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Students experiencing difficulty in one or more courses are encouraged to seek help in resolving the problem(s). The first step always should be a full discussion with the instructor in whose course the problem exists. Conversation with one’s Academic Adviser also may help to pinpoint the source of difficulty. If the problem seems to be rooted in circumstances outside the particular course, such as study skills, time management, or a personal situation, assistance may be sought from the Learning Center or from counselors at the College Health Service. Any students experiencing academic difficulty may elect to enroll in GST 101: Strategies for Academic Success.
Following each regular term, the Office of Academic Services sends announcements of probation and suspension to the student’s Campus Post Office box and through postal mail to the mailing address presently cited in the student’s academic record for contact information. This announcement includes the reason for the assigned status, related conditions for resolution of the status, any impending threat to one’s eligibility for financial aid, instructions for student action, and the appeal process.
Students on Academic Probation are offered support from a centrally-administered academic intervention team that will work closely with Academic Advisers to review academic schedules, course load and course distribution over regular and summer terms, and discuss with at-risk students the degree to which their work in the Labor Program, extra-curricular, co-curricular, and social life activities are likely to contribute positively to the ultimate goal of earning a baccalaureate degree from Berea College. All students on probation will be identified for intervention purposes but special attention will be given to students who are on Academic Probation and who wish to maintain involvement in various campus organizations, intercollegiate athletics, musical ensembles, campus governance, and other groups. Students on Academic Probation cannot participate in internships, independent studies, team-initiated studies, domestic Short Term Exchanges, Berea Term Abroad, or summer or short-term international travel (including Berea International Short Term, KIIS). Students who wish to participate in the above activities may appeal to the SAAS Committee for a waiver to conditions of Academic Probation.
Academic Probation
Students will be placed on Academic Probation at the end of any regular term either for failure to earn the minimum GPA or credits identified in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Chart (see p. 42) or for failure to satisfactorily complete three (3) full credit courses.
To meet terms of academic probation, a student must: earn C (C- does not count) or higher grades in three (3) full course credits and earn grades sufficient to raise the cumulative GPA to the level required for the next regular term. (See Satisfactory Academic Progress Chart.) If not, that student will be subject to suspension.
During the term of probation, students who have not completed GST 101: Strategies for Academic Success previously must enroll in and successfully complete GST 101(.25 credit). Failure to complete GST 101 successfully while on probation will negatively influence a future enrollment decision for a student who remains in academic difficulty. Students wishing to be excused from this requirement may submit the GST 101 Waiver form to the Director of Academic Services.
Also see the Student Handbook’s section on “Student Rights and Responsibilities” for more information on Probation, Readmission, and Reinstatement (also available online).
Academic Suspension
Students are subject to suspension for any of the following reasons:
- failure to meet the conditions of Academic Probation;
- failure to satisfy the Developmental Mathematics Requirement prior to the beginning of the third regular term of attendance;
- failure to satisfy the Writing Competency Requirement by the end of the fourth term of attendance;
- failure to successfully complete GSTR 110 and GSTR 210 prior to the end of the third regular term of attendance. (Students are required to be enrolled in these courses until successful completion is achieved unless they are enrolled in GST 150: College Composition);
- failure to pass the majority of all courses carried for a regular term (even if the student is not on probation);
- failure to complete the Declaration of Primary Major process in a timely manner. Students are asked to declare a primary major by the end of the term in which they will accumulate fifteen (15) course credits.
- Students who have earned 15 college credits in high school will be given the option of declaring a major prior to their third regular term of attendance, but will not be expected to do so until then.
- When students initially apply for admission to a major and do not meet the minimum requirements, they have until the next regular term to meet the minimum requirements. Students who do not successfully complete the process that term will be suspended unless they submit a letter of request for a one-term extension to declare a major. Failure to complete the declaration of major process in the term of extension (the third term in which the student is in the declaration of major process) will result in suspension from the College.
Appeals of Academic Suspension
Students who are dismissed for academic reasons have the right to appeal the action within five (5) business days from the date of notification. The appeal must be in writing and include pertinent information other than what is available to the committee at the time of its initial action. The letter of appeal should be: 1) word processed and follow the format of a formal business letter or be considered as a formal writing activity; 2) be addressed to the Chairperson of the SAAS Committee; and 3) be sent to the Director of Academic Services.
To reach a decision on the appeal, the SAAS Committee will take into consideration the student’s previous academic, labor and social record at Berea as well as the degree to which the student has responded to institutional attempts to support academic success (e.g. successful completion of GST 101: Strategies for Academic Success, response to consultation with the Academic Adviser, documented visits to the Learning Center, etc.).
In addition, the following criteria will be considered by the SAAS Committee during appeal hearings:
The SAAS Committee may wish to interview the appellant. For that reason, appellants should make themselves available at the time of the appeals meeting. It is the student’s responsibility to ascertain the time and place of the appeals meeting. After the Committee has considered the appeal, the Committee informs the student of the decision by mail.
If the appeal is successful, the student will be continued on probation for one subsequent regular term. The same appeal will be used for purposes of continued eligibility for Title IV and state financial aid. Without this written appeal, the student will not remain eligible for Title IV and state financial aid.
Academic Standing and Reinstatement to Good Standing
Unless otherwise specified at the time of suspension, the official status of the suspended student will be reflected in the academic record as “Academic Suspension” for the passage of one regular term, after which time the student is returned to “Good Standing,” thereby permitting enrollment at another institution.
Readmission of Suspended Students
Unless otherwise specified at the time of suspension, students are ineligible to be considered for readmission to Berea College before the passage of two (2) regular terms of absence. Students should be aware that readmission is a very competitive process and successful applicants for readmission almost always leave Berea in good standing. However, previously suspended students can improve their chances for readmission by attending another regionally accredited institution and addressing the area of academic challenge encountered at Berea and/or by demonstrating overall academic proficiency, or significant achievement in community service or employment.
Courses that have been failed previously at Berea are not eligible for transfer credit back to Berea. All outstanding Student Account balances must be resolved in order to be considered for readmission.
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