Probation and Dismissal Policies

Probation

Any MSPS undergraduate student who falls below a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) or who receives a grade of F or F* in at least one course in a semester is placed on academic probation for the following regular semester. For example, a student whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the spring semester or who received a grade of F or F* in the spring semester is on probation through the end of the following fall semester, even if the student takes summer courses to raise his/her cumulative GPA. A student placed on academic probation by the academic dean may be required to take a reduced course load during the time of probation. A student on probation may return to satisfactory academic standing after he/she both maintains a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 and receives no failing grades (i.e. F or F*) for a semester.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor's to Master's Scholars Programs are subject to special GPA requirements. Specifically, Scholars must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Any Scholar who falls below the required 3.0 cumulative GPA is on Scholars probation for the following regular semester (i.e., a Scholar whose cumulative GPA is below 3.0 at the end of the spring semester is on probation through the end of the following fall semester, even if the Scholar takes summer courses to raise his/her cumulative GPA. A Scholar whose cumulative GPA is below 3.0 at the end of the fall semester is on probation through the end of the following spring semester.). Bachelor's to Master's tuition discounts for students placed on Scholars probation may be reconsidered.

Dismissal

For all students, the following are grounds for academic dismissal from MSPS:

  • Failure to return to satisfactory academic standing after two semesters on academic probation; or
  • Receipt of a failing grade (F) in three or more credit-bearing courses undertaken in a semester. (Reversion of an incomplete grade (I) to an F shall be included in the total number of failures for the semester in which the (I) was given, with possible dismissal effective at the close of the current semester.); or
  • At the end of any academic year, possession of a cumulative grade point average (for all semesters undertaken) below 1.5.

Students should consult the Catholic University policy website for additional details pertaining to academic standing: http://policies.catholic.edu/academicundergrad/grades.cfm.