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Academic Standards

Academic Distinctions

Matriculated students are eligible for the following academic distinctions.

Dean's List
Students who demonstrate superior academic performance are named to the Dean's List at the end of each semester. Students are eligible for the Dean's List in any semester during which they successfully complete 15 or more semester hours of credit with grades no lower than C and with a grade point average of 3.00 or above, or complete 12-14 credit hours with grades no lower than C and with a grade point average of 3.20 or above.
Non-degree course credit, such as developmental education credits, will not be calculated in determining total semester hour credit for Dean's List eligibility.
A student with a grade below C is not eligible for the Dean's List in that semester.
A student with an Incomplete in any course is not eligible for the Dean's List in that semester.
Graduation Honors
Students who demonstrate superior academic performance in earning their Associate degree are recognized with honors at graduation.
"Honors" are awarded to students with a CGPA of 3.50 to 3.74 inclusive.
"High Honors" are awarded to students with a CGPA of 3.75 to 4.0.
Credit count for graduation is based on a) credits taken at Cape Cod Community College for courses graded A-F and P; b) transfer credits (credits transfer; grades do not transfer); c) College Level Exam Program (CLEP) and challenge exam credits.

Academic Standing

In order to graduate from Cape Cod Community College, students must complete all degree or certificate requirements with a grade point average of 2.0. To achieve this minimum goal and to continue study at the College, students are expected to maintain Good Academic Standing. Good Academic Standing is defined as a progresdively higher Cummulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) over time to insure achievement of the minimum 2.0 by graduation. A student's academic standing is determined by the cumulative grade point average (CGPA) required to meet minimum academic standards based on the student's credit count of courses taken at Cape Cod Community College (see below).

Good Standing Probation
Credit Count* CGPA at
or above** CGPA at
or below**
9
1.30 1.29
10-12 1.50 1.49
13-15 1.60 1.59
16-18 1.65 1.64
19-21 1.70 1.69
22-24 1.80 1.79
25-27 1.85 1.84
28-30 1.90 1.89
31+ 2.00 1.99

*Credit Count is based on:
credits taken at Cape Cod Community College of courses graded A-F, P
transfer credits
CLEP/Challenge Exam credits.

** The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is an average of grades A-F earned at Cape Cod Community College. (Grades of P, I, W, Z, R are excluded from computation of the CGPA.)

Academic Review

Any student with a semester grade point average or cumulative grade point average below 2.0 will be subject to Academic Review. Students placed on Academic Review will be required to meet with an Advisor prior to registering for cosemester of study.

Academic Probation

Any student woth a CGPA below the Good Standing standard is placed on Academic Probation. Students who are placed on "Probation" will have one year in which to bring his or her cumulative grade point average to 2.0. Students on academic probation are required to meet with an advisor every semester before registering for classes in order to create a plan inclcuding tutoring, strategic course selection and other changes in study habits.

Academic Dismissal

A student who does not raise his/her CGPA from "Probation" to "Good Standing" within one calendar year will be dismissed for one year before being eligible to be readmitted as a student on probation. After two years of inactive status, the student may choose to take advantage of the Fresh Start Option (see below).

Readmission

A student may apply for readmission to the College following a calendar year dismissal. The student will continue to be on probation and expected to raise his/her CGPA to Good Standing within one calendar year.

A student who elects to remain inactive for two years may apply for readmission under the Fresh Start Option (see below).

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

The student's cumulative grade point average is computed at the end of each semester on the basis of grade number values which are multiplied by the number of credit hours of each course to establish quality points. The total quality points are divided by the total credit hours to determine the CGPA. All Cape Cod Community College courses are computed in the CGPA at the end of each semester.

Note: Grades earned in Developmental Education courses are calculated into the Semester Grade Point Average, but not into the Cumulative Grade Point Average.

A= 4; A- = 3.67; B+ = 3.33; B = 3; B- = 2.67; C+ = 2.33; C = 2; C- = 1.67; D+ = 1.33; D = 1; D- = 0.67; F = 0.

The following grades are not computed in the CGPA: Z(ABS), AU, I, P, R, W, and WIP.* Grades of F, however, are calculated into the grade point index. Course grades from other colleges are not computed in the Cape Cod Community College cumulative grade point average. Transfer credits for course work from other colleges, however, may be approved and applied to satisfy degree requirements, up to a maximum of 30 credits.

If a student withdraws from a class, an official withdrawal form must be filed with the Registrar to ensure accuracy of student records. If the student fails to officially withdraw, a failing grade could result.

A typical CGPA would be computed as follows: (see chart). Since the student attempted 13 hours of work and achieved 26.33 quality points, the 26.33 total quality points are divided by 13, resulting in a 2.03 CGPA.

Course	Grade	Hours towards GPA	Quality Points	Total Quality Points
English Composition I	A-	3	3.67	11.01
Human Communication	C	3	2.00	6.00
General Psychology	F	3	0.00	0.00
Concepts in Biology I	C+	4	2.33	9.32
College Reading and Study Skills	P	(3)	**	**
		13		26.33

* Z(ABS)=absent; AU=audit; I=incomplete; P=pass; R=repeat; W=withdraw; WIP=work in progress.
** No grade point equivalent, therefore not included in grade point average.

Fresh Start Option

The Fresh Start Option permits a fresh start to a student who has not been enrolled at the College for at least two years and has re-enrolled on probation, has a grade point average below 2.0, or has been academically dismissed. A student may exercise the Fresh Start Option only once.

Within this option, original grades and CGPA will remain on the transcript, but all future calculations of CGPA will include only courses taken after readmission. Prior courses taken at Cape Cod Community College (before the two-year break) will be evaluated according to the current transfer credit policy. Courses meeting the transfer credit policy will be counted as transfer credit. The transcript will identify the selection of this option. The student who wishes to re-enroll under this option may obtain an application and requirements of the Fresh Start Option from the Office of Admissions. A student must be matriculated in order to elect the Fresh Start option.

Student Status

Each student who attempts at least 12 semester hours of work is considered a full-time student at the College; a part-time student is one taking 11 semester hours or less. To matriculate, a student must submit an admissions application, be accepted, and enroll in a degree or certificate program. Students seeking a degree or certificate should matriculate as early as possible. Contact the Admissions Office for assistance.

If a student changes status at any time, the Registrar must be notified immediately to ensure correct status. Any change made from full-time to part-time status within the first two weeks of a semester may result in a partial refund. Obviously, the reverse is true, and any part-time student who schedules more than 11 semester hours must be considered a full-time student and pay for the added courses.