Evaluation of Academic Work

Grading System and Reports

The Office of the Registrar will report semester and mid-semester grades to the students. If applicable, individual instructors may, at their discretion, report grades to students; however, the grades reported by the registrar’s office will constitute the official college record.

Grades used in reporting achievement in courses will have the following significance:

A, A-	Excellent
B+, B, B-	Good
C+, C, C-	Satisfactory
D+, D, D-	Minimal Passing
F	Failing
CR/NCR	Credit/No Credit
IN	Incomplete
W	Withdrawn

In computing academic averages, the assigned values will be

A = 4.0	A- = 3.7
B+ = 3.3	B = 3.0	B- = 2.7
C+ = 2.3	C = 2.0	C- = 1.7
D+ = 1.3	D = 1.0	D- = 0.7
F = 0

Midterm Grades

Midterm grades shall be reported to the Office of the Registrar for all registered students. In addition, faculty must complete a low-grade form for each student, having a low midterm grade (below a C). The form should include the reason for the low grade, recommendation for completion of the course or possible withdrawal, and total number of absences.

Incompletes

The grade of Incomplete (IN) can be given to a student who is doing passing work in a course but who, for reasons beyond the student’s control, is not able to complete a small portion of the work for the course by the deadline for submitting grades. An Incomplete is not given in the case of negligence or procrastination on the part of the student.

An Incomplete must be requested by the student. Students must complete an incomplete form where the student must note the reason, and the instructor must note the current grade and percentage of work remaining to complete the course. The deadline for requesting an Incomplete grade is the last day of classes. The Registrar will review and approve or deny all incomplete requests and inform the student, the instructor, and academic advisor in writing.

In cases involving unusual circumstances, such as illness or injury, the dean of students may request an Incomplete on the student’s behalf. Unless the Committee on Academic Policy and Procedures extends the time limit, an Incomplete automatically becomes an F if all work is not completed within six weeks from the last day of class in the term in which it was incurred.

Final Examinations

Types of Exams

Final examinations are end-of-semester examinations of student work, typically summative or comprehensive in coverage and representative of a significant part of a student’s grade for a course. The Final Examination period is included in the scheduled contact (instructional) time for each course. All faculty are required to utilize three hours of contact (instructional) time during final examination week.

The College recognizes four final examination types: scheduled, take-home, final papers or projects, and online.

Scheduled final exams are taken during the published final exam period at the registrar’s scheduled exam time for a course. The three-hour time period must be made available to all students except for lab or clinical practicals.
Take-home final exams are distributed by an instructor on the first day of exam period and are to be submitted during the published final exam period. Take-home final exams are limited to activities that can be completed by a student in a three-hour time period. Faculty should be available to students during the scheduled final exam slot.
Final Papers or Projects can be used as a final examination option. These papers/projects are to be submitted during the published final exam period. Faculty should be available to students during the scheduled final exam slot. Students should use three hours of contact time during the scheduled exam week to complete these assignments.
Asynchronous online final exams are taken during the final exam period. Online final exams can be available to students on the first day of final exams. Online final exams are limited to an exam that a student can complete in a three-hour time period.

Scheduling of Final Exams

The final examination schedule will be published no later than the first day of the semester. Similarly, the last week of the academic semester is a time for classroom work of all kinds, including appropriate feedback. However, faculty should be conscious of student workload and preparations in this last week, as well as the need to preserve the integrity of the 15-week academic semester. Finals of any sort will not occur or be due in the last week of the regular semester. Faculty cannot schedule a final exam or final project during the last week of classes and have no instructional activity during final’s week.

Scheduled final exams for day in-person, hybrid or synchronous online courses will be arranged (day and time) by the registrar during the published exam period. Scheduled final exams for night courses will be arranged on the regular night of the course during the published exam period. Scheduled final exam times may not be altered without the registrar’s approval.
Take-home final exams or projects should have deadlines no earlier than the published final exam time for a course and no later than the last day of the published exam period. Take-home final exams must be distributed on the first day of final exams. Faculty should be sensitive to the time required for the work to be done well and limit the expected completion time to no more than three hours. Faculty should also be following the requirements for the last week of the academic semester mentioned above.
Asynchronous online final exams are due on the Wednesday of the published exam period. Online final exams should be available on the first day of final exam period. Faculty should be sensitive to the time required for the work to be done well and limited the expected completion time to no more than three hours. Faculty should also be following the requirements for the last week of the academic semester mentioned above.

Academic Hardships

Students are not expected to take more than two final exams in a given day. If a student has more than two finals scheduled on the same day, the student should contact the Office of the Registrar and the appropriate faculty members to request an adjustment to the exam schedule.
Any student with a documented learning disability whose exam schedule creates an academic hardship must make appropriate arrangements through their instructors and the Section 504 coordinator.
Travel away from campus prior to the end of the scheduled exam period will not count as a hardship and will not qualify the student for adjustment of the exam schedule.

Performance of Final Examinations

Faculty and student work in the performance of exams of any sort will be guided by the Wilson College Honor Principle.

For scheduled final exams for in-person and hybrid courses, faculty members report to the regularly scheduled classroom designated at the arranged day and time in the published final examination schedule and provide students with the full three-hour period to complete the examination. Students report for scheduled exams at the arranged day and time and remain in the examination room until they complete their exams, except to go to the restroom.
For scheduled final exams for synchronous online courses, faculty members report to the virtual classroom designated at the arranged day and time in the published final examination schedule and provide students with the full three-hour period to complete the examination. Students report for scheduled exams at the arranged day and time and remain in the examination until they complete their exams, except to go to the restroom.

Grade Appeal Policy

Informal Process

Any student who would like to appeal a grade should attempt to resolve the situation directly with the instructor. The student should first informally discuss the grade appeal with the instructor. Most appeals will be resolved through this informal process.

Formal Process

Level 1: Written Appeal to Instructor

If the student is not satisfied with the response and would like to formally appeal the grade, a formal appeal must be submitted in writing to the instructor. This written appeal should be completed as soon as possible, but no later than the last day of the add/drop period of the next semester/term the student is enrolled. The instructor must respond to this appeal in writing within 10 business days.

Level 2: Written Appeal to School Dean

If, after formally appealing to the instructor, the student feels that the situation is still unresolved, an appeal may be submitted to the appropriate school dean. If the instructor serves as the school dean, the appeal should go to the Committee on Academic Procedures (Ac Pro). A copy of the initial appeal letter and response should be forwarded to the school dean. The student may choose to write an additional letter directly to the school dean. The school dean should attempt mediation between the student and the instructor. The school dean must respond to this appeal in writing within 10 business days.

Level 3: Written Appeal to the Committee on Academic Policy and Procedures

Should the appeal not be resolved after reaching the school level, the student may petition Ac Pro. The formal written petition to Ac Pro must be submitted no later than the withdrawal date for the semester in which the appeal process began. The committee should receive copies of the original appeal letter and all related correspondence. Ac Pro must respond in writing within 10 business days.

All decisions by Ac Pro are considered final.

Considerations:

The instructor will be informed of the appeal and invited to participate in meetings at every level of the process.
If the student believes that any step of the appeal process is not progressing in a timely manner, the student should contact the Office of the Provost for assistance in expediting the process.
Any modifications to the established timelines will be communicated to the student at the time of the appeal.
If the grade under appeal affects the student’s eligibility to progress to the next course, the student will be dropped from the subsequent course regardless of appeal status.
All appeal meetings are closed except to the appealing student, the instructor, the school dean, and members of Ac Pro.
Students should consult with Financial Aid and Residence Life if a course drop results in enrollment falling below full-time status.

Academic Standing

Cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA):

To be in Good Academic Standing: Minimum cGPA Standards

	COURSE CREDITS ATTEMPTED	MINIMUM cGPA
Cumulative GPA for Bachelor’s Degree Candidates	0 to 26.99	1.70
	27 to 59.99	1.85
	60 to 89.99	2.00
	90 and above	2.00
Cumulative GPA for Associate Degree Candidates	0 to 26.99	1.70
	27 to 44.99	1.85
	45 and above	2.00

*Credits Attempted; Transfer credits count toward total attempted credits. The academic level of a transfer student is determined based on the total number of courses attempted at Wilson and the number of transfer credits.

Note: the financial aid standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress are different from those listed above. See Financial Aid section of the catalog for more details.

To graduate from Wilson College, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 overall, in addition to meeting GPA standards specific to their majors.

Review Periods: Academic records are reviewed at the end of each fall, spring and summer semester, to assess students' progress toward degree completion.

Review Committee: The Committee on Academic Policy and Procedures (AcPro), is responsible for reviewing students’ academic records and making decisions on academic appeals. In all matters pertaining to academic standing, the decisions of the AcPro are final.

Academic Warning:

Criteria:
If a student’s semester GPA falls below a 2.0, but their cGPA is at or above a 2.0 following the fall, spring, or summer semester, the student is placed on Academic Warning.

A full-time student may be placed on academic warning if the student withdrew from all courses during a semester. Such a student is required to meet with a success coach before the beginning of the next semester. Failure to do so may result in the student not being permitted to attend classes during the next semester.
Warning Conditions: Students on Academic Warning are required to have an initial meeting with their assigned success coach to develop an action plan for the semester. The goal is to provide appropriate support enabling the student to get back on track toward academic success.

Co-Curricular Activities: Students on Academic Warning remain eligible to fully participate in Co-Curricular activities, including intercollegiate athletics, Esports, Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and hold leadership positions in campus organizations.

Academic Probation:

Criteria:

Initial Probation:
- A student whose cGPA falls below the minimum standards, as outlined in the provided chart, after the fall, spring or summer semester is placed on academic probation for the first time.
First Semester First Year Probation:
- A first semester, first time student whose cGPA falls between 0.5 – 1.69 in their first semester is placed on Academic Probation.
- A first semester, first time student whose cGPA is below 0.5 may continue for a second semester at Wilson on Academic Probation only after meeting with the Dean of Student Success to review their first semester and assess academic and financial implications. Failure to meet before the second semester begins results in automatic Academic Suspension.
Continued Probation:
- A student on probation is placed on Continued Probation if their semester GPA is above 2.0, but their cGPA remains below the minimum standards based on their credits.
- A student meeting the above criteria may remain on continued probation, a maximum of two semesters before being academically suspended (e.g. total of 3 consecutive semesters: initial probation, plus two continued probation semesters).
- Summer semester only counts toward the maximum allowed continued probation semester prior to suspension if the student is enrolled full-time.

An incomplete grade are treated as an F in calculating the GPA, for academic standing purposes if the student is already on probation or continued probation.

Probation Conditions:

Students on academic probation are expected to develop personal and academic strategies to improve their performance. They are required to meet bi-weekly with their success coach. Conditions may also include repeating courses and utilizing college services such as tutoring, career center, or attending counseling sessions.
Following Summer Sessions, student cGPAs is evaluated if the student has raised their GPA above the minimum standard for the number of credits attempted, the student is removed from probation, but is offered continued academic coaching support for the following semester.

Co-Curricular Activities:
- First semester on Probation students remain fully eligible to participate in major co-curricular activities, including intercollegiate athletics, Esports and IHSA and leadership positions in campus organizations.
- For two semesters in a row Probation:
  - If a student’s semester GPA was a 2.85 or higher they remain fully eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics, Esports, Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA); the ability to hold leadership positions on campus organization such as WCGA, RA and CAB is dependent on their GPA specific guidelines.
  - If a student’s semester GPA was between a 2.3 - 2.84 for intercollegiate sports, Esports and IHSA they can participate in practice and games /competitions as long as it does not interfere with class times, required field trips and other required activities; reduction in leadership roles in campus organizations is dependent on their GPA specific guidelines and if holding multiple roles in consultation with Dean of Students.
  - If a student’s semester GPA is 2.0-2.29 for intercollegiate sports, Esports and IHSA they can participate in practice, but not competition or travel; reduction in leadership roles in campus organizations is dependent on their GPA specific guidelines and if holding multiple roles in consultation with Dean of Students.
- Students who are participants in the Single Parent Scholars (SPS) program and are placed on continuing probation:
  - If a student’s semester GPA is 2.85 or higher, they remain eligible for the SPS program
  - If a student’s semester GPA is between a 2.3 - 2.84, they remain eligible for the SPS program as long they meet weekly with the SPS Director
  - If a student’s semester GPA is between 2.0-2.29, they lose eligibility for the SPS program
Academic Suspension:

Criteria:

A student who has been on academic probation and has neither regained good academic standing nor achieved a 2.000 semester GPA is suspended from the College.
Once placed on probation, if a student earns a 0.0 semester GPA they is academically suspended.
If a student has been on academic probation for 3 consecutive semesters (initial and two continued probation semesters) they is academically suspended.
Students can only be on academic suspension once. If the student comes up again for suspension they are academically dismissed.
Once a student has been notified of an academic suspension, summer grades will not be used to reverse or change that decision.

Suspension Conditions: Suspended students are not permitted to enroll in Wilson College classes, to live in college housing or participate in intercollegiate sports, Esports or IHSA or hold leadership positions in any Co-Curricular college organization. The suspension lasts one full semester (Summer counts as a semester for WCOL only), regardless of grades earned between semesters. (If already enrolled in a summer term 1 class or full summer class at the time of the Suspension appeal hearing notification the student may complete it.

Co-Curricular Activities: Suspended students may not permitted to participate in student activities. Further participation is not permitted until approved return. Co-Curriculars are suspended immediately following appeal hearing outcomes.

Suspension Appeals:

A student who has been academically suspended may appeal to AcPro. Appeals must document what actions were taken to make academic progress, obstacles that curtained success, and what would be different the next semester if the appeal were granted. The appeal must be filed by the deadline provided in the suspension/dismissal notification.

Returning to the College after Suspension:

Academic suspension is a period of time for a student to resolve some of the issues that may have prevented satisfactory academic progress, such as family stress, financial challenges, or health and wellness issues. Readmission is not guaranteed. To be considered for return, students must demonstrate that they have addressed the issues that hindered their progress and are able and prepared to do serious academic work at the College. Decisions on whether to grant or to deny requests for reinstatement and determining the conditions of reinstatement, is determined by the Dean of Student Success following an in-person meeting with the student and in consultation with the relevant offices. Dean of Student Success decision is considered final.

Students may demonstrate this preparedness through one or more of the following ways:
- The student may take 3 concurrent courses at an accredited institution and must obtain at least a B (3.00) average with no course less than a C-. The courses should be comparable to Wilson College courses; approval from the Wilson College registrar should be obtained before enrolling in the courses. A transcript and a letter describing academic success should be forwarded to the Registrar. The Registrar will make a recommendation to Dean of Student Success for their consideration.
- The student may work, do community service, and/or engage in volunteer activities that will demonstrate a seriousness of purpose. The level of engagement should be approximately full-time for a minimum of three months. There must be a direct connection between the experience and readiness to return to the rigor of college. To document achievement, include a letter of reference from the supervisor and a personal statement that explains how the experience has prepared the student to return to campus. These materials should be forwarded to Dean of Student Success for their consideration.
- If the student believes that academic struggles were significantly impacted by a mental health condition, the student may participate in an extended treatment program. This means that they will work with a licensed mental health professional (social worker, psychologist and /or psychiatrist) consistently for a minimum of 4 months and follow the treatment recommendations. The treating professional will submit a detailed letter to the Director of Counseling Services documenting compliance and progress in treatment and readiness to return and ability to function in a residential college environment including diagnosis and recommendations for future treatment. The Director of Counseling Services in consultation with the VP of Student Development will make a recommendation to Dean of Student Success for their consideration.
- The student may address a physical ailment that they believe contributed to academic struggles by providing documentation from a licensed medical professional. The treating physician must attest to the fact that the physical ailment significantly impacted ability to progress as a student during the defined semester. The documentation should provide a detailed description of the treatment, any lingering physical concerns, and ability to function in a college environment. The student should send this documentation to Wilson’s Health and Wellness Center. The Director of the Wellness Center in consultation with the VP of Student Development will make a recommendation to the Dean of Student Success for their consideration.
To return to the college, the student must do the following at least three weeks prior to the beginning of the next semester:
1) Contact Registrar to indicate intent to return
2) Submit the appropriate documentation (see below for full description)

3) Schedule a meeting with the Dean of Student Success

4) Request clearance from Student Financial Services

Co-Curricular Activities: A student returning from suspension is on academic probation, For intercollegiate sports, Esports and IHSA they can participate in practice and games /competitions as long as it does not interfere with class times, required field trips and other required activities; reduction in leadership roles in campus organizations is dependent on their GPA specific guidelines and if holding multiple roles in consultation with Dean of Students.
Return Period: Academic Suspension is for the period of one semester. If a student is gone for more than one year they will need to reapply for admission to the college.

Academic Dismissal

Criteria:
The student that was granted a suspension appeal but after one semester, has neither regained good academic standing nor achieved a 2.000 semester GPA is dismissed.
The student has returned from Academic Suspension but, after one semester, has neither regained good academic standing nor achieved a 2.000 semester GPA is dismissed.
The student’s cumulative GPA is below the minimum required for the student’s academic level and the ACPro believes the student is not making satisfactory academic progress may be dismissed. A student does not have to be on academic probation to be dismissed under this category.
Once a student has been notified of an academic dismissal, summer grades are not used to reverse or change that decision.

Dismissal Conditions: A student who has been dismissed may petition for readmission to the College after three years.

Dismissal Appeals:

A student who has been academically dismissed may appeal to AcPro. Appeals must document what actions were taken to make academic progress, obstacles that curtained success, and what would be different the next semester if the appeal were granted. The appeal must be filed by the deadline provided in the suspension/dismissal notification.

Administrative Withdrawal

A full-time, degree-seeking student who does not register for courses or who registers but does not attend any classes before the end of the add / drop period will be administratively withdrawn from the College. This does not apply to students who have notified the College of a leave of absence, and those students should consult the corresponding section of the Academic Regulations.

Financial Aid: Depending upon individual circumstances, a student may owe a financial obligation to the College.

Readmission: A student can be readmitted to the College by reapplying through Admissions. If a student is administratively withdrawn while on academic probation, the student will retain probationary status if readmitted.

Repeat Course Policy

Students are permitted to retake any course. Credits and grade points for the first grade will be deleted from the cumulative record, while the grade itself will remain on the transcript. The course information will be listed in the usual manner the second time it appears on the transcript.

The most recent grade counts toward the student’s cumulative grade-point average, regardless of which grade is higher.

It is recommended that the course be repeated in the first semester that it is subsequently offered. However, any course may be repeated at any time prior to graduation.

Students may repeat a course for credit a maximum of two times (i.e., a course may be taken for credit a maximum of three times). Please note that a course from which a student has withdrawn (earned a grade of W) will count as an attempt. Students in particular programs (Nursing, Veterinary Nursing, and Education) have alternative course repeat policies. For more information, please see the major description for each of these programs in the College catalog.

Students may not repeat a course using the credit/no credit (CR/NC) option to replace a grade. However, a student who has failed a course using the CR/NC option may elect to retake the course for either a grade or a CR/NC option.

Repetition of coursework for which credit has been granted may jeopardize financial aid eligibility. It is the student’s responsibility to understand the consequences of repeating courses. Students with questions regarding the impact of course repeats on student financial aid should consult with the financial aid office.

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Academic Policies and Procedures