Academic Progression

Academic Year

Nexford University’s catalog year aligns with its academic year, both running from January 1 to December 31. Enrollment occurs on the first day of each month. 

Add/Drop

Each academic term spans two months, and each course runs for 51 days, equivalent to approximately seven weeks.

Learners who complete a course early do not continue within the same term. Instead, they may begin a new course in the second month, which marks the start of a new term. Each new course therefore initiates its own two-month term, enabling learners to progress at an individualized pace while maintaining clear term boundaries.

Learners may add or drop a course within the first five term days, in accordance with their program requirements and the academic policies outlined in this catalog.

Course timelines are measured in term days, beginning on the official course start date rather than fixed calendar dates. Each course follows a 51-day schedule within a two-month term. When a learner begins a new course in the subsequent month, it constitutes the start of a new term.

• Day 1 - 5 of the course: Learners may add or drop a course in accordance with University policy. Courses dropped within this period are eligible for a full tuition refund and will not appear on the learner’s transcript. No grade will be assigned, and the course will not count toward attempted credits.

• Day 6 - 35 of the course: Learners may withdraw from a course during this period. Withdrawn courses are eligible for a tuition refund in accordance with the University Refund Policy, and a grade of W will be recorded on the learner’s transcript.

• Day 36 onwards: Learners who withdraw at this stage are no longer eligible for a refund under the University Refund Policy. A grade of F will be recorded on the learner’s transcript.

Change of Program

Learners who elect to change their academic program must contact the Learner Success Team at success@nexford.edu to request the change and discuss its potential impact on academic progress and goals. Program changes are governed by the requirements of the catalog year in effect at the time the change is officially approved.

Course Load

To ensure academic success and maintain rigorous learning standards, all learners must meet specific criteria before increasing their course load. The requirements vary by program, ensuring that learners build a strong foundation before taking on additional coursework. Course loads are limited to a maximum of two courses at a time, and learners must have no outstanding financial balance to qualify.

• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Business program. Learners may enroll in one course per term for the first four courses of the program. To qualify for two courses per term, learners must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0.

• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program. Learners may enroll in one course per term for the first seven courses of the program. To qualify for two courses per term, learners must maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.0.

• Graduate degree programs. Learners may enroll in one course per term for the first five courses of the program. To qualify for two courses per term, learners must maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.6.

• Undergraduate career pathway programs. Learners may enroll in one course per term for the first two courses of the program. To qualify for two courses per term, learners must maintain a minimum CGPA of 2.0.

• Mini-MBA Graduate Certificate. Learners may enroll in one course per term. The seminar course may be taken alongside another course.

All capstone courses must be taken as a single course per term. If a learner's CGPA falls below the required threshold or if tuition payments are not remitted promptly, their course load will be restricted to a single course per term.

While courses follow an 8-week term structure, learners can accelerate progress and complete a course within one month.  If learners complete a course within one month, their next term begins the first day of the following month.

Course Participation and Inactivity

All Nexford courses start on the first day of the month. All enrolled learners must show evidence of course participation by the 10th day of the course. Failure to submit an assignment within this period will result in automatic dismissal from the program. The Late Work Submission Policy does not apply to Module 1 assignments, which are due within the first ten days of the course, as learners are required to participate by the tenth day of each course, nor to seminar courses, where late submissions are not accepted due to their shorter duration.

Learners who are dismissed due to inactivity are entitled to a refund in accordance with the University Refund Policy. If they wish to be reinstated in their studies, they must follow the readmission process (see Reconsideration for Admissions and Readmission section).

Withdrawal or Dismissal from a Course or Program

Learners may request to withdraw from a course or their program by contacting the Learner Success Team at success@nexford.edu. The University may also dismiss a learner for failure to meet academic standards, non-compliance with participation requirements, behavioral concerns, or non-payment of tuition.

• Withdrawn – learners who voluntarily leave a course or program.

• Dismissed – learners removed by the University due to academic, participation, or financial reasons.

Leave of Absence

A Leave of Absence (LOA) allows degree-seeking learners to temporarily suspend their studies for personal, financial, or academic reasons. This policy applies only to learners enrolled in degree programs. Learners in the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program may take a maximum cumulative total of eight months of LOA, while learners in other degree programs may take up to four months in total. Multiple LOAs may be approved, provided that the total duration does not exceed the maximum limit. Learners on suspension are not eligible for an LOA.

An LOA request submitted on or before the 15th of the month may take effect within the same month. Requests submitted after the 15th will take effect on the first day of the following month. If an LOA begins during the first month of an active course, the course will be withdrawn. If the LOA begins after the course withdrawal deadline, the learner will receive a failing (F) grade for that course.

During an approved LOA, tuition billing is paused, and any unused tuition is credited toward future study. Access to the Learning Management System (Canvas) is suspended for the duration of the LOA. Learners must discuss their intended LOA and return date with their assigned Success Advisor, who will confirm their remaining LOA balance and assist with setting the start and end dates. All LOA requests are subject to University approval.

Learners will receive reminder notifications 25, 15, 10, and 5 days before their scheduled return date. Those who do not confirm or resume their studies by the end of the month preceding their scheduled return date will be dismissed from the University.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Nexford University closely monitors the academic performance of every learner to support them in mastering the competencies they need to complete their courses successfully and to progress in their academic programs. The University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy requires that learners progress through their academic program according to the following measures:

• Cumulative grade point average (CGPA). Learners must maintain the following academic standards:

  • Undergraduate programs: A minimum grade of C (2.0 GPA) in each course and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.

  • Graduate programs: A minimum grade of B (3.0 GPA) in each course and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.

  The CGPA is calculated by averaging the grades earned, with only the highest grade being considered in the calculation for repeated classes.

• Rate of progression (pace). Learners are required to demonstrate consistent academic progression by completing a minimum percentage of credits attempted. This completion rate is calculated by dividing the total number of successfully earned credits by the total number of credits attempted.

All course attempts are calculated toward the rate of completion including failed and withdrawn courses. Courses that are dropped are not calculated into the Pace requirements.

• Maximum time frame (MTF). Learners must complete their academic program within 150% of the program’s published length in order to maintain SAP. Exceeding the MTF results in academic dismissal, regardless of CGPA or Pace status.

SAP Standards

Academic Sanctions

Learners who fall below minimum thresholds are subject to an escalating series of academic sanctions, beginning with an academic warning and culminating in dismissal from Nexford University.

• A learner who fails to meet SAP requirements for the first time will be placed on warning. If they do not meet SAP requirements in the following term, they will be placed on probation. If they still fail to meet SAP requirements in the subsequent term, they will be dismissed from the University. Learners in all programs who receive a failing grade in a course must repeat the course. The grade earned upon retaking the course will be used in the CGPA calculation. The original failing grade will appear on the transcript alongside the new grade but will not be included in the GPA calculation. Learners who have not met SAP requirements due to failing a course three times may take an equivalent course at an approved institution, with the possibility of transferring the credits to Nexford University to replace the failed course. Upon approval of the transfer credit, learners may re-enroll in the program at the University. Learners who have been dismissed from the University due to not meeting academic requirements may reapply when those requirements are met.

• Learners who no longer meet academic requirements will be permanently dismissed from the program. However, learners may be considered for enrollment into a different program.

• In cases where a learner fails the same course three times, they may, with prior approval from the University, complete an equivalent course at a recognized institution. Upon successful completion, the credit may be transferred to Nexford University in accordance with the University’s transfer credit policy.

If a learner fails an elective course and opts to take a different elective course, the grades for both courses will be included in the CGPA calculation.