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 may begin a new course in the second month, which constitutes the start of a new term. Course timelines are measured in term days beginning on the official course start date rather than fixed calendar dates.

Learners may add or drop a course within the first five term days. Courses dropped during the first five term days 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.

Course Participation and Inactivity

All Nexford courses start on the first day of the month. All enrolled learners must demonstrate academic participation by the 10th day of the course through submission of the required Module 1 assignment. The Late Work Submission Policy does not apply to Module 1 assignments, which are due within the first ten days of the course, nor to seminar courses, where late submissions are not accepted due to their shorter duration.

Failure to demonstrate academic participation may result in administrative withdrawal from the course or dismissal from the program.

Withdrawals and Dismissals

Learners may request to withdraw from 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.

• Program Withdrawal: Learners who voluntarily leave their program.

• Program Dismissal: Learners removed by the University due to academic, participation, behavioral, or financial reasons.

Learners who wish to resume their studies following withdrawal or dismissal must follow the University’s readmission process (see Reconsideration for Admissions and Readmission section).

Course Withdrawals and Administrative Actions

• By Day 10 of the course: Learners who do not demonstrate academic participation will be administratively withdrawn from the course. Learners administratively withdrawn within this period are eligible for a full tuition refund.

• Day 6 – 35 of the course: Learners who have demonstrated academic participation may voluntarily 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 from a course 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.

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 on suspension are not eligible for an LOA. The University permits multiple LOAs, provided that the total duration does not exceed the applicable program limit, and no more than 180 calendar days are taken within any twelve-month period. The cumulative LOA allowance is as follows:

• Associate of Applied Science (AAS): six months

• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA): twelve months

• Master's degree programs: four months

LOA usage does not reset upon readmission to the same program. Any LOA time previously used is applied toward the total LOA allowance for that program.

LOA requests must be submitted in writing to the Learner Success Team at success@nexford.edu in advance of the requested start date and may apply only to future months. Prior to submission, learners must discuss their intended LOA and return date with a Success Advisor, who will confirm the learner’s remaining LOA balance and assist in establishing the appropriate start and end dates. Each request must include the reason for the LOA and the requested start and end dates. All requests are subject to University approval and will be granted only where there is a reasonable expectation that the learner will return from the LOA. 

An LOA cannot take effect within the same month in which it is requested, except in documented emergency situations. Depending on when the LOA begins within a term, enrollment will be affected as follows: 

• If the LOA begins during the first month of a term, the learner will not be enrolled in a course for that term. 

• If the LOA begins during the second month of a term, the learner will be withdrawn from the active course in accordance with University withdrawal policies.

Learners are expected to complete all coursework and receive a final grade by the end of the month preceding the start of the LOA. Failure to do so will result in withdrawal from the course effective on the first day of the LOA.

In cases of unforeseen or emergency circumstances, an LOA may be approved without prior request, provided that the reason is documented and submitted as soon as practicable. In such cases, the effective date of the LOA will be determined by the University based on the date the circumstances resulted in the learner’s inability to continue academic participation, as supported by institutional records. The Learner Success Team may assist learners in identifying appropriate academic alternatives during any interim period. 

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 are expected to resume enrollment on the approved return date. The University will issue reminder notifications prior to the scheduled return date. Learners who do not confirm or resume their studies by the approved return date will be administratively withdrawn, with the effective date based on the learner’s last date of academic activity. 

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

Course Failure and Repetition

Learners who receive a failing grade must repeat the course. Assignments submitted in repeated courses must reflect new work and original analysis; reuse of prior submissions is permitted only with instructor approval.

All course attempts are recorded on the learner’s academic record, with only the highest grade included in the CGPA calculation, while all attempts, including failed and withdrawn courses, are included in the pace calculation for SAP.

If a learner fails to successfully complete a course twice or is withdrawn from the same course twice, they will be placed on a SAP plan to support successful completion. Failure to pass the course on the third attempt will result in dismissal from the University.

Learners dismissed after failing the same course three times may, upon readmission and with prior approval:

• Complete an equivalent course from an accredited institution or recognized provider, subject to approval and transfer credit policies

• Change to a different program, provided the failed course is not a required component of the new program’s curriculum

• Select an alternative elective, if applicable

Learners enrolled in single courses who fail a course three times are not permitted to retake that course.

Academic Sanctions

Learners who fail to meet SAP requirements are subject to the following sequence of academic sanctions:

• Academic Warning: Issued upon the first failure to meet SAP standards

• Academic Probation: Issued if SAP standards are not met in the subsequent term

• Academic Dismissal: Issued if SAP standards are not met in the following term

Learners dismissed for failure to meet SAP requirements may be considered for readmission if they remain able to meet program requirements within the maximum time frame. If not, and a program change is not a viable option, dismissal is permanent and the learner is not eligible for readmission.