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Edited Text
Policy AC006: Academic Standing – Undergraduate Students
Recommended for Approval by: Scott E. Miller, Senior VP for Academic Affairs and Provost
Approved by: Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, President
Effective Date: 07/01/2022
A. Intent
To specify conditions under which undergraduate students are placed on academic
warning, probation, suspension, or dismissed from the university.
B. Definition(s)
Term GPA: The grade point average (GPA) earned by the student in a given academic term (fall
semester, spring semester, summer, winter session).
Cumulative GPA: The grade point average (GPA) earned over the entire period of enrollment at
Pennsylvania Western University.
C. Policy
Academic standing is updated at the end of fall and spring semesters, and students cannot be placed
on probation or suspended (excluding financial aid suspension) by taking courses in summer or
winter sessions. Individual programs may have stricter requirements to maintain good academic
standing.
Good Academic Standing
A student is considered in good academic standing if they maintain both a cumulative GPA and term
GPA of 2.00 or higher.
Academic Warning
A student whose cumulative GPA is a 2.00 or higher, but whose term GPA is below 2.00, will receive
an academic warning. Academic warning does not reduce the maximum number of hours in which a
student may enroll. In this case, the Center for Student Outreach and Success Coaching will assist
via resources and outreach to the student.
Academic Probation
A student with a cumulative GPA below 2.00 will be placed on academic probation. Students on
probation will be limited to enrolling in no more than 14 credits for the subsequent regular
semester; exceptions may be considered in rare cases by the student’s academic dean. Students will
remain on academic probation as long as their term GPA remains above a 2.00, while the cumulative
GPA remains below a 2.00. Students on probation may attend summer and winter sessions, and will
be required to meet weekly with a Success Coach and follow the conditions of Academic Probation.
Students fulfilling their plans will be eligible to continue to register.
A student is removed from probation once their cumulative GPA is 2.00 or higher.
Academic Suspension
A student who begins the semester on Academic Probation and subsequently has both term and
cumulative GPA’s below 2.00 will be placed on academic suspension. A student with two
consecutive terms of 0.00 cumulative GPA will also be placed on academic suspension.
Academic suspension will last for one regular semester (fall or spring) and include summer and
winter sessions. To return to the university, the student must apply for readmission following
suspension through the Admissions Office, as described in the PennWest Readmission Policy
(AC049). Students may only be readmitted to PennWest from suspension once all previous holds
have been removed from their record.
During suspension, the student may take courses at a community college or other accredited college
or university to help demonstrate their ability to return to PennWest; an official transcript from the
other institution must be provided to the PennWest registrar when applying for readmission. If the
readmission is approved, an academic improvement plan will be developed for the student.
The student may appeal the suspension, allowing the student to return to the university the next
semester (fall or spring) or term (summer, winter). Such an appeal must be made to the Executive
Director of Student Outreach and Success, or their designee, by completing the Suspension Appeal
Form.
Academic Dismissal
A student who has been academically suspended two previous times and who now meets conditions
for a third suspension will be academically dismissed from the university. (Suspensions while
enrolled at California University, Clarion University, or Edinboro University will be included as part of
this suspension count.) Students may appeal dismissal to the Executive Director of Student Outreach
and Success, or their designee, by presenting the reasons why past suspensions were out of the
control of the student and providing evidence of actions that have been taken to allow the student
to return to making satisfactory academic progress. In such cases, the final decision regarding
dismissal will lie with the academic dean over the student’s program.
Students may also be dismissed from their academic programs under other University or program
policies, including but not limited to failing to meet expectations of program-specific dispositional
policies or violating the Student Code of Conduct.
Academic standing notifications, other than good standing, are sent via the Center for Student
Outreach and Success Coaching after the determination is made by the Office of the Registrar.
Academic standing is denoted on the official transcript.
D. Procedure(s)
Appealing Suspension
1. The student wishing to appeal suspension must complete the Suspension Appeal Form and
submit it to the Executive Director of Student Outreach and Success. Suspension appeals must
be submitted by January 2 for decision for the spring semester, and by June 1 for decision for
the fall semester. If the student is applying for readmission for the summer or winter terms,
they should contact the Executive Director immediately after receiving suspension notification.
2. Upon decision regarding the appeal, the Executive Director, or their designee, will contact the
student regarding their continued suspension and options, or to provide registration
information for readmission.
Appealing Dismissal
1. The student wishing to appeal dismissal must contact the Executive Director of Student
Outreach and Success and provide the information required in this policy for consideration.
2. The Executive Director will consider the student’s information and discuss the dismissal appeal
with the academic dean over the student’s program.
3. The academic dean will make a final determination regarding the dismissal appeal and the
decision will be communicated to the student by the Executive Director.
E. Related policies
Course Withdrawal Policy (AC046)
Fresh Start Policy (AC008)
Readmission Policy (AC049)
Repeating a Course Policy (AC032)
University Withdrawal Policy (AC035)
F. Contact Information
For additional information, please contact the Center for Student Outreach and Success Coaching, or
the Office of the Registrar.
G. Policy Review Schedule
All policies will be reviewed every two years or on an as needed basis if a change in BOG, PASSHE or
Pennsylvania law would create the need for an immediate change.
Recommended for Approval by: Scott E. Miller, Senior VP for Academic Affairs and Provost
Approved by: Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, President
Effective Date: 07/01/2022
A. Intent
To specify conditions under which undergraduate students are placed on academic
warning, probation, suspension, or dismissed from the university.
B. Definition(s)
Term GPA: The grade point average (GPA) earned by the student in a given academic term (fall
semester, spring semester, summer, winter session).
Cumulative GPA: The grade point average (GPA) earned over the entire period of enrollment at
Pennsylvania Western University.
C. Policy
Academic standing is updated at the end of fall and spring semesters, and students cannot be placed
on probation or suspended (excluding financial aid suspension) by taking courses in summer or
winter sessions. Individual programs may have stricter requirements to maintain good academic
standing.
Good Academic Standing
A student is considered in good academic standing if they maintain both a cumulative GPA and term
GPA of 2.00 or higher.
Academic Warning
A student whose cumulative GPA is a 2.00 or higher, but whose term GPA is below 2.00, will receive
an academic warning. Academic warning does not reduce the maximum number of hours in which a
student may enroll. In this case, the Center for Student Outreach and Success Coaching will assist
via resources and outreach to the student.
Academic Probation
A student with a cumulative GPA below 2.00 will be placed on academic probation. Students on
probation will be limited to enrolling in no more than 14 credits for the subsequent regular
semester; exceptions may be considered in rare cases by the student’s academic dean. Students will
remain on academic probation as long as their term GPA remains above a 2.00, while the cumulative
GPA remains below a 2.00. Students on probation may attend summer and winter sessions, and will
be required to meet weekly with a Success Coach and follow the conditions of Academic Probation.
Students fulfilling their plans will be eligible to continue to register.
A student is removed from probation once their cumulative GPA is 2.00 or higher.
Academic Suspension
A student who begins the semester on Academic Probation and subsequently has both term and
cumulative GPA’s below 2.00 will be placed on academic suspension. A student with two
consecutive terms of 0.00 cumulative GPA will also be placed on academic suspension.
Academic suspension will last for one regular semester (fall or spring) and include summer and
winter sessions. To return to the university, the student must apply for readmission following
suspension through the Admissions Office, as described in the PennWest Readmission Policy
(AC049). Students may only be readmitted to PennWest from suspension once all previous holds
have been removed from their record.
During suspension, the student may take courses at a community college or other accredited college
or university to help demonstrate their ability to return to PennWest; an official transcript from the
other institution must be provided to the PennWest registrar when applying for readmission. If the
readmission is approved, an academic improvement plan will be developed for the student.
The student may appeal the suspension, allowing the student to return to the university the next
semester (fall or spring) or term (summer, winter). Such an appeal must be made to the Executive
Director of Student Outreach and Success, or their designee, by completing the Suspension Appeal
Form.
Academic Dismissal
A student who has been academically suspended two previous times and who now meets conditions
for a third suspension will be academically dismissed from the university. (Suspensions while
enrolled at California University, Clarion University, or Edinboro University will be included as part of
this suspension count.) Students may appeal dismissal to the Executive Director of Student Outreach
and Success, or their designee, by presenting the reasons why past suspensions were out of the
control of the student and providing evidence of actions that have been taken to allow the student
to return to making satisfactory academic progress. In such cases, the final decision regarding
dismissal will lie with the academic dean over the student’s program.
Students may also be dismissed from their academic programs under other University or program
policies, including but not limited to failing to meet expectations of program-specific dispositional
policies or violating the Student Code of Conduct.
Academic standing notifications, other than good standing, are sent via the Center for Student
Outreach and Success Coaching after the determination is made by the Office of the Registrar.
Academic standing is denoted on the official transcript.
D. Procedure(s)
Appealing Suspension
1. The student wishing to appeal suspension must complete the Suspension Appeal Form and
submit it to the Executive Director of Student Outreach and Success. Suspension appeals must
be submitted by January 2 for decision for the spring semester, and by June 1 for decision for
the fall semester. If the student is applying for readmission for the summer or winter terms,
they should contact the Executive Director immediately after receiving suspension notification.
2. Upon decision regarding the appeal, the Executive Director, or their designee, will contact the
student regarding their continued suspension and options, or to provide registration
information for readmission.
Appealing Dismissal
1. The student wishing to appeal dismissal must contact the Executive Director of Student
Outreach and Success and provide the information required in this policy for consideration.
2. The Executive Director will consider the student’s information and discuss the dismissal appeal
with the academic dean over the student’s program.
3. The academic dean will make a final determination regarding the dismissal appeal and the
decision will be communicated to the student by the Executive Director.
E. Related policies
Course Withdrawal Policy (AC046)
Fresh Start Policy (AC008)
Readmission Policy (AC049)
Repeating a Course Policy (AC032)
University Withdrawal Policy (AC035)
F. Contact Information
For additional information, please contact the Center for Student Outreach and Success Coaching, or
the Office of the Registrar.
G. Policy Review Schedule
All policies will be reviewed every two years or on an as needed basis if a change in BOG, PASSHE or
Pennsylvania law would create the need for an immediate change.