McPherson College has established a framework for evaluating a student’s progress toward a degree within an optimum period of time. This includes a qualitative measure (cumulative grade point average) and a quantitative measure (credit hours earned as a percentage of credit hours attempted).
The table below illustrates how these two measures work in tandem to define the student’s academic standing at the college. Students who exceed the measures listed in Warning column for both the qualitative and the quantitative measures are considered in good academic standing.
| QUALITATIVE | QUANTITATIVE Hrs earned as % of hrs attempted |
|||
| Hours attempted | Warning cum GPA |
Probation cum GPA |
Warning |
Probation |
| 0 -15 | 1.70 | 1.50 | 85% | 50% |
| 16 – 31 | 1.75 | 1.60 | 85% | 60% |
| 32 – 46 | 1.85 | 1.70 | 85% | 62% |
| 47 – 62 | 1.95 | 1.80 | 85% | 67% |
| 63 – 77 | <=2.00 | 1.85 | 85% | 67% |
| 78 – 93 | <=2.00 | 1.90 | 85% | 69% |
| 94 – 108 | <=2.00 | 1.95 | 85% | 71% |
| 109 – 124 | <=2.00 | <=2.00 | 85% | 74% |
| 125 – 139 | <=2.00 | <=2.00 | 85% | 77% |
| 140 – 155 | <=2.00 | <=2.00 | 85% | 83% |
| 156 – 170 | <=2.00 | <=2.00 | 85% | 83% |
| 171 – 186 | <=2.00 | <=2.00 | 85% | 83% |
Academic Warning, Probation, and Suspension Policies
Students are placed on academic warning or academic probation on the basis of the table above. Attempted hours include all postsecondary coursework attempted after completion of the high school degree. For example, this includes failed coursework, repeated coursework, and coursework graded as incomplete. The cumulative grade point average used to determine a student’s academic standing includes only courses taken at McPherson College.
Determinations of satisfactory academic progress are made immediately after the conclusion of fall and spring semesters. Students who are placed on academic warning or probation or who are academically suspended will be notified within 30 days after grades are due from the faculty.
Warning
Students placed on academic warning receive a letter notifying them of their tenuous academic situation, but academic warning imposes no particular conditions upon a student. Students on academic warning should avail themselves of the support services provided by the Center for Academic Development.
Probation
Students placed on academic probation have one semester in which to raise both quantitative and qualitative satisfactory academic progress indicators above the probationary levels identified for their respective hours attempted in the chart above. Students on academic probation will receive letters from the vice president for academic affairs informing them of their standing and stipulating conditions that must be met during the coming semester. These conditions may include mandatory enrollment in College Study Skills or appointments with a staff member of the Center for Academic Development, a limit upon the number of hours that can be attempted in the coming semester, and/or class attendance monitoring.
Suspension
Students who fall below the qualitative and/or quantitative probation indicators for their respective attempted hours will be reviewed by the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee to determine their eligibility for continued enrollment. Students who are not permitted to continue their enrollment will be placed on academic suspension for one semester or one year.
After serving their term of suspension, suspended students must reapply for admission to McPherson College. To be readmitted, the student must present evidence that he or she is prepared to better academic work. If readmitted, the student will re-enter the college on academic probation, with one semester to demonstrate an ability to make satisfactory academic progress.
Appealing Academic Suspension
Students who wish to appeal a decision of academic suspension may appeal within 30 days after notification of their condition by submitting a written appeal letter to the vice president for academic affairs. The letter of appeal should clearly explain the circumstances or behaviors that have prevented the student from making satisfactory academic progress and persuasively argue that such matters will not hinder future academic achievement. The appeal should include a specific plan the student is committed to implementing in order to work his or her way back into good academic standing.
Although he or she may consult with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Committee, the vice president for academic affairs makes the final determination regarding student appeals of academic suspension. The VPAA’s decision is not subject to further appeal.