Satisfactory Academic Progress

Academic Standing: Probation and Suspension

Students at Rocky Mountain College are expected to make progress toward attaining their degree.

The criteria for good academic standing are as follows:

Note: For purposes of probation and suspension, summer and winter sessions do not constitute “terms.”

Note on Probation: Students in the second term of probation may not participate in extracurricular activities, including intercollegiate athletics (including practice and training); clubs; music groups and ensembles; theatre productions; student activities; outdoor recreation and trips; and student government. The activity suspension cannot be appealed.

A student may appeal an academic suspension by completing an Academic Recovery Plan, a reflective document detailing why satisfactory academic progress was not achieved and what specific steps and plans will be made should the appeal be successful. The appeal must be submitted by the deadline provided in the notification of suspension and directed to the Office of Student Records. The Office of Student Records will forward appeals to the Academic Standards Committee for review. If the appeal is granted, the student’s standing will become probationary.

Students on probation must meet with their academic advisor and complete an Academic Recovery Plan by the date provided in the notification of probation and submit it to the Office of Student Records for review by the Academic Standards Committee.

Suspended students may be readmitted after one semester’s absence. Readmission requires submission of an application for readmission to the Office of Student Records along with an Academic Recovery Plan for consideration by the Academic Standards Committee. If readmission is approved, the probationary status shall be continued until good academic standing is restored. If a student is suspended a second time, the student is dismissed with no further opportunity to enroll at Rocky Mountain College.

Students may lose eligibility for financial aid while on probation or suspension. Check with the Office of Financial Assistance/Financial Aid for more information. Probation, suspension, and dismissal are permanently recorded on the student’s transcript.

Periodic Grade Checks

All students are subject to grade checks at the three-, six-, and nine-week points of each semester. The purpose of these grade checks is to provide early and frequent feedback regarding academic performance. Although these grades are not part of students’ permanent transcripts, they do represent a formal assessment that can be used to adjust and improve performance.

Extra- and Co-Curricular Participation Review

Students with unsatisfactory performance on any periodic grade check are restricted from participating in extra- and co-curricular activities, including athletics, for the three-week period immediately following the disclosure of grades. Unsatisfactory performance is defined as two (or more) “F” grades in an in-term, unweighted GPA of less than 2.00. Participation restrictions are designed to provide students with an opportunity to rectify academic deficiencies and are not punitive in nature.

If a subsequent grade check indicates satisfactory performance, the restriction is lifted, and the student may return to full participation. Students may return to participation before the end of the three-week period if such a return is approved by one of the following activity sponsors:

• Athletic activities: Director of Athletics
• Academic activities: Academic Vice President
• Student Life activities: Executive Vice President and Dean of Student Life

Early return is at the sole discretion of the relevant aforementioned activity sponsor, and sponsors may place reasonable conditions that must be satisfied before a student may return to participation. Early return will not be considered until satisfactory academic performance can be demonstrated, though such demonstration does not guarantee a return to participation. Satisfactory academic performance compliance can be proven through updated grade information voluntarily provided by faculty. Faculty are under no obligation to provide grade updates, and under no circumstances will faculty be compelled to provide grade updates. 

Appeals of an activity sponsor’s decision can be made to the Provost. Such appeals must, however, be based on perceived process errors or the revelation of new information. Appeals are not provided to be a re-hearing of the original appeal in search of a different outcome. The Provost shall deny any appeals that are simply requests for a second hearing based on the same facts. 

Students who are granted an early return to participation waiver, but perform unsatisfactorily on a subsequent grade check, are restricted from participation for the remainder of the semester.