Graduation Guarantee

Graduation Guarantee

The Paul Smith’s College Graduation Guarantee

If a student meets the program’s requirements and remains in good academic standing and in compliance with the College’s student code of conduct through consecutive academic semesters yet does not graduate by May of their fourth year at Paul-Smith’s College (eight semester of enrollment), he or she may take the additional required coursework at Paul Smith’s to complete the baccalaureate degree at no additional tuition cost.

The Requirements

To be eligible for Paul Smith’s graduation guarantee, a student must:

  • Be a new degree-seeking freshmen after fall 2020.
  • Meet with his/her academic advisor each semester to review and update their academic plan; follow recommendations from the advisor in order to stay on track with graduation requirements.
  • Declare a major by the end of their first semester.  The student may change majors or add/drop a minor, etc. at any time, but the guarantee will only apply if it is still possible for the student to complete all requirements in a total of 8 semesters, with a normal full-time credit hour load (e.g., 12–18 credits per semester). If a student wishes to continue participation in the agreement and take more than 18 credit hours in a semester, the “overload” fees for that academic year will apply.
  • Maintain continuous full-time enrollment at Paul Smith’s College (or in a college-approved affiliated study away program) for consecutive fall-spring semesters.
  • Enroll in and successfully complete an average of 15 credit hours each semester in courses appropriate to the completion of the student’s baccalaureate degree program.
  • Maintain a semester and cumulative GPA of 2.0 and meet all progression requirements in the major; this means that specific courses may need to be completed successfully at a higher standard. Students may make up any credits needed to maintain the 30-credits-per-year average during the next summer with a Paul Smith’s class. If Paul Smith’s does not offer that course during the summer, the Registrar and appropriate department chair may approve a course at another institution. In both of these situations, the student is responsible for the stated course fees.
  • Participate in all mandatory Supplementary Instruction (SI) and other academic support programs.
  • Register on time during the registration period each semester and meet at least once per semester with his/her advisor to assess the student’s progress and update the four-year curricular plan.

It is the students’ responsibility to be aware of and monitor their academic progress as it relates to the terms of this guarantee. Students are also encouraged to be engaged in the campus community.  National studies indicate that involved students are successful students who graduate at higher rates than those not involved in the life of their college. 

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