Honor Roll (Dean’s List)
To qualify for the semester honor roll (Dean’s List), a student must earn a 3.5 GPA in 15 or more graded credits, except for summer semester for which 12 or more graded credits are required. Note: Courses for which a P (Pass) grade is received do not qualify for graded credits.
“A” Pin
Scholarship “A” pins are presented to undergraduate students who have received all A grades (4.0 GPA) for 15 or more graded credits each semester during two consecutive semesters in residency. Note: Courses for which a P (Pass) grade is received do not qualify for graded credits.
Academic Standing Policy
Continued enrollment at Utah State University is dependent upon an undergraduate student maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward attaining a degree. To assist students in maintaining satisfactory progress, Utah State University has adopted academic standards designed to provide early identification of students who are experiencing academic difficulty, and to provide timely intervention through academic advising and academic support programs. Academic standing at Utah State University is dependent upon the total number of credits a student has attempted, the student’s semester grade point average (GPA), and the student’s cumulative USU GPA.
Undergraduate students are placed on semester GPA warning, academic warning, or academic probation as a warning that their academic progress is not satisfactory, and that they should take steps to improve their academic performance to avoid suspension from the University. Students who are placed on semester GPA warning, academic warning or academic probation should immediately seek assistance in academic improvement from such sources as academic advisors, instructors, and the Academic Resource Center.
Good Standing
An undergraduate student is considered by the University to be in good standing when his or her semester GPA is 2.00 or higher and the USU cumulative GPA is 2.00 or higher. At the end of a semester, one of the following actions will be taken for students who began the term in good standing:
- Students will continue in good standing if they earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA and the USU cumulative GPA is higher than 2.00, or
- Students who have a semester GPA below 2.00, but maintain a USU cumulative GPA that is 2.00 or higher, will be placed on semester GPA warning, which will appear as a blank on the transcript, or
- Students will be placed on academic warning if the USU cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 and the cumulative attempted hours are less than 36 credits, or
- Students will be placed on academic probation if the USU cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 and the cumulative attempted hours are 36 credits or more.
Concurrent Enrollment Credit
Students who are taking courses through USU concurrent enrollment will not have academic standing noted on their transcripts until they have attempted 9 or more credits.
Semester GPA Warning
An undergraduate student with a term GPA less than 2.00, but whose USU cumulative GPA is 2.00 or higher, will be placed on semester GPA warning. Students on semester GPA warning will NOT have this status designated on the transcript, but the academic standing will appear blank, rather than indicating good standing.
At the end of a semester, one of the following actions will be taken for students who began the term on semester GPA warning:
- Students will be placed in good standing if they earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA and the USU cumulative GPA is higher than 2.00, or
- Students who graduate at the end of the semester and have a semester GPA below 2.00, but maintain a USU cumulative GPA that is 2.00 or higher, will temporarily be placed on academic warning status. When the graduation is closed out, the academic standing will be changed to semester GPA warning, which will appear as a blank on the transcript, or
- Students who are not graduating will be placed on academic warning status if the semester GPA is below 2.00, regardless of the USU cumulative GPA or
- Students will be placed on academic probation if their semester GPA is below 2.00, the USU cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 and the cumulative attempted hours are 36 credits or more.
Consequences of Semester GPA Warning
The academic unit associated with the student’s major has the authority to determine the consequences of semester GPA warning. These consequences may include one or more of the following, but are not limited to: placing a registration hold on a student’s record, requiring a meeting with an academic advisor, and requiring the student to sign a contract. A contract may require specific actions to be taken by the student, and an expected level of performance in the classroom, in order for the student to continue in his or her current degree program. A contract may include, but is not limited to, things such as: meeting with an advisor in the Academic Resource Center, participating in a workshop, attending tutoring sessions, participating in supplemental instruction, taking specific courses and achieving a specified minimum grade, and meeting regularly with an advisor. Failure to fulfill the contract may lead to dismissal from a program of study.
The consequences outlined here are also applicable to students placed on academic warning or academic probation.
Academic Warning
An undergraduate student with less than 36 attempted hours and with a USU cumulative GPA of less than 2.00 is placed on academic warning. An undergraduate student on semester GPA warning who has another consecutive semester with a semester GPA below 2.00, while retaining a USU cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher, will be placed on academic warning, regardless of the number of credits attempted. Students on acdemic warning who complete all graduation requirements (which includes a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher) will have the standing in the last term changed from academic warning to semester GPA warning, which appears as a blank on the transcript. Academic warning serves as a reminder that future semesters with a GPA below 2.00 could result in more serious consequences.
At the end of the next semester of enrollment, one of the following actions will be taken for students who began the term on academic warning status:
- Students will be removed from academic warning status and placed in good standing if they earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA and the USU cumulative GPA is higher than 2.0, or
- Students will remain on academic warning status if they earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA, but the USU cumulative GPA remains below 2.00, and the cumulative attempted hours are less than 36 credits, or
- Students will remain on academic warning status if they earn less than a 2.00 semester GPA, but the USU cumulative GPA rises above 2.00, or
- Students will be placed on academic probation if the USU cumulative GPA remains below 2.00 and the cumulative attempted hours are 36 credits or more, or
- Students will be placed on academic probation if they earn less than a 2.00 semester GPA, and the USU cumulative GPA remains below 2.0.
Academic Probation
An undergraduate student with 36 or more attempted hours with a USU cumulative GPA of less than 2.00 is placed on academic probation. A student with who is on academic warning and has a semester GPA of less than 2.00 is also placed on academic probation. Academic probation serves as a warning to students that their academic progress is not satisfactory, and that they should take steps to improve their academic performance to avoid suspension from the University. Academic probation is an indication of very serious academic difficulty which may result in suspension from the University. Undergraduate students may be placed on academic probation as a result of either semester GPA, cumulative GPA, or both.
At the end of the next semester of enrollment, one of the following actions will be taken for students who began the term on academic probation status:
- Students will be removed from academic probation status and placed in good standing if they earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA and the USU cumulative GPA is higher than 2.00, or
- Students will remain on academic probation status if they earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA, but the USU cumulative GPA remains below 2.00, or
- Students will be placed on academic suspension if they fail to earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA.
A student who is on academic probation and receives an incomplete grade in one or more classes may register for classes in the subsequent semester, provided the grades received from his or her other classes are high enough to prevent the student from being placed on academic suspension. A student in this situation, prior to making up the incomplete grade, may enroll in only one subsequent semester. A Registrar’s Office hold will then be placed on the student’s record, preventing him or her from registering for a second additional semester. Additional registration holds may be placed on a student’s record by an academic advisor. The Registrar’s Office hold will not be removed until the incomplete grade is changed to a letter grade. If the resulting grade does not cause the student to be placed on academic suspension, the Registrar’s Office hold will be removed. Other registration holds, such as an advisor hold, will need to be removed by the office placing the hold.
Exceptions to the one subsequent semester limitation may be made (1) if receiving the grade that accompanies the incomplete grade (e.g., a student who receives an IF grade would receive an F if no additional work was completed) would not cause the student to be placed on academic suspension for the semester in which the incomplete grade was originally received, or (2) by memo of justification from the course instructor who submitted the incomplete grade. Any exceptions must be requested through the Registrar’s Office.
Academic Standing for Student Athletics Eligibility
Student athletes are considered, for purposes of athletics eligibility and NCAA or NJCAA intercollegiate competition, to be in good standing if they meet the applicable NCAA or NJCAA grade point average rule and are able to register for classes and attend during the next subsequent regular academic semester.
Academic Suspension
Undergraduate students who do not meet the requirements of their academic probation are suspended from the University. A student who is on probation and earns a semester GPA of less than 2.00 is subject to suspension. An undergraduate student placed on academic suspension shall be notified in writing of that action by the University Advising Center (or by the Academic Advising and Orientation Office at USU-Eastern). Since this notification will typically be sent by e-mail, it is the student’s responsibility to check his or her preferred e-mail account as designated in Banner (Access) (see E-mail Communication Policy ). The notation Academic Suspension is placed on the student’s transcript. A student who is registered for classes in the semester immediately following the suspension will be dropped from those classes. Questions about the suspension should be directed to the student’s advisor.
Notifications, Transcript Notations, and Registration Holds
An undergraduate student placed on semester GPA warning, academic warning or academic probation shall be notified in writing of that action by his or her college dean, advisor, or other college or departmental representative. An undergraduate student placed on academic suspension shall be notified in writing of that action by the University Advising Center (or by the Academic Advising and Orientation Office at USU Eastern). Since these notifications will typically be sent by e-mail, it is the student’s responsibility to check his or her preferred e-mail account as designated in Banner (Access) (see E-mail Communication Policy ). A notation Academic Warning, Academic Probation, or Academic Suspension is placed on the student’s transcript. Students on semester GPA warning, academic warning or academic probation will have a hold placed on their registration and must meet with their academic advisor.
Suspension Appeal Process
Any suspended student wishing to appeal his or her academic suspension must meet with an advisor, located in the University Advising Center (or the Academic Advising and Orientation Office at USU Eastern), and express a desire to make an appeal. Students should understand that, while they are entitled to appeal their suspension, very few appeals will be approved.
The student must write an appeal letter and complete an appeal form. The appeal letter must include: (1) a clear explanation as to why the student believes the suspension penalties should be lifted, (2) an account of reasons why the student feels he or she didn’t perform well, and (3) a description of the student’s plan for improvement.
The chair of the Suspension Appeals Committee, will submit the appeal letter (attached to the student’s transcript) to the committee. The chair will contact the student’s academic advisor to solicit additional information that might be relevant to the committee’s decision. Additionally, the matriculation advisor will find out if the student’s department supports a suspension reversal or not.
If the committee upholds the suspension, the decision will be final (if endorsed by the Vice President for Student Services). The committee chair will notify the student that the appeal was denied. After the suspension has been satisfied, the student may apply for readmission.
If the committee waives the suspension penalties, the matriculation advisor will meet with the student and have him or her sign a retention contract. The student’s department will provide specific contractual obligations.
If the student was not properly notified of his or her probation (as outlined in the Academic Probation policy), the student’s appeal is likely to be granted. Students should be aware that, even if their appeal is granted, a notation of suspension will remain on their transcripts.
Readmission Following Academic Suspension
Students who have been suspended once may apply for readmission after a one-semester layout at USU Eastern or a two-semester layout at USU. Students who have been suspended two times may apply for readmission to the University following a layout of one full calendar year.
Academic Dismissal
Students who become subject to suspension for a third time will receive notice of academic dismissal from the University and have the notation academic dismissal placed on their transcript. Students who have been dismissed may apply for readmission to the University following a layout of five or more calendar years.
Low-Scholarship Notification for Graduate Students
The dean of the School of Graduate Studies will notify students whose GPA is below 3.0 any semester. If the GPA falls below 3.0 for two consecutive semesters, the student may be placed on probationary status and his or her graduate program may be terminated. For further information, see Low-Scholarship Notification .
|
