Academic Standards and Progress Policy

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

  1. Submit a type-written letter of appeal to the Academic Progress Review Committee by the deadline stated in the letter in the email. 
  2. Include “official” supporting documentation on organization letterhead from a service provider, clergy, the court system, law enforcement, academic advisors, or counselors. Supporting documentation cannot be from family members.
  3. Notification of the committees’ decision is sent to students in writing. 

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:

  • Is not allowed to study abroad, participate in NECCUM cross registration, CO-OP, Internships, Disney, etc.
  • Is not allowed to take more than 8 credits during their first semester of Special Probation
  • Is not allowed to take 100% online courses
  • Is not allowed to take summer courses
  • Is not allowed to register online
  • Cannot register for the next semester until after grades are posted for the current semester
  • Must follow their academic plan and participate in academic coaching
  • Must complete the semester with a term GPA of 2.0 or higher and 100% completion rate.

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.

  • If the conditions of the appeal are not met, the student is placed back on Academic Suspension (See Above). 
  • If the conditions of the appeal are met, the student continues to be on Special Probation until they meet the Academic Standards Policy. 

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.