Acdemic Probation, Suspension, Dismissal

Students in Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree programs are expected to make satisfactory academic progress by maintaining a 2.00 overall cumulative UMW GPA, the standard required for graduation. Students who fall below a 2.00 overall cumulative UMW GPA are in academic jeopardy and are subject to these probation, suspension and dismissal policies.

The purpose of probation, suspension and dismissal is to warn students that they are not doing satisfactory work, to stimulate them to improve their performance, or, finally, to serve notice that the institution does not choose to allow them to continue because there is little or no likelihood of their finishing successfully.

Evaluation of academic standing is based on two factors: the number of attempted credits and the minimum overall cumulative GPA. For both full-time and part-time students, the number of attempted credits is calculated by adding the UMW attempted hours (including UMW graded credits, PA, SA, UN, W and repeated credits) to the AP credit, IB credit, CLEP credit, Cambridge credit, and transfer credit hours. The minimum overall GPA is calculated on UMW GPA credits (Grades of PA, SA, UN and W are not considered in calculating the UMW GPA.)

Probation. A student is placed on probation whenever the student’s overall cumulative UMW GPA falls below 2.00. Students on probation who achieve an overall cumulative UMW GPA of 2.00 or higher at the conclusion of either the fall or spring semester will be removed from probation. Any student previously on probation whose overall cumulative UMW GPA falls again below a 2.00 at the conclusion of either the fall or spring semester will be returned to probation.

As appropriate, a notation of the student’s probation status is entered on the student’s permanent record. A student placed on academic probation is expected to consult with his or her faculty advisor and a dean from the Office of Academic Services no later than the first week of the ensuing semester. A student placed on “academic probation” may continue to participate in any extracurricular opportunities offered by the institution except those activities that require a specific GPA threshold.

Suspension/Dismissal. Students who do not make satisfactory progress (please see chart below) while on probation will be suspended/dismissed. No student can be suspended after only one semester at the University; a period of probation of at least one semester duration will always precede suspension/dismissal action. As appropriate, a notation of the student’s suspension/dismissal status is entered on the student’s permanent record. A suspended student may not register for any classes at UMW (semester or summer) until his or her term of suspension expires. However, a student under first suspension may enroll in UMW’s summer school after consultation with a dean from the Office of Academic Services. A dismissed student is ineligible to obtain a degree from UMW or to continue enrollment in courses offered by the University.

The academic records of all students on probation are subject to review for academic suspension/dismissal at the conclusion of both the fall and spring semester. All students on probation must have met the appropriate minimum overall cumulative UMW GPA, based upon their number of credits (including AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge, and transfer credits as well as all UMW attempted GPA hours).

All students on probation who have not achieved the requisite minimum overall cumulative GPA at the conclusion of each fall or spring semester will be suspended/dismissed, according to the terms below:

FIRST SUSPENSION – One-semester suspension. Appeals are reviewed
by the Committee on Academic Standing. The student will be ineligible to
attend the subsequent semester, but he or she would be eligible to return for
the semester following the semester away from the University. However, a
suspended student would be eligible to attend UMW’s summer school after
consultation with an advisor from Academic Services. If a suspended student’s
GPA meets the minimum overall cumulative GPA at the end of the summer
session, that student will be automatically reinstated. Any student placed on
suspension may appeal his or her suspension to the Committee on Academic
Standing following the guidelines but not the deadlines in the following
section: Reinstatement after suspension.

SECOND SUSPENSION – Two-semesters suspension. Appeals are
reviewed by the Committee on Academic Standing. The student will be
ineligible to attend the subsequent summer session, fall semester and spring
semester; but he or she would be eligible to return for the following summer
term and/or fall semester. Any student placed on suspension may appeal his
or her suspension to the Committee on Academic Standing. Students cannot
be evaluated for a second suspension until they return from a first suspension
as either a full-time or part-time student during the fall or spring semester
following the guidelines but not the deadlines in the following section:
Reinstatement after suspension.

DISMISSAL—Permanent Suspension. No appeal to the Committee on
Academic Standing is possible. A dismissed student is ineligible to obtain
a degree from UMW or to continue enrollment in courses offered by the
University.
Any student placed on suspension may appeal his or her suspension to the
Committee on Academic Standing. The Committee on Academic Standing, a
panel comprised of faculty and administrators, is appointed by the Associate
Dean of Academic Services. This committee considers suspension appeals by
students and can modify a suspension term when such is deemed appropriate.

This committee also has the authority to establish and enforce reinstatement
contracts for students returning after the completion of suspension periods.
NOTE: Courses taken at other institutions while a student is on
suspension (academic, disciplinary, or honor) from UMW are NOT
ACCEPTED by UMW for transfer credit and will not fulfill ANY
degree requirement. Prior permission for future transfer course work is
automatically revoked when a student is suspended/dismissed.
Reinstatement after Suspension. A first-time suspended student will
be automatically reinstated if the overall cumulative GPA meets the stated
minimum after attending UMW’s summer school. A first-time or second-time
suspended student who wishes to re-enroll must indicate to the Committee
on Academic Standing, in writing, that he or she intends to return to the
University at the conclusion of his or her suspension period. Guidelines for
petitioning the Committee are available in the Office of Academic Services.
The student’s reinstatement petition must be received in the Office of
Academic
Services by February 15 to be considered for advanced registration
for fall semester (or summer session) re-enrollment or by September 15 to
be considered for advanced registration for spring semester re-enrollment.
The Committee on Academic Standing will then extend a reinstatement
contract to the student, who, on formally accepting the contract, will be
assured continuance and permission to enroll in courses at UMW during
the semester immediately following the conclusion of the suspension
period. A student returning from suspension after the end of the spring
semester is eligible to take courses during the subsequent summer term. (See
READMISSION/REINSTATEMENT, below.)

Readmission/Reinstatement

Any UMW B.A./B.S. or BLS degree-seeking student who remains enrolled each semester, without interruption, is considered a continuing student. The student maintains this status by completing Advance Registration each semester through the Office of the Registrar. Students with cumulative UMW GPA’s of at least 2.0 who interrupt their enrollment for only one or two consecutive semesters are still considered degree-seeking students.

Readmission. B.A./B.S. or BLS students who discontinue attendance for three consecutive semesters or more are no longer considered to be in a degree program at the University. Students who wish to return to study must reapply for admission if their last cumulative GPA was a 2.0 or better and if they were not on an approved Leave of Absence. Students who do not return to study within one semester after the conclusion of their approved Leave of Absence are also no longer considered to be in a degree program at the University. Students may begin the readmission process through the Office of Admissions. If a student’s last cumulative GPA was less than 2.00, they must begin the readmission process through the Committee on Academic Standing. If the committee approves their readmission, they will continue the process by following the readmission process outlined below. Students seeking such readmission must submit transcripts of any academic work completed while not in attendance at the University of Mary Washington for evaluation and consideration of transfer credit. Previously earned UMW credits will also be reviewed for possible application to the current curriculum. Further, students who are readmitted must follow the graduation requirements and major requirements of the Catalog in force at the time of their readmission.

An undergraduate student who is seeking readmission to the University may choose to have all University of Mary Washington course work that is at least seven academic years old not counted in the calculation of the GPA by declaring Academic Bankruptcy. A student who chooses this option receives credit for courses in which a grade of at least “C” was earned; the grades for such courses, however, are not included in the computation of the GPA. The decision to declare Academic Bankruptcy must be made at the time of re-enrollment and can be claimed no more than once in a student’s career at the University.

Students who have completed a B.A., B.S., or BLS degree who are continuing their enrollment to complete a second major or to complete requirements for teacher licensure do not need to reapply for admission. However, students who are resuming attendance after completing one degree to complete a second degree must seek admission to the second degree program through the Office of Admissions.

Reinstatement of Students Returning from Military Service. Students who withdrew from the University as a result of military deployment, mobilizations, or duty changes are entitled to return without having to re-qualify for admission so long as the student (a) returns after a cumulative absence of no more than five years, and (b) notifies the Office of Admissions of the intent to return to the University not later than three (3) years after the completion of the military service obligation. The student must provide the Office of Admissions with a copy of the military orders to substantiate the end of duty date.

Reinstatement by the Committee on Academic Standing. Students who fall into any one of the following categories are not considered degreeseeking students and are not eligible to return to the University through the readmission process described above. Instead, they must be reinstated by the Committee on Academic Standing.

1. Students on academic suspension.
2. Students who have previously been required to serve a period of suspension and who have never subsequently returned to the University.
3. Students with a UMW cumulative grade-point average below 2.0 who have voluntarily interrupted their enrollment without a Leave of Absence.