Probation and Dismissal
As counselors, we understand being on academic/progress probation can be frustrating.
Counselors are committed to provide you with all the necessary tools and information
to get you back on track.
The following information is designed to explain the importance of maintaining good standing and the necessary steps to take to recover from academic/progress probation. Below you will learn about the different levels of probation and the challenges you will face. Please take the time to review each section so you fully understand your specific academic standing.
FINANCIAL AID STUDENTS: You are also evaluated based on the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards for federal aid eligibility. SAP standards are separate from AHC academic standing. You can view your SAP status via your Hancock portal under "My Financial Aid". Refer your SAP questions to the Financial Aid Office.
Academic Standing
Good Standing
Your cumulative GPA is a 2.0 or above and have completed at least 50% of your cumulative attempted units with a letter grade (A, B, C, D, F, and/or P).
Academic Probation
Your cumulative GPA is below a 2.0.
Progress Probation
Your cumulative unit completion is below 50%. Instead you are earning too many Withdrawals
(W), Incompletes (I), or No Pass (NP) notations.
Levels of Academic Probation
Your cumulative GPA is below a 2.0.
Next Steps: You are encouraged to see a counselor to discuss your academic performance and determine best practices to bring you back on track.
Need to Know: You will lose priority registration privileges including the California College Promise Grant (tuition waiver) if you advance to second academic probation (A2). Most likely, as a financial aid recipient, you were placed on warning and may lose your financial aid eligibility if you do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at the end of your subsequent semester.
Your cumulative GPA is below a 2.0 for two consecutive primary semesters.
Next Steps: Schedule a counseling appointment to discuss your academic performance and determine
best practices to bring you back to good standing. A counselor will outline a clear
course path towards your academic goals and recommend support services that will assist
you.
Need to Know: At this status, you are restricted to 9 units and have lost priority registration privileges and the California College Promise Grant (tuition waiver). If you do not demonstrate academic improvement at the end of your third semester, you will be dismissed from the college and not be able to enroll in classes for the subsequent semester.
Your cumulative GPA is below a 2.0 for 3 consecutive primary semesters, however you recently demonstrated academic improvement by earning at least a 2.0 semester GPA.
Next Steps: You are being given the opportunity to continue to take classes because you demonstrated academic improvement. Keep up the great work and make sure you have met with a counselor to develop a Student Education Plan.
Need to Know: At this status, you are restricted to 9 units. Since you demonstrated academic improvement, you may apply for the California College Promise Grant (tuition waiver). You are also required to submit a California College Promise Grant Appeal to reinstate your tuition waiver.
Your cumulative GPA is below a 2.0 for three consecutive primary semesters, as a consequence, you have been dismissed from the college.
Next Steps: You are required to take an absence for the subsequent primary semester, fall or spring. If you were already enrolled in the next semester, you will be administratively dropped from all of your classes by the Office of Admissions and Records. We encourage you to schedule a meeting with a counselor in order to discuss your next steps.
Need to Know: After you have been absent for one primary semester and you wish to re-enroll, you are required to meet with a counselor and complete a reinstatement contract. You will be required to provide reasonable assurance that you are ready to succeed. If approved, you will be required to follow the conditions of your reinstatement.
You were reinstated and recently demonstrated academic improvement by earning at least a 2.0 semester GPA in your most recent attempted semester.
Next Steps: You are being given the opportunity to continue to take classes because you demonstrated academic improvement. We encourage you to schedule a counseling appointment to create/update your Student Education Plan.
Need to Know: At this status, you are still restricted to 7 units. If you would like to challenge yourself and take more units, you are required to see a counselor to complete a Plan of Action. Since you demonstrated academic improvement, you may apply for the California College Promise Grant (tuition waiver). You are required to submit a California College Promise Grant Appeal to reinstate your tuition waiver.
You recently met with a counselor and have been reinstated for the current semester. Be sure to follow your reinstatement contract and abide by the conditions of your enrollment.
Next Steps: You are required to submit a Work in Progress during mid-semester. Our retention specialist will email you the form prior to the scheduled deadline.
Levels of Progress Probation
You did not complete at least 50% of your cumulative attempted units with a letter grade and instead earn too many Withdrawals (W), Incompletes (I), or No Pass (NP) notations.
Next Steps: You are encouraged to schedule an appointment with a counselor to analyze past academic performance and determine best practices to bring you back to good standing. A counselor will ensure a plan is created to outline a clear course path towards your academic goal.
Need to Know: You may potentially lose priority registration privileges including the California College Promise Grant (tuition waiver) if you advance to second progress probation. Most likely, as a financial aid recipient, you were placed on warning and may lose your financial aid eligibility if you do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) at the end of your subsequent semester.
You did not complete at least 50% of your cumulative attempted units with a letter grade and instead earn too many Withdrawals (W), Incompletes (I), or No Pass (NP) notations for two consecutive primary semesters.
Next Steps: Schedule a counseling appointment to discuss your academic performance and determine best practices to bring you back to good standing. A counselor will outline a clear course path towards your academic goals and recommend support services that will assist you.
Need to Know: At this status, you are restricted to 9 units and have lost priority registration privileges and the California College Promise Grant (tuition waiver). If you do not demonstrate academic improvement at the end of your third semester, you will be dismissed from the college and be required to sit-out for one primary semester.
You did not complete at least 50% of your cumulative units with a letter grade for three consecutive primary semesters, as a consequence, you have been dismissed from the college.
Next Steps: You are required to take an absence for the primary subsequent semester. If you were already enrolled in the next semester, you will be administratively dropped from all of your classes by the Office of Admissions and Records. We encourage you to schedule a meeting with a counselor in order to discuss your next steps.
Need to Know: After you have been absent for one semester and you wish to re-enroll, you are required to meet with a counselor and complete a reinstatement contract. You will be required to provide reasonable assurance that you are ready to succeed. If approved, you will be required to follow the conditions of your reinstatement.
You were reinstated and recently demonstrated academic improvement by completing at least 50% of your semester units.
Next Steps: You are being given the opportunity to continue to take classes because you demonstrated
academic improvement. We encourage you to schedule a counseling appointment to create/update
your Student Education Plan.
Need to Know: At this status, you are still restricted to 7 units. If you would like to challenge yourself and take more units, you are required to see a counselor to complete a Plan of Action. Since you demonstrated academic improvement, you may apply for the California College Promise Grant (tuition waiver). You are required to submit a California College Promise Grant Appeal to reinstate your tuition waiver.
You recently met with a counselor and have been reinstated for the current semester. Be sure to follow your reinstatement contract and abide by the conditions of your enrollment.
Next Steps: You are required to submit a Work in Progress during mid-semester. Our retention specialist will email you the form prior to the scheduled deadline.
Procedures for Reinstatement
All dismissed students are required to take an absence for one primary semester, fall or spring. If you wish to re-enroll at AHC after taking a semester absence, you will need to provide reasonable assurance that you are prepared to succeed. If so, you must meet with a counselor to complete a Reinstatement Contract prior to the scheduled deadline, see below.
| # of Absent Semesters | Next Step |
|---|---|
| Absent 1 semester | Meet with a counselor to complete a reinstatement contract. |
| Absent 2 or more semesters | Must reapply to Allan Hancock College, then meet with a counselor to complete a reinstatement contract. |
Deadline to Request Reinstatement
The deadline to request reinstatement is also printed in our college academic calendar.
| Summer 2024 Classes | June 12, 2024 |
| Fall 2024 (Semester Length & Term 1 Classes) | August 23, 2024 |
| Fall 2024 (Term 2 Classes) | October 18, 2024 |
| Winter 2025 Classes | December 17, 2024 |
| Spring 2025 (Semester Length & Term 3 Classes) | January 24, 2025 |
| Spring 2025 (Term 4 Classes) | March 28, 2025 |
Reinstatement Appeal
The Dean of Student Services acts on appeals in the event a student is denied reinstatement and is requesting additional consideration. Meet with a counselor to initiate process.
Student Success Workshops
The Counseling Department has developed Student Success Workshops to help you get on track. Workshops will cover the following topics:
Learn successful test taking strategies.
Learn effective study strategies to improve test scores.
Learn about student support services on campus.
Learn how to better plan your semester.
Most Common Questions about Academic Standing
Only grades earned at AHC will go towards determining your academic standing. We do not use grades from other colleges/universities to determine your academic standing. So if you were on probation at another college, we will not use those grades to determine your academic standing.
Counselor Tip: If you wish to alleviate substandard grades from your AHC GPA, please talk to a counselor about Academic Renewal. This process allows a counselor to alleviate substandard grades from your AHC GPA. Also, if you failed a class at AHC, then pass the exact same class at another college, please talk to a counselor about Reciprocity. This process will alleviate substandard grade(s) to improve your cumulative GPA.
Academic Probation refers to your cumulative GPA. Whenever your cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0, you will be placed on academic probation. Progress Probation refers to your cumulative attempted units versus your cumulative completed units. Whenever you do not complete at least 50% of your cumulative attempted units, you will be placed on progress probation. Students placed on progress probation earn too many “W” (withdraw), “NP” (no pass), and “I” (incomplete) notations on their transcript.
Your college transcripts are official. They will follow you as you apply for colleges and even jobs. This is why it is so important to take your academic standing serious. Always ensure your grades are correct at the end of each semester. You only have 120 days to challenge your grade with your instructor. After 120 days, your grades are final and cannot be changed.
Our good standing policy applies to all students no matter their educational pursuits.