Repeating Excelsior College Courses

Statement of Policy

Enrolled undergraduate students are allowed one retake of an Excelsior College course for which they have received an F (or D grade in core or professional component requirement). Grades of I (student granted an extension to complete work), W (withdrawn), AW (administratively withdrawn), and MW (military withdrawal) are excluded from this policy.

There is one exception: enrolled undergraduate students are allowed two retakes of a required course that can only be taken at Excelsior College (e.g., a capstone course) in which they are unsuccessful.

  • If a student receives a third F or D grade in an Excelsior College capstone course, the student will not be able to complete the degree program.
  • A student who fails the capstone or a nursing theory course three times must transfer to an appropriate degree program within 60 days. Failure to do so will result in academic dismissal from the program and administrative withdrawal from the College.

Excelsior College courses with acceptable grades (D or C depending on program requirement) cannot be repeated for a higher grade. If the student chooses to repeat the course, it will not apply to the degree.

Some Excelsior College degrees have time limits on the acceptance of courses to meet degree requirements. In such cases, the course(s) can be repeated for the degree regardless of previous grade earned. Note: Federal Student Aid (Title IV) can only pay for one such repeat.

Procedure

The advisor will notify a student at the time of their evaluation when an F (or D grade in core or professional component requirement) is received.

  • If it is the first F (or D grade in core or professional component requirement) in the course, the student will be notified that they can retake the course once.
  • If it is the second F (or D grade in core or professional component requirements), the student will be notified that they cannot take the course again. 

Note: Students who take a combination of nursing courses and nursing theory examinations will have a maximum of four attempts. For example, students may take one course and three exams; two courses and two exams; three courses and no exams, one exam and three course, four exams and no courses.  See Repeating Excelsior College Examinations and Grades Awarded and Accepted by Excelsior College.

If the student does not send in the transfer request within 60 calendar days, then the student will be academically dismissed from the program and administratively withdrawn from the College. After 60 days, the student wishes to enroll in a different program they will be responsible for the full enrollment fees.

Please refer Administrative Withdrawal and Academic Dismissal for further details.