Academic Standings - Undergraduate

Academic Standings - Undergraduate

Policy Statement

1. Academic standing is a measurement of the quality of an undergraduate student's academic performance at a given point in time.  Academic standings are assigned at the conclusion of every semester (fall, spring, summer) and only at the conclusion of every semester.  With the exception of "Reinstated from Disqualification," which is assigned only by the Academic Standards Committee, academic standing is solely a function of semester and cumulative GPA.  Every student will have exactly one of the following academic standings:
1. Good Standing:  A student is on Good Standing if the most recent semester GPA is at or above 2.00 and the cumulative GPA is at or above 2.00 OR the student is in the initial semester of enrollment after academic renewal.
2. Academic Warning: A student is on Academic Warning if and only if (a) the most recent semester GPA is below a 2.00 and (b) the cumulative GPA is at or above 2.00.
3. First Semester on Probation: A student is on First Semester on Probation if and only if (a) the most recent semester GPA is below a 2.00, (b) the cumulative GPA is below a 2.00, and (c) the student was not on probation in the previous semester.
4. Second Semester on Probation:  A student is on Second Semester on Probation if and only if (a) the most recent semester GPA is at or above 2.00, (b) the cumulative GPA is below a 2.00, and (c) the student was on First Semester on Probation in the previous semester.
5. Third Semester on Probation: A student is on Third Semester on Probation if and only if (a) the most recent semester GPA is at or above 2.00, (b) the cumulative GPA is below a 2.00, and (c) the student was on Second Semester on Probation in the previous semester.
6. Academic Disqualification: A student is on Academic Disqualification if and only if either (a) the semester GPA is below a 2.00 while on probation or (b) the cumulative GPA is below a 2.00 at the conclusion of a semester in which a student is on Third Semester on Probation.
7. Reinstated from Disqualification: A student is on Reinstated from Disqualification if and only if the Academic Standards Committee assigns the student this standing.
2. The only academic standing that is appealable is Academic Disqualification.  A student who is Academically Disqualified can appeal this status to the Academic Standards Committee.  The decision of the Academic Standards Committee may be appealed to the Provost or designee.

Responsibilities 

For following policy:  All undergraduate students

For enforcement of policy:  Academic Standards Committee

For oversight of policy:  Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

For notification:  Policy Librarian

For procedures implementing policy:  Registrar

Consequences of Non-Compliance

1. Below are the sanctions for each level of academic standing
   1. Good Standing:  A student on Good Standing incurs no sanction.
   2. Academic Warning: A student on Academic Warning receives a written warning via email that continued performance at the most recent term level may bring her cumulative GPA below the threshold required for graduation.
   3. First Semester on Probation: A student on First Semester on Probation receives a written warning via email that (a) her cumulative GPA is below the threshold for graduation and (b) if her next semester GPA is below a 2.00, she will be academically disqualified, and (c) she has only two more semesters to raise her cumulative GPA to a 2.00 or higher.
   4. Second Semester on Probation: A student on Second Semester on Probation receives a written warning via email that (a) her cumulative GPA remains below the threshold for graduation and (b) if her next semester GPA is below a 2.00, she will be academically disqualified, and (c) she has only one more semester to raise her cumulative GPA to a 2.00 or higher.
   5. Third Semester on Probation: A student on Third Semester on Probation receives a written warning via email that (a) her cumulative GPA remains below the threshold for graduation and (b) if her cumulative GPA is below a 2.00 after the next semester in which she takes classes, she will be academically disqualified.
   6. Academic Disqualification: A student on Academic Disqualification receives a written notice via email on the day final grades become viewable to students.  Unless the student successfully appeals the disqualification, she dropped from any scheduled courses and prohibited from registering for classes as a degree-seeking student on the day of the first Academic Standards Appeals Hearing following the notification.  A student who is academically disqualified has only two possible ways to return as a degree-seeking student: (a) successfully appeal the disqualification or (b) forgo attending Fort Lewis College for at least six consecutive terms and apply for Academic Renewal.
   7. Reinstated from Disqualification: A student on Reinstated from Disqualification receives a written notice via email that (a) she is no longer academically disqualified but that (b) her cumulative GPA remains below the threshold for graduation and (c) if her cumulative GPA is below a 2.00 after the next semester in which she takes classes, she will be academically disqualified.

Consumer Information

The policy should be advertised in the course catalog as follows:

Academic Standing

A student is assigned an academic standing at the conclusion of every semester in which he finishes at least one course.  This means that grade changes that happen mid-semester or after grades are posted do not affect academic standing until the next semester concludes.  A cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher is needed to stay in good academic standing.  A student whose cumulative GPA is less than 2.00 is no longer in good standing. He is given up to three semesters to raise the cumulative GPA, so long as he continues to achieve 2.00 or higher semester GPAs. The purpose of this system is to allow students three semesters to incrementally repair low cumulative GPAs by achieving higher semester GPAs. Students not in good standing must achieve a semester GPA of 2.00 or higher or he will be academically disqualified. Students who have not raised the cumulative GPA to 2.00 by the end of the third semester are academically disqualified.

Options for Students who are Academically Disqualified

There are only two options for students who have been academically disqualified to return to the college as degree-seeking students.  These options are (a) successfully appeal the academic disqualification (details below) or (b) take at least two years off from any college-level work and then request Academic Renewal when reapplying to Fort Lewis College.

Appeal of Academic Disqualification

At the conclusion of every semester (fall, spring, summer), all students will receive an email informing them of their updated academic standing.  The only academic standing that may be appealed is Academic Disqualification. 

To appeal Academic Disqualification, a student must submit the appropriate paperwork to the Academic Standards Committee.  To do this, see instructions here. The Academic Standing Appeal form, along with substantiating documents, should be emailed to academicstanding@fortlewis.edu by the advertised deadline.

The Academic Standards Committee reviews appeals three times per year (as advertised on previous link).  Students who submit an appeal will be notified by email as soon as possible after the committee makes a decision. 

Successful appeals usually meet the following two conditions:

1. 1. 1. There are compelling and unforeseen reasons for the poor academic performance, and
      2. There is high probability that the studentâ¿¿s cumulative GPA can be raised to 2.00 or higher in no more than one additional semester of coursework. Typically, this means having a Quality Point Deficiency of no more than 10 points.

Any student may appeal a decision of the Academic Standards Committee.  Such an appeal must be in writing to the Provost or designee within seven (7) days of the emailed decision of the Academic  Standards Committee.