Academic Standing

Good Academic Standing

A student who has attempted at least 12 units at Sierra College, has earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher in all units attempted, and has completed over 50% of all units attempted is considered to be in good academic standing. Students in good academic standing are limited to enrolling in no more than 18 units per semester.

Academic Probation

A student who has at­tempt­ed at least 12 units at Si­er­ra College and has earned a cu­mu­la­tive grade point av­er­age of less than 2.0 in all units attempted, shall be placed on academic pro­ba­tion. “All units attempted” is defined as all units of credit for which the student is enrolled at Sierra College. Students on academic probation may be held to a student educational plan developed with a counselor. Probation is posted on the student’s permanent record.

Progress Probation

A student who has en­rolled in at least 12 units at Si­er­ra College and has en­tries of “W,” “I,” “NC” or “NP” in fifty percent or more of the total units attempted, shall be placed on progress probation. Students on progress probation may be held to a student educational plan developed with a counselor. Probation is posted on the student’s permanent record.

Unit Limitation

Students on academic OR progress probation may not enroll in more than 13 units. Exceptions to this limit may only be made upon petition and under extreme circumstances, at the discretion of the Dean, Student Services. Students entering a second or later semester of probation may be limited to fewer units, or to a list of specific courses as listed on the student educational plan.

Removal from Probation

Stu­dents on ac­a­dem­ic probation shall be removed from probation when the cu­mu­la­tive Sierra College grade point average reaches 2.0 or high­er.

Students on progress probation shall be re­moved from probation when the percentage of “W,” “I,” “NC” and “NP” units at Sierra College drops below fifty percent.

Dismissal

Stu­dents on academic pro­ba­tion shall be subject to dismissal if their cumulative grade point average is less than 2.0 in all units attempted in each of two consecutive semesters¹, excluding summer.

Students on progress probation shall be sub­ject to dis­miss­al if the percentage of “W,” “I,” “NC” and “NP” units reaches or exceeds fifty percent in each of two consecutive se­mes­ters¹ attended.

Upon notification of dismissal, the student will not be eligible to enroll in any classes for one semester. Dismissal is posted on the student’s permanent academic record.

1	For the purpose of dismissal, semesters shall be considered con­sec­u­tive on the basis of the stu­dent’s en­roll­ment after the drop date, as long as the break in enrollment does not exceed one full semester.

Dismissal Appeal Automatic Exception

Students on academic OR progress probation making satisfactory semester progress by earning a semester grade point average of 2.0 or higher are not subject to dismissal as long as the 2.0 minimum semester grade point average is maintained. Students remain on probation and may not enroll in more than 13 units until good academic standing has been achieved. 

Dismissal Appeal Request

Students may request exceptions to the standards of dismissal through a written appeal to the Dismissal Committee within seven calendar days of the dismissal notice being sent. The appeal must indicate a clear statement of the grounds on which continued enrollment should be granted and provide supporting evidence. The decision of the Dismissal Committee is final and will be communicated to the student in writing by the Dean of Student Services prior to the start of the subsequent semester.

Readmission After Dismissal

A student who has been dismissed may request readmission after one semester. To request readmission, a student must:

• re-submit a Sierra College application for admission;
• develop an updated academic plan with a counselor; and
• submit a Dismissal Readmission petition.

Readmitted students return to probation in their first semester, and may be held to a limit of units below 13, or to specific courses as approved by the counselor accepting the Dismissal Readmission petition. Students who have been dismissed two times will have their petitions reviewed by the Dismissal Committee, and may have their readmission postponed or denied if, in the judgment of the committee, the student has not presented sufficient evidence that the problems leading to the past dismissals have been rectified.

Reference: Sierra College Board Policy 4250, Administrative Procedure 4250, and Administrative Procedure 4255