Satisfactory Academic Progress

Minimum Standards for Academic Progress

To maintain academic progress, each student must meet the required minimum standards of the following three criteria:

• Maintain a minimum acceptable cummulative grade point average (GPA);
• Achieve the minimum incremental completion rate (ICR); and
• Complete the program within the maximum allowable time frame

Cumulative Grade Point Average

To continue enrollment in an academic program, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or above at the undergraduate level and 3.00 or above at the graduate level/  CGPA is reviewed at the end of each semester.

Incremental Competion Rate

To continue enrollment in an academic program, students must successfully complete at least 67 percent of the cummulative course credit hours attempted at Argosy University.  The incremental completion rate is reviewed at the end of each semester.

Maximum Allowable Time Frame

Students must successfully complete all program requirements within 150 percent of the program length based in credit hours.  The maximum allowable time frame is calculated as a period of time during which the student attempts 1.5 times the number of credit hours required to complete the program.

Examples:

• Students enrolled in a 36 credit hour program can attempt 54 credit hours
• Students enrolled in a 60 credit hour program can attempt 90 credit hours

All grades are included in the maximum allowable credit hours and incremental completion rate calculations.  Transfer credits that reduce total program credit hour requirements will reduce the maximum allowable time frame.  Students may also be required to meet calendar maximum time frame requirements in certain programs (e.g., seven years in the doctoral programs or five years in the master's programs) and should review the graduation requirements listed in the program description.

Factors Affecting Academic Progress

In addition to dropping coursework, students should be aware that the following can affect academic progress:

Repeating Courses

Students who receive a failing grade in a required course within their program must repeat and pass that course.  Failing grades will be included in the transcript.  However, only the grade in the repeated course will be included in the cummulative grade point average.  The credit hours for both the failed course and the passed course will be counted in the credit hours attempted.

Incomplete Grades

An "Incomplete" ("I") grade may be issued to students who do not complete the course requirements by the end of the semester.  Students must complete the requirements of the contract established with the respective faculty member or receive an "F" for the course.  The incomplete course will count in credit hours attempted.  Only the final grade will be included in the cumulative grade point average. 

All other courses taken for credit at Argosy University will be counted in the credit hours attempted and in the calculation of the cummulative grade point average (CGPA).

Academic Warning

Clinical Psychology Students

Students enrolled in the clinical psychology programs will receive a letter of academic warning for:

• Receipt of a grade of "F"
• Receipt of a second grade below "B-"

In addition, students placed on academic warning may be referred to the Departmental Student Professional Development Committee for evaluation

Probation

Academic Probation

The conditions under which students are placed on academic probation are not limited to failure to meet the minimum standards for academic progress requirements.  Students should consult the campus-specific Academic Catalogue Addendum for additional program-specific requirements and review the "Student Rights and Responsibilities" section of the Academic Catalogue.

All students, regardless of the program in which they are enrolled, will be placed on academic probation if:

• The cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is below 2.00 at the undergraduate level, or 3.00 at the graduate level at the end of a semester
• The student has failed to earn 67 percent of credit hours attempted on a cumulative basis at the end of a semester.

A student on academic probation status is deemed  to be making satisfactory academic progress and remains eligible for financial aid.

Removal from Academic Probation

Criteria for Removal from Academic Probation

Students will be removed from academic probation when they have met the minimum standards for academic progress.

Schedule for Removal from Academic Probation

After being placed on academic probation, students in term-based programs will have a maximum of two semesters to meet the minimum standards for academic progress. 

General Probation

The administration and faculty may request that the Departmental Committee or the Academic Affairs Committee review any student whose professional performance indicates deficiencies in performing the work required of students within their respective programs.  The Departmental Committee or the Academic Affairs Committee may recommend general probation and such remediation steps as deemed appropriate.  The student must agree to all reasonable conditions in order to remain enrolled.

Criteria for Removal from General Probation

The body that placed the student on general probation (Student Conduct Committee, Departmental Committee, or Academic Affairs Committee) will determine the conditions under which students placed on general probation shall be removed.  The conditions must be clearly stated in writing and sent to the student.

Schedule for Removal from General Probation

The body that placed the student on general probation (Student Conduct Committee, Departmental Committee, or Academic Affairs Committee) will determine the schedule under which the student placed on general probation shall be removed, as well as make the determination as to the satisfaction of the terms of probation.

Dismissal

Academic Dismissal

After the second and final semester of probation, students in term-based programs who have not met the minimum standards for academic progress will be dismissed.  If the student is readmitted after successfully appealing his/her dismissal, the student will re-enter on probation and be required to meet the minimum standards for academic progress within a maximum of two semesters or be dismissed.

Please note that students may be dismissed for academic reasons without previous academic action, including failure to complete all program requirements within the maximum allowable time frame.

Students who have been dismissed are prohibited from taking or continuing in coursework at any Argosy University campus or online, regardless of circumstance or pending appeal.  Students must successfully appeal a dismissal in order to re-enter any Argosy University campus or program.

Other Reasons for Dismissal

Students may be dismissed from Argosy University for other reasons than those stated above if the institution determines that they cannot satisfactorily meet the academic, professional, or ethical expectations, the expectations detailed in the student responsibility policy, or other expectations of the program.  Dismissal normally occurs when the Student Conduct Committee, Department Committee, or Academic Affairs Committee makes a decision for dismissal and communicates that decision to the student.

It is the responsibility of all students to be familiar with the Argosy University Ethical Code of Conduct, found in section four of the Academic Catalogue, "Student Rights and Responsibilities."

Clinical Psychology Students

Students enrolled in the clinical psychology programs are dismissed from the program for:

• Receipt of a second grade of "F"
• Receipt of two grades below "B-" during the same semester
• Receipt of a third grade below "B-"

Policy Governing Satisfactory Progress and Recertification of Benefits for Eligible Veterans

If a student receiving VA benefits does not meet the minimum standards for academic progress requirements as defined earlier, and is placed on academic probation, a notation of this status is placed in the student's file.  If, following placement on academic probation, a VA student does not meet the minimum requirements at the end of two consecutive evaluation periods, VA students cannot be recertified, benefits are terminated, and the VA will be notified.  Students have a right to submit a statement of mitigating circumstances with the VA notification.