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 

*Office procedures are subject to change as needed.

I. Academic Caution: 

Following each semester, students placed on Academic Caution will be notified of their status by the Registrar. Caution students are required to develop an academic success plan with a Student Success Advisor once per academic year. Students are encouraged to utilize a Success Plan Webinar to assist them in understanding their Academic Caution status and submitting an academic success plan to their advisor to approve. An approved plan must be on file before students will be allowed to register. 

II. Academic Probation: 

Following each semester,  students placed on Academic Probation will be notified of their status by the Registrar. Probation students are required to develop an academic success plan with a Student Success Advisor once per academic year. Students are encouraged to utilize a Success Plan Webinar to assist them in understanding their Academic Probation status and submitting an academic success plan to their advisor to approve. An approved plan 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 academic success plan, may be placed on suspension and will be notified of their status by the Registrar's Office. They may be denied enrollment for two consecutive semesters and may 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 academic success plan 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 academic success plan on file in the Registrar’s Office prior to registering. 

Academic Success Plan

An academic success plan is an agreement that specifies actions to be taken by the student. The academic success plan replaces the Academic Improvement Plan (AIP) and Educational Support Plans referred to on this page. It includes such things as: 

• 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.
• Resources and recommendations for maximizing student success.

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

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Students must make satisfactory progress toward the completion of an approved 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. All semesters and courses in which a student was registered must be considered, even if financial aid was not offered.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

• All students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) 2.0, which is calculated from all attempted classes that earn GPA points. Incompletes, withdrawals, transfer credits, and pass/no credit classes are excluded from GPA calculation.
• Students must successfully complete at least 66.66% of all enrolled/attempted courses. Enrolled/attempted courses include satisfactorily completes, incompletes, withdrawals, pass/no credit, transfer credits, and developmental courses.
• Students must complete their degree or certificate program within 150% credit hour limit of their program length. Determine maximum program length by multiplying the number of credits required for the declared program in the Delta College catalog by 1.5. Attempted/enrolled credit hours will be considered.

Policy / Procedures

• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is reviewed at the end of each semester, after grades have posted to students’ transcript. Students will receive written communication electronically regarding the results of the SAP standing.
• Students will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the following semester if they fail to meet the minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA requirement and/ or fail to complete 66.66% of credit hours attempted overall. Students are eligible to receive financial aid for the Warning semester. Students who fail to achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at the end of the Warning semester will go into ineligible Academic Standing and will not be eligible for further financial aid.
• Students will be cancelled from financial aid after the semester the student reaches 150% of the credits needed to complete their program of study.
• Students approaching maximum program length may receive a warning communication once the student has reached 80% of the maximum credits allotted for the declared degree program.
• Any student cancelled from financial aid has the right to appeal the ineligible Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status to the Financial Aid Office if mitigating circumstances occurred that can be documented and can demonstrate that it negatively impacted their academic success during applicable semester(s).
• All Financial Aid appeals must be made by completing the appropriate Delta College appeal form. A statement without documentation is not enough to support an appeal decision. After the appeal has been reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeal Committee, the student will be notified of the decision in writing electronically.
• If an appeal is denied, students may submit a second appeal that must include information/documentation beyond what was included in the first appeal. All second appeals will go before the Director of Financial Aid whose decision will be final.
• Students approved for Program Length (exceeding the 150% credit limit) will be able to receive financial aid for the classes needed to complete their degree program. Failure to meet appeal requirements of 2.0 GPA or 100% completion for the semester will result in financial aid cancellation.
• If an appeal is approved for GPA or completion rate, the student will be placed on probation and be eligible to receive financial aid. To continue on probation, students must maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA each semester and complete 100% of the credits they attempt each semester.
• If a student fails to meet the requirements of the appeal status, they may appeal again, however the same circumstance approved for an appeal cannot be submitted again.
• If at any time it is determined that a student is unable to meet Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) requirements (2.0 GPA and/or 66.66% completion) within the remaining credits for their program, they become ineligible for Federal Financial Aid.
• Appeals will be accepted through the ninth calendar day (100% refund period) of each semester. Any appeal that come in after this date will be considered for the following semester.
• Students will confirm on the appeal form that if it is approved, they will only take classes that are required of their declared program. Any classes enrolled/attempted not required for the declared program, may result in a loss of financial aid eligibility.
• Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Director of Financial Aid within the conditions of the federal regulations.