POLICY #6.31
SUBJECT: Academic Standards

I. PURPOSE

This Policy establishes academic standards governing SUU students and an academic standards and admissions committee. Admissions issues related to student conduct and discipline are primarily governed by other University policies, most notably Policy 11.2, although this Policy is not precluded from concurrent application where academic admissions issues are present along with conduct issues.

II. REFERENCES

1. Southern Utah University Policy 6.5 Undergraduate Admissions
2. Southern Utah University Policy 6.13 Grading
3. Southern Utah University Policy 6.19 Grade Appeal
4. Southern Utah University Policy 6.47 Transfer Credits
5. Southern Utah University Policy 11.2 Student Conduct Code
6. Southern Utah University Policy 11.4 Student Complaints

III. DEFINITIONS

N/A

IV. POLICY

1. The University requires students to maintain a minimum grade point average (see Section IV.D.) and to declare their program of study within a certain period of time (Section IV.H.). In addition, the University, in compliance with Federal, state, and institutional regulations, will monitor satisfactory progress, which includes monitoring academic and required credit-hour progress, of students participating in regulated programs.
2. Academic Standards and Admission Committee
   1. To administer this and related policies of SUU, pertaining to admission of students, re-admission of students, and compliance with academic standards, an Academic Standards and Admission Committee is established. The Committee also serves as an appeals and grievance committee for students who desire a review of their case and admissions/academic status.
   2. The committee meets in closed session and is chaired by a Dean appointed by the Provost. The committee membership includes eight (8) representatives, a minimum of one (1) each from the following campus groups/offices: Admissions, Registrar’s Office, Student Affairs, International Affairs, and representative from the Faculty Senate. Other advisors may be asked to attend or provide information as needed.
3. Appeals
   
   Academic-related admissions, readmission, and suspension decisions may be appealed for medical reasons, new information not available during the initial review, or for clerical errors. Appeal requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students who desire to appeal a decision of the Academic Standards and Admissions committee may do so as follows:
   
   1. Within three (3) business days of receiving the admission decision, the student may submit a letter to the Chair of the Academic Standards and Admissions committee setting forth in detail the reasons for the appeal together with specific documentation not considered during the original review.
   2. Deliver the appeal request to the Admissions Office
   3. The request will be reviewed at the next regular meeting of the committee, or if necessary, the chair will convene a special meeting for the committee to review the appeal no later than two (2) weeks from receipt of the appeal, unless extenuating circumstances require additional time for review. Upon reaching a final decision, the committee shall inform the student by the most expeditious means, as to the result of the committee’s decision.
4. Grade Point Requirements
   
   SUU students are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least a 2.00 or C average. A student whose cumulative GPA is below the required 2.00 level will be placed on academic warning, probation or suspension.
5. Academic Warning, Probation, and Suspension
   1. Students who maintain a semester and cumulative grade point average of greater than or equal to 2.0 will remain in Good Standing.
   2. For students who begin the semester in Good Standing, but fail to achieve a semester and/or cumulative GPA of 2.0, one of the following will occur:
      1. Students who earn a semester GPA less than 2.0 but their cumulative GPA remains greater than or equal to 2.0 will progress to Warning Level 1.
      2. Students who earn a semester and cumulative GPA less than 2.0 will progress to Probation Level 1.
   3. For students who begin the semester on Warning Level 1, one of the following will occur at the end of the semester:
      1. Students who earn a semester and cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.0 will return to Good Standing.
      2. Students who earn a semester GPA less than 2.0, but a cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.0 will progress to Warning Level 2.
      3. Students who earn both a semester and cumulative GPA less than 2.0 will progress to Probation Level 1.
   4. For students who begin the semester on Warning Level 2, one of the following will occur at the end of the semester:
      1. Students who earn both a semester and cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.0 will return to Good Standing.
      2. Students who earn a semester GPA less than 2.0, but whose cumulative GPA remains greater than or equal to 2.0 will remain at Warning Level 2.
      3. Students who earn both a semester and cumulative GPA less than 2.0 will progress to Probation Level 1.
   5. For students who begin the semester on Probation Level 1, one of the following will occur at the end of the semester:
      1. Students who earn both a semester and cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.0 will return to Good Standing.
      2. Students who earn a semester GPA greater than or equal to 2.0, but a cumulative grade point average less than 2.0 will progress to Probation Level 2.
      3. Students who earn both a semester and cumulative GPA less than 2.0 progress to Probation Level 2.
   6. For students who begin the semester on Probation Level 2, one of the following will occur at the end of the semester:
      1. Students who earn both a semester and cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.0 will return to Good Standing.
      2. Students who earn a semester GPA greater than or equal to 2.0, but a cumulative GPA less than 2.0 will progress to Progressing Probation.
      3. Students who earn both a semester and a cumulative GPA less than 2.0 will be Required to Withdraw.
   7. For students who begin the semester on Progressing Probation, one of the following will occur at the end of the semester:
      1. Students who earn both a semester and cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.0 will return to Good Standing.
      2. Students who earn a semester GPA greater than or equal to 2.0, but a cumulative GPA less than 2.0 will remain on Progressing Probation.
      3. Students who earn both a semester and a cumulative GPA less than 2.0 will be Required to Withdraw.
   8. Students who leave SUU while on Warning or Probation will remain at that status when they return even if they attend another institution.
   9. The duration of an academic suspension is defined as follows:
      1. Students who are Required to Withdraw from SUU will be required to remain out of school for a minimum of two (2) terms (Fall and Spring).
      2. Final Probation: Students are placed on Final Probation if they are granted through appeal a final opportunity to be enrolled for one semester by the Academic Standards Committee. Students admitted on Final Probation are required to obtain a minimum semester GPA of 2.00 by the end of the semester for which they are admitted. Failure to do so will result in suspension from the university for a period of three years, after which time the student may appeal for readmission to the university. Students placed on Final Probation are not granted automatic readmission to the University after the 3-year time period and no appeal will be accepted during the three years. Readmission may be granted by the Academic Standards Committee if it is determined the student has made a strong case for readmission. The committee will assign academic status upon acceptance of appeal.
   10. Students who have been placed on any level of academic warning or probation will be sent an email to their primary email address advising them of their academic standing.

6. Students provisionally admitted to SUU as a part of the Comprehensive Academic Support and Success (COMPASS) program are required to participate in a College Student Success course during their first semester.
   1. Students who do not meet the terms of their provisional admission as denoted in their acceptance letter may have their admission to the university rescinded at any time during the semester.
   2. COMPASS students begin their program of study with an academic standing of COMPASS Probation Level 1. One of the following will occur at the end of the semester:
      
      1. COMPASS students who earn both a semester and cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.0 will move to Good Standing.
      2. COMPASS students who earn both a semester and cumulative GPA less than 2.0 will progress to COMPASS Probation Level 2.
   3. For COMPASS students who begin the semester on COMPASS Probation Level 2, one of the following will occur at the end of the next semester:
      1. COMPASS students who earn both a semester and cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.0 will move to Good Standing.
      2. Students who earn a semester GPA greater than or equal to 2.0, but a cumulative GPA less than 2.0 will remain on COMPASS Probation Level 2.
      3. COMPASS students who earn both a semester and cumulative GPA less than 2.0 will be Required to Withdraw.

7. Academic Renewal
   
   Undergraduate students currently enrolled at SUU may petition for review of their academic record for the purpose of discounting, for cumulative GPA computation, a course with a D plus or lower grade. These classes must have been entered on the student’s academic record five (5) or more calendar years prior to the time of the request for review. The following conditions and procedures apply:
   
   1. The renewal option can be used only once during a student’s undergraduate career.
   2. Students pursuing a second baccalaureate degree or graduate degree are ineligible.
   3. “Renewed” courses do not count toward the total hours required for graduation.
   4. Petition is made to the dean of the student’s major College or School.
8. Declaring a Program of Study
   1. SUU degree-seeking students will declare a program of study (major, minor if required, and degree by the deadline corresponding to their intended degree:
      
      

      Declaring a Program of Study

      Type of Program	Time Period
      Institutional Certificates	During the first term of enrollment
      Associate Degree or Institutional Diploma	By the time 24 semester hours have been completed
      Bachelor Degrees	By the time 48 semester hours have been completed
      Minors	By the time 60 semester hours have been completed
      Graduate Degrees	During the first term of enrollment

   2. Student records will be reviewed electronically on a term basis. Students found in non-compliance will be notified and a hold will be placed on their registration until a program of study has been declared.
9. Satisfactory Progress for Students in Regulated Programs
   
   Regulated programs, extra-curricular, and financial aid programs are required to monitor academic and required credit-hour progress of participating students. Regulated programs include, but are not limited to financial aid, academic and activity scholarship, work study, intercollegiate athletics, international student, veteran, and student-activity programs.
   1. Required credit hours prior to a student’s declaration of a program of study will be based on the requirements for the Associate of Applied Science, including the electives within those degrees.
   2. Required credit hours for students completing more than one major, more than one minor or a minor not required by their major will be based on the first complete single program of study listed.
   3. Required credit hours for students completing more than one program of study at the same time (i.e., A.S. and B.S.) will be based on both programs.
   4. Satisfactory Progress/Academic Standard means adhering to university academic standards as defined in this policy. Students will be allowed to participate in regulated programs unless they are suspended from the institution or terminated based on criteria established by the specific regulated program.
   5. Satisfactory Progress/Required Credit-Hour Standard: Completion of a specific number of credit hours and satisfactory progress toward the completion of a degree.
      
      1. The minimum number of credit hours that must be completed in a satisfactory manner is based on criteria established by the specific regulated program.
      2. Satisfactory progress toward a degree is defined as the satisfactory completion of a minimum number of required credit hours. If a student satisfactorily completes more than the minimum number of required credit hours in a term, the excess hours may be banked to compensate for a possible required credit-hour deficit.
      3. A student who is disqualified because of registration problems with closed classes may be allowed one (1) extra term probation.
10. Additional Requirements
    
    Standards higher than the minimum requirements here outlined and higher than those mandated for participation in outside regulating organizations may be established by individual programs according to procedures in the program’s approved policies. Appeals concerning these individual program requirements will be made directly to the individual programs.

V. RELEVANT FORMS/LINKS

VI. QUESTIONS/RESPONSIBLE OFFICE

The responsible office for this Policy is the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. For questions about academic standards, contact the Director of Academic Success.

VII. POLICY ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT DATES

Date Approved: January 28, 2005

Amended: October 21, 2011; September 27, 2019