1255 Angell Hall
(734) 764-0332
www.lsa.umich.edu/students/standards
www.lsa.umich.edu/students/opportunities

The Office of Academic Standards and Academic Opportunities provides guidance and support to LSA undergraduates in the pursuit of their degrees. Working within Student Academic Affairs (SAA) alongside the general academic advisors in the Advising Center and the College faculty, academic standards advisors guide both students who encounter or anticipate academic difficulty and students who require special programmatic assistance during the course of their college career.   In their role as teachers and mentors, academic standards advisors help students master the art of succeeding in varied opportunities offered by the College.

The Office of Academic Standards and Academic Opportunities is responsible for developing and managing processes aimed at improving the academic performance of students. In addition, the office assists students with special advising needs, e.g., students with disabilities, transfer students and returning adults, cross-college transfer students, and other special student groups. Coordination of the Individualized Concentration program and the Bachelor of General Studies degree program are also the responsibility of this office.

 

A major function of the Office of Academic Standards and Academic Opportunities is the interpretation of academic policies, established by the faculty of the College, that govern LSA students. While students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with College and departmental requirements, academic standards advisors are available to help students interpret academic policies as they apply to them individually. 

 

Petitions from LS&A students for exceptions to the College‘s rules and regulations are reviewed by the Academic Standards Board in the Office of Academic Standards and Academic Opportunities.  Exceptions may be granted if the student presents evidence of unusual circumstances or has an alternative proposal to meet a specific requirement that is consistent with the spirit of the requirement.  Students who are members of the Honors program petition the Honors Academic Board;Residential College students petition the RC Board on Academic Standing. 

Academic Standards Board advisors provide guidance and support to students who are applying for joint degrees with other U of M schools and colleges, who are returning after long absences, who are encountering difficulty in making progress toward degree requirements, or who are returning adults.  Academic Standards advisors also act as consultants to faculty and staff on matters of College policy and interpret College rules for parents and other interested parties outside the College.

The Academic Standards Board manages the Grade Review process each term, including judgments of probation, suspension, dismissal, and reinstatement. At the end of each term, the Board reviews records of students who show evidence of academic difficulty and determines the academic status of those students based on the policies described in Chapter IV.