Scholastic Regulations

Scholastic regulations convey the academic standards of a college. The following regulations present the standards of BPCC and convey the academic integrity of the institution. The standards ensure appropriate academic progress at the College and assure the student that he/she is making academic progress. Students who do not meet the following academic criteria and cannot demonstrate the requisite ability, preparation, motivation, or maturity will not be continued as students at BPCC. The College reserves the right to continually study, augment, and enhance its academic regulations and requirements. These changes are incorporated into existing policies, and students are expected to conform to new policies when adopted by the College.

The conditions for probation and suspension were formulated by the Board of Regents to embody the following objectives:

• To inform the student of the minimum requirements and standards necessary to obtain transfer credits and/or a college degree;
• To allow the beginning student (first time ever to attend college) the opportunity to remain a student until at least two enrollments have been attempted;
• To provide for the student whose academic attainment shows that ultimate success in a college may be in doubt, a trial period during which he/she is allowed to demonstrate appropriate academic competence;
• To state the standards and to encourage students to become acquainted with them so that the results and consequences of inadequate performance may be known by students, parents, faculty, and administrators.

Probation and Suspension

Three categories of academic status exist: academic good standing, academic probation, and academic suspension. Although students will usually receive notification of academic status, such notice is not a prerequisite to students being placed in one of the above categories. Students have the responsibility to ascertain their academic status prior to the beginning of the next enrollment period.

Academic Probation

Students who have attempted a minimum of 15 semester hours will be placed on academic probation whenever their adjusted cumulative grade point averages fall below 2.000. Once on academic probation, a student will remain on probation (as long as each semester average is at least a 2.000) until the adjusted cumulative grade point average of 2.000 or higher is achieved.

Once an adjusted cumulative GPA of 2.000 or higher is achieved, a student will be removed from probation.

Definitions

Quality Hours: Quality hours are those credit hours for which a student registers and receives a grade of A-F. Credit courses for which a student receives a grade of "P," "CR," and "S" are included in earned hours. Courses for which students register, but later withdraw with a grade of "W," are included in attempted hours.

Cumulative Quality Hours: Cumulative quality hours are all hours for which a student has registered and received a final grade of A-F at the College as well as all quality hours accepted in transfer (including hours that would have been accepted had the student not earned a grade of "F").

Adjusted Quality Hours: Adjusted quality hours are those credit hours for which a student registers and receives a grade of A-F at BPCC, excluding those credit hours removed from the calculation of the student's grade point average through BPCC's repeat/delete policy and/or those credit hours removed through Academic Renewal.

Adjusted Cumulative Grade Point Average (adj cum GPA): This GPA is adjusted to exclude those quality hours and grades which have been removed from the calculation of a student's grade point average through BPCC's repeat/delete policy and/or Academic Renewal. This adjusted cumulative grade point average will include grades earned at BPCC and is used to determine a student's academic status.

Academic Suspension

Students who are on academic probation who have attempted a minimum or 24 semester hours and who fail to achieve a semester grade point average of at least a 2.000 will be suspended for one semester. If a student is suspended at the conclusion of a spring semester, the student is suspended for the following fall semester. If a student is suspended at the conclusion of a fall semester, the student is suspended for the following spring semester.

A student who has been academically suspended from BPCC at the conclusion of the spring semester may attend a BPCC summer session without appeal. If the summer grades raise the student's adjusted cumulative grade point average to a 2.000 or higher, the suspension for the fall is rescinded. If the student's adjusted cumulative grade point average is not at or above 2.000 at the conclusion of the summer session(s), the academic suspension remains in effect for the fall semester.

Academic and/or Disciplinary Suspension or Expulsion from Another College

If a student wishes to appeal an academic suspension from another college or university, the student must confer with the institution from which he/she has been suspended.

Students expelled from another college or university for disciplinary reasons are not considered to be in good standing; therefore, these students will not be allowed to enroll in Bossier Parish Community College.

Academic Status Determination for Transfer Students

A student who transfers to BPCC with an adjusted cumulative grade point average of 2.000 or higher as defined by the last institution attended will be admitted in good standing. A transfer student with less than a 2.000 adjusted cumulative grade point average will be admitted on probation. If a student earns a semester grade point average of 2.000 or higher during the first semester of BPCC enrollment, the student's academic status will be based on the adjusted cumulative grade point average. If the student fails to achieve a semester grade point average of 2.000 or higher, the student will be suspended for one semester.

Enrollment During a Suspension/Expulsion Period

A student who is under academic, attendance, or disciplinary suspension/expulsion from another college or university will not be admitted to BPCC until the interval of suspension/expulsion has elapsed.

Academic Appeal Procedures

All academic appeals must be lodged with the proper appellate authority within 45 calendar days from the date the semester ends. Failure to appeal within the 45-day period will result in the waiver of the student's rights to appeal the decision.

Appeal of Academic Standing

A student who believes that his/her academic standing (probation or suspension) does not reflect the quality or quantity of effort put forth, or which is the result of extenuating circumstances, may appeal his/her standing to the Academic Admissions and Appeals Committee. The student must write a letter to this committee giving the reasons why the academic standing should be reevaluated. The committee will hold a meeting at which the student's written appeal will be presented. The student will be notified of the committee's decision. (Note: 45-day limit)

Appeal of a Reported Grade

A student who believes that the grade which has been recorded in a course, including grades of "F" received for suspension, does not reflect the quality or quantity of effort put forth may appeal the grade at the end of the semester. (Note: 45-day limit)

1. The student consults the instructor of the course to see if an understanding can be reached.
2. If the student and instructor cannot reach an understanding, the student must then consult the instructor's Division Chair.
3. If further appeal is desired, the student may submit a written appeal to the Registrar. The Registrar will review the letter and will call a meeting of the Academic Admissions and Appeals Committee. The committee will hold a meeting at which the student's written appeal will be presented. The Registrar will notify the student of the committee's decision.

Academic Renewal

A student enrolled in BPCC's academic programs who has not enrolled in a college, including BPCC or a university, for three consecutive years may elect to deny once and only once all academic course work attempted at BPCC prior to the three-year period. This work will appear on the student's official academic transcript but will not be used in computation of the student's grade point average. Students should be aware that other colleges and universities may not recognize academic renewal declared at BPCC.

The student must apply for and declare academic renewal of credit courses in the Admissions/Registrar's Office at the time of application for admission to BPCC or within sixty days of the first date of enrollment at BPCC. A decision to declare academic renewal is final and irreversible.

BPCC does not recognize academic renewal declared by students at other colleges and universities. Academic renewal is granted to students enrolled in BPCC's academic programs. Students who have declared academic renewal are not eligible for naming to the College Chancellor's or Dean's Lists