Office of the Provost
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Academic Policies

Academic Standing: Graduate Students

No. v 2/28/18
Effective Date: 9/24/18
Issuing Authority: Provost
Issuing Office: Office of the Provost

PURPOSE AND APPLICATION

The Graduate Student Academic Standing policy defines the minimum requirements for continued enrollment at Drexel University to support successful student progress, minimize time-to-degree, and assist the evaluation of satisfactory academic progress towards the granting of a graduate degree.

STATEMENT OF POLICY

Academic Requirements

In order to earn a graduate degree, a student must complete all program and University requirements in a satisfactory manner.

A graduate student must maintain a minimum 3.00 term and cumulative GPA to progress toward graduation. Please note that individual programs may set higher standards. Students not achieving minimum standards are subject to Academic Probation and may be subject to Academic Dismissal as defined below. Policies related to Academic Standing are upheld and overseen by the Graduate College under the  Office of the Provost.

DEFINITIONS & PROCESS

Academic Standing: Academic Standing is determined each term that a student is registered for classes and is based on both the term and cumulative GPA. The cumulative GPA is calculated using all prior terms of graduate enrollment at Drexel. A student’s academic standing is reflected on their permanent academic transcript. All graduate students are expected to maintain a term and cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher to progress toward graduation. The academic standing process for graduate students subject to this policy shall be in accordance with the following actions and requirements.

  • Good Standing: A graduate student is in good academic standing when they maintain the minimum standard 3.00 term and cumulative GPA.
  • Good Standing with Advisor Check: A graduate student is in good academic standing with advisor check when they maintain the minimum standard 3.00 or higher cumulative GPA, but the term GPA falls below 3.00. They continue in good academic standing with advisor check for two consecutive terms, unless the term and cumulative GPAs fall below 2.00 in which case the student will be automatically dismissed. In addition, a graduate student in their first term in a graduate program who has a term and cumulative GPA above 2.00 and below 3.00 will be in good academic standing with advisor check. A graduate student can only be in good academic standing with advisor check once during their tenure at the University.
    • Action: A graduate student will be formally notified of their advisor check status by a letter issued from the Graduate College. The student should meet with their graduate advisor to develop a plan to improve their academic performance and to reach a 3.00 term and cumulative GPA.
  • Academic Probation: A graduate student is placed on academic probation when their cumulative GPA falls below a 3.00 except in their first term in a graduate program. See Good Standing with Advisor Check above.
    • Action: A graduate student will be formally notified of their probationary status by a letter issued from the Graduate College. They are required to meet with their graduate advisor by the end of the first week of classes of the subsequent term to develop an academic plan for remediation, otherwise the Graduate College will place a registration hold on the student’s record. The graduate advisor will notify the Graduate College of the academic plan for remediation and remove the hold.
  • Continued on Probation: A graduate student continues on probationary status for two consecutive terms unless their term and/or cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 in which case the student will be automatically dismissed. In the second term of probation, the student will be classified as continued on probation. A graduate student can only be on probationary status once during their tenure at the University.
    • Actions: A graduate student will be formally notified of their continued probationary status by a letter issued from the Graduate College. They should continue to meet with their graduate advisor to discuss the academic plan for remediation.
  • Academic Dismissal: If a graduate student fails to meet the requirements of their advisor check or probationary status, the student will be academically dismissed from the University. In addition, a graduate student outside of advisor check or probationary status who has a term and/or cumulative GPA below 2.00 will be automatically dismissed. Further, a graduate student who was previously on advisor check or probationary status and successfully returned to good academic standing will be academically dismissed from the University if they fail to maintain good academic standing thereafter during their tenure at the University.
    • Actions: A graduate student will be formally notified of their academic dismissal from the University by a letter issued from the Graduate College.
      • Option - Appeal for Reinstatement: A graduate student may appeal their initial academic dismissal by submitting a written letter of appeal to their academic unit with a detailed explanation of the circumstances that may have impacted their academic standing. The academic unit should then provide the letter, an academic plan of study and their recommendation to the Graduate College. The Graduate College will determine the result of the appeal once all documentation is reviewed. The decision of the Graduate College is considered final and there are no further avenues of appeal. If the student does not appeal their academic dismissal by the end of the first week of classes of the subsequent term, the academic dismissal remains and the student will be required to apply for readmission to the University in future terms; however, please note that readmission is not guaranteed.
  • Dismissed and Reinstated: If a graduate student’s appeal for reinstatement is approved by the Graduate College, the student will be classified as dismissed and reinstated.
    • Actions: Upon reinstatement, the graduate student must achieve good academic standing in the first term immediately following their reinstatement based on the approved academic plan for remediation.
  • Final Academic Dismissal: If a graduate student fails to meet the requirements of their reinstatement, they will be permanently dismissed from the University with no further avenues of appeal. 
    • Action: A graduate student will be formally notified of their final academic dismissal from the University by a letter issued from the Graduate College.

POPULATIONS AFFECTED

Graduate students enrolled in quarter programs with the exception of the Thomas R. Kline School of Law and the College of Medicine, who are on semester calendars.

RELATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES