Academic Policies

Student Academic Standing Policy

Good Standing

Each student begins his or her enrollment at Mercer on Good Standing, which provides no restrictions on his or her credit load beyond those contained in normal college policy. A student remains on Good Standing by passing the courses in which he or she enrolls each semester and by maintaining a satisfactory cumulative grade point average (GPA).

Academic Progress

The academic sanctions for failing to maintain satisfactory academic standards/progress may include warning, probation, continued probation, academic suspension, or dismissal. These sanctions will be imposed on students who either fail to earn sufficient grade points or who continue to withdraw excessively from classes.

More specifically, any student who has completed 12 or more semester hours with a cumulative grade point average below 2.0 (C average) or who has failed to earn at least 50 percent of all credits registered for on the official day of counting student enrollment for two or more consecutive semesters may have an academic sanction of warning, probation, continued probation, academic suspension, or dismissal.

Externally accredited programs may have slightly different academic progress standards, established by said external accreditation body. Please consult the academic progress section of each externally accredited program to determine progression policy. If you are uncertain if your academic program is externally accredited, contact your academic advisor or success coach.

A student placed on academic sanction or dismissal may appeal the action to the Academic Standing Committee.

Academic Standing

To remain in good standing and become eligible for graduation, the student must maintain a C average or a grade-point average of 2.0. Externally accredited programs may have different grade-point average requirements for academic standing and/or graduation. Please consult the academic standing section of each externally accredited program to determine academic standing policy.

A student will be placed on academic probation if he/she earns a cumulative grade-point average of less than 2.0, or below minimum cumulative grade-point average requirements for externally accredited programs.

Academic Sanctions

• If a student falls below a 2.0 GPA, they may be placed on academic warning or academic probation for the following semester. The number of credits will be restricted to 13 for academic warning and 10 for academic probation.
• If the student remains below a 2.0 GPA while on probation, they may be unable to receive financial aid and/or VA education benefits will be terminated. Students who are no longer eligible for financial aid or use of VA benefits may continue to attend school; however, they will be responsible for all costs. Some academic programs may dismiss the student from the program, although they may continue to take other classes at MCCC.
• If the student’s cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 after the first semester of probation, they may be dismissed from the college. Dismissal requires a student to take a semester off and develop an approved individual Success Plan in consultation with an MCCC success coach before returning.
• If the student would like to re-enter the program, they must appeal the decision. Appeals are approved or denied by the Academic Standing Committee led by the Dean of Faculty. If the appeal is approved, the student may re-enter the program the following semester.

* upon approval of an Individual Success Plan by the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs or designee