Undergraduate Academic Standing

Good Academic Standing

A student is in good academic standing when the student maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better.

Assessing Academic Progress

Immediately after the sixth week of fall or spring semester, academic progress reports are sent to all freshmen, international students, and to all other students performing below a "C" level in any course. Students having any problems must confer with their instructors and academic advisors. These reports are not noted in official transcripts.

In addition, if a student's semester GPA is less than a 2.0, the student will be alerted on his end of semester or summer term grade report. The student is encouraged to seek the help of his or her academic advisor to improve his or her GPA in succeeding semesters.

Whether or not students receive academic progress reports or academic alerts, it is the right and responsibility of students to seek feedback about their academic performance from their faculty and academic advisors.

Academic Warning

A freshman student is placed on Academic Warning when the student's cumulative GPA falls between 1.75 and 1.99 at the end of any semester or summer term. Freshmen on Academic Warning are required to meet with their academic advisors to discuss possible modification to their course load, extracurricular activities, and/or employment, and to seek tutoring or other academic support to improve performance.

Academic Probation

A student is placed on Academic Probation if the student's cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the semester or summer term. A freshman is placed on Academic Probation if the cumulative GPA falls below 1.75 for the first time or if a freshman has been previously placed on Academic Warning and his/her cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 for the second time. While on Academic Probation, the student must have a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher to enroll the following semester. The student remains on Academic Probation until his or her cumulative GPA improves to 2.0 or above. A student on Academic Probation whose semester GPA falls below 2.0 is automatically suspended. Nevertheless, if a student on Academic Probation makes a semester GPA of 2.0 or better, but has a cumulative GPA below 2.0, he/she shall remain on Academic Probation.

Students on Academic Probation are required at the beginning of the semester to meet with their advisors to sign academic contracts designed to improve their scholastic performance in the upcoming semester. The academic contract will address the following issues:

• Course load - students will be required to take a manageable course load. This stipulation may mean limiting the course load to 12 credit hours.
• Academic Support - students will be required to document participation in academic support activities (tutoring to workshops, for example).
• Extracurricular activities - students will not be permitted to participate in extracurricular activities, except for selected Intramural Activities determined in consultation with the student's academic advisor.
• Employment - students may be required to limit employment.

Students who fail to meet the requirements of their academic contact may be dismissed from the University at any time during the semester.

Academic Suspension

A student may be academically suspended for either of two circumstances:

• A student on Academic Probation whose semester GPA falls below 2.0 is placed on Academic Suspension and is ineligible to be readmitted before one full academic year has elapsed since his or her suspension. (For example, a student suspended after a fall semester can not enroll at the University until the spring semester of the following year, at the earliest.)
• A student admitted with condition(s) who has not satisfied the condition(s) and who has not been recommended by the Condition Review Committee for continued enrollment as a degree-seeking student will be suspended. That student may re-enroll as a degree- seeking student only after satisfying the condition(s).

Reporting Unsatisfactory Academic Performance

Academic Alert, Academic Warning, Academic Probation, and Academic Suspension appear only on the students' term grade reports and unofficial transcripts.

Appealing Academic Suspension

Due to compelling and verifiable circumstances such as personal, family, medical, psychological, or any other emergency or special academic consideration, a student subject to Academic Suspension may request a hearing before Committee C (Faculty and Student Affairs). If Committee C so decides, the student may be permitted to return for an additional semester on Academic Probation. Except for extenuating circumstances such as personal or family medical/psychological emergency, a student who is suspended for academic reasons cannot be readmitted before three terms (including the summer term) have elapsed. Students wishing to appeal to Committee C should contact the Registrar's Office for forms and deadlines.