Sherman College

Reports on Academic Progress
Grades are assigned and recorded for each course at the end of each quarter. Each student is issued a formal report of grades at that time. It is the student's responsibility to address academic deficiencies, if such occur, and to seek advice from administrators or faculty members on academic matters when problems or questions arise.

Student Rights/Responsibilities Concerning Academic Records
In accordance with federal regulations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, Sherman College maintains academic records on all students who attended Sherman College and Pennsylvania College of Straight Chiropractic.

The college has enacted policies which afford students the rights mandated by FERPA and its amendments as they relate to academic records. Under this act, students have the right to:
A. Inspect and review educational records
B. Amend educational records
C. Exert some control over the disclosure of information from educational records. Educational records are all those records that:
1. contain information that is directly related to a student
2. are maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution.

College policy provides for the complete confidentiality of academic records. Information from a student's academic record will not be disclosed to anyone outside of the college without the student's authorization. However, information from a student's academic record may be made available to authorized personnel of the institution and/or persons acting in compliance with a judicial order.

Grade Scale Policy
The college's grading scale is as follows:
A (90-100) indicates excellent work
B (80-89) indicates good work
C (70-79) indicates satisfactory work
D* (60-69) indicates poor work
F (00-59) indicates failure
I** indicates incomplete work
P indicates satisfactory performance in a pass/fail course
U indicates unsatisfactory performance in a pass/fail course
N indicates unsatisfactory performance for nonattendance
NF indicates unsatisfactory performance for nonattendance in a pass/fail course
W indicates withdrawal from a course after the drop/add period, but before the end of the 7th week of classes
WA*** indicates an administrative withdrawal
WP indicates withdrawal from a course between weeks 7 and 9 with a passing grade
WF indicates withdrawal from a course between weeks 7 and 9 with a failing grade or withdrawal after week 9
AU**** Audit (See Policy 1011 - Course Audit)

*All doctor of chiropractic degree curriculum courses require a grade of "C" or above to pass.

**An "I" is a temporary grade. The deferred work must be completed before the end of the subsequent quarter in order to receive credit. Failure to do so automatically converts the grade to an "F."

***Students are responsible for meeting the requirements of all courses in which they are enrolled. If a student needs to withdraw from a course, several courses, or the college, he/she must fully complete the withdrawal process. Failure to do so will result in an unsatisfactory grade in the respective course(s). However, under exceptional circumstances, a student may be withdrawn from a course or courses by an administrator.

An administrative withdrawal may only be assigned by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and must include an explanation of the reason for the grade. The grade of “WA” will only be assigned in cases of academic/disciplinary action or documented emergencies and may not be used simply to avoid a failing grade in a course. The “WA” has no quality points and is not computed in the GPA.

Transfer of Credits to Another Institution
The college can offer no guarantee that credits earned will transfer to another institution, as the transfer of credit is always the responsibility of the receiving institution.

Quality Points
Quality points are assigned as follows: A – 4, B – 3, C – 2, D – 1, F – 0, N – 0, WF – 0, multiplied by the number of hours in the course. The grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total quality points earned by the total hours attempted. Grades of I, P, U, NF, W, WA, WP, or AU are not included in the calculation of GPA.

Satisfactory Progress, Warning, Probation and Dismissal
To meet satisfactory academic progress requirements, a student must maintain a quarterly and cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above and must successfully complete a minimum of 208 clock hours per quarter. A student not meeting these criteria will be placed on the appropriate level of academic probation and on a reduced course load to assist them in achieving and maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

This policy includes information on the following:
Academic Notice
Academic Warning
Academic Probation
Final Academic Probation
Academic Dismissal
Appeal of Academic Dismissal
Multiple Course Enrollments
Retaking Failed or Dropped Courses
Probationary Admission
English as a Second Language (ESL) Suspension
VA Benefits – loss due to lack of satisfactory progress

I. Academic Notice
A student receives an Academic Notice when the student earns two or more grades of D and/or F in any quarter while maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.0. A student will be placed on Academic Notice each time this situation occurs without advancing to a more restrictive level of academic probation as long as the student maintains quarterly and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher while enrolled in the program. A student in this situation would not be subject to a reduction in course load.

II. Academic Warning
A student is placed on Academic Warning when the student’s quarterly or cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 for the first time.

A student on Academic Warning must take a reduced load the next term, not to exceed 300-quarter hours, and retake all courses in which unsatisfactory grades were received. If the course is not offered the next term, the student must complete the course at the next offering. This will cause the student to be placed on special schedule, which is likely to impact the student’s projected graduation date. A student on Academic Warning is not permitted to enroll in any course(s) for which the course that is being repeated is a designated prerequisite or in any course that would conflict with the course that is being repeated. In addition, a student on Academic Warning is required to complete academic support workshops provided by the college during the next term. The registrar will determine the student’s schedule.

Satisfactory Academic Progress following Academic Warning
Students on Academic Warning who achieve satisfactory academic progress will be permitted to enroll in the standard course load of 300-420 hours the next term.

III. Academic Probation
A student will be placed on Academic Probation when the student’s quarterly or cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 for the second time.

A student on Academic Probation must reduce his/her course load in the following term to a maximum of 240 hours and retake all courses in which unsatisfactory grades were received. If the course is not offered the next term, the student must complete the course at the next offering. He/she is not permitted to enroll in any course(s) for which the course that is being repeated is a designated prerequisite. In addition, a student on Academic Probation may not enroll in any course that would conflict with the course that is being repeated. The student is also required to meet with his/her advisor on a bi-weekly basis. Tutorial assistance is highly recommended and available through the Registrar’s Office. The registrar will determine the student’s schedule.

Satisfactory Academic Progress following Academic Probation
Students on Academic Probation who achieve satisfactory academic progress will be permitted to enroll in a maximum of 300 hours the next term. If the student achieves satisfactory academic progress while taking 300 hours, he/she may return to a standard course load.

VA Educational Benefits for Students on Academic Probation
A student who receives VA Educational Benefits no longer maintains satisfactory academic progress when placed on Academic Probation and will not be eligible for such benefits for a minimum of one quarter. A student losing VA Educational Benefits due to being placed on Academic Probation may have his/her eligibility for VA Educational Benefits reinstated upon achieving satisfactory progress the quarter he/she is on Academic Probation. A student may be reimbursed for the quarter in which he/she regains satisfactory academic progress, but not for any quarter in which he/she did not meet the requirements of satisfactory academic progress.

IV. Final Academic Probation
A student will be placed on Final Academic Probation when the student’s quarterly or cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 for the third time.

A student on Final Academic Probation must reduce his/her course load in the following term to a maximum of 240 hours and retake all courses in which unsatisfactory grades were received. If the course is not offered the next term, the student must complete the course at the next offering. The student is also required to meet with the dean of student affairs on a weekly basis. Tutorial assistance is highly recommended and available through the Registrar’s Office. The registrar will determine the student’s schedule.

A student on Final Academic Probation no longer maintains satisfactory academic progress and will not be eligible for most forms of financial aid. A student losing financial aid due to unsatisfactory academic progress may have his/her financial aid eligibility reinstated upon achieving satisfactory academic progress the quarter he/she is on Final Academic Probation. A student may be reimbursed for the quarter in which he/she regains satisfactory academic progress, but not for any quarter in which he/she did not meet the requirements of satisfactory academic progress.

Satisfactory Academic Progress following Final Academic Probation
Students on Final Academic Probation who achieve satisfactory academic progress will be permitted to enroll in a maximum of 240 hours the next term. If the student achieves satisfactory academic progress taking 240 hours, he/she may take 300 hours the next term. If the student achieves satisfactory academic progress taking 300 hours, he/she may return to a standard course load. The registrar will determine the quarterly schedule for students who achieve satisfactory progress following final academic probation for the remainder of their enrollment in the doctor of chiropractic degree program.

V. Academic Dismissal
A student will be academically dismissed from the program when he/she:

Appeal of Academic Dismissal
Academic Dismissal may be appealed to the Academic Affairs Committee. Appeals must be in writing and submitted by Tuesday of the first week of classes the quarter immediately following dismissal. The appeal must clearly inform the committee of the following:

A student dismissed on a second occasion (student was previously dismissed and reinstated by the Academic Affairs Committee) may not appeal the second dismissal to the Academic Affairs Committee. He/she may only appeal the second dismissal in writing to the president. The president will only consider appeals that provide evidence of extremely extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control that caused failure to meet satisfactory academic progress following reinstatement to the program.

VI. Multiple Course Enrollments (Two Strikes)
A student may withdraw from and/or earn a grade of D or F in any given course only once. When a student enrolls in a course for the second time, the student must successfully complete and pass the course or be academically dismissed from the college (requiring full application for readmission following a six-month waiting period). Withdrawals during the drop/add period will not be counted as a course enrollment. A student who successfully appeals academic dismissal for multiple course enrollments no longer maintains satisfactory academic progress and will not be eligible for most forms of financial aid.

VII. Retaking Failed or Dropped Courses
A newly matriculated student* who earns a grade of D or F or withdraws from (after the drop/add deadline) one or more courses must repeat said course(s) the following term or in the next term in which said course(s) is offered. A student attending Sherman College beyond the first quarter after matriculation must repeat courses in which he/she has earned a grade of D or F or withdraws from (after the drop/add period) one or more courses must repeat said course(s) within two quarters of the term in which the student did not achieve a passing grade. A student who is on Probationary Admission, Academic Warning, Academic Probation or Final Academic Probation must repeat said course(s) the following term or in the next term in which said course(s) is offered or as required by the vice president for academic affairs.

*For the purposes of this policy, a newly matriculated student is defined as any student, or transfer student, who is attending Sherman College for the first time.

VIII. Probationary Admission
A student granted Probationary Admission to the program must achieve a minimum 2.0 quarterly and cumulative grade point average taking the standard course load of 300-420 hours during the designated probationary admission period (unless otherwise stipulated by the Admission or Academic Affairs Committee). Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program with no right to appeal. If a student admitted under Probationary Admission earns a grade of D, F, W, N or WF during any term of his her probationary admission period, the vice president for academic affairs may continue the student under probationary admission period for an additional time period in order to monitor whether the student is capable of achieving satisfactory academic progress each quarter as well as whether the student is capable of making sufficient progress toward degree completion within the college’s program completion requirement of six (6) calendar years. See Policy 1005 – Course Load and Degree Completion.

IX. English as a Second Language (ESL) Suspension
A student from a non-English speaking country (or English is his/her second language) who met the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) admission requirement at the time of his/her admission but is unable to achieve satisfactory academic progress in the doctor of chiropractic degree program due to insufficient verbal or written communication skills in the doctor of chiropractic degree program may be suspended from the program and required to complete English-language programs or English as a Second Language (ESL) course(s) before being permitted to continue in the doctor of chiropractic degree program. The vice president for academic affairs would make such a determination based on input from faculty members who have substantial opportunities to observe the student’s command of verbal and written communication skills and ability to follow directions through daily interactions with the students, his/her class participation and course assessments. Faculty may report such communication challenges to the dean of student affairs and or the vice president for academic affairs. The student may be required to take more advanced TOEFL testing to verify the student’s communicative ability to facilitate student placement at the appropriate level of instruction in English-language programs or ESL classes.