Academic Standing and Satisfactory Academic Progress

Academic Standing is calculated at the end of each term by dividing the cumulative number of credits earned at the College by the cumulative number of credits attempted at the College. Incomplete grades count as credits attempted but not earned. The Academic Standing categories include: Good Standing, Academic Warning, Academic Suspension, and Academic Probation. The definitions for each category follow. All documents pertaining to Academic Warning, Academic Probation, and Academic Suspension are filed with the Office of the Registrar. Students should also refer to the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.

Good Academic Standing

Students who have successfully completed at least 67% of all credits attempted at the College and/or have the GPA standard listed below, have achieved Satisfactory Academic Progress and are considered in good academic standing.

  GPA Standards

  • Students enrolled in on campus and online undergraduate degree programs must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. A grade of credit (CR) does not carry any GPA calculation at this time.
  • Students enrolled in graduate degree programs must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. A grade of CR does not carry any GPA calculation at this time. 

Academic Warning

Students who have not successfully completed at least 67% of all credits attempted or achieved the GPA standard will be placed on Academic Warning. Students on Academic Warning are eligible to receive financial aid. Students on Academic Warning will be placed on Academic Suspension if they do not achieve a 67% or greater completion rate at the end of the warning term. Students must complete a student success plan which includes information on how the student will improve their GPA or completion rate. Student will submit the student success plan to their faculty advisor for approval. Please see policy on Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress for additional details.

Academic Suspension

Students who have been placed on Academic Warning and do not achieve a 67% or greater completion rate or achieved the GPA standard at the end of the Warning term will be placed on Academic Suspension. A student on Academic Suspension may not enroll and, therefore, will be withdrawn from the College per the Continuous Enrollment policy, unless a probationary status is granted.

Consequences of Academic Suspension:

  • Student may not enroll;
  • Student is not eligible to receive financial aid;
  • Student may not be employed in a work-study position; and
  • Student may not serve as a student representative in official positions at Prescott College (on academic or administrative committees).

Academic Probation

Academic Probation is granted by the appropriate dean and/or designated committee. A student who has been academically suspended must petition to be placed on Academic Probation in order to re-enroll. The petition must include the support of the student’s advisor, and indicate a plan to return to academic good standing.

Students who are receiving financial aid should also review the policy on Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress for additional details. A student who does not achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress in the term following the probationary term or academic plan must petition again to continue on Probation. Failure to do so will result in Academic Suspension and the consequences outlined above.

Reinstatement of Satisfactory Academic Progress

In order to be removed from Academic Warning, Academic Suspension, or Academic Probation, a student must achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress, as defined above, by the end of each enrollment period.

Academic Standing following Leaves of Absence

Students on Academic Warning who take a leave of absence will remain on Academic Warning when they return, unless they have submitted coursework that returned them to good standing. Students cannot avoid Academic Warning or Suspension/Probation by taking a leave of absence.

Academic Standing following Academic Suspension

Students readmitted after being on Academic Suspension will be placed on Academic Probation for their first term back. Students must meet the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress by the end of that term to be eligible to re-enroll and/or receive financial aid funding for a subsequent term. Students must also petition the Financial Aid office to determine financial aid eligibility.