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Academic Standing

Any student whose semester GPA falls below 2.0 is subject to review by the Academic Standards Committee even when the student's cumulative GPA is at or above 2.0. The following guidelines will apply in making determinations of probation or dismissal:

  1. Failure to attain a semester GPA of 2.0 in any semester. The semester GPA is the weighted average of the student's academic standing for one semester as measured by the reported grades and weighted according to credit and letter grade values. Grade Point Equivalents will be used for developmental courses during the semester GPA point average calculations; these values will not be included in cumulative GPAs;
  2. Failure to attain satisfactory grades in courses required in the major program for which the student is enrolled;
  3. Failure to attain sufficient credits and grade point averages required for sophomore, junior or senior status. To advance in academic status, a student must meet the following requirements.

Academic Warning

Students will be issued an Academic Warning when the semester GPA falls below 2.0 for one semester. Students on Academic Warning will be limited to no more than 13 credits in the semester that follows, and until the warning is removed. All first semester freshmen placed on Academic Warning will be required to take an academic skills course that would be a pass/fail no-credit course; a student remains on Academic Warning until they complete this course. Any time a student's cumulative GPA is under 2.0, the student will be on Academic Warning. 

Academic Probation

Students will be placed on Academic Probation when the semester GPA falls below 2.0 for two (2) consecutive semesters.

Students placed on Academic Probation will be required to:

  1. Meet with an academic advisor to develop an improvement plan
  2. Submit to the Academic Standards Committee and the Office of Academic Affairs a letter (signed by both the student and the student's academic advisor) detailing the student's academic difficulties and the improvement strategy.
  3. Register for no more than 13 credits.
  4. Earn a minimum semester GPA of 2.0 EACH semester until the student's cumulative GPA is at or above 2.0. Until the cumulative GPA is above 2.0, the student is considered to be on Academic Warning, with the understanding that if the student's cumulative GPA is below 2.0 for two semesters after the probationary semester, the student will receive an Academic Dismissal. 
  5. Athletes who are on Academic Probation are not allowed to compete.
  6. Any transfer student whose first semester GPA falls below 2.0 will be placed on Academic Probation.
  7. Students on Academic Probation are strongly urged to consult with the College's Financial Aid office regarding any potential impact probationary status may have on financial aid eligibility. 

Academic Dismissal

  1. Students whose semester GPA falls below 2.0 for three (3) consecutive semesters will receive an Academic Dismissal from the College.

  2. Students whose cumulative GPA remains below a 2.0 within two semesters after a probationary semester will receive an Academic Dismissal from the College.

  3. Any student returning from an Academic Dismissal (e.g., as the result of a successful appeal leading to reinstatement) who receives a returning semester GPA less than 2.0 will receive a FINAL Academic Dismissal that cannot be appealed.

The following applies to students who are Academically Dismissed from Mount Saint Mary College†:

  1. Dismissed students will receive notification of dismissal from the Registrar shortly after semester grades are recorded and the Academic Standards Committee meets to review academic progress (typically in late December or early January, and again in late May or early June).

  2. Dismissed students will be required to complete at least 12 credits of academic coursework at another regionally accredited two- or four-year institution with at least a 2.5 GPA prior to consideration for readmission to Mount Saint Mary College. It is strongly suggested that dismissed students consult with an academic advisor prior to taking courses at another institution to make sure courses are appropriate for the student’s program of study and will transfer back, should the student be readmitted.

  3. Dismissed students may appeal to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs for readmission to the College for a semester that is at least one full year since their dismissal. Dismissed students should keep in mind that an absence of more than one full academic year constitutes a break in matriculation and would require reapplication for admission to the College. Prior enrollment at Mount Saint Mary College is not a guarantee of readmission to Mount Saint Mary College after an Academic Dismissal.

  4. A second dismissal from Mount Saint Mary College is considered a FINAL dismissal and cannot be appealed under any circumstances. Students dismissed twice are ineligible for readmission to the College under any circumstances.

  5. Students who are academically dismissed and are subsequently reinstated at a later date will be required to meet all requirements in force at the time of readmission. Students academically dismissed from the College are also dismissed from their major. If readmitted, they must re-declare their major and must meet the requirements for that major in effect at the time of readmission.