Academic Expectations and Academic Standing
Attendance
Regular attendance at classes is required. Each faculty member will make the class attendance policy known to the student at the beginning of each semester. When absence from a class becomes necessary, it is the responsibility of students to inform the instructor prior to the absence whenever possible. Students are responsible for the subsequent completion of all study missed during an absence. Absences totaling more than 20% of a course’s semester class meetings will result in dismissal from the course. Instructors may impose more stringent requirements as specified in their course outlines.
Examinations
Students are expected to take their examinations at the regularly scheduled times. No exceptions will be made without the permission of the Academic Dean in concert with the Vice President of Academic Affairs over the discipline in question and of the instructor of the class.
Academic Standing
Students are considered to be “in good academic standing” if they maintain a semester minimum GPA of 2.0, are eligible to re-enroll at the college, and are not on academic suspension or dismissal status. Students on academic warning or academic probation who are eligible to re-enroll may be considered eligible to receive financial aid assistance or other benefits requiring a “good academic standing” status.
Academic Warning
Students who fail to attain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for any semester will receive an academic warning to be printed on their grade report.
Academic Probation
Students who fail to maintain a cumulative GPA of 1.5 will be on academic probation until such time as their cumulative average is 1.5 or better, and the statement “Academic Probation” will be placed on their permanent record. A person on probation is ineligible for appointive or elective office in student organizations and usually will be required to carry less than a normal course load the following semester. Students on academic probation are required to consult with their counselor and/or advisor. Curricular students are cautioned that, although an average between 1.5 and 1.99 may not result in formal academic probation, a minimum of 2.0 in their curriculum is a prerequisite to the receipt of an associate degree, diploma or certificate. Students shall be placed on probation only after they have attempted 12 semester credit hours.
Academic Suspension
Students on academic probation who fail to attain a GPA of 1.5 for the next semester for which they are in attendance will be subject to academic suspension. Academic suspension normally will be for one semester unless the student reapplies and is accepted for readmission to another curriculum of the college. The statement “Academic Suspension” will be placed on the student’s permanent record. Students who have been informed that they are on academic suspension may submit an appeal in writing to the Academic Review Committee for reconsideration of their case. Suspended students may be readmitted after termination of the suspension period and upon formal written petition to the Academic Review Committee. Students will be placed on suspension only after they have attempted 24 semester credit hours.
Academic Dismissal
Students who do not maintain at least a 2.0 GPA for the semester of reinstatement to the college after academic suspension will be academically dismissed. Students who have been placed on academic suspension and achieve a 2.0 GPA for the semester of their reinstatement must maintain at least a 1.5 GPA in each subsequent semester of attendance. Students remain on probation until their cumulative GPA is raised to a minimum of 1.5. Failure to attain a 1.5 GPA in each subsequent semester until the cumulative GPA reaches 1.5 will result in academic dismissal. Academic dismissal normally is permanent unless, with good cause, students reapply and are accepted under special consideration for readmission by the Academic Review Committee. The statement “Academic Dismissal” will be placed on the student’s permanent record.
Grading
Grading System Credit
The grades of A, B, C, D, P, and S are passing grades. Grades R, F and U are failing grades. Grades of W and X are final grades carrying no credit. Usually, if a student transfers to a four-year college or university, only grades of A, B, and C will be accepted for credit in courses equivalent to those offered at the four-year college or university. Students are urged to consult the college or university to which they desire to transfer. It is the responsibility of the student to access grades at the end of each semester through MySVCC. Students should report any discrepancies to the Admissions and Records Office within two weeks after the official end of the semester.
Explanation of Grades
The quality of performance in any academic course is reported by a letter grade, the assignment of which is the responsibility of the instructor. These grades denote the character of study and are assigned quality points as follows:
| A |
Excellent |
4 grade points per credit |
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| B |
Good |
3 grade points per credit |
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| C |
Average |
2 grade points per credit |
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| D |
Poor |
1 grade point per credit |
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| F |
Failure |
0 grade points per credit |
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| I |
Incomplete |
No credit; used for verifiable unavoidable reasons. Since the “Incomplete” extends enrollment in the course, requirements for satisfactory completion will be established through student-faculty consultation. The student must request an Incomplete grade. Incomplete requests will not be processed without the signatures of the student, the instructor, and the Academic Dean. Courses for which the grade of “I” (Incomplete) has been awarded must be completed before the end of the subsequent semester or another grade (A,B,C,D,F) will be awarded by the instructor based upon course work which has been completed. In the case of “I” grades earned at the end of the Spring Semester, students shall complete the requirements before the end of the subsequent Summer Semester. In exceptional cases, extensions of time needed to complete course work for “I” grades may be granted beyond the subsequent semester, with the written approval of the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. A “W” grade should be awarded only under mitigating circumstances which must be approved by the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and documented. A copy of this documentation must be placed in the student’s academic file. The “I” grade is not applicable to developmental courses. |
| P |
Pass |
No grade point credit; applies only to non-developmental courses. A maximum of seven (7) semester credit hours from courses for which the “P” grade has been awarded may be applied toward completion of a degree, diploma, or certificate. |
| R |
Re-enroll |
The “R” grade may be used as a grade option, interim in nature, in those courses which employ a mode of instruction characterized by explicit terminal objectives covering the various content areas in such a way that specific determination of student progress toward total course completion can be made. Examples of this mode are (1) individualized, self paced instruction or (2) modularized group-paced instruction. The “R” grade may be given only in courses which will be offered in any semester and which will employ a mode of instruction described in (1) and/or (2) above. Students making satisfactory progress but not completing all of the instructional objectives for courses in Developmental Studies (numbered 01-09) or an ESL course (numbered 11-29) shall be graded an “R” (re-enroll) and re-enrolled to complete the instructional objectives. The courses in which a re-enroll will be approved will be identified by the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. |
| S |
Satisfactory |
No grade point credit. Used only for satisfactory completion of a developmental studies course (numbered 01-09) or an ESL course (numbered 11-29). |
| U |
Unsatisfactory |
No grade point credit; applies only to developmental studies, ESL courses, non-credit courses, courses taken under the Pass/Unsatisfactory grading option, at the discretion of the college. The initials of the instructors from whom “U’s” were received are required to re-enroll in these developmental studies courses. A “U” denotes unsuccessful coursework. |
| W |
Withdrawal |
No credit. A grade of “W” is awarded to students who withdraw or are withdrawn from a course after the add/drop period but prior to the completion of 60 percent of the session. After that time, the student will receive a grade of “F” except under mitigating circumstances which must be documented and approved by the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. The actual last date of attendance must be recorded on the Student Registration Change Form. |
| X |
Audit |
No credit. Permission of the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs is required to audit a course. After the last day for students to withdraw from a class without penalty, the audit grade “X” is no longer available for students enrolled in the course for credit. |
Grading System Non-Credit Activities
A grade of “S” demonstrates satisfactory course completion. The grade of “G” is used in unique circumstances and at the discretion of the college to recognize limited subject competency. The grade of “U” is a failing grade. “I” is an interim grade or a non-punitive final grade. Grades of “N” and “W” are non-punitive grades. “X” indicates that a course was completed (or taken) for content and no grade awarded.
No grade point credit shall be assigned to the following grades:
| S |
Satisfactory |
Individual demonstrates subject competency (assignments, labs, tests, clinical, etc.) and fulfilled attendance requirements needed to pass the course. Individual is ready to progress to higher level course. CEUs can be awarded. |
| U |
Unsatisfactory |
Individual fails to demonstrate subject competency and/or fulfillment of attendance requirements needed to pass the course and to move to a higher level course. CEUs cannot be awarded. |
| I |
Incomplete |
Individual, due to unavoidable circumstances, attended part but not all of a course. CEUs cannot be awarded. Courses for which the grade of “I” have been awarded must be successfully completed by the end of the subsequent semester for another grade (“S”, “U”, or “G”) to be awarded by the instructor. If “S” is awarded, CEUs can be awarded. If “U” or “G” is awarded, CEUs cannot be awarded. |
| W |
Withdrawal |
Individual formally withdraws from a course after the refund period but prior to the start of the course. |
| X |
No Grade |
No grade awarded. Course taken for purpose of learning the subject matter and not for a grade. CEUs cannot be awarded. |
Grade Point Average and Designations
Grade Point Average
The grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned in courses by the total number of credits attempted. Courses which do not generate grade points are not included in credits attempted. Semester GPA is determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned in courses attempted for the semester by the total number of credits attempted. The cumulative GPA, which includes all courses attempted, is computed each semester and is maintained on a continuing basis as a record of the student’s academic standing. A curriculum GPA, which includes only those courses applicable to the student’s curriculum, is computed in order to ensure that the student satisfies the graduation requirements for that curriculum. When students repeat a course, only the last grade earned is counted in the computation of the curriculum GPA. The student’s permanent record reflects all courses attempted by a student at SVCC.
President’s and Vice President’s List
President’s List
A curricular student who has attained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, who has attempted a minimum of six credit hours during the present semester, and who has completed a minimum of 20 semester credit hours at Southside Virginia Community College will be placed on the President’s List.
Vice President’s List
A curricular student who has attained a semester GPA of 3.2 or higher and has attempted a minimum of 12 credit hours during the semester will be placed on the Vice President’s List for that semester.
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