Mar 19, 2024  
Catalog/Handbook 2016-2017 
    
Catalog/Handbook 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Standards of Academic Progress


The term Standards of Academic Progress refers to the policies and procedures the College uses to define a student’s progress as he/she completes academic course work at the College. The Standards of Academic Progress apply to each credit student and that student’s full academic record regardless of the beginning date of attendance at the College.

The Standards of Academic Progress are designed to help the student monitor progress and standing with regard to the GPA requirement and graduation requirements. The Standards of Academic Progress are not reflected on the student’s official transcript, except in cases of suspension and dismissal. In determining academic progress, college credit, vocational credit, and developmental credit, all contribute to the academic status of the student.

The Standards of Academic Progress administered by Student Services differs from Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards (SAP) for Financial Aid eligibility, which is administered by Student Financial Services. A student may qualify to continue attending college but not qualify to receive financial aid because the two are different.

The seven (7) levels of academic standing for the Standards of Academic Progress are:

• Good Academic Standing
• Academic Warning
• Academic Probation
• Academic Suspension
• Probation After Suspension
• Academic Dismissal
• Probation After Dismissal

The College helps students monitor their standing and progress. The Student Services Department and the Student Financial Services Office evaluate Standards of Academic Progress and Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards  (SAP) three times a year: at the end of fall, spring, and summer terms. The Student Financial Services Office evaluates for the purposes of federal Title IV financial aid eligibility. The Student Services Department evaluates for the purposes of monitoring successful program completion.

At any time the student fails to maintain good academic standing, the student will receive communication regarding his or her academic status, what is required to return to good academic standing, and the effects of such status on the student’s federal Title IV financial aid eligibility. Communication is sent to the student’s college email address. The e-mail will identify whether the status refers to Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards (Student Financial Services Office) or Standards of Academic Progress (Students Services Office).

Standards of Academic Progress and Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards are imposed after the first earned credit hour. Students are on warning for Standards of Academic progress for not completing 50% of their term attempted to earned credit hours or if their overall GPA falls below a 2.0.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards (SAP)
To maintain SAP toward degree completion, the student must progress through program requirements at a rate that ensures educational program completion within the maximum timeframe of 150% of the length of the program. If the student’s completion calculation equals less than 66 2/3% the student is not maintaining SAP. SAP is calculated as follows:

 

Cumulative number of hours (not including college developmental courses) student successfully earned

divided by

Cumulative number of hours (not including college developmental courses) the student attempted

 

Developmental Definition: Developmental courses are college-preparatory courses that are not college-level and do not count toward the completion of a college degree or program. Developmental courses do not count toward the overall cumulative GPA. Developmental courses do count in the term GPA and contribute to the student’s academic status for financial aid eligibility in Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards.

TRANSFER STUDENTS
The College welcomes transfer applicants with demonstrated success at other institutions. Students who transfer from other institutions are bound by the College’s Standards of Academic Progress, and may enter the institution under one of five (5) levels of status:

• Good Academic Standing
• Academic Warning
• Academic Probation
• Probation After Suspension
• Probation After Dismissal

Students who are on Academic Suspension at the institution from which they are transferring may not enroll at Polk State College in the term immediately following the term in which the suspension was incurred. A student may, however, enroll under the appropriate status in the next succeeding term or subsequent terms thereafter.  Students who are on Academic Dismissal at the institution from which they are transferring may not enroll at Polk State College for one year after the term of dismissal.  Students may appeal to the Student Services Deans.