Academic Standing Presentation

Overview of Academic Standing Meeting

Defining and Determining your Academic Standing
Impact of Grades on your GPA
UMSL Grade Policies
Academic Standing Options at UMSL
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) & Academic Standing
Rebuilding your GPA
Benefits

What is Academic Standing?

Academic standing is your official academic
status with the University.

Standings include:

Good Standing

Probation

Suspended

How is academic standing determined?

  • At the end of each term, students are assigned letter grades for each course they are enrolled

  • If the course is credit bearing, it will be calculated into the student’s GPA

  • After all grades are calculated into the GPA, academic standing is determined by the student’s current cumulative grade point average for all classes taken at UMSL

UMSL Grade Policies

  • An ‘FN’ grade can be issued in lieu of an ‘F’ grade if an instructor feels that they do not have sufficient work to evaluate a student

    • In terms of GPA calculation, an ‘FN’ grade negatively impacts the GPA just like an ‘F’ grade

  • A ‘DL’ grade does not have immediate impact on the GPA, but the GPA will be recalculated once the ‘DL’ grade is changed to the final course grade

Table showing letter grades and their corresponding impact on GPA, ranging from A (4.0) to FN (0).

What is Good Standing?

For a student to maintain ‘good standing’ with the University, they must maintain no less than a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA)

A note should be made, however, that individual colleges at the University may have requirements beyond the 2.00 to continue enrollment in a specific program.  You should check with your academic college to determine individual program requirements.

Probation … Please Explain!

  • A student will be placed on an academic probation if they fail to maintain the 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA)

  • At UMSL, a student is given a probation warning and a continued probation opportunity before additional action is taken

    • The only exception is if a student was admitted conditionally to UMSL and was required to work with the Office of Student Enrichment and Achievement

    • If a student was admitted conditionally, that acts like the first probation warning

Suspension!! How did this happen?!

  • A student will be academically suspended if their cumulative GPA remains under a 2.00 after serving two semesters on probation (not necessarily consecutive)

    • If the student was admitted conditionally, they may be suspended after one semester

  • At this point, a student is suspended and will not be allowed to continue enrollment at the institution

… But there’s some hope!

  • If you find yourself at the suspension phase of the academic standing process, you will have the opportunity to appeal your suspension

  • If you were academically suspended by your college/UMSL, appeals are submitted directly to the Dean’s Office for your respective college

    • Students suspended by the Office of Student Enrichment and Achievement must appeal directly through that office

  • Where extenuating circumstances exist, you may get an opportunity to continue your enrollment under strict guidelines

Academic Standing and Financial Aid

Federal regulations require that students receiving federal financial aid demonstrate satisfactory academic progress (SAP)

With SAP, a student who fails to maintain the 2.00 cumulative grade point average is placed on probation

If a student fails to improve their academic standing after serving one semester on financial aid probation, their federal financial aid is suspended

The ‘continued probation’ status is not part of the financial aid process

So, no more financial aid?!

  • A student can appeal, through Student Financial Services, to have their financial aid reinstated if circumstances warrant such action

  • More information about financial aid and SAP can be obtained by visiting Student Financial Services in MSC 327

Benefits of Achieving & Maintaining Good Academic Standing

  • Deans List’s

    • GPA ranges based on your academic college

    • Great resume boosters as well as helpful for applications for graduate and/or professional school

  • Scholarships

    • Free money!

    • Some merit based scholarships with a minimum 2.500 UMSL cumulative GPA

Rebuilding your GPA

  • Success Coaching

    • University Student Support

    • Student Enrichment and Achievement

    • Academic colleges and other student support services

  • Academic Renewal

    • ask your Academic Advisor

  • Grade Modification

    • ask your Academic Advisor

  • Career Exploration

Why is Academic Standing important?

Your academic standing determines your ability to continue enrollment at UMSL!

Having a positive academic standing reinforces your end goal of graduation!

It can negatively impact your eligibility for federal financial aid, where applicable

Test Your Knowledge!

Take the UMSL Academic Standing Quiz (must be logged in to your umsystem Google account)! Remember, you need to score a 90% (9/10) to pass.