Academic Standing

Students who fall below the level required for good academic standing are subject to the following actions:

1. Academic Warning - The first time degree candidates fail to attain the minimum CGPA required for good academic standing will receive an academic warning and must receive additional academic support as determined by the Office of Academic Advising, Retention, and Completion. They must attain the minimum CGPA required for good academic standing by the end of the next spring term of attendance or be academically suspended. If no further academic action is taken, the student, upon graduation from TU, may request that the Registrar's Office remove the academic warning notation from their transcript. Eligibility for housing, financial aid, and participation in intercollegiate athletics will be determined by the appropriate departments according to their established criteria. In accordance with policy, students who are reenrolled on warning must also attain the minimum required CGPA by the end of the spring term following reenrollment or be academically suspended.

2. Academic Suspension - Students failing to attain good standing in any spring term following academic warning are academically suspended and may not attend TU during the following fall semester and the subsequent minimester term unless they participate in the Academic Renewal Program (ARP) co-sponsored by the Office of Academic Advising, Retention, and Completion and the Tutoring & Learning Center. Information about the ARP will be included in the communication sent to students who are placed on academic suspension. If students complete course work elsewhere while academically suspended, they must be in good standing at the school(s) attended and must provide official transcripts from the schools to the Reenrollment Office at Towson University if they plan to return to TU. Work remaining to resolve any Incomplete grades may be completed during suspension. Academic suspension is noted permanently on student's transcript. Students who fail to attain good academic standing at the end of any fall term following academic warning will be allowed to continue their enrollment for one additional term but will be limited to a maximum of 13 units in the next term. This Mid-Year Extended Warning will be permanently noted on the student’s transcript. Failure to attain good academic standing at the end of the following spring term will result in academic suspension.

3. Academic Probation - After the suspension ends, students may be reenrolled on academic probation, during which time they may enroll for a maximum of 13 units per term. They must also receive additional advising and may not register without written clearance from the Office of Academic Advising, Retention, and Completion. Academic probation is noted permanently on student's transcript. Students on academic probation have three academic years or 24 calculable units, whichever comes first, to attain good academic standing. GPA hours are courses with grades that affect the student's Grade Point Average (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D+, D, F, FX). Grades of Pass (PS), Audit (AU), and Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) are not GPA hours. If students attain good academic standing during probation but subsequently fall below the minimum requirements for good academic standing, will be given a one-term exception during which good academic standing must be attained. If they do not, they will be academically dismissed. Otherwise, they are considered to be on academic probation until they have either graduated or are academically dismissed. While on academic probation, students may not complete course work elsewhere for transfer to TU.

4. Academic Dismissal - Students failing to attain good academic standing after the period of academic probation will be academically dismissed. Academic dismissal is usually considered a permanent action. A student may petition for reinstatement after at least one year by appealing to the Academic Standards Committee (ASC). The appeal for reinstatement must include an explanation for circumstances leading to dismissal, the changes that have been made since dismissal and an academic plan for success. Students must also meet with an academic adviser before submitting their appeal. Reinstatement is not automatic and not guaranteed. The ASC will evaluate each student’s readiness to return based on the circumstances and prospects for successful completion of the degree.

In addition to complying with this Academic Standing policy, many aid recipients must also comply with the financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.