Academic Policies

Grades and Standards of Academic Progress

Grades for Courses Creditable Toward Graduation (Based on 4.00 Scale)    

To be eligible for graduation, a student must earn a 2.00 cumulative GPA in all courses attempted at the College. The calculation of the GPA for graduation does not include grades earned in institutional credit courses. A course may be counted only once for purposes of meeting graduation requirements. The GPA is calculated based on quality points earned as defined in the table below:   

Grades Quality Points    

I-Incomplete: The grade of “I” is given when the student fails to complete all of the requirements for a course during the semester. A grade of “I” can be awarded when a student has completed 75% of their coursework and is unable to complete the course due to documented hardship. An incomplete form has to be initiated by the student and approved by the instructor and the dean’s office before an “I” is granted. A grade of “I” must be removed prior to the end of the following academic semester otherwise the “I” becomes an “F”.    

W-Withdrawal: The grade of “W” is given when the student withdraws from the course up to the mid-semester withdrawal period. No quality points are awarded for a “W” grade. Course credit hours ARE NOT COUNTED in the cumulative hours for GPA (grade point average) calculation.    

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Courses Creditable Toward Graduation   

Grade Point Average Calculations (GPA)    

A student’s GPA will be calculated using the following formulas; only courses creditable toward graduation will be included in the computation.      

The GPA is always expressed as a number between 0.00 and 4.00, and is usually rounded to the nearest 0.01. The following are examples of the relationship between GPA and letter grades: 

Satisfactory Progress Requirements    

The following GPA levels must be maintained by the student in order for the student to maintain Clear Academic  

Status.   

• Students who have attempted 12-21 credit hours at Drake State must maintain a 1.5 cumulative GPA.
• Students who have attempted 22-32 credit hours at Drake State must maintain a 1.75 cumulative GPA.
• Students who have attempted 33 or more credit hours at Drake State must maintain a 2.00 cumulative GPA. 

Intervention for Students Falling Below Academic Standards of Progress    

When a student is placed on Academic Warning, Academic Probation, One Semester Academic Suspension, or One Calendar Year Academic Suspension, College officials may provide intervention for the student by taking steps including, but not limited to, imposing maximum course loads, requiring a study skills course, and/prescribing other specific courses.    

Standards of Academic Progress and Transfer Students    

• A transfer student who is admitted on CLEAR academic status is subject to the same standards of academic progress as a “native” student. Grades accrued at other regionally accredited postsecondary institutions are not included in any GPA calculation.    
• A transfer student who is admitted on Academic Probation retains that status until the student has attempted at least 12 credit hours at the institution. If, at the conclusion of the semester in which the student has attempted a total of 12 or more credit hours at Drake State, the Cumulative GPA is below 1.5, the student will be suspended for one semester. The transcript will read SUSPENDED-ONE SEMESTER.    
• If, at the conclusion of the semester in which the transfer student admitted on Academic Probation; the student has attempted a total of 12 or more credit hours at Drake State the cumulative GPA is 1.5 or above, the student’s status is clear.

Courses Not Creditable Toward Graduation    

Developmental Courses are designed to address academic deficiencies of students as identified by the institution’s testing program. Developmental courses have course numbers below 100. These courses are assigned a letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F.    

Course Forgiveness Policy    

• If a student repeats a course, the last grade awarded (excluding grades of W and WP) replaces the previous grade in the computation of the cumulative grade point average. The grade point average during the term in which the course was first attempted will not be affected.    
• When a course is repeated more than once, all grades for the course, excluding the first grade – will be employed in computation of the cumulative grade point average. Official records at the institution will list each course in which a student has enrolled.    
• It is the student’s responsibility to request of the registrar that the forgiveness policy be implemented.    

Academic Bankruptcy    

A student may request in writing to the Registrar to declare academic bankruptcy under the following conditions:   

• When academic bankruptcy is declared, the term “ACADEMIC BANKRUPTCY” will be reflected on the transcript for each semester term affected.  
• When academic bankruptcy is declared, the transcript will reflect the semester/term of its implementation and the transcripts will be stamped ‘ACADEMIC BANKRUPTCY IMPLEMENTED”  
• A student may declare academic bankruptcy only once.    
• Implementation of academic bankruptcy at an institution does not guarantee that other institutions will approve such action. Respective transfer institutions will make this determination.    
• A student who is using Veteran educational benefits must consult the Veteran’s Education Representative before applying for academic bankruptcy.  Veteran students who apply for and are granted institutional academic bankruptcy are ineligible to recoup any Veteran educational benefits previously used for the periods relevant to the academic bankruptcy.    

Application of Standards of Progress

Enrollment Status Requirements    

• When the Cumulative GPA is at or above the GPA required for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution, the student’s status is clear.  

• When a student’s Cumulative GPA is below the GPA required for the number of credit hours attempted at the institution, the student is placed on Academic Warning. The transcript will read Academic Warning.

• When the Cumulative GPA of a student on Academic Warning remains below the GPA required for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution but the Semester GPA is 2.00 or above, the student remains on Academic Warning and shall be noted on the Academic Transcript.  

• When the Cumulative GPA of a student who is on Academic Warning remains below the GPA required for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution but the Semester GPA is below 2.00, the student is placed on Academic Probation. The transcript shall read Academic Probation.   

• When the Cumulative GPA is at or above the GPA required for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution, the student’s status is clear.  

• When the Cumulative GPA of a student who is on Academic Probation remains below the GPA required for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution but the Semester GPA is 2.00 or above, the student remains on Academic Probation with the same notation on the academic transcript.   When the Cumulative GPA of a student who is on Academic Probation remains below the GPA required for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution and the Semester GPA is below 2.00, the student is suspended for one semester. The transcript will read SUSPENDED—ONE SEMESTER.

• When the Cumulative GPA is at or above the GPA required for the total number of credit hours attempted at the institution, the student’s status is clear.  

• The student who is suspended for one semester may appeal. If, after appeal, the student is readmitted without serving the one semester suspension, the transcript will read SUSPENDED—ONE SEMESTER READMITTED UPON APPEAL.  

•  The student readmitted upon appeal re-enters the institution on Academic Probation. 

• The student who serves a one semester academic suspension re-enters the institution on Academic Probation.  

• A student who is on Academic Probation after being suspended for one semester (whether the student has served the suspension or has been readmitted upon appeal) without having since achieved CLEAR academic status and whose Cumulative GPA falls below the level required for the total number of hours attempted at the institution but whose Semester GPA is 2.00 or above will remain on Academic Probation.  

• A student who is on Academic Probation, after being suspended for one semester (whether the student served the suspension or was readmitted upon appeal) without having since achieved CLEAR academic status and whose Cumulative GPA remains below the level required for the total number of hours attempted at the institution and whose Semester GPA is below 2.00 will be suspended for one calendar year. The transcript will read SUSPENDED—ONE YEAR until the student achieves the required GPA.   The student suspended for one calendar year may appeal. If, upon appeal, the student is readmitted, the transcript will read SUSPENDED—ONE YEAR/READMITTED UPON APPEAL. The student who is readmitted upon appeal re-enters the institution on Academic Probation. 

• The student who serves the calendar year suspension re-enters the institution on Academic Probation.  

All applicable academic designations except clear will appear on the student’s transcript.    

Process of Appeal for Readmission    

If a student declares no contest of facts leading to suspension but simply wishes to request consideration for readmission, the student may submit a request in writing for an “appeal for readmission” to the Admissions Committee within six school days of receipt of the notice of suspension. During the meeting of the Admissions Committee, which shall not be considered a “due process” hearing but rather a petition for readmission, the student shall be given an opportunity to present a rationale and/or statement of mitigating circumstances in support of immediate readmission.   

The decision of the Admissions Committee, together with the materials presented by the student, shall be placed in the College’s official records. Additionally, a copy of the written decision shall be provided to the student. Equity, reasonableness, and consistency are the standards by which such decisions are measured. The Registrar is the contact person to begin the appeal process.   

Academic Honors    

Selected Academic Honors shall be provided to recognize and promote notable student achievement. Courses carrying grades other than A-F will not be used to calculate the semester GPA nor counted toward the minimum course load requirement for inclusion on these lists.    

• Dean’s List - A Dean’s List will be compiled at the end of each semester. In order to qualify for the Dean’s List a student must maintain a semester GPA between 3.50-3.99 and must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours of college-level-work.    

• President’s List - A President’s List will be compiled at the end of each semester. In order to qualify for the President’s List a student must attain a semester GPA of 4.00 and must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours of college-level work.