Academic Standing
A student's academic standing is based on grade point average (GPA) in conjunction with total attempted credits (including transfer credits) and is evaluated after the completion of each term of enrollment. Academic standing standards differ by program of study. Please refer to the academic standing standards charts for specific requirements. Students not in good academic standing will not be able to register until they have met with their assigned academic counselor/advisor. At this meeting an academic agreement outlining the grades needed to return to good academic standing will be developed, and the schedule hold will be removed. Students are urged to make an appointment with their assigned academic counselor/advisor at the beginning of their probation term.
Students who meet the following criteria are considered to be in good academic standing:
- Undergraduate students need a minimum GPA of 2.0.
- Graduate students need a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Doctor of Business Administration and Occupational Therapy Doctorate students need a minimum GPA of 3.0. In addition, students must earn grades of B- or higher in each course. No classes may be repeated.
- Doctor of Education students need a minimum GPA of 3.25 and earn grades higher than F in each course. No classes may be repeated.
- Accelerated Master's Program students need a minimum GPA of 3.0 in graduate-level coursework.
According to the following academic standing standards, students who do not satisfy good academic standing requirements will be placed on academic probation or dismissed.
Academic Standing Standards: Undergraduate Day and Online Programs (including English as a Second Language)
First-Term Students:
| Status at Start of Term | Total Credit Hours Attempted | Cumulative GPA | Status after Term Completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Standing | 0–higher | 2.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Good Standing | 0–higher | 0–1.99 | Probation 1st Term |
Returning Students:
| Status at Start of Term | Total Credit Hours Attempted | Cumulative GPA | Status after Term Completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Standing | 0–higher | 2.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Good Standing | 0–21 | 1.0–1.99 | Probation 1st Term |
| Good Standing | 0–21 | 0–.99 | Academic Dismissal |
| Good Standing | 21.1–42 | 1.26–1.99 | Probation 1st Term |
| Good Standing | 21.1–42 | 0–1.25 | Academic Dismissal |
| Good Standing | 42.1–higher | 1.5–1.99 | Probation 1st Term |
| Good Standing | 42.1–higher | 0–1.49 | Academic Dismissal |
| Probation 1st Term | 0–higher | 2.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Probation 1st Term | 0–21 | 1.0–1.99 | Probation 2nd Term |
| Probation 1st Term | 0–21 | 0–.99 | Academic Dismissal |
| Probation 1st Term | 21.1–42 | 1.26–1.99 | Probation 2nd Term |
| Probation 1st Term | 21.1–42 | 0–1.25 | Academic Dismissal |
| Probation 1st Term | 42.1-higher | 1.5–1.99 | Probation 2nd Term |
| Probation 1st Term | 42.1–higher | 0-1.49 | Academic Dismissal |
| Probation 2nd Term | 0–higher | 2.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Probation 2nd Term | 0–21 | 1.0–1.99 | Probation 3rd Term |
| Probation 2nd Term | 0–21 | 0–.99 | Academic Dismissal |
| Probation 2nd Term | 21.1–42 | 1.26–1.99 | Probation 3rd Term |
| Probation 2nd Term | 21.1–42 | 0–1.25 | Academic Dismissal |
| Probation 2nd Term | 42.1-higher | 1.5-1.99 | Probation 3rd Term |
| Probation 2nd Term | 42.1-higher | 0–1.49 | Academic Dismissal |
| Probation 3rd Term | 0–higher | 2.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Probation 3rd Term | 0–higher | 0–1.99 | Academic Dismissal |
| Academic Warning | 0–higher | 2.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Academic Warning | 0–42 | 1.25–1.99 | Probation 1st Term |
| Academic Warning | 0–42 | 0–1.24 | Academic Dismissal |
| Academic Warning | 42.1–63 | 1.5–1.99 | Probation 1st Term |
| Academic Warning | 42.1–63 | 0–1.49 | Academic Dismissal |
| Academic Warning | 63.1–84 | 1.75–1.99 | Probation 1st Term |
| Academic Warning | 63.1–84 | 0–1.74 | Academic Dismissal |
| Academic Warning | 84.1–higher | 0–1.99 | Academic Dismissal |
Academic Standing Standards: Continuing Education
| Status at Start of Term | Total Credit Hours Attempted | Cumulative GPA | Status after Term Completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Standing | 0–higher | 2.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Good Standing | 0–higher | 0–1.99 | Probation 1st Term |
| Probation 1st Term | 0–higher | 2.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Probation 1st Term | 0–higher | 1.25–1.99 | Probation 2nd Term |
| Probation 1st Term | 0–higher | 0–1.24 | Academic Dismissal |
| Probation 2nd Term | 0–higher | 2.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Probation 2nd Term | 0–higher | 1.50–1.99 | Probation 3rd Term |
| Probation 2nd Term | 0–higher | 0–1.49 | Academic Dismissal |
| Probation 3rd Term | 0–higher | 2.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Probation 3rd Term | 0–higher | 0–1.99 | Academic Dismissal |
| Academic Warning | 0–higher | 2.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Academic Warning | 0–27 | 1.25–1.99 | Probation 1st Term |
| Academic Warning | 0–27 | 0–1.24 | Academic Dismissal |
| Academic Warning | 27.1–40.99 | 1.5–1.99 | Probation 1st Term |
| Academic Warning | 27.1–40.99 | 0–1.49 | Academic Dismissal |
| Academic Warning | 41–54.99 | 1.75–1.99 | Probation 1st Term |
| Academic Warning | 41–54.99 | 0–1.74 | Academic Dismissal |
| Academic Warning | 55–higher | 0–1.99 | Academic Dismissal |
Academic Standing Standards: Graduate Programs
(Accelerated Master's Program students must meet these standards for the graduate-level coursework for which they are enrolled.)
| Status at Start of Term | Total Credit Hours Attempted | Cumulative GPA | Status after Term Completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Standing | 0–higher | 3.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Good Standing | 0–higher | 2.0–2.99 | Probation 1st Term |
| Good Standing | 0–higher | 0–1.99 | Academic Dismissal |
| Probation 1st Term | 0–higher | 3.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Probation 1st Term | 0-higher | 2.0-2.99 | Probation 2nd Term |
| Probation 1st Term | 0–higher | 0–1.99 | Academic Dismissal |
| Probation 2nd Term | 0-higher | 3.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Probation 2nd Term | 0-higher | 0–2.99 | Academic Dismissal |
| Academic Warning | 0–higher | 3.0–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Academic Warning | 0–higher | 0–2.99 | Academic Dismissal |
Academic Standing Standards:
Doctor of Business Administration
Occupational Therapy Doctorate
| Status at Start of Term | Total Credit Hours Attempted | Cumulative GPA | Status after Term Completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Standing | 0–higher | 3.00–4.00 | Good Standing |
| Good Standing | 0–higher | 0–2.99 | Academic Dismissal |
Note: Students will be dismissed if their GPA is less than 3.00, or when they earn a grade lower than B- in any course. No classes may be repeated.
Academic Standing Standards: Doctor of Education
| Status at Start of Term | Total Credit Hours Attempted | Cumulative GPA | Status after Term Completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Standing | 0–higher | 3.25–4.0 | Good Standing |
| Good Standing | 0–higher | 0–3.24 | Academic Dismissal |
Note: Students will be dismissed if their GPA is less than 3.25, or when they earn a grade of F in any course. No classes may be repeated.
Academic Probation
Probation may affect a student’s ability to register and/or graduate. Graduate program students and Accelerated Master's Program students are allowed a maximum of two terms on probation.
First-term undergraduate students earning a cumulative GPA less than 1.0 are strongly encouraged to attend study skills strategy seminars and tutoring in identified content areas.
Academic Dismissal & Appeal Process
Dismissed undergraduate and graduate students may no longer matriculate at the university for at least one term/semester and are expected to work on academic deficiencies. To return to the university, students may petition the Academic Appeals Committee, providing a letter of intent and documentation of academic improvement. All students should be discussing this process with their assigned academic counselor/advisor. The committee will also consider appeals that document mitigating circumstances. Students may only appeal their dismissal once and the decision of the committee is final.
Undergraduate student requirements:
-
Take one term off from Johnson & Wales University. The summer term is not counted as a term off.
-
Take a minimum of two classes at an accredited college or university within the same term. Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.50 and only one grade of C (70) in one class is permitted.
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Submit their official transcript.
-
Submit a written statement about the circumstances of the dismissal and their plan for academic success if approved to return to Johnson & Wales University.
Graduate student requirements:
- To return to the university, students may petition the Academic Appeals Committee, providing a letter of intent and documentation of academic improvement. All students should be discussing this process with their assigned academic counselor/advisor.
Doctoral student requirements:
- To return to the university, students may petition the appropriate doctoral program director, through the written appeals process.
- Individuals who have been dismissed from a doctoral program for poor academic performance or progress may appeal the dismissal decision to the appropriate doctoral program director.
- A written appeal of academic dismissal must be submitted to the doctoral program director in writing no later than 30 days after the date of the notice of dismissal. The letter of appeal should include a) the basis for the appeal; b) a summary of discussions, if any, between the student and representatives of the student's program such as the student's major advisor and/or the student's doctoral program director; and c) outcome or remedy proposed by the student. The letter may include additional or new relevant information. The doctoral program director will communicate with the dean of the appropriate college by transmitting the student's letter of appeal.
- Grounds: The following are grounds for appeal: 1) incorrect calculation of grade point average; 2) misapplication of standards for academic performance and satisfactory progress by the appropriate college; 3) circumstances which had not been known which might be relevant to the dismissal.
- Disposition: The dean of the appropriate college may 1) act on the appeal, 2) appoint a designee to collect additional information for the dean, or 3) constitute a 3-person ad hoc review committee from the college. The purpose of the ad hoc committee is to provide an opinion and recommendation to the dean regarding the appeal. The ad hoc committee will review all materials and communications related to the case. Additional information may be requested.
- The dean will inform the student and the doctoral program director in writing of the method of disposition of the appeal. If a dean's designee is appointed, the student and the doctoral program director will be informed of the name and contact information for the dean's designee.
- The dean’s decision with respect to a student's appeal shall be final. The student and the doctoral program director will be informed in writing of the dean's decision.
Academic Warning
Students who are reinstated into the university will be placed on Academic Warning. These students risk permanent dismissal from the university if they are unable to meet academic standing guidelines. The warning designation is sometimes used to override academic standing decisions at the end of the term/semester due to mitigating circumstances.
These undergraduate students will be allowed to register for a maximum of 13.5 credits in academic classes or 15 credits in laboratory classes. In addition, these students may be required to attend mandatory study skills strategy seminars and tutoring in identified content areas. Failure to complete these requirements will result in immediate dismissal.