Academic Standards and Progress Policy

Beginning in the Spring 2021 semester, Northern Essex Community College is adopting the following Academic Standards and Progress Policy.  

All matriculated students at NECC are expected to meet the academic standards set by the College, and to achieve good academic standing in order to earn a degree or certificate. To be considered in good academic standing, a student must meet a minimum grade point average of 2.0. 

NOTE: Academic Standing is separate from Financial Aid Standing.  A student who receives Financial Aid will have their financial aid eligibility evaluated based on the criteria outlined by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. 

NECC recognizes three categories of Academic Standing: Academic Good Standing, Academic Probation, and Academic Suspension.  

A student’s academic record is reviewed and updated at the end of each term (Spring, Summer, and Fall) based on the criteria outlined in the table above. 

Academic Probation

A student in a degree or certificate program who fails to earn a Cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 2.0 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 Academic Probation. The letter will also explain the expectation and requirements of students on Academic Probation, such as meeting with an Academic Coach and credit limits (13 credits for the first semester of Academic Probation; 8 credits for the second semester.) 

A student is allowed two semesters to improve their GPA and move into Good Academic Standing. During each semester of Academic Probation, a student’s progress towards Good Standing will be determined based on their Term GPA. In order to be making adequate progress towards Good Standing, a student will need to earn a Term GPA of at least 2.0 and/or increase their Cumulative GPA to 2.0 or above. Students on Academic Probation will have limits to the number of credits they can take each semester; please see the chart above for specific information.

A student who is able to earn a Term GPA of 2.0 or higher for both probationary semesters will be allowed to continue on Academic Probation until their Cumulative GPA reaches 2.0 and they are in Good Academic Standing. 

A student who is unable to earn a Term GPA of 2.0 or higher for both probationary semesters will be Academically Suspended from the College.     

Academic Suspension

If after two semesters on Academic Probation, a student has not earned a Cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 and has not earned a Term GPA of 2.0, they will be 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.  They will receive a letter in the mail/email informing them of their Academic Suspension.  A student may appeal their Academic Suspension.  

Appealing Academic Suspension

Students are eligible to appeal their first Academic Suspension from the college without a waiting period.  A student appealing their Academic Suspension cannot register for classes until their appeal has been approved by the committee.  To submit an appeal, please complete the form below and submit it to academicstanding@necc.mass.edu with any relevant documentation by the due date indicated on the form.

Academic Standards and Progress Appeal 2021 Form

A student who also needs to appeal a Financial Aid Suspension cannot do so until after their Academic Suspension appeal has been approved.  Please see the Financial Aid webpage for additional information. 

If no appeal is filed by the due date indicated o the forms, any student on Academic Suspension will be automatically dropped from any upcoming courses for which they are registered. This is to ensure students are not billed for courses they may not participate in. Students who do file an appeal will remain registered until the appeal is reviewed and a decision returned to the student in writing.

Returning from Suspension 

If a student successfully appeals their suspension, they are allowed to return to the college but must follow an established academic plan.  Please also note: 

• During their first semester returning from academic suspension, students are limited to 8 credits.
• A student will not be able to register for additional classes until their semester grades have posted; they will not be able to register online. 
• A student will not be allowed to take a summer course if they are suspended in the immediately preceding spring term, due to the short amount of time between the two semesters in which to approve or deny appeals.  

Subsequent Semesters

At the end of the first Special Probation semester, a student’s academic progress is evaluated.  If a student is still not meeting Academic Policy standards at the end of their first semester returning from Academic Suspension, the conditions of their appeal are reviewed.  A student who is Academically Suspended for a second time may not submit an appeal for one calendar year.  A student who is able to earn at least a 2.0 Term GPA will be allowed to continue in a probationary capacity until they achieve a Cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.