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 Notice

A student who has attempted at least 12 semester or 18 quarter units as shown by the official academic record shall be placed on academic notice if the student has earned a grade point average below 2.0 in all units which were graded on the basis of the grading system described in Title 5, section 55023.

Progress Notice

A student who has enrolled in a total of at least 12 semester or 18 quarter units as shown by the official academic record shall be placed on progress notice when the student receives symbols of “W,” “I,” or “NP” (as defined in Title 5, section 55023) in fifty percent (50 percent) or more of all units in which a student has enrolled.

Unit Limitation

Students on academic OR progress notice 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 of Student Services. Students entering a second or later semester of notice may be limited to fewer units, or to a list of specific courses as listed on the student educational plan.

Removal from Notice

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

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

Pause

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

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

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

1

For the purpose of pause, 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.

Pause Appeal Automatic Exception

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

Pause Appeal Request

Students may request exceptions to the standards of pause through a written appeal to the pause Committee within seven calendar days of the pause 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 pause Committee is final and will be communicated to the student in writing by the Dean of Student Services or designee prior to the start of the subsequent semester.

Students who have been dismissed two times will have their petitions reviewed by the pause 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 pause have been rectified.

Readmission After pause

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 education plan with a counselor; and
  • submit a pause Readmission petition.

Readmitted students are held to a limit of 13 units, or to specific courses as approved by the counselor accepting the pause Readmission petition. 

Reference: Board Policy Chapter 4/Administrative Procedure Chapter 4