Academic Review Committee

Academic Warning, Probation and Suspension Policy

Academic Appeals Committee Chairman, Rev. Henry Parker

 henry.parker@arkansasbaptist.edu

501-492-0596 – office

501-352-3705 – mobile

 

 Academic Warning

 Students will receive an academic warning notification through CAMS email portal and/or US mail at midterm when two or more midterm grades are below a “C”. 

Academic Probation

 

In order to remain in good academic standing at Arkansas Baptist College, all students must maintain satisfactory academic progress each semester/term in accordance with the college policy.  Students are placed on Academic Probation at the close of any enrollment period when there is a semester and/or cumulative GPA of less than 2.0.  The registrar’s office will send an Academic Probation notification. The following process is undertaken for students on academic probation:

  • Students are required to meet with an Academic Review Committee member to sign an Academic Agreement/Probation Contract before completing registration to monitor progress and offer academic support.
  • Students are assigned an academic advisor on the contract.
  • Once the contract is completed, students will receive two copies (one for the advisor and a copy for his/her file). The original contract must be submitted to the Registrar’s office
  • Once the original contract is submitted to the Registrar’s office, the academic hold will be lifted. 
  • The student will deliver a copy of the contract to the assigned advisor who will then register student for semester courses. 

 

Students pre-registered for courses prior to being placed on academic probation will have their enrollment cancelled and all courses dropped.    In order to re-enroll, students are required to meet with an Academic Review Committee member to complete an Academic Probation Contract as previously stated.

 While on Academic Probation, students are restrict to a maximum of 13 credit hours during the fall/spring semester and 7 credit hours in the summer.   The Chief Academic Affairs Officer must approve exceptions to this policy.   

In order to have probationary status lifted, students must earn a 2.0 semester/term GPA with letter grades of “C” or better (no incompletes “I” or withdrawals “W”) during the semester or following term in which probation was imposed. Students must also earn a cumulative grade point average equal to (2.0 GPA) or above the required minimum for their level of attempted credit hours. If at the end of the probationary period a student fails to meet the probationary conditions described for Academic Probation, the student will be suspended for a period of one semester. 

 

 

 

Academic Suspension 

 

Students will be suspended for poor scholarship when there are two (2) consecutive semesters without marked increase in the student’s overall GPA while on academic probation. Students suspended for poor scholarship may re-enter on probation after one (1) fall/spring semester, excluding summer sessions. Students placed on academic suspension more than once during a calendar year, must wait one (1) year before applying for readmission.  After a student has been suspended one (1) year, the student is eligible to be reinstated on Academic Probation. If the student does not meet the academic requirements after being reinstated, the student may be expelled from the institution.

Note: No transfer credit hours will be accepted while on academic suspension. Financial aid is suspended while a student is on academic suspension.  If approved for registration by the Academic Review Committee, the student will need to submit a written letter of appeal to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Committee to seek reinstatement of financial aid. The SAP committee will notify the student of their financial aid status.   See financial aid for details. 

 

Academic Appeals for Suspension

 

Students suspended for failure to meet academic requirements may file a written appeal with the Academic Review Committee. Students must submit a formal letter stating the reason for the appeal and all relevant documents. Academic appeal requests should be submitted within 21 business days at the end of the semester in which the student was declared academically suspended. All appeals must be made before the last day of regular registration. Students are allowed one appeal per academic year.

Extenuating Circumstances

Students must have documented evidence of extenuating circumstances to file for an Academic Suspension Appeal.  These extenuating circumstances will be reviewed on a case –by-case basis.  Examples of extenuating circumstances include, but are not limited to:

  • Medical issues
  • Homelessness
  • Court or legal issues
  • Family Emergencies
  • Accidents

 

Appeals Decision

 

Once the Academic Review Committee has received the appeal letter from a student with supporting documentation, the Academic Review Committee will convene.  If the Academic Review Committee finds that extenuating circumstances are proven, the student will be reinstated on a probationary status and evaluated at the conclusion of the semester. If extenuating circumstances are not proven, the student will remain on suspension for the following semester. Students will be notified regarding status of the committee’s decision.

 

Appeals Reinstatement

 

Students who have been reinstated will be restricted to a maximum of 13 credit hours in the fall/spring semester and 7 credit hours in the summer (during the semester immediately following the suspension period).  Students will maintain a probationary status during the semester of reinstatement and must earn a 2.0 GPA for the semester.  If, at the end of the semester of reinstatement, a student fails to meet probationary conditions described regarding academic appeals, the student will be expelled from the college. 

Academic Suspension Waiver

 

Arkansas Baptist College reserves the right to institute at its own discretion a one-time Academic Suspension Waiver.  Under certain conditions a student may be eligible to register, once they agree to the conditions of academic suspension approved by the Academic Review Committee.  Students who meet eligibility for this waiver will be contacted and given an Academic Suspension Waiver Application to complete. In addition, students are required to write a letter explaining their circumstances and why they should receive this waiver (What will student do differently to improve academically, if reinstated or readmitted to ABC?).  Once student completes the application, they will meet with an Academic Review Committee member. The committee member will review and explain the terms of the Academic Suspension Waiver to ensure student understands the conditions of the academic suspension waiver terms.  Once student states they understand and agree to the terms, student will sign the application. If after the student signs the waiver and does not adhere to the following conditions during the semester of reinstatement or reenrollment, student will be withdrawn from ABC.  Once student is withdrawn, the academic suspension policy will be reinstituted. 

Academic Suspension Waiver Conditions

 

Students must:

  • Attend all meetings at the beginning, during and/or end of the semester.
  • Attend all scheduled courses beginning the first day.
  • Meet with tutors (see Academic Agreement/Probation Contract).
  • Meet with academic advisors weekly to monitor progress.
  • Meet with the Director of Literacy & Writing