Academic Status

Academic Achievement Standards

1. A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of "C" (2.0) must be achieved to graduate with an associate degree or certificate. 
2. A student making Satisfactory Progress is defined as:
   1. Satisfactory/No Conditions - A student whose cumulative GPA satisfies the Academic Status Scale.
3. A student making Unsatisfactory Progress is defined as:
   1. Academic Caution - A student whose cumulative GPA satisfies the Academic Status Scale but is below 2.0 and the credit hours attempted are less than 45.
   2. Academic Probation - A student who has attempted 13 or more credit hours and whose cumulative GPA is below the required GPA as indicated on the Academic Status Scale. 
   3. Academic Suspension - A student who has been on probation for at least two academic semesters or who has not met the conditions of their Academic Improvement Plan. 

Table for Determining Academic Status 

Following is the table for determining your academic status at Delta College. To use the table: 1) locate on your academic transcript your cumulative grade point average and the total number of credits attempted; 2) find the corresponding credits attempted in the left-hand column of the table; and 3) read across the page to your right until you locate the column which includes your current cumulative grade point average. This column heading indicates whether you are making Satisfactory Progress or are on Academic Probation. 

Academic Status Scale

Procedures for Academic Caution, Probation, and Suspension 

I. Academic Caution: 

Following each semester, students are notified of their status by the Registrar. Caution students are required to discuss their academic status with a Student Success Advisor and will be required to develop an Academic Improvement Plan (AIP)¹.  An approved AIP must be on file before students will be allowed to register. 

II. Academic Probation: 

Following each semester,  students placed on probation will be notified of their status by the Registrar and will be required to develop an Academic Improvement Plan (AIP)¹ with a Student Success Advisor. An approved AIP must be on file before students will be allowed to register. 

III. Academic Suspension: 

Students on Academic Probation for at least two semesters, who have not met the conditions of their AIP, will be notified of their status by the Registrar's Office. They will be denied enrollment for two consecutive semesters and will also be dropped from classes in which they have already registered for upcoming semesters. 

1. Students placed on suspension who may have mitigating circumstances² may appeal their suspension to the Registrar or his/her designee. If the appeal is successful an AIP will be required prior to registration. 
2. Students who wish to enroll following two semesters on suspension will be required to meet with an assigned Student Success Advisor and have a new AIP on file in the Registrar’s Office prior to registering. 

¹ Academic Improvement Plan (AIP)

An Academic Improvement Plan is an agreement that specifies actions to be taken by the student. It includes such things as: 

• Complete the Individual Plan for Academic Success (IPAS).
• Specific course selection that will provide for maximum success.
• Number of credits to attempt that semester (based on data presented by student) and approved by their advisor.
• Assistance e.g. tutoring, selecting peer mentored classes, meeting with instructor.
• Time management strategies.
• Other services as appropriate including Disability Resources, Counseling,Career Development, etc.

²Mitigating Circumstances

Mitigating circumstances are documented conditions beyond the reasonable control of the student that will have a long-term effect. Students considering an appeal must first consult with their Student Success Advisor.

Academic Fresh Start Policy

Students may submit an “Academic Fresh Start Appeal” to the Registrar to have their grade point average recomputed.  Students are required to meet with a Delta College Counselor or Academic Advisor before submitting an Academic Fresh Start Appeal.  The student will develop an Educational Support Plan with the assistance of the Counselor or Academic Advisor. The Educational Support Plan will become a part of the Fresh Start Appeal and must be followed by the student upon approval of the Academic Fresh Start Appeal. Students receiving state or federal financial aid will be required to consult with a Financial Aid Advisor as a part of the Academic Fresh Start Appeal process as Financial Aid appeals policies have distinct guidelines and are separate from Academic Fresh Start Appeal policies.

1. All courses taken at Delta College will remain on the student’s permanent records/transcripts.Students may request Fresh start on all courses with a grade below a C. These grades will become NC grades without credit on a student’s transcript.
2. Students may be granted an Academic Fresh Start Appeal only once.The cumulative grade point average and Academic Achievement policy conditions will be computed using only the satisfactory grades prior to that Fresh Start application and all grades earned from the point of the Fresh Start Application forward.Students must consult with a Counselor or Academic Advisor to develop an Educational Support Plan to be submitted with the application.

Course previously used for an earned credential cannot be changed by the Academic Fresh Start Appeal policy.

Board Action  BA5381– April 6, 2021
Board Action 4972 – November 13, 2012
Amended by Board Action 3677 – November 14, 1995
Amended by Board Action 3467 – December 14, 1993
Board Action 2530 - May 13, 1986

Standards of Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients

Students must make satisfactory progress toward the completion of an eligible certificate or associate degree to be eligible for financial aid.

Standards of Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients are applied to all students receiving financial assistance once they have attempted credits at Delta College. All semesters and courses in which a student registered must be considered, even if financial aid was not awarded.

1. Standards of Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients

   1. Making satisfactory academic progress is defined as earning a cumulative grade point average (GPA) consistent with the Academic Status Scale below, and as defined by Delta’s grading system including courses below 100 level.

2. Making satisfactory academic progress is also defined as having satisfactorily completed more than 67% of all credits in which students have attempted or transferred in.
   1. Grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, or Pass are considered to be satisfactory completions.
   2. Grades of W, WI, NC-No Credit, I-Incomplete, F-Failure, and X-Audit are not considered to be satisfactory completions.
   3. For students with repeat grades, the lower grade is considered to be an unsatisfactory completion and the higher grade is considered to be a satisfactory completion. All enrolled credits for each class are included in the attempted credits calculation.
3. Satisfactory academic progress also requires that financial aid recipients complete the certificate or associate degree within a time frame which, by federal regulation, is 150% of the published length of the program. (Students should consult the Delta College Catalog to find the number of credits required in their certificate or associate degree program, then multiply that number by 1.5 to determine the maximum number of credits.)
   1. When students reach the maximum number of credits in their program of study, financial aid will be terminated anytime during the academic school year.
   2. All semesters are taken into consideration when determining the maximum number of credits, whether or not students received aid during those semesters.
   3. All grades and repeated courses are counted in determining the maximum number of credits.
   4. Transfer credit must be taken into consideration when calculating the maximum number of credits for an associate degree and for a certificate.

Student records of aid recipients are reviewed for satisfactory academic progress by the Financial Aid Office prior to awarding for the standard academic year (Fall and Winter semesters), and reviewed after each semester.

2. Below Standards
   1. Students determined to be below the standards of academic progress in regard to GPA and completion rate will be given one semester on  “warning” with financial aid. 
      1. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their assigned Student Success Advisor to assist with academic improvement.
      2. Improved students no longer below the standards will regain eligibility to financial aid without restriction.
      3. Students that remain below the standards become ineligible for further aid, but have the option to submit a financial aid appeal form.
   2. Students who are ineligible for further financial aid due to failure to meet the Standards of Academic Progress after a “warning” semester, have the right to appeal. All appeals must be submitted in writing on the Financial Aid Appeal Form to the Financial Aid Office during semester appeal priority dates. Students submitting appeals should explain the situation why satisfactory progress was not made and discuss actions that have or will be taken to make satisfactory progress in the future. Documentation supporting the situation for the appeal must be attached. Appeals submitted without documentation will not be considered. Situations beyond the reasonable control of students, such as injury or illness, death of a relative, or other special circumstances may be grounds for successful appeals. Students must meet with a Student Success Advisor to assist with an academic improvement plan. Class registration will be restricted to classes approved and are required for your degree or certificate.
      1. If appeals are approved, students will receive aid for one semester on probation.  As a condition of the appeal, students must also EITHER complete all courses in which they register with grades of C (2.0) or better OR once again meet the Delta College Standards of Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients.
      2. If students have once again met the Standards of Academic Progress aid will be awarded without restriction. If students have not met these Standards, but have met the grade conditions as stated in No. 1 above, aid will continue to be granted on a semester-by-semester basis while following your academic plan. Grades will be checked at the end of each semester before aid is awarded for the next semester to ensure that students are continuing to meet the conditions of their appeal. This process will continue until such time as the student once again meets the Standards of Academic Progress.
      3. If it should be found that students have not met the conditions of their appeal and are not following an academic plan further financial aid will be denied. Students may attend classes at their own expense until the Standards of Academic Progress is once again met.
   3. A second Standards of Academic Progress appeal may be submitted to the Director of Financial Aid if a student has additional documentation for consideration. The Director’s decision regarding the second appeal will be considered final.