University of Minnesota, Morris
Morris , Minnesota 56267

April 30, 1997

MEMO TO: The Executive Committee

FROM: The Scholastic Committee

SUBJECT: Academic Progress Requirements under Semesters



ACADEMIC PROGRESS REQUIREMENTS

Background on need for change

The Scholastic Committee recommends a change in the academic progress requirements to become effective under the semester system in Fall 1999. During 1996-97, a common grading system was approved at the all-University level to become effective in Fall 1997. This system makes use of A/F and S/N grading, and the F grade is calculated into the Grade Point Average (GPA). Because the UMM grading system derives from a "success only" transcript policy and the calculation of the GPA in this system excludes grades of N, the campus has not used GPA as a measure for determining academic progress. Given the imminent shift to calculation of a full record GPA as well as the upcoming move to semesters, reconsideration of academic progress requirements is necessary. This also provides an opportunity to select criteria that are more easily understood by the campus community.


Overview of New System

Academic progress will be audited annually at the end of spring semester. Students who meet the annual progress requirements will continue in good standing and will remain eligible for financial aid during the subsequent year. Students who do not meet the requirements for good standing but fall within specified guidelines will be placed on Probation Level 1. Students who fall below the requirements for Probation Level 1 will be suspended. Students who successfully appeal their suspension will be allowed to return on conditions for one semester; this period of conditions is called Probation Level 2. Students on probation remain eligible for financial aid.

Letters of notification explaining the academic progress policy will be sent to all students during the fall semester. At the beginning of spring semester, probation letters will be sent to those students who did not meet the requirements to remain in good standing (2.0 GPA and 75% semester completion ratio-cc). Students will be placed on probation on a semester basis; they return to good standing when they earn an annual cc ratio of 75% and attain a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Suspension will be on an annual basis, with the exception of those students who have been placed on conditions during fall semester.


Minimum Academic Progress Requirements

The Scholastic Committee wishes to maintain two criteria, one to look at performance over time (cumulative GPA) and the other to measure performance during the short term (annual completion ratio of at least 75%). The student must meet BOTH.

Good Standing: All students who earn more than five credits must maintain:

Credits earned Cum GPA Annual Completion Ratio*

0- 29	2.0	75%
30- 59	2.0	75%
69- 89	2.0	75%
90-120	2.0	75%

*We will adopt the CLA formula for determining the completion ratio. N and I are included in the calculation; W,V,K and X are not: ABCS ) = percentage of successful completion.
ABCSDFNI)

We recommend that the criterion for "good standing" reflect the minimum 2.0 GPA graduation requirement throughout the student's degree program. A lower GPA will result in probation or suspension.

The use of the cumulative GPA replaces calculation of the number of credits completed for the year. Students and advisers found this criterion difficult to determine; the number of credits required varied during each of the first three years and was pro-rated by the number of credits remaining on the student's record after the 6th week of each quarter. Use of the cumulative GPA as a criterion is easier to understand and can be identified without reliance on outside expertise.

The use of two criteria should prevent the suspension of a student who gets off to a bad start but recovers or who does well in the beginning but makes a poor showing during a subsequent year. A student may remain in good standing if one of four (4 cr) courses is not completed successfully each semester. A student maintaining a 75% completion ratio could earn 120 credits in five years.


Probation

We recommend introducing an automatic Level I Probation based on an annual completion ratio between 50-74% or a cumulative GPA below 2.0 as specified. Students who are given clear expectations have been found to perform better than those who are given none.

Criteria for Level I Probation:

Credits earned Cum GPA Annual Completion Ratio

0- 29	1.50-1.99	50-74%
30- 59	1.65-1.99	50-74%
69- 89	1.80-1.99	50-74%
90-120	1.95-1.99	50-74%

The progressive cumulative GPA makes clear that it is necessary for a student to reach a 2.0 cumulative GPA by graduation. Calculations studied by the sub-committee show that the cumulative GPA requirement must be raised each year if students with below-average grades are to raise their cumulative GPA to 2.0 in four or five years. The completion ratio is calculated on an annual basis and allows for poor performance during a short period of time.

Students who are placed on Level 1 Probation will be sent probation letters from the Scholastic Committee, as will their advisers, with information enclosed about resources for improvement. Students on probation will need their adviser's signature in order to register. A signature implies that the student and adviser have discussed the registration. Level 1 Probation students return to goodstanding for the following semester by earning a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and an annual completion ratio of 75%.


Suspension

Students with an annual completion ratio below 50% or a cumulative GPA below the requirements for Level 1 Probation will be suspended and will lose their eligibility for financial aid. Students may appeal their suspension to the Scholastic Committee. We recommend placing all students who successfully appeal their suspensions on conditions for the following semester. The conditional period in lieu of suspension is called Level Two Probation.


Current academic progress policy gives the Scholastic Committee the authority to prescribe special academic requirements for those students who successfully appeal their suspensions. For several years, the suspension sub-committee has placed conditions on most students who successfully appeal, requiring them to complete a specified number of credits and to maintain an acceptable GPA (e.g., 12 credits of C or better) during the single quarter of their return. One third to one half of the students on conditions have met them and have been allowed to continue; the others were suspended after one quarter.

Students and their advisers will be notified of the conditions imposed through the successful appeal. The adviser's signature will be required on the student's registration form.


Readmission

Students who have been suspended and have lost their aid eligibility may apply to the Director of Admissions for readmission after one semester. The shorter time period is recommended because of the sequential nature of many UMM courses. Readmission following suspension is not automatic. The director will consult with the Scholastic Committee for a recommendation. It is expected that prior to readmission, the student will present an academic plan for improvement, evidence of successful completion of evening, summer or transfer courses, and/ or evidence that his/ her personal difficulties are being addressed. Previous records, circumstances, and intervening experiences, including successful college work, employment, or other indicators of potential success, will be evaluated by the Scholastic Committee. Readmitted students must again meet academic progress requirements. Under certain circumstances, the Scholastic Committee may prescribe special requirements.