Standards of Academic Progress

Academic Standing is based on a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) and cumulative completion rate. Students must demonstrate academic progress to continue their enrollment at Carl Sandburg College. Academic progress is defined as a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA) and a minimum cumulative 67% completion rate for attempted credits.

Students have both term completion rate and term GPA and cumulative completion rate and cumulative GPA. Term completion rate is the percentage of classes you successfully completed for the term of enrollment. Term GPA is your grade point average of the classes you completed for the term of enrollment.

Cumulative GPA is the overall GPA, or grade point average, of all of the courses you have completed at Sandburg. GPA is determined by dividing the number of points earned in all courses by the total graded hours in all courses. W grades are not included in GPA calculations.

Cumulative Completion Rate is defined as the rate at which you are progressing through your program of study. You must complete at least 67% of credits attempted with a grade of A, B, C, D or P. Grades of W, F, and I count against your completion rate. The completion rate is determined by dividing the number of credits earned by the number of credits attempted.

Review the Cumulative Totals section on your transcript to check your cumulative GPA and completion rate. Students can access their transcripts on mySandburg under the Self-Service Menu, My Classes, View my grades/transcript.

Transcript Example

Cumulative Totals:

AHr          EHrs          GHr          PTs          GPA

42.00       21.00        35.00       60.00       1.71

Cumulative GPA is PTs (points) divided by GHr (graded credit hours).
Example: 60.00 PTs/35.00 GHr = 1.71 GPA

Cumulative Completion Rate is EHrs (earned credit hours) divided by AHr (attempted credit hours).
Example: 21.00 EHrs/42 AHr = 50% completion rate

Good academic standing is defined as a cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA) and completion rate of 67% of attempted credits. Students who are in Good Academic Standing may continue to enroll.

Students who fall below a cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA) or a cumulative completion rate of 67% of attempted credits will be placed on Academic Warning. Students on Academic Warning may enroll in courses. Continued enrollment will be based on the student’s academic standing, which will be reviewed at the end of each term of enrollment:

• Students who have earned a cumulative 2.0 GPA and completion rate of 67% will return to Good Standing.
• Students who earn a semester GPA of 2.0 and a semester completion rate of 67% will remain on Academic Warning and can continue to enroll.
• Students whose semester completion rate is below 67% or semester GPA is below 2.0 will be placed on Academic Notice. 

Other registration restrictions or requirements may apply. Please see the Academic Standing notification email issued at the end of the term for details.

Students who fail to improve under Academic Warning progress to Academic Notice.  Academic Notice allows the student to enroll, but they must show academic improvement.  Continued enrollment will be based on the student’s academic standing, which will be reviewed at the end of each term of enrollment:

• Students who receive a semester GPA of 2.2 and a semester completion rate of 75% will remain on Academic Notice until they meet the requirements of Good Academic Standing.

• Students whose semester GPA is below 2.2 and semester completion rate is below 75% will be placed on Academic Notice II.

Other registration restrictions or requirements may apply. Please see the Academic Standing notification email issued at the end of the term for details.

When a student is placed on Academic Notice II, it is considered their last semester to improve their academic standing before they are separated from the College. Therefore, additional restrictions are placed on a student’s enrollment:

• Students placed on Academic Notice II are required to schedule a meeting with their academic advisor to evaluate and revise the student’s existing academic plan.
• Students placed on Academic Notice II will be restricted to enrolling in 12 credit hours or less per semester. A registration restriction will be placed on the student’s account.

The student’s academic standing will be reviewed at the end of the enrollment term:

• Students whose semester GPA is at least 2.2 and whose semester completion rate is at least 75% will remain on Academic Notice II until they meet the requirements of Good Academic Standing.
• Students whose semester GPA is below 2.2 and whose semester completion rate is below 75% will be placed on Academic Separation I.

Other registration restrictions or requirements may apply. Please see the Academic Standing notification email issued at the end of the term for details.

Students on Academic Separation I are required to sit out for one or more semesters. A restriction will be placed on the student’s account to prevent registration, including auditing courses. Students who are placed on Academic Separation I at the end of the fall semester will be restricted from enrolling in both winter and spring semesters; students who are placed on Academic Separation I at the end of the spring semester will be restricted for both the upcoming summer and fall semesters.

Students on Academic Separation I are required to appeal to the Student Services Faculty Committee to be considered for future enrollment.

• If there are extenuating circumstances, a student may appeal to immediately re-enroll after being placed on Academic Separation I. However, the student is encouraged to sit out for the full separation period before appealing for re-enrollment privileges.
• The student must complete the Academic Separation Appeal Form to be considered for reinstatement by the committee. The student is required to schedule a meeting with their academic advisor or student success coach to develop an academic improvement plan to accompany the appeal form. The student’s appeal must include a detailed explanation of the changes that the student plans to make in order to satisfy the standards of academic progress.

If a student’s Academic Separation I appeal is granted:

• The student must earn a semester GPA of 2.2 and a semester completion rate of 75% each semester until they return to Good Academic Standing.
• The student will be restricted to enrolling in 12 credit hours or less per semester. A registration restriction will be placed on the student’s account.
• The Student Services Faculty Committee or Vice President reserves the right to impose additional restrictions or conditions of reinstatement based on what they feel best supports the student’s academic success.

If a student’s Academic Separation I appeal is denied:

• The student may not enroll for one or more semesters.
• The student may re-appeal to the Vice President of Academic Services or Vice President of Student Services if new evidence or additional supporting documentation is available, extenuating circumstances were a factor.
• The decision of the Vice President is final.
• The student’s separation will remain in place for the time period outlined above.

Students who have been reinstated and allowed to re-enroll while on Academic Separation I and fail to earn a semester GPA of 2.2 and a semester completion rate of 75% will be placed on Academic Separation II.

Students on Academic Separation II are required to sit out for one or more semesters. A restriction will be placed on the student’s account to prevent registration, including auditing courses. Students who are placed on Academic Separation II at the end of the fall semester will be restricted from enrolling in both winter and spring semesters; students who are placed on Academic Separation II at the end of the spring semester will be restricted for both the upcoming summer and fall semesters.

In order to reenroll after being placed on Academic Separation II, a student must appeal to the Vice President of Academic Services or the Vice President of Student Services.

• If there are extenuating circumstances, a student may appeal to immediately reenroll after being placed on Academic Separation II. However, the student is encouraged to sit out for the full separation period before appealing for re-enrollment privileges.
• The student must complete the Academic Separation Appeal Form to be considered for reinstatement by the Vice President. The student is required to schedule a meeting with their academic advisor or student success coach to develop an academic improvement plan to accompany the appeal form. The student’s appeal must include a detailed explanation of the changes that the student plans to make in order to satisfy the Standards of Academic Progress.

If a student’s Academic Separation II appeal is granted:

• The student must earn a semester GPA of 2.2 and a semester completion rate of 75% each semester until they return to Good Academic Standing.
• The student will be restricted to enrolling in 12 credit hours or less per semester. A registration restriction will be placed on the student’s account.
• The Vice President reserves the right to impose additional restrictions or conditions of reinstatement based on what they feel best supports the student’s academic success.

If a student’s Academic Separation II appeal is denied:

• The decision of the Vice President is final.
• The student’s suspension will remain in place for the time period outlined above before the student may appeal for future enrollment.

Students who have been reinstated and allowed to reenroll while on Academic Separation II and who fail to earn a semester GPA of 2.2 and a semester completion rate of 75% will be restricted from future enrollment at Carl Sandburg College. No further appeals will be considered until the student can meet one of the following criteria:

• The student has demonstrated substantial academic progress at another accredited college or university by sending official transcripts directly from the institution. Substantial academic progress from another accredited college or university is defined as completion of at least 12 degree or certificate credit hours (or the equivalent) within two consecutive academic years with a minimum 2.25 GPA.
• The student has sat out for a minimum of two full consecutive academic years and can provide evidence of a change in circumstances, resources, or support that will improve the student’s chances of academic progress and success.

If a student meets either criteria and wishes to reenroll at Carl Sandburg College, the student may appeal to the Vice President of Academic Services or Vice President of Student Services. The student must appeal using the Academic Separation Appeal Form and must include an academic plan developed with the help of a Carl Sandburg College academic advisor. The decision of the Vice President is final and no further appeals will be considered.

If your academic standing declines to Academic Separation Status you may be eligible to submit an Academic Appeal. The appeal process, instructions, and deadline for receipt are included in the suspension or dismissal letter. Depending on the status of your suspension, appeals are reviewed by a committee consisting of faculty members or the Vice President of Academic Services. Appeals should contain proper grammar and include as much information as possible to address the circumstances of your academic status.

Outline for an Academic Appeal

• Describe the circumstances involved or your reason for appealing. You didn’t end up on Academic Separation Status overnight. The committee or Vice President will be reviewing your entire academic history at Sandburg, not just your last semester. Please include details of the difficulties that contributed to your academic standing over the course of your enrollment at Sandburg. If possible, give dates and reference specific time periods and how these events affected your performance in the past.
• Include any supporting documentation. If applicable, include a letter confirming medical treatment or confirmation of death in the immediate family, etc.
• Explain how your circumstances have changed. Explain why past circumstances/difficulties no longer pose a threat to your academic progress.
• Provide a plan for academic success and show responsibility for improving your academic progress. Describe what you have done or plan to do in the future to improve your academic performance and give specific examples. Use free resources available to you at the college such as tutoring, counseling, advising, and library services.

If you need help with writing an appeal, please contact the Tutoring Center or your academic advisor. Utilize free grammar check websites such as www.grammarly.com or www.grammarcheck.net.

Academic Suspension Appeal Form