Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

All students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to remain enrolled at the university. Satisfactory academic progress is determined by measuring the student's cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and the student's rate of progress toward completion of the academic program. These are outlined below.

Graduate Programs SAP

Students must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0 and successfully complete at least 75% of attempted credits by the midpoint of their program. Students who do not meet these criteria will be placed on academic probation for the remainder of the academic term.

A student on academic probation who continues to have a CGPA below 3.0 will remain on probation. Academic probation may only be removed by achieving a CGPA of 3.0 or higher in the following term.

Students enrolled in doctoral degree programs must earn a grade of “B” or higher in all courses to be considered passing. Any course in which a grade lower than “B” is earned must be repeated in order to fulfill program requirements. Students are permitted to repeat a course a maximum of two times. Failure to earn a passing grade after the second attempt may result in academic dismissal from the program.

A student must achieve a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 at the midpoint of the program and must have earned 75% of the credits attempted. A student who does not achieve these criteria will be placed on probation for the rest of the academic term. A student on academic probation who earns less than 3.0 in his/her cumulative average will remain on academic probation. Academic probation may be removed only by earning a 3.0 CGPA or higher on the next term.

Students enrolled in doctoral degree programs must earn a grade of “B” or higher in all courses to be considered passing. Any course in which a grade lower than “B” is received must be repeated to fulfill program requirements. Students may repeat a course a maximum of two times. Failure to achieve a passing grade after the second repetition may result in academic dismissal from the program.

Students placed on probation will be notified in writing and will receive academic advising to assist them in grade improvement.

SAP Evaluation - Timeframe to Complete (MTF) Policy

The maximum allowable timeframe for students to remain active in the program is as follows:

The credit hours attempted cannot exceed 1.5 times the credit hours required to complete the program. The student will be withdrawn once it is determined that he/she has exceeded the allowable maximum time frame.

Change of Grade Policy

Purpose

This policy is designed mainly to inform the process to follow when a student disagrees with a grade received at the end of the course.

Policy Statements

Grades are the sole province of the Faculty. Once the professor reports the grade for a course to the Office of the Registrar, it is not subject to amendment without the written authorization of the faculty member and the Academic Program Director. At the end of each academic session, grades will be made available online to students through the official institutional platform. Students who wish to contest a grade must initiate the grade grievance process within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of the grade is posted on the web with the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Implementation

Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dean of Students, Academic Directors, and Faculty will be responsible for the implementation of this policy as well as the supervision of its compliance.

A change in grade must be resolved by the end of the term following the term in which the grade was originally issued. Grade changes must be submitted from the faculty to the University registrar on the official “Change of Grade Authorization Form”, with the instructor's signature. All grade changes are subject to administrative approval.

Grievance

If the student wishes to pursue a grade appeal beyond the program director, the student must complete the Student Grade Appeal Form and send to the Dean's Office with any supporting documentation the student wishes to provide. The Dean will review the grievance and inform the student of the decision in writing. The decision of the Dean on the grade appeal is final. No further grievance process is available.