Academic Petitions Committee

Students occasionally experience extenuating circumstances that interfere with their intent to follow rules and procedures regarding various facets of University life.  Students may also find confusing or unacceptable an interpretation of a rule or procedure as applied to their individual situation.  The academic petitions committee meets weekly during the fall and spring semesters to discuss requests by students to consider exceptions to University policy regarding schedule changes, course grade options, distribution requirements and graduation requirements.  Appropriate documentation and academic advisor and/or course instructor substantiation of claims to extenuating circumstances must be provided by the petitioning student.  Information about the ­petition procedure is available from the director of academic advising or the registrar.

Satisfactory Academic Standing
Normally, satisfactory academic standing is defined as:
1.  a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
2.  Satisfactory progress and GPA in the major.  (This applies to juniors and seniors who have earned 17 or more units toward graduation.)
3.  Satisfactory progress in units completed toward graduation (see chart below).

                        End of Term                      Units Completed
                                 1                                         4.5
                                 2                                         9.0   
                                 3                                        13.0  
                                 4                                        17.0  
                                 5                                        21.0  
                                 6                                        25.0  
                                 7                                        29.0  
                                 8                                        33.5  

A student not meeting these expectations will be placed on probation or suspended from the University; however, a student placed on probation but permitted to remain at the University as an enrolled student shall be considered a student in good standing where questions of eligibility for athletics and financial aid programs are concerned.  The committee on academic standing reviews the records of all students not meeting these expectations at the end of each semester (and of the academic summer session).

Unsatisfactory Academic Standing
Academic Probation
Students will be placed on academic probation if they fail to meet satisfactory levels of performance as reflected by one of three measures: cumulative GPA, semester GPA or major GPA.

Cumulative GPA – Students are placed on academic probation if their cumulative GPA falls within the following range based on terms completed:

Completed Term(s)                Minimum Cumulative GPA
1-4                                  1.50 - 1.99
5-7                                  1.75 - 1.99
8-10                                     < 2.0

Students whose GPAs fall within the appropriate range are placed on probation and receive letters that indicate that they must (1) earn a semester GPA of 2.0 or above in their first semester on probation;(2) raise their overall GPA to a 2.0 or higher in the ensuing semester or they will be suspended; (3) work with the office of academic planning, advising, and services to formulate a plan for academic recovery; (4) have regular contact with their academic advisor. In addition, all students on probation must carry a full course load of at least four courses worth at least one unit each.

Semester GPA – Junior or first-semester seniors with a semester GPAs below 1.75 will be placed on academic probation.  Students place on probation for a low semester GPA must also meet the four conditions outlined in the paragraph above.

Major GPA – Students whose GPA in their major (i.e., the average of grades in courses applicable to the major) falls below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students placed on probation for a low GPA in their major must also meet the first and second conditions outlined above. 

Required Summerterm
At the end of the academic year, first-year students or sophomores who have cumulative averages of less than 1.75, and juniors with GPAs less than 2.0, will be required to attend summerterm at St. Lawrence. Academic improvement, demonstrated by earning a minimum summerterm average of 2.25 or a higher standard of performance as stipulated by the committee on academic standing, is required.

Students placed on probation, but permitted to remain at the University as an enrolled student, shall be considered a student in good standing where questions of eligibility for financial aid programs are concerned. 

Academic Suspension
Students who fall into one or more of the following categories will be suspended:

1. First-year students (including first-semester students) or sophomores with cumulative grade point averages of less than 1.5, juniors and first semester seniors with cumulative GPA’s of less than 1.75, and second semester seniors with cumulative GPA’s of less than 2.0;

End of  Term                    Minimum Cumulative GPA
1-4                                      < 1.50
5-7                                      < 1.75
8                                        < 2.0

2. Students on probation who do not earn a semester GPA of 2.0 or above in their first semester on probation as prescribed by the Academic Standing Committee, or do not increase their overall GPA to 2.0 at the end of the following semester;
3. Students who do not earn a minimum average of 2.25 or the higher standard of performance stipulated by the Academic Standing Committee during a required summer term;
4. Students who have less than a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in their major and cannot find a new or probationary major. Students whose GPA in their declared major remains below 2.0 for two semesters, and who are unable to find a suitable probationary major.

Students other than first-year students suspended after their first semester are suspended for one calendar year.  Suspended students are not considered St. Lawrence University students and are not eligible to receive credit for or take courses at the University. Students who are suspended at the end of their first semester (and only at the end of their first semester) shall be offered one of the following two options:
1. take a suspension for a full calendar year.
2a. students who matriculated in the fall semester may take a suspension of one semester (the spring following the fall in which they were suspended), after which they may apply to take up to 2 courses in Summerterm Session I during which they will also be required to work in a program designed by the Office of Academic Planning, Advising, and Services.  Completion of this program to the satisfaction of the office together with a 2.5 average in all summer course work shall entitle the student to apply for re-admission for the fall semester.
2b. students who matriculated in the spring semester may take a suspension of one summer plus one semester (the fall following the spring in which they were suspended), after which they may apply to return for the spring semester during which they will also be required to work on a program designed by the Office of Academic Planning, Advising, and Services.  Completion of this program to the satisfaction of the office together with a 2.5 average in all spring term course work shall entitle the student to apply for re-admission for Summerterm and the following fall semester.
     
All suspended students are encouraged to consult with the director of academic advising to formulate a plan leading toward readmission.

Appeal of Academic Suspension
Suspended students who can document extenuating circumstances have the right to appeal to the Academic Standing Committee. Appeals, which will be reviewed by the committee and the dean of academic affairs, should be directed to the registrar.  For students on probation now subject to suspension, the committee on academic standing will examine whether all the conditions of probation were fulfilled when considering an appeal.  Questions about the appeals process should be directed to the director of academic advising.

Readmission
Suspended students other than first-year students may apply to St. Lawrence University for readmission one calendar year after they were suspended.  Applications for readmission are available from the associate dean for academic advising and questions about the readmissions process should be directed to that office.  In addition to the completed application, the following information must be provided:
1. transcripts of academic work undertaken while suspended;.        
2. letters from course instructors in which students were enrolled while suspended;.
3. if applicable, letters of support from employers, counselors, or therapists with whom the student has worked since suspension.
An interview with the chairperson of the associate dean of academic advising may be required.

Expulsion
Suspended students will be expelled if they have been readmitted but fail to meet their academic readmission requirements as determined by the academic standing committee.  Expelled students who can document extenuating circumstances have the right to appeal to the Academic Standing Committee.  Appeals should be directed to the registrar. Expulsion represents a complete severance of ties to the University.   Students who have been expelled from St. Lawrence University do not have the option to apply for readmission.