Policy 6310B

ACADEMIC STANDING

Effective Date
April 1984
Last Revision Date
September 2026
Policy Owner
Chief Academic Officer

1. Policy & Purpose 

Western Wyoming College’s academic standing process is designed to provide an environment in which students can be successful in achieving their academic goals. 

Academic Standing 
Students who maintain a 2.0 semester and cumulative GPA or higher are considered to be in good academic standing. Students who experience academic difficulties are placed on academic alert, probation, or suspension status. These standings are designed to provide intrusive and proactive assistance to students to help them succeed academically. 

Academic Honors 
The College honors its students who excel academically by placing them on the President’s or Vice President’s Honor Roll in each semester they qualify. Cumulative student achievement is recognized through invitations to Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), National Society for Leadership and Success (NSLS), and recognized as Distinguished Graduates or the appropriate Cum Laude distinction. 

Outstanding Graduate 
Western selects outstanding graduates each year prior to the commencement ceremony. Outstanding Graduates are chosen by a committee of faculty, staff, and students. Selection is based upon cumulative grade point average and service to the institution and community. 

Last Review Date: September 2026

History
Policy included in Catalog
Adopted: April 26, 1984
Revised: May 26, 1988
Revised: June 8, 2006
Reformatted: May 3, 2011
Revised: June 27, 2017 – Moved from 5000 Series
Revised: September 10, 2026

Procedure 6310B

ACADEMIC STANDING

Effective Date
May 1988
Last Revision Date
September 2026
Procedure Owner
Chief Academic Officer 

1. Procedure

ACADEMIC HONORS 
There are three (3) types of academic honors at Western: 

Honor Roll

Full-time and part-time degree-seeking students are eligible to earn a place on the President’s or Vice President’s Honor Roll when certain academic conditions are met in a given semester:  

  • President’s Honor Roll: 
    Full-time students who complete a minimum of twelve credit hours in a given semester and achieve a grade point average of 4.00. 
  • Vice President’s Honor Roll: 
    Full-time students who complete a minimum of twelve credit hours in a given semester and achieve a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.99. 
  • Part-time Student Honor Roll: 
    Part-time students who have completed a minimum of twelve total institutional credit hours and   six to eleven credit hours in a given semester and achieve a grade point average of 3.25 or higher. 

Phi Theta Kappa and National Society of Leadership and Success

  • Phi Theta Kappa (PTK): Degree-seeking students who complete a cumulative minimum of twelve credit hours with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 are eligible for membership. Students must follow established Phi Theta Kappa guidelines to join the organization. Once a student is a member, a 3.25 semester GPA must be maintained to retain membership. Students who maintain eligibility for Phi Theta Kappa will be recognized at graduation. 
  • National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS): Degree-seeking students who achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 are invited to join NSLS. Further action from the student is required for membership, which is communicated by and completed with NSLS directly. 

Graduating with Honors

Students who have achieved minimum cumulative grade point average requirements at the time of their credential being awarded and have completed at least 50% of their applicable credits at Western will be recognized with the appropriate level of honors. Student recognition of honor achievement includes: the receipt of Honor Cords to wear at commencement, recognition during the commencement ceremony, and a designation on their official transcript. The minimum cumulative grade point average requirements are as follows: 

  • Distinguished Graduate 
  • Associate and Certificate recipients: 3.80 and above 
  • Cum Laude (with honor) 
  • Bachelor recipients: 3.50 - 3.70 
  • Magna Cum Laude (with great honor) 
  • Bachelor recipients: 3.71 - 3.90 
  • Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor) 
  • Bachelor recipients: 3.91 and above 

 

ACADEMIC STANDING 
Generally, a student is considered to be in Good Academic Standing if they are making satisfactory grades (2.00 or higher term and cumulative grade point average). However, students should be aware that certain Western programs have higher minimum grade point average requirements, and the student must maintain those levels in order to remain in the program. Current academic standing will appear on the student’s grade report and transcript record. 

The purpose of the Academic Alert, Probation, and Suspension statuses are to alert the student to a lack of academic progress and to make every effort to provide the student with the tools necessary to succeed. 

Students will move through the four Academic Standings in steps: Good Standing, Academic Alert, Academic Probation, and Academic Suspension. Students will move up and down through the steps at the conclusion of each semester (Academic Standing is not calculated following the summer term) 

Good Standing 
Students who achieve a minimum term and cumulative grade point average of 2.00 each semester are considered to be in good academic standing. 

Academic Alert 

  • Students who have completed at least six credit hours in  the current semester with less than a 2.00 term grade point average will be placed on Academic Alert status 
  • Students on Academic Alert must achieve both a term and cumulative grade point average in the subsequent semester of 2.00 or greater to return to Good Standing. 

Academic Probation 
Students who are on Academic Alert status who  completed the subsequent and most recent semester with less than a 2.00 term grade point average will move into Academic Probation status.  

Students on Academic Probation who earn a minimum 2.00 grade point average in the subsequent semester will return to the previous step and be placed back on Academic Alert status.  

Academic Suspension 
Students who are on Academic Probation status who completed the subsequent and most recent semester with less than a 2.00 term grade point average will move into Academic Suspension status. Students on Academic Suspension will not be permitted to register for classes at Western in the subsequent term. Upon returning to Western, students will remain in Academic Suspension status until the term grade point average is calculated at the end of the term. 

Students returning to Western on Academic Suspension status who achieve a minimum 2.00 term grade point average will return to Academic Probation status.  

Appeals 
Students who are placed on Academic Suspension who wish to appeal their suspension based on extenuating circumstances may do so through the Registrar. Their decision is final. 

Students may only appeal their Academic Suspension status once. Students placed on Academic Suspension for a second time will not be permitted to register for classes for one semester. 

Last Review Date: September 2026

History
Policy included in Catalog
Reviewed: 1983
Approved: May 26, 1988
Revised: February 22, 1996
Revised: June 8, 2006
Reformatted: May, 2011
Revised: June 27, 2017 – Moved from 5000 Series
Revised: September 10, 2026