Academic Information
Academic Standards
A minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average is required for an associate degree or certificate at Southwestern Illinois College.
Grades are issued at the close of each semester on a letter basis indicating the quality of academic work and student achievement. Grade points are assigned to each credit earned in 100-200 level classes according to the grade received as follows:
| Grade | Grade Points Per Credit | |
|---|---|---|
| A | Superior | 4 |
| B | Good | 3 |
| C | Average | 2 |
| D | Poor | 1 |
| F | Failure | 0 |
| Grade | Grade Points Per Credit | |
| I | Incomplete (see note below)* | 0 |
| P | Passing | 0 |
| AU | Audit | 0 |
| CR | Credit Awarded | 0 |
| FLW | Failure Late Withdrawal | 0 |
| NC | No Credit | 0 |
| NR | Not Recorded | 0 |
| PC | Proficiency Credit | 0 |
| SC | Service Credit | 0 |
| W | Withdrawal | 0 |
| WF | Withdrawal Failing | 0 |
| PR | Progress Re-Enroll (see note below)** | 0 |
Note: *A grade of "I" will automatically roll to an F if remaining coursework is not submitted within the timeframe set by your instructor. Once the "I" grade is changed (not later than 100 days after being issued), the assigned grade will be calculated into the cumulative grade point average.
**The PR grade is an option only for ENG 005 Basic Writing I and ENG 006 Basic Writing II. Other classes are not eligible for this grade type.
To calculate your cumulative grade point average, multiply the credits earned in each 100-200 level class by the grade points per credit, and then total the grade points. Divide the total number of grade points by the total number of credits earned in each 100-200 level class, excluding those classes in which you received an I, W, P or AU grade. Note that courses numbered below 100 are not considered when calculating your Southwestern Illinois College cumulative grade point average regardless of the grade received.
Forgiveness Clause
The Registrar may forgive the three lowest grades (D, F) if your cumulative grade point average is less than 2.0 when you are readmitted to Southwestern Illinois College after more than a three-year break. You must be enrolled in the current semester. Courses and grades that are forgiven will not be factored in your grade point average or applied toward degree and/or certificate requirements; however, the grades will continue to be part of your permanent record. Forgiveness cannot be granted until after two weeks into each semester. To be considered for this option, you must submit a written request to the Enrollment Services Office, 2500 Carlyle Avenue, Belleville, IL 62221.
Grade Reports
Semester grade reports are issued after the close of each semester to all students. Semester payments (including fines and assessment) due the college must be paid before grades will be issued.
Academic Honors
Full-Time Students
Academic honors are awarded to full-time students at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters. They are not awarded during the Summer session. To be named to the Vice President's Full-Time Student Honors List, you must complete 12 or more college-level semester hours in the given semester and earn a semester grade point average of 3.0 or better. Those who earn a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Those who earn a grade point average of 3.5 to 4.0 are awarded high honors.
Part-Time Students
Academic honors are awarded to part-time students at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters. They are not awarded during the Summer session. To be named to the Vice President's Part-Time Student Honors List, you must complete six or more college-level semester hours in the given semester and earn a semester grade point average of 3.0 or better. Those students who earn a semester grade point average of 3.5 to 4.0 are awarded high honors.
Academic Alert/Probation/Suspension Warning/Suspension
Academic Alert
Students will be placed on Academic Alert whenever their cumulative SWIC grade-point average falls between a 2.30 and a 2.00. Before re-enrolling, the student will receive information on helpful resources and will be strongly encouraged to meet with a counselor to develop strategies to promote academic success.
Academic Probation
Students will be placed on Academic Probation whenever their cumulative SWIC grade-point average falls between a 1.99 and a 1.50. Before re-enrolling, the student must have completed all RESTART requirements before July 15th for Fall Semester and before December 15th for Spring Semester. It will be the responsibility of the student to make a counseling appointment to access the RESTART program.
Academic Suspension Warning
Students will be placed on Academic Suspension Warning the first time their cumulative SWIC grade-point average falls below a 1.50. Before re-enrolling, the student must have completed all RESTART requirements before July 15th for Fall Semester and before December 15th for Spring Semester. It will be the responsibility of the student to make a counseling appointment to access the RESTART program.
Academic Suspension
Students who are on Academic Suspension Warning and whose cumulative SWIC grade-point average falls below a 1.5 for a second consecutive semester will be placed on Academic Suspension. The student will not be allowed to register for or attend classes at Southwestern Illinois College for the following Fall or Spring semester unless authorized to do so by the Dean of Counseling /Designated Counseling representative. Prior to re-enrollment the student must complete the RESTART program requirements.
Dismissal
The college has the right to request at any time the withdrawal of students who do not maintain the required standards of scholarship or whose conduct discredits the college.
Attendance
Students are expected to be present and on time for all assigned classes, lectures or laboratory sessions. If a student is absent, they must show the instructor that the absence has been for a good cause. If the student is absent more times during the semester than the number of times the class meets per week, the student may be dropped from the course at the discretion of the instructor. When a student is dropped by an instructor with an effective date before the midterm date of the class, a "W" will be recorded. When a student is dropped for non-attendance by an instructor with an effective date after the midterm date, the instructor can choose to assign a grade of "F" or " "WF". Please note: Instructors can assign a W (Withdrawn) or WF (Withdrawn Failing) grade before the published last date to withdraw from a class. Absences because of approved college business or pre-approved religious observances will result in no direct absence penalties. For religious observances, absences, student should consult with their instructor IN ADVANCE about alternate arrangements.
The instructor may require a statement from a physician or other responsible person to verify cause of absence.
If the student's absence is excused by their instructor, the student is still responsible for completing all of the work in the course to the satisfaction of the instructor.
Student Classification
A student who has earned 29 semester hours or fewer is a freshman. A student who has earned 30 semester hours of college credit is a sophomore. A student who is registered for 12 or more semester hours is a full-time student. A student registered for less than 12 semester hours is a part-time student. For financial aid purposes 12 semester credits is considered full-time during the summer term.