2008-09 Catalog - Saint Mary's College of California

Academic RequirementsAcademic StandingSaint Mary’s College recognizes two regular categories of academicstanding: Satisfactory Academic Progress and Probationary Status.Satisfactory Academic ProgressA student who maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least2.0 (C average) in all courses taken or accepted for credit at Saint Mary’sCollege and, after the freshman year, a cumulative grade point average ofat least 2.0 (C average) in all courses required or accepted for credit inhis/her major field maintains satisfactory academic progress.For the purpose of establishing satisfactory academic progress, only coursestaken at Saint Mary’s College will be considered during a transfer student’sfirst two semesters in residence.Probationary StatusA student who, at the end of fall or spring, fails to maintain satisfactoryacademic progress is considered to have probationary status. The deanfor academic development will notify students in probationary statusand their academic advisors, in writing, that failure to achieve satisfactoryacademic progress no later than the close of the next long (i.e., fallor spring) term will subject students in probationary status to academicdisqualification from further study at Saint Mary’s College.Subject to Academic DisqualificationA student is subject to disqualification from further study at Saint Mary’sif the student is already in probationary status and fails to resume satisfactoryacademic progress (cumulative GPA of 2.0) by the end of thesemester of probation.A student who is not in probationary status may be subject todisqualification if:• the student’s cumulative GPA falls below 1.55 for all courses takenor accepted for credit; or• the student has at least junior standing (see Class Designations, p. 33)and fails to maintain a GPA of at least 1.5 on all courses required oraccepted for credit in his/her major field.Students subject to disqualification will be notified promptly, in writing,by the dean for academic development. Students are responsible forknowing their academic standing after grades are posted and for contactingthe Office of Academic Affairs if they have any questions about theirstatus. Failure to respond to either U.S. mail contact or e-mail contactmay lead to a student’s being disqualified automatically.Special Academic ProbationSpecial Academic Probation may be granted at the discretion of theAcademic Probation Review Board, whose members are the dean foracademic development, the dean of academic advising and Achievement,the Registrar, the dean for student life, the director of the AcademicSupport Center, and the vice provost for enrollment. In addition to theinformation contained in the student’s petition, the board may seek theadvice of the student’s instructors, academic advisor, school dean andothers, when appropriate. Special Academic Probation is granted pursuantto the following conditions:• Filing of a timely appeal against disqualification for cause (e.g.,existence of serious personal or health factors, or other special circumstances,which have substantially impaired the student’s ability tosuccessfully meet the demands of the College’s academic programs);• Demonstration in the appeal of the reasonable expectation that thestudent can achieve satisfactory academic progress by the close ofthe next long (i.e., fall or spring) term;• Acceptance by the student of the conditions specified by the AcademicProbation Review Board which will lead to the resumption ofsatisfactory academic progress by the close of the next long term.Students who fail to meet the conditions of the Special Academic Probationby the end of the next long term will be immediately disqualified.The Academic Probation Review Board exercises sole authority in casesof Special Academic Probation.In extraordinary circumstances, a student may appeal a disqualification orother decision by the Review Board. This appeal must be made within 90calendar days of notification of disqualification and will be considered onlyif there is strong and compelling evidence of incorrect procedure, erroror new information. The dean for academic development will determinewhether such appeal will be heard by the Review Board.A student disqualified from this College may apply to the AcademicProbation Review Board for re-admission if he/she presents work fromanother college or university which is acceptable for transfer credit andwhich is sufficient to signify satisfactory academic progress and a gradepoint average (major and cumulative) of 2.0 or higher.Any student subject to disqualification will be disqualified from furtherstudy at Saint Mary’s College unless, within one week from the date ofnotification, he/she files an appeal against disqualification with theAcademic Probation Review Board, and unless he/she is then grantedSpecial Academic Probation by that board.39