5.2 Program Academic Performance
5.2.1. Minimum Course Grades
Students must achieve a grade of B- or higher in each course to progress in the Program.
5.2.2. Grade Point Average
At the conclusion of each semester of the Program, all students’ records will be reviewed. Per MGH Institute policy, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Per Program policy, students must achieve an individual course grade of B- (2.7) or better. If these standards are not met, students will be placed on academic probation and are at risk of losing their financial aid and/or scholarships. Students on academic probation must regain a cumulative 3.0 GPA within the next semester in which full time study is resumed or they will be subject to dismissal from the program. A recommendation may be made for dismissal from the program or the student may be required to fulfill certain remedial activities. Remedial activities may include, but are not limited to, repetition of professional courses, additional fieldwork experiences, or an independent study. Such remediation may result in a delay in starting fieldwork and progression toward completion of the degree.
5.2.3. Incompletes
The Institute policy regarding Incompletes can be found in the catalog under http://mghihp.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2022-2023/Catalog/Academic-Policies.
If an incomplete grade is posted for a course, continuing into the next semester with an Incomplete requires approval of the Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures by petition. After the student consults with the faculty member assigning the Incomplete grade, the petition should include not only a request to continue into the next semester but also the strategy for clearing the incomplete and a proposed date by which the Incomplete will be cleared. If the requirements for the Incomplete are not made up within the stipulated time period, the “I” grade will automatically convert to an “F” grade. Under these circumstances, students will not be permitted to continue on with subsequent courses and will be asked to drop courses for which the failed course is a prerequisite.
If the student has received an incomplete grade in a fieldwork experience and has not completed the required fieldwork education course within the stipulated time period, he/she must petition to continue into the next academic semester.
5.2.4. Course Withdrawal
The GC curriculum is lock-step, so course withdrawal may not be a feasible option to continue progression in the Program and still meet the original timetable for graduation established at matriculation. If a student feels they need to withdraw from a course, they should discuss their options with their faculty advisor.
Repeating Courses: Students who fail to achieve a grade of B- or higher may repeat the course only once. A student will be dismissed from the Program if a grade of B- or better is not achieved the second time. Withdrawing from a course with a grade of “W” constitutes having taken the course once.
If a student fails a course, the course must be repeated the next time it is offered, usually the following year. A student may file for a Leave of Absence until the semester in which the failed course is repeated.
Continuing Study: Depending on which course is failed and the corresponding course pre-requisites and co-requisites, the student may be allowed to continue in the Program, taking some courses the following semester. To do so, the student must petition for a part-time modified program of study. This petition must be approved by the Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures and will be considered only in extenuating circumstances. Students who elect this option will be on academic probation while they are on part-time status.
No adjustments in courses or course schedules will be made to accommodate part-time schedules. Students are responsible for any expenses incurred because of the extended program.
Unsatisfactory completion of two or more courses, including fieldwork experiences, will result in a recommendation for dismissal from the Program.
5.2.5 Disputing a Final Course Grade
Students may dispute a final course grade by following the procedure outlined in the procedure outlined in the http://mghihp.smartcatalogiq.com/en/2022-2023/Catalog/Academic-Policies.
5.2.6. Academic Probation
Students on academic probation must achieve a semester GPA of 3.0 for each semester while on probation. If a student is on a part-time schedule, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be achieved within the first semester that full-time study is resumed.