Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards
To remain in good academic standing at McPherson College, all students must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Academic SAP, as measured by McPherson College’s academic affairs office, is similar to, but distinct from, a student’s financial aid standing. An undergraduate student on academic warning or academic probation may also be, but is not necessarily, ineligible for financial aid. (See Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.)
Undergraduate SAP Standards
The academic standing of an undergraduate student at McPherson College is measured by the student’s progress toward a degree within an optimum amount 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).
Academic Warning, Probation, and Suspension Policies
Students are placed on academic warning or academic probation on the basis of the table below. Attempted hours include all postsecondary coursework attempted after completion of the high school degree, including 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.
| 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% |
Determinations of satisfactory academic progress are made immediately after the conclusion of fall and spring semesters. In some circumstances, an individual student’s academic progress may be re-evaluated at the end of summer terms or the January Interterm. Students who exceed measures listed in the Warning column for both the qualitative and the quantitative measures are considered in good academic standing. Students who are placed on academic 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 table 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 do 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.
Please note: Academic warning, probation, and suspension are different from financial aid warning, probation, and suspension. Students on academic warning or probation should check with the financial aid office to confirm their financial aid status.
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 to the vice president for academic affairs. The 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. An appeal template is available from the academic affairs office.
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.
A student who has been academically suspended has probably had his or her financial aid suspended as well, but appealing suspension is a separate process for each. The student must first appeal the academic suspension. If the vice president for academic affairs rescinds the academic suspension and allows the student to continue studies at McPherson College, the student who has also had financial aid suspended must follow the appeal procedures described in the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
Graduate SAP Standards
The academic standing of a graduate student at McPherson College is measured by a qualitative measure (cumulative grade point average) and a quantitative measure (credit hours earned as a percentage of credit hours attempted). To maintain good academic standing, a graduate student must, at all times, maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and complete no less than 67 percent of all hours attempted. Any student whose GPA falls below 3.0 or who completes fewer than 67 percent of all attempted hours will be placed on academic probation. The student remains on probation until a 3.0 GPA is achieved or the percentage of hours earned totals at least 67 percent of hours attempted.