Applied Learning Institute

What is ALI? The Applied Learning Institute (ALI) is funded through the legislature to offer college level, technical courses to high school juniors and seniors.

How does a high school student qualify for ALI? The purpose of ALI is to allow high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to explore college level career and technical courses.  Current courses offered, but not limited to, are:  Medical Careers, Certified Nursing Assistant, Industrial Technology, & Carpentry.

Admission Requirements for ALI:  High school juniors and seniors who are interested in learning about technical coursework at the college level.  No minimum GPA or assessment testing is needed for this program. To apply contact your high school counselor or principal.

What are the benefits of ALI?

• A student will receive both college and high school credit for the successful completion of the course.
• Challenging courses for that expose students to technical education.
• Enrichment of secondary curricular offerings
• An introduction and preparation for students as to what is expected in a college course
• A head start on college education for high school students
• Partnerships and cooperative initiatives between high school and post-secondary institutions

What is a course syllabus? A contract between the student and the instructor. It gives the rules and detailed information about the course. Each syllabus should contain the following:

• Course title, course prefix, course number, number of credits, and a description of the course from the college catalog
• Teacher's name, office number, location, office hours and office telephone number
• Prerequisites and/or recommended entry skills and knowledge for the course
• A calendar/course schedule listing the time frame and date of each class
• A list of required texts and materials, as well as additional recommended resources
• Student assessment methods
• Grading policies
• Attendance
• Course accomodations
• Academic integrity

What about attendance? Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and are responsible for all work missed during excused absences.  Students should refer to their high school district policy regarding absences. Attendance is not used as a basis for determining a student's grade.

What if an ALI student needs to drop a course?

• Students may change their course schedules (drops and/or adds) through the 5th class day of the high school semester. Courses officially dropped within this five-day time frame do not appear on a students transcript.
• It is the students responsibility to initiate the drop of a course. To officially drop a course a student must meet the ALI Coordinator immediately for processing with the ICC Records Office.

What if an ALI student needs to withdraw from a course?

• Students may withdraw from courses after the 5th class day through the 60th class day of the college semester. Grades of W will be recorded on the students transcript.
• It is a students responsibility to initiate withdrawal from a course.  To officially withdraw a student must contact the ALI Coordinator (218-322-2387) on or before the last day to withdraw.
  
• Withdrawals which are not officially processed through the College Records Office will be recorded on a students permanent records with a grade of F.

Can dropping or withdrawing from an ALI course affect my high school graduation? If a student drops or withdraws from an ALI course, it is important for the student to check with their high school guidance counselor to ensure that he/she still meets the requirements for high school graduation.

What type of grading system is used?

• Students receive whole letter grades (no pluses or minuses are given for any grade).
• Students who complete credit courses shall be assigned grades according to the following definitions:

Grade - Achievement
A - Superior or exemplary, works above and beyond course expectation
B - Does more than fulfill course outcomes
C - Competent; has fulfilled course outcomes
D - Inadequately fulfilled course requirements
F - Did not fulfill course requirements

A student's grade in a course is to be based on his or her academic performance on assignments and tests. Testing will cover the full curriculum of the course. Attendance is not used as a basis for determining a students grade.

Will the credits earned through ALI transfer to another college? There is no guarantee that the credits you earned will transfer to another college. Please check with the institution you will be attending regarding transfer of credits. 

Do I need to take a college placement test? No.  The ALI program does not require an assessment test at this time.

Do I need to purchase college textbooks?  No -  Textbooks are purchased by ALI and remain as property of ICC. You check out books through the ICC library.

What is an Incomplete? The mark of an I is a temporary grade that is assigned only in exceptional circumstances. It will be given only to students who cannot complete the work of a  course on schedule because of an illness or other circumstances beyond their control.  An I will become an F grade at the end of the next term (not including summer sessions) if requirements to complete coursework have not been satisfactorily met.  Instructors have the option of setting an earlier completion date for the student.

What is Academic Dishonesty? Academic dishonesty is defined as any instance in which a student violates the rules of conduct established by your high school, the college, and the instructor for his or her own class.  Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, cheating on examinations; plagiarism, stealing, duplicating, or selling examinations or papers; producing or submitting other students papers, projects, or tests; knowingly furnishing false or misleading academic information to college and high school officials; and sabotaging another students work.

What about tests? The scheduling of class-related examinations and the due dates for class-related assignments will normally correlate with the time allotted and assigned for the class meeting and/or occur during scheduled examination periods established by the high school instructor and college collaborator.

What about final examinations?  Final examinations are held according to a schedule that is issued by the college. 

How do I get a college transcript? Send a written request to:

Records Office
  Itasca Community College
1851 East Highway 169
Grand Rapids, MN 55744

Where can I get information on the ALI program? See your high school counselor, the ALI website or contact:

Janeen Kleffman
Itasca Community College
1-800-996-6422 or 218-322-2387
email janeen.kleffman@itascacc.edu