Academic Policies and Procedures
Transcript Requests:
In order to obtain a transcript from Rock Valley College visit Rock Valley College Transcripts webpage for details. Please contact Records and Registration Office at 815-921-4250 with questions.
NOTE: Transcripts listing courses numbered 100 and above will be sent for each request. If you took courses numbered below 100 (remedial), Community and Continuing Education courses or Adult Education courses, you will need to specifically request inclusion of these records.
Transcripts of work completed at other institutions become a part of a student’s record at Rock Valley College and are not released or copied for distribution. Copies must be obtained from the institution where the courses were completed.
All financial and academic obligations to Rock Valley College must be satisfied before transcripts will be released.
Financial Obligation Of The Student:
Grade reports, transcripts, degrees/certificates, or other academic record information may be withheld from students who are in default on financial obligations. In such a case, students maintain the right to inspect and review their records. Information will only be released once the student’s account has been cleared.
Updating Student Records:
It is the responsibility of students to notify the Records and Registration Office of any change or correction to their name, address, telephone number, and/or any other information on their record. It is imperative that this information be kept current and accurate.
Repetition Of Courses:
The highest grade of the repeated course will be computed in the student’s Grade Point Average (GPA), but all attempts will be listed on the transcript. If a student chooses to audit a course, it will not be considered a repeat or counted in the GPA. This does not apply to grades earned at other colleges. It is important to note that other colleges may count all grades for repeated courses when arriving at a GPA. It is the students’ responsibility to acquaint themselves with the policy of the college(s) to which they plan to transfer.
Placement into Developmental Coursework:
Rock Valley College offers developmental coursework in Math and English. Placement into developmental courses is determined by multiple measures as indicated in the Illinois Developmental Education Reform Act (110 ILCS 175/100-15 Section 100.15. Placement Measures)
Visit https://rockvalleycollege.edu/academics/testing-center/placement-requirements for details on determining placement.
Credit For Prior Experiences
Rock Valley College defines Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) as learning obtained outside of the traditional college classroom. All potential students, from high school to returning adult, may benefit from Credit for Prior Learning. Credit for Prior Learning can provide you with the opportunity to receive credit for these past learning experiences, save money on tuition, and accelerate the completion of your educational goals. Visit https://rockvalleycollege.edu/academics/testing-center/credit-for-prior-learning/index for details.
Credit For Alternate Learning
College credit may be granted toward an Associate Degree for the following programs certified by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.
- Early Childhood Education (formerly Child Care and Development): Maximum three (3) hours for Child Development Associate Credential (CDA).
- Criminal Justice: College course credit may be granted for successful completion of a state-approved full-time or part-time academy in law enforcement.
- Fire Science: College course credit may be granted for the successful completion of Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) approved course programs (Illinois or Wisconsin), Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, National Fire Academy (NFA), Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), Department of Defense, Emergency Medical Technician (National Registry), and Illinois Department of Public Health courses/certificates (Policy 209).
- Military: Military transfer credit may be awarded upon evaluation of the Joint Services Transcript. The Joint Services Transcript (JST) can be ordered at no cost to the student by going to the website – https://jst.doded.mil/jst/ (for Army, Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard) Air Force must request an unopened copy of their official transcripts from the Community College of the Air Force. In response to the new Credit for Military Experience ACT, (HB3701), the college will use ACE, American Council on Education, to conduct and facilitate academic reviews of military courses and occupations. Four (4) Fitness, Wellness, and Sport (FWS) credits will automatically be awarded to students who have completed basic training.
President's List and Dean's List
To be eligible for the President’s List and Dean’s List for a given semester, students must earn at least 12 credit hours of college course work which count toward a certificate or degree. Students who meet the eligibility requirements and earn at least a 3.25 GPA will be named to the Dean’s List (fall and spring semesters only). Students who meet the eligibility requirements and earn at least a 4.0 GPA will be named to the President’s List (fall and spring semesters only).