The Scholarly Standing Committee (SSC) consists of four faculty members selected by the Faculty Executive Committee. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dean of Students and the Registrar sit on the committee as non-voting, ex officio members. The committee serves to vote on behalf of the entire faculty on all matters relating to academic regulations and academic records of each student. The committee is also responsible for considering student concerns for such things as waiving existing deadlines, academic appeals and academic standing. The SSC meets periodically during the academic year on posted days. Preceding the meeting there is a posted petition deadline a few days earlier. For information on the committee see the Registrar.

Cross Registration with Other Claremont Colleges
As members of The Claremont Colleges, HMC students may take courses at any of the other colleges. At registration time, the complete listing of courses including the other 5-Cs is available on the college website and the portal. Students should be sure to consult with their academic advisers as to the appropriate courses for degree and major requirements.  The HMC student, while in a non-HMC course, follows the HMC dates for Last Day to Drop and Change Grading Type, as well as the HMC grading system.

Faculty Advisers
Incoming freshman are assigned a first-year adviser. Before pre-registration for the Spring semester, they are assigned a second adviser from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. When a student declares a major, an adviser from the major department is assigned to the student, replacing the first-year adviser. To change a major and/or adviser, the student should contact the Registrar’s Office. Advisers must approve students’ schedules each semester before preregistration, but it is the student’s responsibility to make certain all degree requirements are satisfied. In addition, many other procedures require an adviser’s signature, such as dropping or adding a course or registering a course as pass/fail. If an adviser goes on sabbatical or extended leave, a temporary adviser may be assigned.

Involuntary Leave of Absence (ILA)
(As of February 2000)
Harvey Mudd College is determined to protect the health and safety of all members of the college community. As a result, life-threatening behavior will not be tolerated.

When there are indications that a student’s behavior could result in psychological or physical harm to himself or herself or others, prompt and decisive action is in the best interest of everyone. A proctor or any other member of the community should inform the DOS staff of the situation as soon as possible. If the DOS staff is not available, the President of the college will be contacted. The parents of the student will be notified as soon as practical, as will the student’s advisers. As soon as factual information can be determined, the appropriate DOS staff member, the director of counseling (if a mental health concern), the proctor, and the Dean of Faculty will meet to discuss the case and make a recommendation regarding involuntary leave of absence to the President.

A student on ILA may apply for readmission by demonstrating personal stability that will permit successful academic completion and that assures that the student constitutes no danger to self or others. At the outset of the ILA, DOS will issue a letter specifying the criteria to be used for readmission. For instance, if it is a mental health concern, the student will be asked to submit a letter of assessment from a licensed mental health professional. That student might also be asked to interview with the director of the Counseling Center and DOS, and sign a release of information permitting the director of counseling to make a report in writing to DOS. If it is a behavioral concern, DOS will collaborate with the Judicial and Disciplinary Board chairs to identify appropriate standards for a readmission petition. DOS will make a recommendation regarding readmission to the President.

Academic Advisories
Academic advisories are distributed to students who appear to be having difficulty with their work at the midterm. These advisories are sent to the student, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and the student’s academic adviser. In some cases, the student is requested to meet with the Associate Dean to discuss his or her progress.

Sometimes a faculty member will not send advisories to upper-class students or students with whom the professor has discussed classroom performance. Hence, it is possible for a student to fail a course despite not having received an advisory.

Student Absentee Notices
Any student who knows in advance that he or she will miss a class should contact the professor in advance. Within such notification, there should be a plan for completion of missed work.

In the case of a serious illness or an emergency, when it is known that a student will miss a class, the Dean of Students will send a notice to the professors in those classes. The student or his proctor should contact the Dean’s Office with all relevant information, and the ill student must be seen at Student Health Services. Notices cannot be sent out after the fact, and all missed work must be made up at the discretion of the professor.