Academic Probation

Degree-seeking Students

Students enrolled in a graduate degree program must maintain a cumulative graduate 3.000 grade-point-average (GPA) and meet their department's academic progress criteria toward degree completion. The minimum 3.000 GPA is based on all coursework taken for graduate credit, regardless of whether or not the courses are recommended or required for a specific graduate degree. Additionally, each program has its own criteria by which a student is evaluated on satisfactory academic progress. Falling below a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.000 or failure to meet other academic progress requirements will result in the student being placed on academic probation by the Dean of the Graduate College. Students on probation are required to meet with their Faculty Advisor, discuss the steps to be taken to remediate the problems that led to the probationary status, and develop a mentoring plan with specific actions to get back into satisfactory status. If, upon completion of a semester, the student's cumulative graduate GPA is below 3.0, or if the student failed to make satisfactory progress during that semester, the student will be allowed to register for one additional semester. An academic probation hold will prevent students from enrolling beyond that additional semester. Students who fail to make satisfactory process, and those whose cumulative graduate GPA is below 3.0, for two consecutive semesters will be disqualified from their program. Departments may petition for a one semester extension to academic probation for students who are making good progress towards satisfactory academic standing.

If a grade changes or completion of an Incomplete causes a prior semester's cumulative GPA to drop below 3.0, the student will retroactively be placed on probation and that semester will count as the student's first semester below 3.0.

Disqualified students may

  • Apply as non-degree seeking and continue to take graduate courses in non-degree status, OR
  • Apply for Academic Renewal if they wish to apply to a different major and the other major has agreed to accept them.  The graduate GPA will NOT be changed until the student has been admitted to the new program. 

Students can apply for readmission to a degree program as early as the semester after their disqualification if they achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 through additional graduate course work. A re-admission request must be supported by the head of the major department and approved by the Graduate College. There is no guarantee of re-admission.

Certificate Students

Students enrolled in a graduate certificate program must maintain a cumulative graduate 3.000 grade-point-average (GPA) and meet their department's academic progress criteria toward degree completion. The minimum 3.000 GPA is based on all coursework taken for graduate credit, regardless of whether or not the courses are recommended or required for a specific graduate certificate. Additionally, each program has its own criteria by which a student is evaluated on satisfactory academic progress. Falling below a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.000 or failure to meet other academic progress requirements will result in the student being placed on academic probation by the Dean of the Graduate College. Students on probation are required to meet with their Faculty Advisor, discuss the steps to be taken to remediate the problems that led to the probationary status, and develop a mentoring plan with specific actions to get back into satisfactory status. If, upon completion of a semester, the student's cumulative graduate GPA is below 3.0, or if the student failed to make satisfactory progress during that semester, the student will be allowed to register for one additional semester. An academic probation hold will prevent students from enrolling beyond that additional semester. Students who fail to make satisfactory process, and those whose cumulative graduate GPA is below 3.0, for two consecutive semesters will be disqualified from their program. Departments may petition for a one semester extension to academic probation for students who are making good progress towards satisfactory academic standing.

If a grade changes or completion of an Incomplete causes a prior semester's cumulative GPA to drop below 3.0, the student will retroactively be placed on probation and that semester will count as the student's first semester below 3.0.

Disqualified students may

  • Apply as non-degree seeking and continue to take graduate courses in non-degree status, OR
  • Apply for Academic Renewal if they wish to apply to a different major and the other major has agreed to accept them.  The graduate GPA will NOT be changed until the student has been admitted to the new program. 

Students can apply for readmission to a degree program as early as the semester after their disqualification if they achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 through additional graduate course work. A re-admission request must be supported by the head of the major department and approved by the Graduate College. There is no guarantee of re-admission.