3.12 Academic Standing
I. Purpose
Establish parameters for good academic standing.
II. Scope
Applicable to all students enrolled in credit courses.
III. General
Students enrolled at the college are governed by the student academic scale that is published in the college catalog and/or other appropriate college publications. Students with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 are considered to be in academic good standing.
Students who fall below the minimum standard are considered to be AT RISK and are subject to the terms and conditions that are listed in the college catalog and/or other appropriate publications. Students with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and who are making satisfactory progress in Reading are considered to be in academic good standing.
Students who fall below the minimum grade point average of 2.0 and/or who tested into Reading Level 1 or 2 and have not progressed to the College’s next level in Reading are considered to be at risk and are subject to the terms and conditions of Academic Warning that are listed in the college catalog and/or other appropriate publications. For more details about College suspension policy, see Academic Warning, Probation, & Suspension and Policy 3.12 on Academic Standing.
*Note on Reading Policy
Students who enter the College with a Level 1 or 2 in Reading and fail to progress to the College’s next level of Reading after three (3) attempts at their current level may be suspended from the College until they 1.) demonstrate increased proficiency by achieving the next level in Reading or 2.) change to a program of study which does not require increased Reading proficiency. Note: Switching programs does not eliminate the previous attempts to achieve the next level in Reading. Level 2 Reading students whose programs of study do not require Level 3 Reading are exempt from this policy.
Academic Warning
Students who have less than a 2.0 cumulative grade point average and/or tested into Reading Level 1 or 2 and have not progressed to the College’s next level in Reading after 1 attempt are considered "at risk of failing." Academic Warning is the first, and least severe of the 3 levels. However, now is the time to take steps to identify and correct any difficulties you may be experiencing.
Academic Probation
Students who have less than a 2.0 cumulative grade point average and/or tested into Reading Level 1 or 2 and have not progressed to the College’s next level in Reading after 2 cumulative attempts are considered “At Risk of Failing.” There are 3 levels of “At Risk” students at Bucks: Academic Warning, Academic Probation, and Suspension. Academic Probation is the second, and more severe of the 3 levels. If you are on Probation for two consecutive semesters due to low GPA or fail to increase your Reading Level after 2 cumulative attempts, you are in danger of being suspended.
Academic Suspension
Suspension is the most severe of the 3 levels. If students were on Probation for 2 consecutive semesters, or if they fail to progress to the College’s next level in Reading after 3 cumulative attempts (see Reading policy), they are in danger of being suspended. If Suspended, students are not allowed to attend the College for the designated period of time as determined by College policies and procedures.
IV. Procedures
None
V. Approval
President, February 1, 2016; Reviewed December 2023; Revisions Approved by Board of Trustees – March 14, 2024; Revisions Approved by the President on April 3, 2025.
VI. Responsibility
Vice President for Academic Affairs