Academic Standards

To help guide and measure students’ academic success, the college has developed Academic Standards.

Academic standards are measured by the Grade Point Average Standard. Students must meet this standard to be in good standing.

Grade Point Average Standard

The grade point average calculation includes only baccalaureate/transfer courses and career courses; developmental courses are not included. Students who have attempted 15 or more semester hours at CLC must maintain the minimum grade point average listed below to remain in good standing:

NOTE: The GPA standard is not applied to students who have cumulative attempted hours less than 15.

Good Standing Status

Students In Good Standing: Students who meet the Grade Point Average Standard are designated to be in good standing.

Students Not In Good Standing: Students are not in good standing if, due to their academic record, they are placed in one of the following categories:

• Academic Caution

Students previously in good standing who do not meet the Grade Point Average Standard will be placed on academic caution. Students on caution are recommended to limit their enrollment to the number of semester hours successfully completed during the previous term, or to only one course for credit, depending on whichever option yields the most credit hours. It is recommended that students on caution meet with their Academic Success Advisor.

• Academic Restriction

Students on academic caution who do not meet the Grade Point Average Standard will be placed on academic restriction. Students on academic restriction are required to meet with their Academic Success Advisor and receive approval to register for courses. In their next semester at the college, students placed on academic restriction may only enroll in the number of credit hours successfully completed during the previous semester, or enroll in only one course for credit, depending on whichever yields the most credit hours.

• Academic Suspension

1. Students who fail to meet the Grade Point Average Standard for three successive semesters are prohibited from taking courses the following fall or spring semester, except for Adult Education, Continuing Education and Workforce and Professional Development Institute courses. Students on academic suspension are prohibited from taking summer courses during the period of suspension.

2. If a student on academic suspension is enrolled for the following semester their enrollment will be dropped.

3. Students have the right to appeal their suspension to the Dean of Academic Success.

Students Returning From Academic Suspension

Students who have completed the one- semester suspension (summer excluded) are required to meet with their Academic Success Advisor and receive approval to register for courses. Students may be limited to the number of semester hours they may take in the initial semester following their suspension, based on the recommendation of the Academic Success Advisor. Appeals to increase the number of permitted semester hours may be made to the Dean of Academic Success.

Students Who Were on Academic Suspension, Returned to CLC and Again Fail to Meet Academic Standards

1. Students are placed in academic suspension again and prohibited from taking courses the following fall or spring semester. Students on academic suspension are prohibited from taking summer courses during the period of suspension.

2. Students who have completed the one- semester suspension again are required to meet with an Academic Success Advisor and receive approval to register for courses.

Academic Standards Appeal Procedure

1.  Purpose

Students who have been suspended for failing to meet the Grade Point Average Standard requirement may appeal their suspension to the Dean of Academic Success.

2.  Appeal Procedures

1. Within five (5) working days of the receipt of a suspension notification letter, the student must obtain a copy of the appeal procedures from the Advising Center and meet with their Academic Success Advisor.

2. Within five (5) working days, the student must complete an Academic Suspension Appeal Form and return it to the Academic Success Advisor.

3. The Academic Suspension Appeal Form will be forwarded by the Academic Success Advisor to the Dean of Academic Success. A decision will be made within five (5) working days of the receipt of the appeal form. The student may be asked to meet with the dean if it is deemed necessary.

4. The decision of the dean may be appealed to the Vice President for Student Development within five (5) working days of the dean’s decision. The Vice President for Student Development will review the request for appeal, meet with the appropriate parties and render a final decision regarding the appeal.

Reinstatement of Good Standing

Students placed on academic caution, restriction or suspension, who satisfy the Grade Point Average Standard during their next semester or summer term at CLC, will be considered to be in good standing.

Inactive Status

Students who have not enrolled in any course listed in the CLC class schedule for at least two years are considered inactive and will be placed in a course-taker, non-degree program. Inactive students who decide to re-enroll for courses will be governed by the college catalog covering the semester in which they register for courses.

Forgiveness Option

Students who would like to use the Forgiveness Option should meet with an Academic Success Advisor. Under extenuating circumstances, students may petition for a one-time forgiveness of up to 15 hours of prior D, F or FW grades in accordance with the following guidelines:

• At least two years have passed since the end of the term of the grades to be forgiven.

• Fifteen consecutive credit hours have been completed at CLC with no grades lower than a C. The P grade/s will be calculated towards the fifteen consecutive semester hour condition.

  • The N grade/s will count neither towards nor against the fifteen consecutive semester hours.*

• Forgiven grades remain on the student’s record but are not computed in the student’s grade point average.

• Forgiven grades cannot be used to meet graduation requirements.

• Students lose any existing educational guarantees for the forgiven courses.

• The college accepts no responsibility for the ways in which a transfer college or university or an employer might interpret a student’s use of the forgiveness option.

• In consultation with their Academic Success Advisor or designated College employee, the student has signed a declaration of understanding.

*  This calculation includes baccalaureate/ transfer courses, career courses and developmental courses.

Declaring or Changing Program of Study

Students may declare or change their program of study by completing the Change of Program Study Form or by contacting the Welcome and One Stop Center, Room B114, Grayslake Campus. Any changes to the program of study should be planned with their Academic Success Advisor. The deadlines for changing a program of study are: Fall- December 1; Spring- May 1; Summer- July 15. Any change request received after the deadline will take effect beginning with the start of the next academic term.

Changes to the program of study may affect a student’s eligibility for financial aid.

Auditing

Students are permitted to audit courses. For audited courses, students receive a grade of X, which carries no grade points or semester hours of credit. Audited courses do not serve as prerequisites for subsequent coursework. The fee for auditing is the same as enrolling for credit.

A student who wishes to audit a course is expected to attend regularly. The completion of assignments, exams and projects is at the discretion of the student. Some types of courses may be deemed inappropriate for auditing because they require a high level of student involvement.

Students can request to audit a course by submitting the Course Audit Request E-Form after enrolling in the course. Contact the Welcome and One Stop Center, Room B114, Grayslake Campus for more information.

Changes in a student’s enrollment status (audit to credit or credit to audit) must follow the time frames as listed for refunds in the withdrawal/refund schedule (Policy 421).