Academic Probation and Dismissal

It is expected that students — full time and part time, undergraduate and graduate — will make continuous progress toward a degree in a timely manner. The University — through the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee — monitors academic progress and takes action when a student is no longer in good academic standing.

The following directives are reviewed annually by the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee and they may be suspended when, in the opinion of the Committee, the interests of the student and of the University will best be served by such suspension. Such action, however, may not be construed as a precedent by any petitioner.

Undergraduate Students

An undergraduate student is subject to academic action after 12 completed credits. Part-time students must meet the same academic standards as full-time students.

An undergraduate student whose semester grade point average (GPA) is below 2.0 is placed on academic probation for the following semester.

During the first probationary semester, a student may enroll for a maximum of 15 credits in the fall or spring, or 8 credits in the summer semester. If a student remains on probation or returns to probation, that student may enroll for a maximum of 12 credits in the fall or spring, or 6 credits in the summer semester.

In addition, a cumulative GPA below 2.0 puts an undergraduate student at risk for academic dismissal when the cumulative GPA does not meet the following standards:

Credits completed* Cumulative GPA must equal of exceed:

12-16 credits 1.25

17-30 credits 1.50

31-59 credits 1.75

60+ credits or 1.95
junior/senior standing

*completed credits are all courses for which a grade A-F has been earned.

Students slated for academic dismissal are notified of their status by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. A student being dismissed will have their registration for the next semester cancelled and may not enroll at the University unless he/she successfully appeals dismissal before the start of the next semester. If the student’s appeal is denied, the student may then apply for readmission to the University after the lapse of one full fall or spring semester.

Some degree programs have specific expectations for academic achievement in the major. A student who does not meet these expectations will be dismissed from that program. A student dismissed from a program, but eligible to remain at the University according to the aforementioned cumulative GPA guidelines, may declare a new major after consultation with the Academic Success Center.

Graduate Students

Graduate students are expected to make continuous progress toward a degree in a timely manner. In support of those efforts, the University, through the Graduate Studies Committee and the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, reserves the right to take the following academic actions:

Graduate students are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Graduate students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 during enrollment at Marymount University will be placed on academic probation.
During the academic probationary period, graduate students must earn a semester GPA of 3.0 or higher, or they will be dismissed.
To be removed from academic probation, students must bring their cumulative GPAs to 3.0 or higher within nine graduate credit hours or be dismissed.
Graduate students dismissed from the University may not apply for readmission to the same academic program.
Some graduate degree programs have additional academic requirements. Students must refer to the appropriate program section of the catalog for information about the requirements for their respective programs.

Appealing an Academic Dismissal from the University

Undergraduate Students

If an undergraduate student believes his or her performance has been negatively impacted by some type of unusual circumstance, that student has the right to appeal his or her dismissal as follows:

The student must submit an appeal in writing to the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee.
The appeal is then sent to the Office of the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Appeals are due by the date specified in the letter of dismissal. No appeals will be accepted after this time. It is the student’s responsibility, whether in the United States or abroad, to be aware of mail sent to them by the University. The University contacts the student in writing at the student’s address on file with the Office of the Registrar.
An appeal must explain in full the student’s reasons for seeking a reversal of the academic dismissal. It should also propose a plan for returning the student to good academic standing.

Appeals will be responded to in writing by the associate vice president for Academic Affairs on behalf of the Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee. The response of the associate vice president to the written appeal will bring the process to an official end.

Graduate Students

Graduate students dismissed from the University due to academic performance are notified by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Graduate students dismissed from the University have the right to appeal the dismissal.

If a graduate student wishes to appeal academic dismissal from the University, the following procedures must be observed:

All appeals must be in writing and are to be addressed to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, with a copy sent to the dean of the School in which the student is enrolled.
Appeals are due to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the appropriate dean by the date specified in the letter of dismissal. No appeals will be accepted after this date. The University will make every attempt to contact the student in writing using the addresses on file with the Registrar's Office. The student, whether in the United States or abroad, is responsible for keeping his or her official address up-to-date in the Registrar’s Office.
An appeal must explain in full the student’s reasons for seeking a reversal of the academic dismissal and provide a plan for returning the student to good academic standing.
The Graduate Studies Committee reviews all materials related to the student’s appeal and forwards all recommendations to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs will notify the student in writing concerning the results of his/her appeal. The response of the vice president for Academic Affairs is final.

Seeking Readmission to the University

Undergraduate Students

An undergraduate student who wishes to apply for readmission after academic dismissal from the University must do the following:

Contact the Academic Success Center for a readmission application packet.
Submit the completed packet including a $40 nonrefundable application fee, along with documentation that the problems previously causing academic difficulties have been addressed. Readmission applications must include evidence of satisfactory academic efforts (9-12 credits with an average of B) in the time he or she has been separated from the University. The Committee will not review applications that do not demonstrate academic success.
Seek a positive recommendation from the program chair to which he or she is seeking re-entry. Students who do not receive a positive recommendation from their previous program may be readmitted as an undeclared major and be advised by the Academic Success Center until a new major is declared.

Students who have been readmitted to the University after three or more semesters of academic dismissal will return to the University under the procedures listed in the catalog in force at the time of their readmission and must meet the requirements of their degree program stated in that catalog.

Graduate Students

Graduate students dismissed from the University may not apply for readmission to the same academic program, but may seek admission to another academic major.