Academic Progress Standards

1. Completion Rate (67% Rule): Students must receive a satisfactory grade in courses attempted by completing at least 67% of the credits for which they are enrolled. This percentage is calculated by dividing the number of credits earned by the number of credits attempted for the semester. All withdrawals, failures, and incompletes are counted as attempted but not earned credits.
   1. Exception to the 67% Rule: It is important to note that the 67% completion rule applies to Title IV financial aid. However, specific grant and scholarship aid programs may mandate a higher completion rate.
2. Cumulative GPA Minimum Requirements (GPA Rule): The college has established the following cumulative grade point average (GPA) standards:

If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below the standard, he must meet or exceed the cumulative GPA standard for all ensuing semesters at the college or he will fail to meet the college’s academic progress standards, resulting in ineligibility for future financial aid and enrollment termination. If a student fails to meet the college’s Cumulative GPA Minimum Requirement in the last semester of his senior year, he cannot graduate from the college.

3. Course Grade Requirements: Students are required to pass all courses designated for their assigned curriculum. If a student fails a course, he must follow the college’s Course Substitution Policy, as described in a subsequent section. Failure of three non-trade courses over the three-year program or failure of one trade course will result in disenrollment.
4. Maximum Hours (150% Rule): Students may only receive financial aid up to the point at which they can no longer complete their program of study within 150% of the program length (including all semesters, even if no federal aid was received). For example, if a program requires 100 hours, a student may only attempt up to 150 hours in that program. All hours attempted are counted.
5. Withdrawals, Audits, Repeat Courses, and Incompletes: Each student enrolls in a program with a set curriculum of courses to be taken each semester; students may not withdraw from, audit, or repeat courses. Students who withdraw from the college before the official end of the semester receive a W grade for all courses in their final semester of attendance. If a student receives a grade of Incomplete for a class, he has one semester following the conclusion of that class to satisfy class requirements and receive a final grade; if a student does not satisfy class requirements in the time allotted, he will receive a failure for his final grade. Once an Incomplete grade has been changed to a final grade, the student’s record will be reviewed by the Office of Academic Affairs for compliance with academic progress standards.
   1. Withdrawals – Exceptions: Students who are granted a Leave of Absence after a semester has started but before a semester has been completed will receive Withdrawal grades for all classes, which do not count as a passing grade; these grades are counted in attempted credits. All courses that are graded as Withdrawals must be retaken and students will be required to earn a passing letter grade in order to continue at Williamson. See below for details.
6. Course Substitution Policy: If a student fails a non-trade course, he may not retake the course at Williamson but must find a substitute course at another institution. The student must then submit a Course Substitution proposal for approval to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. If approved, the student must successfully complete the proposed course, with a grade of “C” or higher, within three semesters following the semester in which the failure occurred (summer session is counted as a semester). Failure to successfully complete the substitute course within the specified time limit will result in the student being disenrolled from Williamson. The student’s original grade will remain on his transcript, and the compensating course will be noted on the transcript. The initial grade will be used in calculating his cumulative grade point average. Even though the student has passed the course at another institution, the course still counts as a failure. Any student who fails three non-trade courses over the three-year program will be disenrolled.
7. Change of Major and Double Majors: Students may not change majors nor complete a double major. Once all the requirements for a program are completed, a student may no longer receive financial aid.