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 basic types of actions: Action Pending, Probation, and Suspension. Action Pending Action Pending is assigned when a student's academic record for a term 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 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 deadline specified in the notification letter 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 but whose deficit is not severe enough to justify suspension. 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 is assigned when a student on probation has earned a term grade point average above a 2.0 but 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 in the College is advisable. These students are required to meet with an Academic Standards Board member within the deadline specified in the notification letter to plan appropriate course electives. A student who fails to make this appointment will be disenrolled from the 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 notifying the student of the action taken by the College. All students placed on probation are required to discuss their academic situation with an academic advisor or a member of the Academic Standards Board and to take advantage of College and University resources to assist them in improving their level of academic performance. 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 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. Since first year students often experience problems adjusting to college, the Academic Standards Board maintains more liberal policies for them than for other students. 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 submit 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. It 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 consider the 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. This deadline and petition guidelines will be included in the letter of suspension. Students who have been suspended are permitted one appeal for reinstatement to the College for any given term. 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