To graduate, a degree candidate must complete the requirements for the candidate’s major and earn at least a C (2.00) average for all courses taken at this University as stated in 82-40, subject to the conditions of 51-00. When a student fails to make adequate progress towards meeting and maintaining this 2.00 grade-point average, various academic progress statuses are used to serve as notification of such failure and to assist the student in correcting his/her academic difficulties. These statuses include academic warning (54-20) and academic suspension (54-40).
READ SENATE POLICY 54-00: ACADEMIC PROGRESS
Good Standing
A student must have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 or higher to be considered in good standing to declare a major and to graduate from the University. A student will receive notification at the end of each semester when his/her semester grade-point average drops below a 2.00.
READ SENATE POLICY 54-10: GOOD STANDING
Academic Warning
Academic warning serves as official notification that the student has failed to earn a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average. A student placed on academic warning will have a hold placed on registration and will be required to meet with an academic adviser in order for this registration hold to be removed.
A student in academic warning status may continue to enroll for classes as long as the semester grade-point average continues at a 2.00 or higher. To remove academic warning, the cumulative grade-point average must be 2.00 or higher. A student in academic warning who fails to maintain a semester grade-point average of 2.00 or higher will be academically suspended (54-40).
READ SENATE POLICY 54-20: ACADEMIC WARNING
Academic Suspension
Academic suspension is an official notification that a student has earned a semester grade-point average of less than 2.00 while on academic warning. A student who has been academically suspended may not enroll at the University or attend classes for two consecutive semesters (Note: Summer session is equal to one semester and includes all courses offered after Spring semester and before Fall semester).
Students with 15 or fewer recovery points may petition the Faculty Senate for a reduction in or stay of the suspension. Petitions will not be granted automatically.
A student returning from academic suspension must apply for re-enrollment as defined in policy 58-00 and returns to the University in warning status, with the former cumulative grade-point average, and with a hold placed on the registration. The student must follow the requirements and procedures of the college for which re-enrollment as a degree candidate is sought.
READ SENATE POLICY 54-40: ACADEMIC SUSPENSION
Academic Dismissal
A student who has been placed on academic suspension and fails to achieve at least a 2.00 semester GPA is subject to academic dismissal and is no longer permitted to take courses at the University. After a period of four calendar years, a student who has been academically dismissed from the University may seek re-enrollment to the University by requesting academic renewal (54-90).
READ SENATE POLICY 54-50: ACADEMIC DISMISSAL
Drops by Colleges
- The dean of the college, subject to the review of the faculty of the college, may require that a candidate be disenrolled from a major in the college or from the college for failure to meet academic retention standards of the major or the college. Academic retention standards applicable to any student shall be those in effect at the time of the student's most recent admission to the major or college. A student required to disenroll from a major may transfer directly to another major subject to Section 37-00 or may be admitted to the Division of Undergraduate Studies subject to Section 39-00, expecting transfer to another major later. If not accepted for enrollment in another major or in the Division of Undergraduate Studies, the candidate will be dropped from degree status. A candidate who is disenrolled from a major and who previously has completed the allowed enrollment time limit of the Division of Undergraduate Studies, as specified in Section 39-50, may be allowed one additional semester of enrollment in that division. Failure to relocate into another major in the specified time will cause the candidate to be dropped from degree candidacy under Section 39-80 unless Section 54-52 applies.
- The dean of the college, subject to the review of the faculty of the college, may at any time recommend to the President that a candidate enrolled in that college be dropped as a degree candidate at the University if the candidate is, in the opinion of the faculty, not adaptive to the work of the college.
READ SENATE POLICY 54-56: DROPS BY COLLEGE
Academic Renewal
Students, including those who have been academically warned, suspended, or dismissed, may request approval for Academic Renewal and Re-enrollment if:
- They have a cumulative grade-point average less than 2.00 and
- They have been absent from Penn State for at least four calendar years during which they have not been enrolled in any Penn State credit courses. Students may petition the Faculty Senate for early consideration of academic renewal.
If Academic Renewal is granted:
- The student's cumulative average will start over at 0.00 in academic good standing.
- All prior courses and grades remain unchanged on the student's academic record.
- The notation of Academic Renewal will be recorded on the student's transcript.
- Courses passed with a grade of "C" or better during the earlier enrollment and approved by the dean of the college may be used to fulfill graduation requirements.
- Courses taken prior to Academic Renewal will not count towards the repeated courses limit as specified in Policy 47-80.