A “lecture” credit hour represents the equivalent of 15, 50-minute class meetings during a 15-week semester. A “lab” credit hour represents the equivalent of 45, 50minute class meetings during a 15-week semester.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE

　　Graduation, honors, probation, and dismissal are determined by a student’s Grade Point Average. This is obtained by multiplying the Grade Point Value by the number of credits assigned to a course, totaling the Grade Points (GP), and then dividing by the total number of credits.

GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING

　　To remain in good academic standing, students must make satisfactory progress towards completion of their degree. Satisfactory progress is measured by a qualitative standard (students must maintain a minimum GPA.)

QUALITATIVE STANDARD

　　Students must maintain a certain cumulative GPA by the completion of each semester of study. No student will be graduated with a cumulative GPA below 2.0. The prescribed minimum cumulative GPA is set forth below.

　　By the end of each semester listed, students must have achieved the cumulative GPA listed.

　　Students’ academic progress will be reviewed at the end of each semester.

The college considers a minimum of 12 credits to be a semester equivalent. Because the college does not transfer letter grades, students who transfer from another institution will be placed on the qualitative chart according to the semester that corresponds to the number of their accepted transfer credits. If they do not meet the corresponding required GPA at the end of their first semester, they will be placed on probation. They will have to meet the required standard at the end of their second semester in order to remain in good academic standing.

THE EFFECT OF WITHDRAWALS, REPEAT COURSES, INCOMPLETES, AND NONCREDIT REMEDIAL COURSES

　　A course with a grade of W or AW will be included as a course attempted. A grade of W will not be considered when calculating a student’s GPA. A course with a grade of I will be considered as a course attempted and will be calculated with a 0.0 GPA. A first-time repeated course will not be counted as a course attempted. Subsequent repeat attempts will be counted as courses attempted. A noncredit remedial course will not be considered when calculating a student’s GPA and will not be considered as a course attempted.

ACADEMIC ALERT

　　All students who have cumulative GPAs below 2.0 will be placed on academic alert. This status does not affect a student’s eligibility for financial aid. The academic alert status will enable the college to provide needed academic support and guidance to enable weak students to successfully complete their degree program.

DISMISSAL

　　A student who falls into one of the following categories will be subject to dismissal:

1. Students who fail to achieve the qualitative (cumulative GPA) standards discussed above will be dismissed.
2. Students who have not achieved a passing grade in a noncredit course after completing the course twice (not including semesters in which the student withdrew) will be subject to dismissal.

　　Students who are dismissed are not eligible for financial aid.

APPEAL OF DISMISSAL

　　Students have the right to appeal a dismissal to the academic office if unusual circumstances existed. Proof of such circumstances will be required.

REGAINING MATRICULATED STATUS

　　Students who have been dismissed may return as non-matriculated students, upon approval by the appropriate office, and register for courses at their own expense. Upon the satisfactory completion of these courses and meeting the required standards of progress, they may apply for a change from non-matriculated to matriculated status.