Understanding Your Academic Standing

Your academic standing reflects your progress toward maintaining satisfactory academic performance at the university. This infographic outlines what happens when your GPA falls below 2.0 and the steps you can take to return to good standing.

Whether you’re currently on probation, recently reinstated, or simply planning ahead, this guide expands upon the formal definitions of academic standings in the Academic Catalog, helps you understand what each standing means, and how to stay on track for academic success.

A flowchart showing academic standing progression: Good Standing → Warning → Probation → Suspension → Reinstated → Dismissal. Based on GPA falling below 2.0 over consecutive semesters.
A flowchart showing academic standing progression: Good Standing → Warning → Probation → Suspension → Reinstated → Dismissal. Based on GPA falling below 2.0 over consecutive semesters.

About This Graphic
All students begin in Good Academic Standing. If your GPA falls below 2.0, you may move through a series of academic standings—Warning, Probation, Suspension, or Reinstatement—depending on your performance over consecutive semesters. Use this chart to see how your GPA impacts your standing and what steps to take if you’re placed on probation or suspension.

Key Terms
Academic standing decisions are based on how both your semester GPA and cumulative GPA change over time. Understanding the difference helps you know where you stand.

  • Semester GPA – This is your grade point average for a single semester. It shows how you performed during that specific term.
  • Cumulative GPA – This is your overall GPA, calculated from all courses you’ve taken at the university. It determines your official academic standing.
  • Consecutive Semesters – These are back-to-back fall and spring semesters. Semesters in which students completed a semester withdrawal, as well as Summer and Winter semesters, are not factored into consideration.
  • Requirement: Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Meaning: You meet the minimum standards for continued enrollment.
  • When it happens: Your semester GPA falls below 2.0 for any fall or spring semester.
  • What it means: You’re still in good standing, but this is an early alert that your GPA is at risk.
  • When it happens: Your cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 at the end of a fall or spring semester.
  • What it means: You must raise your GPA to at least 2.0 to return to good standing.
  • Note: Three consecutive semesters on probation may result in Academic Suspension review.
    • Semesters in which students completed a semester withdrawal as well as Summer and Winter semesters are not factored into consideration for the three consecutive semesters.
  • When it happens: You’ve had three consecutive semesters below a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
    • Semesters in which students completed a semester withdrawal as well as Summer and Winter semesters are not factored into consideration for the three consecutive semesters.

  • What happens next: Your record is reviewed by the Academic Standing Committee to decide whether to suspend you or offer the standing “Suspended but Reinstated.”

  • Meaning: You’ve met the criteria for suspension but are conditionally allowed to continue for the next semester.
  • Goal: Achieve at least a 2.0 semester GPA to remain enrolled.
  • To qualify: You must complete at least 12 credits at another institution with a 2.5 or higher GPA.
  • Once reinstated: You may return to the university under probationary status.
  • When it happens: After reinstatement, if your cumulative GPA is below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, and your current semester GPA is also below 2.0, you may be dismissed from the university.