Graduate Academic Standing, Progress & Probation

Good Standing

Good standing status denotes that a student is eligible to continue in or to return to the University.

Academic Progress

Students enrolled in a graduate degree program must maintain a 3.000 grade-point-average (GPA) and meet their departments academic progress criteria toward degree completion. The minimum 3.000 GPA is based on all course work taken for graduate credit, whether or not the courses are offered in satisfaction of the specific requirements for a specific graduate degree.

Additionally, each department has its own criteria by which a student is evaluated on academic progress. Failure to meet those academic progress requirements will result in the student being placed on academic probation by the Dean of the Graduate College.

Probation and Disqualification, Academic

Degree Students

Graduate students who have less than a cumulative 3.000 grade-point-average (GPA) will be placed on academic probation. Students on probation are required to meet with their major advisor, discuss the steps necessary to remediate the problems that led to probation, and devise a written action plan to be submitted to the Graduate College.

Students whose cumulative GPA is below 3.000 for two consecutive semesters will be disqualified from their degree program. Disqualification results in the student being blocked from registration. The student's department may petition for a one-semester extension of probation if the faculty believes that the student has a high probability of returning to good academic standing in one semester.

Disqualified students may apply for one of the following:

  • Non-degree status, which allows them to continue taking graduate courses as non-degree seeking students, or

  • Academic Renewal, if they wish to apply to a different degree program.

Students may apply for readmission to a degree program as early as the semester after their disqualification, if they achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.000 through additional graduate course work. A readmission request must be supported by the head of the major department and approved by the Dean of the Graduate College. There is no guarantee of readmission.

Certificate Students

Students who have less than a cumulative 3.000 grade-point-average (GPA) will be placed on academic probation.  Students whose cumulative GPA is below 3.000 for two consecutive semesters will be removed from the certificate program and disqualified.  Disqualification results in the student being blocked from registration. The student's department may petition for a one-semester extension of probation if the faculty believes that the student has a high probability of returning to good academic standing in one semester.

Disqualified students may apply for one of the following:

  • Non-Degree status, which allows them to continue taking graduate courses as non-degree seeking students, or

  • Academic Renewal, if they wish to apply for a certificate offered by a different department.

Students may apply for readmission to a certificate program as early as the semester after their disqualification, if they achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.000 through additional graduate course work. A readmission request must be supported by the head of the department offering the certificate and approved by the Dean of the Graduate College. There is no guarantee of readmission.

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