Academic Standing Policy

The Academic Advisory Committee is responsible for evaluation of the academic performance of students. One of its goals is to ensure that students continue to make normal academic progress toward graduation. The committee works closely with students, academic advisers and Academic Support Services in assisting students with the needed skills for academic success.

The Academic Advisory Committee consists of representatives from the teaching faculty, Student Development, the Director of the Academic Enrichment Center and the Registrar. At the end of each semester, the committee reviews academic records of students to evaluate academic progress.

Normal progress for graduation is defined on the basis of both number of credit hours earned and Grade Point Average (GPA). To fulfill the requirements for the B.A. degree, a student must earn 120 academic and 122 overall credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better. A full-time student is expected to earn 30-32 credit hours during each of four years. Thus, full-time students are expected to fulfill their course requirements over eight semesters.

Students who withdraw from a course, retake a course or do not finish an approved Incomplete may find themselves in the position of becoming deficient in credit hours. They must take the responsibility for making up this deficiency. A transfer student’s academic progress at Earlham does not include transfer credits taken before registering at Earlham. Earlham’s August programs and approved courses taken at another college or university after entrance to Earlham are included when considering academic progress.

The Academic Advisory Committee places students who do not achieve normal progress toward their degree on Academic Caution, Probation, Final Probation or Suspension from the College, according to criteria described below. Committee actions are usually sequential: Academic Caution to Probation, Probation to Final Probation and Final Probation to Suspension. A student may remain in one category for more than one semester. Additionally the Committee may deem it appropriate to move a student to the most severe standing based on one semester of work.

Note: The Academic Advisory Committee may make exception to these policies under extraordinary circumstances. In some cases, students on Final Probation who are not making satisfactory progress at mid-semester, will be asked to leave the College at that time.

The Committee notifies parents or guardians and advisers when a student is placed on any of these academic categories and when probation is continued or changed.