Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Undergraduate Students

All Columbia College students, full-time and part-time, must meet the College's guidelines for satisfactory academic progress (SAP).

All students are required to be in good standing and to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their degree requirements each semester in which they are enrolled.

Satisfactory academic progress is evaluated three times a year, after the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Failure to maintain satisfactory progress may result in academic dismissal and/or the loss of financial aid eligibility.

MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Columbia College Chicago's requirements for minimum satisfactory academic progress are as follows:

1. Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA).

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, a "C" average, each semester they are enrolled.
Grades earned at another institution will not be included in the Columbia grade point average.

2. Minimum completion rate.

Students must successfully complete two-thirds (67%) of their attempted semester hours each semester they are enrolled.
Transfer credit accepted from an accredited post-secondary institution will be included in the determination of completion rate. Accepted transfer credit will be the only component of a previous academic record to be incorporated into the academic completion rate upon enrollment at Columbia.

3. Maximum time frame to degree completion.

Columbia students are allowed to attempt a maximum of 186 credits toward degree completion.
Federal regulations require that the College track the academic progress of financial aid recipients from the first date of enrollment whether or not financial aid was received. Therefore, transfer credits, and all other credit sources, will be included in the computation of student completion rate.
Students, whose attempted credits, including transfer credit exceed a total of 186, will be immediately dismissed and suspended from receiving any further federal financial aid. There are no probationary terms for exceeding the maximum credits allowed for degree completion.

4. Minimum fourth semester GPA (FSAP).

All students receiving federal financial aid must have a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average at the end of their fourth semester to remain eligible for financial aid. There are no probationary terms for FSAP compliance.

TREATMENT OF W, I, NG, P, F, and GRADES REPORTED

1. Course withdrawals (W), courses dropped after the add/drop period are not included in the GPA calculation but are considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.
2. Incomplete (I) grades are not included in the GPA calculation but are considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.
3. Unreported grades (NG) are not included in the grade point average but are considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.
4. Pass (P) grades are not included in the GPA calculation but are considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.
5. Grades of A, B, C, and D (including pluses and minuses) are included in the grade point calculation and are considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.
6. Failure grades (F) are included in the computation of the grade point average and they are considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.

CONSORTIUM/STUDY ABROAD COURSEWORK

All coursework enrolled at institutions other than Columbia under either a Consortium or Study Abroad agreement is included in the evaluation of a student's academic progress. Students who have been dismissed from Columbia due to SAP compliance may not apply for Consortium or Study Abroad agreements.

REPEATED COURSE GRADES

Students are permitted to repeat courses that are not designated as R (repeatable). The course must be the equivalent title as the initial failed course.
The grade achieved in the repeated course (whether higher, lower, or the same) is included in the computation of the grade point average and is considered in the completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.

The original course title and original grade remains on the student's academic record, but is not calculated in the grade point average but is included in completion rate and maximum time frame calculations.
The student's academic record will always reflect the academic transaction and Satisfactory Academic Progress compliance status that is true for each semester of enrollment.
No financial aid will be disbursed for a repeated course if the student did not receive a non-passing grade for the initial course.

NOTIFICATION OF ACADEMIC STATUS

At the end of every semester (fall, spring, and summer), each undergraduate student's cumulative grade point average and completion rate are evaluated. There are five types of academic progress warnings: Mild, Strong, Probation, Dismissal, FSAP, Maximum Time Frame.
The Advising Center notifies students in writing as to their academic status and their financial aid eligibility at end of each semester immediately following the grading period.
Students who are in compliance with their GPA and their completion rate are considered in Good Standing and do not receive written notice.
MILD
The first semester a student (full and/or part-time) is not in compliance regarding grade point average and/or completion rate they will receive a Mild letter and status. They must meet with their Advisor in the Advising Center for counseling and academic clearance before registering for subsequent semesters.
STRONG
The second consecutive semester a student is out of compliance regarding their grade point average and/or their completion rate they will receive a Strong letter and status. They must meet with their Advisor in the Advising Center for counseling and academic clearance before registering for subsequent semesters.
PROBATION
The third consecutive semester a student is out of compliance regarding their grade point average and/or their completion rate will receive a Probation letter and status. Students must meet with their Advisor in the Advising Center for counseling and academic clearance before registering for subsequent semesters. Students may also be prevented from registered until the current semester?s grades have been recorded.
ACADEMIC DISMISSAL
At the end of the fourth consecutive semester of non-compliance, for grade point average and/or completion rate, a student will be dismissed from the college. Students are notified in writing of their dismissal status. Dismissed students will immediately lose all forms of financial aid at Columbia. A dismissed student must sit out from the College for at least two consecutive semesters. Dismissed students must attend another college or university and demonstrate academic progress at that institution in order to resume a course of study at Columbia.
FSAP
Students who are not maintaining a 2.00 cumulative grade point average at the end of their fourth term of enrollment at Columbia will be immediately suspended from receiving federal financial aid. There are no probationary semesters for FSAP. Financial aid will only be reinstated after dismissal when students regain their academic compliance with a 2.00 cumulative grade point average.
MAXIMUM TIME FRAME
Students who have attempted 186 credit hours and have not achieved their degree will be immediately dismissed from the college and will not be allowed to enroll in future semesters. They also will be immediately suspended from receiving federal financial aid. There are no probationary terms for Maximum Time Frame.
READMISSION AFTER DISMISSAL
To apply for readmission to the college after academic dismissal the student must submit a written appeal to the Advising Center for consideration. When a student is readmitted they are closely monitored until they regain good standing. Financial aid will only be reinstated when students regain good standing.

APPEAL PROCESS FOR DISMISSAL/MAXIMUM TIME FRAME/FSAP

Recognizing that there may be extenuating and mitigating circumstances affecting student performance, the College allows students to appeal their academic progress status by submitting a written appeal with appropriate documentation to the Advising Center for consideration. The Advising Center in cooperation with the Exception Committee will notify a student of their decision with 10 business day. Students also have the right to appeal the decision of the Advising Center and the Exception Committee to the Academic Standards Review Committee. This committee consists of the provost, the dean of Students (or their designated representatives), a faculty member, and the Registrar (a non-voting member). The decision of the Academic Standards Review Committee is final.