Academic Probation, Disqualification and Progress

Recommended By
Academic Senate
Approved
Judy Sakaki, President
Issue Date
Thursday, September 25, 1997
Current Issue Date
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Effective Date
Friday, February 24, 2017
Contact Office
Provost and VP for Academic Affairs
Policy number
2009-4

 

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 1038 and Sections 41300 and 41300.1 of Title 5 of the California code of Regulations and Chapter III, Sections 1 and 2 of the Standing Orders of the Board of Trustees of the California State University,

It is the policy of Sonoma State University that:

  1. Academic Probation
    An undergraduate student (or a student pursuing a second bachelor’s degree) is subject to academic probation if at any time the student’s cumulative grade point average at Sonoma State University OR cumulative grade point average in all college work attempted falls below 2.0. An undergraduate student (or a student pursuing a second bachelor’s degree) will be removed from academic probation when the student’s cumulative grade point average at Sonoma State University AND in all college work attempted is 2.0 or higher.

    A graduate, credential, or post-baccalaureate student is subject to academic probation if at any time the student’s cumulative grade point average in all post-baccalaureate work attempted at SSU falls below 3.0. A graduate, credential, or post-baccalaureate student will be removed from academic probation when the student’s cumulative grade point average in all post-baccalaureate work attempted at SSU is 3.0 or higher.
     
  2. Undergraduate students on academic probation must seek academic advising and/or attend a probation workshop. Graduate, credential, and post-baccalaureate students must be advised by a faculty member in their department. Otherwise an advising hold may be placed on the student’s record.
     
  3. Academic Disqualification
    An undergraduate student (or student pursuing a second bachelor’s degree) will be subject to academic disqualification if, after the student has been on probation for at least one semester, the student’s cumulative grade point average in all work at Sonoma State University OR in college work attempted falls below the GPA indicated below for a second successive term:
    Table 1: Academic Disqualification
    Class Level Units Completed SSU or Cumulative GPA
    Freshman 0-29 units completed 1.5
    Sophomore  30-59 units completed 1.70
    Junior 60-89 units completed 1.85
    Senior 90 or more units completed 1.95
    Second Bachelor's Degree   2.0

    A graduate, credential, or post-baccalaureate student may be subject to academic disqualification if, after the student has been on probation for at least one semester, the student’s cumulative grade point average in all post-baccalaureate work attempted at SSU falls below 3.0.

    A student who is academically disqualified is not permitted to register for or take courses at Sonoma State University, except through intersession or open university, from the time of disqualification until such time as the student is reinstated according to the procedures below.
     
  4. Academic Disqualification of Students not on Probation
    A student not on probation may be disqualified if a) at the end of any term, the student has a cumulative GPA below 1.0, and b) the cumulative GPA is so low that, in view of the student’s overall educational record, it seems unlikely that the deficiency will be removed within a reasonable period, as determined by the registrar in consultation with the University Standards Committee. Such disqualifications may be appealed to the University Standards Committee.
     
  5. Administrative-Academic Probation
    A student may be placed on administrative-academic probation
    • for withdrawal from a substantial portion of a program in two successive semesters or in any three terms (for reasons other than a chronic or recurring medical condition);
    • for repeated failure to progress toward a degree;
    • or for failure to comply, after due notice, with an academic requirement or regulation that is routine for all students or for a defined group of students, such as failure to complete a required CSU or SSU examination, failure to complete a required practicum, failure to comply with professional standards appropriate to the field of study.
       
  6. Administrative-Academic Disqualification
    A student may be placed in administrative academic disqualified status if the student fails to remedy the condition resulting in administrative academic probation; if the student becomes subject to academic probation while on administrative-academic probation; or if the student becomes subject to administrative-academic probation for the same or similar reason for which he/she has been placed on administrative-academic probation previously even if the student is not current on administrative-academic probation.

    In addition, a student may be disqualified if, at any time during enrollment, he/she has demonstrated behavior so contrary to the standards of the profession for which the student is preparing as to render him/her unfit for the profession.  In such cases, disqualification will occur immediately upon notice to the student, and the student may be immediately disenrolled from the university.
     
  7. Reinstatement
    1. Students who have been disqualified may not apply for immediate reinstatement.
       
    2. Undergraduate students (or students pursuing a second bachelor’s degree) who have been disqualified must, before applying to the University Standards Committee for reinstatement:
      1. Complete at least 12 graded semester-units at another accredited college or university, or through Extended Education at SSU.
      2. Pass ALL transferable units taken after disqualification from SSU with an average GPA of 2.0 or better.
      3. Endeavor to raise the student’s SSU and cumulative GPAs to a 2.0 or better.

      In choosing courses to take, undergraduate students should, whenever possible:
      • Repeat courses with grades of C- or below.
      • Complete any General Education areas that are not complete.
      • Fulfill lower-division course requirements for the students’ major.

      In some cases, undergraduate students may not be able to take equivalent courses to raise their SSU or cumulative GPA to the required level without returning to SSU. In that case, the student should clearly outline the circumstances preventing raising the GPA in the reinstatement petition. The University Standards Committee may, in that case, reinstate a student conditionally.
       
    3. Graduate, credential, or post-baccalaureate students who have been disqualified may not be reinstated through the above process but must reapply to their department and the university for admission.

      Disqualified students who are reinstated will be on a probationary basis and must meet any requirements outlined in the reinstatement letter by the University Standards Committee.

      The Process of Petitioning for Reinstatement
       
  8. Second Disqualification
    Students who have been reinstated after disqualification and then disqualified again may not be considered for reinstatement except under exceptional circumstances.