Policies and Procedures
COVER SHEET
| Policy Title: | 521 - Academic Standards, Renewal, and Distinction |
| Type of Policy: | Modification of an existing policy . |
| Draft Number and Date: | |||
| President's Council Sponsor: | Cory Duckworth | Ext. | 8335 |
| Policy Steward: | Janis Klingman | Ext. | 7196 |
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| Title | Academic Standards, Renewal, and Distinction | Number | 521 |
| Section | Student Affairs | Approval Date | May 01,2003 |
| Subsection | Academic Standards, Credits, and Grades | Effective Date | May 01,2003 |
A. This institution is committed to producing graduates who are competent in their chosen discipline or profession, cognizant of their social responsibilities, and committed to high ethical values and integrity of character. We encourage and support students in their efforts to maintain high academic standards and satisfactory academic progress. All students must meet at least minimum program requirements and stated academic standards in order to achieve their academic objectives. For those who do not meet these standards, we have instituted the Academic Standards Policy. This policy establishes and governs the academic standards for students at this institution.
A.
B. NWCCU (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Standard 3.D.4)
C. Utah Valley Strategic Planning – Center of Engagement (www.uvsc.edu/planning/ctrengagement/index.html)
A. Academic Probation: The Academic Standing of a student whose semester and cumulative GPA (grade point average) fall below a 2.0. The student is required to complete the Academic Success Probation Workshop.
B. Academic Standards Committee: A faculty senate committee consisting of one representative from each academic school. The committee is chaired by a faculty senator.
C. Academic Standing: Academic Standing is based on a student’s semester and cumulative GPA. The student’s standing determines the student’s eligibility to continue academic studies and graduate from the institution.
D. Academic Success Probation Workshop: An in-depth workshop designed to explain the institution’s Academic Standards Policy and discuss the resources available that will assist the student in overcoming challenges and to succeed academically.
E. Academic Success Warning Workshop: A basic workshop designed to explain the institution’s Academic Standards Policy and familiarize the student with the resources available that will assist the student in overcoming challenges and to succeed academically.
F. Academic Support Committee: A committee that consists of the Director of Academic Standards, members of the Academic Standards Office, and representatives from Accessibility Services, Multi-Cultural Center, and Student Health Services.
G. Academic Warning: The Academic Standing of a student whose semester GPA is below 2.0 and whose cumulative GPA is 2.0 or above. The student must complete an Academic Success Warning Workshop.
H. Alert: The Status of a student who is not making adequate progress towards course completion. An instructor may put a student on alert status when the instructor is unable to resolve the issue with the student.
I. College Success Class: Any college level class that the Academic Standards Committee may recommend to teach skills, strategies, or knowledge that may facilitate in a student’s academic progress.
J. Continued Dismissal: The Academic Standing of a student whose academic dismissal petition is granted by the Academic Standards Committee. The student is allowed to continue their academic studies.
K. Continued Probation: The Academic Standing of a student who is on Academic Probation status and fails to raise their cumulative GPA above 2.0 in a subsequent semester. The student must complete an in-progress grade report and may be required to complete the Academic Success Probation Workshop again.
L. Continued Suspension: The Academic Standing of a student whose academic suspension petition is granted by the Academic Standards Committee. The student is allowed to continue in their academic studies.
M. Dismissal: The Academic Standing of a student who fails to comply with the conditions set forth by the Academic Standards Committee while on Continued Suspension for a second time. The student will be administratively withdrawn from classes.
N. Good Standing: The Academic Standing of a student whose semester and cumulative GPA is 2.0 or above.
O. In-progress Grade Report: The institution’s official form to track a student’s academic grades and progress.
P. Petition for Dismissal Review: The institution’s official form to initiate the dismissal review process. The form is to be completed and submitted by a student to the Academic Standards Office.
Q. Petition for Suspension Review: The institution’s official form to initiate the suspension review process. The form is to be completed and submitted by a student to the Academic Standards Office.
R. Registration Hold: A hold placed on a student’s record that prevents registration until the issue is resolved with the appropriate department or advisor.
S. Success Plan: Specific steps and interventions that will assist in the student’s academic success. The success plan is created by the student, their academic school, their academic/major advisor, and/or an Academic Standards Counselor.
T. Suspension: The Academic Standing of a student who receives a semester and cumulative GPA below 2.0 in a subsequent semester when on Continued Probation or Continued Suspension. The student will be withdrawn from any classes and will need to remain un-enrolled for at least one full semester.
The mission of the Academic Standards Office at Utah Valley State College (UVSC) is to help students succeed academically. Students are considered to be succeeding academically if they continue in good standing (defined as earning a GPA of at least a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale), graduate, or leave UVSC in good standing. To this end, the following policies have been established:
ACADEMIC WARNING
1. A student with a current GPA below 2.0 will be on academic warning and will be required to attend a short workshop before the hold will be removed from his/her student record.
ACADEMIC PROBATION
1. A student with a cumulative GPA below the 2.0 minimum will be on academic probation.
2. A student will be removed from academic probation when their cumulative GPA and current GPA are 2.0 or above.
SUSPENSION
1. A student who fails to achieve both a current and cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 after two semesters of probation will be suspended from UVSC.
2. A student who has been suspended must petition the Academic Standards Committee in order to register for a subsequent semester.
3. If a student’s petition is granted, the conditions and length of probation will be determined by the Academic Standards Committee. When the student has completed the terms of probation and his/her grades are consistently above a 2.0 for at least two semesters, the student will be returned to good standing at UVSC.
DISMISSAL
When a student fails to comply with the terms of probation as determined by the Academic Standards Committee the student will be dismissed from UVSC. Such a student has exhausted his/her opportunity to study at UVSC in a degree-seeking program until he/she avails himself/herself of the appeals process.
RE-ADMISSION
Any student with a cumulative GPA below 2.0 who withdraws from UVSC must petition the Academic Standards Committee in order to be readmitted.
Students who withdraw from UVSC with a final semester GPA of less than 2.0 but have a cumulative GPA higher than a 2.0 will be readmitted on probation and must meet with their advisor to establish and academic plan.
A. This institution expects students to maintain high academic standards and make satisfactory progress towards their academic objectives. Faculty, advisors, and the Academic Standards Office will intervene when a student fails to meet these standards. These interventions will assist students in finding resources that will provide them the opportunity for success in their academic and career goals. Academic standing relates only to academic performance and is not related to any other misconduct. The Academic Standards Policy does not include specific program requirements that may be compulsory to specific majors.
Academic Standings progress in the following order:
1. Good Standing
2. Alert
3. Academic Warning
4. Academic Probation
5. Continued Probation
6. Suspension
7. Continued Suspension
8. Dismissal
9. Continued Dismissal
falls below Good Standing:
A. Alert
1. A registration hold is placed on the student’s record. The student must meet with their appropriate academic/major advisor for guidance in order to have the registration hold removed.
B. Academic Warning
1. A registration hold is placed on the student’s record. The student must complete the Academic Success Warning Workshop. The student must then meet with the appropriate academic/major advisor to remove the hold.
C. Academic Probation
1. A registration hold is placed on the student’s record. A student on probation must complete the Academic Success Probation Workshop, develop a success plan, and meet with their appropriate academic/major advisor to have the hold removed.
D. Continued Probation
1. A registration hold is placed on the student’s record. A student on Continued Probation must develop an academic success plan with their major advisor as well as the Academic Standards Counselor before the registration hold will be removed and the student will be eligible to register. The student may also be required to attend an Academic Success Probation Workshop and/or enroll in a college success class.
2. All students on Continued Probation will be required to submit an In-progress Grade Report to the Academic Standards Office in order to register for any subsequent semester(s). The student will continue to receive advisement from the Academic Standards Counselor, as well as their academic/major advisor, to assist them in future academic advancement.
E. Suspension
1. A student who has been suspended from the institution is immediately withdrawn from enrollment in all classes. A registration hold is placed on the student’s record. The student will be required to stay un-enrolled at the institution for a minimum of one full semester. During this time the student is expected to resolve all issues leading to the suspension. The student must critically examine reasons for failure and address the cause or causes of academic difficulties.
2. In order to return to the institution, a student must submit a “Petition for Suspension Review” to the Academic Standards Office by the deadlines outlined on the petition form. The petition should set forth the extenuating circumstances that led to the academic difficulties. Evidence should be presented that would indicate that the student has carefully considered and assessed educational objectives and has eliminated those factors that led to poor academic performance.
a. The Academic Support Committee will review the petition and suggest interventions. The Academic Standards Committee will then review the suggested interventions and determine which interventions will be required for re-admittance.
b. The student’s petition must include the following items:
(1) An explanation of what happened each semester to cause academic difficulties,
(2) An accounting of the actions they have taken to remedy the situation.
(3) An in-depth academic plan for the future.
3. The Academic Standards Committee will use this information to judge the likelihood of academic success. Upon review by both the Academic Support Committee and the Academic Standards Committee, a decision will be rendered as to if and under what conditions the student may continue to study at the institution.
4. Any student who returns to the institution after being suspended will be placed on Continued Suspension and will be required to follow the guidelines given by the Academic Standards Committee.
F. Continued Suspension
1. This status allows the student to register for classes under the guidance of the Academic Standards Office in conjunction with an academic/major advisor. The student must have completed the requirements set forth by the Academic Standards Committee before the hold is removed.
2. As long as the student receives a semester GPA of 2.0 or above in all subsequent semesters and abides by the conditions outlined by the Academic Standards Committee, the student may continue to enroll in classes. The student will remain on Continued Suspension status until the cumulative GPA is at or above a 2.0. The student will continue to receive advisement from the Academic Standards Office, as well as their academic/major advisor to assist them in future academic advancement.
3. The second time a student is suspended the student must remain un-enrolled for a minimum of two semesters before they are eligible to submit a “Petition for Suspension Review.”
G. Dismissal
1. A student who has been dismissed from the institution is immediately withdrawn from enrollment in all classes. A registration hold will be placed on the student’s record. The student must sit out a minimum of one full calendar year before the student is eligible to submit a “Petition for Dismissal Review.” The student may be required to complete 18 credits with a 2.5 or above GPA at another institution before becoming re-enrolled.
2. The students’ “Petition for Dismissal Review” must be presented for review to a panel that consists of the Academic Standards Committee, and the Academic Support Committee.
a. The student’s petition must include an explanation of what happened each semester to cause academic difficulties, actions they have taken to remedy the situation and an in-depth academic plan for the future and if required, evidence of completed course work at another institution. The Academic Standards Committee will use this information to judge the likelihood of academic success. Upon review by both the Academic Support Committee and the Academic Standards Committee a decision will be rendered as to whether or not, and under what conditions the student may continue to study at the institution.
b. Any student who returns to the institution after being dismissed will be placed on Continued Dismissal status and will be required to follow the guidelines set out by the Academic Standards Committee.
H. Continued Dismissal
1. This status allows the student to register for classes under the guidance of the Academic Standards Office in conjunction with their academic/major advisor. As long as the student receives a semester GPA of 2.0 or above in all subsequent semesters and abides by the conditions outlined by the Academic Standards Committee, the student may continue to enroll in classes.
2. The student will remain on Continued Dismissal status until the cumulative GPA is at or above 2.0. The student will continue to receive advisement from the Academic Standards Office, as well as their academic/major advisor, to assist them in future academic advancement. If a student is unsuccessful at this level and does not have the ability to benefit from continuing with their education at this institution, academic counseling will be provided by the Academic Standards Office to explore alternative pathways to success.
I. Exceptions and Appeals
1. If a student is subject to suspension or dismissal, a student may petition the Academic Standards Committee for an exception to the Academic Standards Policy. To do so, the student must submit a written appeal to the Academic Standards Director. The student may request that they be granted a hearing before the Academic Standards Committee.
2. The appeal should set forth the extenuating circumstances that would warrant the granting of a waiver of the processes or procedures normally required by the student’s academic standing. Evidence should be presented that would indicate that the student has carefully considered and reassessed their educational objectives and has eliminated those factors that led to poor academic performance.
3. If the student’s “Petition for Suspension Review”, “Petition for Dismissal Review”,or “Exception to Policy Appeal” is denied by the Academic Standards Committee then the student may present an appeal to a hearing panel that consists of the Academic Standards Committee, the Academic Support Committee, and a representative from Student Government. Once the petition is reviewed it will be determined whether or not, and under what conditions the student may return to the institution.
a. If the student is unsatisfied with the committee’s decision, the student has the right to appeal in writing to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Following a review of the appeal, the Vice President of Academic Affairs will make the final decision.
A student subject to suspension or dismissal may petition the Academic Standards Committee for an exception to the Academic Standards Policy. To do so, he/she must submit a written appeal to the Standards Coordinator. In this petition, the student may request that he/she be granted a hearing before the Academic Standards Committee. The petition should set forth the extenuating circumstances that would warrant the granting of a waiver of the student’s suspension, or dismissal status. Evidence should be presented which would indicate that the student has carefully considered and re-assessed the educational objectives and has eliminated those factors which led to suspension, or dismissal status. If a student is dissatisfied with the decision of the Academic Standards Committee, the student has the right to present a written appeal to the Vice President for Student Services, within two weeks following notification of the committee’s decision. Following a review of the appeal, the Vice President for Student services will make the final decision.