Transfer FAQs

When entering a schedule and an override becomes necessary in order to register for a class, the student must email Instructional Services at Instructionalservices@coastalalabama.edu to request an override.  When emailing Instructional Services, students should include their Name, A number, and CRN number for the course for which they are requesting an override.

Students who are currently attending another accredited college or university and who are in good standing may be admitted to Coastal Alabama Community College as transient students. Transient students in good standing must provide written authorization from the postsecondary institution in which they are currently enrolled stating that courses selected at Coastal Alabama have been approved for transferable credit. The transient form must be submitted at the same time the student applies for admission.

Applicants must complete the online Application for Admission and provide a picture ID (Driver's License or other approved ID). Applicants must request that an official “Letter of Transiency,” properly signed by the Dean or Registrar at the postsecondary institution in which they are currently enrolled, be emailed or mailed directly to the Admissions Office.

The following procedure for appealing a grade must be followed in the order listed:

The student should first contact the instructor to request verification of the grade and how it was determined.

If resolved satisfactorily, the matter will be considered closed. If the grade is changed by the instructor, the appropriate procedure for changing grades will be adhered to.

However, if the student does not receive satisfaction from the instructor, the student should appeal to the Division Chair. The Division Chair will confer with the student and the faculty member, independently or jointly, in an attempt to reach closure.

If closure is not reached by using the informal approach, the student may file a formal grade appeal to the appropriate Instructional Officer by the midterm of the semester/term following the date the grade is issued. The written appeal must state the name of the course, the reasons for the request, the dates involved, the name of the instructor who assigned the grade, and previous attempts at resolving the situation.

The appropriate Instructional Officer will forward copies of the student’s request letter along with the instructor’s and Division Chair’s grade appeal response form and any supporting documentation from the student and the instructor to the Instructional Affairs Committee for a hearing. Members of the Instructional Affairs Committee will sit as the investigatory body. If the Committee requests additional information for the hearing, the appropriate Instructional Officer will coordinate the collection of information. After the written appeal is received, the Committee will deliberate and make a determination on the request within a reasonable period of time. The decision will be recorded in the Committee’s minutes.

If the Committee’s decision is to alter the grade, the appropriate Instructional Officer will notify the instructor and the student, in writing, of the Committee’s decision as soon as possible. If the Committee’s decision is to deny the grade appeal, the appropriate Instructional Officer will notify the student in writing of the Committee’s decision as soon as possible.

The decision of the Instructional Affairs Committee is final.

Course forgiveness occurs when a student repeats a course and the last grade awarded (excluding grades of W) replaces the previous grade in the computation of the cumulative grade point average. The grade point average during the term in which the course was first attempted will not be affected. The official transcript will list the course and grade each time it is attempted. A student must request, by submission of the appropriate form, that the Registrar implement the "Course Forgiveness" policy after a course has been repeated (see Registrar section on the college website for form).

Students may withdraw from class or the College any time prior to the start of final exams during any semester or term. To withdraw from class or the College, students must complete the online withdrawal form located on the Registrar page of the Coastal Alabama Community College website.

Students who complete the withdrawal process prior to the deadline will be assigned a grade of “W”. However, a grade of “F” will be assigned to students who fail to satisfactorily complete the requirements of a course or who voluntarily discontinue class attendance and fail to follow the College’s official withdrawal procedure.

Students may withdraw from class or the College any time prior to the start of final exams during any semester or term. To withdraw from class or the College, students must complete the online withdrawal form located on the Registrar page of the Coastal Alabama Community College website.

Students who complete the withdrawal process prior to the deadline will be assigned a grade of “W”. However, a grade of “F” will be assigned to students who fail to satisfactorily complete the requirements of a course or who voluntarily discontinue class attendance and fail to follow the College’s official withdrawal procedure.

The maximum course load for an entering first semester freshman is 19 semester hours, except by special permission.

The maximum load for a student who has an average of 3.00 or above during the preceding semester is 24 semester hours. However, students wishing to take more than 19 semester hours must have written permission from the appropriate Instructional Officer or Designee.

The minimum load for a regular full-time student is 12 semester hours. A student taking an average of 16 semester hours earns 32 semester hours in 2 semesters.

The maximum course load for a student on academic probation is 16 semester hours for the term, except by special permission.

The Alabama Community College System requires all institutions in the System to operate on a semester system. Semester hours of credit are based on the average number of hours of instruction each week during a 15-week period, with an hour of instruction defined as not less than 50 minutes of instructor/student contact. A semester system is defined as a fall semester, spring semester, and a summer term. 

Since attendance is taken beginning with the first day of class and used for attendance verification, it is important that students enrolled in traditional, or hybrid format classes attend class beginning with the first day of class.   For Distance Education/Online classes, attendance will be recorded within the FIRST WEEK of the course by one of the following two methods: (1) Student attendance at an on-site course orientation, or (2) Student submission of a graded course assignment or quiz.

Coastal Alabama Community College offers two academic transfer degree programs:  An Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree in Liberal Arts and an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in General Studies. 

Seated Classes – These courses are traditional, web-enhanced seated courses in which: (1) no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of assignments and course content are completed electronically and (2) web enhanced content may not replace the required on-campus contact hours

Hybrid Classes – These courses are delivered fifty percent (50%) online and fifty percent (50%) on campus.  

Internet or Online Classes – These courses are delivered one hundred percent (100%) electronically. Students are not required to come on campus.

When you register for classes, you should be mindful of which traditional and hybrid  courses you select because these classes are associated with specific campuses.  When  you log into your OneACCS account, select the Class Schedule option and note how the  different campuses are designated:

AT – Atmore
BF – Brookley Field
BM – Bay Minette
BR – Brewton
FA – Fairhope Academy
FH – Fairhope
GT – Gilbertown
JA - Jackson
MV – Monroeville
TV – Thomasville
WB – Web based online courses

Your instructor’s name, email address, and phone number are located in the course  syllabus.  You will find the syllabus on the course site in Canvas.

Log into your OneACCS account – Student – Student Profile - Advisors.

Degree plans are found on the College’s web site.  These plans show what classes are to  be taken based on the pathway chosen, for example there are pathways for business,  computer sciences, engineering, education, biomedical sciences, etc.  You can use the  advising pathways to determine the order in which classes should be taken.  Pathways  are provided for the A.A. and A.S. degrees.  Learn more about the A.A. pathways and the A.S. pathways.  If you need assistance determining which classes to take, contact  your advisor.

Degree plans are located in the College Catalog. Learn more about an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree plan and a Associate of Science (A.S.) degree plan.

It is recommended that you determine what degree you would like to earn when you transfer to a four-year institution.  If you would like to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, then you would earn an Associate of Arts degree at Coastal Alabama.  If you would like to earn a Bachelor of Science degree, then you would earn an Associate of Science degree at Coastal Alabama.  If you are uncertain as to what four-year degree you would like to earn, it is recommended that you pursue an Associate of Science degree at Coastal Alabama.