Hours attempted means the total number of credit hours in all the credit courses for which students receive one of the letter grades listed under Grades and Quality Points .

Hours earned means the total number of credit hours in all the credit courses for which students receive a letter grade of D or higher. No credit hours are earned with a grade of F or FX or a grade designator of W, WP or WF.

Each grade report shows the credit hours attempted and earned for the term. Grade reports can be accessed through the student’s MyAACC page under Self Services.

Credit hours are noted near course titles in the Courses  section of this catalog. The credit hours for noncredit developmental courses do not count toward graduation or in grade point averages. Limitations on credit hours is calculated using a student’s total equivalent credit hours as the sum of all the credit hours and equivalent hours including English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, for which a student registers for a given term.

An exception to the limitation on credit hours may be granted by an academic advisor for a student with regular status if the student has an adjusted cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher that includes at least one full-time term of courses for which a GPA of 3.0 has been earned.

NOTE: Students who are degree and certificate-seeking with developmental status should begin developmental requirements in their first term.  See Developmental Courses .

Academic Clemency is designed to provide former Anne Arundel Community College credit students, who have not been enrolled at the college for a minimum of five years, an opportunity to return to Anne Arundel Community College without the burden of previous poor academic performance (i.e., grades of D, F or FX). Upon re-enrollment at Anne Arundel Community College after at least a 5 year absence, students who have demonstrated academic progress by completion of a minimum of 12 credits with a minimum grade of “C” in all courses attempted, may petition the Committee on Academic Standards for Academic Clemency.  If the Committee on Academic Standards approves the request for Academic Clemency, the student may choose a maximum of 15 credits be forgiven based on Academic Clemency. The 15-credit clemency is intended as a one time use regulation per student. The courses will still appear on the student’s transcript, but are marked as forgiven based on Academic Clemency and not included in the adjusted grade point average.  Courses that are forgiven for Academic Clemency cannot be applied towards a degree or certificate.  Academic Clemency may only be granted to courses taken at Anne Arundel Community College and only to students currently enrolled at the college. The request for Academic Clemency must be approved prior to the student being awarded a degree or certificate and may be granted one time only. Developmental courses will not be considered for Academic Clemency.

Regardless of whether classes and grades are forgiven by AACC, all attempted classes and grades will be included in the calculation of Satisfactory Academic Progress and used to confirm eligibility for Financial Aid. The calculation utilizing all grades for required courses is consistent with the U.S. Department of Education Regulations. Students should consult with the Financial Aid Office regarding individual circumstances.