Scholastic Standards

Graduation GPA Requirements

A minimum GPA of 2.00, both cumulative and in the major department or school, is required for all undergraduate degrees.

Undergraduate Academic Progress

The academic progress of degree-seeking undergraduate students is monitored, and those having academic difficulty may be asked to withdraw from specific courses, may be placed on academic probation or suspension, or may be dismissed.

Required Course Withdrawal

The dean of students may, on the recommendation of the department chair, require students to withdraw from any course or courses in which their preparation, progress, effort, or conduct is deemed unsatisfactory.

Academic Probation

Students who are not making satisfactory progress toward a degree are placed on academic probation. Academic probation is a strong warning to students that their scholastic performance is less than that expected by the University. Notices of academic probation are sent to students at the same time grades are sent at the end of the semester. Failure to improve after receiving a probation notice can result in academic suspension or dismissal from the University.

A student who is seeking the baccalaureate or associate degree is placed on academic probation under any of the following conditions:

• The University cumulative GPA is below 2.00.
• The GPA for the most recent semester is below 2.00.
• The cumulative GPA in the courses used to calculate departmental GPA is below 2.00, based on at least 16 credits.

A student will be removed from academic probation when all of the following conditions are met:

• The University cumulative GPA is 2.00 or greater.
• The GPA for the most recent semester is 2.00 or greater.
• The cumulative GPA in the major department is 2.00 or greater.

Academic Suspension and Dismissal

A student is eligible for academic suspension if the cumulative GPA is below 2.0 after a semester of academic probation or if the student is not restored to good academic standing after two semesters of probation regardless of the cumulative GPA. A student who receives a notice of academic suspension will not be permitted to enroll at the University for a specified period of time.

Upon receiving a first notice of academic suspension, a student must sit out for at least one semester, plus a summer. That is, a student suspended at the end of a fall semester may not reenroll until the following fall, and a student suspended at the end of a spring semester may not reenroll until the following spring. Upon receiving a second notice of academic suspension, a student must sit out two semesters, plus a summer. Upon reinstatement after a second suspension, failure to achieve good academic standing or show substantial academic progress within one semester will result in academic dismissal. There is no opportunity for reinstatement after academic dismissal.

Appeals of Academic Suspension/Dismissal

Appeals of academic suspension/dismissal will be considered if students can document that there are unusual or extenuating circumstances surrounding their recent academic performance. They must also be confident that they will be able to show significant academic progress. Students wishing to make such an appeal must do so in writing to the dean of students within five calendar days of receipt of the notice of suspension/dismissal. See this website: www.admin.mtu.edu/dos/petitionappeal.html.

Reinstatement

A student suspended for unsatisfactory academic progress may apply for reinstatement through a written request to the vice president for student affairs after a period of nonenrollment, or they can complete this form: www.admin.mtu.edu/dos/reinstate/.

A student who is reinstated after academic suspension will be reinstated on academic probation and shall be considered as having enrolled under the catalog and curriculum in effect at the time of reenrollment.

Upon reinstatement, failure to achieve good academic standing or show substantial academic progress by the end of one semester will result in a second suspension. Upon reinstatement after a second suspension, failure to achieve good academic standing or show substantial academic progress within one semester will result in academic dismissal. There is no opportunity for reinstatement after academic dismissal.

Dean's List

Each semester, the registrar submits to the dean of students the names of full-time undergraduate students who earn a 3.50 or higher Grade Point Average. This list is published as the Dean's List. When students earn a 4.00 GPA, both they and their parents receive a letter notifying them of the achievement.

Commencement

Commencement ceremonies will be held on December 10, 2005, and April 29, 2006, during the 2005-2006 academic year. Students are eligible to participate* in commencement if they (1) are currently enrolled in classes that would complete all outstanding degree requirements (spring or fall grads) or be registered for classes for the following term that would fulfill all outstanding degree requirements (summer grads), (2) file an Application for Graduation with the Degree Services Office sixty days prior to the scheduled commencement date that coincides with their projected graduation term, and (3) complete a degree audit with their academic advisor. The department-approved degree audit must be on file in the Degree Services Office sixty days prior to the scheduled commencement date that coincides with their projected graduation term.

Participation in a commencement ceremony is NOT equivalent to graduation. Since the ceremony occurs before final grades are submitted, it is not possible to determine if all degree requirements are met at that time. Graduation becomes official after all grades are received and the degree notation is placed on the academic record.