Advising Services

Contract for Educational Progress

Student Progress, Probation and the Contract for Educational Progress

Students in all degree programs are required to make satisfactory progress toward their degree. Satisfactory Educational Progress (SEP) is defined according to the program in which a student is enrolled. SEP is met by maintaining a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) and cumulative Studio GPA (STGPA), which meet the degree requirements. The degree requirements are as follows:

BARC, BID and BLA - 2.5
MAR and MID - 2.5 (Segment I); 2.7 (Segment 2 and thereafter)
BDS - 2.0 cumulative; 2.5 in area of concentration

If a student's cumulative GPA and/or STGPA fall below the minimum required, the student will be placed on academic probation. Adherence to the terms of Satisfactory Educational Progress (SEP) is checked at the end of each semester, and warnings and probation letters are issued to students falling short of satisfactory progress. All students who receive notice that their GPA has fallen below the required average, even if this is their first time, must meet with an advisor before registration, or they will not be allowed to register. At that meeting, the student will complete a Contract for Educational Progress.

Contract for Educational Progress (CEP)
Contracts for Educational Progress (CEPs) are completed in an effort to assist students on probation to improve their academic and practice performance at the Boston Architectural Center. The CEP is a formal contract which outlines a reasonable course of action for the student to follow in order to achieve Satisfactory Educational Progress. The contract is a standard form that must be completed by the academic advisor, in consultation with the student. The contract specifies target goals, or ranges of achievement, that must be attained within the given semester. The goals include GPA and studio GPA minimums, as well as other academic and practice requirements.

Any student who fails to conform to the terms of such contract by the specified deadline will be moved to the next probation level. Failure to fulfill or to renegotiate the terms of the contract may result in a ban on registration or in dismissal from the program or school. A student who has abided by the contract's terms may continue to register.

A permanent note of probation status is recorded in the student's file. Students who are on probation must petition the Appeals Committee for permission to clear for Portfolio Reviews, Thesis Seminar/Studio, and graduation.

Probation Level 1
When a student is first placed on probation, s/he is on Probation Level 1 and must meet with an academic advisor to complete a CEP. The student, the advisor, and the student's program director must sign the CEP form. Copies will be given to the student and the Practice Component Director and placed in the student's file. All students on academic probation are required to achieve the minimum required GPA and studios GPA for the semester, without receiving any "RF" grades, and are required to meet with an advisor at least once more during the semester the CEP was issued.

Ramifications of Probation Level 1

Probation Level 1 becomes a permanent part of the student's BAC record.
The student is required to meet with an academic advisor at least once more during the semester the CEP was completed and must maintain the minimum required GPA and studio GPA during that semester.
Failure to meet the terms of the CEP may result in a registration ban. Students operating under a registration ban are unable to register for courses until they meet with an advisor.
Students who fail to achieve the basic contract requirements of the CEP proceed to Probation Level 2 and must meet with an advisor to complete another CEP prior to, or at the beginning of the next semester.

Note: Students who meet the minimum semester GPA and studio GPA requirement but fail to meet the cumulative GPA and/or studio GPA requirement must meet with an advisor to complete another CEP at Level 1.

Probation Level 2
If a student doesn't meet the terms of the Level 1 CEP, s/he progresses to the next Probation Level and completes another CEP. The student, his/her academic advisor, and the program director must sign the CEP form. Copies will be given to the student and the Practice Component Director and placed in the student's file. All students are required to achieve the minimum required GPA and studio GPA for the semester and may not receive any "RF" grades. In addition, students are required to meet with an advisor for two follow-up meetings during the semester the CEP was issued. Any changes made to the student's academic schedule must be pre-approved by an advisor.

Ramifications of Probation Level 2

Probation Level 2 becomes a permanent part of the student's BAC record.
The student is required to meet with an academic advisor for two follow-up meetings during the semester the CEP was completed and must maintain the minimum required GPA and studio GPA.
Failure to meet the terms of the CEP may result in a registration ban. Students operating under a registration ban are unable to register for courses until they meet with an advisor.
Students who fail to achieve the basic contract requirements of the CEP proceed to Level 3 and must meet with an advisor to complete a CEP prior to, or at the beginning of, the next semester.

Note: Students who meet the minimum semester GPA and studio GPA requirement but fail to meet the minimum cumulative GPA and/or studio GPA requirement must meet with an advisor to complete another CEP at Level 2.

Probation Level 3
If a student doesn't meet the terms of the Level 2 CEP, s/he progresses to the next Probation Level and completes another CEP. The student, his/her academic advisor, the Director of Advising, and the student's program director must sign the CEP form. Copies will be given to the student and the Practice Component Director and placed in the student's file. All students are required to achieve the minimum required GPA and studio GPA for the semester and may not receive any "RF" grades. In addition, students are required to meet with an advisor for two follow-up meetings during the semester the CEP was completed. Any changes made to the student's current schedule must be pre-approved by an advisor.

Ramifications of Probation Level 3

Probation Level 3 becomes a permanent part of the student's BAC record.
The student is required to meet with an academic advisor for two follow-up meetings during the semester the CEP was completed and must maintain the minimum GPA and studio GPA requirement for that semester.
Failure to meet the terms of the CEP may result in a registration ban. Students operating under a registration ban are unable to register for courses until they meet with an advisor.
Students who fail to achieve the basic contract requirements of the CEP are required to appear before the Contract Review Board to petition to be allowed to continue in the program at a Probation Level 4.
A CEP 4 is not automatic.
Students who are required to appear before the CRB will not be allowed to register until a meeting with the CRB had occurred. The CRB generally meets in June and in early January.

Note: Students who meet the minimum semester GPA and studio GPA requirement but fail to meet the cumulative GPA and/or studio GPA requirement must meet an advisor to complete another CEP at Level 3.

Probation Level 4
If a student doesn't meet the terms of the Level 3 CEP, s/he must appear before the Contract Review Board in order to be granted a Probation Level 4 and given permission to register. If a student is granted a Level 4, s/he completes another CEP. All students are required to achieve the minimum required GPA and studio GPA for the semester and may not receive any "RF" grades. In addition, students are required to meet with a designated advisor for at least two follow-up meetings during the semester the CEP was completed. Any changes made to their current schedule must be pre-approved by the advisor. Students on Probation Level 4 must comply with all requirements set forth by the CRB.

Ramifications of Probation Level 4

Probation Level 4 becomes a permanent part of the student's BAC record.
Students are required to meet with a designated advisor for follow-up meetings during the semester the CEP was issued and must maintain the minimum required GPA and studio GPA.
Students who fail to meet the terms of the CEP must appear before the CRB to address their status at the BAC. If a student misses a scheduled meeting, s/he cannot register for that semester and must wait until the next meeting of the CRB.

Note: Students who meet the minimum semester GPA and studio GPA requirement but fail to meet the cumulative GPA and/or studio GPA requirement must meet with a designated advisor to complete another CEP at Level 4.

Probation Level 5
If a student doesn't meet the terms of the Level 4 CEP, s/he must appear before the Contract Review Board in order to be granted a Probation Level 5 and given permission to register. If a student is granted a Level 5, s/he completes another CEP. This CEP allows students one final opportunity to succeed at the BAC. Each contract will be created to meet the needs of the student. Failure to meet the expectations of the CRB will most likely result in a mandatory dismissal from the program or the school.

Changes to CEP Status
All probationary semesters become a permanent part of a student's BAC record. Students must complete a CEP each semester their cumulative GPA and/or STGPA falls below the minimum required for their program. Provided students meet the requirements of their CEP, they will remain at their current probation level and complete a contract each semester until their cumulative GPA and STGPA return to that required of them. At that time, the student no longer needs to complete a CEP.

A return to probationary status after one or more semesters of Satisfactory Educational Progress will result in a return to the most recent Probation level. For example, a student who was on Level 2, and then returns to probationary status after four semesters of Satisfactory Educational Progress must complete a CEP at Level 2. Students who were last at Level 3, 4 or 5 will be required to complete a CEP at their last level, and, if the terms are not met, must come before the Contract Review Board at its next meeting.

Students who fail to complete a CEP when required will automatically proceed to the next Probation level if the student's cumulative GPA or STGPA are still under the required minimum.

Students who have not met the terms of their CEP, but whose cumulative GPA and STGPA rise to the minimum required, remain at the same probation level and fill out a CEP that semester.

Students are advised that failing to schedule and/or attend follow-up meetings or failing to appear before the CRB (see below) will be viewed as a violation of the current CEP. The consequences of such violations are defined in each CEP. Students who reactivate and were on probation when they left must complete a CEP at the same level last completed. In other words, when students return to the BAC, they return to their last Probation level.

If a student is on probation due to a low Studio GPA, doesn't take a studio the following semester, but does fulfill the terms of the CEP, s/he will not advance to the next level but must complete a CEP at the same level last completed.

If a student replaces RFs and brings one or more previous semester's GPAs up to the minimum required, those semesters are still considered probationary semesters.

If a student's semester GPA or semester STGPA falls below the required minimum, s/he will not be placed on probation but will receive an academic warning requiring the student to meet with an advisor.

»Contract Review Board