2022-2023 College Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 College Catalog

Rules and Regulations


Academic Regulations

Students’ Rights and Responsibilities

Probation

Academic Probation (BP 4250)

A student who has attempted at least 12 semester units at Saddleback College and/or Irvine Valley College is placed on academic probation when the earned grade point average in all units attempted is less than 2.0.

Progress Probation

A student who has enrolled in at least 12 semester units at Saddleback College and/or Irvine Valley College is placed on progress probation when the percentage of all units in which they have enrolled and for which entries of “W,” “I,” and “NP” (NC) are recorded reaches or exceeds 50 percent.

It is the responsibility of the student who has been placed on academic or progress probation to confer with a counselor regarding the probationary status and/or to use the services provided by the college including basic-skills courses, tutoring services, and faculty conferences. The college reserves the right to require counseling and regulation of the student’s program on the basis of their achievement.

Removal from Probation

Academic Probation

A student on academic probation for a grade-point deficiency shall be removed from probation when the student’s cumulative grade point average is 2.0 or higher.

Progress Probation

A student on progress probation because of an excess of units in which entries of “W,” “I” and “NP” (NC) are recorded shall be removed from probation when the percentage of units in this category drops below 50 percent.

Dismissal

A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 1.75 in three consecutive semesters at Saddleback College and/or Irvine Valley College shall be subject to dismissal.

A student who has been placed on progress probation shall be subject to dismissal if the percentage of units in which the student has been enrolled and for which entries of “W,” “I” and “NP” (NC) are recorded in three consecutive semesters reaches or exceeds 50 percent.

A combination of low scholarship and continued progress probation for three consecutive semesters also may result in dismissal.

Readmission after Dismissal

Students who have been dismissed from Saddleback College or Irvine Valley College may apply for a readmission review after one semester of non-attendance by following the petition procedures through the Office of Admission and Records located in the Student Services Center Room 102. Students who are readmitted and fail to maintain a grade point average of 1.75 or higher during the semester following readmission will be subject to permanent dismissal.

If circumstances warrant, exceptions may be made by recommendation of a special committee appointed to review such cases and by approval of the college president.

Academic Renewal

Under certain circumstances, students may elect to have previously completed courses disregarded in the computation of their cumulative grade point average (GPA). This process is known as academic renewal (Administrative Regulation 6122 (4240), defined in accordance with Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Section 55046.Students must complete the following requirements: (BP 4240)

In order to qualify for Academic Renewal, students must complete the following requirements:

1. A petition must be filed in the Office of Admissions and Records. The Registrar or Dean of Enrollment Services is the designated authority for approval of academic renewal.

2. Accompanying the petition must be evidence that the previous substandard work does not reflect the student’s current performance or capabilities.

3. Previous substandard work will be disregarded. Substandard grades are defined as “D,” “F,” “FW,” or “NP.”

4. No more than 30 units of coursework can be considered for academic renewal.

5. A period of at least two terms must have elapsed since the work to be alleviated was completed.

6. The student must have completed 18 units with a 2.00 GPA, 15 units with a 2.25 GPA or 12 units with a 2.5 GPA or higher in sessions subsequent to the substandard work. No units may be excluded for coursework that has previously been used to fulfill degree,  certificate, or transfer certification requirements. Work from other accredited colleges will be considered for calculating their GPA.

7. When coursework is disregarded in the computation of the cumulative GPA, the student’s academic record will be annotated; all coursework remains on record, ensuring a true and complete academic history. Academic renewal actions are irreversible.

Academic renewal by the South Orange County Community College District does not guarantee that other institutions will approve such action. This determination will be made by the respective transfer institutions.

Academic renewal procedures may not conflict with the District’s obligation to retain and destroy records or with the instructor’s ability to determine a student’s final grade.

Suspension of VA Benefits Due to Probation

Saddleback College is responsible for enforcing the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (DVA) standards of academic progress. These standards require the college Veterans Office to suspend, for one semester, the VA education benefits of students who have been on academic or lack-of-progress probation for two consecutive semesters. The college Veterans Office is also required to notify DVA of this suspension.

VA Benefits Reinstatement: In addition to not receiving VA education benefits for one semester, students must have a written evaluation completed by an academic counselor. The evaluation must certify that the student has a reasonable chance of academic success in future semesters. Students who change their academic programs must satisfy more stringent requirements, including submission to VA of a request for reinstatement of benefits.

Once VA benefits are reinstated, students are required to maintain a 2.0 semester GPA every semester until they achieve a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Failure to do so will result in immediate suspension of VA education benefits for another semester. Please call the college Veterans Office at 949-582-4871 for further details.