Academic Standings

Academic standing is determined according to the regulations of the Academic Standing Committee and are made at the conclusion of each semester. Academic standing will only be printed at the top of each semester on your online unofficial transcript.

Decisions made at the conclusion of the spring semester will remain in effect for a minimum of one full semester during the regular school year; that is, until the conclusion of the following fall semester. Grades attained during the intervening summer sessions will be considered only in conjunction with the following fall semester grades for purposes of releasing students from academic standing decisions or limitations.

Minimum Grade Point Average Required To Maintain Good Academic Standing

The following cumulative grade point averages (GPA) are the minimums which must be attained for a student to be considered in good academic standing:

1.7 with 1-14 credits attempted (usually one semester)
1.8 with 15-29 credits attempted (usually two semesters)
1.9 with 30-47 credits attempted A - 2.0 with 48 or more credits attempted

A student whose cumulative average falls below these minima for the first time will remain in good academic standing but shall be limited to 14 credits (or equivalent where preparatory courses are concerned) for the next semester. If, at the end of the next semester, the student’s cumulative average still falls below these minima, then the student concerned shall be placed on academic probation and shall be restricted to part-time (fewer than 12 credits) attendance.

Academic Dismissal Policy

The cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of students on probation will be reviewed at the end of the spring semester. Students whose cumulative average remains below the required minimum will be academically dismissed. The Office of the Dean of Students implements, interprets, and ensures compliance with this policy.

A previously dismissed student who is readmitted will not be dismissed under this policy if a GPA of 2.00 or higher is maintained in courses taken since readmission, and if satisfactory progress is demonstrated in remedial courses taken since readmission.

Students have the right to appeal their dismissal. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Academic Standing Committee through the office of the Dean of Students no later than six weeks prior to the beginning of the semester for which they wish to be readmitted. Students who fail to appeal their dismissal within the required time limit may submit an appeal in a timely fashion for readmission to a future semester. All appeal decisions rendered by the Academic Standing Committee shall be final.

Academic Progress Requirements for Students Placed in Remedial/ESL Courses

The following conditions apply to students who require a remedial/ESL course, i.e., COM 030, ENG 001, ENG 030, MAT 001, MAT 002, MAT 003, MAT 012, MAT 013, RDG 001, RDG 002, RDG 030, WRT 001:

Students must enroll in required remedial/ESL courses during their first semester of attendance.
The only possible grades for these courses are “S” (Satisfactory), “U” (Unsatisfactory) and "UU" (Unofficial Withdrawal). For extreme situations, see number 8 below.
Any student who does not successfully complete a required remedial/ESL course must register again for the course the following semester.
Any student who earns a grade of “U” in a required remedial/ESL course will be limited to the equivalent of 14 credits in subsequent semesters until all remedial/ESL requirements are satisfactorily completed.
A student may repeat a single, failed remedial/ESL course only twice, and will be academically dismissed after the third failure, upon review by the Office of Placement Testing in consultation with the chair or the chair’s designated coordinator of the department that offers the remedial or ESL course.
A dismissed student will be considered for readmission only after being separated from the College for at least one year (fall/spring), and only if future placement tests results reveal no need for remediation in the course(s) for which the student was dismissed.
Students can only withdraw from the required remedial/ESL courses if they are officially withdrawing from all courses for the semester in response to extenuating circumstances, such as a medical or personal emergency. In such cases, the student must present to the office of the Dean of Students cause for withdrawal from all courses and request a W grade that would not affect academic standing.
Some academic departments have designated courses which students cannot take until remedial/ESL requirements have been satisfied. Students with remedial/ESL requirements cannot register for those restricted courses and may not add them through the Change of Program or Drop/Add process.

Academic Program Requirements for Students Placed into Two or Three Remedial Courses

The following additional conditions apply to students who require two or three remedial courses from among ENG 001, MAT 001, MAT 002, MAT 003, MAT 012, MAT 013, RDG 001, RDG 002, WRT 001.

In addition to fulfilling their remediation requirements specified in the previous section, these students must enroll in NCC 101 – The College Experience, during their first semester of attendance.

Students required to enroll in NCC 101 and who do not successfully complete the course must register again for NCC 101 until they do so.

Impact of Withdrawal Grades on Academic Standing

A student who withdraws from more than one course per semester (i.e., two or more “W” grades in one semester) shall thereafter be placed on academic limitation — no more than 14 credits permitted.
A student who withdraws from more than one course during a semester of academic limitation, or who has not earned the required Grade Point Average, shall be placed in the next more restrictive probation category.
A student who earns a total of six or more “W” grades will automatically be placed in the most restrictive probation category (i.e. PART-TIME). “W” grades earned prior to September 1976 shall not apply.
A student will be removed from academic limitation upon completion of the probationary semester’s program, provided he or she has achieved the required grade point average and has not received more than one “W” grade.
Students who feel that extenuating circumstances warrant an exception from this policy may appeal through the Office of the Dean of Students.
Grades attained during the summer sessions will be considered in conjunction with the following fall semester grades for the purpose of this policy.
A student who has been placed on academic limitation is required to see a Student Personnel Services counselor.

Academic Progress for Students on Academic Probation

A student currently on academic probation is should obtain academic counseling at the Center for Educational and Retention Counseling.