Academic Eligibility

Academic Classification

All students working for any undergraduate degree conferred by this university are ranked in classes, by semester hours completed, as follows:

Freshman 0-29 semester hours of credit
Sophomore 30-59 semester hours of credit
Junior 60-89 semester hours of credit
Senior 90 or more semester hours of credit

For purposes of satisfying course prerequisites, the term "senior standing" may be defined by reference to the specified curricula of a given school or college, if it provides detailed programs leading to the attainment of a degree. A student who has completed a four-year degree and who continues undergraduate enrollment is classified as post-baccalaureate.

Academic Standing and Dismissal

Academic standing is based upon the total earned credit hours completed, including accepted transfer hours. Therefore, all new undergraduates begin with an enrollment status of eligible and earn an academic standing after their first semester with earned credits. Four categories of academic standing are established: Good, Warning, Probation, and Suspension. These categories are intended to signify a student’s progress toward graduation or to provide an opportunity for making improvements and achieving academic success. They also determine eligibility to enroll in courses at the university; however, they do not determine eligibility to enroll in specific programs, schools or colleges at the institution. In addition, an undergraduate student's standing and eligibility to enroll in courses does not ensure satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for financial aid purposes.  Students who receive financial aid should review the Financial Aid and Scholarship section of the catalog for the SAP policy.

Good Standing:

  • Students in Good Standing have earned the required cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher.
  • Students' enrollment status is marked eligible and they may continue to enroll in courses.

Warning:

  • Students on Academic Warning have earned a cumulative grade point average below 2.00. This indicates that grade standards consistent with graduation requirements are not being met.
  • Students’ enrollment status is marked eligible, and they may continue to enroll in courses after advisor approval of course load. Students with this status will have an advisement hold that will need to be cleared prior to registration activities.
  • Students who are employed on campus are required to establish an action plan for academic success and have a letter of support from a supervisor as per the existing student employment policy.
  • Students placed on Warning are required to participate in individual academic coaching. 
  • Students who register for the upcoming term but who do not register for academic coaching will be administratively dropped from all of their courses following the last day to add a course.
  • Students who begin a semester on Warning will be assigned one of the following statuses at the end of the semester:
    • students who earn a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.00 at end of the semester will return to Good Standing.
    • students who have not earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 will continue on Continued Academic Recovery.

Probation:

  • Students on Academic Probation have continued to earn a cumulative grade point average below 2.00. This continues to indicate that grade standards consistent with graduation requirements are not being met.
  • Students’ enrollment status is marked eligible, and they may continue to enroll in courses after advisor approval of course load. Students with this status will have an advisement hold that will need to be cleared prior to registration activities.
  • Students placed on Probation are required to participate in individual academic coaching. 
  • Students who begin a semester on Probation will be assigned one of the following statuses at the end of the semester:
    • students who earn a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.00 at end of the semester will return to Good Standing.
    • students who have not earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 but have made substantial improvement by earning a term grade point average of at least 2.00 will continue on Probation
    • students who have not earned a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0 and have not earned term grade point average of at least 2.00 at the end of the term will be moved to suspension.

Suspension:

  • Students on Academic Suspension who have continued to earn a cumulative grade point average below 2.00 are required to be dismissed from the university for at least one semester before being able to petition for re-instatement.
  • Students on Academic Suspension who have registered for a future semester will be administratively withdrawn from all classes by the Office of the Registrar and will receive notification of their academic standing via email and U.S. postal mail.

Can a student return after an Academic Suspension?

A student may return to the university after Academic Suspension if granted reinstatement status. Students who have been academically suspended may petition the Academic Reinstatement Committee for re-instatement. The Committee’s decision is final.

All petitions must be received by the specified deadline, and must include compelling and documented evidence of the circumstances beyond the student’s control and an explanation of how they negatively impacted their ability to perform academically.  The student must also prepare a statement that includes the following:

  1. The steps they will take if re-instated to academic success
  2. The individuals included in their support network (personal and on-campus)

Students who are granted reinstatement will be given a continuation plan by the Reinstatement Committee and will be required to discuss the plan with their academic advisor.  The plan may include a recommended change of major, academic reassessment, YSU summer term enrollment, repeating classes, tutoring, individual coaching, and/or mental health counseling.  When a student is granted reinstatement the student’s academic standing is reset to Probation.  All academic standing rules listed above apply for the term the student is reinstated. Therefore, a second suspension will have a duration of at least one full calendar year before reinstatement can be granted again. Students should not expect to be reinstated after two suspensions unless the  Academic Reinstatement Committee  believes that extraordinary conditions or circumstances have occurred. Additional suspensions will have a duration of at least two years.

Can a student be dismissed/suspended for other reasons?

A student may be dismissed from the university for a period of time or permanently for reasons other than those listed above for Academic Suspension. 

  • Students admitted to the university as a Conditional Admit or Strong Start student can be dismissed from the university for not meeting the requirements of those admission statuses.  Students admitted in those categories should reach out to the Resch Academic Success Center for information on dismissal and reinstatement processes.
  • Students who fail to meet their financial obligations to the university can be financially suspended from the university until all financial responsibilities are met. Students who have been financially suspended should reach out to the Office of the University Bursar for information on debt consequences, obligations, and reinstatement processes.
  • Students who have been found to violate the Student Code of Conduct may be suspended or expelled from the university.  Students who are responsible for a violation should reach out to the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct for information on their status.

CONTACT FOR QUESTIONS/CONCERNS

Office:  Penguin Service Center and Record's Office
Location:  Meshel Hall
Website:  https://ysu.edu/penguin-service-center and https://ysu.edu/registrars-office