A student's academic status is determined by the cumulative Spalding grade-point average (GPA). A candidate for a degree must gain not only the number of credits required, but also quality points equal to at least twice the number of credits earned (i.e., at least a 2.00 Spalding GPA). A student with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher is designated as being in "Good Academic Standing."

Quality points indicate the grade of work done and are computed as follows:

• each credit hour with a grade of A gives 4 quality points
• each credit hour with a grade of B gives 3 quality points
• each credit hour with a grade of C gives 2 quality points
• each credit hour with a grade of D gives 1 quality point
• each credit hour with a grade of F gives no quality points.

Under certain circumstances, a student may repeat a course in an attempt to improve the grade. See Repeating a Course for further information.

Academic standing is defined by a student’s cumulative Spalding Grade Point Average (GPA) as it correlates to the number of attempted hours. Any student whose cumulative Spalding GPA is equal to or above 2.0 is considered to be in Good Academic Standing.

At the recommendation of the Council on Undergraduate Retention, a student whose cumulative Spalding GPA is lower than the Academic Good Standing requirement at the end of any semester may be placed on academic notice. Students on academic notice must complete an academic recovery plan and engage in success coaching via Student and Academic Success.

If the cumulative Spalding GPA exceeds the minimum requirement after 12 additional credit hours attempted at Spalding, and all other conditions of academic notice have been met, the Council on Undergraduate Retention may choose to remove the student from academic notice status. If the cumulative Spalding GPA is still below the minimum requirement after 12 additional credit hours earned at Spalding, the Council on Undergraduate Retention may choose to suspend the student for up a semester. During this time, the student will be subject to the requirements of Success Coaching. Any student successfully completing such requirements will continue on academic notice. Any student failing to meet the conditions of suspension is subject to automatic academic dismissal.

A student on academic notice may be required to adjust their course load as part of their academic recovery plan. The individual courses to be carried will be determined by the student's academic advisor.

Any student whose cumulative Spalding GPA falls below the minimum requirement, as shown on the scale below, is subject to automatic academic dismissal. 

• after 21 attempted credit hours, if the cumulative Spalding GPA is below 1.25
• after 32 attempted credit hours, if the cumulative Spalding GPA is below 1.50
• after 48 attempted credit hours, if the cumulative Spalding GPA is below 1.65
• after 64 attempted credit hours, if the cumulative Spalding GPA is below 1.75
• after 80 attempted credit hours, if the cumulative Spalding GPA is below 1.90
• after 96 attempted credit hours, if the cumulative Spalding GPA is below 2.00

The Council on Undergraduate Retention has the discretion to academically dismiss, for any reason, any student whose cumulative Spalding GPA has been lower than the minimum requirement for Good Academic Standing (even if higher than the minimum shown on the scale above) for a minimum of one semester.

Students within 30 hours of the completion of their program are expected to maintain Good Academic Standing. Transfer students who fall outside of Good Academic Standing are subject to review and action by the Council on Undergraduate Retention. Please refer to Graduation Requirements for the Baccalaureate Degree for additional information.

After at least one calendar year has passed since the date of the dismissal action by the Council on Undergraduate Retention, an academically dismissed student may apply for readmission. The application for readmission must give evidence of how the student has prepared to improve his or her grade-point average. The application must be submitted to the Admissions Committee. If the application is approved, the student will be readmitted on academic notice and must comply with any stipulations made by the Admissions Committee. Within a period of time specified by the Committee, and after the student has earned at least 12 credit hours, the student must attain the cumulative Spalding GPA for the appropriate class level. All appeals of academic status shall be made to the Admissions Committee at least two weeks prior to the first day of classes in which the student wishes to be readmitted. The Undergraduate Admissions Committee chair is responsible for notifying the chair of the Council on Undergraduate Retention of the readmission of any previously dismissed student.

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