Academic Information

Satisfactory academic progress
All matriculated students attending the College are expected to make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree. Students who do not maintain an acceptable cumulative Satisfactory Progress Index (SPI), as specified in the table below, will either be placed on academic probation
or be academically dismissed. Students who do not maintain satisfactory progress cannot hold elected or appointed positions in any college activity.

Academic Probation
The academic probation policy is designed to help identify students in academic difficulty as early as possible. Then, if needed, the College can provide the appropriate services to help students make satisfactory
progress toward their degrees. Students on academic probation may take no more than thirteen (13) credits per semester, and may be required to repeat courses in which they have received grades of “D” and “F.”

Dismissal
Students whose SPIs fall below the probation level, or whose GPAs fall below the levels shown in the table below, will be subject to dismissal from the College and withdrawn from any courses for which they preregistered. Dismissals are made at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters.

*credits for which the student is registered at the completion of the add/drop period.
**No student will be dismissed as a result of poor first-semester academic progress.

Please note the following:
1. Students are ineligible to receive financial aid if their Satisfac- tory Progress Index falls below the dismissal level or if the mini- mum satisfactory completion rate is below the level mandated by federal guidelines. The Student Handbook explains the Financial Aid policy.
2. Full-time students will have a maximum of four years to complete their degree requirements. The time frame for part-time students will
be prorated.
3. Students will be required to attain a minimum GPA of 2.0 for graduation.

Appeals process
Dismissed students may appeal to the Dean of Academic Affairs within one (1) week of the date of their dismissal letter for a hearing to request reinstatement.
Students who appeal must come before the Academic Standing Committee with a written statement explaining the reasons why they should be reinstated. Appeals are heard in January and June. The Committee will review each student’s entire academic record and any documented special circumstances the student provides. The Committee will make its recommendations
to the Dean of Academic Affairs. If the Dean does not receive a request for a hearing within one week of the date of the letter of dismissal, s/he will conclude that the student has accepted dismissal.

Reinstatement
Students who, based on their appeals, are reinstated, will be placed on probation and their classes will be restricted by the conditions imposed by the Committee and the Dean of Academic Affairs. They will be monitored by the Connections Center, will register for classes based on the recommendations
of the Academic Standing Committee, and will continue to receive developmental advising. Students reinstated on academic probation may be required to take developmental courses, to repeat courses with grades of “C-”, “D”, “F”, “U”, “I“ and “W,” and/or to restrict the number of credits they take.

Dismissed non-degree students
Students who do not attend an appeal hearing or whose appeal is denied by the Academic Standing Committee may take classes only as non-degree students. Non-degree students are not eligible for Financial Aid. These students may be readmitted to a degree program after attaining a GPA and SPI above the dismissal level indicated in the accompanying table, by applying for re-admission to a College program after two semesters
from the date of dismissal, or by appealing to the Academic Standing Committee through the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Students wishing to apply for re-admission to the College must do so through the Admissions office.

Withdrawal Policy
Students withdrawing from any course must complete a course withdrawal
form and forward it to the Enrollment Center. Students may also obtain forms in Advisement and Counseling Services. Students who plan to withdraw from all courses should arrange for an exit interview with a counselor. Those who want to withdraw from Clinical Laboratory Science, Complementary Health Care, Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene, General Studies Prep/QUEST, Healthcare Information, Histology, Medical
Assisting, Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Phlebotomy, Pre-Radiology Technology or Therapeutic Massage should talk with the program’s director. Failure to follow the withdrawal policy may result in students receiving failing grades, being placed on academic probation, or academic dismissal. Students who must withdraw for personal, medical, or financial reasons should meet with a counselor to complete the withdrawal process.

Continuous Enrollment Policy
Except for competitive admissions programs, matriculated and registered students in good standing will be allowed to retain their program of study throughout three consecutive semesters (including Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) with no registration activity. Activity includes registration
in credit or noncredit courses including cancelled or postponed courses. It is not necessary to complete the course. In the fourth semester of non-registration activity, students will be dropped from their program of study and will be required to reapply through the Admissions Office to regain active matriculation in an academic degree or certificate program.

Students in competitive admissions programs (Complementary Healthcare, Dental Hygiene, Clinical Laboratory Science, Culinary Arts, Healthcare Information, Histology, Medical Assisting, Nursing, Occupational
Therapy Assistant, Phlebotomy, Pre-Radiology Technology andTherapeutic Massage) must reapply after a break in Fall or Spring semester attendance. Readmission to these programs will be subject to space availability and the specific readmission policies of individual programs.
International students are cautioned that USCIS (U.S. Customs and Immigration Services) policies regarding non-enrollment supercede College policies.

For information about this policy, contact the Registrar.

Readmittance to the College
A student who has withdrawn and desires to reenter the College must reapply to the Admissions Office. Readmittance to a program is not guaranteed.

Fresh Start Program
Students returning to the College after an absence of at least three years may request to participate in the Fresh Start Program. If the requirements for participation are met, grades for courses taken before the three-year absence are still listed on the transcript but are excluded from the calculation
of the student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) and satisfactory progress index (SPI).
To be eligible, students must:
1. Be accepted into a degree or certificate program in the Fall 2001 semester or later.
2. Have been absent with no recorded grades at Bristol for a mini- mum of three years.
3. Successfully complete 12 credits of course work with a GPA of 2.0 or better.

Students must apply for the Fresh Start Program in the first month of the Fall or Spring semester following completion of the 12th credit.

Courses taken before the three-year absence will count toward the degree or certificate if applicable in the student’s program and if the grade earned was C- or better. These credits are subject to the 30-credit maximum for transfer credits. Courses taken before the three-year absence for which a student received a grade lower than C- will not count toward the degree or certificate.

More information about this program and applications are available through the Academic Dean’s Office, Admissions Office, Advisement Office, Records Office, the Enrollment Center, at the New Bedford Campus, and Attleboro Center.