Academics
At Lakes Region Community College, students are exposed to various methods of instruction. While some courses are lecture-based, others subscribe to a performance-based, student-directed learning philosophy. Performance-based learning is a systematic, organized approach to education and training that specifies the knowledge and skills required for graduates to perform competently and confidently in a rapidly changing economy and society. Programs and courses are structured within a competency-based framework. By defining competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) in each course, educators and learners work together to maximize the potential of each individual in the learning process. Intellectual, interpersonal and physical-manual competencies are assessed continuously to assist learners in improving their performance. The college continually strives to provide a physical, intellectual and social environment that supports the unique learning styles, backgrounds and needs of each individual.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Associate Degree
The Associate Degree prepares students for immediate employment or the opportunity to further their education. The curriculum provides students with the tools to think critically, reason, compute, communicate and adapt to change.
Associate Degree candidates must meet the following requirements:
- A minimum of 64 semester hours.
- A minimum of 32 semester hours in major and related courses.
- In addition to major courses, a 24 semester hour minimum core program in general education courses consisting of:
A. English Compostion and
Literature/Communication6 Semester Hours B. Science 3-4 Semester Hours C. Mathematics 3 Semester Hours D. Social Science 3 Semester Hours E. Humanities/Fine Arts/ Foreign Language 3 Semester Hours F. Liberal Arts Electives
(minimum of two courses and
six credits from areas A-E above6 Semester Hours* * The Associate in Applied Science requires 3 Semester Hours in Liberal Arts. - The remaining eight semester hours or more shall include either technical or general education courses.
- Any credit granted through options will count towards degree/professional certificate/certificate requirements, but will not be included in computing grade point averages.
Professional Certificate candidates must meet the following requirements:
All professional certificate programs require a minimum of 20 semester hours in major and related courses, as well as 12 semester hours from the general education core. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher through the last semester of study must be obtained before becoming eligible for an associate degree, professional certificate or certificate for credit.
Liberal Arts Categories
Liberal Arts courses are categorized as follows:
| English | Courses with LENG prefixes and LHUM1600 |
| Humanities | LENG2230, LENG2240, LENG2460, LENG2500, LENG2540, LENG2550, LENG2560, LENG2570, and courses with LART, LFRE, LHIS, LHUM, LPHI and LSPA prefixes |
| Literature | LENG2230, LENG2240, LENG2460, LENG2500, LENG2540, LENG2550, LENG2560, LENG2570 |
| Mathematics | Courses with LMAT prefixes |
| Science | Courses with LSCI prefixes |
| Social Science | LHUM1310, LHUM1450, LHUM1500, LHUM1510, LHUM2500, LHUM2520, and courses with LHIS, LPHI, LPOL, LPSY, and LSOC prefixes |
Course Credit for Unit Instruction
Students who complete the competencies of a unit of a course may receive credit for the portion(s) successfully completed. For information about this process contact the student advisor. Note: Students required to take a three-credit (unit) course may not split units between two or more courses to satisfy one course requirement.
Residence Credit
Students seeking a degree at the college must earn a minimum of 16 semester hours from Lakes Region Community College. At least eight semester hours of the courses taken to meet the minimum residency requirements shall be advanced courses in the student’s major field of study or in appropriate advanced courses in related fields. Advanced courses are associate degree program courses listed in the first and second semesters of the second year, or in the second semester of the first year of one-year programs. Students seeking a professional certificate must complete a minimum of 9 credits or 25% of the credits, whichever is larger, from Lakes Region CC. For a certificate, students must complete at least 6 credits or 25% of the credits, whichever is larger, from Lakes Region CC.
Directed Study
Under certain circumstances, a matriculated student may take a course in a semester when the course is not offered either during the day or through the Evening Division. A Directed Study allows a matriculated student to pursue the published learning objectives/outcomes for a course independently under the guidance of a qualified faculty member. A matriculated student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be eligible for a Directed Study. The student must demonstrate compelling reasons why the course could not be taken in a subsequent semester or was not taken in the semester when it was originally offered in the curriculum. Barring exceptional circumstances, a Directed Study will not be granted for a course currently being offered in the day or evening divisions.
Distance Learning
Distance Learning courses are offered via the Internet in a 100% online environment using the Blackboard platform. Students work from home or office to complete the course content. All competencies and knowledge presented is the same as the student would experience in a classroom based course. This mode of study is increasing in popularity and the College is expanding the course menu every semester.
Alternative Delivery
Alternative Delivery is anything other than the once or twice a week traditional classroom meeting. It includes 100% Online Learning or Distance Learning, hybrids, video conference, and other condensed formats. These methods offer flexibility in scheduling while placing more responsibility for learning on the student. Online Learning and hybrid courses are taught using the Blackboard web-based delivery system. Students are recommended to take an online self-assessment and have basic computer skills before registering for a hybrid or Distance Learning course.
Independent Study
Opportunities for credit-bearing Independent Study are available to matriculated students who wish to explore areas of a discipline not covered in the normal curriculum but related to the student’s program. Independent study is not available to non-matriculated students. Matriculated students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be eligible for an Independent Study. The intent of Independent Study is to expand a student’s learning experience beyond the normal program curriculum. Typically undertaken for 1-3 credits, Independent Study may not be done in lieu of any course existing in the college catalog.
Graduation Requirements
The college has established minimum competencies that must
be attained in each program. Students will be awarded associate degrees upon completion of academic requirements and demonstration of the required competencies.
To be eligible for graduation, students must:
- Satisfactorily complete each requirement in their academic program
- Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher
- Meet all obligations to the college, including payment of all fees
- File the Intent to Graduate form with the registrar no later than November 1st for fall term completion or December 31st for May completion of the academic year in which graduation is anticipated.
The student has the primary responsibility for ensuring that he/she meets degree/professional certificate/certificate requirements for graduation. The student should initiate at least one meeting with his/her faculty advisor each semester to insure that all the requirements of the transcript checklist have or will be met by the intended time of graduation.
Transcripts
A student may request an official transcript (record of a student’s academic history) by submitting a Transcript Request Form to the Registrar’s Office. All college obligations must be met, including student loan payments, outstanding tuition, payment of fines, and athletic uniforms and library materials turned in before a transcript can be released. Transcripts are released in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (the Buckley Amendment) and will not be released to a third party, including parents and spouses, without written permission of the student. The first two transcripts are free; additional transcripts cost $3 each. There is no fee for transcript requests to be sent to a college within the Community College System of New Hampshire. There is an additional charge of $5 to FAX copies of transcripts.
Students may obtain an unofficial copy of their transcript at any
time using the
Student Information System.
