Academic Standing, Probation and Dismissal (Graduate Students) | Academic Policies | Students

Policies + Disclosures

Academic Standing, Probation and Dismissal (graduate)

Good academic standing is maintained by meeting the standards for credits attempted and for grade point average. A student must attempt a minimum of 12 credits in the Fall and Spring semesters and 3 credits each Wintersession. Courses graded Audit (AU) and Withdrawn (W) do not count toward the attempted minimum credit loads. Semester grade-point averages must meet the following minimum standards:

2.00 First-year M. Arch. candidates, and first-semester M.L.A. candidates

3.00 All graduate students, except first-year M. Arch. candidates and first-semester M.L.A. candidates

The minimum cumulative grade-point average required for graduation is 3.00, except for M. Arch and M.L.A. candidates who need a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.

The Academic Standing Committee reviews the academic performance of all students at the end of each term. Students are expected to meet minimum academic standards, not only for each term, but also cumulatively. Any student attempting fewer than the required minimum number of credits, or earning a grade-point average of less than the published standard, will be subject to Academic Probation. Two successive semesters or three non-consecutive semesters of substandard performance will normally result in dismissal of the student from the College.

In addition, the Academic Standing Committee may decide at any time that a student should be dismissed from the College for academic reasons. This decision may be made upon the recommendation of the student’s Department Head and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Once a student is placed on probation, he or she will remain in that status until the end of the next semester, at which time the Academic Standing Committee will review the student’s academic record.

For purposes of academic review by the Academic Standing Committee, a grade of I (for incomplete) is computed in the grade point average as an F. Students may be subject to conditional academic probation until the I grade is made up by completion of required work.

Academic standing committee
The Academic Standing Committee hears petitions from students seeking exceptions from deadlines or policies (e.g. late course adds or drops, attending with a reduced course load, walking at commencement when degree requirements are not yet met). This committee meets regularly during the academic year and students may file a petition through the Office of Student Affairs. This Committee, along with the student’s department head, also reviews the academic performance of all students at the end of the Fall and Spring terms. The Academic Standing Committee is chaired by the Dean of Students and consists of one faculty member elected by the Instruction Committee from its membership, one faculty member elected by the Faculty, the Registrar, an Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, and the Coordinator of Academic Advising.