DE General Policies
Grading Policy
The institution's grading policies are published in the Catalog. These policies include an explanation of the College’s grading system and procedures for course forgiveness and academic bankruptcy. The Catalog also publishes grading policies specific to the Registered Nursing Program.
Each instructor distributes the grading policy in the course syllabus to every student at the beginning of each semester, which includes methods of evaluation and grading policies specific to the course and instructor. These policies adhere to those published in the Catalog. The refund policies are published in the Catalog.
Course Format Policy
The College offers courses in five formats: online, virtual, or hybrid (hybrid classroom, hybrid online) formats. Students taking online classes can access the Catalog online via the College website. Students can also access information concerning the Academic Calendar (p. 63), grading policies, and refund policies on the College’s website.
Distance education courses have an instructional method and a schedule type. The instructional methods are classified as Traditional, Online, or Hybrid. The schedule types are classified as either Lecture, Online, Virtual, Hybrid Classroom, or Hybrid Online. Alabama Community College System and Drake State have adopted the following definitions:
Online: Online courses are delivered asynchronously (no mandatory real-time (live) meetings). There are no required face-to-face sessions within the course and no requirements for on-campus activity. Faculty interact with students through assignments, discussion posts, email, office hours and other electronic/virtual means. Although the course content is delivered entirely online, students may be required to take exams in the Testing Center. Identity verification will be required using the college’s approved verification process: Honorlock. Drake State identifies an asynchronous online course with "online" in the schedule type section of the semester course schedule.
Virtual: Virtual courses are delivered synchronously (instructors and students gathering at the same time and (virtual or physical) place and interacting in “real-time”) to extend lectures and course activities to students remotely in real time. Virtual courses are held online at specific days and times and require students to use online conferencing tools to participate in learning activities. There are no requirements for on-campus activity. Identity verification will be required using the college’s approved verification process: Honorlock.
Hybrid Classroom (HYBCL): Hybrid classroom courses require a combination of online and in-person activities, with 50% or less of the course content requiring online interaction. Some elements will have specified days, times, and locations when attendance is expected. Identity verification will be required using the college’s approved verification process: Honorlock. Drake State identifies a hybrid course with "hybrid" in the instructional type section of the semester course schedule and HYBCL in the schedule type.
Hybrid Online (HYBON): Hybrid online courses require a combination of online and in-person activities, with more than 50% of the course content requiring online interaction. Some elements will have specified days, times, and locations when attendance is expected. Identity verification will be required using the college’s approved verification process: Honorlock. Drake State identifies a hybrid course with "hybrid" in the instructional type section of the semester course schedule and HYBON in the schedule type.
Depending on the course and/or program, there are two formats in which instructional method can be delivered in distance education courses:
- Asynchronous Instruction: Asynchronous online instruction allows students to access course materials, complete assignments, and engage in learning activities on their own schedule without real-time interaction with the instructor or classmates. The instructional method in the course catalog would be labeled as “online”.
- Synchronous Instruction: Synchronous online instruction involves real-time, interactive learning experiences where students and instructors meet virtually at scheduled times using tools like Zoom and/or Teams. The instructional method in the course catalog would be labeled as “hybrid”.
The first week of class, attendance verification quizzes, mid-term exams, and final exams for online or specific hybrid courses will be conducted online using a proctoring solution called Honorlock. Identity verification is required at the time of testing. Students must present a current, valid government-issued photo ID or a Drake State student ID to access the test. More information about using Honorlock will be included within the Help/Support module in all Canvas courses.
Note: Mobile devices such as phones and tablets are not compatible with the test proctoring software required for distance education courses.
Campus Postings and Announcements
Digital displays and the campus marquee are used throughout Drake State to share approved notices and announcements.
Students are encouraged to regularly check their Drake State email, Canvas accounts, and campus digital signage for important updates and announcements.
All postings or any other forms of notices must be approved by the Dean of Students before being displayed or distributed on campus, including digital displays and/or the marquee.