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ACADEMIC POLICY
Birmingham-Southern College Catalog 2014-2015
ACADEMIC PROGRESS
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory progress is measured by grade point average. The minimum
acceptable grade point average at the end of the first year is 1.50. At the end
of the sophomore year it is 1.80. At the end of the junior year and thereafter
it is 2.00.
Students are also expected to make consistent progress toward a degree.
Full-time students should complete all graduation requirements within five
calendar years, part-time students within ten years.
Four-Year Graduation Guarantee
Because of the strength of the College’s academic advising and the
careful planning of annual course offerings, students are guaranteed to
graduate within four years if they satisfy additional guidelines. If the
College fails to offer courses required for a specific major or an academic
advising error leads to the necessity for an additional course or courses
in the fifth year, the College will cover the cost of tuition plus any course
fees for the necessary courses. Students who do not satisfy these specific
requirements can also graduate within four years, but are not guaranteed
to do so. The guidelines below apply only to the guarantee and not to any
specific graduation requirements listed elsewhere in this catalog.
To qualify for this guarantee, students must meet the following
guidelines:
(1) Complete four consecutive academic years at the College. While
the College encourages all students to study abroad, not all study
abroad opportunities provide the coursework necessary to satisfy
all requirements within four years. As a result, students considering
study abroad must consult with the Office of the Provost to
determine if the four-year graduation guarantee will remain in force.
(2) Meet with their assigned academic advisor at least once each term,
and follow their academic advisor’s recommendations. To ensure
that students meet the requirements for the four-year graduation
guarantee, students must consult with their academic advisors
before making any schedule changes. Failure to discuss schedule
changes, such as those made during the drop/add period at the start
of each term, voids the four-year graduation guarantee.
(3) Pursue a single major and declare that major according to the
timetable below. While it is possible to complete some majors
in less time, the College cannot guarantee the completion of all
academic requirements in four years unless students declare the
major by the term listed. Similarly, if a student changes the major
