A-005 Academic Standing

Undergraduate students at Southwest Minnesota State University are expected to meet academic standards set by the university and to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress towards earning a degree.

Maintaining good academic standing consists of two categories: Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) and Cumulative Completion Rate (CCR). Students must maintain both a satisfactory GPA and a satisfactory CCR to remain in good standing.

Students who do not meet the standards for good academic standing follow the procedures: A-005.1, “Satisfactory Academic Progress” and A-005.2, “Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress.”

Grade Point Average

The GPA is calculated by dividing the quality points earned (take the number of credits for the class and multiply by the quality points assigned to the grade) by the number of credits earned.

Grades and quality points used in the GPA calculation include:

• A+       4.00
• A         4.00
• A-        3.67
• B+        3.33
• B          3.00
• B-        2.67
• C+       2.33
• C         2.00
• C-        1.67
• D+       1.33
• D         1.00
• D-        0.67
• F          0.00

The following grades are not used in GPA calculations: W (Withdraw), AU (Audit), I (Incomplete), IP (In Progress), NC (No Credit), and CR (Credit) (A-034, “Grading”).

The following GPAs are required for the attempted credit level:

• 1.60 or higher for 0-29.99 credits attempted
• 1.80 or higher for 30.00-59.99 credits attempted
• 2.00 or higher for 60.00 or more credits attempted

Cumulative Completion Rate

CCR is calculated by dividing the total number of credits earned by the total number of credits attempted. All grades, except AU, are included in calculating CCR.

Students must complete a minimum of 66.67% of cumulative credits attempted.

Policy Notes

1. Consortium program credits are included in both GPA and CCR calculations.
2. Developmental courses, (courses numbered between 000 and 099), are included in GPA but excluded from CCR.
3. When a course is repeated, the best grade earned is counted in the GPA calculation. All grades earned are included in the CCR calculation.
4. Review of Academic Standing occurs at the end of each term (Fall, Spring, and Summer). The review of Academic Standing for students taking courses in the high school (Post-Secondary Enrollment Option), occurs one time per year after the Spring semester.
5. GPA and CCR are rounded to the nearest hundredth of a percent.

Related Documents

SMSU Procedure A-005.1, “Satisfactory Academic Progress”
SMSU Procedure A-005.2, “Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress”
SMSU Policy A-034, “Grading”

Policy History

Date of Adoption: July 12, 2007
Date of Last Review: March 8, 2024

Date and Subject of Amendments

3/8/2024 - Created a separate policy for Academic Standing and moved satisfactory academic progress for registration and financial aid to respective procedures.