Academic Standing
Academic Standing Policy
The Connecticut State Community College Academic Standing Policy is explicit to a student’s academic performance and does not address Financial Aid standing. Financial aid students must meet the standards provided under the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy, which is separate from this Academic Standing Policy. Academic Standing is designed to help ensure students who fall below a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) are provided with structured levels of support and advising to guide students toward academic success.
Determination of Good Standing
Any student whose cumulative grade point average GPA is 2.0 or higher is considered in good academic standing. Students in good academic standing may register for up to 19 credits in a regular (fall or spring) term.
Academic Warning
Students whose cumulative (GPA) falls below a 2.0 at the conclusion of the semester, including winter and summer intercessions, will be placed on First Level Academic Warning. Students shall return to good standing when their cumulative GPA reaches 2.0 or higher. Academic Standing includes three progressive levels of warning and suspension, each with varying credit caps. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0 cumulative GPA are notified in writing of their academic standing. Students are required to work with their Guided Pathway advisor and in collaboration with their faculty advisor as needed to create an individualized plan to increase their cumulative GPAs.
Students who have attempted more than 31 credits toward an associate degree or 13 or more credits toward a certificate program and have been on the first three levels of Academic Warning shall be placed on Academic Suspension and will not be permitted to enroll in the subsequent fall or spring semester.
The grid outlines each level of Academic Standing and the maximum number of credits permissible.
| Academic Standing Levels | Attempted Credits | Semester Credit Cap | Summer Credit Cap | Winter Credit Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Academic Standing | Any | 19 | 12 | 6 |
| First Level Academic Warning | Any | 13 | 9 | 3 |
| Second Level Academic Warning | Any | 10 | 7 | 0 |
| Third Level Academic Warning | Any | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Academic Suspension | 31 or more AS 13 or more Certificate | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Credit Cap Appeals
Credit Cap is the maximum number of credits a student may register for in a semester. Students with extenuating circumstances may request Credit Caps be increased. Students seeking a credit increase may submit a Credit Cap Appeal to the Dean of Students and Faculty, the Dean of Academic Affairs, or their respective designee at any level of Academic Warning.
Re-Enrollment Following Academic Suspension
In the first semester following Academic Suspension, students may enroll in up to 7 credits. Credit Caps shall automatically continue each semester until a 2.0 cumulative GPA is achieved.
Academic Suspension Appeals
Students placed on Academic Suspension may appeal the requirement to take a one semester leave of absence through the Dean of Students and Faculty or the Dean of Academic Affairs, or their respective designee. Decisions will be issued in writing within 10 business days of receipt. If an initial appeal is denied, the student may request a second appeal in writing requesting a hearing with the Campus Academic Standing Appeals Committee. The committee’s decision will be communicated in writing, and their decision will be final. Students on Academic Suspension may not appeal summer or winter intercession credit caps.
Students on Academic Suspension who are granted an appeal are placed upon Third Level Academic Warning for their appeal semester. If students fail to earn a 2.0 semester GPA during their appeal semester, they will be returned to Academic Suspension and will be required to take a one semester leave from the college. If the student’s semester GPA after their return semester is above 2.0, but the student’s cumulative GPA after their return semester is still below 2.0, the appeal will be continued, and the student will remain on Third Academic Warning.
Readmission
Students who wish to return after an academic suspension should schedule an appointment with their Guided Pathways Advisor to begin that process.
Academic Fresh Start
The Academic Fresh Start Program is a one-time opportunity for eligible students, returning to college after an absence of two or more years (four standard semesters), to refresh their grade point average (GPA). A student must be re-enrolling with a cumulative GPA below 2.00 to qualify for this program. Students must apply for Fresh Start by the last day of classes in their first full semester back after being readmitted to CT State. Fresh Start may only be invoked during the fall/spring semester.
Although all grades previously earned remain on the student transcript, the student retains credit only for courses with a grade of C- or above, including “P” (Pass), “CR” (Credit), and “CRT” (Credit Transfer). The courses for which Academic Fresh Start is invoked include a transcript symbol (^) indicating that the policy has been applied to the student’s academic history. The student’s updated, cumulative GPA will only reflect coursework from the semester in which the Fresh Start was invoked and all subsequent coursework*.
The Academic Fresh Start Program can only be used once, including at previous Connecticut Community Colleges, and does not apply to any completed degree or certificate. Fresh Start is exclusively for academic purposes and is not related to any/all federal and state Financial Aid guidelines regarding previous credits enrolled. Students should consult with the Financial Aid Office for such details.
*Please note: not all colleges and universities may accept credits with the Fresh Start notation; students interested in future transfer opportunities are encouraged to consult with the future institution(s) for more information on their transfer credit policies.
- Board of Regents Policy 1.28
Dean’s List
Each semester, the College recognizes students for superior academic performance based on the following criteria.
- Full-time students who are matriculated in a certificate or degree program and who successfully complete 12 or more credits of work in a semester with a grade point average of 3.4 or higher shall be recognized by having their names placed on a Dean’s List.
- Part-time students who are matriculated in a certificate or degree program are also eligible for such recognition when they have completed 12 or more credits of work with a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 or higher. They may be subsequently recognized at the completion of an additional 12 or more credits of work with a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 or higher, and at successive intervals of 12 credits.
- A course Incomplete shall make the student ineligible for Dean’s List recognition that semester. Upon completion of the coursework for which the Incomplete was granted, the student may petition the Dean of Faculty and Students within 30 days of the posting of the final grade, to have the Dean’s List retroactively recognized on the student’s official transcript.
- Students who withdraw from courses may be eligible for the Dean’s List. However, if the withdrawal causes them to fall below 12 credits for that term, they will not be eligible for full-time Dean’s List for that term.
- Students who are in academic probationary status or have a Dean’s hold due to academic integrity issues are not eligible for Dean’s List recognition, even if their semester grade point average might otherwise make them eligible.