CALCULATING THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)
student remains on probation until the cumulative GPA is raised to at least 2.0.
The GPA is calculated by dividing the total grade points by the total GPA hours in the following manner: 1. Grade points are calculated by multiplying the number of credit hours for an individual course by the point value assigned to the grade. For example, a three-credit-hour course with a grade of C, (point value of 2) equals 6 grade points. (See above for points awarded for each letter grade.) 2. To determine the GPA, the total number of grade points earned in all courses is divided by the total number of credit hours attempted.
Students serving a probationary semester are subject to academic suspension at the close of that semester if, based on at least 36 hours of all course work attempted, their cumulative GPA is less than 2.0. Academic suspension means that a student may not enroll in courses at SFCC for a specified time. The duration of an initial suspension is one semester; the duration of any subsequent suspension is two regular semesters. After the specified time has elapsed, the student will be placed on probation and will be subject to the requirements listed under probation and/or suspension.
FACULTY-‐INITIATED WITHDRAWAL Students are responsible for meeting deadlines for dropping and withdrawing from classes without penalty. Faculty has the discretion to withdraw a student if the student stops attending or never attended during the period before the withdrawal deadline. The instructor will attempt to contact the student prior to initiating the withdrawal. Students may also request to be withdrawn at the Welcome and Advising Center due to special circumstances that are outside their control within the current semester.
DEAN’S LIST Every fall and spring semester, students who have taken a minimum of 9 credit hours of course work and who earn a current term GPA of 3.5 or above are placed on the Dean’s List. Pass/Fail courses are not considered in the GPA or the 9 credits as there are no point values attached. Students who attain this academic distinction are notified by a letter from the dean of the school in which they have declared their major, or, if they are undeclared, from the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Core Studies.
ACADEMIC PROBATION AND SUSPENSION Students will be placed on academic probation at the end of any semester in which their cumulative GPA (based on at least 16 semester hours of all course work attempted) is less than 2.0 Probationary status serves as a red flag that a student is not earning sufficiently high grades to graduate. Students on probation are encouraged to meet with an adviser or counselor to discuss academic planning and support needs. Students on academic probation at SFCC may continue to enroll in classes, provided they maintain a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher. Otherwise, they are subject to academic suspension (see below). No student on probation will be allowed to take more than 12 credit hours during a regular semester or six credit hours during a summer session, except by permission of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The 9
Academic Violations Students have a duty to be honest in their academic endeavors and to maintain academic integrity. If there is a violation related to an academic issue, the faculty member teaching the course may give the student a verbal warning. The faculty member will meet with the student, explain the nature of the unsatisfactory performance or behavioral issue and indicate future expectations of the student. The student will have the opportunity in the meeting to discuss the issues raised with the faculty member and clarify expectations.
STUDENT APPEALS Academic Appeals To make an academic appeal, a student should take the following steps: 1. The student must first present the appeal in writing to the faculty member involved. The faculty member either approves or denies the appeal. 2. If the written appeal is not resolved at this level, the student may then present the appeal to the appropriate Dean. 3. If the appeal is still not resolved, the student may then present the appeal in writing to the Vice President for Learning. The decision of the Vice President is final. Grade Appeals Only a student or faculty member may initiate a request for a change of grade, and such a change must be initiated within the first academic year after the grade is given. To make a grade appeal, the student should take the following steps: 1. The student must appeal to the faculty member for a grade change. 2. If the matter is not resolved, the student may then appeal to the appropriate department chair. 3. If the matter is not resolved by the department chair, the student may then appeal to the appropriate Dean, who will mediate the appeal.