Academic Standing
University Policies: Academic Standing
Decisions involving academic warning, probation, suspension, dismissal and readmission are made by each academic unit. These decisions are based on the university’s undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) and the program grade point average (PGPA). The unit notifies students after the end of each semester if their status changes. Notifications of such academic actions are officially made through the student's university email account.
Undergraduate students are in good standing when they have a cumulative UGPA of at least 2.00 and a cumulative PGPA greater than the program requirement. Each unit determines their own program requirements.
Academic Warning, Academic Probation, and Academic Suspension
After the first 12 degree-applicable semester hours at the University, students who have either a cumulative UGPA below 2.00, or a cumulative PGPA below the program requirement, will be placed on academic warning. Such students will be notified and strongly encouraged to seek assistance from their advising center.
In any semester subsequent to an academic warning, students whose cumulative UGPA falls below 2.00, or cumulative PGPA falls below the program requirement, will be placed on academic probation for the next semester of enrollment. Academic probation is considered a serious warning that students are making unsatisfactory progress toward completion of the academic requirements for a particular degree program. Students on academic probation may be ineligible to hold office in campus organizations, to go out on co-op, internship, or clinical assignments, or to represent the school or the University in any official capacity.
Students on academic probation shall be removed from that standing at the end of the first subsequent semester in which they achieve a cumulative UGPA of at least 2.00 and a cumulative PGPA greater than the program requirement. Such students will return to good standing. Students on academic probation shall be placed on academic suspension at the end of the first subsequent semester in which their semester UGPA falls below 2.00, or semester PGPA falls below the program requirement.
Students on academic suspension are not permitted to enroll for at least one program semester and must withdraw from any courses for the semester in which the suspension is applied. During this period, individuals should seriously reexamine their previous accomplishments in terms of their chosen career objectives and seek help to improve their academic performance.
Readmission/Reinstatement
After one semester, students who believe that a reasonable opportunity for future successful performance exists may petition the unit’s committee for re-admittance. The petition must be received no later than published deadline in their unit. Students who are granted reinstatement will be readmitted on academic probation. Readmission of suspended students is not guaranteed.
Students will not be reinstated more than twice; the third suspension is an academic dismissal. Students academically dismissed can only return through special permission from the enrollment unit.
Students who are suspended or dismissed are eligible to apply for admission to another unit and may be admitted if they meet minimum unit admission standards. Students admitted to another unit may not enroll in any courses in the unit from which they were dismissed, with the exception of courses needed to complete general education or other degree requirements offered only by the unit from which they were dismissed.
Unit-Specific Policies
In addition to the university-wide policies regarding Academic Standing, students may be subject to the unit-specific requirements listed below.
College of Arts and Sciences
Warning, Probation, Suspension, and Readmission
Students on Academic Warning are limited to enrollment for 13 credit hours in a fall or spring semester and 10 credit hours for the summer terms.
The enrollment of students on Academic Probation will continue to be limited to a maximum of 13 semester hours in a fall or spring semester and 10 credit hours for the summer terms. Students on probation also may be subject to specified course registration requirements, or other actions deemed appropriate by the College. Students who are admitted to the College conditionally who have a grade point average below 2.0 at the end of their first semester of enrollment at the University of Louisville will be placed on Academic Probation.
Students on Academic Suspension and will be required to sit out at least one semester: students suspended after a fall semester must sit out the following spring semester; students suspended after a spring semester must sit out the following summer and fall semesters; and students suspended after a summer semester must sit out the following fall semester. Students must sit out at least one calendar year after any subsequent suspension.
College of Business
Warning, Probation, Suspension, Dismissal, and Readmission
College of Business students on academic warning or probation are subject to load limitations (see the Course Load section of this catalog) or other actions deemed appropriate by the COB. The records of students on Academic Probation will be evaluated at the end of the probationary semester with one of the following outcomes:
- Students whose GPA for the probationary semester is 2.5 or above, but whose University GPA remains below 2.0 will be retained on Probation.
- Students whose University GPA is still below 2.0 and who earned a semester grade point average below 2.5 will be placed on Academic Suspension and will be suspended from the COB. Suspended students are withdrawn from all 300- and 400-level COB courses.
- Readmission of suspended students into the COB is not guaranteed.
For readmission, students must submit a written petition addressed to the College of Business Undergraduate Studies Committee and an academic plan form.
College of Education and Human Development
Academic Warning, Probation, Suspension, Dismissal and Readmission
CEHD students on Academic Warning may enroll in no more than 14 hours in a semester (10 hours during the summer).
CEHD students on Academic Probation will continue to be limited to enroll in no more than 14 semester hours in a semester (10 hours during the summer). Students on Academic Probation must earn a 2.5 grade point average in the academic probation semester to continue on Academic Probation.
Students on Academic Probation whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.25 and who earn a semester grade point average below 2.5 will be placed on Academic Suspension and will be required to sit out from the CEHD at least one semester. The student may apply to another unit. Students suspended after a spring semester must sit out the following summer and fall semesters.
Students who are suspended the third time from the College of Education and Human Development are academically dismissed. A student who has been dismissed from the College of Education and Human Development may apply for readmission after one full year.
Readmission of suspended or dismissed students is not guaranteed. Conditions of readmission will be up to the discretion of the College of Education Standards and Admissions Committee.
Kent School of Social Work and Family Science
Lower Division: A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above is required to remain in Good Standing. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, then the student will be given a warning and will be required to meet with the BSW Advising Team for planning and oversight. If in the following semester the student’s cumulative GPA remains less than a 2.0, the student will be placed on probation. A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above in the following semester will be required to return to Good Standing. Students will be placed on suspension following probation if the cumulative GPA remains below 2.0. Students must sit out at least one semester excluding summer when suspended. Students will not be reinstated more than twice; the third suspension is an academic dismissal. Students academically dismissed can only return through special permission from the enrollment unit.
Upper Division: If a student gets a failing grade in an upper division social work foundation/core course they will need to meet with their BSW Advisor. Students may also be referred for an academic review if they are in jeopardy of dismissal from the program for any other reason (e.g. professional performance). A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above is required to remain in Good Standing. If a student's cumulative GPA falls below 2.5, then the student will be given a warning and will be required to meet with the BSW Advising Team for planning and oversight. If in the following semester the student's cumulative GPA remains less than a 2.5, the student will be placed on probation. A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above in the following semester will be required to return to Good Standing.
Students will be placed on suspension following probation if cumulative GPA remains below 2.5 for three consecutive semesters. Students must sit out at least one semester excluding summer when suspended. Students may apply to another unit. Students will not be reinstated more than twice; the third suspension is an academic dismissal. Students academically dismissed can only return through special permission from the enrollment unit.
Academic and Professional Standards Review Committee is intended to ensure that the context surrounding the incidents that lead to the academic review are well understood before any recommendations are made.
The BSW Program will notify students at the end of each semester if academic reviews are needed. Any faculty person may recommend a review for any students who appear to have engaged in inappropriate conduct in violation of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, or the Code of Students Rights and Responsibilities.
School of Music
The School of Music follows university-wide policies, except that students are in good standing when they have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5.
Undergraduate students on Academic Probation are:
- limited to fourteen (14) semester hours,
- may have specified course registration requirements, and
- may require intrusive advising interventions as deemed appropriate by their enrollment unit.
A student on probation whose cumulative grade point average is still below 2.5 and who earned a semester grade point average below 2.5 may petition for continuation of probation. The petition describing the student's plan of action to return to good standing must be submitted to the Associate Dean of the School of Music.
Students who are conditionally admitted enter the university on Academic Warning and are limited during their first semester to a fourteen-hour credit load. Their admission letter will indicate whether they have one or two semesters to achieve academic good standing. A one-semester conditional period will require students to achieve no less than a 2.5 cumulative GPA by the end of the first semester, or they will be suspended from the School of Music. A two-semester conditional period will require students to achieve no less than a 2.5 cumulative GPA at the end of the first semester, or they will be placed on Academic Probation. If they do not achieve academic good standing by the end of the first year (i.e., end of the second semester) they will be suspended from the School of Music.
School of Nursing
Lower Division Progression and Dismissal (Traditional BSN)
Good standing in the School of Nursing is a minimum UofL cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 for the Traditional BSN program.
Students who, after the first semester at UofL, have a UofL cumulative GPA below 2.8 will be placed on Academic Warning. They will be notified that their achievement is below expectations and strongly encouraged to seek assistance.
In any semester after being placed on Academic Warning, a student whose UofL cumulative GPA continues to be below 2.8 will be placed on Academic Probation for the next semester (including summer) in which the student enrolls. Students on Academic Probation are notified that their achievement is below expectations and are subject to course and/or credit hour limitations, specified course registration requirements, or other intrusive advising interventions as deemed appropriate by the School of Nursing.
Students on Academic Probation will have their records evaluated at the end of the probationary semester with one of the following outcomes:
- Student whose UofL cumulative GPA is above 2.8 will be restored to good standing.
- Student whose UofL cumulative GPA is still below 2.8 but hwo earned a semester GPA at or above 2.8 will be maintained on probation.
- Student whose UofL cumulative GPA is still below 2.8 and who earned a semester GPA below 2.8 will be placed on Academic Suspension and will be required to sit out a least one semester.
Lower division students must earn a grade of "C" or above in the courses (or their equivalents) listed below. These courses may be repeated one time. Students who do not pass the course on a second attempt will need to petition to determine if they can remain in the lower division.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
| BIOL 257 | Introduction to Microbiology - S | 3 |
| BIOL 258 | Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory - SL | 1 |
| BIOL 260 | Human Anatomy & Physiology I | 3 |
| BIOL 261 | Human Anatomy & Physiology II | 3 |
| BIOL 264 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory | 1 |
| or BIOL 265 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory | |
| CHEM 105 | Chemistry for Health Professionals - S | 4 |
| MATH 111 | College Algebra - QR | 3 |
If a student does not pass any of the non-nursing courses in the table above on the second attempt, they will be subject to dismissal from Lower Division.
If dismissed from the program, the student has the right to file a petition with the School of Nursing BSN Academic Affairs Committee to be reinstated to the program. If the petition is denied, dismissal from the program is permanent.
If dismissed from the School of Nursing, an official UofL undergraduate application to the Office of Admissions is required to continue or return to the university in accordance with university guidelines. Readmission of dismissed students is not guaranteed. Students who are granted reinstatement will be readmitted on probation. No student will be reinstated more than twice; the third suspension is Academic Dismissal.
Students who are dismissed by the School of Nursing are eligible to request a transfer to another unit and may be admitted if they meet the minimum admission standards of that unit.
Upper Division Progression and Dismissal (Traditional & Accelerated)
For Traditional and Accelerated BSN, good standing in the Upper Division for the pre-licensure BSN program is a minimum UofL cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Students admitted to the Upper Division of Nursing must earn a “C” or above in all required nursing courses.
Students who earn less than a “C” in a required nursing course are allowed to repeat the course up to one time before being placed on academic probation.
A student who wishes to repeat a nursing course should submit a Space Available form to the Office of Student Services, School of Nursing for approval. Once permission is granted, the student will be allowed to repeat the course on a space available basis.
A student will be placed on probation if they earn 2 nursing failures in required nursing courses. This includes either of the following:
- The student earns a grade below a "C" in any two required nursing courses.
- The student earns a grade below a "C" in a required nursing course and earns below a "C" upon repeating the course.
- Students who earn a grade below "C" in two required nursing courses, or a second attempt at a nursing course will be placed on academic probation. The student will be required to complete a student success course.
- Successful completion of the student success course with a grade of "C" or higher is required for students on probation prior to progressing to the next semester course sequencing.
- Students may not enroll in the course in which they earned the second nursing failure unless one of the following criteria have been met:
- The student successfully completes the student success course with a passing grade of "C" or higher.
- The student is concurrently enrolled in the student success course.
- Successful completion of the student success course with a passing grade of "C" or higher is required for students on probation prior to progressing to the next semester course sequencing. Probationary status will be removed once students successfully complete the repeat nursing course and the student success course. Students may not progress to subsequent semester sequencing until the probation is removed.
If a student does not pass the student success course with a grade of "C" or higher, the student will incur a nursing failure for the student success course. If a student has a third nursing failure while on probation after being on probationary status, the student will be subject to program dismissal.
If dismissed from the program, the student has the right to file a petition with the School of Nursing BSN Academic Affairs Committee to be reinstated into the program.
If the petition is approved, the student will be permitted to repeat the course in which the third failure was accrued.
The student will be returned to probationary status and 2 a. from above will once again apply.
If the petition is denied, the dismissal is permanent.
Students who are dismissed by the School of Nursing are eligible to request a transfer to another unit and may be admitted if they meet the minimum admission standards of that unit. Students who apply for admission to another unit may not enroll in any courses in the School of Nursing.
RN-BSN Progression and Dismissal
RN-BSN students must maintain a minimum UofL cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Students enrolled in the RN-BSN program must earn a minimum grade of "C" in all required nursing courses.
Students who earn less than a “C” in two required nursing courses are dismissed from the program.
If dismissed an official U of L undergraduate application to the Office of Admissions is required to continue or return to the university in accordance with university guidelines. Readmission of dismissed students is not guaranteed. Students who are granted reinstatement will be readmitted on probation. No student will be reinstated more than twice; the third suspension is an Academic Dismissal.
Students who are dismissed by the School of Nursing are eligible to request a transfer to another unit and my be admitted if they meet the minimum admission standards of that unit. Students who apply for admission to another unit may not enroll in any courses in the School of Nursing.
Speed School of Engineering
A program GPA is calculated by including only those courses used to satisfy degree requirements. Courses for which transfer credit has been awarded are not included in either GPA calculation.
Students have the responsibility to know their current status. The University routinely notifies students when their status changes, but such notification may not be possible before the beginning of the semester.
Good Standing
The Speed School of Engineering follows university-wide policies, except that students are in good standing when they have a minimum cumulative university GPA and PGPA of 2.25.
Academic Warning
Students on Academic Warning are limited to enrollment for 13 credit hours (7 credit hours during the Speed School summer term). A student placed on Academic Warning will have the following semester to raise the cumulative university GPA to at least 2.25. If that does not occur, the student will then be placed on Academic Probation.
Academic Probation
In any semester subsequent to that described in Academic Warning above, an undergraduate student who has less than a 2.25 cumulative university GPA will be placed on Academic Probation for the next semester in which the student enrolls. Students on Academic Probation are notified that their achievement is below expectations and are subject to course and/or credit hour limitations. During a semester on Academic Probation, no student may enroll in more than 13 credit hours (7 credit hours during the Speed School summer term). Students on Academic Probation will have their records evaluated at the end of the probationary semester with one of the following outcomes:
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Students whose cumulative university GPA and semester GPA are both at or above 2.25 will be restored to good standing in the Speed School.
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Students whose cumulative university GPA is still below 2.25 but who earned a semester GPA of at least 2.5 will be maintained on probation.
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Students whose cumulative university GPA is still below 2.25, and who earned a semester GPA at or above 2.25 but below 2.5, may petition for continuation on probation. The petition describing the student’s plan of action to return to good standing must be submitted to the school’s Standards and Admissions Committee. Students who do not submit a petition will be placed on Academic Suspension.
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Students whose cumulative university GPA and semester GPA are both below 2.25 will be placed on Academic Suspension and will be required to sit out at least one semester.
School of Public Health and Information Sciences
Any SPHIS student on academic warning or probation may not enroll in more than 13 credit hours in the fall/spring semesters or 10 credit hours in the summer semester.
Academic Warning Policy:
- Traditional BS/BA/Any SJHE track students
- Student is place on warning if University GPA is less than 2.0.
- NOTE: Students must have attempted at least 12 credit hours of degree-applicable work at UofL to be placed on academic warning. Warning status is assigned only once, at the first sign of academic difficulty, not each time a student's University GPA drops below 2.0.
- BS-PH Pre-H Track students
- Student is placed on warning if University GPA is less than 2.8.
Academic Probation Policy
- Traditional BS/BA/Any SJHE track students
- Student is place on probation if University GPA is less than 2.0, following a semester of academic warning.
- Students on Academic Probation whose University GPA is less than 2.0, but semester earned GPA is above 2.0 will remain on academic probation stataus.
- Students on Academic Probation who acheive a University GPA of 2.0 or above will be placed in good standing.
- BS-PH Pre-H Track students
- Student is placed on probation if University GPA is less than 2.8, following a semester of academic warning.
Academic Suspension Policy
Student is placed on suspension if both semester GPA and University GPA are less than 2.0 (2.8 for pre-health track students), following a semester/semesters of academic probation.
- First suspension consequences: Students must sit out the spring term following a fall suspension, the summer and fall terms following a spring suspension, or the fall term following a summer suspension.
- Second suspension consequences: Students must sit out at least three consecutive terms, including summer, following suspension.
- Third suspension consequences: A student is not reinstated more than twice. A third suspension results in academic dismissal from the program.
- Requirements for re-entry following a suspension (readmitted students are admitted in probation status): Students must petition for readmission through the Office of Admissions. Readmission of suspended students is not guaranteed.
NOTE: The following deadlines apply for petitioning for readmission: July 1st for the fall semester, November 1st for the spring semester, and May 1st for the summer term.
Dismissal Policy
Program Dismissal:
Students who are suspended the third time from the School of Public Health and Information Sciences are academically dismissed. A student who has been dismissed from the School of Public Health and Information Sciences must remain out of school for one full year and should use that time for reorientation to further study in college or other career decisions. If a student thus dismissed is admitted to any other college or university, the credits earned while in attendance during the semester that the student should be out of school will not apply toward a degree granted by the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
Pre-Health Track Dismissal:
Students are only allowed two attempts to complete Track Core courses with a “C” or higher. Students who do not maintain a grade of “C” or higher in Track Core courses will be dismissed from the track and admitted back to the PHBS general track.
