Academic Standing
Academic Standing
Academic Standing is a formal notice of a student's academic progress. The rules are intended to define the University’s academic expectations, alert a student of the need to improve academic performance, and give the student an opportunity to meet the University’s expectations. Academic standing rules apply to all students, including non-degree students.
Students are advised that these are minimum GPA requirements for continuing at the University; to meet program graduation requirements, higher grade point averages may be needed.
Academic Standing rules are applied at the end of Term 1 of each semester (fall, spring, summer) after grades are submitted. This calculation is based on the cumulative GPA hours and UWF institutional GPA. Academic Standing is calculated at the career level (i.e. Undergraduate, Masters, Specialist, Doctoral), not at the program level. Academic Standing of non-degree students is calculated based on the level of courses in which the student is enrolled.
Faculty Senate approval on 10/2013.
Good Academic Standing
A graduate student who is on Academic Probation or on Academic Suspension is not in good academic standing. A student must be in good academic standing in order to graduate.
Master’s and Specialist Level
A master's or specialist student must maintain a minimum institutional UWF GPA of 3.0 in order to be in Good Academic Standing.
Doctoral Level
A doctoral student must maintain a minimum institutional UWF GPA of 3.25 in order to be in Goo Academic Standing.
Academic Probation
The intent of academic probation is to serve formal notice that a student may not be making satisfactory progress. It gives students an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to meet the University’s academic expectations.
Master’s and Specialist Level
A master's or specialist student will be placed on Academic Probation by the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled at the completion of the semester during which their institutional UWF graduate GPA falls below 3.0.
Doctoral Level
A doctoral student will be placed on Academic Probation by the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled at the completion of the semester during which their institutional UWF GPA falls below 3.25.
Returning to Good Academic Standing
Master’s and Specialist Level
A master's or specialist student on Academic Probation may return to good academic standing by achieving an institutional UWF GPA of 3.0 for the next academic semester of attendance following the date that the student was placed on Academic Probation.
Doctoral Level
A doctoral student on Academic Probation may return to good standing by achieving an institutional UWF GPA of 3.25 for the next academic semester of attendance following the date that the student was placed on Academic Probation.
Academic Suspension
Master’s and Specialist Level
A master's or specialist student not achieving an institutional UWF GPA of 3.0 during any semester while they are on Academic Probation may be placed on Academic Suspension from the program. The dean of the college in which the student is enrolled makes the final decision, based on input from the respective college committee, on whether the student is placed on or remains on academic suspension.
Doctoral Level
A doctoral student not achieving an institutional UWF GPA of 3.25 during any semester while they are on Academic Probation may be placed on Academic Suspension from the program. The dean of the college in which the student is enrolled makes the final decision, based on input from the respective college committee, regarding which students are placed on or removed from Academic Suspension. However, students who have three consecutive semesters on probation must be placed on suspension.
Reinstatement after Academic Suspension
Master’s and Specialist Level
A student suspended from a graduate program may be considered for reinstatement by the dean of the academic college after the lapse of one academic semester during which the student is not enrolled at UWF.
In the first semester of approved reinstatement a student who achieves a semester UWF GPA higher than 3.0, but an institutional UWF GPA lower than 3.0, will continue on Academic Probation. A student who fails to achieve a semester GPA of higher than 3.0 in the first semester of approved reinstatement will be suspended from the program.
Doctoral Level
A student suspended from a doctoral program may be considered for reinstatement by the academic college dean after the lapse of one academic semester during which the student is not enrolled at UWF.
In the first semester of approved reinstatement a student who achieves a semester UWF GPA higher than 3.25, but an institutional UWF GPA lower than 3.25, will continue on Academic Probation. A student who fails to achieve a semester GPA of higher than 3.25 in the first semester of approved reinstatement will be suspended from the program again. A student who has been suspended three times is not eligible for reinstatement.
Applications while on Academic Probation or Academic Suspension
Master’s and Specialist Level
With the approval of the department chairperson and college dean for the program from which the student was on probation or suspension, a student on Academic Probation or Academic Suspension from a graduate program may apply for admission to another UWF graduate program provided requirements for admission to that program are met.
Doctoral Level
With the approval of the department chairperson and college dean, a student on Academic Probation or Academic Suspension from a doctoral program may apply for admission to another UWF graduate program provided requirements for admission to that program are met.
Dismissal Policy
Individual programs may have stricter guidelines than those listed in the University catalog.
Graduate students can be dismissed from the University for any of the following reasons:
- Failing to meet academic standards
- Failing to make sufficient progress towards a degree as determined by department
- Failing to meet professional standards of the discipline
- Denied reinstatement after academic suspension
- Failing to apply for reinstatement in the 3 semesters following the semester of suspension
- Being suspended for a second time
Appeal of Dismissal
A student may appeal a dismissal in writing to the Provost. The appeal should contain a rationale for consideration and be submitted via email to academicaffairs@uwf.edu. Refer to the Appeals page of this Catalog for more information.