Academic information

Academic credit

Credit earned at Sandburg

The unit of measurement for credit is the semester hour which approximates the effort expended in 50 minutes of class work and 100 minutes of study during each week of the semester.

Credit for Prior Learning/CPL

Credit types

Students enrolled at Carl Sandburg College may receive credit for prior experience in the following categories:

• Advanced Placement Program (AP)
• Bi-Literacy Seal
• Credits earned at accredited colleges or universities from those institutions listed in the American Council on Education’s Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)/ United States Armed Forces Institute (USAF) 
• International Baccalaureate Exam (IB) 
• Military Service & Military Service Schools
• Miscellaneous Credit Approved by Carl Sandburg College Faculty Assembly 

Students must earn a minimum of 15 hours of the required total for degrees, and one third of the required hours for certificates through completion of classes at the Carl Sandburg College to be awarded the degree or certificate. 

All credit hours awarded are in semester hours. 

Approval for the various credits described in this guide have been made by the Carl Sandburg College Faculty Assembly. 

The student must formally request evaluation of credit by submitting this completed form to: 

Carl Sandburg College
Advising & Records Office, “B” building front desk
2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd. 
Galesburg, IL 61401

Advanced Placement (AP)

Carl Sandburg College will award credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams based upon recommended scores determined by appropriate Sandburg academic departments. Any score of three (3) or better will be accepted as credit; however, the listed score will be required to meet the course equivalent. Credit will be awarded as follows:  

Biliteracy Seal of Approval

The Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy posted to a student’s high school transcript will be evaluated as twelve (12) credit hours of foreign language coursework at Carl Sandburg College (levels 151, 152, and 251). Credit granted will be based on foreign language course equivalencies, or elective credit. 

Credit must be applied to the college transcript within three academic years of high school graduation. 

Carl Sandburg College proficiency examinations

In accordance with state and federal legislation, as well as, accreditation guidelines, Carl Sandburg College offers optional proficiency assessments to determine if a student has already obtained the knowledge and the skills taught in a particular course. Assessments are provided and evaluated prior to the student taking the course. Credit may also be given for previous training, awarded professional certificates, and/or awarded state or federal licenses and certificates. Awarding of credit is at the discretion of the department. 

Credits from accredited colleges or universities

Students who have attended other colleges or universities may transfer credit to Carl Sandburg College according to the following conditions and on submission of official transcripts:

• The college or university previously attended must be accredited by an  American Council on Education (ACE) approved accreditation association.
• The agency and or organization has an approved credit granting agreement with  Carl Sandburg College.
• Credit will be granted for courses in which a grade of C or better has been earned.
• Credit will also be awarded for courses in which a grade of D has been earned providing the student’s overall grade point average is a 2.0 or better unless otherwise stated by specific Carl Sandburg College program requirements.
• Only credit hours are transferable. Grades associated with the credit are not transferable nor are they included in computing the student’s cumulative grade point average at Carl Sandburg College.
• Transfer credit will only be accepted for courses applicable to the student’s  Carl Sandburg College program. Only courses applicable to the student’s Carl Sandburg College academic program are accepted in transfer. Should the student’s program change, the student may request a re-evaluation of previously earned credits. 

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College recognizes undergraduate achievement as measured by both the general and subject examinations of the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Scores may be submitted to the Admissions and Records Office for evaluation, and if the level of achievement is at or above the minimum standards and score levels established by the College, credit may be granted. Carl Sandburg College follows the guidelines of the American Council on Education in accepting CLEP credit. Students may earn up to 24 hours of credit from the general examinations of the College Level Examination Program in the areas of humanities, mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences. In addition, many of the CLEP subject examinations may be accepted for credit based upon the score recommendations of the American Council on Education.  6   7  Students should discuss the CLEP options with the Registrar’s office prior to registering for any of the examinations. Regardless of the number of hours earned through CLEP, the student must meet the College’s residency requirement for graduation.  

Defense Activity For Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)/United States Armed Forces Institute (USAF)

Credit may be given for coursework applicable to a Carl Sandburg College curriculum, which was taken through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) or under the United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI), provided the course is recommended by the American Council on Education. The student must submit official transcripts indicating satisfactory completion of the work to the Admissions and Records Office. 

International Baccalaureate Exam

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is a challenging curriculum offered to high school students around the world between the ages of 16 to 19. The curriculum is designed to prepare high school students for the transition into advanced post-secondary coursework. 

Military service credit

Credit for three (3) semester hours of physical education and three (3) semester hours of health education credit will be awarded to members or former members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have completed six months or more of basic or recruit training and have been honorably discharged or have transferred to the reserve component (includes the Army, the Air National Guard, and the Coast Guard). To receive this credit, the student must submit a petition to the Admissions and Records Office along with separation papers (DD214).  Certain experiences in military service may be submitted to the Admissions and Records Office for evaluation. The recommendations contained in “A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services” by the American Council on Education are used as a basis for such evaluations. For service members Army, Army National  Guard, Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard, to request transcript for review for credit at Carl Sandburg College, please visit https://jst.doded.mil. For service members in the Air Force, you may contact http://www.airuniversity.af.mil/Barnes/CCAF/ to request transcripts for review for credit.  

Credits from regionally accredited colleges or universities

Students who have attended other colleges or universities may transfer credit to Sandburg according to the following conditions and on submission of official transcripts:

• The college or university previously attended must be accredited by an American Council on Education (ACE) approved accreditation association.
• Credit will be granted for courses in which a grade of “C” or better has been earned.
• Credit will also be awarded for courses in which a grade of “D” has been earned providing the student’s overall grade point average is a 2.0 or better unless otherwise stated by specific Sandburg program requirements.
• Only credit hours are transferable. Grades associated with the credit are not transferable nor are they included in computing the student’s cumulative grade point average at Sandburg.
• Note: Some programs in the college catalog may require all coursework with a “C” or better to graduate.
• Transfer credit will only be accepted for courses applicable to the student’s Sandburg program. Only courses applicable to the student’s Carl Sandburg College academic program are accepted in transfer. Should the student’s program change, the student may request a re-evaluation of previously earned credits.

Transcript evaluations

Official transcripts sent to Sandburg will be evaluated for transfer credit based upon the student’s selected program of study. Current students are notified of transfer credit awards using mySandburg email. Non-current students’ transcript evaluation results will be sent via US mail or the personal email provided in the transcript evaluation request. If your academic program changes, please contact the Advising & Records Office for a new evaluation of transfer credit.

Credits from institutions that are nationally accredited

• If applicable, per program evaluation, credit may be given for occupational coursework.
• Credit may not be given for 1.1 Baccalaureate credit from nationally accredited schools. Credit may be given as occupational credit per program evaluation.

Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI)

IAI stands for the Illinois Articulation Initiative. The goal of IAI is to facilitate the transfer of students among Illinois institutions of higher education.  It began with a cooperation between the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community College Board, and the Transfer Coordinators for Illinois Colleges and Universities in 1993.  It was fully established and operational in 1998.  It provides a general education package to allow courses to transfer easily between institutions with a level of guarantee of content and quality.  This package is formed by areas of concentrations that have associated faculty panels reviewing courses and making course recommendations.  It also provides course recommendations for the first two years of study for certain majors with the assistance of associated faculty panels.

Sandburg is a participant in the Illinois Articulation Initiative for the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees. Since completion of the Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) degrees does not complete the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum (IAI GECC), students will need to complete the general education requirements of the school to which they transfer. For further information about IAI, go to the website at www.itransfer.org.

The initiative includes public community colleges, public universities and some private colleges and universities in the state of Illinois. If you are considering attending a private college, university or out-of-state institution, you should check with the transfer coordinator.

General Education Core Curriculum (GECC)

The General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) is a selection of courses accepted by all public four-year institutions in the state of Illinois and many private institutions. Completing the GECC ensures that transferring students have completed the necessary general education requirements for an associate’s or bachelor’s degree and can now move on to courses specific to the student’s area of interest.

Students who complete Sandburg’s General Education requirements (37 credit hours across five academic disciplines, and a Human Relations course), will have a statement placed on their transcript indicating completion of the GECC. For students uncertain about choosing a field of study, general education courses offer the opportunity to explore all that college offers. Completing the GECC at the Community College earns the Gen Ed Certificate. It provides the student with low-cost options that transfer smoothly and opportunities to move quickly into core courses in their chosen field once they transfer.

Illinois Community Colleges Online

Illinois Community Colleges Online (ILCCO) is a consortium of Illinois community colleges sharing online course and programs with each other to provide you with additional opportunities to meet your educational goals. ILCCO allows you to work through Sandburg to register, pay tuition, and get a transcript while taking courses from other colleges. To enroll in an ILCCO course, students need to contact their advisor early as the enrollment process takes additional time and approvals.

Records

Procedure to inspect education records

Students may inspect and review their education records upon request to the appropriate record custodian. Students should submit to the record custodian a written request that identifies as precisely as possible the record or records he or she wishes to inspect. The record custodian will make the needed arrangements for access as promptly as possible and will notify the student of the time and place where the record(s) may be inspected. Access must be given in 45 days or less from the receipt of the request. When a record contains information about more than one student, the student may inspect and review only the records which relate to him or her.

The College’s policy regarding student records is intended to comply fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. This Act was designed to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their educational records, and to provide guidelines for correction of inaccurate or misleading data through formal and informal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office, Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202, concerning the alleged failures of Sandburg to comply with the Act. Copies of the College policy are is available in the Admissions and Records Office. 

Sandburg designates the following categories of student information as public or “directory information”: student’s name, hometown, high school attended, full time, part time enrollment, approval candidacy for graduation, major field of study, enrollment status, dates of attendance, most recent education agency or institution attended degrees, honors, and awards received, height and weight of student athletes, participation in officially recognized activities and sports.

The above information may be disclosed by the institution for any purpose at its discretion. However, currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of these items by notifying the Advising and Records Office in writing within the first fourteen days of classes each semester. Request for non-disclosure must be made each semester.

Questions concerning the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to the Advising and Records Office at 309.341.5260 or 309.341.5233.

Academic record appeal

In accordance with the provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), students may appeal the accuracy of their permanent record (transcript). This right permits the student to appeal only the accuracy of the record which contains the grade; it does not permit the student to appeal the grade given by the instructor. (See “Framework for Addressing Student Concerns, Grievances, Sexual Harassment, and Discrimination” for information about appealing grades.)

Academic record appeals must be filed by the student with the Admissions and Records Office within 60 days of the closing of the academic term.

Grading

Grades

Grades are issued at the close of each academic term on a letter basis indicating quality of academic work. Grades issued by Sandburg are:

Grade Point Average

Grade point averages are calculated by dividing the number of grade points earned by the number of semester hours attempted.

The number of grade points for a given course is found by multiplying the grade point value (A = 4; B = 3; C = 2; D = 1; F = 0) by the number of semester hours which may be earned in the course.

Example:

(34 divided by 11 equals 3.09)

Grade Point Average (GPA) is 3.09

Sandburg Honors Program

The Sandburg Honors Program is designed for exceptional students who want to excel in college. Honors courses are intellectually challenging and involve considerable interaction among students and instructors. Certification as a Sandburg Honors Program graduate requires that students participate in 2 Honors courses and complete an Honors Project. For more information contact the Humanities and Fine Arts Department at 309.341.5427.

Eligibility

There are many ways to be eligible to apply for the Honors Program. Students may apply if they meet one of the following criteria:

• Earned a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Graduated in the top 10% of the high school class
• Scored 25 or above on the ACT
• Received a combined score of 1000 on the SAT
• Completed 12 college transfer credits with a minimum of 3.25 GPA
• Are recommended by Sandburg instructor or counselor

Course options

Honors courses are designed to help students learn and apply diverse concepts while stressing collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. Students in the Honors Program must take 2 Honors classes and may select from the following choices:

• a class for honors credit
• an honors class
• the Honors Learning Community (usually offered each spring)

A Learning Community combines two different courses, which are team-taught by faculty who integrate content, assignments, and/or themes into both classes. The Honors Community fulfills the 2-course requirement for the Honors Program.

The Honors Project

An Honors Project is a component that goes above and beyond the normal rigors of traditional coursework. Although it is aligned with the topic of the Honors class, it is designed to challenge students outside of the classroom.

Examples of possible projects include:

• community service (accompanied by an in-depth paper)
• community activism (accompanied by an in-depth paper)
• a research paper
• a creative project applying course material to career/real-life circumstances

The Honors Certificate

Upon successful completion, the Honors Program offers an Honors Certificate. This award will be noted on the student’s transcript and the student will be recognized at Spring Commencement.

The requirements for the Honors Certificate are:

• A minimum GPA of 3.0 in both Honors classes
• A grade of “B” or better on Honors Project

Advantages of Honors Classes

• Friendly learning environment
• Challenging courses
• Independent study
• Honors scholarships
• Recognition on college transcripts

Academic dishonesty

Sandburg is committed to fostering a culture of academic integrity and ethical scholarship. This policy outlines the principles and guidelines for all academic endeavors at Sandburg, emphasizing transparency, accountability and the preservation of the core values of education. All students, faculty and staff at Sandburg are expected to uphold the principles of academic integrity.

Definitions

Academic integrity: Honesty, fairness, transparency, accountability and responsibility in all academic  work. 

Artificial intelligence (AI): Any technology, system or software that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as problem‐solving, learning, reasoning, writing, generation of new  ideas and decision‐making. 

Academic dishonesty: Violating a provision of the academic integrity policy. 

Academic work: All assignments, assessments, exercises, projects, research and examinations completed as part of a course or program at Carl Sandburg College. 

Cheating: Intentionally using or attempting to use work that is not your own, unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic work where they’re not permitted. 

Fabrication: The intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information for citation in academic work. 

Facilitating academic dishonesty: Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another person violate a provision of the academic integrity policy. 

Multiple submissions: Submitting academic work in part or in its entirety for which credit has already been earned in another course without the current instructor’s permission. 

Plagiarism: The reproduction of ideas, or words or statements of another person as your own without acknowledgement or citing the work as theirs. 

Consequences for violations

Violations of this policy may result in academic penalties or disciplinary actions, as determined by Carl Sandburg College’s established procedures for addressing student and employee misconduct.  

Reporting and resolution

Any member of the college community who becomes aware of a violation of this policy should promptly report it to the appropriate college authority. 

Transcripts

The Advising and Records Office will provide a copy of a student’s transcript (official academic or permanent record) in writing by the student. “Transcript Request” forms are available in the Advising and Records Office or they may be submitted electronically using the transcript request form. No transcripts will be released without the written permission of the student. We cannot accept telephone requests.

There is no fee for official Sandburg transcripts ordered directly from the College or Parchment. Small fees are assessed for transcripts ordered online through the National Student Clearinghouse.

Transcript requests are generally processed within one or two business days. Transcript requests will not be processed on days that the College is closed, including weekends, holidays, and the week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.

Under the Student Debt Assistance Act (Public Act 102-0998), Sandburg will issue official transcripts regardless of a student’s unpaid debt. The College can also issue unofficial transcripts directly to students as requested.

If you would like to make arrangements for an unpaid balance, please contact the Business Office at 309.341.5210.

Academic load

To certify a student as academically full-time, the student must be enrolled in at least 12 semester hours each semester and at least six semester hours during a summer term. The normal academic load for students expecting to complete their degrees within a two-year period is 12-15 semester hours per term.

Classification of student

Students are classified as follows:

Repeating courses

A student may repeat a course. Only the higher grade will be computed in the grade point average. Grades received in all classes are reflected on the transcript. NOTE: Students planning to transfer to another college or university should be aware that the receiving institution may use all grades earned to calculate a grade point average for admission. FINANCIAL AID: Financial aid rules vary on payment for repeats. Federal Pell grant will pay for a repeat of a W or F. Once the student has passed the course with a D or better, the Federal Pell grant will pay for one additional repeat of a course. A date appears on the transcript indicating the term in which the course was calculated in the grade point average.

Auditing courses

Sandburg offers the opportunity to audit most courses. Audited courses will reflect a grade of “T”. This grade does not grant credit and it is not calculated in the grade point average. Students wishing to audit a class will be required to pay full tuition and fees for the class. Students will be permitted to audit classes only when space is available.. Students enrolling for credit will be given registration priority over students desiring to audit a course. Students may register to audit a course only during late registration (during the first week of the class). Students may change from “credit” to “audit” in a course through the census date for that class. Students may, with permission from the instructor, change from “audit” to “credit” at any time prior to the midterm date for the class. Auditing students are expected to attend class but are not required to submit assignments or take examinations.

Class attendance

Attendance is a student’s active participation in an instructional activity related to the course of study, including attending scheduled instructional sessions (in person or online), submitting assignments, completing assessments, or engaging in instructor-directed academic interactions. Students are responsible for fulfilling the requirements of each course, including attendance requirements. Individual instructors may set class attendance requirements consistent with the course objectives and may assign final grades based, in part, upon class attendance. 

Attendance/no-show you go policy

Sandburg has a mandatory attendance policy for all classes. Non-attendance during the first week of the class will result in the class being dropped from your schedule. For online and self-paced courses, this means participating in the week one assignment. If you cannot attend due to an emergency or conflict of a serious nature, you must contact your instructor. If an instructor is not designated, you should contact the Admissions & Records Support Specialist at 309.341.5260. If you are dropped from a course and wish to re-enroll, you will need the instructor’s permission. Instructors have the right to deny you re-enrollment if the course is full or if it is too late to make up missed work. If you decide to drop the class, you must verify that the course has been officially dropped from your class schedule and fees adjusted before the end of the refund period.

Withdrawal from courses

1. Students may officially withdraw from classes until the Tuesday of the 14th week of a 16-week calendar. See the Academic Calendar for withdrawal dates for terms less than 16 weeks. Students who withdraw from classes during the refund period may do so without notation on their permanent records (transcripts). After the refund period, students who withdraw from classes will receive a grade of “W” for those classes. This grade will not affect the grade point average. Refund dates* are noted under the Tuition section of the catalog and are listed in the term’s class schedule.
   
   Withdrawal requests received by the end of the last day to drop a course will be honored as an official withdrawal. Students who do not officially withdraw from a course will not be eligible for a W and the final grade the student earns in the course will be noted on the transcript.
    
2. Instructor-Initiated Withdrawal: Instructors may withdraw students from classes at mid-term for non-attendance or when the student’s progress is extremely poor preventing the student from passing the course. Instructor-initiated withdrawals will result in grades of “W”.
    
3. Administrative-Initiated Withdrawal: The administration may withdraw students from classes for emergency or disciplinary reasons after due process. These withdrawals will result in grades of “W”.
   
   * Refund date is based upon length of the term.

Important Note for Financial Aid Recipients

Students who withdraw or who receive instructor-initiated withdrawals from all of their courses prior to the 11th week of the semester and who received Federal Financial Aid (Pell Grant, SEOG, Direct Loans) to pay tuition, fees, books, or other institutional cost, will be responsible to repay part of the monies received. The College follows the federal requirements for Repayment of Title IV funds. A copy of this policy is available in the Financial Aid Office or the Business Office.

Records policy

Students may inspect and review their education records by requesting access from the appropriate record-holding office. They should submit a written request that clearly identifies the specific record or records they wish to inspect. The staff will arrange for access as quickly as possible and will inform the student of the time and location where the record(s) can be inspected. Access must be granted within 45 days of receiving the request. If a record contains information about multiple students, the individual student may only inspect and review the records that pertain to them.

The College’s policy on student records is designed to fully comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. This Act aims to protect the privacy of educational records, grant students the right to inspect and review their records, and provide guidelines for correcting inaccurate or misleading information through formal and informal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office, Department of Education, Washington DC 20202, regarding any alleged failure of Carl Sandburg College to comply with the Act. Copies of the College policy are available in the Advising and Records Office.

Sandburg designates the following categories of student information as public or “directory information”: student’s name, hometown, high school attended, approval candidacy for graduation, major, enrollment status, dates of attendance, most recent education agency or institution attended degrees, honors, and awards received, height and weight of student-athletes, and participation in officially recognized activities and sports.

The above information may be disclosed by the institution for any purpose at its discretion. However, currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of these items by notifying the Advising and Records Office in writing within the first fourteen days of classes each semester. Request for non-disclosure must be made each semester.

Questions concerning the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to the Advising and Records Office at 309-341-5260 or 309-341-5233.

Academic standards policy

Students must demonstrate academic progress to continue their enrollment at Sandburg. Their academic standing is reviewed at the end of fall, spring (includes winter), and summer semesters to determine their standing in the next semester.  Eligibility for financial aid is evaluated under a separate federally-required process titled satisfactory academic progress. While this information on the academic standards policy is available through other sources, including the Sandburg website, the Sandburg catalog is the final authority regarding this policy. 

Good academic standing

Good academic standing is a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA) and a minimum cumulative 67% completion rate for attempted credits. Students who are in good academic standing may continue to enroll.

Academic warning

Students who fall below a cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA) or a cumulative completion rate of 67% of attempted credits will be placed on academic warning, but they are permitted to enroll in courses. Students on academic warning who earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.2 and a minimum semester completion rate of 75% will remain on academic warning until they meet good academic standing requirements. Students on academic warning who earn less than a 2.2 semester GPA or less than a 75% semester completion rate will progress to academic probation.

Academic probation

Students on academic probation are permitted to enroll but must show academic improvement and are highly encouraged to meet with the Sandburg success coach.  Students on academic probation who earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.2 and a minimum semester completion rate of 75% will remain on academic probation until they meet good academic standing requirements. Students on academic probation who earn less than a 2.2 semester GPA or less than a 75% semester completion rate will progress to academic last chance. 

Academic last chance

When a student is placed on academic last chance, it is considered their last semester to improve their academic standing before they are suspended. These students are expected to meet with the Sandburg success coach throughout the semester. They are restricted to enrolling in 12 credit hours each semester until they return to good academic standing unless they are granted permission from the Dean of Enrollment Management to enroll in more than 12 credit hours. Students on academic last chance who earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.2 and a minimum semester completion rate of 75% will remain on academic last chance until they meet good academic standing requirements. Students earning less than a 2.2 semester GPA or less than a 75% semester completion rate will be suspended. 

Academic suspension

Students on academic suspension are required to take time away from Sandburg before they are eligible to request readmission. Students must meet one of the re-enrollment criteria below, to take courses for academic credit, including courses taken on an audit basis. Students on academic suspension are permitted to enroll in Workforce Development and Community Education courses. 

Re-enrollment criteria

• As demonstrated on official transcripts, the student has made substantial academic progress at another regionally accredited college or university after their suspension from Sandburg. The student must complete at least 12 credit hours (or the equivalent) within two consecutive academic years, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.2 and a 75% completion rate. 
• The student has sat out for two full consecutive academic years.   

To return to Sandburg, students must:

1. Meet one of the re-enrollment criteria above.
2. Meet with the Sandburg success coach or academic advisor to develop a detailed academic improvement plan. Call 309.341.5237 to schedule an appointment.  
3. Allow 15 business days for review and approval processing before the start of the semester.  

Re-enrollment after academic suspension

Students approved for re-enrollment after academic suspension will be restricted to 12 credit hours each semester until they return to good academic standing unless they receive permission from the dean of enrollment management to exceed this limit. The college may impose additional re-enrollment conditions to support the student’s academic success. Students who are reinstated must earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.2 and a minimum semester completion rate of 75% each semester to remain enrolled until they meet good academic standing requirements. If a student does not meet the semester GPA of 2.2 and the minimum semester completion rate of 75% after reinstatement, they will return to academic suspension and will need to meet one of the re-enrollment criteria to return. 

Extraordinary circumstances appeal

In limited situations, the college may consider an extraordinary circumstances appeal for a student who has re-enrolled after academic suspension, but does not meet the minimum required semester GPA or completion rate. Extraordinary circumstances are defined as documented events that are severe, unexpected, and clearly outside of the student’s control and that directly impacted the student’s academic performance. Examples may include, but are not limited to:  

• Extended hospitalization of the student  
• Death of a parent or child  

The following circumstances are not considered extraordinary and will not be approved for consideration:  

• Transportation issues (e.g., car breakdowns)  
• Technology or internet access issues  
• Work schedule conflicts or time management concerns  

Students requesting consideration under extraordinary circumstances must provide appropriate documentation and demonstrate that conditions leading to suspension have been resolved or substantially improved. The student will need to submit a letter of appeal explaining why the semester was not completed successfully and provide documentation to substantiate the appeal.  Appeals are reviewed by the Vice President of Student Development or their designee.  Approval is not guaranteed and is granted on a case-by-case basis.  

Academic Honors

A Dean’s List and Honors List are published after fall and spring semesters to recognize the academic achievements of our full and part-time students.

To qualify for the Dean’s or Honors list, students must meet the following criteria:

• Have earned at least 12 cumulative Sandburg credits 
• Be in good academic standing 
• Have earned 6 credits or more for the term according to the Academic Standards Policy.

Dean’s List

Students who have earned a semester grade point average of 3.5 or better.

Honors List

Students who have earned 6 credits or more for the term with a semester grade point average between 3.0 - 3.49.

Graduation policies and procedures

Students are responsible for understanding and adhering to the requirements of their curriculum and the rules governing academic work. While the advisor with strive to assist the student in making sound decisions, the ultimate responsibility for fulfilling the graduation requirements lies with the student. If the student is currently enrolled at Sandburg, they can apply online to graduate through the Self-Service menu in mySandburg.

 *Note if student is applying to graduate for more than one degree or certificate, contact the Advising & Records Office at 309-341-5233 to get the additional forms.

Degree and certificate requirements stated in the Sandburg catalog will remain in effect for five academic years beginning with the student’s initial enrollment in a given academic program. If graduation requirements change after to initial enrollment, the student may elect to graduate under the most recent degree or certificate requirements. If more than five years have passed since the student’s initial enrollment and the courses are still available, they may continue their program requirements based on their entry year. If courses in the student’s original program have been discontinued, the student must choose a more recent degree plan (within five years). Students who are pursuing a program with selective admission must be readmitted to the program and meet the requirements as determined by the program.

In addition to fulfilling the course requirements for individual academic programs as stated by the College, students who intend to graduate from Sandburg must meet these requirements:

1. File a petition for graduation in the Advising and Records Office before the beginning of registration for their last semester of classes. Petition forms are available in the Advising and Records Office or can be accessed on mySandburg.
2. Satisfy the minimum credit hour residence requirement.
3. Fulfill all financial obligations to the College.
4. Earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better for all courses applicable to the degree or certificate.

Students are notified of the results of the petition to graduate by mySandburg email or if you are not a current student results will be mailed to the address on the graduation application. If you have questions, please contact Office of Advising and Records at 309.341.5233.

Carl Sandburg College reserves the right to grant certificates or degrees to students who meet the criteria to graduate, but have not completed a petition to graduate.

Certification

Candidates for certification in specific fields (i.e., nursing, dental hygiene, etc.) are responsible for fulfilling any special certification requirements of the State of Illinois or their home state.

Residency requirement for graduation

Associate Degree candidates must earn fifteen (15) of the required semester hours in residence at the College. Certificate candidates must earn one-third (1/3) of the required semester hours in residence at the College. Residency is defined as enrollment and completion of courses taught by Sandburg. Credit earned by other than coursework (i.e., examination, advanced placement, etc.) may not be counted as part of the residency requirement.

Graduation ceremony

Sandburg holds two graduation ceremonies each May to honor students who have applied to graduate in the fall, spring, or summer. Once students apply to graduate, they will receive information from the Advising and Records Office on how to order cap and gowns, and additional graduation details.

The Sandburg Commencement ceremony recognizes and celebrates the academic and co-curricular achievements of our students. Sandburg strives to provide a safe and respectful commencement ceremony for all participants. To achieve this goal, the College expects students and guests to conduct themselves appropriately and respectfully.

Students are expected to meet behavioral standards of conduct detailed in the Student Code of Conduct. Additional expectations include the following.

Graduation apparel

Sandburg will provide graduates with a cap and gown to wear at the commencement ceremony. Any additional items worn with the graduation cap and gown must be approved. The College reserves the right to ask graduates to remove any unapproved items or disallow participation in the commencement ceremony.

Registered student organizations through the Student Government Associations or college-recognized programs may elect to wear a stole, medallion, or lapel pin with their graduation gown, which recognizes the graduate’s membership in the group.

• Only registered student organizations/college-recognized programs that have met the requirements to become an organization/program can wear the stole, medallion, or lapel pin during the commencement ceremony.
• Sandburg will not purchase the stoles/medallions/lapel pins or reimburse students/organizations for expenses incurred. All fundraising activities must adhere to the College’s fundraising guidelines for student organizations and programs.
• The stoles must not be larger than 28 inches long from neck to end and 5 inches wide.
• The medallions must not be larger than 2 ½ inches in diameter.
• The stoles/medallions/lapel pins cannot contain any offensive language, offensive symbols, or any content that might be considered offensive, discriminatory, or affiliated with hate groups. The College maintains the right to determine what might be considered as offensive, discriminatory, or representing an affiliation with hate groups.
• All stoles/medallions/lapel pins must be approved by the College before ordering to ensure they meet the size and content requirements.

Registered student organizations or college-recognized programs must submit a mockup of their stole/medallion/lapel pin to the Director of Advising & Registrar for approval no later than 30 days before commencement. They will be notified of the approval or denial within ten days of submission. For denied items, the registered student organization or college-recognized program can submit a revised version for reconsideration.

The College values student involvement in our student organizations; however, memberships in student organizations/programs will not be recognized in the graduation program nor announced with the graduate’s name. Only the student’s involvement in Phi Theta Kappa honorary, the achievement of graduation honors, or their status as a veteran will be recognized in the commencement ceremony and program.

Decoration of caps

Decorated graduation caps cannot contain any offensive language, offensive symbols, or any content that might be considered offensive, discriminatory, or affiliated with hate groups.. The College maintains the right to determine what might be considered offensive, discriminatory, or representing an affiliation with hate groups.

Graduation Honors

Honors

Designation for graduates whose cumulative grade point average is within the 3.50-3.69 range.

High Honors

Designation for graduates whose cumulative grade point average is within the 3.70-3.89 range.

Highest Honors

Designation for graduates whose cumulative grade point average is within the 3.90-4.00 range.