Chapter IV: Academic Policies and Procedures The policies and procedures described in this chapter govern the conduct of academic matters affecting students enrolled in the College. Exceptions to these policies may be granted only upon written petition to the Academic Standards Board. Honors students petition the Honors Academic Board; Residential College students petition the RC Counseling Office. Academic Discipline At the end of each term and half term the Academic Standards Board reviews the academic records of all LS&A students showing evidence of academic difficulty. The College uses three major types of actions: Action Pending, Probation, and Dismissal. Action Pending Action Pending is assigned when a student's academic record for a term just concluded is incomplete and the student is in danger of completing the term with less than a 2.0 grade point average. The transcript is reviewed again when final grades have been reported or after incomplete grades have lapsed. This review normally takes place during the fifth week of a student's next fall or winter term in residence. If all incomplete work has not been finished, or if it has been finished with grades that result in a grade point average below a 2.0, a student will be placed on Probation. Special Action Pending Special Action Pending is assigned when a student has an unusual number of incomplete grades. These students are required to meet with an Academic Standards Board member within the first three weeks of the subsequent fall or winter term to discuss their plans to complete the work. A student who fails to make this appointment could be disenrolled from the term. Probation Probation is assigned to all students in the College whose term grade point average falls below 2.0 for the first time but not severely enough to justify dismissal. Students are placed on probation whenever the term grade point average falls below a 2.0 during a term or half term, regardless of the number of courses or credits elected or whether the cumulative grade point average remains above a 2.0. Probation Continued typically is assigned when a student on probation has earned a term grade point average above a 2.0 even though the cumulative grade point average of 2.0 has not yet been achieved. Probation Continued might also be assigned if a probationary student has a term average of exactly 2.0 or slightly below 2.0, so long as members of the Academic Standards Board feel that the student is making minimum progress toward fulfilling degree and program requirements. Special Probation is assigned students whose record leaves some question about whether immediate continuation is advisable. These students are required to meets with an Academic Board member within three weeks of the next term (two weeks for a half-term) to plan appropriate course electives. A student who fails to make this appointment could be disenrolled from the term. Raised Probation officially confirms that a student has completed a probationary term with better than a 2.0 grade point average and that a student's cumulative grade point average is at least a 2.0. Normally, during a fall or winter term, the conditions for a student on Probation or Probation Continued are that all courses in the ensuing term will be completed by the end of the term with a term grade point average greater than 2.0. Specific conditions of probation are stated in a letter which notifies the student of the action taken by the College. All students placed on probation are urged to discuss their academic problems with an academic advisor or a member of the Academic Standards Board and to take full advantage of College and University resources to assist them in improving their level of academic performance. Suspension Students may be suspended from the College for incurring a significant honor point deficit in a single term or half term, for failure to make satisfactory progress toward a degree, or for any other reason deemed sufficient under the academic discipline policies of the LS&A Academic Standards Board. The Academic Standards Board maintains more liberal policies for freshmen than for other students because of the adjustment problems encountered by many freshmen. As a general rule, unless there is a significant honor point deficit the first term, freshmen are placed on probation and are permitted a second term of enrollment to improve their level of academic performance. Similarly, transfer students are given special consideration unless the first term's work in residence shows marked inability to meet the academic standards of the College. However, there is no automatic, one-term probation period before a student may be dismissed from the College. Students appealing a suspension must have an interview with a member of the Academic Standards Board and a written petition. The purpose of the conversation is to discuss the reasons for the action taken by the College and for a student's poor academic performance. All factors bearing upon a student's academic record are examined during this interview, and the opportunity exists for a student to disclose any circumstances that affected the level of academic performance. A student may then submit a written petition for reinstatement. The petition should reflect a student's insight into the causes and resolution of past academic difficulties and should be submitted at least four weeks prior to the term for which a student is requesting readmission. In reaching a decision, members of the Academic Standards Board carefully consider a student's academic promise and any special circumstances that may have contributed to past unsatisfactory academic performance. Students petitioning for immediate reinstatement may do so within a specified deadline without an interview. Students who have received a Not to Register action are permitted one appeal for reinstatement to the College for a given term. 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