Poor Academic Performance

Academic Review.  At the end of each semester, the Mason Gross School of the Arts Scholastic Standing Committee, composed of the members of the Office for Advising and Student Success, reviews the academic records of all currently enrolled undergraduate students. If a student's record indicates poor academic performance through their academic progress, term grade-point average, or cumulative grade-point average, they may be placed on Academic Warning or Academic Probation for one term or be recommended for Academic Dismissal from the school. Descriptions of the requirements to qualify for one of the three poor academic performance categories are listed below.

Academic Warning . Any student--including first-semester, first-year students--whose semester grade-point average is lower than 2.0 but greater than 1.8, will be issued an academic warning. Students may also be issued an academic warning if they have not made satisfactory progress in completing required liberal arts courses for their degree (i.e., not completing expository writing before their final/senior year). Students will be notified in writing of their academic warning status before the start of the next semester. At the conclusion of the semester-long warning period, students must earn a GPA of 2.0 or above to not be placed on warning for the following term. While on academic warning, students must maintain full-time academic status and must complete at least 12 degree credits. Academic warnings cannot be appealed and will not appear on a student's official transcript.

Academic Probation.  Students may be placed on academic probation--including first-semester, first-year students--at the conclusion of any fall or spring term when their semester average is lower than 1.8. Students will be notified in writing of probationary status before the start of the next semester. At the conclusion of the semester-long probation period, students must earn a GPA of 1.8 or above to be removed from probation the following term. While on academic probation, students must maintain full-time academic status and must complete at least 12 degree credits. Students whose semester average falls below probationary level in any three semesters or in any two consecutive semesters will be recommended for academic dismissal. Academic probation may only be appealed for technical errors and/or changes in temporary grades. For more information on how to appeal academic probation, please refer to the appeal section below.

Academic Dismissal.  The Scholastic Standing Committee only recommends students for academic dismissal at the end of the academic year, following the spring semester. There are no midyear academic dismissals. Students will be recommended for academic dismissal--including first-year students--when their semester average is 1.4 or less regardless of their cumulative grade-point average or preceding semester average. Students may also be dismissed if their semester average falls below probationary level in any three semesters or in any two consecutive semesters or if their cumulative grade-point average at any time is less than the following: first year, 1.6; sophomore year, 1.8; junior year, 2.0; senior year, 2.0. Students will be notified in writing of the committee's recommendation for academic dismissal at the conclusion of the spring semester. Once notified of the recommendation to academically dismiss, students will be given the opportunity to appeal the decision to the Scholastic Standing Committee. Once the decision to dismiss the student is final (i.e., the student chooses not to appeal or if an appeal is denied) the student will not be permitted to register for the next semester and the academic dismissal will be noted on the student's official transcript. Students may request to re-enroll after a period of absence due to academic dismissal. For more information on how to appeal academic dismissal or how to re-enroll after an academic dismissal is final, please refer to the appropriate sections below.

Poor Academic Performance Appeals. Students may appeal the decision to be put on Academic Probation or be Academically Dismissed with the Scholastic Standing Committee.

Academic Probation Appeal. Students placed on academic probation may appeal in writing to the Scholastic Standing Committee within one week of the date of the letter notifying them of their probation. Grounds for appeal include technical error and/or changes in temporary grades. Letters of appeal must state the reasons for appeal and must be written by the student, although advice from others may be sought in formulating the appeal. Students appealing academic probation citing temporary grades will remain on academic probation until the temporary grades are resolved.

Academic Dismissal Appeal. Students recommended for academic dismissal may appeal in writing to the Scholastic Standing Committee within one week of the date on the letter of dismissal. Grounds for appeal include technical error, temporary grades, extenuating circumstances, medical conditions, and/or additional information not previously available to the committee. The letter of appeal must state the reasons for the appeal and must be written by the student, although advice from others may be sought in formulating the appeal.

After review of the appeal in writing, the Scholastic Standing Committee may determine that the student has presented evidence not previously available, justifying further consideration of the appeal. At the student's and/or committee's request, it is highly recommended that the student be present at the hearing with the committee for reconsideration, unaccompanied by an adviser, family member, or an attorney, to amplify upon his, her, or their appeal request.

Once the academic dismissal appeal period is over, the committee may accept the appeal by reinstating the student who was dismissed for academic reasons or may deny the appeal. The committee notifies the student of its decision within one week of reconsideration. Decisions to accept the appeal may come with or without conditions, such as maintaining a set minimum GPA (term or cumulative), completing certain courses, and/or adjusting the term credit load. Students who are reinstated will continue in their next semester on academic probation. A second academic dismissal after reinstatement will be final without the option to appeal. Decisions to deny a student's academic dismissal appeal will result in the student's subsequent registration being deleted. Students academically dismissed may not register for courses at Mason Gross or any other academic unit at Rutgers University (in a fall or spring semester) without permission from the Assistant Dean for Advising and Student Success. After the appeal process is complete all decisions and actions taken by the committee are final.

Readmission after Academic Dismissal. Students who have been academically dismissed from the school may be considered for readmission by providing satisfactory evidence of successfully completing college-level academic work on an official transcript. This can be accomplished through completed coursework in the Rutgers Summer Session or by earning 12 to 15 credits at another accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Each case is considered on its own merit. Students reinstated after an academic dismissal will be placed on Academic Probation for one term. A second academic dismissal after readmission will be final without the option to appeal. Students will not be readmitted after a second dismissal action. Readmission is not automatic and students wishing to return must contact the Office for Advising and Student Success and complete a re-enrollment application. In addition to the re-enrollment application, students absent for two or more consecutive fall and spring terms may also be required to complete a talent assessment.