Academic Policies

1. Academic Integrity
2. Academic Actions: Probation
3. Academic Ineligibility
4. Grade Appeals
5. Academic Policies and Procedures for Visiting Students

1. Academic Integrity

See the description of the Georgetown University Honor System in the Academic Regulations section of this Bulletin.

2. Academic Actions: Probation

If a student fails one course during a semester (grade of F or U), the student is automatically placed on probation and remains in that status until the terms of the probation are satisfied. In addition, a student will be placed on probation if their cumulative quality index is below 2.0 at the end of any academic semester. A student remains on academic probation until a minimal cumulative 2.0 GPA is achieved.

• Academic actions: Academic termination (degree candidacy terminated)
• Academic termination is determined on one of two grounds: academic integrity or academic ineligibility.

Detailed information about the minimum academic requirements for the program, academic standing policies, and further information about academic probation can be found in the most current SCS Academic Rules & Regulations.

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3. Academic Ineligibility

For students in the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies program, earning one F or U in a semester while on probation, two F’s or U’s in any one semester regardless of previous record, or at any time an accumulation of three F’s or U’s results in academic termination.

Students are also terminated under the following conditions:

• If their cumulative GPA is at such a low level that raising it to the required 2.000 to be eligible for certificate completion within the program credit limit (120-credits) becomes mathematically impossible (see Academic Overload, SCS Academic Rules & Regulations). Termination for this reason is considered final and not open to appeal.Termination for this reason is considered final and not open to appeal.
• If they are unable to complete program requirements with acceptable grades upon having repeated a course once (see Repeating a Course, SCS Academic Rules & Regulations).  Termination for this reason is considered final and not open to appeal.
• Student is unable to complete program guidelines within the required time limit for degree completion.

Refer to the most current SCS Academic Rules & Regulations (see Academic Standing) for detailed information about the minimum academic requirements for the program, academic standing policies, and further information about academic termination can be found in .

Termination Appeal

Students are terminated for failing to meet the program and degree requirements outlined in the academic standing regulations. The Office of Academic Affairs and Compliance notifies students in writing of the change in their status, if they are eligible to submit a termination appeal, and the deadline for submitting the appeal. Once the deadline for submitting an appeal has passed, materials will no longer be accepted and the termination becomes final without right of appeal. 

The Office of Academic Affairs and Compliance convenes the SCS Academic Council to conduct a blind review of these exception requests. Blind reviews are conducted so that each student receives an objective and impartial review of their appeal. Once the Council has reviewed a case and a decision has been made, students will be notified in writing of the outcome. All decisions made by the Council are final and without right of further appeal. 

A return to study should not be expected. Appeals will only be considered for cases in which the unsatisfactory grades that led to the academic termination were the result of exceptional circumstances that were unforeseen and/or unavoidable. In such cases, the Academic Council will consider the student’s academic record, appeal materials, and feedback from the academic program to determine if a return to study is possible based on the circumstances, and if it is in the best interest of the student and the School. While the academic program will be contacted for feedback, student appeal materials are not shared with them. 

If an appeal is denied, students are not permitted to submit new/additional appeal materials for review; are not permitted to submit a new admission application to return to study in the program from which they were academically terminated; nor are they permitted to submit a new admission application to another credit-bearing program at SCS. 

If an appeal is approved, students will return to study on probationary status and be provided with conditions they must adhere to. In all cases, the original termination notice remains on the official transcript. A second termination is final and without right of further appeal.  

Refer to the most current SCS Academic Rules & Regulations (see Termination Appeal) for detailed information about the termination appeal policy, process, eligibility guidelines, and submission requirements.

4. Grade Appeal

Students may appeal the final grade for a course after the grade has been posted to the transcript for the reasons outlined under Grounds for a Grade Appeal below. Faculty members have been chosen due to their unique experience and expertise in their respective fields. As such, SCS strongly believes in the authority of its faculty to determine the academic merit and grades of their students. While students may request a review of their final course grade, they should also keep in mind that the faculty member is considered the academic and professional expert in determining their grade. A disagreement with the professional judgment of the instructor is not grounds for an appeal nor will it result in the change of grade.

• No additional or revised coursework can or will be accepted to improve a student’s course grade after that course has been completed. Assignments that were graded real-time during the semester cannot be re-evaluated after the course has been completed. For example, if students were evaluated on in-class presentation skills or received a grade for in-class participation, the points/grades for those assignments cannot be altered at a later time as they were assessed based on the student’s real-time performance in the course. 
• Once the grade appeal deadline has passed for a course, the grade is considered final and cannot be changed.
• After the degree has been conferred, the transcript is considered final. 
• The grade appeal procedure is not set up to address allegations of discrimination. However, SCS takes all such allegations very seriously and advises that students who believe they have been discriminated against make a formal complaint through the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Affirmative Action (202-687-4798; ideaa@georgetown.edu). The Grievance Procedure and Discrimination Complaint Form can be found at ideaa.georgetown.edu/policies/.
• The grade appeal process only applies to final grades issued in SCS courses. Students with questions about grades received on individual assignments while a course is in-progress should speak directly with their instructor. Students seeking a grade appeal for courses taken outside of SCS must contact the academic department and school that delivered the course.  
• The syllabus serves as a guideline with the understanding that instructors can make amendments to their syllabi during the semester (adding or deleting assignments, for example, or changing a percentage allocation for an assignment under unusual circumstances) if needed as long as all students in the course are held to the same academic standards.

Grounds for a Grade Appeal

If none of these grounds apply to your matter, it is not eligible for resolution via the grade appeal process. Students are encouraged to contact their instructor to better understand how the grade recorded came to be. Please remember that disagreement with the instructor’s grading or dissatisfaction with a final grade are not grounds for appeal. Please consult your advisor if you have questions about how the earned grade affects your academic plan.

Note: Grades earned as a result an Honor Council violation are considered final and are not eligible for a grade appeal (Honor Council Procedure; Section D; Item 7. https://honorcouncil.georgetown.edu/system/policies/procedure/).

Refer to the most current SCS Academic Rules & Regulations (see Course Grade Appeals) for detailed information about the grade appeal policy, process, grounds/eligibility guidelines, and submission requirements.

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5. Academic Policies and Procedures for Visiting Students

All of the credit and degree programs within the School of Continuing Studies are application-based. Acceptance to one undergraduate program within the School does not guarantee or imply acceptance into another undergraduate program within the School or University. Specific student handbooks and policies have been developed to reflect the unique undergraduate populations (such as part-time, non-traditional, or visiting students) served within the School of Continuing Studies. Students in these programs should refer to their program handbook for policies that govern their study (http://scs.georgetown.edu/academic-affairs/student-handbooks ).

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