Academic Programs Catalog

The statement on ACADEMIC STANDING OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (ASUS) was designed to create an early warning system to prevent students from getting too deeply into academic difficulty. The university requires a cumulative grade–point average (GPA) of 2.00 or above for graduation. The statement on ASUS establishes a system whereby at the end of any semester that a student's cumulative GPA  falls below 2.00, the student is assigned to a warning status designated as probation.

Under the statement on ASUS, the term "probation" is the functional equivalent of an academic warning. Students  placed on probation retain the right to participate in all university activities and retain all of the rights and privileges available to any student who is not currently subject to academic recess or dismissal.

In addition to the criteria contained in this statement on Academic Standing of Undergraduate Students (ASUS), undergraduate students who wish to be considered for federal financial aid must be making satisfactory progress toward the bachelor’s degree as defined in the Financial Aid for Undergraduates section of this publication.

A student is in good standing if the student is a new student, or the student's cumulative grade–point average is at least 2.00.

A student is on probation if during the most recent previous semester in attendance, the student had been in good standing, but at the end of that semester the cumulative grade–point average was below 2.00. Grades of I and ET are not considered in computing this grade–point average. The period of probation is one semester. If in the special case that there are grade changes during that semester which result in the student's cumulative grade–point average increasing to at least a 2.00, the student is returned to good standing.

Students on probation may be required to see an academic advisor. If they do not, a hold may be placed on their registration. If at the end of that semester, the cumulative grade–point average is at least 2.00, the student is returned to good standing. If not, the student will be put on final probation or recessed.

A student is on final probation if during the most recent previous semester in attendance, the student was on probation and at the end of the semester the cumulative grade–point average was still below 2.00 and the semester grade–point average was at least 2.00. Students with fewer than 30 credits earned at Michigan State University must have a semester grade–point average of 1.5 or higher. Grades of I and ET are not considered in computing the cumulative or semester grade–point average. The period of final probation is one semester. If in the special case there are grade changes during that semester which result in the student's grade–point average increasing to at least a 2.00, the student is returned to good standing.

Students on final probation may be required to see an academic advisor. If they do not, a hold may be placed on their registration. At the end of the semester on final probation, the cumulative grade–point average must be at least 2.00 or the student will be recessed. An exception to this can be made for students with 30 or fewer credits earned at Michigan State University.  If such a student has shown substantial progress during the semester and the evidence suggests that the student would attain good standing in one more semester, the student may be granted one additional semester on (extended) final probation at the discretion of the associate dean of the student's college.

At the discretion of the associate dean of the student's college a student is normally put on warning for repeats after repeating between 10 and 14 credits . Students on warning for repeats may be required to see an academic advisor before enrolling for any subsequent semester. If they do not, a hold may be placed on their registration.

If at the end of a semester an upper-division student is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree requirements stated in the catalog (e.g., a student is not taking courses  in the student's major or the student's grade–point average in courses in the major is below the required major grade–point average), or the student's semester grade–point average is below 2.00, the student may be put on warning for lack of satisfactory progress in the major at the discretion of the associate dean of the student's college. Such students must be given a written statement of the criteria they must satisfy to progress satisfactorily. Students on warning for lack of satisfactory progress in the major may be required to see an academic advisor before enrolling. If they do not, a hold may be placed on their registration. If a student has been on warning for lack of satisfactory progress and is not making satisfactory progress in any subsequent semester, the student will normally be recessed. However, if lack of satisfactory progress is due to poor grades in the major courses and the student is otherwise in good standing, the student would be permitted, even encouraged, to remain at Michigan State University if the student changed to a more appropriate major.

1. If in any semester a student receives all semester grades of 0.0 or I where numeric grades have been given and there are at least 6 credits of 0.0, the student will be recessed unless there are compelling reasons certified to the record by the associate dean of the student's college. If recessed, the student must remain out of Michigan State University for at least one calendar year.
2. If at the end of a semester during which the student was on probation the cumulative grade–point average is still below 2.00 and the semester grade–point average is below 2.00 (1.5 for students with less than 30 credits earned at MSU), the student will be recessed. The student must remain out of Michigan State University for at least one calendar year.
3. If at the end of a semester during which the student was on final probation the cumulative grade–point average is not at least 2.00, the student will be recessed. The student must remain out of Michigan State University for at least one calendar year.
4. If a student has previously been put on warning for lack of satisfactory progress in the major and at the end of any subsequent semester the student is not making satisfactory progress, the student will be recessed. A student recessed for lack of satisfactory progress in the major must remain out of Michigan State University for at least one calendar year.
5. If at the end of the third consecutive semester of enrollment a provisionally admitted student does not reach English language proficiency or does not demonstrate consistent progress in English language proficiency as determined by the Director of the English Language Center, the student will be recessed. The student must remain out of Michigan State University for at least one calendar year.

After a recessed student has been out of Michigan State University for the prescribed period, the student may be readmitted to Michigan State University at the discretion of the appropriate associate dean. If readmitted, the student will be put on probation, final probation, or warning for lack of progress in the major, and the associate dean may impose specific conditions in writing that must be met. A second recess is dismissal.

1. If a student has previously been recessed or dismissed, readmitted, and again meets one of the criteria 1–5 for recess or has failed to comply with the specific written conditions imposed at the time of readmission, the student will be dismissed.

Students who have been dismissed must remain out of school for at least two years. After that period, they may be readmitted only if a convincing case can be made to the associate dean of the admitting college that circumstances have changed so that there is a reasonable probability of success. Students will be readmitted on probation, final probation, warning for repeats, or warning for lack of progress in the major as appropriate, and specific conditions in writing will be imposed.

The recessed student is normally allowed a second chance to demonstrate satisfactory academic performance. Therefore, the student may apply for readmission to be effective at the conclusion of the specified period of recess. The student may be required to submit a report of activities during the period of recess. The report may be used as one kind of evidence regarding readiness to return. If the student has attended another institution while on recess, they must submit an official transcript and have earned at least a 2.00 grade–point average (GPA), or its equivalent, to be considered for readmission.

Academic dismissal does not imply future readmission nor does it mean the person is forever barred from enrollment at Michigan State University. After a period of at least two years, a student dismissed for academic reasons may apply for readmission.  The applicant must be prepared to submit evidence of growth in maturity and responsibility indicative of capacity to perform university-level work. Declarations of good intentions are not sufficient. Each application will be considered on its merits. If the student has attended another institution while on dismissal, the student must submit an official transcript to be considered for readmission.

For additional information, see Readmission Procedure in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog.