Academic Standards and Progress Policy

ACADEMIC STANDING PILOT
Spring 2020 Semester Only

Northern Essex Community College is conducting an Academic Standing Pilot for the Spring 2020 semester in order to assess the academic support needs of students. This pilot is only for students who were enrolled for the Fall 2019 semester and are continuing their enrollment in the Spring 2020 semester. For these students, the following academic standard applies:

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) = 2.0 or greater Good Academic Standing

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) = 1.99 or below Academic Probation

All other students, the Academic Standards and Progress Policy below applies.

NOTE: Students receiving Financial Aid, including those in the Spring 2020 pilot, will have their financial aid eligibility evaluated based on the Academic Standards and Progress Policy below. 

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Academic Standards and Progress Policy 

Northern Essex Community College is conducting an Academic Standing Pilot for the Spring 2020 semester in order to assess the academic support needs of students. This pilot is only for students who were enrolled for the Fall 2019 semester and are continuing their enrollment in the Spring 2020 semester. For these students, the following academic standard applies:

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) = 2.0 or greater Good Academic Standing

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) = 1.99 or below Academic Probation

All other students, the Academic Standards and Progress Policy below applies.

NOTE: Students receiving Financial Aid, including those in the Spring 2020 pilot, will have their financial aid eligibility evaluated based on the Academic Standards and Progress Policy below.

All matriculated students at NECC are expected to meet academic standards set by the college and to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress towards earning a degree or certificate. To be considered in good academic standing students must meet a minimum grade point average requirement and completed credit requirements. 

STANDARD 1: Grade point average (GPA)

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 1.8. 

NOTE: Eligibility for graduation from all Associate Degree programs and Certificates requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 and completion of all stated program requirements (See Graduation Requirements of the Academic Policies for more details).

STANDARD 2: Credit Completion

The pace at which a student progresses through a program is calculated by dividing the total number of credits the student has successfully completed by the total number of credits attempted. All periods of enrollment count when assessing progress, including all credits transferred into NECC. A student must successfully complete (with letter grades A, B, C, or D) two-thirds or 67% of all credits attempted.

EXAMPLE:  A student who has attempted three (3), 3 credit courses for a total of 9 credits must successfully complete 6 credits (6/9 or 2/3rds) to meet this standard. A student who has attempted 10 credits but only completes 6 credits (6/10 or 60%) would not meet this standard. 

Attempted Credits: All credits in which a student has registered are considered attempted credits whether or not the course is completed. Repeated courses as well as grades of F, course withdrawals (W), courses from which a student has been dropped for non-participation (NW), and courses that are not completed (I) at the end of the semester are included as attempted.

Incomplete Credits (I): Credits which are attempted but not completed (I) are included as attempted credits. If the course remains incomplete by the end of the following term (the end of spring semester for fall classes and the end of fall semester for spring classes and summer classes) the class is coded as a failure (F). 

Repeated Credits: These credits are included in the calculation for both attempted and earned credits. 

Transfer Credits:  All transfer credits that have been or could be applied to the student’s current program of study are considered when calculating the maximum time frame requirements for a program.  

Academic Standards Review

A student’s academic record is reviewed and updated at the end of each term (Spring, Summer, and Fall) based on the following standards:

Academic Probation

Any student in a degree or certificate program who fails to meet Standards 1 and/or 2 of the Academic Standards Policy for the first time is formally placed on Academic Probation, and will receive a letter in the mail/email informing them that they are on Probation.  A student will be allowed to enroll in an additional semester to improve the standard(s) they did not meet.  Students will be referred to Academic Coaching for additional supports but it is not required.

Academic Suspension

If standards 1 and/or 2 are not met after a student is placed on Academic Probation, the student is placed on Academic Suspension. A student placed on Academic Suspension is no longer eligible to register for classes or receive any form of financial aid if using financial aid (loans, grants or scholarships) to cover the cost of their program.  The student will receive a letter in the mail/email with the information that either or both standards have not been met. A student may appeal their Academic Suspension.

The Appeal Process

    Special Probation

    If a student successfully appeals their suspension, they are placed on Special Probation and must follow an established academic plan. While on Special Probation a student:

      With the approval of the Director of Academic Advising, in collaboration with your academic or faculty advisor, students may be permitted to take a 12 week summer course and/or online courses.  

      Subsequent Semesters

      At the end of the first Special Probation semester, the student’s academic progress is evaluated.  If the student is still not meeting Academic Policy standards at the end of the Special Probation semester, the conditions of their appeal are reviewed.

        ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID

        Standard 3: Maximum Timeframe (150% Rule)

        Students receiving financial aid must complete their program within 150% of the published length of the educational program. Part-time attendance counts in the maximum time-frame calculation.  Students who do not complete their program within this time-frame are no longer eligible to receive financial aid.  Up to 30 developmental credits and all ESL courses are exempt from this requirement.

        Transfer Credits:  All transfer credits that have been or could be applied to the student’s current program of study are considered in calculating the maximum time-frame requirements for the program.  

        Program changes: All attempted and earned credits (including grades of F, W, NW, I and repeats) that have been or could be applied to the new program of study are considered in calculating the maximum time-frame requirements for the new program.  

        A student who fails to meet Standard 3 is placed on Financial Aid Suspension. A student may appeal a financial aid suspension by submitting the Financial Aid Suspension Appeal Form and all supporting documentation to the Office of Student Financial Services.