Special Academic Regulations

Grading System

Grades carry the following weights in the computation of grade-point averages.

Incomplete Grade

An incomplete grade in a course may be granted only with permission from the Academic Standing Board. The student shall petition the Board, giving the reasons for the desired extension of time. The statement must be signed by the instructor of the course and the student's advisor.  A grade of Incomplete will be awarded only under exceptional conditions, including cases of illness, death in the family, or other extraordinary circumstances.  A student will not be granted an incomplete simply because additional time is needed to complete the assigned work.  Incomplete petitions normally should be submitted prior to the last day of the semester’s scheduled classes, though in exceptional circumstances petitions may be reviewed through the last day of finals. Should a request for an incomplete grade be granted, completion of the work must be accomplished by the end of the sixth week of the following semester, or any time previous, as prescribed by the instructor.

Satisfactory (S/Grade) Evaluation

Courses graded on an S/Grade basis result in an S on the transcript if the grade reported is C or above, and the grade earned if it is C- or below. The grade of Satisfactory (S) does not affect the student’s GPA.  Letter grades of C- or lower in an S/Grade graded course are included in the student’s grade point average. Sophomores, juniors and seniors may elect to take one course per semester on the S/Grade basis.  There is a limit of one course per semester which may be taken on the S/Grade basis. This option may not be exercised for courses within a student's major, minor, or concentration fields, including required cognate courses, and it is not an option for any General Education requirement. Via the appropriate form at the Registrar's office, students must request S/Grade grading, or request to switch back from S/Grade grading to a letter grade, by the end of week nine. Neither the instructor’s approval nor the instructor's signature is required for a student to opt to take a class S/Grade, nor are instructors notified that a student has elected this option.  A few courses are offered to everyone utilizing a "satisfactory" grading format, and such courses are not included in the option described above.

Repeating Courses

Students may repeat courses in order to develop greater mastery of the subject matter. However, second efforts do not erase original efforts, including failed first attempts, and both grades will be included in the GPA calculations. Should students take and successfully complete a course twice, they must be aware that both grades will be included in the GPA calculations but the credit hours cannot be included twice. You may wish to discuss all potential ramifications with the Registrar if this scenario is a factor for you. Students who want to re-enroll for a course for which they have already received a passing mark must receive permission from the chairperson of that department and the instructor of the course in question. Repeating a previously passed course may present Financial Aid implications.

Academic Good Standing

Academic Good Standing applies to all students who meet or exceed the standards indicated below.

For regularly admitted (non-transfer) students:

In all cases, by the beginning of the junior year (5th semester of full-time college enrollment), Academic Good Standing will require a cumulative Denison GPA of 2.0. 

Transfer Students:

Transfer students will be tracked based on the number of semesters of full-time college enrollment.
Example: A transfer student entering Denison after one semester of enrollment elsewhere will be tracked as follows:

The 'transfer student table' will be adjusted accordingly depending on the number of full-time semesters enrolled elsewhere by a transfer admit. In all cases for transfer students entering their fifth semester of full-time college enrollment, Academic Good Standing will require a cumulative Denison GPA of 2.0.

Any student with a cumulative GPA below 2.0 at any time will be enrolled in the Academic Resource Center’s (ARC) programming for academic success and notified that the continuation of their present academic performance may put them at risk of Academic Warning or Suspension. 

Denison’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy establishes and applies standards of academic progress that must be met by all students for them to qualify and remain eligible for assistance from Title IV student financial aid programs. A student can meet the standards of the Academic Good Standing Policy and not meet the SAP standards. Students should be familiar with both policies. Students not meeting SAP after the warning period of enrollment or at the start of their junior year will be ineligible to receive additional financial aid without an approved SAP appeal. 

Since a student could be in Academic Good Standing but not meeting the terms of our SAP policy, it is essential that students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 are aware of their SAP status. Students can view their current SAP status in their My Financial Aid portal. Questions regarding the SAP policy should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid (finaid@denison.edu).

Academic Warning

Academic Warning occurs when a student has a cumulative GPA above 1.0 and below the threshold for Academic Good Standing as defined by the sliding scale above. A student is expected to reach Academic Good Standing within two semesters. If, after two semesters on Academic Warning, the student has not reached Academic Good Standing, they will be placed on Academic Suspension upon review of the Academic Standing Board. Any semester GPA below 1.0 will automatically result in Academic Suspension, unless this occurs in the student’s final semester before graduation. Thus, a student may bypass Academic Warning and be placed on Academic Suspension if the semester GPA is below a 1.0.

Continued Academic Warning

Continued Academic Warning is designated when a student who is on Academic Warning is successful in achieving a semester GPA at or above the cumulative target for the subsequent semester, but did not raise the cumulative GPA to the level required for Academic Good Standing. Students on Continued Academic Warning are expected to achieve or exceed the cumulative GPA required for Academic Good Standing, as defined by the sliding scale, at the conclusion of the subsequent semester, or they will be placed on Academic Suspension upon review of the Academic Standing Board.

Academic Suspension

Academic Suspension resulting from unsatisfactory academic performance occurs in three ways:

1. A student (regardless of prior academic standing) who earns a semester GPA below 1.0 is placed on Academic Suspension, unless this occurs in the student’s final semester before graduation.
2. A student who is on Academic Warning and earns a semester GPA below the cumulative GPA, as defined by the sliding scale, at the conclusion of the subsequent semester will be placed on Academic Suspension upon review of the Academic Standing Board.
3. A student on Continued Academic Warning who does not earn a semester GPA that allows them to return to Academic Good Standing, as defined by the sliding scale, at the conclusion of that semester, will be placed on Academic Suspension upon review of the Academic Standing Board.

Students who have been academically suspended must petition for reinstatement to the Academic Standing Board (ASB). 

Academic Standing Board

The Academic Standing Board reviews and decides all matters related to student academic standing. ASB’s decisions regarding Academic Warning, Continued Academic Warning, and Academic Suspension are final. 

Reinstatement

Reinstatement occurs when an academically suspended student once again becomes eligible for enrollment via a successful petition to the Academic Standing Board (ASB). Students have the right to appeal a negative decision of a petition for academic reinstatement. 

Reinstated students will be placed on Academic Warning at the time of their reinstatement if their cumulative GPA is below the level required for Academic Good Standing as defined by the sliding scale. Students on Reinstatement will be given conditions by the Academic Standing Board that must be fully met during the subsequent semester(s) to remain eligible for enrollment.

The procedures for seeking Reinstatement are found below in “Eligibility for Reinstatement.”