Academic Progress
Satisfactory Academic Progress for Undergraduates
Satisfactory academic progress toward an undergraduate degree consists of maintaining both a minimum term (semester) and cumulative GPA of 2.0 If classes are taken for degree credit, summer session will be considered a regular term of study for most purposes.
Students whose cumulative GPA remains under 2.0 at the beginning of their third year may face difficulty reaching the cumulative 2.0 GPA requirement for graduation. Students who find themselves in this position are encouraged to meet with their program advisor and/or the Associate Dean for Advising as soon as possible to discuss strategies for improving their academic performance. Students receiving financial aid who do not complete their second year with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA may not be eligible to receive financial assistance for the following semester.
In addition to their major requirements, students need to take Humanities and Science, First-Year Core, and elective courses in order to progress successfully. BA and BFA students are recommended to take sixty percent studio units and forty percent Humanities and Sciences units each semester, BArch students to take seventy percent studio units and thirty percent Humanities and Sciences units.
| BA/BFA Students | H & S Units | Studio Units |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | 12 | 18 |
| Second Year | 24 | 36 |
| Third Year | 36 | 54 |
| BArch Students | ||
| First Year | 9 | 21 |
| Second Year | 18 | 42 |
| Third Year | 27 | 63 |
Academic Probation
A student who fails to make satisfactory progress is placed on academic probation. This status is reflected on the student's official transcript for all applicable terms.
If a student has one or more extensions or unreported grades at the end of the semester and the rest of his or her grades are below standard, the student will be placed on probation. The student will be reviewed again at the end of the following semester; if the extension grades bring the student's GPA up to the standard, the probation status will be retroactively removed. Students on probation will not be permitted to take extensions until they return to good academic standing.
A student who earns less than a 2.0 term GPA will not be permitted to enroll in more than 12 units the following term (summer session not included). Other specific guidelines and actions may be recommended to improve the student's academic performance. If the recommendations are not adhered to, a hold may be placed on the student's registration.
Veterans' Benefits and Academic Standing
Veterans receiving benefits at California College of the Arts who fail to meet the standards for satisfactory academic progress for two consecutive semesters will be subject to interruption of their veterans' benefits. The decision of CCA to allow a third semester of probation or to reinstate a student following dismissal does not guarantee renewed benefits.
Academic Dismissal and Suspension
The Academic Review Committee meets at the end of each fall and spring term to review the academic record of each student who has not met the minimum standards for good progress. Based on details of the student's academic history, the committee will recommend dismissal, suspension, or an exception to the dismissal policy for each student.
Dismissal bars the student from enrolling in any degree or non-degree classes at CCA and from otherwise using any CCA resources and facilities normally reserved for student use unless the student successfully petitions for reinstatement (see below).
Suspension also bars the student from these activities but normally lasts only one semester and ensures reinstatement to the college providing that certain conditions are met (i.e., completion of a full-time semester of transferable units at another accredited, degree-granting institution with a GPA of 2.5 or better). Both dismissal and suspension are noted on the student's transcript. Exception to the dismissal policy is granted only in unusual circumstances.
A student who earns less than a 2.0 term GPA for two subsequent semesters will be subject to dismissal, as will students whose term GPAs fall below 2.0 two times during their tenure at CCA. A student who fails every class in a given semester can also be subject to dismissal. Students on disciplinary probation who earn less than a 2.0 term GPA will be subject to dismissal. Students who have been reinstated following suspension or dismissal and earn less than a 2.0 term GPA in any subsequent semester will be subject to dismissal. Extensions received for the semester in which the Academic Review Committee reviews a student's academic record will not affect the committee's decision regarding the student's possible suspension or dismissal.
A one-time exception to the dismissal policy will be made for students who have not previously been on academic probation and who earn a term GPA of less than 2.0 for one semester and a term GPA between 1.7 and 1.99 the following semester. These students will be placed on academic probation for a second time, restricted to twelve units of enrollment, and required to meet with the Associate Dean for Advising. A student on continuing academic probation who does not complete twelve units with at least a 2.0 term GPA will be dismissed.
Students placed on academic probation for a second time because their cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 will not be subject to dismissal provided that they pass all attempted units with a grade of C or better.
Reinstatement Following Academic Suspension or Dismissal
Students who are suspended from the college must complete all conditions for reinstatement in the judgment of the college before they will be permitted to enroll in classes at CCA. Transcripts or other documentation of completed requirements should be sent to the Student Records office on the Oakland campus.
Students who are reinstated to the college following academic suspension will remain on continuing academic probation until their cumulative GPA reaches 2.0. During this time, they will become subject to dismissal at the conclusion of any semester in which they fail to pass all attempted units with a grade of C or better.
Students who have been dismissed from the college and wish to be considered for reinstatement may submit a petition to the Academic Review Committee. The petition must be accompanied by at least two letters of recommendation from faculty in the student's major department; one must be from the program chair.
Under no circumstances will a student who has been dismissed from the college be reinstated within one academic year.
Students who successfully petition for reinstatement and do not complete all classes in any subsequent semester with a grade of C or better will be dismissed. Reinstatement after a second dismissal is highly unlikely. For this reason, it is highly recommended that the student consider carefully the decision to petition and the timing of the petition to ensure the greatest chance for academic success.