ACADEMIC RETENTION STANDARDS
Academic eligibility to continue as a student at East Carolina University is based upon overall GPA and the hours attempted at ECU plus any hours transferred to the university.
Students who have attempted and/or transferred
- 1-29 hours must have at least a 1.60 GPA.
- 30-59 hours must have at least a 1.80 GPA.
- 60-74 hours must have at least a 1.90 GPA.
- 75 or more hours must have at least a 2.00 GPA.
If a student does not meet the above retention standards he or she will be placed on academic probation and will stay on probation until the required grade point average is attained or the student is suspended. Refer to the 2006-07 undergraduate catalogues for more information concerning probation and suspension.
A student will be placed on academic warning if his or her cumulative GPA falls between the probation level listed above and the 2.00 needed for graduation. Students placed on warning will be required to follow intervention strategies set up by the university.
All of the above standards are minimum requirements. In order to graduate, a student must have a 2.00 overall and a 2.00 in the major field of study; therefore, you are considered to be performing below standard at any time your GPA falls below a 2.00.
CLASSIFICATION
Classification is determined by the number of credit hours earned:
1-29 semester hours = Freshman
30-59 semester hours = Sophomore
60-89 semester hours = Junior
90 or more semester hours = Senior
COGNATE
Refers to a course that is required by a degree program, but is taught outside the major department.
COREQUISITE
Refers to a course that must be taken during the same semester as another course. Many science courses have lab corequisites.
CREDIT OR SEMESTER HOUR
The unit used to measure course credits is the semester hour. Courses normally meet one hour per week for each semester hour of credit.
GRADE REPLACEMENT POLICY
A student is permitted to use the Grade Replacement Policy a maximum of three times for 1000- and 2000-level courses in which he or she has earned a grade of "D" or "F." For example, a student may replace a grade in three different courses or may replace a single course grade a maximum of three times or a combination thereof. The original grade will not be used in determining the GPA of the student, but will remain on the student's permanent academic record. A student may not use the policy to replace a course grade after he or she has successfully completed an advanced course covering the same or similar material. For example, a student can not apply grade replacement to a course that is a prerequisite for a course the student has already successfully completed.
To implement the policy, a student must submit a grade replacement request in the same semester that the student is retaking the course and by the last day of that semester to officially drop a course.
INCOMPLETE
An incomplete ("I") is given when a deficiency in the quantity of a student's work exists. The incomplete is given at the instructor's discretion. It is the student's responsibility to meet with the instructor to discuss the method for removal of the incomplete. The grade of "I" must be removed during the next semester (not including summer school) that the student is enrolled or the "I" automatically becomes a failure. An "I" can not be removed by retaking the course.
MINIMUM "C" COURSES
Students in the following majors must earn a minimum grade of "C" in certain designated courses. Consult your catalog and advisor regarding the requirements in these majors:
- Business Administration
- Accounting
- Criminal Justice
- Communication
- Exercise and Sport Science
- Recreation and Leisure Studies
- Social Work
PREREQUISITE
Refers to a course that must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in a next course.
REPETITION OF COURSE WORK
Passed courses
Courses for which a grade of "C" or better has been earned cannot be repeated without written approval from a student's academic unit head and the dean of undergraduate studies. A student who repeats a course he or she has passed will receive the original grade, hours attempted, hours earned, and grade points as well as the raised grade, hours attempted, and grade points. A grade of "F" as the raised grade will result in the loss of the original hours and grade points. A student-athlete may use a course only once for athletic eligibility purposes.
Failed courses
A student who repeats a course in which the student failed will receive the failure (hours attempted and no grade points) and the raised grade with hours attempted, hours earned, and grade points. An "F" is never removed from a student's transcripts by successfully completing the course, nor does a student have to repeat a course in which a grade of "F" was received if the course is not required by the student's curriculum.
SENIOR SUMMARY
Students should complete a senior summary form with their official university advisor as soon as they have earned at least 90 semester hours. This form lists the courses remaining for completion of degree requirements. The completed form, signed by the student and his or her advisor, should then be delivered to the registrar's office.
