The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy addresses whether students are maintaining satisfactory academic progress in their educational programs. At Nobel University, this policy consists of qualitative and quantitative standards.
Minimum Academic Achievement
Students must attain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in order to meet minimum requirements for continuing their education at Nobel University and for successfully completing a program.
- Undergraduate Programs — Must complete 66.67% of all attempted courses and achieve a minimum CGPA of 2.0 by the end of each academic year. Students not meeting this standard are subject to academic probation.
- Graduate Programs — Must achieve a minimum CGPA of 3.0 by the end of each academic year. Students whose CGPA falls below this standard are subject to academic probation.
- Doctor of Business Administration — Must achieve a minimum CGPA of 3.0 by the end of each academic year. Students whose CGPA falls below this standard are subject to academic probation.
Maximum Program Length
| Level | Credits to Graduate | Typical Time | Maximum Time (150%) | Min. Credits/Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 120 semester credits (CGPA 2.0+) | 4 years | 6 years | 12 |
| Graduate | 36 semester credits (CGPA 3.0+) | 2 years | 3 years | 9 |
| Doctor of Business Administration | 54 semester credits (CGPA 3.0+) | 3 years | 4.5 years | 9 |
Students cannot exceed 150% of the credits required to complete their degree program. All credits attempted toward completion of a program of study — including transfer credits — count toward this maximum. Credits counted as attempted include: all Nobel University courses graded A, B, C, D (including plus/minus), F, or I; all courses marked W (dropped/withdrawn); and all credits accepted for transfer. Grades of D (graduate/doctoral) or F/I (all levels) count as hours attempted but not as hours successfully passed. Repeated course enrollment counts toward both the completion rate and the overall maximum time limit, and is calculated into the cumulative GPA per Nobel’s grading policy.
Monitoring of Student Academic Progress
Course loads are reviewed at the end of each academic year. Students are advised by the Registrar if they are not meeting typical satisfactory progress:
- Undergraduate Programs — fewer than 24 credits completed per academic year.
- Graduate Programs — fewer than 18 credits completed per academic year.
- Doctor of Business Administration — fewer than 18 credits completed per academic year.
Grade Definitions Relevant to SAP
- Pass (P) — Used when no letter grade is given: a grade of C or better for undergraduate, or B or better for graduate/doctoral students. Not included in the GPA.
- No Pass (NP) — Used when no letter grade is given and the standard is not met. Not included in the GPA.
- Incomplete (I) — Assigned at faculty discretion when work is passing quality but incomplete for good cause. Must be finished by the last day of the next semester or it automatically lapses to an F. Not calculated into the GPA until the final grade is reported.
- Withdrawal (W) — Students may withdraw without GPA impact during the first two weeks after classes begin; after that, a Department Chair permit is required and a W is recorded. No withdrawals are permitted during the final three weeks of instruction except for cases such as accident or serious illness. F-1 students should check with the Administrator of Student Services before withdrawing, to avoid falling below full-time status.
- Repeated Courses (R) — A grade of C- or below (undergraduate) or B- or below (graduate/doctoral) may be repeated once; the second grade is calculated into the GPA. Students may repeat the same course only once and receive credit for it only once, and may not repeat a course after completing a more advanced course in the same sequence with a qualifying grade (C or better undergraduate, B or better graduate/doctoral).
Unsatisfactory Academic Progress
If a student’s progress, measured at the end of each semester, is determined to be unsatisfactory and a projection indicates SAP can be reestablished by the end of the subsequent term, the School may place the student on academic probation, and the student will be advised of the performance necessary to reestablish SAP.
Classifications of Academic Standing
There are three classifications of academic standing reflected on the academic record or transcript. Students placed on academic probation must meet with the Chief Academic Officer to develop an academic strategy for success.
Good Standing — Assigned to any undergraduate student with a cumulative GPA above 2.00, or any graduate/doctoral student with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher, at the close of the term.
Academic Probation — Undergraduate students are placed on probation when their term or cumulative GPA falls below 2.00; graduate/doctoral students, below 3.00. Students on probation must meet with the Chief Academic Officer to develop an academic plan using the Veigel GPA calculator. Full-time undergraduates on probation must complete between 12 and 15 credits per probationary term; full-time graduate/doctoral students, between 6 and 9 credits; part-time students, no more than 11 credits. Removal from probation requires both term and cumulative GPA of 2.00+ (undergraduate) or 3.00+ (graduate/doctoral) in a subsequent term. All credits attempted still count toward the 150% maximum program length, even during extended enrollment.
Dismissal
- Term GPA — Undergraduates are dismissed when term GPA falls below 2.00 for three consecutive terms; graduate/doctoral students, below 3.00 for two consecutive terms. Undergraduates earning a term GPA below 1.00 (or graduate/doctoral below 2.00), other than their first term, may be dismissed immediately without a probationary period, subject to appeal. First-term students in that situation are instead placed on probation.
- Cumulative GPA — Undergraduates are dismissed when cumulative GPA remains below 2.00 through the three-consecutive-term probationary period (unless the Chief Academic Officer approves an extension); graduate/doctoral students, below 3.00 through two consecutive terms. Undergraduates with a cumulative GPA below 1.00 (or graduate/doctoral below 2.00), other than their first term, may be dismissed immediately, subject to appeal.
- Right to Appeal a Dismissal Decision — Students may request an appeal to the Chief Academic Officer within seven (7) days of dismissal notice, and no later than the first day of classes of the term the dismissal takes effect. A meeting is then scheduled and a final decision communicated at that meeting. To be reinstated for the term the dismissal would take effect, the student must meet with the Chief Academic Officer before the end of the first week of that term; after that date, appeals are considered for the subsequent term.
- Terms of Reinstatement after Dismissal — Full-time: undergraduates must enroll in 12–16 credits (unless otherwise approved); graduate/doctoral students, 6–9 credits. Program/status changes are not permitted during reinstatement. Part-time: undergraduates may enroll in up to 11 credits and must earn at least a 2.00 term GPA with no grade of D or below (or I); graduate/doctoral students may enroll in up to 5 credits and must earn at least a 3.00 term GPA with no grade of C or below (or I). Failing these conditions results in dismissal, which is final and not subject to appeal.
- Final Dismissal — Applies to students who do not appeal, receive a negative appeal decision, fail to meet reinstatement conditions, or (international students) fail to maintain F-1 status.
Petition for Readmission
Students dismissed from the School must wait at least one semester before applying for readmission, and must submit a written Petition for Readmission to the Chief Academic Officer describing the changes in behavior or circumstance expected to result in improved academic performance. The petition must be submitted at least ten (10) days before the beginning of the semester for which readmission is requested. The Chief Academic Officer determines the likelihood of future success and notifies the student in writing; if granted, the student may resume coursework.
Application for Graduation
Applications for graduation are available at the Nobel University Admissions Office and should be filed four weeks before the end of the student’s last semester. Students who file but fail to complete degree requirements will not be processed for graduation.
- Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration — 120 semester credits, minimum 2.00 GPA
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity — 120 semester credits, minimum 2.00 GPA
- Master of Business Administration — 36 semester credits, minimum 3.00 GPA
- Master of Science in Cybersecurity — 36 semester credits, minimum 3.00 GPA
- Doctor of Business Administration — 54 semester credits, minimum 3.00 GPA