Academic Standing

Academic Audit

At the end of each semester the Association Deans check students' overall records to see if they are in Good Standing and making satisfactory progress toward their degree. This review is to make sure that students are made aware of any academic problems. Students should make satisfactory progress toward graduating on time but if they are not, the Dean needs to know about the situation in order to provide the appropriate counseling or discipline.

Good Standing

Students are considered to be in Good Standing in the College of Arts and Sciences at the end of a semester if, in that semester, they have:

• completed at least 12 credits of course work;
• earned a minimum GPA of 1.8; and
• have no more than one grade below C-.

Good Standing and Declaration of Major

To remain in Good Standing, students who have completed four semesters of work must be in a major or have completed the Deferral of Major Form which is good only until the end of the fifth semester. No student will be permitted to enroll for a sixth semester without a major. If a student is discontinued as a major for poor academic performance (as determined by a department or an interdepartmental program), then that student must gain immediate acceptance in another major in order to register as a full-time student. Students who lose their Good Standing in a major, may not register for another full-time semester until they either regain Good Standing and/or successfully declare another major.

Satisfactory Progress Toward a Degree

In order to enroll for a fifth semester, students must have earned at least 54 semester hours (includes approved summer, transfer, AP, IB and dual enrollment credits). To enroll for a seventh semester, students must have earned at least 84 semester hours. Students may not enroll in a ninth semester except under very special circumstances.

Students who fall behind in the number of semester hours are required to make up their work in the University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Summer Session, and/or January Term. Students with a cumulative GPA of less than 2.000 may attend Summer Session only at U.Va. Students with a cumulative GPA of greater than 2.0 may attend Summer Session elsewhere; they must complete the appropriate Transfer of Credit Form (available in Garret Hall). Any student whose registration is blocked due to low hours will not be permitted to register until they have verified by official transcript that they have earned the appropriate number of credits.

Students entering from secondary school are expected to complete the requirements for the Baccalaureate degree within eight regular (fall, spring) semesters. (Only students in good academic standing, whose College cumulative grade point average is 2.000 or higher, may transfer courses from other institutions; transferring credits requires the prior permission of both the academic department and the Association Dean). Transfer students have proportionately fewer semesters depending upon the number of semesters completed prior to admission.

Barring unusual circumstances, and the written approval of the Dean's office, students who have completed eight semesters must complete any remaining degree requirements through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, the Summer Session, or at another accredited institution.

Academic Warning

Students who fail to remain in Good Standing will be placed on Academic Warning. The notations “less than 1.8 GPA,” “low grades below C-,” and “reduced course load” are placed on the students’ permanent academic records following the term in which they were placed on warning.

Students on Academic Warning will be required to meet regularly with their Association Dean beginning no later than the add period of the ensuing semester. They are also strongly urged to devote more time to their academic work and are referred to academic support services.

Students on academic warning who withdraw or take a leave of absence are eligible to return upon application, but do so on academic warning and are subject to suspension if they do not attain good standing.

Suspension

Students are subject to suspension after two consecutive semesters on warning or if they fail to earn at least nine grade points in a semester.

If this is a first suspension, then one full fall term and one full spring term must elapse before a student may return to the College, Summer Session included. Your Dean will consider your application for readmission when you can document that you have overcome the difficulties which led to your suspension. Students under suspension may not apply transfer credits from other institutions toward their degree from the College.

A second suspension is regarded as permanent and a student may not return to the University.

Students on Warning who leave the University for one or more semesters return on Academic Warning and must immediately attain Good Standing or face suspension by virtue of two consecutive semesters on Academic Warning. Further, a student who has earned fewer than 9 grade points in a regular semester is subject to suspension at the end of that semester. One full fall term and one full spring term must elapse before suspended students may return to the College. Applications for readmission will be considered upon the presentation of evidence that the difficulties which led to the suspension have been overcome. Students under suspension forfeit commitments of financial aid. Suspended students may not apply hours from other institutions toward their U.Va. degree.

When warranted, the Dean is authorized to hold a suspension in abeyance and permit students who would otherwise be suspended to continue under specific conditions. After the semester has concluded, the student's academic standing will be evaluated and the appropriate academic discipline, if required, will be imposed.

Appeals on Academic Warning and Suspension

Students have the right to petition about academic matters. Adverse decisions by the Dean may be appealed to the Committee on Faculty Rules, a committee comprised entirely of College Faculty members and not Association Deans. Appeals may be addressed to the Committee on Faculty Rules, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400133, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4133; attn.: Mrs. Harmon. Appeals should include a written recommendation from a Faculty Advisor or the Director of the Undergraduate Program as appropriate.