Academic Probation

Academic Probation

An undergraduate student with 36 or more attempted hours with an institution GPA of less than 2.00 is 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.

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 institution GPA is higher than 2.00, or
• Students will be placed on semester GPA warning status if the semester GPA is below 2.00 and the USU institution GPA is 2.00 or higher, or
• Students will remain on academic probation status if they earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA, but the USU institution GPA remains below 2.00, or
• Students will be placed on academic suspension if they earn less than a 2.00 semester GPA, and the USU institution GPA remains below 2.00.

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 advising holds (which prevent registration) 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.

Consequences of Academic Probation

The academic unit associated with the student’s major has the authority to determine the consequences of academic probation. These consequences may include one or more of the following but are not limited to: placing an advising hold (which prevents registration) 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 Success 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.

Notifications, Transcript Notations, and Holds

An undergraduate student placed on academic probation shall be notified in writing of that action by his or her college dean, advisor, or other college or departmental representative. 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 Email Communication Policy ). A notation, Academic Probation, is placed on the student’s transcript. Students on academic probation may have an advising hold placed on their registration and may need to meet with their academic advisor.