CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA



CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONAACADEMIC SENATEACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEEREPORT TOTHE ACADEMIC SENATEAA-003-910 Revision of Academic Standing CriteriaAcademic Affairs Committee Date: May 7, 2014 Steering CommitteeReceived and Forwarded Date: May 7, 2014Academic Senate Date: May 28, 2014 FIRST READINGIntroductionIn this referral, the Associate Provost recommends corrective actions to bring Cal Poly Pomona policy on both undergraduate and on postbaccalaureate and graduate standing into line with CSU guidelines. This report is therefore divided into two components, the first dealing with undergraduate academic standing and the second dealing with postbaccalaureate and graduate standing.BackgroundA. Undergraduate Academic StandingCurrently, at risk, probation, and subject to disqualification criteria are based on GPA while disqualification is based on grade points. This difference can be confusing for students and advisors, especially as many are not familiar with the calculation of grade points. Further, the Major GPA is used to determine the probation standing, but not the subject to disqualification or disqualification standing. Finally, a consultation with the Chancellor’s Office has led to the conclusion that the campus misunderstood the executive order (EO 823) pertaining to academic disqualification. EO 823 (and now EO 1038) did not intend for there to be an academic standing between probation and disqualification. The phrase “subject to disqualification” was intended by the Chancellor’s Office to indicate that it might not be possible to implement disqualification immediately after a student’s GPA fell below the levels indicated above. Rather, it should be applied as soon as was practical.B. Postbaccalaureate and Graduate StandingIn September of 2008 the Chancellor’s Office issued Executive Order 1038 - Minimum Requirements for Probation and Disqualification. In Section V of the EO 1038 are the minimum directives for probation and disqualification are stated. Namely,“V.Probation and Disqualification of Postbaccalaureate and Graduate Students: Probation and Disqualification of postbaccalaureate and graduate students are subject to section 41300 (d), (e), and (f) of Title 5 and criteria established by the campus. Such criteria may not be less than those established for undergraduate students.”The referral seeks to make postbaccalaureate policy on disqualification consistent with undergraduate policy and use GPA as the determinant of academic standing. Currently postbaccalaureate students can be reinstated an indefinite number of times with no mandatory break in attendance. Given other requirements for postbaccalaureate students to maintain continuous enrollment, a mandatory break is not recommended in the referral, but a limit on reinstatements similar to what is applied to undergraduates is recommended.In the referral, it is recommended that: (1) the Subject to Disqualification standing be discontinued, (2) that a Probation standing be applied to postbaccalaureate students whose Cal Poly Pomona or cumulative GPA is below 3.0, (3) that students with a Cal Poly Pomona or cumulative GPA below 2.9 be disqualified, and (4) that postbaccalaureate students be ineligible for reinstatement after a second disqualification.The disqualification/ reinstatement policy for Graduate and postbaccalaureate students, as stated in the catalog is:Master’s degree students, conditional or unconditional (8000/6000), and credential students, conditional or unconditional (1000/7000) will be subject to disqualification and may be disqualified from the university if their cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 (B) in upper-division and graduate courses after the second quarter of attendance. Students in this category will receive a registration hold.Undeclared graduate students, non-certificate/ non-credential, who have declared that they will be enrolling in either a master’s degree program or a certificate/credential program, but have not entered such yet (3100), will be subject to disqualification and may be disqualified from the university if their cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 (B) in upper-division and graduate courses after the second quarter of attendance. Maximum of 13 units at 300 level or above may be taken while in undeclared classification. Graduate students may not use either the campus course repeat policy or academic renewal, which apply only to undergraduate students.Graduate students will be restored to good standing when they are no longer subject to disqualification. Graduate students admitted to a master’s degree curriculum may be considered to be maintaining satisfactory progress provided they are fulfilling the conditions of their respective degree programs in a timely manner as determined by the graduate coordinator of the department concerned.In special instances, a disqualified graduate student may be permitted to be reinstated into a different graduate program. All cases involving the reinstatement of a disqualified graduate student must have the approval of the graduate committee in the new department and the new college dean.Master’s degree students and certificate/credential or 3100 students will be automatically disqualified after the second quarter of attendance if they are 9 or more grade points below a 3.0 GPA. Students may petition for an academic reinstatement through their respective graduate coordinators and/or department chairs to the college dean under exceptional circumstances.The committee did not consult with some recommended resources since it was considered they would essentially represent a duplication of the resources already utilized. Resources Recommended and ConsultedRecommendedConsultedClaudia Pinter-LuckeClaudia Pinter-LuckeUniversity CatalogUniversity CatalogEO 1038EO 1038Don HoytMaria MartinezRebecca RivasRebecca RivasGraduate CouncilExtended Graduate CouncilDiscussion1. Undergraduate Academic StandingThe Academic Affairs Committee agrees with the recommendation in the referral: the academic standing of “Subject to Disqualification” should be eliminated and disqualification should be based on GPA. This move will bring campus policy into line with EO 1038. Calculation of GPA will remain the same. Advisors may still use the Grade Point Calculator tool available on eHelp in assisting students to find a trajectory that will take them back into good academic standing within 24 units.When a student’s GPA falls below 2.0 for the first time, they will first be placed on academic probation, even when their GPA meets the criteria for disqualification. This is especially useful for freshmen and transfer students whose GPA falls into the disqualification category at the end of their first quarter, since it is not uncommon for these students to have difficulty adjusting to the demands of a four-year college. Once a student receives a disqualification notice, a grace quarter should be maintained for several practical reasons. Firstly, the grades that result in disqualification are recorded following the end of the quarter and the student would normally have pre-registered during the middle of that quarter, paid their fees, and may have received some or all of their financial aid checks before grades were recorded. Secondly, students may receive notification after the subsequent quarter’s classes have already started. This is especially common for winter disqualifications, since the spring quarter follows almost immediately. Thirdly, since this practice provides students with both the opportunity and incentive to quickly restore their good academic standing, it supports the CSU retention and graduation initiatives. Thus, there are multiple advantages to maintaining a ‘grace’ quarter.B. Postbaccalaureate and Graduate StandingThe Academic Affairs committee agrees that in order to align our practices with the requirements of EO1038 a policy on academic probation and disqualification for postbaccalaureate students and graduate students is required. The committee also agrees with the following recommendations in the referral: that the academic standing of “Subject to Disqualification” should be eliminatedthat a probationary standing be applied to postbaccalaureate and graduate students whose Cal Poly Pomona or cumulative GPA is below 3.0The committee did not agree that all students with a 2.9 GPA be disqualified. Rather they believed a scale equivalent to that proposed for undergraduate programs should be applied. Since postbaccalaureate and graduate students are required to maintain a minimum of 3.0 for graduation, the committee devised a table based on estimates of a student’s ability to overcome a GPA deficit according to their stage within the program.The committee also had some reservations about the recommendation of no reinstatement after a second disqualification. However, this policy is in line with undergraduate policy.RecommendationA. Undergraduate Academic StandingThe academic standing of “Subject to Disqualification” should be discontinued. Academic Disqualification will be based on Major Core, Cal Poly Pomona, or cumulative GPA as follows: below 1.5 for freshmen, below 1.7 for sophomores, below 1.85 for juniors, and below 1.95 for seniors. The first time a student’s GPA falls below 2.0 they will be placed on probation, even in circumstances where his/her GPA falls below the disqualification threshold. If their GPA does not improve above the level for disqualification, he/she will then be Academically Disqualified.All Academically Disqualified students shall be notified of their disqualification the beginning of the quarter following the assignment of that academic standing. After notification students will be permitted to continue with their classes, if already enrolled, until the end of that quarter. These students will have, in effect, a ‘grace’ quarter during which time they can demonstrate improved potential for academic success and appeal the restriction on enrollment. The Academic Affairs Committee recommends that only state-supported quarters be counted as a grace quarter.There are no recommended changes to other policies related to undergraduate disqualification, including the processes or limits for Appeal of Disqualification, Reinstatement, or Removal of Disqualification.The Associate Provost shall confer with the Academic Affairs Committee on the precise wording to appear in the University Catalog and on the University website to ensure that it is consistent with the approved policy.B. Postbaccalaureate and Graduate StandingThe committee makes the following recommendations regarding disqualification policy for postbaccalaureate and graduate students:The academic standing of “Subject to Disqualification” should be eliminated.A probationary standing be applied to postbaccalaureate and graduate students whose Cal Poly Pomona or cumulative GPA is below 3.0The following scale should be applied to determine disqualification status of postbaccalaureate and graduate students. Units CompletedDQ’d if CPP Postbaccalaureate or Cumulative GPA<122.3242.7 362.9All Academically Disqualified students shall be notified of their disqualification at the beginning of the quarter following the assignment of the academic standing. After notification students will be permitted to continue with their classes, if already enrolled, until the end of that quarter. These students will have, in effect, a ‘grace’ quarter during which time they can demonstrate improved potential for academic success and appeal the restriction on enrollment. Subsequent disqualifications shall be effective immediately. The Academic Affairs Committee recommends that only state-supported quarters be counted as a grace quarter.Postbaccalaurate and graduate students may apply for reinstatement with no break in enrollment.Postbaccalaureate and graduate students will normally be ineligible for reinstatement or readmission after a second disqualification. However, in exceptional circumstances, a student may be allowed to petition for reinstatement or readmission after a second disqualification.The Associate Provost shall confer with the Academic Affairs Committee on the precise wording to appear in the University Catalog and on the University website to ensure that it is consistent with the approved policy. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download