Academic Standing - Undergraduate Student Download to print

Because undergraduate students must earn a minimum 2.000 cumulative (counting all work) grade point average (GPA) to graduate from the university, they must maintain that average throughout the undergraduate years. Students whose GPA falls below 2.000 should make a positive effort to improve their academic performance. Such students should devote their entire attention and energies to their studies by improving study habits and concentrating on such basic skills as composition, reading and mathematics.

The following academic standing designations apply to undergraduate students:

President’s List:
In recognition of an extremely high level of academic excellence, a President’s List is compiled each academic semester. To qualify, students must have a 4.000 GPA in the semester and must have completed 15 or more credit hours (all of which must have regular letter grades) by the end of that semester. This notation will be printed on students’ official transcripts.

Dean’s List for Full-Time Students:
In recognition of academic excellence, a Dean’s List is compiled each academic semester. To qualify, students must have a minimum 3.400 GPA in the semester and must have completed 12 or more regular letter-graded credit hours by the end of that semester. This notation will be printed on students’ official transcripts.

Dean’s List for Part-Time Students:
A Dean’s List for Part-Time Students is compiled after spring semester grades are issued. To qualify, students must have a minimum 3.400 GPA in 12 or more regular letter-graded hours taken during the previous summer, fall and spring semesters. Such students must have registered for fewer than 12 hours in each of the semesters under consideration. This notation will be printed on students’ official transcripts.

In Good Academic Standing:
Students with a minimum 2.000 GPA are in good academic standing. Students with a cumulative GPA below 2.000 are placed on academic probation. Good academic standing is not the same as eligibility for financial aid or for participation in other activities of the university such as athletics, student organization leadership, extracurricular activities, etc. For information about eligibility standards, students should contact the appropriate office or organization.

Midterm Warning:
Students who earn a midterm GPA of less than 2.000 will be placed on midterm warning.

Semester Warning:
Students with a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA who earn a semester GPA of less than 2.000 in any given semester will be placed on semester warning.

Selected Academic Program Warning:
If a student’s GPA does not meet the standards required for a selective program, the dean may place the student on selective academic program warning. The student would be allowed to remain enrolled in the selective major while attempting to improve academic performance.

Not Permitted to Continue:
If a student’s GPA does not meet the standards required for a selective program, the dean may decide that the student is not permitted to continue in that academic program. Unless the student’s cumulative GPA also is below the dismissal standard, the student may continue at the university, but may either be asked to change to a general category in the college of the student’s major (for exploration of other majors in the college) or be referred to another program (including those on the regional campuses) that does not have a graduation standard above the university minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA.

Academic Probation:
Students who fail to maintain a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA will be placed on academic probation. This probation signifies that the cumulative performance is below the minimum university requirement for graduation. Probation is an emphatic warning to the students that the quality of their academic performance must improve if they are to obtain the minimum grades required for graduation. Students on probation must show considerable improvement in their academic work or they will be dismissed from the university. Students on probation must reduce their course load to 15 hours and may receive a prescription from the dean of their college or campus that they further reduce their hours carried until removed from probation. The students also should reduce participation in social and extracurricular activities. Students are removed from probation only when they have achieved a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA. Students on probation will be notified by their dean’s office.

In addition, the following students will be placed on academic probation:

1. Students reinstated to the university after being dismissed because of poor scholarship.
2. Transfer students whose cumulative records at all previous institutions do not meet the minimum GPA requirements of Kent State University.

Academic Dismissal:
Students whose academic performance indicates a limited chance of obtaining the minimum grades required for graduation will be subject to dismissal from the university. Refer to the Dismissal policy in the University Catalog for more information.