Academic Standards

Satisfactory Progress

Satisfactory academic progress is determined by two criteria: good academic standing and normal progress.

Good Academic Standing

A student is in Good Standing if he/she is not on University academic probation or dismissed from the University.

Any student not in Good Standing may not represent the University in any public manner as a member or officer of a University registered club or organization, delegate to any association meeting or convention, or participant in intercollegiate athletic competitions. Any student who is placed on University academic probation will be ineligible to represent the University in any of the above activities. Effective time and dates of ineligibility are 12:01 a.m. on the Friday prior to the start of the semester.

Normal Academic Progress

A student whose credits completed fall below the minimum listed is considered as not making normal academic progress.

The Office of Student Financial Assistance may require additional standards for ‘Normal Academic Progress.’ Students should, therefore, contact the department of Student Financial Assistance to confirm requirements for Satisfactory Progress.

Academic Honors

Academic honors include the Dean’s List and Graduation Honors.

Dean’s List

The Dean’s List is calculated on a semester basis. A part-time student completing a minimum of 6 credits and a full-time student completing a minimum of 12 credits in a reporting term  with a GPA of 3.6 or better is eligible for the Dean’s List. In addition, there is no grade below a ‘C’ and there is no Incomplete (‘I’), Incomplete Extension (IX), Withdrawal (‘W’), NO Pass (‘NP’) or No Grade (‘NG’). If the ‘NG’ grade is replaced with a letter grade, Dean’s List eligibility will be reviewed at the request of the student. Students who complete fewer than six credits per semester are not eligible for the Dean’s List. Students who receive an incomplete grade in a course and later complete the coursework are not eligible for the Dean’s List. 

Graduation Honors

Upon graduation, students who complete the undergraduate program of study with the following cumulative GPAs are eligible for these honors, provided that at least 60 credits for a bachelor’s degree or 30 credits for an associate’s degree were completed at Sacred Heart University.

Summa Cum Laude: 3.8 or higher

Magna Cum Laude: 3.6 to 3.799

Cum Laude: 3.5 to 3.599

Academic Probation

All students shall meet satisfactory completion toward graduation by maintaining a grade-point average that places the individual in good academic standing at Sacred Heart, as well as maintaining satisfactory progress toward degree completion. Students’ records are reviewed for academic probation at the end of the fall and spring terms. To fulfill the satisfactory completion provision of this requirement, a student must achieve the following cumulative minimum GPA:

Any student falling below the relevant minimums will automatically be placed on Academic Probation.

A student on Academic Probation may choose to enroll in courses at Sacred Heart University during the University’s winter session and summer sessions. Grades from the winter session(s) will be applied to the fall semester probationary status, while grades from the summer session(s) will be applied to the spring semester probationary status. The probationary status GPA will be calculated to include grades from all courses taken during winter session and summer sessions, respectively, not just repeats of failed courses. Winter session and summer session grades will also apply to the cumulative GPA but will not be transcripted to the fall or spring semester.

Students on academic probation must meet with their advisor and complete a Student Success Plan for improved performance. Failure to complete and comply with the Student Success Plan will significantly increase the likelihood of continued probation or dismissal.

A student who is on Academic Probation for two consecutive semesters will be subject to dismissal.

Any student who incurs three Academic Probations during their academic career will be subject to dismissal.

Academic Warning

All students, who are not already on probation, with a term GPA below 2.0, regardless of cumulative GPA, will be placed on academic warning.

Students are also required to successfully complete a minimum of 66.67% of all attempted credits (Minimum Pace = 66.67%) in order to meet the satisfactory academic progress threshold. Failure to meet this required credit completion threshold, will also result in the student being placed on academic warning, regardless of term or cumulative GPA.

Full Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is posted here:

https://www.sacredheart.edu/admissions--aid/financial-assistance/full-time-undergraduates/satisfactory-academic-progress-policy/

Students on academic warning must meet with their advisor and complete a Student Success Plan for improved performance. Failure to complete and comply with the Student Success Plan will significantly increase the likelihood of probation or dismissal.

Academic Dismissal

Each student subject to dismissal for academic reasons will have their academic standing reviewed individually by the university's Academic Review Board prior to a final decision and notification.

• A student who is on Academic Probation for two consecutive semesters will be subject to dismissal.
• Any student who incurs three Academic Probations during his or her academic career will be subject to dismissal.
• Any student whose cumulative GPA falls below the following levels will be subject to dismissal:

After One Semester: 1.00

16–30 Credits Attempted: 1.50

31–90 Credits Attempted: 1.70

91+ Credits Attempted: 1.90

A student who has been dismissed can appeal the dismissal to the Academic Review Board. The procedure for appeal is listed below in the Academic Policies section.

Note: The above standards are University standards. All students are subject to these standards. Some programs have additional standards regarding program probation or program dismissal. Students are also subject to the standards of their program. 

Academic Probation-Dismissal Policy for Students Receiving VA Benefits

Students who have been placed on Academic Probation will have one term to regain good standing status. If a student does not maintain the prescribed standards of progress, enrollment certifications will be terminated. VA students will not be able to resume using educational benefits until acceptable academic status has resumed.

• A student who is on Academic Probation for two consecutive semesters will be dismissed.
• Any student who incurs three (3) Academic Probations during his or her academic career will be dismissed.
• Any student whose cumulative GPA falls below the following levels will be dismissed:
  • After One (1) Semester: 1.00
  • 16 – 30 Credits Attempted: 1.50
  • 31 – 90 Credits Attempted: 1.70
  • 91+ Credits Attempted: 1.90