Graduate students who meet all requirements of the college, including its academic standards, are considered to be maintaining satisfactory academic progress. A full-time graduate student is one who registers for 9 or more credits in each semester; a part-time student is one who registers for fewer than 9 credits. 

1. All graduate students are evaluated throughout the semester, although grades are only submitted once a semester. Grades of W, I, and WF and repeated courses may affect satisfactory academic progress (refer to the Grading System for definitions of all grades).
2. All graduate students are expected to maintain a minimum 3.0 (B) GPA each semester. Graduate students who have a semester GPA lower than 3.0 will be placed on probation and must attain at least a 3.0 average in the following semester to have their probationary status removed. A graduate student must have achieved a minimum 3.0 GPA at the time a degree is awarded.
3. In addition to maintaining a satisfactory GPA, graduate students must meet all other academic and professional conduct standards set forth by their program.
4. A semester of residency is defined as one in which a full-time graduate student attempts 9 or more credits. Full-time graduate students in master’s programs cannot exceed eight semesters of residency at the college to complete the requirements for their degrees. This is a minimum standard for academic progress and is not intended to represent normal progress, which is four to six semesters of residency at the college.
5. Part-time graduate students must complete their degrees with no more than 12 semesters of residency at the college.
6. Courses designated as developmental for graduate students (usually undergraduate level) cannot be credited toward a degree and do not count toward the full-time equivalent (FTE) semester. These courses are not factored into a student’s GPA, but they may be used by the faculty in judging a student’s overall potential to continue toward a graduate degree.

Graduate students who do not meet the criteria for satisfactory academic progress face academic dismissal. A graduate student may appeal an academic dismissal to the  Academic Review Committee. Appeals must be made in writing and accompanied by documented evidence of mitigating circumstances (e.g., illness, injury, personal tragedy, etc.).

Readmission after Academic Dismissal

Please refer to Readmission.