Standards of Academic Progress

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These standards of progress shall apply to all students unless otherwise noted. Exceptions:

  • Programs within the institution which are subject to external licensure, certification, and/or accreditation or which are fewer than four semesters in length may have higher standards of progress than the institutional standards of progress.
  • Selected transfer students will be placed on Academic Probation upon admission and must transition to these standards of academic progress.
  • Special standards of academic progress have been established for students enrolled in institutional credit courses carrying optional grades and for students who wish to remain eligible to receive Title IV financial aid.
  1. Definition of Terms Related to Standards of Progress Policy
    Grade Point Average (GPA)
    The grade point average based on all hours attempted during any one term at the institution based on a 4-point scale.
    Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
    The grade point average based on all hours attempted at the institution based on a 4-point scale.
    Clear Academic Status
    The status of a student whose cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is at or above the level required by this policy for the number of credit hours attempted at the institution.
    Academic Probation 
    1. The status of a student whose academic status the previous term was Clear and whose cumulative grade point average falls below the level required by this policy for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution; or
    2. The status of a student who was on Academic Probation the previous term and whose cumulative GPA remained below the level required by this policy for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution but whose GPA for the term was 2.0 or above; or
    3. The status of a student who has re-entered the institution after being suspended for one term or one year (or after being granted readmission upon appeal).
    Suspension
    One Term Academic Suspension
    The status of a student who was on Academic Probation the previous term but who has never been suspended or who, since suspension, had achieved Clear Academic Status and whose cumulative GPA that term was below the level required by this policy for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution and whose GPA for that term was below 2.0.
    One Calendar Year Academic Suspension
    The status of a student who was on Academic Probation the previous term and who had been previously suspended without since having achieved Clear Academic Status and whose cumulative GPA that term remained below the level required by this policy for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution and whose GPA for that term was below 2.0.
     

    Appeal of Academic Suspension
    The process by which a student suspended for one term or one year (whether a “native” student or a transfer student) may request readmission through the Aca- demic Suspension Appeals Committee.

    Students on suspension for one year may file an Academic Suspension Appeal with the Admissions Committee. The appeal should include an Academic Suspension Appeal Form (available online or in the Record’s office), a detailed summary of consideration, supporting documentation, and a current unofficial copy the student’s college transcript.

  2. Standards of Progress Policy
    Required GPA levels for students according to number of hours attempted at the institution:

    1. Students who have attempted 12-21 semester credit hours at the institution must maintain a 1.5 cumulative grade point average.
    2. Students who have attempted 22-32 semester credit hours at the institution must maintain a 1.75 cumulative grade point average.
    3. Students who have attempted 33 semester or more credit hours at the institution must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

  3. Intervention for Student Success
    When a student is placed on Academic Probation, One Term Academic Suspen- sion, or One Calendar Year Academic Suspension, college officials may provide intervention for the student by taking steps including, but not limited to, imposing maximum course loads, requiring a study skills course, and/or prescribing other specific courses.

  4. Application of Standards of Progress
    1. When the cumulative GPA is at or above the GPA required for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution, the student’s status is Clear.
    2. When a student’s cumulative GPA is below the GPA required for the number of credit hours attempted at the institution, the student is placed on Academic Probation.
    3. When the cumulative GPA of a student who is on Academic Probation remains below the GPA required for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution but the term GPA is 2.0 or above, the student remains on Academic Probation. When the cumulative GPA of a student who is on Academic Pro- bation remains below the GPA required for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution and the term GPA is below 2.0, the student is suspended for one term. The transcript will read SUSPENDED—ONE SE- MESTER.
    4. The student who is suspended for one term may appeal. If, after appeal, the student is readmitted without serving the one term suspension, the transcript will read SUSPENDED—ONE SEMESTER/READMITTED UPON APPEAL. The student who is readmitted upon appeal re-enters the institution on Academic Probation. The student who serves one semester academic sus- pension re-enters the institution on Academic Probation.
    5. A student who is on Academic Probation after being suspended for one term (whether the student has served the suspension or has been readmitted upon appeal) without having since achieved Clear academic status and whose cumulative GPA falls below the level required for the total number of hours attempted at the institution but whose term GPA is 2.0 or above will remain on Academic Probation until the student achieves the required GPA for the total number of hours attempted.
      A student who is on Academic Probation after being suspended for one term (whether the student served the suspension or was readmitted upon appeal) without having since achieved Clear academic status and whose cumulative GPA remains below the level required for the total number of hours attempted at the institution and whose term GPA is below 2.0 will be suspended for one calendar year. The transcript will read SUSPENDED—ONE YEAR.
    6. Students who have been suspended for one year must serve at least one se- mester of the suspension before an appeal can be filed. If, upon appeal, the student is readmitted, the transcript will read SUSPENDED—ONE YEAR/ READMITTED UPON APPEAL.

      Note: Students wishing to return to Southern Union after being placed on one-year academic suspension must wait one full semester before being con- sidered for readmission. Students can apply for readmission, after waiting the appropriate time, 30 days prior to the start of the following term after serving their suspension. The student who is readmitted upon appeal re-enters the institution on Academ- ic Probation. The student who serves the calendar year suspension re-enters the institution on Academic Probation. All applicable academic designations except Clear will appear on the student’s transcript.

  5. Transfer Students

    1. A transfer student who is admitted on Clear academic status is subject to the same standards of academic progress as a “native” student. Grades accrued at other regionally accredited postsecondary institutions are not included in GPA calculation.
    2. A transfer student who is admitted on Academic Probation retains the status until the student has attempted at least 12 semester credit hours at the institution. If, at the conclusion of the term in which the student has attempted a total of 12 or more semester credit hours at the institution, the cumulative GPA at the institution is below 1.5, the student is suspended for one term. The transcript will read SUSPENDED—ONE SEMESTER.
    3. If, at the conclusion of the term in which the transfer student admitted on Academic Probation has attempted a total of 12 or more credit hours at the institution, the cumulative GPA at the institution is 1.5 or above, the student’s status is Clear.
    4. Transfer students on suspension may file an Academic Suspension Appeal with the Dean of Students which should include an Academic Suspension Appeal Form (available online), a detailed summary of consideration, supporting documentation, and a current unofficial copy of the student’s college transcript.

  6. Appeal Process for Readmission
    If a student declares no contest of the facts leading to suspension but simply wishes to request consideration for readmission, the student may submit a request in writing for an “appeal for readmission” to the Academic Suspension Appeals Committee with supporting documentation no later than one week prior to the first day of class. During the meeting of the Academic Suspension Appeals Committee, which shall not be considered a “due process” hearing but rather a petition for readmission, the student shall be given an opportunity to present a rationale and/or statement of mitigating circumstances in support of immediate readmission. The decision of the Academic Suspension Appeals Committee, together with the materials presented by the student, shall be placed in the College’s official records. Additionally, a copy of the written decision shall be provided to the student. Equity, reasonableness, and consistency will be the standards by which such decisions are measured.