Academic Standards
Any student whose academic progress is deemed less than acceptable by their department chair may be referred to the Academic Standards Committee, which considers each case and recommends action to be taken by the VPAA. That action may involve, but is not limited to, a warning, academic probation, program suspension, NHTI suspension for a specified period of time, conditional probation, or dismissal. Dismissal is permanent.
All credit courses are used for this calculation. Students entering with advanced standing should add their transfer credits to those credits earned at NHTI to determine their positions in the guidelines. Any matriculated student registered for 2 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.
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 to the Registrar’s Office, which then emails the letters to students. Warnings may also be issued at any time during a semester when deemed appropriate by faculty.
Academic Probation
Academic probation usually will last for one semester only. The student’s department chair will recommend to the committee if a student can take courses in their major field during 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 uses the guides above in determining which students are automatically brought to the attention of the Academic Standards Committee.
| Total Credits Accumulated (GPA Hours) | Minimum Acceptable Grade Point Average |
|---|---|
| 0-13 | 1.5 |
| 14-27 | 1.7 |
| 28-40 | 1.8 |
| 41 or more | 2.0 |
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 (unless it is required by the student’s program). A matriculated student suspended from a program may not take major field courses during the suspension; non-major field courses may be taken.
Students under academic suspension may seek course selection and academic planning help from Academic Advising. Students who are under academic suspension from NHTI and 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.
| Total Credits Accumulated (GPA Hours) | Minimum Acceptable Grade Point Average |
|---|---|
| 0-13 | .50 |
| 14-27 | 1.10 |
| 28-40 | 1.25 |
| 41 or more | 1.50 |
Guidelines for Suspension
- NP or F in clinic
- Academic probation status for third consecutive semester
- Violations of the Student Code of Conduct
- Failure to meet published technical standards
Conditional Probation Partnership
The conditional probation partnership assists students whose cumulative GPA would be placed on program suspension. This involves a contractual arrangement with the student that incorporates mentoring/counseling elements. A department chair designates students for this program by making a recommendation to the Academic Standards Committee based on the department’s judgment they could reasonably be expected to achieve academic success with guided assistance and realistic academic goals. A contract is then forwarded to the student with a letter from the VPAA explaining that the student is being given the opportunity to continue in the program if they agree to the contract conditions.
The student must sign the contract and return it to the Office of Academic and Workforce Education by a predetermined date. If the student chooses not to sign the contract, status will be determined by the guidelines for suspension. A student who accepts the contract but fails to abide by its provisions will be returned to suspension immediately and not be eligible to apply for readmission until the end of the subsequent semester.
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 VPAA in accordance with procedures and deadlines outlined in the letter sent to each suspended and dismissed student informing them of their status. Appeal letters received by the required deadline are reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee. In some cases, students may be asked to appear before the committee, which will render a decision on the appeal based on the information provided by the student and department chair. Decisions of the Academic Standards Committee are final.
