetts MASSGrant Plus Program provides additional grant assistance to students who are enrolled for six or more credits, who have been legal residents of Massachusetts for at least one full year, who completed the FAFSA by November 1st, who are Pell recipients and who demonstrate financial need. Several other eligibility criteria are listed at mass.edu/osfa/programs/massgrant.asp.

Massachusetts Tuition Waiver Program

This Massachusetts program waives tuition for residents of Massachusetts who have resided in the state for one year prior to the opening of the academic year and who demonstrate financial need.

Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant

This Massachusetts grant provides financial assistance to a Massachusetts resident who has worked and continues to work as a paraprofessional in a public school in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for a minimum of two years, or is employed as a paraprofessional and is pursuing a course of study that will lead to certification as a teacher in bilingual education, special education, math, science or foreign language. Students may be full- or part-time. Awards are determined by the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Parents PLUS Loan Program

The Federal Parent Loan (PLUS) provides loans to parents to pay a student’s educational expenses. Students must be dependent and enrolled at least half-time and parents must have no adverse credit history.

Vermont Student Assistance

The Vermont Student Assistance Grant Program provides grants to students who are legal residents of Vermont and who demonstrate financial
need. Students must apply directly to the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation for consideration.

Veterans Benefits

Veterans of the United States armed services, or dependents of a deceased or disabled veteran, may be eligible for Federal veterans’ educational assistance benefits. Contact the Veterans Administration at (888) 442-4551 or go to va.gov to determine eligibility. For general information regarding the benefits certification process, contact GCC’s Certifying Official in the Military, at veterans@gcc.mass.edu or (413) 775-1885. In addition, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides tuition exemptions at public colleges and universities to veterans (with an honorable or general discharge) who have been residents for one year prior to the beginning of the academic year. Members of the Massachusetts National Guard may also be eligible for tuition assistance through the Welcome Home Bill. Those seeking to use a tuition waiver for any of these classifications must submit a completed Tuition Waiver form and provide documented proof of your status, such as a DD214, NOBE, or COBE Certificate to the GCC’s Certifying Official located in the Military, Veterans and Dependents Services Office.

Financial Aid Policies

Information Release to Third Party Agencies

According to the Higher Education Act Section [483(a)(3)(E)] FAFSA data, which includes information related to Expected Family Contributions (EFCs) and awards, shall be used only for the application, award, and administration of aid awarded under federal student aid programs, state aid, or aid awarded by eligible institutions. Even with the student’s consent, the Financial Aid Office is prohibited by Federal Law from sharing Financial Aid with third party entities and agencies such as Mass Rehabilitation, SNAP, DTA, Housing, and Fuel Assistance. These agencies must obtain FAFSA information directly from the student.

Packaging Policy for Financial Aid

Financial aid is awarded to students who qualify based on financial need as determined by the completed FAFSA. Funds are awarded based on need, residency, and funds availability. Financial need is determined by subtracting a student’s “student aid index” (called the “SAI”) and other outside financial resources from estimated student expenses. The SAI is determined by the U. S. Department of Education for every applicant from information provided on the FAFSA. The SAI is based on household size, number of household members enrolled enrolled in college, income and taxes paid, among other factors.

Financial Aid Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal and State regulations require that all financial aid recipients maintain specific academic standards called “Satisfactory Academic Progress” or SAP. Except for some private and institutional funds all forms of financial aid (grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships) are affected by this policy. These standards are applied to a student’s entire academic history at Greenfield Community College including periods when financial aid was not received.

The financial aid office evaluates student academic progress at the end of each semester based on three criteria: Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA), Maximum Time Frame, and the Progression Rate (%).

• Grade Point Average (GPA): the student must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
• Maximum Timeframe is measured to ensure students are taking required courses to complete their certificate or degree within 150% of the credits required for the program of study

For example, if the published length of your credit program is 60 credits, the maximum time frame is 90 credits (that is, 60 X 1.5). This means that you receive financial aid during the period of time you are attempting up to 90 credit hours only (including transfer credits).

Once the student has attempted 150 percent of the credit hours allowed in her program, she is no longer eligible for financial aid at Greenfield Community College.

Rate of Progression: Students must complete all credits each semester at a rate of 67% of their attempted cumulative credits. All program credits, including transfer and remedial credits will be taken into consideration whether or not aid was received.

Credits registered at the time of disbursement:	You will remain in good standing if you successfully complete:
Full Time (12-18 credits)	12 credits per semester
3/4 Time (9-11 credits)	9 credits per semester
1/2 Time (6-9 credits)	6 credits per semester
Less Than 1/2 Time (1-5 credits)	All attempted credits per semester

Grades F/FA (Failed), IN (Incomplete), W (Withdrawal), NC (No Credit), and O (insufficient) will count as attempted credits.

Financial Aid Warning

The financial aid office evaluates the student’s academic progress at the end of every semester. Failure to meet any one of the three Standards of Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress (SAP) will result in unsatisfactory financial aid progress and the student will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for a period of at least one term but not to exceed two consecutive terms of enrollment. Students who are on financial aid warning can still receive financial aid at GCC and their progress will be evaluated at the end of each period of enrollment. If your GPA remains below 2.0 at the end of the warning period or you fail to complete at least 67% of your enrolled courses for that term, you will lose financial aid eligibility. Eligibility may automatically be reinstated when the student earns a GPA of at least 2.0

Whenever a student is placed on Financial Aid warning they will receive a copy the financial aid warning form. The financial aid warning form will remind them of the Standards of Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress and guide them with the steps they can take at GCC to remain in good standing.

Financial Aid Probation

If, at the end of a financial aid warning period the student still is not making SAP, the student is no longer eligible for financial aid without submitting an appeal for continued financial aid. The student can let us know of any extenuating circumstances that prevented academic progress along with the steps that they will take toward academic success, like working with their academic advisor and Peer Tutoring.

At GCC, if the appeal is approved the student will be placed on financial aid probation with an academic plan. The conditions of the academic plan will be outlined for the student on a case-by-case basis and may include some of the following conditions:

• Successfully complete all the classes (100%) for which you are enrolled for the semester, without withdrawal
• Earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 for each class during that semester
• Enroll less than full-time, or for a specified number of reduced credit hours

Students placed on financial aid probation will receive financial aid for one additional semester but they must meet the requirements under their plan in order to remain on financial aid. If, at the end of the probationary term, the student has met all of the conditions of the academic plan, they will continue to receive financial aid until all degree requirements are met, but the student cannot exceed more than 4 terms of provisional aid at full-time status. Exceptions may be made for mitigating circumstances. Some examples of mitigating circumstances would be the availability of courses due to periodicity, death of a family member, severe illness or sudden disability, employer mandated increase in work hours. These are typical, but not the only, mitigating circumstances that commonly occur. Merely having a job, family, or chronic illness or disability are not automatic grounds for a successful appeal. Mitigating circumstances must include supporting documentation.

Financial Aid Suspension

If you fail to meet the conditions of probation, you will be placed on automatic financial aid suspension. Students on financial aid suspension are no longer eligible to receive financial aid at GCC but can submit an appeal form for consideration. Students are informed about their financial aid suspension in writing and an appeal form will be provided.

Financial Aid SAP Appeal Process

Appeals are evaluated on an individual basis. If a student has extenuating circumstances, they have a right to appeal (in writing) explaining why they didn’t make satisfactory progress and tell us the steps that they will take to ensure progress in the future. Examples of extenuating circumstances include medical, personal, or family problems, change of major, or military service.

Financial Aid SAP Appeal forms are submitted to the Office of Financial Aid at GCC and are reviewed by the Director of Financial Aid and the Financial Aid Coordinator. Please be aware that the review period takes approximately 2 weeks; however, due to the limited time between semesters the student may not receive notification prior to the start of the following semester.

GCC does not have a deadline for students to submit the Financial Aid SAP Appeal but we recommend that you submit the appeal within 30 days of the ensuing semester. The financial aid office cannot guarantee financial aid for appeal forms that are submitted late or after the semester has already begun.

If a student is currently receiving financial aid or their FAFSA application is being reviewed, their application and/or aid will be placed on hold until a decision is made on the appeal. If the student has a tuition bill for the following semester, they must make their own payment arrangements.

If an appeal is denied, the student is disqualified from receiving financial aid at GCC but can continue to take classes at their own expense. The student is notified by letter once their appeal is reviewed.

Reinstatement

You can regain eligibility for financial aid consideration by successfully completing additional credits at your own expense for as many terms as needed for you to rehabilitate your record, providing you are still within maximum allowable credits. The financial aid office will request an official transcript from the Registrar’s Office or the Academic Advising Center to determine if you qualify for re-evaluation. Students who are eligible for reconsideration will be notified in writing.

Maximum Time Frame Warning

Once the student has reached 110% of their program length, they will be sent an alert notifying them that they are approaching the maximum length of time for financial aid eligibility. The student is still eligible to receive financial aid at this point in time, but may be required to enroll in only those classes that fulfill their degree requirements. An academic plan may be sent to the student to discuss with their academic advisor. Students approaching 110% maximum time frame may be place on provisional financial aid status.

Tips to Help You Avoid Financial Aid Warning and Probation

• Have an academic plan in place—following an academic plan will help you know which classes are required to earn a degree or certificate at GCC. Also, get familiar with the College catalog, it has important college policies that every student should know and it lists all your degree or certificate requirements.
• Focus on degree requirements—focus on your academic requirements. Make sure that you’re not only taking electives; completing the academic requirements earns you the degree and helps to ensure successful transfer to a four year college or university.
• Attend class on a regular basis—excessive absences lead to missed assignments and falling behind on coursework.
• Complete the semester—completing all courses of enrollment is important to maintain financial aid eligibility. Multiple withdrawals and incompletes will have a negative impact on your ability to receive financial aid at GCC.
• Talk to a financial aid counselor before you withdraw—we understand that extenuating circumstances happen and sometimes withdrawal cannot be avoided. A financial aid counselor can give you guidance about your financial aid status to help you to maintain financial aid SAP.
• Transfer credits that are accepted by GCC are not included in the rate of completion but are counted toward the maximum timeframe and are counted as degree credits attempted to determine the minimum GPA requirement.

Repeated Course Work

Students who have received a passing grade for a class and wish to repeat that class are not eligible for financial aid to cover the charges for that class unless the course carries a restrictive grade minimum for program acceptance. Under this circumstance the student is allowed to repeat the course one time with financial aid.

Students are eligible to receive financial aid for a course for which they are replacing a grade of “F” or Incomplete (“IN”). Students may repeat, with aid, the previously failed course or courses up to two times in order to obtain a passing grade. Students on financial aid probation may repeat a course they have previously passed one time only if it is necessary for the degree or certificate. Courses with incomplete grades are included as attempted credits.

Credits for repeated courses count only once as credits earned and only once in a student’s GPA; however, these credits are counted as attempted credits when assessing if the student meets the quantitative SAP standard. The most recent grade for any repeated course is used in calculating GPA.

Course Repetitions Due to Withdrawal ("W")

Students who have enrolled in the same credit course but have withdrawn from that course, earning a grade of “W” may receive financial aid to re-enroll or repeat that course. The maximum number of times a student may enroll in the same credit course is two times. If however the student is on Financial Aid Probation, they will be allowed to repeat a previously withdrawn course for one attempt only if it is necessary for the degree or certificate. Repetition restrictions do not count for Military Withdrawals. Withdrawals are included as attempted credits toward degree or program completion.

Developmental Classes

Enrollment in developmental courses is included as attempted credits for financial aid and developmental courses carry the same terms and conditions for financial aid as put forth for repeated course work due to failing grades, Incompletes, or course withdrawal with one significant difference: the student may repeat a developmental course at least two times to procure a better grade or standing. It is imperative that the student is aware that all repeated developmental course work is included as attempted credit toward program or degree completion.

Financial Aid and Withdrawal

Financial aid is pro-rated for the semester, meaning that aid is earned at a certain rate and not completely provided at the very beginning of the semester. A student “earns” financial aid in proportion to the time they are enrolled up to the 60% point. If you stop attending classes, or withdraw from the College, you may not be eligible for all the aid awarded. Students who officially withdraw from the College will have their financial aid calculated to determine the percentage of aid that was earned at the point of withdrawal; any unearned aid will be returned to the appropriate federal aid program. This is known as the Return of Title IV Federal Financial Aid. If earned aid is less than your bill, you will have to pay the balance. After the 60% point in the semester, all financial aid is considered earned. This policy also applies to medical withdrawals.

Pro-Ration Example: A student is enrolled for 10-credit hours during the fall semester. Their original award was a Pell grant for $2,286. They withdrew on 10/02/18, completing 30 out of 109 days in the semester. They earned 27.5% of their Pell Grant adjusting their award to $628.55. The college returned $1,657.35 to the Federal Government and the student now has an outstanding bill. Within 30 days of determining the withdrawal date the College mails a letter to the student notifying them of the calculation and their revised financial aid award.

As part of the Return calculation an evaluation will be done to determine if aid was eligible to be disbursed but had not disbursed as of the withdrawal date. If the student meets the federal criteria for a post withdrawal disbursement, the student will be notified of their eligibility within 30-days of determining the withdrawal date. Any post withdrawal aid the student is eligible for or wishes to accept would first be applied toward outstanding charges before any funds are returned to the student. For a student who withdraws after the 60% point-in-time, there is no unearned aid. However, the school will still complete a Return calculation in order to determine whether the student is eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement.

Financial Aid and Unofficial Withdrawals

Financial aid is awarded under the assumption that the student will attend Greenfield Community College for the entire semester for which financial aid was awarded. Federal regulations require the school to determine whether the student established eligibility for each Title IV eligible class. Students who stop attending or participating in classes, without formally withdrawing from GCC, are considered to be withdrawn unofficially. GCC does not have an attendance policy. However, the College monitors attendance based on mid-term early progress reports and final grades. If you failed to pass any of your classes the College will consider you to have unofficially withdrawn. The College will attempt to determine your last day of attendance by using the dates on early progress and final grade reports. Instructors may also be contacted for further information regarding your participation and attendance. Students enrolled in online classes or matriculated in online certificate or degree credentials must not only log in to the course but they must participate in order to be considered actively enrolled in the course. As with in-person courses, the College will attempt to determine your last day of attendance in online courses by using the dates on early progress reports and final grade reports. Once it is determined that a student has unofficially withdrawn, the College will process the refund calculation at 50%. Any financial aid awarded to you, but not fully earned by you, for the semester must be refunded to the Federal Department of Education. As with the official withdrawal from the College, the student will be responsible for any outstanding charges.

Students must maintain a G.P.A. of 2.0 at all times. Students who walk away from their classes are automatically placed on Unsatisfactory Financial Aid Progress and must complete the Appeal Process, if enrolling in a future semester and applying for financial aid funds.

We understand that sometimes students must withdraw from the College. Whenever you are contemplating withdrawal or feel that you may not be able to complete the semester we strongly encourage you to first contact your academic advisor as well as the financial aid office. You may find that there are other options available to you that you may not have considered. We can discuss support options like peer mentoring or tutoring, community resources, and on-campus support systems.

Entrance and Exit Loan Interviews

Student loan borrowers are required to complete entrance and exit interviews in order to receive a loan. Funds will not be disbursed until these requirements have been fulfilled. Students are notified about how to satisfy these requirements which are usually accomplished online. Entrance counseling is completed when the student borrows from the Direct Loan program for the first time at GCC. Exit Counseling must be completed every year that the student borrows a Direct Education Loan. The College recommends that students borrow only the minimum needed for educational costs to reduce their future loan burden.

Financial Aid for Summer Sessions

There is very little financial aid available for the Summer I session. Aid for the Summer II session will be based upon the requirements for the following financial aid year. Students are encouraged to complete Summer Financial Aid Applications in April, as they register for summer classes. The Financial Aid Office will determine the amount of aid available to students before classes begin. Pell Grant eligibility will be based on whether students have used their entire award for the academic year. Satisfactory academic progress requirements are identical to semester requirements.

Financial Aid from Private Sources

Students who receive financial aid awards from off-campus groups or individuals must provide GCC’s Financial Aid Office with official certification and complete terms of the award.

Student Financial Aid Handbook

All students receiving aid funds should be familiar with our policies. Specifically important are details regarding financial aid withdrawal and satisfactory academic progress in financial aid. A copy of the Student Financial Aid Handbook can be found online at our website.

* ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES *

Students admitted to GCC are normally expected to undertake an organized program of courses leading toward a certificate or an associate degree. Some students take credit or non-credit courses during the day, evenings, or online to enhance occupational skills or enrich their lives without pursuing a degree or certificate. Juniors and seniors in high school may be eligible to take credit courses that will help fulfill high school graduation requirements while earning credit toward a college degree. To do so, high school students need the written approval of their principal.

Academic Advising

All students enrolled in a degree or certificate program will be assigned an advisor. The Academic Advising Center processes initial advisor assignments, typically by the end of the first week of the semester. Students can find their advisor assignment by logging into MyGCC and selecting the “Find Advisor” icon.

There are three types of advisors at GCC—Success Coaches, faculty advisors, and Dual Enrollment Advisors.

Success Coaches are staff members in the Advising Center who help students understand GCC policies and systems, implement strategies that will help them be successful, and connect to campus resources that will contribute to their academic success. All new and returning students in a degree or certificate program will be assigned a Success Coach in their first semester and keep that assignment through graduation.

Faculty advisors are experts in their field. They guide students toward opportunities like internships, career options, and transfer programs. When students are assigned a faculty advisor depends on their specific major but every student will be assigned one before they graduate.

Dual Enrollment Advisors work specifically with students who are taking college classes while still enrolled in a high school or homeschool program. Every dual enrollment student is assigned an advisor.

Success Coach and faculty advisor assignments can be changed. Assignments are reviewed when a student changes their major. Students can initiate a change request by completing a Change of Advisor form in MyGCC.

Academic Honesty

The faculty and staff of Greenfield Community College expect students to uphold academic honesty in all their work. Students must give credit to the creators–whether human or artificial intelligence (AI)–of any information, images, ideas, and expressions that they use in their work.  A failure to do so constitutes intellectual theft (i.e. plagiarism), for which a student may face code of conduct charges as outlined in the Massachusetts Community Colleges Student Code of Conduct. GCC’s library staff offer resources and one-on-one help with citations, both in-person and online.

Academic Standing

GCC focuses considerable attention on ensuring students’ academic success. The academic standing policy is the criteria by which the College evaluates academic progress. The College recognizes that various obstacles may interfere with making satisfactory academic progress, and the academic standing policy also provides a warning system to alert and respond to students who experience academic difficulty. The categories of academic standing follow:

Status	Criteria	Impact	Recommendation/Requirement
Good Standing	Both a cumulative GPA and a term GPA of 2.00 or above.	No action required
Academic Review	Either a cumulative GPA or a term GPA under 2.00 at the end of the term, or both under 2.00 and not previously on Academic Review.	First level of warning of academic difficulty. No action by college; however the eligibility for financial aid and scholarships may be affected. Please refer to the Financial Aid and Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress section in the catalog.	Meet with a Success Coach in the Advising Center to assess status and create a success plan. Possible reduction in credit load, work hours and/or co-curricular activities; referral to campus and community resources as needed.
Academic Probation	Both a cumulative GPA and a term GPA for current term under 2.00 and previously on Academic Review for one term.	Second level of warning of academic difficulty.  The eligibility for financial aid and scholarships is affected.	Must meet with assigned Success Coach regularly. Reduction in academic load, work hours and/or co-curricular activities advised.
Academic Suspension	Both a cumulative GPA and a term GPA under 2.00 and a cumulative GPA lower than the previous term.	Precluded from enrollment for one full fall or spring term. In the case of academic suspension from spring grades, students will not be withdrawn from summer I classes but will be prohibited from summer II. Students attending GCC on an F-1 Visa must contact the International Student Advisor.	Following a full semester break, must appeal to the Director of Advising or designee for reinstatement for readmission.
Academic Probation Continued	Status provided upon return from Academic Suspension.		Specific to each student. Must meet terms outlined during appeal process.
Academic Dismissal	Both a cumulative GPA and a term GPA under 2.00 and a cumulative GPA lower than the previous term, and previously on academic suspension.	Precluded from future enrollment.

GCC recognizes that unusual circumstances may affect any of the academic standing actions described above. Students may request a review of their individual circumstances to determine if they warrant additional action by contacting the Director of Advising. Students receiving federal financial aid should refer to the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress or the Financial Aid Information section of the student handbook. Please be advised that different rules exist when considering status related to the College’s Academic Standing rules and those for Financial Aid’s Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Adding a Course

Students may add a course through the first week of classes. If a student has a registration pin they can add using self-registration. If the student does not have a pin courses can be added by meeting with their assigned advisor or an advisor in the Advising Center. Students may add courses after this time only with the approval of the instructor and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Request for a Late Add can be found in the Submit A Form section of MyGCC.

Assessment

In keeping with GCC’s commitment to excellent educational experiences and high-quality programs for its students, and consistent with practices at other institutions within the state and nationally, GCC routinely engages in the assessment of student learning at the course, program, institution and system levels. The learning outcomes assessment process may include a variety of methods such as standardized tests, student surveys and focus groups, campus developed instruments, and a review of student course and co-curricular work. In circumstances beyond the individual course level, where a student’s course or co-curriculum work is selected for assessment, the identity of the student will be protected. Assessment of student learning is undertaken primarily for the purpose of understanding and improving student learning, curriculum development, instructional improvement, and enhancing student academic success. Assessment activities will have absolutely no effect on a student’s grade, academic standing, ability to transfer, or ability to be graduated. The College will take all necessary steps to ensure the confidentiality of all student records and student work reviewed through this process in accordance with FERPA regulations.

Auditing a Course

Students may audit a course, i.e., participate in the class without earning a grade, credit hours or academic credit. Students must meet the prerequisite requirements for the course before registering. The student is encouraged by the instructor to participate fully in the learning process. Students must state their intention to audit at the time of registration and are required to pay all tuition and fees associated with the class. Financial aid does not cover the cost of audited classes. Changes to or from an audit status are treated as adding a class and must be processed prior to the end of the published add period. Contact the Registrar’s Office for information on changing audit status.

Developmental Courses

Developmental courses, those courses coded below 100 (ENG 090, MAT 003) are for improving basic skills and will not be used to fulfill associate degree or certificate requirements. Grades earned for these courses will not be used in calculating grade point average. The grades for these classes are differentiated by putting a prefix of “D” in front of the earned grade. E.g. A “B” in a developmental class shows on the transcript as “DB”.

Change of Address

To change your legal address with the College, complete a Change of Address/Certificate of Residency form, available online at gcc.mass.edu/registrar/forms. If address is being changed to Massachusetts, the certificate of residency portion of the form must be completed. GCC may require proof of residency.

Change of Name

To change your legal name with the College, complete the “Name Change” form in MyGCC. When submitting the form please present include one of the following: marriage certificate, divorce decree or certified copy of a court order indicating a legal name change has been granted.

Changing Advisors

Students are encouraged to develop and maintain close relationships with their faculty advisors and Success Coaches. While initial advisor assignments are based on program of study and other factors, students may elect to change their assigned advisors. To do so they must submit a Change of Advisor form located in MyGCC. Students have the option to request a specific advisor or simply ask for a new advisor assignment. If a specific advisor is requested, that advisor must approve the request. If no specific advisor is requested, the Academic Advising Center will choose a new advisor based on program of study and advisor availability. If a student changes their major, their advisor will be updated to match their new program of study—no additional request needed. Contact the Academic Advising Center at advising@gcc.mass.edu with advisor assignment questions or concerns. Please note: Dual Enrollment students are not able to switch advisors, and are assigned based upon their high school/homeschool program.

Changing Majors

The Change of Major form is located in the Submit a Form section of MyGCC. Use the form to change a first major or add/change/delete a second major. Once submitted, it is processed within 2-3 business days. Contact the Office of the Registrar at registration@gcc.mass.edu for questions.

Chosen First Name

Greenfield Community College recognizes that some students may prefer to use a first name other than their legal name to identify themselves. As long as the use of a chosen first name is appropriate and not for an improper purpose, GCC acknowledges that a chosen first name can and should be used where possible in the course of college business and education. The full policy is available at gcc.mass.edu/registrar/preferred-name-policy. Students may update their record with a chosen first name either via their MyGCC in the My Account area or by filling out a form available on the policy page.

Class Attendance

Regular class attendance is expected. Absences may jeopardize academic status, and financial aid in addition to lowering grades. Individual instructors and program coordinators have the authority to establish attendance standards appropriate for their courses, and they will inform students in writing of those standards at the beginning of the course.

Completion of a Discontinued Program

Discontinuation of an academic program of study or certificate comes after a great deal of consideration by the College. Within the limits noted below, students will have the opportunity to complete a program or certificate within which they are matriculated. Limits to this completion option:

• When an academic degree program of study is closed, students who have matriculated in that program during the past five years will have the opportunity to complete the program of study within two years after closure of the program. Students who have not been matriculated in the program of study during the five years prior to the closure of the program of study are not eligible for this completion option. Programs will typically close at the end of the spring semester of a given academic year. Note: options that fall under the Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts may be closed without the two year completion deadline as students may instead complete the Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts.
• When an academic degree program of study with special admission processes is closed, or when a certificate program is closed, students already matriculated in the program during the past two years have the opportunity to complete the program of study or certificate within two years after the closure of the program.

Contact the Registrar’s Office at registration@gcc.mass.edu for specific information on completing a closed degree program or certificate.

Correction of Education Records

Students may request that the College amend the content of their education records on the grounds that the records are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other rights of students. Such requests must be directed in writing to the official responsible for maintaining the specific education records. The official will determine whether to amend the education records within a reasonable period of time of the request and notify the student of the decision. If the official denies the request to amend, the student will be advised of the right to a hearing to appeal the decision.

The College, upon request, will provide an opportunity for a hearing for a student to challenge the content of the education record to insure the information is not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other rights of students. If, as a result of a hearing, the College decides to amend the education record, it will do so accordingly and notify the student in writing. If, as a result of the hearing, however, the College determines that the education record should not be amended, it will inform the student, in writing, of his/her right to place in the education record a statement commenting upon the information in the education record and/or setting forth any reasons for disagreeing with the decision of the College.

Course Load Maximum

Students may not carry a course load of more than 18 credits (fall and spring semesters) or 9 credits (summer I and summer II semesters) without approval of the Registrar or the Vice President of Academic Affairs. To be eligible, students must be in good academic standing. Students enrolled in either the Outdoor Leadership or the Practical Nursing program have a larger maximum for the spring semester only.

Dropping a Course

Students may drop a course through the first two-thirds of the class. Courses dropped during the first third of the class will not appear on a student’s transcript. Courses dropped during the second third of the class will appear with a grade of “W” on the transcript. Consult the Academic Calendar for specific dates.

Official drops will not be processed during the last third of the class. Students who stop attending class will receive a grade as assigned by the instructor. Drops/withdrawals cannot be processed for a class that has already ended. To drop a course, students should consult their advisor and Financial Aid (if applicable), then complete the “Drop a Class” form found in the “Submit a Form” section of MyGCC. Otherwise, the change will not become official. Simply telling the instructor is not enough. If the change does not become official, students may jeopardize their eligibility for tuition refunds, financial aid and continued enrollment. Students with extraordinary circumstances requiring dropping a course during the final third of a semester should discuss the possibility of making an exception with the Registrar’s Office by emailing registration@gcc.mass.edu.

Dual Enrollment Student Academic Recognition

Dual enrollment students who meet the following qualifications are recognized each semester. We honor the exceptional performance of these students who are enrolled at GCC while still in secondary school. To be included on the Dual Enrollment Student Academic Recognition list, students must have:

• achieved a term GPA of 3.50 or higher;
• earned at least 12 credits at GCC;
• earned at least 6 college-level graded credits for a semester or during summer terms I and II combined;
• no incomplete grades at the end of the term;
• no grade less than a “C” in the term; and
• achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 at the end of the term.

Exceptions to Academic Graduation Policy

Students with unusual or extenuating circumstances that justify an exception to an academic graduation requirement may request an exemption using an Academic Requirements Exemption form. The form must be submitted to the Graduation Review Board by a student’s advisor by the deadline set each term. Advisors or the Office of Enrollment Services can provide additional information.

Fresh Start Option

Greenfield Community College has a “fresh start” option for students. Once in a lifetime, if a student returns to GCC after an absence of at least one full year, and has not already been awarded a degree or certificate, they can elect one of two “fresh start” options. Once a “fresh start” option is approved, courses earned before the semester when “fresh start” starts, may be eligible to count towards graduation requirements but the grades will not be used to calculate a student’s grade point average (GPA). Classes taken before the “fresh start” will only be eligible to be used for graduation if they meet the normal criteria for a particular program (e.g. passing grade, grade higher than a C for certain courses in Nursing).

The transcript will include a statement noting this “fresh start” option. All coursework including grades will show on the student’s transcript. Grades for courses before the “fresh start” semester will be denoted with an “*” in front of the original grade (e.g. a grade of “D” will be changed to “*D” to distinguish them.

Students will choose one of two fresh start options:

• If the student has been away from Greenfield Community College for at least two full years, the student may elect “fresh start” with no conditions
• If the student has been away for at least one full year but less than two full years, a student may elect “fresh start” after completing at least 12 graded non-developmental credits with a cumulative GPA for the new work of 2.0 or greater.

To elect either “fresh start” option the student must fill out the Fresh Start Option Petition for Consideration form. Forms are available in MyGCC under the Submit a Form section. The form will be reviewed and the student notified via email of the petition decision. If approved, the student’s record will be updated (e.g. grades and GPA).

Grade Point Average

At the end of each semester or after any grade change, semester and cumulative grade point averages are calculated. These averages provide a general indication of academic performance, the first based on one semester and the latter on all of the courses taken by a student.

To calculate a grade point average (GPA), all letter grades are converted to numbers, called grade points, as follows:

A	=	4.00	B	=	3.00	C	=	2.00	F	=	0.00
A-	=	3.65	B-	=	2.65	C-	=	1.65	O	=	0.00
B+	=	3.35	C+	=	2.35	D	=	1	FA	=	0.00

Once the letter grades have been converted to grade points, grade points are multiplied by the number of credits for each course, resulting in what are called quality points. All of the quality points are totaled and the sum is divided by the total number of credits, resulting in the grade point average. In calculating a grade point average, only the grades listed above with their corresponding grade points are considered. No other grades affect the grade point average in any way.

Grading

Course grades are reported in letter symbols which include credit/no credit (CR/NC) and pass/fail (PA/FA). Grade reports are posted on MyGCC at the end of each semester. In the middle of each semester, early progress reports of academic deficiency are also posted on MyGCC for each course in which a student is earning grades of “D,” “F,” or “O.” In GCC’s grading system, plus (+) and minus (-) symbols may be used only for grades of “B” and “C,” while a minus symbol may be used for the grade of “A.”

Grades for developmental classes have a “D” as a prefix to the grade (e.g. “DA,” “DB+”) to denote that the grade is for a developmental class. These grades are not included in the GPA and the classes are not used towards graduation requirements.

Listed below are GCC’s grading symbols.

A—Excellent

B—Good

C—Satisfactory

D—Poor

F—Failing

 

IN	Incomplete: indicates work of acceptable quality where the student has failed to complete course requirements and the instructor wishes to allow time for the completion of the work. The “IN” must be removed within four weeks of the beginning of the next semester or it is replaced by an “F,” “FA” (for courses graded PA/FA or “NC” (for courses graded CR/NC). If an incomplete grade for a pre-requisite course is not completed by the next term, the student will be withdrawn from the course roster.
W	Withdrawn: indicates an official withdrawal from a course or the College. Withdrawal from the College requires submission of a completed withdrawal form available in MyGCC in the Submit a form section.
AW	Administratively Withdrawn: indicates administrative withdrawal for failure to fulfill financial, medical (immunization records), or property obligations to the College. Once administratively withdrawn, a student may not be reinstated during that semester.
AU	An audit carries no credit and has no grade point equivalent. AU grades cannot be used to satisfy graduation requirements.
CR*	Credit – only used for courses that have a credit/no credit grading mode, not for letter graded courses
NC*	No Credit – only used for courses that have a credit/no credit grading mode, not for letter graded courses
PA**	Pass
FA**	Fail
O	Insufficient Basis for Evaluation: Indicates a student has discontinued attendance without formally withdrawing from the class or the College prior to the final withdrawal date. The “O” grade will be treated as an “F” in the calculation of the grade point average. The “O” grade is considered an indication of unsatisfactory academic progress for financial aid purposes.

* In courses designated CR/NC, student must perform work of “C” quality or better to earn credit (CR). Such courses often are not transferable to other institutions.

** Note: Full-time students may elect to take one course each semester on a PA/FA basis, in addition to courses normally graded PA/FA, provided that at least nine credits of coursework are taken on a graded (A, B, C, D, F) basis that semester. Students must perform work of “C” quality or better to earn credit (PA). This option must be selected at the time of registration. Courses taken on a PA/FA basis often are not transferable to other institutions, with the exception of some ART studio courses with 200-level ART prerequisites, that are graded PA/FA. A grade of FA will count negatively into student GPA calculations.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible to graduate, students must be matriculated into the appropriate degree or certificate program. Only matriculated students are eligible for graduation. To be considered for graduation, students must complete and submit a graduation application. Applications can be found in MyGCC under the “Submit a Form” section and must be received by the appropriate deadline. Deadlines are published in the academic calendar. GCC awards degrees three times a year, following the summer, fall and spring semesters. The Commencement ceremony is held once per year for all students graduating from the previous summer and fall semesters as well as the current spring semester. The ceremony is generally held at the end of May. Students do not have to participate in Commencement to graduate but must submit a graduation application. Additional information is available at gcc.mass.edu/registrar.

In order to earn an associate’s degree or a certificate, students must be matriculated in the degree or certificate program, complete the course requirements of the curriculum, achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 for all courses taken at GCC (excluding developmental courses) and be in good standing with the College. All associate degree programs require at least 60 credits of coursework. Students must complete at least 25% of credits of coursework used to fulfill the requirements of the associate’s degree at GCC to receive a degree. To earn a certificate at GCC, students must complete at least 50% of the credit hours required for a certificate program at GCC—including at least three courses and nine credits used to fulfill certificate requirements at GCC.

Students should work with their advisor to determine when they will the requirements for their degree or certificate

To earn more than one associate’s degree student must:

• meet all specific requirements of each degree program;
• each degree program  must include at least 15 credits of course work that meets program requirements that is not used in any other degree; and
• of those 15 additional credits, at least 12 must be completed at GCC.

Note: a student may not earn more than one Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts degree.

Normally, students must fulfill the degree or certificate requirements that were stipulated in the catalog at the time the student matriculated into the College. However, if the degree or certificate requirements change after initial enrollment at GCC, students may elect to fulfill the requirements that were in effect in the catalog of the year when they matriculated or in any subsequent catalog year as long as the catalog requirements are not more than five years old.

If external certification and/or licensure requirements change, the College strongly recommends that students complete the new requirements to ensure that the student graduates with current skills and abilities.

Graduation with Honors

To graduate “with honors” students must earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 based on at least 30 credits of letter-graded course work completed at GCC in a degree program. Honors does not apply to certificates.

Petition to Review Academic Record

Currently enrolled students may petition the Transcript Review Committee to review their academic record for the purpose of seeking relief from past poor academic performance. Before submitting a petition, students must have either completed 12 credits of course work since the semester for which they are seeking relief, or have completed six (6) credits and include two letters of support from current instructors. Petition forms are available by emailing the Office of the Registrar at registration@gcc.mass.edu.

Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society

Students with a 3.5 GPA or better that adhere to the school conduct code and possess recognized qualities of citizenship will be invited to join the Alpha Sigma Omicron chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. Each candidate for membership in Phi Theta Kappa must have completed 12 semester hours of associate degree or certificate work, with a GPA of 3.5 or better. A GPA of 3.25 or better must be maintained to continue membership. Upon graduation, PTK membership will show on a student’s transcript.

Placement Assessment

The college uses multiple measures to determine which English and Math courses a student should take. Many students take the Accuplacer placement tests, but there are other ways to determine placement. By submitting official documentation to the Office of Admission from the lists below, students may be able to enroll directly into English and Math courses without completing placement tests. Students should discuss options with an advisor before registering for classes. View detailed information on multiple measures of placement at  gcc.mass.edu/testing/.

Ways to determine English placement:

• High School Transcript (showing overall GPA and grades in all classes within the last 10 years)
• GED ELA (English and Language Arts) Score
• HiSET (Reading and Writing Score)
• AP English Scores
• CLEP
• SAT Verbal Scores (pre-2016 test scores)
• College Transcripts (showing successful completion of English courses or other college-level courses)
• PLA (credit for prior learning)
• Accuplacer (Classic or Next Generation) Scores from GCC or another approved institution

Ways to determine math placement:

• High School Transcript (showing GPA and grades in all classes within the last 3 years)
• GED Mathematics Reasoning Score
• AP Math Scores
• CLEP
• College Transcripts (showing completion of Math Courses)
• PLA (credit for prior learning)
• Accuplacer (Classic or Next Generation) Scores from GCC or another approved institution

If students take the Accuplacer test, math placement test scores are used to place students into their first math course at GCC. Math placement scores may not be used to get into subsequent math courses, e.g. students may not “skip” a math course by retaking the placement test after completing a math course at GCC.

Students who believe their assessment scores do not reflect their level of skill should contact the Testing Center at (413) 775-1821 to discuss their options and to arrange for a retest.

Pregnancy and Childbirth Absences

In accordance with Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, absences due to pregnancy or related conditions, including recovery from childbirth, shall be excused for as long as the student’s doctor deems the absences to be medically necessary. When the student returns to the College she shall be reinstated to the status she held when the leave began, which includes the opportunity to make up any missed work. The College may offer the student alternatives to making up missed work, such as retaking a semester, taking part in online instruction or allowing the student additional time in a program to continue at the same pace and finish at a later date.

President's List and Dean's List

The President’s List and Dean’s List are two ways that Greenfield Community College recognizes superlative student academic performance each semester. We applaud the success of students who earn these high grades and appreciate sacrifices that are often made by students in order to earn these grades.
To be included on the President’s List students must be matriculated in a program and have:

• achieved a term GPA of 4.0;
• earned at least 12 credits at GCC;
• earned at least 6 college-level graded credits for a semester or during summer terms I and II combined;
• no incomplete grades at the end of the term;
• no grade less than a “C” in the term; and
• achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 at the end of the term.

To be included on the Dean’s List students must be matriculated in a program and have:

• achieved a term GPA of 3.50 or higher but less than 4.0;
• earned at least 12 credits at GCC;
• earned at least 6 college-level graded credits for a semester or during summer terms I and II combined;
• no incomplete grades at the end of the term;
• no grade less than a “C” in the term; and
• achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 at the end of the term.

Religious Absences

Religious beliefs may occasionally cause students to miss class or other college activities. Under Massachusetts state law, students are excused from class on a particular day when it conflicts with their religious beliefs. Instructors must provide students with the opportunity to make up a missed examination or class work, provided that such makeup examinations or work do not create an unreasonable burden on the College. Students should work directly with their course instructors to make arrangements when needed.

Repeating a Course

Students may repeat any course, but may not earn credit twice for the same course unless the course has been explicitly set up to be repeatable. When a course is repeated, the latest grade replaces the previous grade in the calculation of grade point average and in determining graduation requirements even if the newer grade is lower than a previous grade. Both grades will show on the transcript. Students will not receive financial aid for any repeated course unless they are replacing a grade of F. Some exceptions and choices apply when repeating English Composition I or II. Students should discuss options with their advisor or instructor. No student, regardless of financial aid status, may re-take a course more than twice without express written permission from the Chief Academic Officer of the College.

Transcripts

Students may request transcripts of their GCC academic record for themselves, other colleges, or employers by using the transcript request process found at gcc.mass.edu/registrar/transcripts. Transcripts are handled by our transcript provider, Parchment. Payment is via credit card as part of the request process. Both e-transcripts and paper transcripts can be requested. Providing complete information in the request will aid in the processing of the request. If there are any issues with the request, you will be notified. Unofficial transcripts are obtained by logging into your MyGCC as they are not supplied by the College or by Parchment.

Withdrawal from the College

Students may withdraw from the College any time during the first two-thirds of the term provided they are not enrolled in a class that has already ended. No record will appear on the transcript for withdrawals during the first third of the term. Students withdrawing during the second third of the semester will receive grades of “W” for all courses in which they were enrolled. Official withdrawals are not processed during the last third of the semester, and students who stop attending class will receive the grade assigned by the instructor. Students cannot withdraw from a class that ended prior to the submission of a withdrawal request.

Students considering withdrawing from GCC should consult with their academic advisor and instructors first. To withdraw officially, students must meet with their Academic Advisor or an academic advisor in the Academic Advising Center and submit a complete withdrawal form. Official withdrawals are done via the Withdraw from Class form available in the Submit a Form section of MyGCC. As with dropping a course, simply stopping attending class or telling instructors of plans to withdraw do not lead to official withdrawal and may jeopardize eligibility for tuition refunds, financial aid, and future enrollment at GCC.

If extraordinary circumstances force a student to consider withdrawal during the last third of the semester, they may discuss the possibility of making an exception to the policy with the Registrar.

Administrative Withdrawal – Administrative withdrawal is the result of an action taken by the College when a student fails to fulfill financial, medical (immunization records) or property obligations to the College during the semester. Students who have been administratively withdrawn may not be reinstated until the next semester.

Late Withdrawal – Students needing to withdraw from the College for non-medical reasons may request a late withdrawal by submitting the Request for Withdrawal form available in the Submit a Form section of MyGCC. In the form select “Yes” to the “Is this a Late Withdrawal?” question and provide the requested additional information. The completed form must be submitted within 60 days of the end of the term. The request will be reviewed and the student will be notified of the decision via mail. The documentation, along with the original request, will become part of the student’s record. Late withdrawals follow the same refund policy as any other withdrawal.

Medical Withdrawal – Students needing to withdraw from the College for health reasons may request a medical withdrawal by submitting the appropriate medical withdrawal forms to the Dean of Students. The medical withdrawal form is available in the Submit a Form section of MyGCC. A note from a doctor, therapist, psychologist, etc. on letterhead stationery or a completed provider information form must accompany medical withdrawal requests. Submit the completed documentation to the Dean of Students within 60 days of the incident or start of the medical condition. The request will be reviewed and the student will be notified of the decision via mail. The documentation, along with the original request, will become part of the student’s record. Medical withdrawals follow the same refund policy as any other withdrawal. Please call the Dean of Students for further guidance on medical withdrawals, at (413) 775-1868.

** STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES **

Affirmative Action

Greenfield Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy or related conditions, gender identity, sex characteristics, sex stereotypes or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and college policies. The College prohibits Sex-Based Harassment. Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, or retaliation shall be referred to the College’s Affirmative Action Officer and/or Title IX Coordinator, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

A copy of the policy on affirmative action may be obtained in the offices of Human Resources (S424), the Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Success (S322B) and Dean of Students (C217). All inquiries concerning affirmative action issues should be directed to the College’s acting affirmative action officer and Title IX Coordinator/Executive Director of Human Resources at (413) 775-1312.

Diversity at GCC: Creating a Culture of Diversity and Inclusion

Greenfield Community College is committed to a policy of affirmative action, equal opportunity, equal education, non-discrimination and diversity. We are committed to providing a learning and working environment for our students, employees and other members of the College Community, which values the diverse backgrounds of all people. The College is committed to assuring that the “College Experience” is one that challenges, empowers, supports, and prepares its students to live in, work in, and value our increasingly global and diverse world. The College believes that the diversity of socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, religious, gender, sexual orientation, age and disability backgrounds of College Community members enriches the institution and our various constituencies. The College will not tolerate behavior based on bigotry, which has the effect of discriminating unlawfully against any member of our community.

Community colleges have historically been a major contributing element to the emergence of our nation as one of the most technologically and economically advanced societies of the world. The important role that community colleges can play is profoundly dependent upon the extent to which they may draw from the full collective of intellectual resources within each college’s community of scholars, students and administrators. Any condition or force that impedes the fullest utilization of the human and intellectual resources available represents a force of destructive consequence for the development of our Commonwealth and, ultimately, our nation.

Community college students, faculty, staff and visitors must be free from conduct that has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s academic or professional performance and creating an intimidating, hostile or demeaning educational or employment environment. Therefore, Massachusetts community colleges have established a policy of unequivocal condemnation of all forms of ethnic, religious, cultural or racial intolerance within the fifteen college communities.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974

You have certain rights to privacy about the information that we maintain about you. For more information, including a full text of the regulations regarding your records and your right to privacy, please inquire at the Registrar’s Office. GCC’s directory information consists of the following:

• Student’s Name
• Student’s Major
• Dates of Attendance
• Graduation Date(s)
• Honors Conferred
• State/Town

Under FERPA law, GCC students have the right to be notified annually by the College of what the College designates as “directory information” and the right to request that their information not be designated as directory information. The Solomon Amendment is a federal law that provides an exception to FERPA. Information can be found at gcc.mass.edu/registrar.

A student must notify the Registrar’s Office, in writing, if they do not wish to have their student information designated as directory information by completing the appropriate Non-Disclosure form with the Registrar’s Office.

Note that the FERPA waiver available through Student Financial Services does not provide access to a student’s academic information. A separate release form, Student Academic Information Release Authorization, is available through the Office of the Registrar. With this form a student may grant access to academic records to specified individuals.

Grievance Procedure

GCC adheres to the system-wide Massachusetts Community Colleges Student Grievance Procedure for dispute resolution. Students are responsible for understanding and adhering to this policy.

Harassment

GCC considers harassment of a student, an employee, or any other person in the College community to be intolerable and prohibited. Those who believe they have been harassed should consult with the Director of Human Resources at (413) 775-1312 to obtain information concerning their rights and the process for filing a complaint and/or pursuing informal means of resolving grievances.

Hazing Act of 1985

Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 269, Section 19, requires the College to inform its students annually of the provisions of this Act. Copies of the act are available from the Office of Enrollment Services.

Individuals with Disabilities

We recognize that each student is unique and some students encounter barriers to full participation in our programs and services. If you feel that you will require accommodations due to a disability, please inform us of your needs and establish your eligibility by completing these three steps.

1. Complete and sign the Voluntary Statement of Learning Needs form. The information you share on this form helps us assess what accommodations may be appropriate for your disability or situation and ensures information you want to discuss is not forgotten during our initial meeting.
2. Submit your most recent documentation about your disabilities. For information about documentation, please refer to our Guidelines for Documenting a Disability. All documentation received by the Office of Disability Services is confidential and is protected under the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
3. Call (413) 775-1332 to schedule an appointment with the Coordinator of Disability Services who will work with you to develop an Accommodation Agreement (ADA/504 Plan) that you can present to instructors to advise them of your needs.

Some accommodations may take substantial time to obtain. We advise students to establish eligibility with Disability Services well before the semester begins. If you have any questions, please contact the Coordinator of Disability Services.

You do not need to register with Disability Services to access general college support services, such as peer tutoring, the writing and math assistance programs, the math studio, the social science studio, student workshops, and counseling. Students who feel that they may require some additional academic support and skill-building are encouraged to take advantage of these services.

Jeanne Cleary Disclosure Act

Students admitted to GCC are normally expected to undertake an organized program of courses leading toward a certificate or an associate degree. Some students take credit or non-credit courses during the day, evenings, or online to enhance occupational skills or enrich their lives without pursuing a degree or certificate. Juniors and seniors in high school may be eligible to take credit courses that will help fulfill high school graduation requirements while earning credit toward a college degree. To do so, high school students need the written approval of their principal.

Notification of Access to Sex Offender Info

In accordance with federal law, the College is required to advise the campus community where information concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained. Information concerning Level 2 and Level 3 offenders is available to the general public by contacting your local police department or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Sex Offender Registry Board. Level 2 and 3 sex offender information is maintained in a binder located in the College’s Public Safety Office, available for public inspection; copies of Level 2 and 3 notices may be provided upon appropriate written request using the Sex Offender Registry Board’s form available from Public Safety. If you have any questions regarding access to sex offender information, please feel free to contact Public Safety at (413) 775-1212.

Records of Requests & Disclosures

The College maintains a record of individuals, agencies, and organizations that have requested or obtained access to education records who are not covered under the exceptions to the consent requirement. This record of access and requests for access is maintained with the education records of the student and indicates the specific legitimate interest that such an individual, agency, or organization has in obtaining this information. Students may inspect the record of requests and disclosures by written request.

Right to Inspect & Review Educational Records

Greenfield Community College permits students to inspect and review their education records. Requests may be made in person and in writing provided that satisfactory identification accompanies such requests. Request forms are available at the offices where the education records are located.

The College will fulfill such requests within a reasonable period of time, usually two (2) work days, but no more than 45 days after the request has been made. The official responsible for the records or his/her designee will be present during the inspection and review to provide explanations and interpretations of the records.

The following list identifies the types and locations of the education records which students may request to review and inspect:

Type	Office	Responsible Official
Academic	Academic Affairs	Registrar
Financial	Business	Chief Financial Officer
Financial Aid	Financial Aid	Financial Aid Director
Health	Health Records	Health Records
Veterans	Veterans Affairs	Certifying Official

Service Animals

Greenfield Community College generally permits service animals assisting individuals with disabilities in all facilities maintained by the College. Therefore, an individual with a disability shall be permitted to be accompanied by his/her service animal in all areas of the College’s facilities where members of the public are permitted. The College reserves the right to impose restrictions on the use of service animals on its property in order to maintain safety or to avoid disruption of College operations. View/download our Service Animal Policy.

Sexual Assault Policy

Sexual assault, as defined in the Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reporting System, includes forcible and non-forcible offenses for which an individual may be prosecuted under the law and/or disciplined in accordance with campus disciplinary procedures.

When an allegation of sexual assault is made, the College will advise the alleged victim of their option to pursue criminal prosecution under the Massachusetts criminal statutes. In addition, appropriate campus disciplinary action may be pursued. Sanctions for sexual assault violations may include, in addition to criminal charges, suspension, dismissal, or expulsion from the College.

If a person receives a report of or discovers a possible sexual assault on campus he/she should notify the Director of Public Safety immediately; or, if in the evening, the Campus Police Officer on duty or security personnel at the Public Safety Office, or a faculty or staff member. It is extremely important that these procedures be followed to ensure that appropriate and administrative services be provided. Once an assault is reported, the person to whom the report is made becomes responsible for implementing established procedure.

Standards of Behavior/Student Code of Conduct

GCC adheres to the system-wide Massachusetts Community Colleges Student Code of Conduct. Students are responsible for understanding and adhering to this policy.

As an institution of higher learning, Greenfield Community College actively encourages the free and open exchange of ideas and opinions. The college encourages diversity in the belief that, in doing so, it promotes growth and positive change in individuals. The college recognizes, however, that maintaining an atmosphere where such discourse can flourish requires that faculty, staff and students acknowledge and remain sensitive to the needs, beliefs and feelings of others. It therefore expects all individuals to maintain certain standards of behavior as members of its community.

These expectations include the exercise of discretion in the use of language, both in the choice of terms used and in the tone in which discourse is delivered and individuals are addressed. Insulting or demeaning language or gestures, perhaps generally accepted or even common in other social settings, are not suitable in an academic environment. A courteous regard for the differing backgrounds and perspectives held by others is encouraged.

The above expectations hold for behavior throughout the institution and for all of its members. With regard to behavior in the classroom, yet another set of expectations exists. Classrooms are unique environments, places expressly reserved for the exchange of information and ideas. They constitute sanctuaries of learning, gatherings in which students and an instructor or instructors come together for a particular purpose: to grow and develop through personal interaction and directed activity. Because classrooms are unique in this way, they hold particular expectations of their members. Generally speaking, these are extensions of the rules of civility and courtesy that prevail in the institution at large, though the classroom instructor might add to or modify these rules to promote particular goals. Deviation from the expectations or rules set forth in a classroom is not acceptable.

It should be noted that behavior influenced by an individual’s mental state (irrespective of the ultimate evaluation), or use of drugs or alcoholic beverages shall not limit the responsibility of the individual for the consequences of his or her actions.

Finally, Greenfield Community College, while intent on maintaining an environment that promotes learning within a secure and collegial atmosphere, is resolutely committed to defending every individual’s right to personal expression.

Student Right-to-Know Act

GCC is required to report graduation rate data to the U.S. Department of Education annually. From among first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students who enrolled at GCC in fall 2020, 22% graduated and an additional 25% transferred to another institution within three years.

Telephone Access for the Hearing Impaired

Those for whom traditional telephone does not meet their communication needs or preferences may contact the College via Mass Relay (dial 711) or email. A complete listing of departmental email addresses and phone numbers can be found at gcc.mass.edu/directories. In addition, a videophone is located on the fourth floor of the Core outside of the Wellness Center (C423) for deaf students to use should they need a videophone or to access relay services.

** STUDENT SERVICES & ACADEMIC SUPPORT **

In addition to academic programs, the College offers a wide range of services and activities to enhance students’ college experience. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these services and to become an active member of the College community.

Academic Advising Center

Success Coaches in the Academic Advising Center assist new matriculated students with academic planning and their initial course registration. After their initial registration, students are assigned a Success Coach to work with throughout the academic year. Success coaching emphasizes relationship-building, proactive outreach, consistent follow-up, and the use of existing resources.

All non-matriculated or guest students (meaning students who are not enrolled in a degree or certificate program but are taking GCC classes) are advised by the Advising Center. Our staff will help guest students determine prerequisites, navigate their GCC accounts, and add/drop/withdraw if needed. Guest students should visit the Academic Advising Center in person or during virtual drop-ins for support.

Academic Technology Support & Labs

GCC students are issued their own GCC student account and email address which grants them access to numerous technology resources including the essential systems listed below. These applications can be accessed under the green Login button in the upper right corner of the GCC home page.

• GCC Google email: All students receive a GCC Google email address upon registration, and the address and initial password is sent to their personal email address. Students are required to check their GCC email regularly to receive official information from the College. Those experiencing difficulty accessing their GCC email account should visit gcc.mass.edu/helpdesk and submit a Help Desk ticket or call (413) 775-1350 during regular business hours. To login to GCC Google email, use your entire GCC email address (including the @gcc.mass.edu) as your username.
• Moodle: Moodle is GCC’s official course management system where both online and in-person classes maintain sites with resources for students such as syllabi, readings, forums, etc. Your GCC account login allows you access to Moodle as well as email. For assistance with Moodle, visit gcc.mass.edu/helpdesk and submit a Help Desk ticket or call (413) 775-1350 during regular business hours. To login to Moodle, use your account name only (without the @gcc.mass.edu) as your username.
• MyGCC: Use MyGCC to keep track of your academic progress, set up your security questions and add an approved cell phone to use for forgotten password resets. Setting up your security questions and cell phone will allow you to use self-service to access your account if you ever lose or forget your password. If this happens, go to the MyGCC login page and click on the link on the right which says “Need Help? Reset Password” and follow the prompts to regain access to your account. You can also sign up for emergency security alerts using the link under My Announcements: Verify and update your ALERT GCC Update Information. For assistance with MyGCC, visit gcc.mass.edu/helpdesk and submit a Help Desk ticket or call (413) 775-1350 during regular business hours. To login to MyGCC, use your account name only (without the @gcc.mass.edu) as your username.

The GCC Information Technology department maintains a number of student computing lab spaces around campus which are open to all currently enrolled GCC students, regardless of major or credit load. General use computers and printers are available in the Nahman Watson library on the 3rd floor Core and in the East building in E141 and E144. There is also computer lab space generally available in E150 and E159, though those spaces also have occasional classes. Computers are also available in the student lounge spaces on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the main building. Support for using computer labs can be found by calling (413) 775-1350 or going to the GCC IT Help Desk site and filling out a Help Desk ticket.

Alumni Association

The Greenfield Community College Alumni Association is an independent organization that cultivates lifelong relationships with current and future alumni. As a committed partner and supporter of the College, the Association strives to foster connections among graduates, former students, current students, friends, and the community.

The Alumni Association has created an endowed scholarship fund that awards two scholarships each year to current GCC students, with alumni serving on the selection committee. Also, the Alumni Association helps connect GCC alums working in a variety of fields with current GCC students to provide information on career options. The Alumni Association hosts several events throughout the year that provide opportunities for alumni engagement. For scheduling information and to learn more, visit gcc.mass.edu/alumni or contact the Alumni Association Office at (413) 775-1600 or GCCAlumni@gcc.mass.edu.

Career Readiness

All students are encouraged to take full advantage of Career Readiness services early and often, in order to increase alignment between their education, interests, values, strengths, needs and work-life aspirations. Career Readiness appointments and stand-alone workshops/webinars equip students with essential tools and knowledge in career goal-setting and planning; career exploration and decision-making; job/internship application preparation; job search processes and strategies; professional networking; and employability/”soft” skills. For students who would benefit from more regular and structured support, the one-credit Human Development 135 course guides students through the career exploration process and helps them create an action plan for further clarifying and achieving their education-to-career goals.

College Store (A Follett Business)

Up-to-date information in addition to textbooks and other merchandise is available at the College Store website, greenfieldshop.com.

To find textbook information, from the homepage click on “BOOKS” in the green bar. From the new page that opens select your term, course department, course number and section. Then click “Submit.” If the instructor has given the bookstore information, a list of books and possibly supplies appears. You can choose between new, used, rental and ebooks, if available. Not all options are available for every book. Ordering from our website increases your chance of getting used books as stock can come from any Follett store in the US, our warehouse, or other vendor partners. Order early as it can take a week to deliver, if the book is coming from the west coast. Have the books shipped directly to your home and avoid the crowds on the first days of classes. You should be able to access text information on your GCC page when you select courses during registration. This depends on instructors giving the bookstore the information on time. You can also find text information and purchase your books in Moodle. Click the blue and orange flame symbol and enter Follett Discover.

Fall & Spring semester hours are Monday-Thursday 9am until 4pm and Friday 9am until 2pm. Summer session hours are Monday-Thursday 9am until 4pm and Fridays 9am until NOON. Evening, exceptions and special occasion hours will be posted.

The College Store stocks required and optional textbooks, study guides, software, school, office, and medical supplies. Also available are snacks and GCC clothing and gifts. GCC gift certificates are available for sale in any denomination.

MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express, cash and personal checks for the amount of the purchase are accepted. Checks must belong to the person using them, ID required, no third party/parent checks. Any checks returned due to insufficient funds will incur a $20- $25 charge from the collection agency, FEDchex. Purchases on financial aid or other third party accounts require a valid photo ID.

Standard Return Policy: RECEIPT REQUIRED

A valid receipt and/or packing slip are required for all refunds or exchanges. All items (except course materials and hardware/software) unopened and in original condition returned within 30 days of purchase may be exchanged or refunded to the original form of tender.

Course Materials/Textbooks

• A full refund will be given for textbooks (excluding Final Sale items) returned prior to the campus specific refund deadline. Generally, Fall & Spring textbooks are returnable for one week from the first day of classes, two weeks after the first day of classes with proof of add drop. Specific dates are posted for each term. Materials purchased after the campus specific deadline (but before the final week of class) must be returned within 2 business days of purchase. Materials purchased during the last week of classes or final exams are not returnable/refundable. Books must be returned in the same condition as purchased, if applicable, still in shrink wrap
• Final Sale items include the following: Inkling Digital Textbooks, Study Guides, Test Prep Books, Bar Charts, Cliff Notes, Professional Reference Study Aids or clearance items. All these items are not returnable/refundable.

Hardware & Software

• No returns. No refunds. Please contact manufacturer for support. Keep your receipt. We buy back books every day, but you get the most money when we have a need for the book in the store. The best time to sell your books is immediately after your last class or final exam.

Dining Facilities

The GCC Cafeteria and Dining Commons is located on the first floor of the main building. Equipped with wireless internet, the Dining Commons is the perfect places to socialize, relax, study or just enjoy the view of the Pioneer Valley. The cafeteria features a grill, deli, hot meals, grab and go, pizza, salad bar, beverages, coffee and foods from different cultures as well as eating styles. As a partner with the Mass Farm to School Program and CISA the College is able to bring the freshest local food to our students and community. The area is open from 8am to 2pm Monday-Friday during the fall and spring semesters and from 8am to 1:30pm Monday-Thursday and 8am to noon on Fridays during intersession and summer session. Up-to-date menu and catering information is available at gcc.mass.edu/dining. Vending machines are located throughout both the main and east campuses.

Dual Enrollment Advising

High school-age students are considered “dual-enrolled students” and are assigned a Dual Enrollment Advisor to assist them with the high school-to-college transition, academic planning, course registration and college and career readiness resources and referrals. Dual enrollment students will work with the same advisor throughout their dual enrollment experience at GCC. Upon high school graduation, students planning to attend GCC to complete a degree-seeking program will transition to working with a Success Coach in the Academic Advising Center.

Fitness Center

The Fitness Center, located in E106, offers a variety of cardiovascular and weight-training equipment in a fun, friendly, and inviting atmosphere. It is open to all GCC students, staff, and faculty at no charge. Fitness assessment, program design, and incentive programs are available to all members. For more information contact the Fitness Center Coordinator at (413) 775-1143.

Foreign Languages

Some colleges or universities may require proficiency in a foreign language to earn the Bachelor’s degree. Please check with the GCC Transfer Office to determine which schools and degree programs have this requirement. Students may find it advantageous to complete a foreign language requirement at GCC, so they can concentrate on the requirements of their major when they transfer. For further information about foreign language requirements, contact the Transfer Coordinator.

Housing & Transportation

GCC does not have dormitory facilities. Ample, well-lit parking is available free of charge. The Greenfield/Montague Transportation Authority and the Franklin Regional Transit Authority provide regular bus service to campus from the greater Greenfield area. For more information go to the FRTA’s website at frta.org.

Library

Find us:

• Third floor core
• 413.775.1831
• library@gcc.mass.edu
• gcc.mass.edu/library
• Online chat: https://www.gcc.mass.edu/library/ask

The Nahman-Watson Library provides study space, research help, materials, and technology to support academic work. The library is open to the entire GCC community, and to the public. We have both quiet and conversation-friendly study spaces, and food and drinks are allowed. 

Technology:

The library has desktop computers, scanners, and printers available to all patrons. Additionally, we offer laptop computers, Wi-Fi hotspots, and other technology for GCC students to take home for the semester. Visit https://www.gcc.mass.edu/library/technology/ for more details.

Research Help:

Librarians provide one-on-one research help in person, by phone, by Zoom, or by email. No appointment is necessary during normal operating hours. Get in touch with a librarian for more details. 

In addition to one-on-one help, librarians sometimes make guest appearances in your classes. We work with your instructors to help you develop the research skills and navigate the research tools that you’ll need to be successful at GCC. 

Books, Magazines, Videos, & Online Resources: 

The library maintains a physical collection of books, DVDs, magazines, and other resources tailored to GCC’s academic programs. Additionally, we offer two streaming video services and access to hundreds of thousands of newspaper, magazine, and academic journal articles online through the GCC Discovery Search. To access digital materials, you’ll need to log in with your library card information. Visit our website for more information and to start searching. 

Library Cards:

All students registered for classes are automatically issued an electronic library card. Your login information for library services is different from other GCC services. Library cards expire one academic year following the last semester of active enrollment.

Your library barcode (and username to login to library services) is:

• 269960 + your student ID number
• For example: 26996012345678

Your default password for library services is:

• Your last name in ALL CAPS
• For example: NAHMAN

We recommend you change your password as soon as possible here: https://bark.cwmars.org/eg/opac/myopac/update_password. If you have any questions or run into any problems, please be in touch! 

Overdue Materials: 

There are no fines for overdue materials, but borrowers must pay the replacement value of lost materials and technology. Students who owe the replacement cost of materials or technology may have their college record flagged and will not be able to register for classes, receive diplomas, or request transcripts. 

Military, Veterans and Dependents Services

GCC offers a network of support services and resources for Veterans, Active duty, Reserve, Guard, Spouses, and Dependent students at the Veterans Center located at N215. The Veteran and Military Services Counselor can help military-affiliated students navigate any Veterans Affairs (VA) or Commonwealth Education Benefits. The Veterans Center offers a quiet study space, student access computers, and a kitchenette.

GCC complies with S2248 Section 103. All covered individuals entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Veteran Readiness and Employment, Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits or the Massachusetts National Guard Tuition Waiver and Federal Tuition Assistance Program will not be penalized in any way, including assessment of late fees or denial of access to any offices, departments or services due to delayed disbursement of VA funding.

Course Locations

Peer Tutoring

Peer tutoring is provided free to GCC students who want assistance with GCC course work and wish to improve academic performance. Peer tutors offer the following:

• Math Assistance — Support for all math courses at GCC, along with support for math content in all other courses at the College.
• Writing Assistance — Support for writing in any course and at all stages of the writing process: understanding assignments, talking through and organizing ideas, revising, editing, citations, etc.
• Support with Other Course Content — Including support in the sciences, information technology, business, world languages and more.
• Help Navigating Online Course Content

Typically, tutors and students work together to better understand assignments, review course material, prepare for tests, practice successful strategies, and develop study skills.

The Peer Tutoring Program co-coordinators are available to meet with students to discuss academic support and provide math placement advising.

Peer tutoring is offered in person (in the Peer Tutoring suite, 4th floor core) and virtually, via Google Meet. Visit gcc.mass.edu/tutoring for details and resources or to request an appointment; call us at (413) 775-1330; email peer_tutoring@gcc.mass.edu; or stop in!

Performing Arts

The theater and music programs offer opportunities for student performances. At least one major theater production and one music performance is presented each semester. The college chorus performs on campus and in the community several times each year. Every April, the Art, Theater, and Music Departments collaborate to create ArtsNight, where the performing and fine arts showcase student work.

Student Association

Students who pay the student activities fee automatically become members of the Student Association, the structure within which the Student Senate and the Student Activities Program operate. Members may hold office, vote in elections and participate in Association programs.

Student Leadership & Engagement

The Office of Student Leadership and Engagement supports the academic mission of the College through leadership development opportunities and co-curricular programming. Through the establishment and support of clubs and organizations, students are encouraged to participate in the planning of campus events. Activities include student governance, involvement in clubs and organizations, new student orientation activities, commencement, service learning and community volunteerism, as well as the planning of, and participation in musical performances, cultural programs, and other educational programming. The Office of Student Leadership and Engagement is located in C216 and is open daily when the College is open. For more information about clubs, upcoming events, and services visit us online at gcc.mass.edu/student-activities or call (413) 775-1200.

College personnel and the Student Senate have agreed that, in general, no classes will meet during the Activities Hours. These hours are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12-12:50pm during the fall and spring semesters. The college community is encouraged to participate in social, cultural and recreational events that occur during these hours. College committee meetings, club meetings, guest speakers, and special events are available for the campus community.

Student Senate

Members of the Student Association who are in good standing with the College are eligible for election by members of the Association to the Student Senate. The Student Senate reviews budget requests for, and oversees the allocation of, the Student Activity Fee with the consent of the College President. The Senate’s objectives are:

• to promote and support activities that enhance the life of the College community;
• to administer and allocate the funds of the Student Association in conjunction with the College administration;
• to represent the student body on and off campus; and
• to act with college officers in supervising the College activities program.

Studios

• Community Resource Studio (E101) houses several not for profit organizations that are here to assist students, and is the space where one on one tech assistance is offered for older adults in our region. Recovery meetings are held in that space. Recovery is broadly defined and anyone who considers themselves to be in recovery can attend. Those trying to support someone in recovery are also welcome. Hours will vary each semester, but schedules that detail when the space is being staffed by an organization will always be available outside East 101 and in the Student Activities and Community Service Office.
• The Humanities Studio (N250) is an open space for collaboration, study and creativity. There is a combination of soft seating, small tables for group projects, computer stations, and a teaching/presenter’s station with projection. Students are welcome to use the space as needed and the space is also used for readings, presentations, and visiting speakers.
• The Math Studio (N402) is a place for students to work with each other and with faculty on questions and problems related to mathematics. The Math Studio is equipped with comfortable chairs and tables, computers, and math resources and texts. The studio is open for use throughout the day and is staffed by math faculty during posted hours. Staffed hours are both in-person and virtual. No appointment is needed; students can just drop in.
• The Social Sciences Studio (E115) provides a welcoming and resource-rich space for students to convene and interact with each other and faculty in the social and behavioral sciences. Students and faculty use the Social Sciences Studio for tutorials, study groups, computer projects and access to the College network and the Internet, small group projects, as well as college/community meeting and networking. The studio also provides gallery display space and periodically presents special events, speakers and films.
• The Science Studio (S417) offers a cooperative work space for individual students or groups of students. The studio is equipped with two computers, anatomy and physiology models, resource books and movable furniture. It opens to faculty offices to allow student interactions with their professors. Students are encouraged to make use of the space during all building hours.
• The Wellness Studio (C424) is a welcoming and relaxing space for all students located in the Wellness Suite (C427) and open 9am-5pm, Monday-Thursday and Friday 9am-4pm. Students are invited to enjoy space and quiet from the hassle and stressful pace of college life. This space offers a variety of research-based, mind/body stress reduction resources.

Teaching & Learning Innovation Center

The Teaching and Learning Innovation Center, initiated in 2021, promotes effective teaching with technology across campus and on-line, provides a place for staff and faculty to connect, learn and collaborate on using new technologies for teaching and learning and provides classroom technology and event audiovisual and videography services and support.

Within the Teaching and Learning Innovation Center, the Audio Visual Technology Support staff serves the academic community in all disciplines by providing access to, and assistance with traditional, new, and emerging educational technologies. The major focus of the AV support is to help faculty and students with technology in the learning environment. The Teaching and Learning Innovation Center houses a multimedia studio equipped as a 45-seat multimedia presentation space, and provides a green screen, a podcast station and film screening options.

In addition, the AV support staff distributes and maintains media-related presentation equipment throughout the campus. When possible, appointments for services such as access to our multimedia studio, or training services should be made in advance. A MyGCC room reservation is required for use of our multimedia studio S308. In addition, the TLIC stores the institutional media archives.

Transferring to Other Schools

The Transfer Office provides services to students considering transfer to another college or university. Students considering transferring are encouraged to contact the Transfer Coordinator as early in their time at the College as possible. The Transfer Coordinator assists students in exploring transfer options, educational goals, planning appropriate course work while at GCC, completing applications to other schools, writing college essays and in choosing people to write college recommendations.

Students planning to transfer to one of the Massachusetts state-supported colleges or universities are eligible for MassTransfer. MassTransfer provides community college graduates who complete designated associate’s degrees with the benefits of the full transfer and applicability of credit, (2.5 GPA or higher), and a partial or full tuition discount (3.0 GPA or higher). Should be noted that some majors may require higher GPA and specified course work for placement into the major.

Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and Admissions Standards Affecting Transfer to the Massachusetts State University System and the University of Massachusetts

Admission is not guaranteed for any applicant to a Massachusetts public institution of higher education. A wide range of factors is considered in admissions decisions and the final decision on accepting an applicant rests with the individual campus For details about the MassTransfer policy, contact the Transfer Coordinator in the Academic Advising Center or visit gcc.mass.edu/transfer.

Option 1: Complete an Associate's Degree Under MassTransfer

Minimum Final GPA	Benefits
2.00 GPA	Guaranteed full transfer of a minimum of 60 credits applied to the bachelor’s degree, if admitted. Satisfaction of the general education/ distribution/core requirements at the receiving institution, with the receiving institution able to add no more than six additional credits/two courses Note: Students will be required to submit the regular application and all supplemental materials required of the 4-yr school they are applying to. Admission is not guaranteed.
2.50 GPA	Guaranteed admission, plus all of the above benefits. Fill out simplified application, not Common Application.
3.00 GPA	A one-third tuition discount, plus all of the above benefits (UMass-Amherst offers 100% tuition break)

• If students change their majors or if the linked baccalaureate programs require a higher grade point average or specific courses which are required of native students, MassTransfer students must meet these additional requirements.
• If, because of space or fiscal limitations, the receiving institution does not admit all qualified applicants to a given major or program, the receiving institution will use the same criteria for MassTransfer applicants as it does for its native students.

Option 2: Gen Ed Foundation Block

MassTransfer also provides students in the Massachusetts public higher education system the intermediate goal of completing a portable general education Transfer Block that will satisfy the general education/distribution/core requirements across institutions. Students completing the Transfer Block without earning a degree at any Massachusetts higher education institution with a 2.0 or higher grade point average will earn the 34 credit hours outlined below, exclusive of developmental coursework.

Gen Ed Foundation Block
English Composition/Writing	6 credits
Behavioral and Social Sciences	9 credits
Humanities and Fine Arts	9 credits
Natural or Physical Science	7 credits
Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning	3 credits
Total Credits	34 credits

Benefits for students who complete the Gen Ed Foundation Block:

Minimum Final GPA	Benefits
2.00 GPA	Satisfaction of the general education/distribution/core requirements at the receiving institution, with the receiving institution able to add no more than six additional credits/two courses, if admitted Note: Admission is not guaranteed.

If students change their majors or if the linked baccalaureate programs require a higher grade point average or specific courses which are required of native students, Gen Ed Foundation Block students must meet these additional requirements.

If, because of space or fiscal limitations, the receiving institution does not admit all qualified applicants to a given major or program, the receiving institution will use the same criteria for Gen Ed Foundation Block applicants as it does for its native students.

• Students enrolled in a specific major or degree program may be required to take additional courses if these courses are specifically required for the major or program and are required of native students. Completion of the Transfer Block does not guarantee admission to the College or university.
• Note: Students will be required to submit the regular application and all supplemental materials required of the four-year school they are applying to.

Transfer Agreements with Other Colleges

GCC maintains several articulation agreements with colleges that award bachelor’s degrees. The purpose of articulation agreements is to make transfer from GCC to those colleges easier than it would be otherwise. In most cases, the articulation agreements ensure the transfer of a minimum number of credits and placement at the junior year level. Some of the articulation agreements are general and may include scholarship funds to help lower tuition while others are specific to certain programs at GCC and the institution to which the student transfers.

In a few cases, the articulation agreements also include provisions for transfer scholarships. For information about articulation agreements with other colleges, contact the Transfer Coordinator. GCC hosts a bachelor’s degree completion programs with Elms College. See the Transfer Office for more details.

Wellness Center

The Morton A. Slavin Wellness Center is home to the offices of Disability Services and Counseling and the Wellness Studio. We provide individualized support for well-being and academic success. All services are available in person and remotely.

The Office of Disability Services collaborates with students with disabilities to develop accommodation plans to ensure access to Greenfield Community College’s campus and programs. Disability Services also works with persons with disabilities who are visitors to campus to provide access to the College’s programs and services.

The Office of Counseling Services supports learning and retention by addressing the stress and conflicts that may distract students from achieving their full potential.

The Wellness Studio offers students a quiet, welcoming space to practice mindfulness and enjoy solitude from the hassle and sometimes stressful pace of college life.

Women's Resource Center

The Women’s Resource Center provides opportunities promoting gender equity and enriching the personal, professional and academic lives of all members of the GCC community, particularly women students. A free clothing exchange is available at the WRC office, C212.

Workforce Development & Community Engagement

The Office of Workforce Development provides short-term and low-cost workforce training opportunities for high-demand occupations throughout Franklin and Hampshire counties. Our career training programs are designed in response to regional economic and community needs, often in cooperation with local business and organizations, drawing upon both college and community resources. Instructors include faculty members, professors from other colleges, area business professionals, and local residents with special skills or expertise. Meaningful collaboration with employers and other mission-aligned community partners are the driving force behind this important work. Contact Workforce Development at (413) 775-1661 or reach out to us at TRAIN@gcc.mass.edu for more information.

Training Programs for Learners

From manufacturing to healthcare to computer technologies to outdoor education, the Office of Workforce Development offers a wide array of high-quality career training programs that target the most in-demand industries in the region and award industry-recognized credentials.

• The Office of Workforce Development is committed to connecting participants with the support services that will help them be successful in their training programs. Financial support is available for all workforce training opportunities.
• Open enrollment trainings are scheduled on a rolling basis and listed on the department’s website at train.gcc.mass.edu.

Customized Trainings for Employers

GCC’s Office of Workforce Development works with employers of all sizes and industries to deliver flexible and highly customized workforce training. Our professional staff listen to your expertise and build training curriculum to support your workforce needs. They can also offer guidance and assistance on accessing the state workforce training funds available to employers. Employee training programs can be offered on our campus, online or right at your work site to meet the specific needs of your business culture, number of employees, schedule, learning styles, and priorities.

Training options include but are not limited to:

• Fundamentals of Municipal Accounting
• Basic Microsoft Excel
• Succession Planning
• Non-Violent Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI) Training & Certification
• IT for Healthcare
• Amazon Web Services Cloud Practitioner
• Registered Apprenticeship Programs
• AHA BLS CPR Skills Session
• Outdoor Adventure Skills & Certification workshops
• Leadership and management skills
• Digital literacy and office skills
• Language proficiency
• Advanced manufacturing and skilled trades
• Healthcare certifications including CNA and EMT
• Blueprint reading
• Beginning to advanced math and measurement
• OSHA 10 and/or OSHA 30

If you are an employer who would like to learn more about how GCC can support your workforce training needs, please reach out to Kristin Cole at colek@gcc.mass.edu or (413) 775-1611.

Lifelong Learning

Each semester GCC offers workshops and micro-courses that are not for credit. They are designed for personal enrichment and life long learning and require registration.  Topics in the past have included;  gardening, healthy aging, creative writing, dance, politics, geology and much more.

The Senior Symposia program at Greenfield Community College is a collaborative effort with older adults in the region. The program encourages seniors to continue their education through attending talks on a variety of subjects. Persons of all ages are welcome to attend Senior Symposia events and participate in the lively discussions that follow the presentations.

Find more information about non-credit workshops, volunteer opportunities, technological help for seniors and mailing list information, please go to https://engage.gcc.mass.edu.

** GENERAL COLLEGE POLICIES AND INFORMATION **

Activities Transportation Policy

The College is not in an “in loco parentis” relationship with its students and assumes each student is a responsible adult in his or her own right. Because the College/student relationship is non-custodial in nature, the College does not guarantee students’ safety in situations requiring transportation, or in any situation that may involve physical risk. When traveling to campus events, student drivers are expected to carry appropriate insurance on their vehicles to guard against such risks. When traveling for classes and College-sanctioned activities students will be required to complete travel approval forms and will be asked to sign waivers of liability before participating in activities involving unusual risk.

Chemical Sensitivity Policy

Greenfield Community College is committed to providing a healthy classroom and environment for all students and employees. College campuses across the nation are reporting an increase in requests for accommodations from students and employees with a diagnosis of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities I Environmental illness (MCS/EI).

The following information will guide members of the GCC community to understand the parameters of the illness and how to request an accommodation. MCS/EI is a condition that produces a hypersensitivity to chemical and environmental stimuli. Reactions may be triggered by even low levels of the stimuli. Products or stimuli that induce symptoms are called triggers. Some of these triggers are: cologne, perfumes, aftershave; scented products that range from body care to air fresheners to laundry products; cleaning products and various educational supplies or materials. To request an accommodation, students should contact Disability Services in the Wellness Center.

Children on Campus Policy

Responsibility for the supervision and safety of guests on campus who are minors shall rest with the person who brings that minor on campus. This responsibility is applicable at all times both inside and outside college facilities. Greenfield Community College cannot accept responsibility for the safety or conduct of minors who may visit the College with college employees, students or guests. College public safety personnel will be notified in those cases where conduct is disruptive and/or safety is in jeopardy. The parents, guardians or caretaker of the minor will be located and brought to the situation to secure the child and remedy the problem.

Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy

It is the responsibility of all faculty, staff, students and anyone using the facilities or resources of Greenfield Community College to read, understand and follow the Greenfield Community College Copyright and Intellectual Property Policy. The policy and related information is available on the GCC Library web page at gcc.mass.edu/library/. If you have questions regarding the policy please contact the Library Director at (413) 775-1832.

Drug & Alcohol Policy/Drug-Free School & Campus

The College at all times prohibits the use, possession or sale of illegal substances by any student and the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors.

Consumption of alcoholic beverages on College property or at College-sponsored activities is prohibited except at such times and places as the College may expressly permit. On such occasions, everyone is expected to refrain from excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The failure of any student to abide by this policy shall be grounds for disciplinary action. Under no circumstances are individuals under 21 permitted to consume alcohol.

GCC’s official Drug-Free Workplace Policy is available from Human Resources.

Greenfield Community College is in compliance with federal legislation, which requires the College to adopt and implement a program to prevent the illicit use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees. Smoking is allowed only in designated location and is not allowed in buildings or in front of doorways or outdoor seating areas or benches.

Facilities Policies

• Game playing is not permitted on College computers unless it is an assigned part of an academic course.
• Eating or drinking is not permitted in any classrooms, laboratories, the library, lecture halls or music rooms.
• For reasons of safety, bare feet will not be permitted within College buildings.
• Animals will not be permitted within College buildings (service dogs excluded). All students and personnel are also reminded that Greenfield has a leash law that applies on College property.
• Bicycles should be parked and fastened to the bike rack. In the event of overcrowding, bikes may be fastened to light poles, but in no event may poles near main stairs and main entrances to the College be used.
• Bicycles may not be brought into college buildings or fastened to stairway railings or parked near or against college buildings. The walk/bike path is to be used to enter and exit the campus. Please use it for your safety.
• In the event that you see something broken or something that appears hazardous, please notify the College’s Facilities Management Department. If unable to reach them, please contact Public Safety and ask that they relay your message to Facilities Management.
• Matters involving real or potential criminal culpability must be reported to the Director of Public Safety.
• Use of roller skates, skateboards, balls or other athletic or recreational equipment, in or adjacent to the buildings, or use of the premises in any manner so as to interfere with their use by others, or use in such a way as to possibly cause damage to the premises or injury to the user, is prohibited.
• Firearms, including their possession and/or display in vehicles, are prohibited from the campus, except by duly authorized police officers in the pursuance of their duties.
• Individuals who choose to act in any manner contrary to the above policy may be subject to the disciplinary measures of Greenfield Community College and/or the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Inclement Weather

The decision to cancel classes because of adverse weather conditions rests solely with the President of the College. Every effort will be made to announce a cancellation for day classes by 6 am and for evening classes by 4pm. It is recognized, however, that in some circumstances it will be impossible to follow these timelines. Please call the GCC Weather Hotline at (413) 775-1010 after 6am for day class information and after 4pm for evening class information. Please DO NOT call Public Safety for questions on school closures or delays so that the phone lines can be kept open for emergency calls. Information on delayed openings, or cancellations, is available on local television and radio stations. Conditions may vary greatly within the College’s service area and, therefore, when classes are being held, students must ultimately determine if they are able to attend classes. When a class is missed, students are responsible for contacting their instructors to request an opportunity to make up missed work. Each instructor is the judge of the validity of the student’s reason for not attending and will permit make-ups according to their individual policies. Students are encouraged to become familiar with the policies of their instructors.

ID Cards

GCC student ID cards are issued by the library (third floor, core) during regular service hours; no appointment necessary. Registered GCC students may request an ID card in-person at the library, or online through MyGCC (see instructions for online photo submission below). 

• You must be registered for a class in order to receive a GCC photo student ID card. Application and acceptance to the College alone is not enough to issue an ID card. We do not make ID cards for alumni.
• Your legal first name will appear on the ID card, unless you have entered a chosen first name in myGCC. Contact the library if you have any questions.

Instructions for Requesting a GCC Student ID on Campus:

1. Visit the library during regular service hours and ask for an ID card at the front desk.
2. You will be asked to verify your identity by providing a government or school issued photo ID. If you do not have one, we will accept 2 alternate forms of ID, including:

• • Social security card
  • Birth certificate
  • Credit or debit card in their name
  • Utility or bank records with their name, dated within the past 60 days
  • College correspondence with their name, dated within the past 60 days

Instructions for Requesting a GCC Student ID Online:

1. Log into MyGCC.
2. Upload a photo to MyGCC by clicking the photo icon in the lower right-hand corner. The photo must meet all requirements.
3. Check the box that says, “Please check if you would like a printed ID card mailed to your house. Cards are mailed on a weekly basis.”
4. Library staff will notify you if there are any issues with the photo you submitted. Your request for an ID card will not be processed until all photo requirements are met.
5. Your ID card will be mailed to the address listed in your Banner account, and should take approximately 1-2 weeks to arrive.

ID photo specifications:

• Be a JPEG, 300 x 400 pixels and under 1.0 MB in size.
• Be of the student, taken within the last six months and reflecting current appearance.
• Be in color, taken in front of a solid white background.
• Have a small space between the top of the head and the top of the image.
• Have a slightly larger space between the bottom of the chin and the bottom of the image.
• Be taken in full-face view, facing the camera (no side views or tilted head).
• Show a natural smile or neutral facial expression.
• No masks, sunglasses, headphones, wireless mobile devices, or other similar items. Glasses with clear lenses and head coverings worn regularly for medical or religious
  purposes are fine.
• Photo filters cannot be used.
• No group photos.
• Not be derogatory in any way.
• GCC reserves the right to reject any photo we feel is inappropriate.

Medical Marijuana

In November 2012, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot question which allows qualifying patients with certain medical conditions to obtain and use medical marijuana. The law went into effect January 1, 2013. Although Massachusetts law permits the use of medical marijuana, federal laws, including the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, prohibit the use, possession, and/or cultivation of marijuana at educational institutions. Federal laws also require any institution of higher education which receives federal funding to have policies prohibiting the possession and use of marijuana on campus. Accordingly, unless the federal law is modified or repealed, the use, possession, or cultivation of marijuana, even for medical purposes, is prohibited on GCC property.

Lockers

Lockers in Main and East Buildings are available for student use. Students can purchase their own lock and are responsible for their own belongings. Lockers need to be cleaned out at the end of the semester.

Parking

All student parking will be confined to parking lots A through E. All parking will be with all wheels wholly within a painted parking space. There will be NO parking within the painted safety zones located at the ends of rows of parking spaces. Students MAY NOT park in Lot F, in Visitor Parking spaces or other restricted parking space, and on any roadway, grassy area, etc. Special Medical Parking Permits spaces require a special permit from Public Safety. See gcc.mass.edu/safety for more info. Parking in Handicapped/Disable Parking spaces requires a valid, state-issued disabled parking plate/placard. Unauthorized parking in such spaces is an automatic $100 parking citation and the vehicle may also be towed from campus.

Vehicles will not be parked overnight (after 11 p.m.) on College property with permission from Public Safety. Vehicles found in violation may be towed away at owner’s expense.

Non-resident students operating a motor vehicle on campus that is registered in another state or country are required to complete a special Non-Resident Driver Statement available at Public Safety. Parking tickets are issued under authority of the General Laws of the Commonwealth. Fines are payable in the College Business Office. Failure to respond as directed will result in the
following:

• Withholding of grades, transcripts, financial aid transcripts, diploma or certificate, and any other information relating to the individual’s enrollment at the College
• Ineligibility for any form of financial assistance
• Disqualification from subsequent registration
• May also result in revocation of the privilege of operating a motor vehicle on campus

If you lock your keys in your vehicle, Public Safety may be able to assist you with getting into your vehicle. If you have a dead battery in your vehicle, you can borrow a battery booster pack from Public Safety.

Please drive and park safely and obey College parking and traffic rules and regulations.

Safety Escort

Public Safety shall, upon request, escort students to/from their vehicle or between campus buildings should they feel unsafe.

Smoking Policy

Greenfield Community College is committed to working toward a smoke-free environment. Please note that smoking is permitted only in designated areas.

• Parking lots A through F
• Gazebos – adjacent to parking lots A and F
• Marked “Smoking Area” outside fourth floor North

Student Communication

GCC uses the student email system as the official means for student communications. Students are expected to check their GCC email on a regular basis and are responsible for understanding GCC’s Student Email Policy.

Student Involvement Opportunities

From club meetings and student performances to guest speakers and student government, the possibilities
for engagement are endless. Most, if not all, of these opportunities are free to you as a student.
We hope you’ll consider just one of these avenues for getting involved on campus:

• Join or create a club
• Run for Student Senate
• Work out in the Fitness Center
• Participate in community service and civic engagement opportunities
• Attend a concert, gallery talk or guest speaker
• Serve on a governance committee or take on a work study position
• Check out the Women’s Resource Center, the Military, Veterans and Dependents Services Office and the Permaculture Garden
• Attend or participate in a student theater performance
• Become an Orientation Leader, Peer Tutor or Student Ambassador

For a complete list of clubs at GCC visit gcc.mass.edu/student-activities.

Student-Faculty Committees

Students serve on most college committees. Faculty and administrative members of these committees are appointed by the President or the Chief Academic and Student Affairs Officer; student members are appointed by the Student Senate, the Student Senate President or the Chief Academic and Student Affairs Officer.

** ACADEMIC PROGRAMS **

Associate in Arts Degrees

• Business Administration Transfer (BAT)
• Liberal Arts (LIB)

All of the following are Liberal Arts advising options. You may focus on one of these options. Your diploma will read “Liberal Arts.” GCC will award you only one Liberal Arts degree.

• • Contemporary Music Studies (LCMS)
  • Education (LEO)
  • English (LAE)
  • Farm and Food Systems (LFF)
  • Health Science (LAH)
  • History (LHI)
  • Human Services (LHS)
  • Mathematics (LMA)
  • Plant and Soil Science (LPL)
  • Social Sciences (LSS)
  • Theater (LAT)

Associate in Science Degrees

• Adventure Education (ADE) ➀
• Allied Health (ALH)
• Art/Visual Arts (AVA)
• Art/Visual Arts MassTransfer Option (AVC)
• Biology (BIO)
• Business Administration General (BAG)
• Chemistry (CHE)
• Computer Science (CSC)
• Criminal Justice (CRJ)
• Criminal Justice MassTransfer Option (CJC)
• Early Childhood Education MassTransfer Option (ECE) ➁
• Engineering Science (EGS)
• Environmental Conservation (ENC)
• Fire Science Technology (FST)
• Human Services (HSE)
• Nursing (NUR) ➂➃➄

Certificate Programs

• Addiction Studies (ASC)
• Early Childhood Education (CECE)
• Management (MGT)
• Medical Assistant (MAC) ➅
• Music Recording and Production (MRP)
• Outdoor Leadership (OLP) ➀➆
• Paramedic (PMC) ➂➇
• Practical Nursing-L.P.N. (PNC) ➂➄➆
• Pre-Nursing (NUC)
• Visual Arts (VAC)
• Web Development and Design (WDD)
• World Language in French (WFR)
• World Language in Spanish (WSP)

Partner Programs with Neighboring Community Colleges

• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Radiologic Technology
• Respiratory Care
• Surgical Technology

MassTransfer Program

MassTransfer is a collaboration between the Commonwealth’s community colleges, state universities and the University of Massachusetts. System-wide resources and policies allow for students to transfer seamlessly, stay on track and minimize the time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree. For in-depth information on MassTransfer, visit www.mass.edu/masstransfer.

MassTransfer consists of the following types of programs:

• General Education Foundation
• A2B Degree (Associate to Bachelor’s) Mapped & Linked Programs
• A2B Degree Plus Commonwealth Commitment
• Reverse Transfer

All degree programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, unless otherwise noted.

➀ Accredited by the Association for Experiential Education.

➁ Accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

➂ Program requires a special admission process.

➃ Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

➄ Approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.

➅ Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon recommendation of the Medical Assistant Educational Review Board.

➆ Certificate programs approved by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.

➇ Accredited by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Office for Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) and by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.CAAHEP.org) upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (www.coaemsp.org).

** ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES **

Online Courses

Students at GCC may enroll in a wide range of online courses. Students in online courses receive the same personalized attention and stimulating curriculum as all GCC students. Because classrooms can be accessed from any computer that is connected to the Internet, these courses allow busy students to study according to their own schedules. To attend class, online students log on to Moodle which is the College’s learning management system. Moodle classrooms include the same syllabi as face-to-face courses, and many of the materials, discussions, and assignment are the same regardless of the delivery method used. Because they access all materials (including presentations, readings, and videos), interact with students and faculty, and complete all assessments online; students can expect to spend a minimum of nine hours per week completing each online course in which they are enrolled. Students taking online classes should be well organized, open to using new technology, able to manage their time well, able to work independently and comfortable communicating in writing.

Online Certificates and Degrees

For students who are located at a distance, have inflexible schedules, are unable to travel to campus, or prefer online learning, GCC offers several degree and certificate programs that can be completed online. Online degree programs can usually be completed in two years; certificates can be competed in even less time. Students who enroll in these programs meet the same requirements and have access to the same resources and services as students who complete their studies on campus.

Human Development Courses

The College provides a set of one- to three-credit courses for students seeking to strengthen their academic and college navigation skills. These courses are designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills to be successful in their course work. HUD 114 College Success (3 credits) and HUD 128 College Strategies (1 credit) are useful for students new to college, or returning after time away. HUD 135 Career Exploration and Planning (1 credit) is best suited to students early in their academic career who are still exploring the connection between their studies and their career goals (including transfer options). In addition, the College offers several one-credit courses that each focus on a specific set of skills or specialized opportunities for students to pursue their personal and professional interests.

• HUD 114 College Success (3 credits; offered every fall & spring)
• HUD 122 Practicum in Governance (1 credit; offered every fall & spring)
• HUD 128 College Strategies (1 credit; offered every fall & spring)
• HUD 129 Learning Studio for Dual Enrollment (0 credits; offered every fall & spring)
• HUD 135 Career Exploration and Planning (1 credit; offered every fall & spring)
• HUD 137 Numeracy and College Success (3 credits; offered every fall, spring & summer)
• HUD 138 Algebra and College Success (3 credits; offered every fall, spring & summer)

Civic Engagement

Greenfield Community College offers students civic engagement opportunities on campus and at the local and statewide level to support students in acquiring the knowledge, intellectual skills, and applied competencies needed for informed and effective participation in civic and democratic life. Students benefit from developing an understanding of the social values that underlie democratic structures and practices through civic engagement opportunities. Through a diverse range of classroom-based and co-curricular options, such as engagement in student government, GCC’s extensive network of community partnerships gives students unique opportunities to impact civic institutions and prepare for leadership roles in the future.

Honors Scholar Program

Mission

The Honors Scholar Program at Greenfield Community College enables students to engage in deeper research and learning opportunities that will better prepare them for advanced scholarship at a 4-year college or university, and for success in the workforce.

Admission Requirements

GCC welcomes students with a variety of academic backgrounds to participate in our Honors Program. All prospective Honors students must be enrolled in an Associate degree program and must meet at least one of the following requirements to apply for admission:

• Entering high school graduates: Minimum 3.2 cumulative high school GPA
• Transfer students: At least 6 college-level credits, minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA or successful completion of a Commonwealth Honors Program at a Massachusetts community college, state college, or state university
• Current GCC students: At least 6 college-level credits, minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA

If you do not fully meet any of these requirements, you may apply to substitute other academic work or projects that indicate an ability to succeed in the Honors Program. Contact an Honors Program Coordinator to pursue this option.

Admission to the Honors Program is required prior to registering for Honors courses or proposing Honors Projects for regular courses.

To apply to the GCC Honors Program, send an email requesting admission to an Honors Program Coordinator and explain how you meet the criteria above.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate as an Honors Scholar, a student must:

• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2
• Complete a minimum of 9 Honors credits, including 3 credits of an interdisciplinary Honors seminar (courses designated HON)
• Earn a minimum grade of B in all courses taken for Honors credit
• Present at least once at an approved undergraduate research conference or symposium (e.g., the GCC Student Symposium or the UMass Undergraduate Research Conference)

Honors students may transfer in Honors courses taken at other institutions for GCC Honors Program credit if they earned a minimum grade of B in them, or if taken pass/fail, when the home institution recognizes a P grade as sufficient for Honors credit.

Honors Course Proposal

• Honors Course Proposal Form

To earn Honors credit for any regular course, students may submit an Honors Course Proposal that details an Honors Project to be undertaken in addition to regular course requirements. This proposal must be approved by both the course instructor and the Honors Program Committee. The Project must be completed by the end of the semester and the student must earn at least a B in order to receive Honors credit. For questions or examples of successful Proposals, please contact an Honors Program Coordinator.

Honors Seminars

An Honors seminar is an interdisciplinary course that focuses on research, critical discussion, and oral and written presentation. To graduate with an Honors degree, a student must take at least one Honors seminar, which will count toward the graduation requirement of 9 total Honors credits. Honors seminars also count as Open Electives in degree programs. HON 201 is an advanced seminar with a topic that changes from year to year, while other 200-level HON seminars focus on disciplinary groupings: Humanities and Fine Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences, and Natural and Physical Sciences.

Honors Presentation Requirement

All Greenfield Community College Honors students are expected to present original research or creative work at an approved conference or symposium at least once. The GCC Student Symposium and Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference are pre-approved forums for presentation. Other conferences and forums need prior approval by an Honors Program Coordinator.

Benefits

• Honors Advising – Students seeking honors credit may meet with an Honors Program Coordinator for intensive advising on program expectations and requirements as well as for assistance in identifying faculty who are willing to support an Honors Course Proposal. Students who participate in this program may also have access to special programming opportunities.
• Honors Scholar Librarian – The GCC Library has a special librarian designated as the Honors Scholar Project Liaison. This librarian is familiar with the kinds of projects, needs, and requirements students will encounter as honors students and can help with all areas of research.
• Workshops – Honors Scholar Program Coordinators will schedule workshops throughout the fall and spring semesters. Attendance is voluntary, but all honors students are encouraged to attend. Topics vary from semester to semester and include library research, scholarship opportunities, transfer options, service learning, and topics suggested by honors scholar program participants.

Contact an Honors Program Coordinator

• Trevor Kearns kearnst@gcc.mass.edu (413) 775-1264
• Brian Kapitulik kapitulikb@gcc.mass.edu (413) 775-1144

Honors Courses

Honors Project Proposal Guidelines

Any GCC college-level credit course may be taken for Honors credit, provided that the instructor of that course allows this option. To take a course for honors credit, a student must create an Honors Project Proposal approved by the course instructor and by the members of the Honors Committee. This Proposal must be submitted to the Honors Committee no later than two weeks after the course begins, although it is strongly recommended that this Proposal be worked out and submitted before the semester begins. Also, a student must be admitted to the Honors Program before they are allowed to submit an Honors Project Proposal. This Proposal details the scope of the Honors Project the student will pursue and specifies a timeline for its completion, including meetings with the instructor.

An Honors Project can take many forms, but it must extend the student’s learning beyond the material already on the course syllabus. This might mean that a student examines a course topic in greater depth or explores more advanced topics beyond the scope of the course. Examples of Honors Projects include research papers, independent research, literature reviews, oral presentation of academic work publicly or in class, field work, art projects, designing and leading learning activities in class, and performances. Honors Projects must include clearly defined learning objectives and a provisional timeline or plan for meeting these. Also, a Project must focus on one or more of the following features: inquiry, writing, critical thinking, oral presentation.

Once approved, the student must complete the Honors Project by the end of the semester in order to receive honors credit for the course. Unlike in other courses, grades of IN (incomplete) are not available for an Honors Project. Furthermore, to receive Honors credit for the course, the student must earn a minimum of a B in the course itself.

Up until the last day to withdraw from the course with no record, the student may withdraw their Honors Proposal and pursue the course for regular credit. If the student does not complete the Honors Project by the end of the semester, or does not receive a minimum grade of B for the course, no Honors credit will be awarded for the course, and instead, regular credit will be awarded in accordance with GCC grading policies.

Courses taken for Honors credit in this way are notated on student transcripts with an “H” added to the course number, e.g., ENG 112H.

Honors Project Proposal Process

Below are the steps necessary to complete an Honors Project Proposal. Once all steps are completed and your Proposal has been approved, you will be registered into the Honors section of the course. You must be admitted to the Honors Program before proposing an Honors Project for a regular course.

1. Determine which course you would like to take for Honors credit, then register for this course. The course must already be in the class schedule for the desired semester, but it cannot be either an independent study or an internship. To take a course for Honors credit, you need to design and complete an Honors Project that extends beyond the scope or depth of material already in the course syllabus.
2. Contact the course instructor to determine whether they are willing to sponsor your Honors Project for this course. The course instructor must agree to supervise your Honors Project in order for you to take their course for Honors credit. Some courses will not have an instructor assigned to them until the semester starts, so you may have to wait until the first day of class to start this step. However, you should monitor the instructor assignment for your course and contact your instructor as soon as possible in order to move this process forward.
3. Write your Honors Project Proposal with the instructor. This Proposal details the Honors Project you will pursue and specifies a timeline for its completion, including meetings with the instructor. Make sure that your Project goes beyond the regular course material in a substantial way and focuses on inquiry, writing, critical thinking, or oral presentation.
4. Submit your completed Proposal and a copy of the course syllabus to the form on the Honors Program website no later than two weeks into the semester. The faculty members of the Honors Committee will review your Proposal. If they have questions or concerns, they will contact you and the instructor to seek clarification or to make suggestions. Once they approve your Proposal, the Honors section of the course will then be created in GCC’s registration system and you will be registered for it.

Check your myGCC account to verify that the Honors section of the course has been added to your schedule.

Internships

Internships are an important part of your career development. They provide workplace experience, networking opportunities, professional references, and the confidence and satisfaction of a good day’s work. Internships undertaken by GCC students qualify for academic credit, and all GCC interns draw a salary for their work, even if the internship site cannot offer pay. Students are not required to pay for the tuition and fees associated with their internship course. Learn more at gcc.mass.edu/internships. Students may also reach out to the GCC Internship Coordinator at internships@gcc.mass.edu.

Study Abroad Opportunity

The International Language and Culture Study Award scholarship program, administered by the GCC International Studies Committee, has been sponsored jointly by the Student Senate and the President since 2000. Each summer, scholarship recipients spend several weeks in a language and culture institute in a French- or Spanish-speaking country, immersing themselves in that country’s culture and language. Students develop communication skills and gain understanding of other cultures by attending language classes at the institute, visiting local sites of cultural interest and staying with local host families. Students must have had some prior study of the language, must be returning to GCC in the fall following study abroad and must have completed 12 credits at GCC. For more information, contact the chair of the International Studies Committee at (413) 775-1282.

Complete a Four-Year Degree

Elms College at Greenfield Community College

Elms College is partnering with GCC on the delivery of bachelor’s degree completion programs. The Elms programs at GCC expand baccalaureate opportunities for students and alumni of GCC and result from a formal agreement between GCC and Elms College. Students earn an associate degree from GCC. Students then build on their GCC education and earn a bachelor’s degree from Elms College on the GCC Main Campus and online.

Two bachelor’s degree completion programs are available including:

• Bachelor of Science in Social Work (20-month, Saturday only program with some online courses at GCC)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) (12-month or 15-month online cohort programs with asynchronous and hybrid synchronous delivery models)

For more information on the B.S. in Social Work, contact April Parsons, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Greenfield Community College, room S325, (413) 775-1869, parsonsa@gcc.mass.edu, or contact Stefany Scliopou, Director of Graduate and Continuing Education Admission, Elms College, (413) 265-2592, scliopous@elms.edu. For more information on the B.S. in Nursing degree (RN-BSN), contact Melanie Zamojski, Assistant Dean of Nursing, Greenfield Community College, room E120C, (413) 775-1763, zamojskim@gcc.mass.edu, or Dr. Emily Cabrera at (413) 265-2471, cabrerae@elms.edu.

** CREDIT COURSES **

This section contains descriptions of the College’s approved credit courses. Developmental courses use numbers below 100 and will not be used to fulfill associate degree or certificate requirements and grades earned from developmental course will not be used in calculating grade point average; introductory level and first-year courses use numbers 100-199; intermediate level and advanced level courses use numbers 200-299.

In accordance with NECHE standard 4.35, GCC “offers required and elective courses as described in publicly available print and digital formats with sufficient availability to provide students with the opportunity to graduate within the published program length.” GCC will make every effort to adhere to the periodicity listed within the catalog. However, each semester’s offerings will be scheduled in accordance with enrollment trends and students’ needs in mind. If a course offering is not able to be run within the periodicity listed, students’ advisors will work with them to make appropriate adaptations to their programs in order to keep them on track. GCC is constantly updating and improving programs to meet students’ needs and help them achieve their degree goals.

NOTE: The College does not offer all courses every semester. The course descriptions indicate how often a course is offered, for example: every fall, every other summer, spring in odd numbered years, periodically. Work with your advisor to map out the semester-by-semester plan for program completion. Visit gcc.mass.edu/schedule to determine whether a course labeled periodic is offered in a given term.

Course contact time is established in compliance with the federal definition in NECHE’s Policy on Credits and Degrees. NECHE has adopted the federal definition of a credit hour: an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is consistent with commonly accepted practice in postsecondary education and that reasonably approximates not less than

1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

In determining the amount of work associated with a credit hour, the institution may take into account a variety of delivery methods, measurements of student work, academic calendars, disciplines, and degree levels.

** FACULTY, STAFF & ADMINISTRATION **

College Administration

Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
Greenfield Community College operates under the authority of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. This is the policy-making and planning group for all public institutions of higher education inMassachusetts.

Greenfield Community College Board of Trustees
Local citizens are appointed by the Governor to serve the College. This board meets regularly with the President and has the responsibility for establishing policies necessary for the administrative management of personnel, staff services and the general business of the institution under its authority, subject to the authority granted to the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.

Greenfield Community College Foundation, Inc.
The Greenfield Community College Foundation is a non-profit citizen group which has helped the College by providing resources not otherwise available through traditional state sources.

The College
The President is the chief executive of the College. With his/her staff, the President carries out the policies of the College and the State.

Faculty & Staff

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