Nov 23, 2024  
2012-2013 General Catalog (Spring 2013) 
    
2012-2013 General Catalog (Spring 2013) ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Academic Standing


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 provisional admission, 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 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 USU cumulative GPA is 2.00 or higher. An undergraduate student whose USU cumulative GPA is less than a 2.0 is placed on academic warning or academic probation, based on the number of attempted hours, admission status, and the USU cumulative GPA. A student with less than 36 attempted hours and with a USU cumulative GPA of less than 2.00 is placed on academic warning. A student with 36 or more attempted hours, or any student with a standing of provisional admission warning, with a USU cumulative GPA of less than 2.00 is placed on academic probation.

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.

Provisional Admission Warning

An undergraduate student who is admitted provisionally will be noted as such on his or her academic record. Provisional admission warning will carry the same weight as academic warning.

At the end of the first semester of enrollment, one of the following actions will be taken for students on provisional admission warning status:

  • Students will be removed from provisional admission warning status and placed in good standing if they earn at least a 2.00 semester GPA, or
  • Students will be placed on academic probation if they earn less than a 2.00 semester GPA.

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. While academic warning is the least severe of the negative academic actions, it 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 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 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.

Academic Probation

An undergraduate student with 36 or more attempted hours, or any student with a standing of provisional admission warning, 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 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 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 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 .