Academic Progress

Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average

Concordia cumulative GPA is the GPA calculated from just the courses attempted at Concordia (not transfer grades).

The overall cumulative GPA must be at least 3.0 for all graduate coursework completed. Because a 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for graduation, this is the standard by which academic progress is determined. No courses with grades lower than a C may be counted for graduate credit. 

Academic Warning

Academic warning is issued at the end of the term if a student has (1) one or more incomplete grades, (2) earned a grade of C or lower, or (3) earned a term GPA less than 3.0.

The purpose of the warning is twofold: to alert students to the situation and to offer assistance in improving academic standing in order to avoid academic probation.

Students are notified of their academic warning status via email from the Registrar's Office.

Academic Probation

Academic probation is issued at the end of the term if a student has (1) two consecutive or three nonconsecutive term GPAs of 3.0 or below, (2) cumulative GPA of less than a 3.0, or (3) earned two or more grades of C in the program.

The purpose of academic probation is twofold: to alert students to the situation and require the student to work with the program director to develop an academic improvement plan.

Students are notified of their academic probation status via email from the Registrar's Office.

Academic Suspension

Academic suspension is issued at the end of the term if a student has two consecutive or three nonconsecutive terms probation-level terms (less than a 3.0 cumulative GPA).  In addition, students may be suspended from Concordia at any time if their academic performance in any given term falls below a 1.0 GPA.

Students are notified of their academic suspension status via email from the Registrar's Office.

A student may appeal suspension status if they have mitigating circumstances beyond their control such as illness or injury, death of a relative, or other circumstances that result in undue hardship. The Student Academic Performance and Procedures Committee and Director of Graduate and Post Baccalaureate Education will review appeals and their decision is final.

The suspension period will be two academic terms including summer.  After the suspension period has passed, a student is eligible to apply for readmission. The readmission decision will take into consideration the student’s history and actions or circumstances that would justify readmission. If readmitted, the student may be reinstated on a probationary and contractual basis and required to meet specific expectations.

Academic Dismissal

If the student fails to meet the expectations established upon readmission after suspension, the student will be dismissed from the college and is not eligible to be considered for readmission.

In addition to the criteria listed above, the college reserves the right to suspend or dismiss students who otherwise fail to meet college academic or conduct standards.

Note: Students receiving financial aid should consult the Financial Aid Office for the Financial Aid Academic Progress Policy as different criteria apply.

Retention

While each program may elect to set additional retention requirements for continuation of study in their graduate programs, the following minimum standards evidencing acceptable progress shall apply to all graduate programs at Concordia College.

1. GPA. To continue as a student in a graduate program, the cumulative GPA must be at least 3.0 for all graduate courses taken in the program. If the student transfers graduate credit hours from another institution or program, the GPA for purposes of this guideline will be calculated for courses taken at Concordia only. Further, no courses in which a grade lower than a C (2.0), including C-, was awarded may be counted for graduate credit at Concordia. (See Repeating Courses.) Students receiving two grades of C (2.0) or lower in their graduate program (including prerequisites carrying undergraduate course designations) earned after they have been admitted or admitted provisionally will have their progress in the program reviewed by the Office of the Registrar.  See specific program guidelines for additional GPA requirements.
2. Work evaluations. In programs requiring clinical, studio or experience-based components, the attendant evaluations must be favorable and recommend continuation of the student in the program.
3. Final evaluation. At the conclusion of the capstone course or culminating experience, the program faculty shall prepare a final evaluation of each candidate for graduation. That evaluation shall be performed in accordance with the standards set by each program. The program director shall notify students whether or not they may advance to graduation.
4. Graduate program grades. Grades given in graduate courses are in the Grades and Grade Points chart. Only those credits that were completed with a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, or S may be applied toward a graduate degree.
5. Appeals. The college maintains procedures available for applicants and students who disagree with decisions concerning admission to and/or retention in graduate programs of the college. These procedures are specified in the section below.

Appeal Procedures Related to Admission and Retention in a Graduate Program

Students have a right to appeal decisions that negatively affect their progress in their graduate program. Graduate students may appeal decisions pertaining to transferability of courses from other institutions or programs, grades awarded, and recommendations against continuation of study in the program.

1. Admission Decisions: In cases in which applicants disagree with admission decisions or believe that their applications warrant special consideration in light of program and/or college admission guidelines, the following appeal procedures may apply.
   1. Written appeal. The applicant shall file a written appeal with the Graduate Programs Committee within 30 calendar days of the date of the letter notifying the applicant of the admission decision.
   2. Content of the appeal. The appeal letter shall include a complete explanation of the basis of the appeal.
   3. Investigation. The Graduate Programs Committee shall determine appropriate investigative measures and conduct an analysis to resolve the appeal within 30 calendar days of receiving the written appeal. The committee shall consider the record of the decision and appeal in its entirety, applying college and program graduate admission standards as its criteria. The decision of the committee may be appealed to the Dean of the College as a final step in the appeals process if desired by the applicant. The decision of the dean is final and not subject to further appeal.
2. Retention: In the event that graduate students disagree with a decision made concerning their progress in the program once they have been admitted to the program, these appeal procedures may apply.
   1. First level of appeal. In order to be considered a valid appeal, the graduate student shall address the appeal first to the faculty member in case of a course grade or to the department chair or program director for other issues. In order to be considered, the appeal shall be made within 30 business days of notification and in a form acceptable to the sponsoring department or program. In the event that the graduate program director or department chair is the faculty person responsible for the decision to which the student objects, the program will arrange for an appropriate person to hear the appeal at the first level. The program director must advise the student in writing of the decision within seven business days of receiving the appeal.
   2. Second level of appeal. If the student does not agree with the decision made at the first level of appeal, the matter may be submitted to the Graduate Programs Committee for consideration. In order to be considered a valid appeal at the second level, the appeal must be in writing, filed with the Graduate Programs Committee within seven business days of the first-level appeal decision, and include a complete description on which the appeal is based. The graduate student filing the appeal must notify the sponsoring program that the appeal is being pursued to the second level by providing a copy of the written appeal at the same time as it is filed with the Graduate Programs Committee. The sponsoring program may file a response to the appeal at this time.
   3. Investigation. The Graduate Programs Committee shall examine the entire record of the appeal, including the response by the sponsoring program, and conduct such investigation as it determines is warranted. The committee shall apply the college and program performance and retention standards in reaching its decision concerning the appeal. The chair of the committee shall notify the student and the program in writing of its decision within seven business days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the Committee is final.