Academic Standing

Graduate and Undergraduate Academic Standing and Classification

Classification:

First-Year: Fewer than 25 credits earned.

Sophomore: 25-55 credits earned.

Junior: 56-86 credits earned.

Senior: 87 or more credits earned.

Students are in good academic standing when both the term and cumulative (overall) Grade Point Averages (GPAs) are at least 2.00. Good academic standing is required for graduation.

At the end of each fall and spring term, the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies (AS&P) examines the records of those students who have earned a term or cumulative GPA below 2.00 and also examines the records of students previously placed on academic warning or probation. Academic action by the Committee is based not only on the academic record, but also includes input from the offices of Residence Life, Accessibility Services, Student Life, the Student Success Center, and students' instructors and advisors regarding issues such as attendance, completion of assigned coursework, and matters from outside the classroom that may have affected students' academic success. Based on all of the information provided, students are placed on academic warning, academic probation, or are dismissed from the College. If students who were previously on warning or probation and are now in good academic standing based on their term and cumulative GPAs being a 2.0 or above, their records are updated accordingly as well.

While the AS&P examines students' term and cumulative grade point averages and determines academic standing for students, individual academic departments also review the GPAs of students in their majors at the end of each term. Based on their review, departments may take action concerning students' status within their majors if students do not meet the academic standards set for each program. Departmental reviews of students' status in their majors operate independently from the end-of-term records reviews conducted by AS&P.

Students are placed on academic warning if their semester Grade Point Average (GPA) falls below 2.00 and/or the end-of-term records review by the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies raises concern about a student’s overall academic progress. Students placed on warning are informed of their status in a notification sent to the student with their academic advisor copied. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor to determine how best to improve their future academic performance. Possible action steps to take may include, but are not limited to, taking GNST 101 the following semester, adjusting future schedules to ensure a manageable workload, contacting the Student Success Center to schedule ongoing students success coaching meetings, identifying helpful resources, developing better time-management and study strategies, and/or speaking with individual instructors about ways to succeed.

At the end of each term, the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies reviews the records of students on academic warning. On the basis of this review, the committee may recommend:

An end to the warning period; Students will come off academic warning if their semester GPA raises to a 2.00 or above.

Continued warning:

Students will be placed on continued warning if their semester GPA falls below 2.00 for another consecutive fall or spring semester.

Academic probation:

Failure to improve semester GPA may result in the student being placed on continued warning or academic probation. See below section for additional information on probation.

Students are placed on academic probation if their cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) falls below 2.00 and/or the end-of-term records review by the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies raises concerns about a student’s overall academic progress. Students placed on academic probation are informed of their status in a notification sent to the student with their academic advisor copied. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor to determine how best to improve their future academic performance. Students placed on academic probation are encouraged to participate in the Academic Success Program during the following academic term, which includes enrolling in GNST 101 (if they have not successfully passed the course) and meet regularly with a success coach. These coaching sessions are designed to help students improve their academic skills and academic standing. In addition, students should retake FYS 101 or FYE 101 if they have not already successfully passed the course.

Students on academic probation are required to demonstrate significant academic improvement and to earn a semester Grade Point Average high enough to allow for a cumulative GPA of a 2.00 or above within two terms. Additionally, students on probation are limited to taking no more than 14 credits during a standard fall or spring semester. Twelve credits are required to be full-time; no more than 14 credits are permitted without the student petitioning for a credit increase to the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies.

At the end of each term, the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies reviews the records of students on academic probation, and their participation in the Academic Success Program is considered. On the basis of this review, the committee may recommend:

An end to the probationary period; Students will come off probation if their cumulative and semester GPA raise to a 2.00 or above.

Continued probation:

Students will be placed on continued probation if their cumulative and/or semester GPA are still below 2.00 for another consecutive fall or spring semester.

Dismissal:

Students will be dismissed from the College if they are on probation for at least two semesters, or if the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies determines that the student is not making satisfactory academic progress. See below section for additional information on dismissal.

Academic Dismissal:

Students are academically dismissed from Hood College if the end-of-term records review by the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies raises concerns about a student’s overall

academic progress. The College may at any time dismiss a student who is not making satisfactory academic progress as described here. When dismissing students from the College, factors that the Committee may consider include but are not limited to total credits attempted, term GPAs, cumulative GPA, academic standings after each fall and spring term, progression within their major and towards degree completion, and feedback from instructors, faculty advisors, and Student Success. Students who are dismissed from the College may not enroll in classes as a non-degree seeking student.

Students academically dismissed from the College are informed of their status in a notification sent to the student with their advisor copied. The notification also provides information for the student to appeal their dismissal, if they so choose, by a strict deadline. Guidance on dismissal appeals is described below.

Dismissal Appeals:

If a student wishes to appeal their academic dismissal from Hood College, they may petition to the Committee on Academic Standards and Policies. Appeals for reinstatement following dismissal must be submitted by the deadline as outlined in the dismissal notification sent to the student. All dismissal appeals must include discussion of specific action steps that students will take to achieve academic success in the future. Students are encouraged to share any extenuating circumstances that may have impacted their academic progress, and how these circumstances have been addressed or will be addressed in future terms. The challenges of extenuating personal circumstances that students may be experiencing are factored into every decision on dismissal and appeal. If the AS&P Committee approves the dismissal appeal, the student remains at Hood on academic probation. If AS&P denies the dismissal appeal, the Provost reviews the petition and makes the final decision.

Students whose dismissal appeals are approved remain at the College for at least one term on a probationary basis. Failure to comply with the conditions specified in the letter allowing students to remain at the College may result in their dismissal at the end of the probationary term.

Undergraduate Dismissal and Reinstatement:

Students who are dismissed from Hood College for academic reasons may petition for reinstatement after completing a minimum of one full-time semester (12 credits or more) at another accredited institution and receiving no grade below a C.

The following is the procedure for possible reinstatement:

1) The student fills out the readmission request form online to request permission to return to Hood.

2) The student provides transcripts of coursework attempted elsewhere and any other pertinent information.

3) The Committee on Academic Standards and Policies reviews the request and makes a decision regarding reinstatement.

A student who is dismissed and then reinstated will be placed on academic probation as they return to Hood. Reinstatement does not automatically reinstate financial aid. The student must notify the Office of Financial Aid to determine eligibility as a returning student.

If a student is dismissed for nonacademic reasons, the student must request, in writing, permission to return to Hood to the dean of students. The dean of students will then decide if the student may be reinstated.

Financial Aid Implications:

Financial aid recipients are required to be in good academic standing and maintain satisfactory academic progress toward degree requirements. Please refer to the financial aid section of the catalog for financial implications.

For additional information, please refer to the college catalog.

A student whose cumulative grade point average (GPA) is 3.0 or higher is in good academic standing, which is required for graduation. In accordance with the Degree Requirements policy, a 3.0 GPA is required for all courses applied to each degree or certificate program. If a student’s GPA drops below 3.0, he or she will be placed on academic warning. The GPA must be restored to 3.0 within 9 credits completed from the term in which the GPA fell below 3.0. The 3.0 average may be restored by repeating courses or by taking additional courses. There are no limitations to the number of times a student can fall below 3.0 and restore their GPA. However, no more than 3 courses or 9 credits beyond those required for the degree can be used to raise the GPA, unless an extended academic warning is granted. Any additional coursework taken outside of the degree requirements and outside of the academic department, for the purpose of raising the GPA, must be approved by the program director prior to enrollment. Students who receive veterans' (VA) benefits or federal student loans should consult with the Office of Financial Aid prior to enrolling in any coursework outside of their program to ensure it is permissible. All coursework taken towards degree/program completion must be completed within the time limit policy.

If a student is at risk of being academically dismissed, they can request to transfer to another degree program more suitable to their academic background and needs (see Changing from One Degree Program to Another section). Any credits earned in the original program that will apply to the new program will be calculated in the cumulative GPA. As part of Hood's Fresh Start policy, grades from the original program that are not applied to the new program, will not be calculated in the cumulative GPA, though they will remain on the transcript for historical purposes.

A student on academic warning who does not restore the GPA to 3.0 as required will be dismissed from the College. A student may appeal academic dismissal as outlined in Exceptions to Academic Policies, Regulations or Requirements. Students who are dismissed from the College for poor academic performance in a particular program may apply to a different program for possible reinstatement to the College. In such cases, students will be required to submit a new application via the online software at www.hood.edu/gradapply. Original transcripts will have to be re-submitted as these documents are shredded after admission into a previous program. However, if accepted, only 6 credits of relevant, previous graduate coursework within the last five years (with grades of B or better) can be transferred into the new program with approval from the new program director. In addition, the seven-year time limit for degree completion starts anew with enrollment in the new program. As part of Hood's Fresh Start policy, grades from the program in which the student was dismissed will not be calculated in the cumulative GPA, unless they are part of the 6 credits transferred in as described above. However, all courses from the previous program will remain on the transcript for historical purposes. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation.

A student who has been found to be in violation of the Graduate School's regulations of academic and/or student conduct will be dismissed from the program and from the College (see Graduate Student Conduct and Violations of Academic Conduct sections). A student may appeal academic dismissal as outlined in Exceptions to Academic Policies, Regulations or Requirements. Students who are dismissed from the College for academic and/or student conduct violations may not enroll in another graduate program or as a non-degree seeking student.