Academic Information for Online Programs

Course Registration

Definition of Enrollment Status

The definition of Enrollment Status can be found in the Definitions of Academic Credit and Credit Hour section of the Course Catalog.

Academic Load

A student taking 12 or more quarter hours toward a degree is classified as a full-time student for that term. Students may register for no more than 23 credits per quarter. Students who meet specific academic criteria may apply for an exemption to the credit limit. See the Student Handbook for details.

Add/Drop Period

The Add/Drop Period is defined as the first five class days of the quarter. Students may add or drop courses during the Add/Drop Period. Late fees may apply (see Financial Information section for details). Students who do not have an academic event during the Add/Drop Period may be removed from the course or courses in question. Students who have no recorded academic event in any course during the Add/Drop Period may be withdrawn from school.

Course Withdrawal

W/WU/WS/IW Course Withdrawal

Students who officially withdraw from a course after the Add/Drop Period but before the completion of the first 21 class days of the quarter are given a ‘W’ (withdraw) grade for that course. Between class day 22 and class day 35, students will earn a ‘WS’ (withdraw satisfactory) or ‘WU’ (withdraw unsatisfactory), depending on the status of course work accomplished as of the withdrawal date. Students  are not allowed to withdraw from a course after class day 35 of the quarter.

A grade of ‘WU’ is given to a student for violation of Neumont’s Academic Event Policy. Refer to the Student Handbook for the specific details regarding the Neumont Academic Event policy.

An official course withdrawal is initiated with the Office of the Registrar. A ‘W’ or a ‘WS’ grade does not apply to a student’s grade point average but does apply to a student’s Pace.

A ‘WU’ grade is applicable to both a student’s grade point average and course completion ratio and is the equivalent to a grade of 'F.'

An ‘IW’ (involuntary withdrawal) does not apply to a student’s grade point average nor does it apply to a student’s Pace.

Final grades are reported at the completion of each quarter, and are available to each student.

Academic Event Policy

The purpose of the Academic Event Policy is to foster behaviors that facilitate student learning and reflect the standards expected in the workplace.

Students are expected to be present at all of their regularly scheduled class or on-line sessions. A student may be assigned zero credit for any assignment missed because of absences. Students are also expected to be in class, or online, on time and remain for the entire session. Classroom participation is particularly important at Neumont since many of the courses require collaborative learning activities. Grades may be lowered due to violations of these policies.

Students who violate the Academic Event Policy may be subject to removal from a course. Neumont reserves the right to dismiss a student based upon poor attendance. Instructors may have an even more rigid attendance policy (than this policy) for their individual courses that is announced at the beginning of each quarter and included in the course syllabus.

Refer to the Student Handbook for the specific details regarding the Neumont Academic Event Policy.

Late Withdrawal (LW)

In extenuating circumstances in which a complete withdrawal from school, or an incomplete grade for a course, is not deemed the best action to take, a student may petition for a Late Withdrawal (LW) through the last day of classes. The term “extenuating” circumstances includes, but is not limited to: incapacitating illness which prevents a student from attending classes, a death in the immediate family, or other emergencies deemed appropriate; circumstances may also include “best interest of the student.”

A course that qualifies for a Late Withdrawal will count toward a student’s pace but not toward calculation of their grade point average; in all ways, an "LW" is equivalent to a Withdrawal or "W" grade. A grade of “LW” will be posted on the student’s transcript.

A student requesting a late withdrawal must submit a Petition for Late Withdrawal to their Advocate. Supporting documentation confirming the extenuating circumstances must accompany the petition. The petition must be approved by the Advocate, the Director of Academics, and the Director of Student Affairs, or their designee.

Grading System and Progress Reports

Grades earned in each course are recorded on the student’s permanent record. Evaluation of student achievement is made in relation to the attainment of the specific objectives. At the beginning of a course, the instructor will provide students with a syllabus detailing these objectives and the basis upon which grades are determined. A cumulative grade point average (cGPA) of 2.00 is required for graduation. A student who fails a course is permitted to continue as long as the student makes satisfactory progress towards graduation.

To earn credits for a course, a student must earn a passing grade. For required courses, a passing grade is a 'C' or better. On a transcript, a grade of "F" and grades with an asterisk (*) are non-passing grades.

Grade definitions are as follows:

Academic Misconduct Grade (XF)

A grade of ‘XF’ is given to any student who is:

• found guilty of academic misconduct in a course, and
• the student is assigned a failing course grade as a result of the judicial process.

A student may be assigned a failing course grade in one or all courses in a quarter. The ‘XF’ designation is a permanent record of a failing grade that is assigned as a judicial sanction.

Incomplete (INC)

An Incomplete 'INC' is a temporary designation given at the discretion of the instructor and the Director of Academics to a student who, through no fault of his or her own, is unable to complete the required course material on schedule.

All class assignments must be completed no later than the first day of the following quarter. An Incomplete (INC) that has not been resolved by the first day of the following quarter will automatically be assigned a letter grade of ‘F’. In the interim, the grade of INC will not be factored in a student's pace or cGPA calculation. Once the INC grade is converted a letter grade, the student's compliance with SAP will be evaluated.

Grade Appeals

Grade appeals must be submitted to the Registrar no later than the first day of the quarter following the quarter for which a grade is being appealed. Appeals received after the first day of the quarter may not be considered. The Appeal Committee will meet in a timely manner, as needed, to consider grade appeals. Please contact the Office of the Registrar for grade appeal documents and procedures.

Measuring Academic Progress

GPA and cGPA Calculations

The grade point average (GPA) for each quarter and cumulative grade point average (cGPA) are calculated based on courses taken in residence at Neumont. The GPA for each quarter is calculated by dividing the points earned that quarter by the total cumulative credits attempted for the GPA. The cGPA is calculated by dividing the total cumulative points earned by the total cumulative credits attempted for the GPA.

The number of points awarded for each course is determined by multiplying the points listed for each letter grade by the number of credits of the course. For example, a grade of A in a four-credit course earns 4 (credits) x 4.0 (points) for a total of 16.0 points and a grade of C in a three-credit course earns 3 (credits) x 2.0 (points) for a total of 6.0 points.

Repeating Courses

A student may choose to repeat a Neumont course in order to improve their cumulative Grade Point Average. Credit is only given for the last grade earned when repeating a course. Repeated courses will appear on the student’s transcript. The first attempt will also be shown; however, the student's cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA) is recomputed to count only the most recent attempt. All repeats are charged at the current tuition rate.

Credits may only be earned once per course. If a student retakes a course they earn credits just once, but credits from each enrollment count toward credits attempted for the purpose of calculating pace.

Repeating a course may have an impact on a student’s eligibility for Title IV funding. Federal regulations allow students to receive federal aid for only one repeat of a previously passed class. The Department of Education considers any grade above an F to be passing, even if an institution requires a higher grade for the student to earn credit. This means that a grade of C-, D+, D, or D- will be considered a passing grade for the purposes of this repeating courses policy only, even if the school or program policy requires a higher qualitative grade to have been considered to have passed the course. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information and to discuss the application of this policy.

Academic Deficiencies

Following the conclusion of each grading period, the academic record of each student is audited by the Registrar. As a result of this audit, it may be necessary to change the student's course schedule and/or to place the student on a status of Financial Aid Warning, Financial Aid Probation, academic Dismissal, or Extended Enrollment.

Course Work Make-up Policy

The determination as to if, when, and how missed course work is to be made up by a student is at the sole discretion of the instructor responsible for the course. It is the instructor’s responsibility to notify students of their make-up policy at the beginning of the course and include that policy in the course syllabus.

Course Availability

For the Associate degree program, each course needed to fulfill graduation requirements is offered on a set schedule. The ASSD program is designed to be completed in eight quarters. However, if a student deviates from this schedule, fails courses, or leaves school for a period of time, one or more required courses may not be available. If a required course is no longer available because the course has been “taught out,” or has already been offered multiple times to students in a cohort, the student may be required to take a substitute course or complete a course at their own expense through concurrent enrollment.

Transfer Credit - Application of Grades and Credits

Transfer credits are not included in the calculation of the cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA) but are included in the calculation for pace, which is the total number of credits earned divided by the number of credits attempted.

Application of Grades and Credits

Transfer credits are not included in the calculation of cGPA but are included in the “Total Number of Credits Earned.” A grade for a repeated course replaces the original grade in the calculation of cGPA; however, the original course credits remain included in the “Total Number of Credits Attempted” in order to determine Pace. The original credits are considered as not successfully completed.

Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to remain eligible to continue as regularly enrolled students of Neumont and to remain eligible for Title IV/HEA funding. (Title IV/HEA is federal student financial aid, such as Pell Grants and federal direct loans.)

The institution enforces SAP requirements in compliance with U.S. Department of Education requirements, but also to serve as a guide in determining whether or not Neumont is the right educational program for a student at the time.

All students, whether or not they receive Title IV/HEA funding, are subject to the SAP standards outlined in this catalog. SAP is measured for all students at the end of each academic quarter, including the summer quarter. Satisfactory Academic Progress is determined by measuring the student’s cumulative grade point average (cGPA) and the student’s Pace toward completion of their academic program.

If a student fails to meet the required standards of SAP, which are outlined in the SAP tables included in this section, he or she is placed on Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Probation. Students enrolled in all degree programs are subject to SAP standards as outlined in the SAP tables.

The elements of Satisfactory Academic Progress are as follows:

• Cumulative grade point average
• Pace (rate of progress), including maximum time frame

Neumont uses progressive cGPA and Pace standards. Undergraduate students enrolled in their first three quarters have lower cGPA and Pace requirements than students in their fourth quarter or later. This system gives students time to adjust to the rigors of college.

For information on how a student’s cGPA and Pace are affected by one or more incomplete grades, withdrawals, retakes/repetitions, or transfers of credit from other institutions, see the Grading System and Progress Reports unit in the Academic Information section of the Course Catalog.

Elements of SAP

Application of SAP Policy

For required courses, a passing grade is a ‘C’ or better. For elective courses, and for courses selected from a “choose one/two from the following” category, a passing grade is a 'D-' or better. Credits attempted are defined as those credits for which students are enrolled at the end of the Add/Drop or Course Adjustment Period.

If there is grade change (including resolution of an incomplete), SAP is calculated after the change to determine whether the student is in good standing with the institution. Students enrolled in all educational levels at Neumont are subject to all elements of SAP standards. No student on Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Probation status is allowed to graduate. Every Neumont graduate must have a cGPA of 2.0 or higher.

Cumulative Grade Point Average

To meet SAP requirements, students must meet specific cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA) requirements during their enrollment.

For information on cGPA requirements, refer to the SAP tables included in this section. cGPA is measured at the end of each quarter. An academic year is defined as three quarters. Students with a cGPA of 1.99 or lower at the end of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., academic years will be dismissed. Note that students in this situation are not eligible for Financial Aid Warning status. However, in the case of a successful mitigating circumstances appeal, these students may be eligible for Financial Aid Probation or they may apply for Extended Enrollment status. For more information, see the Appeal and Extended Enrollment sections of the Course Catalog.

Pace

Neumont specifies the pace at which a student must progress through his or her educational program to ensure that all students will complete the program within the maximum time frame. Neumont calculates the pace at which the student is progressing by dividing the cumulative number of credit hours the student has successfully completed by the cumulative number of credit hours the student has attempted. A student must complete all the requirements for graduation without exceeding 150% of the required quarter credit hours for the program in which they are enrolled; this limitation is known as maximum time frame.

Bachelor's degree students may attempt a maximum of 270 credits (150% of 180 credits). Associate degree students may attempt a maximum of 135 credits. (For illustrative purposes: If a student had attempted 84 credits and earned 76 credits, their pace would equal 90.4%.) Thus, in addition to the cGPA requirements, a student must successfully complete a certain percentage of the credits attempted. The pace requirements per quarter are noted in the Bachelor's and Associate degree SAP tables.

Pace Requirements Review

Pace is reviewed at the end of each quarter, once grades have been posted, to determine if the student is progressing satisfactorily toward graduation. If it becomes mathematically impossible to complete the program within the maximum time frame, a student may be immediately dismissed.

The student may appeal their dismissal or continue as a Non-Degree Seeking student at the regular tuition rate until they have completed the maximum allowable credits.

Financial Aid Warning

The institution evaluates SAP at the end of every quarter. Students who do not meet SAP requirements are notified by the school using their official Neumont student e-mail account.

For a student who did not meet the cGPA and/or Pace requirements at the end of a quarter, the school will, for the following quarter, place the student on Financial Aid Warning status. To meet SAP standards and return to good standing, the student must—at the end of their Financial Aid Warning quarter— meet the cGPA and pace requirements outlined in the SAP table. (“Good standing” is defined as meeting or exceeding all SAP criteria for that evaluation point.) The institution will disburse Title IV/HEA program funds to the student while on Financial Aid Warning status.

A student may appeal the loss of financial aid and termination following a term of Financial Aid Warning by submitting a successful appeal.

Financial Aid Probation

Neumont evaluates SAP at the end of every quarter. If a student does not meet SAP requirements he or she is notified by the institution using his or her official Neumont student e-mail account.

For a student who did not meet the SAP requirements at the end of their quarter of Financial Aid Warning, the student will lose eligibility for Title IV/HEA program funds. To re-gain eligibility for Title IV/HEA program funds, the student must submit an appeal (in writing). A successful appeal will be based on the documentation of mitigating circumstances and a determination that the student's situation has changed such that another period of Financial Aid Probation is warranted. The determination will indicate that the student should meet the minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress by the end of the next quarter of Financial Aid Probation or after meeting the requirements of an Academic Plan. (See Dismissal Appeal section of the Course Catalog). If successful, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for one quarter and:

• The institution determines that the student should be able to meet SAP standards by the end of the subsequent quarter; or,
• The student agrees to a college and student-sanctioned academic plan—which may include requirements such as taking a reduced course load, enrolling in specific courses, or other requirements—that, if followed, will ensure that student is able to meet the school's SAP standards by a specific point in time.

To meet SAP standards and return to good standing, the student must—at the end of their Financial Aid Probation quarter— meet the cGPA and pace requirements outlined in the SAP table. (“Good standing” is defined as meeting or exceeding all SAP criteria for that evaluation point. See the SAP table.) The student may be placed on Financial Aid Probation once per appeal. The institution will disburse Title IV/HEA program funds to the student while on Financial Aid Probation status.

Dismissal

A student who does not meet SAP at the end of their Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Probation quarter may be dismissed from school. Dismissal will occur unless the student has a successful mitigating circumstances appeal and is then granted a quarter of Financial Aid Probation (and, hence, the ability to continue their enrollment). A dismissed student is not eligible for Title IV/HEA funds.

Appealing a Dismissal

An appeal is a process by which a student who has not met the school's SAP standards petitions the institution for reconsideration of their eligibility for Title IV/HEA program assistance and for continued school enrollment. Students that have been notified that they did not meet SAP standards at the end of a Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Probation quarter and will therefore be dismissed from the institution, or who did not have a cGPA of 2.0 or higher at the end of their second or subsequent academic year, will have the opportunity to appeal the determination for mitigating circumstances.

Grounds for a mitigating circumstances appeal are:

• Death or serious illness of a family member
• The student missed a substantial amount of class due to an illness or injury
• The student met the requirements specified by the institution in the student’s academic plan
• Quarter grade point average and pace requirements as outlined in the FINANCIAL AID WARNING and FINANCIAL AID PROBATION sections
• The student has demonstrated the ability to succeed going forward, despite not meeting SAP requirements
• A successful appeal following a quarter of Financial Aid Probation must demonstrate that a student's situation has changed such that another period of Financial Aid Probation is warranted
• Other special circumstances

Additional appeal requirements:

• In the appeal, the student must submit information regarding why they failed to make SAP and what has changed in their situation that will allow them to meet SAP standards at their next evaluation point.
• The student must submit the SAP Dismissal Appeal form and all required information to the Registrar than no later than 4:00 p.m. on the Friday prior to the start of the quarter they are returning for. This quarter may or may not be consecutive with the student's previous quarter.
• A student may appeal at the end of each Financial Aid Warning and Financial Aid Probation quarter.

The appeal committee may consider an appealing student's academic record and other indicators of success and deny an appeal, even when the student has demonstrated a qualifying mitigating circumstance, solely on the basis of a determination that a student is unlikely to succeed in future quarters at Neumont.

If the appeal is accepted, the student is allowed one additional quarter of Financial Aid Probation, during which they are eligible for Title IV/HEA funding. The outcome of the appeal and conditions for reinstatement are recorded by the Appeal Committee and are communicated to the student. If a student does not appeal or the appeal is denied, and the student declines or is not eligible for Extended Enrollment, the student is dismissed from the school. Dismissed students will lose their eligibility for Title IV/HEA funding. The lender is notified of the student status change within 30 days from the last date of attendance.

Extended Enrollment Status

Students who do not meet SAP and who have been notified that they are dismissed from school may be eligible to continue in an Extended Enrollment status, but are subject to the following limitations:

• They may be in Extended Enrollment status for one quarter following a Financial Aid Warning or Financial Aid Probation quarter. A request for Extended Enrollment status will only be granted if the students can mathematically meet SAP at the end of the Extended Enrollment quarter.
• Students will not be eligible for Title IV/HEA funding and will be charged for courses at the current tuition rate.
• Credits attempted during the Extended Enrollment quarter will be counted toward cGPA and Pace.
• At the end of an Extended Enrollment quarter, students must meet SAP standards or they will be dismissed; students may not appeal their dismissal.
• Students will not be eligible to graduate if they exceed 150 percent of the standard time frame, either as a regular student or in an Extended-Enrollment status. (See the Pace section.)
• Students must petition the designated school official in writing for approval of Extended Enrollment status. If Extended Enrollment status is granted, the students must meet with a member of the Office of Student Affairs and agree to a written corrective action plan.
• At the end of the Extended Enrollment status period, if a student has met SAP requirements, they will—for the subsequent quarter—resume eligibility for federal financial aid and return to good academic standing with the institution. If SAP is still not met, they will be dismissed from school with no immediate appeal option. (For more information, see Re-Establishing Eligibility re-admission requirements in the Course Catalog.)

Re-Establishing Eligibility

A student is removed from Financial Aid Warning, Financial Aid Probation, or Extended Enrollment status — and (1) re-establishes eligibility for Title IV/HEA funds and (2) returns to good academic standing — only when they fully meet the standards of SAP for their evaluation point (see SAP table). (For illustrative purposes: a student who is on Financial Aid Warning status in their third quarter, due to having a cGPA that is below the 1.75 requirement for their second quarter, must have a cGPA of 1.85 at the end of their Financial Aid Warning/third quarter; this is because the student must meet SAP requirements for the end of the Financial Aid Warning/third quarter, and in this case that requirement is higher than the requirement in place at the previous evaluation point/second quarter.)

A student who has completed a Financial Aid Warning quarter and meets SAP will be eligible for Title IV/HEA funds and returns to good academic standing. A student who does not meet SAP must appeal and have that appeal granted (placed on Financial Aid Probation for the subsequent quarter), be approved for Extended Enrollment, or be dismissed from the institution.

Neumont will notify a student who is on Financial Aid Warning, Financial Aid Probation, or Extended Enrollment status regarding whether or not they have met the standards of SAP and of their status for the following quarter.

Transferring to Another Neumont Program

For a student who transfers to a different Neumont degree program before completing the degree program in which the student was enrolled, Neumont will recalculate SAP based on the credits attempted, credits earned, and grades earned that count toward the student’s new program of study. (Upon approval of a program transfer, a student may enroll in the prospective program at the start of the next academic quarter.) Upon completion of a program transfer, a student’s compliance with SAP will be reassessed. 

A transfer request may not be approved if the course(s) a student would need in their new program would not be available. Courses with similar names, but different course descriptions may not transfer across degree programs. Transferring to another degree may delay a student's graduation date.

Once a student completes his or her degree, the student is not able to transfer into another degree program at Neumont.

School Withdrawal

Unofficial Withdrawal

An unofficial withdrawal or dismissal from the institution may occur due to any of the following circumstances:

• Signature on a “Declaration to Leave” document
• Violation of the Academic Event Policy that results in the student being withdrawn from all courses
• Failure to attend any courses during the Add-Drop or Course Adjustment periods
• Evidence of a student’s departure from the College documented by a staff member, including, but not limited to:
  • Notification to a Neumont staff member of their departure from school, despite failure to complete the Official Withdrawal process.
  • Statement to a member of the Neumont community of their intent to leave school, followed by their non-attendance for at least a one-week period of time.

Transfer to Other Colleges

Neumont neither implies nor guarantees that credits completed at Neumont are accepted by other institutions. Each institution has policies that govern the acceptance of credit from other institutions. Transfer of credit is a privilege granted by the institution to which a student may seek admission. Therefore, if the student anticipates a transfer of credits earned at Neumont, the student should inquire with those institutions to which they would like to transfer Neumont-earned credits.

Graduation Requirements

A student must satisfy all course requirements contained in the Course Catalog in effect at the time the student begins classes under that catalog, or any more recent set of requirements of courses. The student must have at least a minimum cGPA of 2.0 for any undergraduate degrees.

All students are expected to familiarize themselves with Neumont and all degree requirements. The responsibility for complying with all regulations rests with the student.

Neumont reserves the right to change the requirements for graduation at any time. Every candidate for a degree is expected to comply with changes relative to uncompleted portions of course work.

Graduates must fulfill all financial obligations, including tuition charges, fees, and other expenses, before the degree is granted.

Commencement

Neumont College of Computer Science commencement ceremony is held annually. All graduating students are invited and encouraged to participate in a commencement ceremony.

Graduation with Honors

Associate of Science students who have qualified for graduation with the following cumulative grade point averages are entitled to the following honors: Honors, 3.60 to 3.79; High Honors, 3.80 to 4.00.

Transcripts

All student academic records are retained, secured, and disposed of in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. All student record information is maintained on the Neumont computer system. Permanent records are kept in paper or electronic form. Neumont maintains complete records for each student that include grades, prior education and training, and awards received.

Student academic transcripts, which include grades, are available through the National Student Clearinghouse. Student records may only be released to the student or his/her designee as directed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Official transcripts will be released to students who are current with their financial obligation (i.e., tuition and fees due to the institution are paid current per the student’s financial agreement). Neumont does not issue unofficial transcripts for non-matriculated students.