ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduates are enrolled in 100-400 level courses.  Undergraduate students are classified based on the number of credit hours completed as follows:

1. Freshman -less than 44 credit hours completed.
2. Sophomore-45 to 89 credit hours completed.
3. Junior-90-134 credit hours completed.
4. Senior-135 or more credit hours completed.

Good Standing

An undergraduate student is in good standing if he or she has:

• Maintained an academic record of at least a cumulative 2.0 (“C”) grade point average.
• Met all financial obligations to the University or has made the appropriate arrangements with the business office.
• Is not on probation. Undergraduate students must receive a grade of “C” or better in a course required in their major for the course to count toward their degree.

President’s List

A President’s  list is compiled each semester.  To qualify for the President’s list, undergraduate students must have completed at least 15 credit hours at Asher University and have a quarter GPA of 3.8 or greater while taking at least 9 credit hours per quarter.

Dean’s List

In recognition of academic excellence at the undergraduate level, a Dean’s List is compiled each quarter.  To qualify for the Dean’s List, undergraduate students must have completed at least 30 hours at Asher University and have a quarter and cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater while taking at least six credit hours per quarter.

Unsatisfactory Standing

Students’ academic records will be reviewed at the end of each quarter to determine whether the student has maintained satisfactory academic progress.  A student who does not meet the requirement for good academic standing will be notified by the processes of Academic Monitoring and notified after the first monitoring Deficiency is given.  After an Official notice of Academic Warning is delivered, the student may be placed on probation, or suspension based upon the review of current academic standing.

Academic Monitoring

Academic Monitoring occurs prior to Midterm week as an initial notice to students who have less than satisfactory performance.  Students are required to meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss solutions, tutoring, or withdrawal from the course.  Students will receive a copy of the progress plan stating the student’s requirements to improve his or her grades.

Midterm Deficiencies

Once midterm exams and or grades have been calculated and received by the Office of the Registrar, students who have less than satisfactory performance are notified by email.  Students are required to meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss solutions, tutoring, or withdrawal from the course.  This warning serves as the final notice to students that their the final course grade is in jeopardy, and the student should act accordingly.

Academic Warning

At the conclusion of a semester, if the student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0, the student is placed on Academic Warning for the following term.  While on Academic Warning, all students will work with an academic advisor to plan and engage in academic improvement strategies.  To remain in status, international students must register for full-time courses during the Academic Warning.  International students are also required to seek assistance from a Asher University International Student Advisor to discuss academic improvement options and visa status issues.  During the Academic Warning period, students are prohibited from holding any class office or officer-level responsibilities in any student organization.  Students on Academic Warming are not permitted to serve as representatives on any institutional committees or student groups that organize extra-curricular activities.

Academic Probation

If a student cumulative grade point average remains below a 2.0 at the end of the Academic Warning period, a student will be placed on Academic Probation for the following quarter.  While on Academic Probation, undergraduate students are required to register for no more than 9 credit hours and are also required to participate in structured intervention programs like study hall, designed by the Office of Academic Advising.  International students on Academic Probation are required to work directly with an International Student Advisor to discuss specific visa status issues.  During Academic Probation period, students are restricted from holding any class offices or other student-based leadership positions within the University.

Academic Suspension-Dismissal

At the end of the Academic Probation period, students with cumulative grade point averages below 2.0 will be dismissed for one (1) quarter.  After one (1) quarter of Academic Dismissal, students may be eligible for reenrollment after participating in a structured evaluation process by the Office of Academic Advising.  If permission is granted by the Office of Academic Advising, dismissed students may re-enter their academic programs of study on a probationary status.  If one-year elapses between a student’s dismissal and reenrollment date, the student must apply for readmission prior to the beginning of the intended term of matriculation.

To apply for readmission, students must submit:

1. An application for readmission with the readmission fee.
2. A typewritten personal statement and two letters of recommendation to the Admissions Committee.

Grade Changes

An instructor may choose to change the original grade under the following conditions:

1. The original grade was an ‘I” (Incomplete) and the grade is changed after the student has completed the work.
2. If an error was made in calculating or reporting, an instructor who wishes to change a grade should submit a “Change of Grade” form to the Registrar’s Office.  All change of grade forms must be submitted prior to the end of the subsequent quarter in which the grade was earned.  Changes of grades for incompletes, however, must be submitted by the end of the midterm period for the subsequent quarter.

Grade Appeals

A student who wants to appeal his or her grade must consult with the instructor and provide factual documentation about how and or why the grade was miscalculated or assigned unfairly.  It is acknowledged that the course instructor is the best judge of a student’s performance.  However, there may be extremely rare instances in which a student feels a grade has been assigned unfairly.  After the student consults with the instructor, if he or she are unable to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement, the matter may be appealed to the Academic Department Chairperson who will convene a departmental appeals committee for a final resolution.  The Chief Academic Officer will be made aware of all grievances with timelines for resolution.  If the burden of proving the grade was miscalculated assigned unfairly, it will be solely the responsibility of the student.

Academic Grievance Procedure

To provide fair and workable academic grievance procedure, students should be free to take reasonable exceptions to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion.  However, students may remain responsible for learning the content of the courses in which they are enrolled.  When a student thinks his or her rights and freedoms as a student have been violated, or thinks that there has been a violation, misinterpretation, or inequitable application of any of the academic regulations of the college, he or she should follow these steps in a timely manner:

1. Speak to the faculty member and follow-up in writing. If this interaction does not produce an appropriate solution.
2. Discuss the matter with the faculty member’s academic department chair and follow-up in writing.  If this interaction does not produce an appropriate solution.
3. Appeal to the Chief Academic Officer in writing with all supporting documentation.
4. The CAO will review all documentation and make a finding which shall be binding on all parties. In all matters concerning academic inquiries, all parties involved should show respect, restraint, and responsibility in their effort to resolve academic grievances.  Every effort should be made to expedite solutions to the situation.  It is incumbent upon all decisions as promptly as possible.  No party will be discriminated against in any way for having filed or responded to a good faith academic inquiry.