Academic Progress Policy

This Academic Progress Policy applies to both full-time and part-time matriculated undergraduate students enrolled in the School of Human Services at Springfield College. (In order to be considered a full-time student at Springfield College, a student must enroll in and complete 12 credit hours in a term.) A student is matriculated if he or she received official acceptance into Springfield College through the admissions process as a degree-seeking student.

A matriculated undergraduate student enrolled in the School of Human Services must have a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.000 to graduate from Springfield College. The 2.000 cumulative GPA is the minimum standard for the College; academic programs may have higher standards for entrance into or continuation in their programs. Students must verify program standards with their campus director.

The following pages contain information about these topics:

A student whose cumulative GPA is above the minimum standards (as noted below) and who has successfully completed 75 percent of all Springfield College credits attempted (as noted below under percent success rate) is considered to be making satisfactory academic progress at the College.

Cumulative GPA Requirement: A student is expected to achieve the Colleges minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 by the time 60 credits of coursework have been attempted for completion. Prior to that point, the cumulative GPA required is slightly below the standard of 2.00; however, the criterion cumulative GPA is increased as a student progresses through the academic program.

There are three minimum cumulative GPAs that students must meet, depending on the number of credit hours they have attempted. (Credits attempted for completion include Springfield College courses graded A through F plus transfer credits that have been accepted by the College.) Those minimum cumulative GPAs are as follows:

Percent Success Rate Requirement: In addition to the required minimum cumulative GPA, a student is expected to complete with a passing grade (A through D-) at least 75 percent of all credits attempted for completion at Springfield College (not including transfer courses), as calculated at each specified point of academic progress review.

A students cumulative GPA is calculated using the quality points for the grades A through F received in a Springfield College course divided by the number of credits a student has attempted for completion at Springfield College.

The calculation for the 75 percent pass rate in credit hours attempted for completion includes the Springfield College credit hours for which a student received a grade of A through D- and P divided by the total number of credits the student has attempted for completion at Springfield College, including courses in which a grade of F, I, CP or * was recorded.

All students are subject to academic progress review by the Records
Review Committee at each Review Point specified in the schedule below.
Review Point 1: On or after the completion of a minimum of 12 credits at Springfield College;
Review Point 2: On or after the completion of a minimum of 24 credits at Springfield College;
Review Point 3: On or after the completion of a minimum of 36 credits at Springfield College;
Review Point 4: On or after the completion of a minimum of 48 credits at Springfield College;
Review Point 5: On or after the completion of a minimum of 60 credits at Springfield College;
Review Point 6: On or after the completion of a minimum of 72 credits at Springfield College;
Review Point 7: On or after the completion of a minimum of 84 credits at Springfield College;
Review Point 8: On or after the completion of a minimum of 96 credits at Springfield College;
Review Point 9: On or after the completion of a minimum of 108 credits at Springfield College.

The Academic Alert is designed to notify the student that he/she is not making continuous progress toward a degree and to encourage that student to seek academic support. At the end of any term in which a student is not subject to a Review Point evaluation, a student will be placed on academic alert if he/she falls or continues below the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards, either in cumulative GPA or in percent success rate. A student under academic alert continues by definition under the classification from the prior review point. This action is advisory and will not be recorded on the students academic transcript.

At any Academic Progress Review Point, a student will be given an academic warning the first time he/she fails to meet the minimum required satisfactory academic progress standards. A student affected by this action will maintain matriculation status. If otherwise qualified for financial aid, the student will remain eligible for financial aid probation. Academic Warning will not be recorded on the students academic transcript. A student will be removed from Academic Warning when he/she has successfully met the appropriate satisfactory academic progress standards, through the completion of an incomplete or through the removal of an unsatisfactory grade received at Springfield College by coursework transferred from another accredited institution.

At any Academic Progress Review Point, a student will be placed on academic probation if either of the following conditions is met:

Condition 1: The student received an Academic Warning at any previous Academic Progress Review Point and has failed to meet the required satisfactory academic progress standard. A student meeting this condition will be ineligible for financial aid but may apply for financial aid probation. Appeals for financial aid probation must be made in writing to the instructional campus. If the campus approves the request, it will be submitted for approval to the School of Human Services. The School of Human Services will notify the financial aid office of the recommendation for financial aid probation. A student affected by this action will maintain matriculation status.

Condition 2: The student has not previously received an Academic Warning, but his/her cumulative GPA is below 1.000. A student meeting this condition will be ineligible for financial aid but is encouraged to apply for financial aid probation. Appeals for financial aid probation must be made in writing to the instructional campus. If the campus approves the request, it will be submitted for approval to the School of Human Services. The School of Human Services will notify the financial aid office of the recommendation for financial aid probation. A student affected by this action will maintain matriculation status.

A student placed on Academic Probation (Condition 1 or 2) is not making satisfactory academic progress. This action will be recorded on the students academic transcript. A student on probation may be required to take certain courses, limit the number of courses taken or fulfill other conditions specified by the Records Review Committee or its designee.

A student will be removed from Academic Probation when he or she has successfully met the appropriate satisfactory academic progress standards, through the completion of an incomplete, or through the removal of an unsatisfactory grade received at Springfield College by coursework transferred from another accredited institution. When a student is removed from academic probation it will be so noted on the transcript.

At any Academic Progress Review Point, a student who is currently on Academic Probation and has failed to meet the applicable Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard will be dismissed. This action will be recorded on the students academic record. A student who is dismissed may not take courses at Springfield College for three academic terms following dismissal, but may reapply for admission thereafter. When the student is readmitted to the College, the student will be placed on academic probation, unless he/she has achieved the applicable Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards through course work transferred from another accredited institution.

A student who has been dismissed may appeal the dismissal in person or by letter to the SHS campus Academic Standards Committee. The timeline for the appeal will be specified in the letter of notification of dismissal. Such an appeal should contain information about circumstances affecting the students academic performance and the students plans to remedy the situation. If the appeal is granted, the student will be placed on Academic Probation and may be required to take certain courses, limit the number of courses taken or fulfill other conditions specified by the campus Academic Standards Committee or its designee. This appeal will be noted on the students academic record.

If the students appeal is not granted, and he/she has reasonable grounds to file a grievance, the student should notify the vice president for academic affairs of his/her desire to grieve the campus Academic Standards Committees decision. The notification must be in writing and be postmarked or received within seven (7) business days of notification of the campus Academic Standards Board action.

Reasonable grounds for a grievance include:

• new information regarding the students academic progress not made available to the campus Academic Standards Committee;
• procedural irregularities or improper application of the policy;
• imposition of an improper or excessive sanction.

If reasonable grounds exist, the vice president for academic affairs will review the students appeal and take appropriate action or refer the appeal back to the SHS campus Academic Standards Committee.

Current page: Policies and Procedures  > Academic Progress Policy