Undergraduate Academic Standing Policy

Custodian of Policy: Vice President for Academic Affairs

Relevant Minnesota State System Policy: 2.9

Relevant Procedures: Undergraduate Satisfactory Academic Progress Procedure Document

Effective Date: Fall 2019

Last Review: Fall 2019

Next Review: Fall 2026

Policy

Section 1. Policy Scope & Purpose

This policy applies to all undergraduate students admitted to Minnesota State University Moorhead. This policy is specific to academic standing. Financial Aid has different standards that are monitored separately.

The University requires students to make and maintain satisfactory academic progress. This means there are cumulative GPA thresholds and a percent of credit completion that students must achieve.

This policy is implemented as mandated by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board Policy 2.9.

Section 2. Responsibility & Notification of Academic Standing

Students are responsible for checking on their academic and hold status each term. Students can determine their academic status by monitoring the "Holds" section of the online web registration program, or by comparing their own progress to the policy standards.

Students who are placed on warning, probation and suspension are notified by email from the Academic Support Center. The email is sent to the student's University-assigned email address. Students are responsible for monitoring their official university email for messages.

Section 3. GPA & Percent Completion

Warning, probation and suspension are determined after the grading period at the end of each term, including summer. In order to remain in good academic standing, undergraduate students must meet the GPA and percent completion requirements listed below. Students who fall below the standards will be placed on status based on the guidelines in section 4.

GPA

Only MSUM courses (numbered 100 and above) are computed in the GPA. Accepted transfer credits count toward the total number of attempted credits, but transfer grades do not count in the student's MSUM GPA. To remain in good academic standing the requirements are:

  • At 0 to 29 total attempted credits, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 1.8 or higher.
  • At 30 to 59 total attempted credits, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 1.9 or higher.
  • At 60 or more attempted credits, a student must have a cumulative GP A of 2.0 or higher.

(A GPA calculator is available on the Academic Support Center website)

Percent Completion

  • All students must complete 66.667% of the sum of all MSUM credits attempted plus all transfer credits accepted.
  • MSUM credits attempted include all MSUM courses on a student's official record, including withdrawals, repeated courses, and grades of Incomplete.
  • Courses taken for Audit are not counted as credits attempted or earned for Satisfactory Academic Progress.
  • MSUM withdrawals, grades of F, FN, NC, Incompletes, and missing grades count against percent completion because they result in zero credits earned for that course.
  • Transfer credits accepted and earned credits listed on the MSUM transcript are included in the percent completion calculation as attempted credits.
  • Percent completion is calculated by dividing the number of earned credits by the sum of MSUM attempted credits plus transfer credits accepted.

Section 4. Academic Warning/Probation/Suspension Holds

Students who are not in good academic standing during spring term will not be allowed to enroll in any summer sessions until their academic status has been determined from spring term.

Good Standing

Students whose cumulative GPA and completion rate meet the minimum cumulative standards are considered in good standing.

Academic Warning

Students who are in good standing at the beginning of the term but fall below the minimum cumulative GPA or cumulative completion rate at the end of the term will be placed on warning. Students on warning will be allowed to enroll for the next term, with the exception of summer term. Students on warning may not enroll in summer courses that begin prior to June 1st.

Students on warning at the beginning of a term who do not meet the minimum cumulative GPA and/or cumulative completion rate at the end of the term will be suspended.

Students eligible to enroll in classes are considered in Good Academic Standing per NCAA Bylaw 14.4.3.1.

Suspension

Students who are suspended for the first time may not return to MSUM for one term (not including summer term). Second and subsequent suspensions last for one calendar year.

Students who are suspended may appeal their status to the Financial Aid and Academic Suspension Appeals Committee. Guidelines on this process are outlined within the Satisfactory Academic Progress Procedures which can be found on the Academic Support Center website. This appeal should be done as soon as the student's grades are posted and must be submitted by the deadline set each term by the Academic Support Center.

Students who do not submit an appeal by the deadline will have their registration cancelled from subsequent semester classes.

Probation

If a student's suspension appeal is granted, they will be placed on probation and will be given minimum semester standards that must be met.

Students who are readmitted after academic suspension will be placed on academic probation. They will be given minimum semester standards that must be met.

Students on probation at the beginning of a term who do not meet the minimum cumulative standards will be allowed to enroll for the next term if they have met the minimum term standards, with the exception of summer term. Students on probation may not enroll in summer courses that begin prior to June 1st.

Students eligible to enroll in classes are considered in Good Academic Standing per NCAA Bylaw 14.4.3.1.

Section 5. Procedure

The Satisfactory Academic Progress Procedure implements this policy. The Satisfactory Academic Progress Procedure defines the actions that the University will take to intervene with the students who fall below the standards to remain in good Academic Standing, consistent with MnSCU Board Policy 2.9.

Rationale

This policy is to inform undergraduate students on the standards for academic warning, suspension and probation. The policy is established in accordance with the guidelines authorized under Minnesota State Colleges & Universities Board Policy 2.9 and Procedure 2.9.1.