Student Handbook

2.16 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.

Performance Support

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 Performance Support term, the student must raise their CGPA to at least 2.00. If this condition is met, the student returns to Good Standing.

Performance Improving

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

Returning Support

Student is returning from Academic Suspension. By the conclusion of the Returning Support term, the student must raise their cumulative GPA to at least a 2.00. If this condition is met, the student returns to Good Standing. Otherwise, the student will be Performance Improving or Academic Suspension. 

Academic Suspension

If a student on Performance Support earns a TGPA of less than 2.00 for all classes attempted, the student will be suspended and will not be allowed to enroll at the college issuing the suspension for the next term unless an appeal is approved.

Academic Suspension Rules:

  • All academic suspensions are for one term only.
  • If a student who has served the suspension wishes to return, the student will be allowed to enroll only after meeting with an academic advisor. The student will be placed on Returning Support for their return semester.
  • Students who are suspended from one college are not suspended from other colleges within CCCS.

Academic Suspension Appeals:

  • Students may appeal their suspension based on procedures identified in the NJC Academic Standards Handbook (section 8.5).
  • If the student’s suspension appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Performance Support.
  • 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.