Academic Action

Academic action consists of warning, probation, suspension, and dismissal.

Points of Clarification

For Incomplete grades, the calculation of the GPA will be made in the semester in which the incomplete grade was assigned. Any academic action that is necessary due to a change from the incomplete grade to an earned grade will be taken at the end of the semester in which the incomplete grade is changed.

NSC Cumulative GPA calculations only include courses that are taken at NSC. Courses taken at another institution and transferred to NSC will not be included in the NSC Cumulative GPA.

Academic Warning

Students with the following actions will receive a Notice of Academic Warning from the Office of the Registrar:

• A student who earns a NSC Cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 based on his/her credits attempted (courses in which a grade of A, B, C, D, F, and/or W is earned).
• A student who withdraws from or fails to complete more than 70% of his/her attempted semester credits regardless of the NSC Cumulative GPA.

To help prevent academic probation, a student is required to meet with an academic advisor during the semester in which he/she is placed on academic warning.

Academic Probation

If a student fails to raise his/her NSC Cumulative GPA above the warning threshold by the end of the semester following the warning, he/she will be placed on academic probation according to the following:

• 0-29 total credits attempted and has a NSC Cumulative GPA of less than 1.6;
• 30-59 total credits attempted and has a NSC Cumulative GPA of less than 1.8; or
• 60 or more total credits attempted and has a NSC Cumulative GPA of less than 2.0.

A student on academic probation is required to meet with an academic advisor to develop an Academic Plan of Action as to how he/she will return to good academic standing. If a student on probation fails to develop an Academic Plan of Action with his/her advisor, an advising hold will be placed on the student’s account, and the student will not be permitted to register. A student who develops an Academic Plan with his/her advisor and maintains a semester GPA of 2.0 while on probation will be allowed to enroll each semester in a probationary status until the appropriate NSC Cumulative GPA based upon the total number of credits attempted has been earned.

Academic Suspension

If at the end of probationary semester, a student fails to achieve a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher, or raise his/her NSC Cumulative GPA above the probation level, he/she will be suspended from taking classes at NSC for one semester. If the student re-enrolls after suspension and earns less than a 2.0 semester GPA and has a cumulative GPA below the probation threshold, then the student will receive a second suspension and will be prohibited from enrolling for two consecutive semesters.

A student who has been placed on suspension has the option to appeal the grade(s) that resulted in the suspension. The Academic Status of students appealing final grades will not be affected until a final decision has been made regarding grades in question. Please refer to the Grade Appeal Policy for specific instructions to complete the Grade Appeal process.

Reinstatement from Suspension

A student returning to NSC following a suspension must meet with an academic advisor to develop an Academic Plan prior to registration and the start of classes. The Academic Plan will include minimum requirements of a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher for each semester following reinstatement until the student achieves good academic standing (based on the NSC Cumulative GPA). The student is also recommended to take an appropriate course load as approved by his/her academic advisor. Students reinstated from suspension are placed on academic probation until such time that the student meets the appropriate GPA for credits attempted, as listed in the Academic Probation section above.

Academic Dismissal

A student will be dismissed from NSC if his/her NSC Cumulative GPA is below the probation threshold and the student does not earn a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher in any semester following their second suspension.

Appeal

If the student wishes to appeal dismissal decision or apply for reinstatement, the student can proceed to file an appeal to the Dean of his/her school through the Office of the Registrar. The appeal form and associated instructions are located in the Office of the Registrar. The Dean must render a decision on the appeal by the first day of class of the following semester. The Dean’s decision is final.

Students wanting to attend NSC after dismissal must reapply for admission through the Office of the Registrar at least one year after the date of dismissal.