Academic Probation and Suspension Policies

Students are encouraged to contact their academic advisor or their Dean's Office to discuss the probation policies and the options available to students who are not in good academic standing.

Grades are reported at the end of each semester. Students must attain grade point averages according to the hours attempted below in order to remain in academic "good standing" at Appalachian. Please note that attempted hours include both institutional and transfer hours. Cumulative GPAs and when they should be attained are as follows:

Between 1-15 Attempted Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.75
Between 16-30 Attempted Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.90
31 Attempted Hours (and thereafter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.00

A student whose cumulative GPA is below the required minimum is placed on academic probation. Each student is permitted two regular terms (fall, spring) of academic probation. If the student has used both probation terms and again fails to meet the required cumulative GPA, the student will be suspended from further enrollment during the fall and spring terms. The student may, however, attend summer school at Appalachian. Students who raise their cumulative GPA to the required minimum during the summer term(s) will be permitted to return in the regular sessions.

Probation status is indicated on the grade report as follows:
Academic Probation First Probation Term
Continued Probation Second Probation Term
Academic Suspension Ineligible to Return

Options Available to Undergraduate Students Who Do Not Meet Academic Standards

  1. Repeating Courses and Submitting a Repeat Form
    Repeating a course should always be considered when attempting to improve your GPA. You may request to have the initial grade excluded from your grade point average for a maximum of 4 courses. Although the grade will be excluded from your GPA, the letter grade will still appear on your transcript. IMPORTANT NOTE: Courses ARE NOT automatically excluded from the grade point average. The student MUST submit a Repeat Form by the last day of exams of the semester in which the course is being repeated, indicating the courses to be excluded from the GPA.
  2. Summer School at Appalachian
    A student who does not meet the required academic standards may enroll in summer school at Appalachian and attempt to raise the grade point average by taking new courses or repeating courses. The summer sessions do not count as semesters earned and are available for students regardless of their academic standing. Students should see an academic advisor prior to enrolling for summer classes to determine the best schedule and the grade point average needed to be off probation. Summer course work taken at other schools will not affect the GPA since only hours, not grades, transfer back to Appalachian.
  3. Two Year Forgiveness Policy
    Students who are academically ineligible to return to Appalachian may do so if two years have elapsed since their last enrollment (including summer school). This policy permits the student to return, retaining credit for prior successful course work, and begin a new grade point average. Any collegiate course work taken during the period of absence from Appalachian must have a minimum overall grade point average of at least 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
  4. Re-Admission With Credit Hours Forgiveness Policy (One Year Forgiveness Policy)
    A student who has not attended Appalachian for a minimum of one year (including summer school), may return to Appalachian if the following requirements are met:
    A. The student must have earned a minimum of 30 semester hours of transferable credit from another collegiate institution since the student's last attendance at Appalachian. To determine admission, the grades earned at the other institution will be averaged with the grades previously earned at Appalachian. The combined average must be a 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in order for the student to be eligible to return.
    B. Credit for the previous hours earned at Appalachian as well as credit for transferable hours from the other institution is awarded, but the student will have no entering GPA. The new GPA is based on hours earned after returning to Appalachian.

    A former undergraduate student may be readmitted under a forgiveness policy ONLY ONCE during her or his academic career. At no time during the "stopout" period shall the student be dually enrolled at Appalachian and at another institution. These policies are designed for readmission to the University and do not override specific grade requirements of individual colleges and/or departments. Students returning to the University under a forgiveness policy must apply through the Office of Admissions and must complete a minimum of one year in residency (30 semester hours) beyond their date of readmission and must fulfill the catalog requirements in effect the year of their re-admission. Please note that students are not granted additional semesters of probation or repeats when admitted under a forgiveness policy; however, any previously unused repeats or probation semesters may be used.

Steps to Academic Success

  1. Repeat failed courses as soon as possible. Repeating, with a higher grade, will improve your grade point average, and will build a solid foundation for more advanced courses. Remember to submit a Repeat Form no later than the last day of exams the semester that you repeat a class.
  2. Talk with your General Studies advisor or contact the Dean's Office in your college . You can ask for help in determining what grade point average you will need to earn in the next semester to achieve academic good standing. Your advisor may have suggestions about course scheduling, prerequisites, and planning an appropriate schedule. Students whose records are in General Studies may attend a Probation Workshop to learn how to avoid obstacles to academic success and ways to improve study habits.
  3. Arrange tutoring as necessary. The tutoring services at Appalachian are free, and many students find that having a tutor makes a significant difference in their ability to understand course materials and lectures. Other resources such as the Writing Center and Math Lab are also available.
  4. Attend Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions if they are available for your class. These extra sessions will give you an additional opportunity to ask questions and improve your understanding of course materials.
  5. Explore the possibility of taking one of the Learning Skills classes offered through Learning Skills Services.
  6. Sign up for a free one-on-one appointment with a Learning Skills advisor to work on such topics as taking notes, effective study methods, time management, test preparation, and stress management.
  7. Visit the Peer Career Center for help in determining your individual interests and select a major field of study. Students who are happy with their chosen area make better grades.
  8. Talk with your professors. Faculty members are happy to help students and can frequently suggest actions that can improve your chances of success.
  9. Examine your current campus life style. Would you be more successful if you made changes? Consider how much time you spend studying and how willing you are to talk to your professors or ask for assistance. Identify personal issues that might be affecting your success. The Counseling Center may help you find ways to manage personal issues so that they will not interfere with your academic life.

Additional information concerning probation semesters, the repeat policy, and the three year policy is in the Appalachian State University General Bulletin.