Academic Standards Handbook

3.15 Academic Progress

Overview:  Recognizing the value of measuring academic progress for all students, the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) has established the following practice and procedures for measuring and notifying students of their academic standing.  This procedure is intended to be informational and helpful, but also establishes clear standards of academic progress that must be met and maintained in order to be a successful student in our colleges.  CCCS colleges are encouraged to devise and implement appropriate Academic Alert strategies early in the term to assist students who are experiencing academic difficulties. A student’s academic standing at one college will impact their academic standing at another CCCS institution.

Process: For students who have attempted fewer than 9 credit hours, the college will monitor satisfactory progress through an Academic Alert process.  These students are not subject to Academic Standing.

Academic Standing applies to all students who have attempted 9 or more credits at a CCCS college, regardless of the number of term credits they attempt from that point forward.  Academic Standing shall be applied consistently and uniformly within each CCCS institution.  All colleges will determine Academic Standing following the posting of the majority of term grades for each semester. Students placed on probation or suspended will be notified of their status. Suspended students will not be allowed to attend any CCCS college in the subsequent semester/s unless an appeal is approved.  Academic Standing status will be noted on the advising, official, and unofficial transcripts. The Academic Standing of a student is not specific or limited to the home institution; it does impact a student’s enrollment at other CCCS colleges.

Definitions:

Only college level classes will be used to calculate term and cumulative GPA’s. 

This includes summer term courses.

Only courses taken “in residence” will be used for this procedure; “In residence” means taken at the student’s home institution.  Courses taken elsewhere and transferred in do not apply.  The GPA calculations for this procedure may not match those used for financial aid purposes or athletic eligibility.

Cumulative Grade Point Average will be abbreviated as CGPA.

Term Grade Point Average will be abbreviated as TGPA.

Practice standards:

Initial Standing

Student has attempted fewer than 9 cumulative credit hours with a CGPA => 2.00 for all classes attempted.

Academic Alert

Student has attempted fewer than cumulative 9 credits with a CGPA < 2.00 for all classes attempted.

Good Standing

Student has attempted at least 9 cumulative credit hours and has a CGPA => 2.00 for all classes attempted.

Probation

Student has attempted at least 9 cumulative credit hours and has a CGPA < 2.00 for all classes attempted. 

Returning to Good Standing

By the conclusion of the Academic Probation term, the student must raise their CGPA to at least 2.0.  If this condition is met, the student returns to Good Standing.

Probation (continuing)

If a student on Academic Probation earns a TGPA of at least 2.00 for all classes attempted during the term, but fails to raise their CGPA to at least 2.0 for all classes attempted, the student will be allowed to attend the next term, but will remain on Academic Probation.

Suspension

If a student on Academic Probation earns a TGPA of less than 2.0 for all classes attempted, the student will be suspended and will not be allowed to enroll at any CCCS college for the next term, excluding summer term (as summer term may not be used as a “suspension term”). 

Suspension Rules:

  • Summer term may not be used as a “suspension term”.
  • Summer term may be used to remediate (improve) the GPA.  If a student wishes to enroll for summer term after being suspended, they will need to follow their home institution’s process.
  • If a student who is placed on academic suspension for a fall term takes summer classes and their cumulative GPA is raised to 2.0 or greater following the posting of their summer grades, then that student will no longer be on suspension for the upcoming fall term. If, following the posting of grades for the summer term, the cumulative GPA remains below 2.0, then the student will remain on academic suspension for fall. They must appeal to be considered for readmission for the fall term.
  • Initial suspension is for one term, excluding summer term.
  • A second suspension is for two terms, excluding summer term.
  • If a student, who has served the suspension time for initial suspension or second suspension, wishes to return, the student will be allowed to re-enroll only after meeting with an academic advisor at the CCCS college they wish to attend.  The student will be placed on Academic Probation.
  • A third suspension is for two full years, or 4 academic terms excluding summers. 
  • If a student, who has served the third suspension time of two years, wishes to return, the student must meet with an advisor from the CCCS college the student wishes to attend in order to get their suspension hold removed. 

Suspension Appeals:

  • Students may appeal their suspension based on procedures identified in the NJC Academic Standards Handbook (p. 63; section 8.5)
  • If the student’s suspension appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Academic Probation.
  • If the student’s suspension appeal is not approved, the student may be dropped from all courses registered for in upcoming terms at their home college.   Students are ultimately responsible for their enrollment and need to check their enrollment schedule for accuracy.
  • The student needs to check with NJC Student Services regarding enrolling for summer term classes.