Academic Standing and Promotion

Students are expected to satisfy the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts within eight semesters, including the equivalent of 128 semester hours of academic credit, distributed among general education, elective courses and the academic major. In addition, students are expected to maintain at least a C average (2.00 grade point average or GPA) in each semester they are enrolled at the College.

At the end of each semester the academic deans, with the support of the registrar’s office, review the prospective classes’ progress towards graduation and grades. Students with low academic performance (defined below) and/or credit deficiency will be reviewed at the end of the semester by the Committee on Academic Standing. Additionally, the class deans review and take note of student’s performance that deserves commendation, including Dean’s Honors and Dean’s High Honors.

A student on financial aid must make satisfactory progress towards graduation within eight semesters, or may be placed on financial probation. For more information on what constitutes good academic progress, please refer to: Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Institutional aid is limited to eight semesters.

Progress Towards Graduation within 8 Semesters

The chart below shows the typical credit hours earned by a student after each semester at a full-time course load of four 4-credit courses per semester.

Students must accumulate a sufficient number of credits so as not to be more than eight semester hours (including transfer credits) behind the normal semester hours as described above. For example, after the first year, a student must complete at least 24 credits to be promoted to the sophomore year.

Grades

A student’s coursework is evaluated on the basis of grades and semester hours taken. Incompletes taken will be reviewed by the class dean once the final grade is submitted to the registrar. More information on incompletes.

• A through C- are satisfactory grades. However, too many Cs may warrant a letter of concern or warning.
• D+, D, and D- are passing grades (a student will receive credit) but are considered unsatisfactory.
• F is a failing grade.
• If a student takes a course with the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory option, a grade of C- must be earned to obtain credit. If a student earns below C-, a grade of U will be recorded.
• One-credit courses are graded Pass (P)/Not Pass(NP) and are not calculated in a student’s GPA.

Grade Point Average

A grade point average or GPA of 2.00 is required to achieve Satisfactory Academic Progress with the College. Grade point average may be used to determine eligibility for academic and co-curricular programs, athletics, as well as awards.  

Academic Review

At the end of each semester, the class dean will bring forth to the Committee on Academic Standing any student with low academic performance and/or credit deficiency.

The Committee on Academic Standing, known as CAS, is comprised of:

• Four faculty members, appointed from the voting faculty,
• The Dean of the College, who chairs the committee,
• The three class deans,
• The Dean of Academic Support,
• The Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion,
• The registrar serves as a participating member of CAS and as a consultant.

Following Academic Review, the class deans will issue letters to students with low academic performance and/or credit deficiency. These letters reflect different levels of concern leading up to academic probation. They include:

• Letter of Concern
• Academic Probation 1
• Academic Probation 2
• Academic Suspension

Levels Leading to Academic Probation

Letter of Concern

The Committee issues this status to students who has one or more of the following at the end of the semester:

• One or more grades in the D range;
• A deficit of 4 credits behind class year.

Letters are sent to the student and their academic adviser(s). 

Academic Progress Letter for Sophomores

The Committee issues this status to students who at the end of their third semester have:

• A deficit of 2 or more credits.

Or are missing and are not registered for any one of the following Connections requirements:

• 2 or more Modes of Inquiry (MOI);
• 1 of the 2 World Language and Culture (WLC) courses;
• A ConnCourse;
• 1 of the 2 Social Difference and Power (SDP) courses;
• 1 of the 2 Writing (W) Courses;
• Completed fewer than 8 credits at the 200-level or higher.

Letters are sent to the student. The academic adviser is informed of the letter (eg. by email or software).

Academic Progress Letter for Juniors

The Committee issues this status to students who at the end of their fourth or fifth semester are missing and are not registered for any one of the following Connections requirements:

• A ConnCourse;
• 2 World Languages and Cultures (WLC) courses;
• 2 Social Difference and Power (SDP) courses.

Letters are sent to the student. The academic adviser is informed of the letter (eg. by email or software).

Academic Probation

Academic Probation 1

The Committee issues this status to a student who has one or more of the following at the end of the semester:

• A semester GPA 2.299 or below;
• One or more failing grade (F);
• Two or more incompletes at the time when academic review is conducted;
• A deficit of 5-7 credits behind class year.

For Rising Seniors:

The Committee issues this status to rising seniors (students who have completed 6 semesters) who have:

• Completed fewer than 96 credits;

Or are missing and are not registered for any one of the following requirements and have not shared a plan with their class dean:

• Completed fewer than 56 credits at 200-level or above;
• Residency requirement of 64 credits earned at Connecticut College;
• 1 ConnCourse;
• 2 Writing Courses;
• 2 Social Difference and Power Courses;
• 2 World Language and Cultures Courses;
• 5 Modes of Inquiry Courses (4 if the student is completing a Center Certificate or a Pathway).

Letters are sent to the student, their academic adviser(s), and their parent(s)/guardian(s). The Dean of the College and the Senior Associate Dean of Student Life are notified of all students on this status.

Following review by the Committee on Academic Standing, students will receive notification with a formal letter sent by email from their class dean that they have been placed on Academic Probation 1.

Students who are placed on Academic Probation 1 solely because of incomplete grades in courses will remain on Academic Probation 1 until the grades are submitted to the registrar’s office or the faculty member has written the class dean confirming that all incomplete work is submitted.

Students on Academic Probation 1 will be required to write a reflection essay to address the causes of their academic difficulties; to meet with a learning specialist at the Academic Resource Center a minimum of four times over the first eight weeks of the semester; and to hold regular meetings with their class dean.

Academic Probation 2

The Committee issues this status to a student who has one or more of the following at the end of the semester:

• A semester GPA of 1.999 or below;
• Three or more incompletes at the time that academic review is conducted;
• Academic Probation 1 for a second semester in a row;
• A deficit of more than 8 credits behind class year.

For Seniors:

The Committee issues this status to seniors (students who have completed 7 semesters) who have:

• Completed fewer than 112 credits;

Or are missing and are not registered for any one of the following requirements and have not shared a plan with their class dean (including to walk at Commencement, complete elsewhere, etc.):

• Fewer than 64 credits at 200-level or above;
• Residency requirement of 64 credits earned at Connecticut College;
• 1 ConnCourse;
• 2 Writing Courses;
• 2 Social Difference and Power Courses;
• 2 World Language and Cultures Courses;
• 5 Modes of Inquiry Courses (4 if the student is completing a Center Certificate or a Pathway).

Letters are sent to the student, their academic adviser(s), and their parent(s)/guardian(s). The Dean of the College and the Senior Associate Dean of Student Life are notified of all students on this status.

The Dean of Students Office (for Student Government Association) and the Department of Athletics are informed of students who have a GPA below 1.999 (semester or cumulative) due to eligibility criteria.

Following review by the Committee on Academic Standing, students will receive notification with a formal letter sent by email from their class dean that they have been placed on Academic Probation 2.

Students who are placed on Academic Probation 2 solely because of incomplete grades in courses will remain on Academic Probation 2 until the grades are submitted to the registrar’s office or the faculty member has written the class dean confirming that all incomplete work is submitted.

Students on Academic Probation 2 will be required to write a reflection essay to address the causes of their academic difficulties; to meet weekly with a learning specialist at the Academic Resource Center; and to hold regular meetings with the class dean. Students on Academic Probation 2 will not be allowed to engage in varsity athletic competition, participate in study away programs or hold leadership positions on campus.

Academic Suspension

The Committee issues this status to any students who are placed on Academic Probation 2 for a second semester in a row or three consecutive semesters on any Academic Probation status.

Rising Juniors:

The committee will also place on Academic Suspension students who at the end of their second semester of the sophomore year (completed 4 semesters) have not declared their major.

Letters are sent to the student, their academic adviser(s), and their parent(s)/guardian(s). The Dean of the College and the Senior Associate Dean of Student Life are notified of all students on this status.

Following review by the Committee on Academic Standing, students will receive notification with a formal letter sent by email from their class dean that they have been placed on Academic Probation 2.

Students on academic suspension will be withdrawn from their classes and will not be permitted to be on campus without prior approval from the Dean of Students office. Students on academic suspension must take at least 8 credits at another institution and raise their overall GPA to 2.000 or above before returning to Connecticut College. Because a transcript may not be available by the date of readmission, a mid-semester grade and good standing form must be completed by each instructor as evidence of satisfactory coursework or a written plan for summer coursework at another institution. The Committee must receive an official transcript prior to the student’s return to campus. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement for readmission will be suspended for another semester.

Students are eligible to take summer courses at Connecticut College at their own expense. If students are depending on these credits to meet the 8 credit requirement and the 2.000 GPA threshold, they must successfully complete (grade of C+ or above) one course in Summer Session 1. Failure to do so will result in the student being placed on academic suspension for the upcoming semester.

Students returning from Academic Suspension must request readmission from their class dean by October 31 for the spring semester and March 31 for the fall semester.

Financial aid for a student who is placed on Academic Suspension status will be renewed (if needed) upon readmission to the College.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

In accordance with federal regulations, all financial aid recipients are required to make satisfactory academic progress. This means that financial aid recipients must:

• Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.000 and
• Accumulate a sufficient number of credits so as not to be more than eight semester hours (including transfer credits) behind the normal semester hours as described below.
• Institutional aid is limited to eight semesters for traditional undergraduates.

More Information on Satisfactory Academic Progress.