Good Academic Standing
Students who maintain a minimum of 12 credits earned and a term GPA of at least 2.0 each semester are considered in good academic standing. In the rare circumstance that a student is given permission prior to the start of the semester to be enrolled in less than 12 credits, that student must complete 100% of the enrolled credits with a term GPA of at least 2.0 to remain in good standing.
Reviewing Academic Standing
Each academic advising office reviews student records at the end of fall and spring semesters to monitor academic standing. Based on this review, students may be placed on academic probation, academically suspended, or academically dismissed.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) refers to minimal standards for grades and cumulative credits required to receive financial aid. The SAP policy is available here.
Academic Probation
At the end of each fall and spring semester, the academic advising offices review the records of all undergraduate students to evaluate the academic standing of each student. Students who earn less than 12 credits or earn a term GPA below 2.0 are placed on academic probation. A letter informing a student of this status and the terms of academic probation are sent to the student in January (for fall performance) or June (for spring performance).
The terms of academic probation are as follows: Students must complete at least 12 credits with a minimum term GPA of 2.0 in the next enrolled fall or spring semester. Students may also be required to achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above in order to be removed from academic probation. In making the GPA calculation, incomplete grades (I) may be calculated as failures (F). In addition, any grade in a satisfactory/unsatisfactory course may be taken into consideration.
Students who do not meet the terms of academic probation will be academically suspended or academically dismissed. In some circumstances, a student may be continued on academic probation instead of being academically suspended or academically dismissed. A student whose term GPA falls below 1.0 or earns less than 6 credits may be academically suspended without having been on academic probation the previous semester.
The advising offices send written notification to students who are placed on academic probation. Incomplete or missing grades may prevent timely notification. Students with a term grade point average below 2.0 or who earned less than 12 credits should consult with an academic advisor about their academic standing, even if they have not received the letter from their advising office.
Students on academic probation may be restricted from registering for the maximum course load. Engineering students on academic probation are permitted a maximum of 14 credits during the probation semester. Students on academic probation are not precluded by the university from continued participation in co-curricular activities or from representing the university in institution-sanctioned activities (including varsity athletics) while on academic probation.
A student's academic performance during the summer term or intersession will not affect their academic standing.
Academic Suspension
A student on academic probation who has not met the terms of probation will be subject to academic suspension from the university for a minimum of one semester and a summer. A student whose term GPA falls below 1.0 or earns less than 6 credits may be academically suspended without having been on academic probation the previous semester.
Students may direct inquiries about the academic suspension process to the Academic Review Committee of their respective advising office. Students who intend to return to the university in a future semester are encouraged to work with their academic advisor to develop a plan for their time away.
When a student is academically suspended from the university, the:
- Office of the Homewood Registrar cancels the student’s registration for the next semester, and in accordance with policy authorizes a refund of tuition paid for that semester;
- Office of Student Financial Services suspends financial aid and work-study aid to the student;
- Community Living Office cancels the student’s housing contract if the student is in university housing; and,
- Office of International Services performs duties as required by U.S. federal regulations regarding persons not eligible to study at the university.
Reinstatement after Academic Suspension
The terms for reinstating a student who has been academically suspended are established by the Academic Review Committee of their respective advising office.
Students are reinstated on academic probation and must meet those terms in their returning semester or face academic suspension again or academic dismissal.
Students who receive prior approval to complete courses at another college or university during the period of academic suspension are subject to the university’s 12-credit limit on the number of transfer credits that can be applied toward graduation.
Reinstatement Requests
To apply for reinstatement, an academically suspended student must submit a written request to their respective advising office. The request should include an analysis of what went wrong during the preceding two semesters of enrollment, a description of activities while not in attendance, and an academic plan for completing all degree requirements. Supplemental materials such as transcripts of courses taken elsewhere, letters of reference from work or volunteer supervisor, and/or letters of support from a mental/physical health care provider may be required. Students are encouraged to contact their academic advisor prior to submitting a written request for reinstatement. Engineering students should use the reinstatement form provided to them at the time of their academic suspension.
Reinstatement and Financial Aid
Academic suspension and financial aid suspension are two distinct actions and must be addressed separately. The Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal process can be found online. This appeal is in addition to the request for reinstatement to your advising office.
Subsequent Academic Suspension
A student who is academically suspended a second time will be required to separate from the university for a minimum of one year.
Academic Dismissal
A student who has been reinstated following a second academic suspension returns to the university on academic probation. Failure to meet the terms of academic probation that semester will result in academic dismissal from the university. Academic dismissal is permanent. Students will not be permitted to apply for reinstatement.
Eligibility for Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students who are eligible to register are also eligible to apply for financial aid. Only U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens (e.g., permanent residents) are eligible for Federal Title IV financial aid.
Students should be aware that JHU scholarship and grant funds are awarded for a maximum of eight semesters. Under some circumstances, a ninth semester may be awarded on appeal. Federal and state aid may be available for additional semesters.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) refers to minimum standards for grades and cumulative credits required to receive financial aid. The SAP policy is available here.