Good Academic Standing

A student is considered in good academic standing if their cumulative grade point average meets the minimums set forth below.

Academic Warning

Any student whose semester/term grade point average falls below 1.75 will receive an academic warning. 

Academic Action

Mount students are expected to work well above the minimum both for their individual benefit and for the good of the academic community. Notification of probationary status serves as a serious warning that unless the quality of work improves, they will be subject to academic condition, suspension or dismissal from the College.

Determination of academic action is made by the academic dean after first and second semesters. Academic action decisions are not made after summer sessions.

The College reserves the right to require remedial action on behalf of a student whose semester/term GPA initiates academic probation or academic condition. Such action may include, but is not limited to, requiring students to repeat failed courses, take a reduced course load, or seek remedial support. The academic dean administers these regulations and conditions in consultation with the student’s academic department.

Academic Probation

Students place themselves on probation when they fail to maintain the required minimum cumulative grade point average. The Academic Probation policy applies as follows:

1. Students who have earned fewer than 27.5 credit hours at the Mount and have failed to achieve a cumulative grade point of 1.75.
2. Students who have earned 28.0-59.5 credit hours at the Mount and have failed to achieve a cumulative grade point average of 1.90.
3. Students who have earned 60 credit hours at the Mount and have failed to achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0.

Students on probation cannot carry an academic overload and should decide, with the help of counseling and advising, how to concentrate their efforts on their studies so that they can bring their work up to the required standard. Students who fail to meet the minimum standard after two consecutive semesters of academic probation will be subject to suspension or dismissal from the College.

Academic Condition

In certain cases where the grade point average would warrant suspension, but other exceptional circumstances indicate a potential for success, one semester of Academic Condition may be applied. It is the student’s responsibility to demonstrate that she/he has a reasonable prospect for academic success at the Mount. Students on Academic Condition are required to meet with their academic advisor and complete a written plan for improving the quality of their work. A copy of the plan must be submitted to the department chairperson and the academic dean prior to beginning coursework in a subsequent semester/term at the Mount. Students failing to fulfill the terms of their remedial plan or remove themselves from Academic Condition within one semester will be suspended.

Academic Suspension

A student will be subject to an academic suspension if they have:

1. Failed to achieve the required minimum grade point average after two consecutive semesters/terms.
2. Failed to complete a remedial plan prior to beginning course work in a subsequent semester/term.
3. Failed to raise his/her grade point average to the minimum standard after one semester and/or failed to fulfill the terms of the remedial plan.
4. Earned a session grade point average of 1.00 or less for a semester/term.

A student must remain on suspension for at least one semester and meet certain conditions before returning to the College. Students have the option to appeal a suspension through the "Appeals/Petitions Process for Reinstatement."

Academic Dismissal

In general, a student whose cumulative grade point deficit is so great as to preclude completing a degree program in a reasonable period of time will be subject to dismissal. When academically dismissed, studies may not be resumed at the Mount, except in the case of Academic Renewal or Fresh Start.

Eligibility for Financial Aid

Members of varsity sports programs and students receiving financial aid must be aware of special eligibility requirements for these programs. Requests for reinstatement of financial aid awards will be considered on an individual basis. Such requests should be submitted in writing to the director of student administrative services.

Eligibility to Participate in Intercollegiate Athletics

All entering freshmen are eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics. However, students who are classified as Admit Conditional will be subject to monitoring of academic progress by the Athletic Committee for purposes of determining continued eligibility.

Satisfactory Progress Requirements for Intercollegiate Athletes

A student participating in intercollegiate athletics must be enrolled as a full-time student and in good academic standing during the semester in which he/she is participating. Furthermore, to be eligible for competition, an intercollegiate athlete must have earned a cumulative total of hours equivalent to 24 hours during the previous twelve months. For intercollegiate athletes participating in Fall Term I, the cumulative hours shall be counted from the immediately previous Fall Term I through the immediately previous Summer Term IV. For intercollegiate athletes participating in Spring Term II, the cumulative hours shall be counted from the immediately previous Spring Term II through the immediately previous Fall Term I. An intercollegiate athlete who has been enrolled for less than one academic year must have earned 12 hours during the previous academic term, which shall mean Fall Semester Term I or Spring Semester Term II. These requirements shall not apply to students during their first semester of full-time enrollment at the College of Mount St. Joseph.

Appeals/Petitions for Reinstatement

Appeals for immediate reinstatement must be submitted within two weeks of the date of suspension. Otherwise, petitions should be made at least one month before the desired date of re-entry. Appeals and petitions must be in writing and addressed to the academic dean. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain all of the following required documentation and to include it in the appeal/petition.

1. A self-assessment of factors that contributed to poor academic performance.
2. A narrative description of what will be or has been done differently to improve the poor academic performance.
3. Recommendations from an advisor and at least one faculty member (from the student’s department, if a major has been declared) for reinstatement.
4. Evidence of accomplishment, if seeking reinstatement after the required one term/semester suspension period. This could include an official transcript of academic work completed since the suspension, proof of satisfactory military service, letters reporting gainful employment with supervisor(s) attesting to one’s performance, initiative and acceptance of responsibility, or any other documentation that would support the petition.

The student’s academic as well as personal record while at the College of Mount St. Joseph will be reviewed by the academic dean to determine whether to grant reinstatement. A successful appeal or petition lifts suspension but the status of academic probation remains.

Academic Renewal

Baccalaureate degree-seeking students may file a written petition to the academic dean requesting Academic Renewal. Students who have been academically dismissed or whose academic performance in one specific semester or term has been severely affected are eligible to petition. The petition is to include a brief explanation of factors that may have caused poor academic performance, how conditions have changed, a plan of action that will result in satisfactory academic performance, and a recommendation from the department chairperson of the declared/intended major. If granted by the dean, all failing grades for a particular semester/term will be eliminated from calculations of the semester term and the cumulative grade point average. The official transcript will report such action while retaining a record of all courses taken. Academic renewal will be granted only once. It is the student’s responsibility to contact any agency providing financial assistance to determine the effects of the academic renewal on past or future benefits.

A student permitted to continue a degree program as a result of this action will be required to meet the degree and major requirements in effect the date that academic renewal is granted; however, the student will be ineligible for graduation honors: summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude.

Fresh Start

A degree seeking student returning to the Mount after an absence of at least three calendar years may file a written petition to the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) requesting a fresh start. The petition is to include a brief explanation of factors that may have caused unsatisfactory academic performance during the previous tenure at the College. If granted by the CAO, the student’s transcript will be treated in the same manner as a student transferring from another institution (i.e. the GPA from previous course work will not be counted in the current GPA, but credit hours from previous course work will be counted in total hours earned.)

Emergency Medical Leave of Absence

If a medical condition prohibits a student from attending class for an extended period, the documentation and circumstances must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Academic Dean.  The Dean may approve an Emergency Medical Leave of Absence in order to maintain the student’s academic standing with the College of Mount St. Joseph.  A student who is awarded a medical leave remains an active student for a period of time deemed appropriate by the Chief Academic Officer.