Admissions and Records
Academic Pause Policy
Understanding Academic and Progress Notice & Pause at Fullerton College. If you've been placed on pause, you're not alone — and there is a clear path forward. Review the information below to understand your status and next steps.
🚫 Credit Enrollment Hold
Students on pause cannot register for credit classes until a Petition for Academic Restart is approved.
✅ Support Services Available
You can still access counseling, tutoring, the food bank, health services, and noncredit courses.
📋 Transcript Notation
Academic or progress pause will be noted on your transcript. A restart and improvement demonstrate resilience.
🔄 Restart Is Possible
Submit a Petition for Academic Restart to return to credit enrollment. The committee reviews in 7–10 business days.
What Does It Mean to Be on Academic or Progress Pause?
📍 The Path from Notice to Pause: Students are first placed on academic or progress notice when they fall below academic standards. If you remain on notice for three consecutive semesters without improvement, you'll be placed on pause. However, if you show improvement during a semester on notice — earning a 2.0+ GPA for academic notice or completing 50%+ of units for progress notice — you'll receive an automatic extension, giving you more time to get back on track.
🚫 Credit Course Enrollment
Students on academic or progress pause cannot register for credit classes until they:
- Submit a Petition for Academic Restart
- Get approved by the Academic Standards Committee
A hold will be placed on your record until your petition is approved.
✅ What You CAN Still Do While on Pause
Good news! While on pause, you remain eligible to:
- Access all support services (counseling, tutoring, food bank, health center, and more)
- Enroll in noncredit courses
- Meet with counselors to plan your return
- Use campus resources like the library
📋 If Approved for Restart
When your petition is approved:
- You'll return on academic or progress notice
- Your enrollment may be limited (typically 12 units or less per semester)
- You'll need to demonstrate serious intent to succeed
Why Was I Placed on Academic or Progress Pause?
Academic Pause (GPA-Related)
You'll be placed on academic pause if:
- You're on academic notice for 3 consecutive semesters
- Your cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 in all units attempted during those terms
💡 Notice Extension: If you earn a GPA of 2.0 or higher in a semester but your cumulative GPA still results in academic notice, your time on notice will be extended an additional semester. This gives you more time to improve.
Progress Pause (Completion-Related)
You'll be placed on progress pause if:
- You're on progress notice for 3 consecutive semesters
- You receive symbols of "W" (withdrawal), "I" (incomplete), or "NP" (no pass) in 50% or more of all enrolled units during those terms
💡 Notice Extension: If you complete more than 50% of all units attempted in a semester but your cumulative records still result in progress notice, your time on notice will be extended an additional semester.
What Are "Consecutive Terms"?
Terms are considered consecutive based on your enrollment, as long as the break in your enrollment doesn't exceed one full primary term.
Primary terms are Fall and Spring semesters.
Example: If you're enrolled in Fall 2025, skip Spring 2026, but return Fall 2026, the terms are NOT considered consecutive because you missed one full primary term (Spring 2026).
🎯 The Key Difference: Academic notice/pause is about your GPA (grades). Progress notice/pause is about course completion (too many W's, I's, or NP's). Both are designed to help identify when you need additional support.
Petitioning for Academic Restart
Step 1: Meet with a Counselor
Strongly recommended (but not required). Schedule an appointment to:
- Discuss what led to your pause status
- Identify support services that can help
- Create a realistic plan for success
- Develop strategies to improve your performance
Step 2: Complete Your Petition
Submit your Petition for Academic Restart through the Admissions and Records Office.
Your petition must include:
- A written explanation of your circumstances
- How you plan to improve your academic performance
- Evidence of serious intent to succeed
- A realistic academic goal
Step 3: Committee Review
The Academic Standards Committee will review your petition.
Timeline: 7–10 business days
Notification: You'll receive the decision by email
If approved: You will return on academic or progress notice. Your enrollment may be limited (typically 12 units or less per semester), and you'll need to demonstrate improvement to avoid returning to pause status.
If denied: You cannot enroll in credit classes at Fullerton or Cypress College, but can still access support services.
💡 Tip: Your petition is your opportunity to explain what happened and show you're ready to succeed. Be honest about challenges you faced, but focus on the concrete steps you'll take to improve. Specific plans and use of support services strengthen your petition.
Understanding Academic and Progress Notice
Placement on Academic Notice
You'll be placed on academic notice if:
- You've attempted at least 12 semester units
- Your cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 in all units taken at the college
To be removed from academic notice: Your cumulative GPA must reach 2.0 or higher.
Placement on Progress Notice
You'll be placed on progress notice if:
- You've enrolled in at least 12 semester units
- You receive symbols of "W," "I," or "NP" in 50% or more of all enrolled units
To be removed from progress notice: The percentage of "W," "I," or "NP" grades must drop below 50% of all enrolled units.
Notice Extensions — NEW!
Academic Notice Extension:
If you're on academic notice and earn a GPA of 2.0 or higher for the semester, but your cumulative GPA still results in academic notice, your time on notice will be extended an additional semester.
Example: You're on academic notice with a cumulative GPA of 1.85. This semester you earn a 2.5 GPA, but your cumulative GPA only rises to 1.95 (still below 2.0). Instead of moving to pause, you get an additional semester on notice to continue improving.
Progress Notice Extension:
If you're on progress notice and complete more than 50% of all units attempted for the semester, but your cumulative records still result in progress notice, your time on notice will be extended an additional semester.
Example: You're on progress notice with 55% of your total units showing W/I/NP grades. This semester you complete 11 out of 12 units (92% completion), but your cumulative completion rate only improves to 52% (still above the 50% threshold). Instead of moving to pause, you get an additional semester on notice to continue improving.
These extensions give you more time to improve when you're making progress!
Notification Timeline
Fullerton College will notify you if you're placed on academic or progress notice or pause:
- Timing: At or near the beginning of the semester in which it takes effect
- Deadline: No later than the start of the fall semester
- Method: Email to your student email account
You'll also be notified of removal from notice or approval for academic restart within timelines established by the district.
How to Improve Your Academic Performance
Ask for Help Early
Don't wait until you're struggling — support is available from the start.
Counselors, faculty, and staff are here to support you at every step. Reaching out early gives you more options and more time to course-correct before problems snowball.
- Visit counseling regularly — even just once a semester
- Attend your professor's office hours when you're confused
- Connect with your academic advisor to stay on track
Improve Your Transcript
Strategic grade replacement and better completion habits make a real difference.
Retake D and F grades to quickly raise your GPA. Earning a C or higher will replace the previous substandard grade on your record.
On progress notice? Aim to complete more than 50% of your enrolled units each semester. Every successfully completed course moves the needle.
Need to drop a class? Do it within the first two weeks to avoid a "W" on your record — withdrawals count against your progress rate.
Take Fewer Units
Quality over quantity — a lighter load often leads to better outcomes.
Consider enrolling in fewer classes so you can focus more deeply on each course. This is especially important if you have work or family responsibilities that compete for your time.
Taking on too much can lead to poor grades, repeated courses, and spending extra time and money. A smaller, successful semester is far better than a bigger, struggling one.
Make an Educational Plan
A clear roadmap prevents wasted time, money, and units.
Meet with a counselor to create a comprehensive educational plan — a clear path that maps out every course you need to reach your goal, in the right order.
A solid plan helps you avoid taking unnecessary courses, stay focused, and register on time for the classes that matter most for your program.
Take a Counseling Course
Learn the skills for academic success in a structured, supported environment.
Consider enrolling in COUN 151 F — a course specifically designed to help students develop proven strategies for academic success, time management, study skills, and goal-setting.
Students who take this course often report feeling more organized, confident, and prepared to handle the demands of college-level work.
Use Campus Resources
Free support is built into your enrollment — take advantage of it.
Fullerton College offers extensive free academic support services that many students never use. These resources exist specifically to help you succeed:
- Skills Center — Tutoring in math, science, and more
- Writing Center — Help with papers, essays, and writing skills
- Library — Quiet study spaces, research assistance, and computers
- Academic Support Center — Additional tutoring and study resources
- Computer Labs — Free access to computers and printing
Address Basic Needs
It's hard to study when you're hungry, stressed, or dealing with a crisis.
Fullerton College's Hornets Resource Center connects students with essential services so life stressors don't derail your academic progress:
- Food Bank — Free groceries available weekly
- Health Center — Physical and mental health services
- Hornets Resource Center — Emergency financial assistance and referrals
Drop Classes Properly
Always verify your drops — don't assume your professor will do it for you.
Always verify your schedule after dropping a class! Professors cannot drop you from a course on your behalf. You are responsible for completing the drop in myGateway.
Check myGateway regularly to confirm that dropped classes are correctly reflected in your enrollment. If a class is still showing on your schedule, you could end up with F grades — which hurt both your GPA and your completion rate.
Access Support While on Pause
Pause status doesn't cut you off — you still have access to the full support network.
Even if you're currently on academic or progress pause, you remain eligible to access all of the following services while you prepare your petition:
- Counseling services and academic advising
- Tutoring and academic support centers
- Food bank and health services
- Career planning and exploration resources
- Noncredit course enrollment
Explore All Support Programs
Fullerton College has over 20 specialized programs designed for students like you.
Beyond general counseling and tutoring, FC offers a wide range of specialized support programs that provide dedicated advising, cohort communities, financial assistance, and wrap-around support:
- EOPS — Extended Opportunity Programs & Services
- CalWORKs — Support for students receiving public assistance
- Foster Youth Support — Services for current and former foster youth
- Puente and Umoja — Transfer-focused learning communities
- And many more programs serving diverse student needs
💪 Remember: Being placed on notice or pause doesn't mean you've failed — it means you need additional support. Many successful students have faced academic challenges and come back stronger. Use this as an opportunity to connect with resources and develop better strategies.
Additional Information
Impact on Transcript
Yes, a hold will be placed on your record for credit course enrollment, and "Academic Pause" or "Progress Pause" will appear on your academic transcript.
However, successfully petitioning for restart and improving your performance demonstrates resilience and personal growth.
Impact on Enrollment Priority
Regulations state that students must be in good academic standing to qualify for enrollment priority.
Students on academic or progress notice for three consecutive terms will lose enrollment priority until they are no longer on notice.
Registration appointments will be issued in accordance with Title 5 regulations.
Impact on California College Promise Grant (CCPG)
Students placed on academic or progress notice for two consecutive primary terms will lose California College Promise Grant (formerly BOG Fee Waiver) eligibility.
Exception: Foster Youth (as defined in Education Code) are exempt from losing CCPG due to academic or progress notice.
You'll receive notification if you're at risk of losing CCPG eligibility, and counseling services will be available to help you maintain eligibility.
Appeal Process
You may appeal placement on academic or progress notice or pause. Appeals procedures are published by the district.
Grounds for appeal may include:
- Extenuating circumstances (verified cases of accidents, illnesses, or circumstances beyond your control)
- Significant academic improvement
- Disability-related issues where reasonable accommodation was not provided in a timely manner
Contact the Admissions and Records Office for information about the appeal process.
Need Help? Contact Us
📧 Academic Pause Questions
For information about the academic pause process or the petition form:
🏢 Admissions & Records Office
Visit us for in-person assistance or check our hours and online services:
💬 Counseling Services
Schedule an appointment to discuss your academic plan and get personalized support:
📖 Policy Information: Academic and Progress Notice and Pause policies and procedures are published in the college catalog. For complete details, refer to the current Fullerton College Catalog or contact the Admissions and Records Office.