Boricua awards numerical credits at the end of each academic term and does not use traditional letter grades. Assessment of academic achievement is an integral part of a student's educational process. It begins with the Learning Contract for the term, continues with weekly dialogues throughout the cycle between the student and the Faculty Facilitator, and culminates in a narrative, written evaluation summarizing the student's progress. This evaluation is the cumulative product of all faculty members who have worked with the student and is ratified by an Assessment Committee composed of the student's Facilitator and two other Faculty Facilitators. Credits awarded by the Assessment Committee depend on attendance, participation, and the quality of work produced. Boricua students progress toward their objectives at a varying pace, always apprised of the criteria by which their performance will be assessed, and the relationship between their performance and the College's academic standards.

Assessment Procedures

At the end of each academic cycle, the Faculty Facilitator reviews the papers, reports, weekly logs, and examinations contained in the student's Learning Portfolio together with evaluations of the work completed with other faculty members. The Facilitator prepares a narrative evaluation of the student's progress and recommends credits for each component of the student's academic program. This recommendation, together with the student's Learning Portfolio, is brought to the Assessment Committee. After review and evaluation the Committee determines the credits to be awarded, and the student is notified by the Department of Registration and Assessment.

Re-Assessment Procedures

If a student disagrees with the credits awarded by the Assessment Committee, they may seek reassessment by completing a Re-assessment Request Form in the Department of Registration and Assessment. After reviewing the request, the Department may meet with the student and reconvene the Assessment Committee ensuring at least one different faculty member from the original Committee. The decision reached by the committee is final and the student is notified. Students may only request reassessment for the immediate previous cycle.

Scholastic Index

The scholastic index at Boricua College is computed by converting the total credits achieved per cycle into Quality Points. The total credits are multiplied by 4, and divided by the total number of credits the student registered for that cycle. This formula provides a Credit Point Average (CPA) compatible with the traditional Grade Point Average (GPA) in other institutions, using a scale of 0.0 to 4.0.

Example:

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards

The College requires that students maintain good academic progress by achieving at least eight credits in each Fall and/Spring cycle, and at least five credits in the Summer cycle. (HEOP students must achieve seven credits during each Fall and Spring and 4 credits during Summer.) See also Financial Aid Section.

Poor Academic Standing and Academic Probation

Students unable to achieve the stipulated number credits for two consecutive cycles are considered in Poor Academic Standing. Failure to improve in the third cycle results in Academic Probation. To register for subsequent cycles, students on academic probation will require approval by a senior academic administrator and verification by the Director of Registration and Assessment.

Academic Honors and Awards

• The Honors List
  
  The Honors List is announced at the beginning of the Fall cycle of each academic year. Eligibility for the Honors List requires being registered for all three cycles of the previous academic year, and a credit average of 3.2 or higher. A zero credit in any course during those three cycles will make the student ineligible. Achievement of the Honors List is noted on the official transcript.
  
  
• Graduation Honors
  
  At graduation, there are three grades of honors for the Associate and Baccalaureate degree candidates: a degree with Summa Cum Laude shall be granted to students whose cumulative credit point average (CPA) is at least 3.8. A degree with Magna Cum Laude shall be granted to students whose cumulative credit point average is at least 3.5. A degree with Cum Laude shall be granted to students whose cumulative credit point average is at least 3.2. For an explanation of C.P.A. see page 17 under "Scholastic Index." In addition, special awards are presented at commencement to two graduates from the Associate in Arts degree program and one graduate from each of the Business, Human Services, and Childhood Education baccalaureate degree programs.

Transfer Students

Students transferring to Boricua College must have an official academic transcript mailed to the Department of Registration and Assessment, and an official financial aid transcript forwarded to the Department of Financial Aid to determine financial aid eligibility.

The Department of Registration and Assessment is responsible for monitoring and evaluating transfer credits.

• All transfer students must begin in the Generic Studies Core program.
• All transfer credits with a grade of "C" or above from an accredited institution are accepted by Boricua College, however these credits may not substitute for the special requirements of each BS/BA degree program and may only be applied toward the "electives" component of each program.
• However, students with an Associate in Arts degree or at least 45 or more "liberal arts" credits may be admitted to upper level courses if they achieve at least 15 credits during one cycle, complete at least one set of instructional modules, and fulfill all other requirements of the Generic Studies Core Curriculum (see page 34 for details).
• Notwithstanding the number of approved transfer credits, all students are required to attend a minimum of 38 weeks and meet all the curriculum requirements to be eligible for any degree.

Life Experience Credits

A student seeking Boricua College credit for non-academic learning experiences prior to enrollment in the College (e.g., employment, community leadership, travel, military experiences, or non-college course work) may contact his Faculty Facilitator for guidance in the preparation of a portfolio documenting such experience and the competencies derived therefrom. The Department of Registration and Assessment provides students with a complete set of guidelines regarding the preparation of the Life Experience Portfolio. Upon receipt of the Life Experience Portfolio, the Assessment Committee evaluates it and awards credits. A maximum of 30 credits may be allocated to Life Experience Learning. Only students with excellent academic records shall be allowed to attempt "Life Experience" credits, and only with the written authorization of the Department Chair, the Associate Deans of Generic Studies, and the verification of the Director of Registration and Assessment.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Students entering the College may qualify for up to thirty credits by scoring at or above the median for freshmen on the General and Subject examinations of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Information about CLEP may be obtained from the Department of Registration and Assessment.

Transcript Requests

Official transcripts of a student's academic record are released upon submission of a signed Transcript Request Form to the Department of Registration and Assessment. If the student has an outstanding balance of tuition, library books or fees an official transcript will not be released. A $5 processing fee is charged for the first transcript; $5 for each additional copy requested. There is a $35 fee for rush requests.

Graduation and Retention Rates

Boricua College historically maintains a high student retention rate and regularly graduates 350-400 students a year. As of the year 2007, over 7,000 degrees have been awarded