Academic Standards
Academic Standards
Academic standing is calculated at the end of the fall and spring semesters for students enrolled in six or more credits. Students , their enrollment advisor, and faculty mentors will be notified by the Chief Academic Officer if they are placed on Academic Alert, Academic Probation, Continued Academic Probation, or are Academically Dismissed.
Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to be in good standing and eligible to graduate. Students failing to meet the 2.0 minimum standard will be placed on probation or dismissed. One exception is that freshmen will remain off probation if they have a cumulative GPA of 1.75 and above.
1. Academic Alert – Students are placed on academic alert when their cumulative GPA is above the required threshold (2.0), but their semester GPA is between 1.0 -1.99. Freshmen will be placed on academic alert if their cumulative GPA is 1.75 -1.99.
2. Academic Probation – Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 (or 1.75 for freshmen) will be placed on probation. Similarly, students who have a cumulative GPA that meets the minimum standard (2.0) but who have a semester GPA below a 1.0 will be placed on probation. Students are allowed one semester on Academic Probation.
Students on Academic Probation must meet with Student Success. Students may be advised to limit non-academic activities; attend study sessions; and meet with their enrollment advisor, a student academic coach, and athletic coach.
3. Continued Academic Probation – Students are allowed to continue on probation if their cumulative GPA is still below the minimum standard (2.0), but who earned at least a 2.0 semester GPA
a. Students who have returned to good academic standing after being on probation should note that any subsequent semester in which they fall short of academic standards will result in being placed on Continued Academic Probation.
b. Students will be allowed to continue on probation multiple semesters as long as they meet the standard above.
Students on Continued Probation must meet with Student Success. Students may be advised to limit non-academic activities; attend study sessions; and meet with their enrollment advisor, a student academic coach, and athletic coach
4. Good Standing - A student is removed from Academic Probation or Continued Academic Probation when the semester and cumulative GPA meet the academic criteria of 2.0 at the end of a semester. Students who have been on probation will receive notice when they return to good academic standing.
5. Academic Dismissal – Students may be dismissed for any of the following reasons:
a. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors who have a cumulative GPA below 1.0 will be dismissed. (First semester freshmen with a cumulative GPA below 1.75 will be placed on probation.)
b. Students who do not have a at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of their probationary semester who did not earned a semester GPA above a 2.0 will be dismissed.
While these are the typical reasons why a student might be academically dismissed, the university reserves the right to dismiss any student who fails to achieve minimum academic standards at any point during his or her college career. A dismissed student must wait at least one semester before applying for readmission, and readmission is contingent on the approval of the Registrar and Director of Student Success.
Dismissal Appeals
Students wishing to appeal their dismissal must submit an online appeal form to the Chief Academic Officer (CAO).
A. The appeal must be submitted within one week of being notified of the shortfall.
B. The student’s appeal must include:
1. An explanation of why the student failed to meet Academic Standards; and
2. A detailed explanation of how the student plans to improve their academic record.
C. Submission of an appeal is not a guarantee of approval.
D. The Undergraduate Academic Affairs Committee (UAAC), the Financial Aid Director, and the Director of Student Success will review the appeal, and the CAO will notify students if their appeal was accepted or denied.
E. If the appeal is approved, the University will allow the student to continue enrollment.
1. The student will be placed on Probation noting that their appeal was approved.
2. Students must meet with Student Success Office.
F. If the appeal is denied, the student will not be eligible to remain enrolled as a student and must sit out for a minimum of one semester before being considered for readmittance to the institution.
G. Any dismissed student who successfully applies for readmission will be on Probation noting that their appeal was approved.
H. Per NCAA regulations, athletes who are dismissed are ineligible to participate in practice or competitions effective the date on their dismissal letter. Participation may resume after notification that the appeal was accepted.
Extraordinary Hardship Appeal
A student whose underachievement occurred under extraordinary circumstances, of rare and extreme hardship, may be permitted to appeal any probation or dismissal status. This type of appeal must be accompanied by appropriate documentation, and may include:
1. Death in the family
2. Serious illness of an immediate family member
3. Medical complications or prolonged illness or injury of the student
4. Serious misapplication (by the University) of institutional standards, due to misinformation or error.
An extraordinary appeal, if successful, would reverse Academic Dismissal status and permit the student to continue on Probation. noting that their appeal was approved. Students wishing to appeal because of an extraordinary hardship would follow the same procedure as stated above but must also include documentation of the hardship.
Requirements to receive Financial Aid vary from Academic Standards. Students may be academically qualified to register for class, but not eligible for financial aid. Please see the financial aid section for more information about the financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.
Students majoring in education should note that a higher GPA is required for the major than is generally required for the institution. Education majors placed on probation or dismissed should review the School of Education handbook.