Academic Progress

Any student whose academic progress is deemed less than acceptable by his or her department may be referred to the Academic Standards Committee. The Committee includes: the Vice President of Academic Affairs, who chairs the Committee; an elected representative of each of the academic divisions; the Vice President of Student Affairs; the Director of Enrollment and Retention; and the Department Head of the department in which the student is enrolled. The Director of Counseling, the Registrar, and the Director of the Learning Center serve in advisory capacities. The Committee considers all pertinent aspects of each individual case and recommends action to be taken by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. That action may involve, but is not limited to, a warning, academic probation, suspension from a specific program or from the Institute as a whole for a specified period of time, conditional probation or dismissal. Dismissal is permanent.

All credit courses, regardless of the grade received, are used for this calculation. Students entering with advanced standing should add their transfer credits to those credits earned at the Institute to determine their positions in the guidelines.

In addition, any matriculated student registered for two or more courses during any semester will be subject to review by the Academic Standards Committee.

Academic progress may affect financial aid. Check with the Financial Aid Office for more information.
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Academic Warnings

At mid-semester, Academic Warnings are formally issued by faculty to students with grades of "C-" or below, "NP" or "PP."  Warnings are submitted by faculty to the Registrar's Office from which formal mid-semester warning letters are mailed to students.

Warnings may also be issued at any time during a semester when deemed appropriate by faculty.
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Academic Probation

Academic Probation usually will last for one semester only. The student's Department Head will recommend to the Committee if a student can take courses in their major field during the Academic Probation. Students placed on Academic Probation may be eligible to continue receiving financial aid if they meet the minimum GPA requirements. To ensure that adequate academic progress toward a degree is being made, the College also uses the following guidelines in determining which students are automatically brought to the attention of the Academic Standards Committee:

Suspension

Suspension may be for any period of time established by the Academic Standards Committee, but must be for a minimum of one semester excluding the summer semester (unless the summer semester is required by the student's program). A matriculated student suspended from a program may not take major field courses during the suspension in either the Day Division or the Division of Continuing Education. Non-major field courses, however, may be taken in either division at NHTI. In lieu of a department head or other faculty advisor, students under program suspension may seek course selection and academic planning help from the Academic Advising Office, Room S-148, Sweeney Hall. A matriculated student suspended from NHTI may not take any courses in either the Day Division or the Division of Continuing Education during the period of suspension. Students who have been suspended from the College or a program for academic reasons who wish to return must, prior to the completion of the suspension, apply for readmission by submitting a new application, with an explanatory letter, to the NHTI Admissions Office.

Guidelines for Suspension

1. NP or F in clinic
2. Academic Probation status for 3rd consecutive semester
3. Violations of the Student Code of Conduct
4. Failure to meet published technical standards

Conditional Probation Partnership

The Conditional Probation Partnership assists students whose cumulative GPA after the first semester is between .80-1.40. The Conditional Probation Partnership involves a contractual arrangement with the student incorporating mentoring/counseling elements. At the end of the first semester, a Department Head designates students for this program when making the usual recommendations to the Academic Standards Committee. Students are recommended on the basis of the Department's judgment that they could reasonably be expected to achieve academic success with guided assistance and realistic academic goals. An agreement is then forwarded to the student along with a letter from the Vice President of Academic Affairs explaining that in lieu of suspension the student is being given an opportunity to continue, if he/she agrees to the conditions of the agreement.

The student is then asked to sign the agreement and return it to the Academic Affairs office by a predetermined date. If the student chooses not to sign the agreement, status will be determined by the guidelines for suspension or probation.

One requirement of the Conditional Probation is to attend an orientation session during the week before classes begin. Adjustments to the agreement may be discussed at this time and any changes in registration could also be processed.
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Appeal of Suspension or Dismissal

A student who wishes to appeal an academic suspension or dismissal may do so by writing a letter of appeal to the Academic Standards Committee and forwarding it to the Office of Academic Affairs. Each suspended or dismissed student receives a letter at the end of the semester specifying the deadline for filing the written appeal. The student should then plan on appearing personally before the Academic Standards Committee to present his/her appeal. All appeal hearings are scheduled on one day only, determined by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Students whose letters arrive by the deadline are contacted by the Office of Academic Affairs to schedule their appearance before the Committee on the scheduled day.
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Revised June 12, 2008