Back to Policies List

200346

Academic Standing, Undergraduate

Type: Grading
Effective Date: 8/28/2023

Policy Summary

The University has academic classifications based on grade point average (GPA) to help staff, faculty, and students determine academic progress.  

Reason For This Policy

The policy is set forth to apply academic standing classifications so the university may provide additional resources to students who may be encountering academic challenges and assist students in being successful.   

Entities Affected By This Policy

  • All colleges and instructional units
  • Office of the Dean of Students
  • Office of the Registrar
  • University Advising
  • Student Affairs
  • Enrollment Management

Who Should Know This Policy

  • All colleges and instructional units
  • Office of the Dean of Students
  • Office of the Registrar
  • University Advising
  • Student Affairs
  • Enrollment Management

Definitions

Academic Standing is the classification earned by a student that represents a combination of their term and cumulative grade point averages at the end of a term/semester.  The Academic Standing earned at the end of each term/semester determines academic enrollment and graduation eligibility.

Good Academic Standing: a standing which permits a student to both enroll and earn a degree and/or certificate.  

Academic Caution: the first of two-layered standings in which a student needs to improve their academic performance.  A student may enroll while in this standing, however, a degree or certificate cannot be earned.

Academic Warning: the second of two-layered standings in which a student needs to improve their academic performance.  This standing may be earned for one term/semester in which a student will move to another standing in the next term/semester.  A student may enroll while in this standing, however, a degree or certificate cannot be earned.

Academically Paused: A student in this standing is no longer permitted to enroll at NAU.  This standing is achieved by two consecutive terms of both a term and a cumulative GPA below 2.0.

Policy

If a student's cumulative grade point average (GPA) is 2.0 or above, the transcript will reflect the student is in Good Academic Standing. If a student’s cumulative GPA is below 2.0, they must improve their academic performance when they are placed on an Academic Standing of “Academic Caution” or “Academic Warning”.  A student is no longer permitted to enroll in classes when they enter an academic standing of “Academically Paused”.  

Good Academic Standing:

  • A student is placed on “Good” academic standing with a minimum cumulative and term/semester GPA of 2.0.

Academic Caution:

  • A student is placed on “Academic Caution” if their cumulative GPA is below 2.0.
  • A student may continue with an academic standing of “Academic Caution” if they maintain a term GPA of at least 2.0.

Academic Warning:

  • A student is placed on “Academic Warning” after they are on “Academic Caution” and then have a second consecutive term/semester GPA and cumulative GPA below 2.0.

Academically Paused:

  • A student is “Academically Paused” after being placed on “Academic Warning” and then earning a cumulative and term/semester GPA below 2.0.  

Returning to NAU after Academic Pause (Reinstatement):

  • A student may return by requesting approval based on the following criteria:
    • 12 units of documented transferable academic or developmental coursework, completed or in progress, at another institution, with at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.  If coursework is in progress, all coursework must be completed prior to the start date of the term of Reinstatement.
    • A documented explanation of extenuating circumstances that resulted in past poor academic performance and evidence that those circumstances have been resolved.

The Office of the Provost may require additional supportive requirements and/or resources for students who are not in “Good” standing on an individual or collective student basis.  

Responsibilities

Office of the Registrar:  Maintain a record and calculate students’ academic standing, term GPA, cum GPA, cancel enrollment upon academic ineligibility, and manage the Reinstatement process.

Office of the Provost:  Determine the process for Reinstatement and approve supplemental resources for students in a standing that indicates academic improvement is required.

Undergraduate Students:  Know and understand the Academic Standing policy and related policies that contribute to student success.

Procedures

  1. Students in the Personalized Learning program may have academic standing calculated at the end of a term or a subscription.  
  2. Students are entered as “Academically Paused” at the end of fall and spring terms/semesters.
  3. After the standing of “Academically Paused” is assigned to the transcript:
    • Enrollment in subsequent terms/semesters is canceled.
      If a student is enrolled in a class that has started prior to grade finalization and standing being placed on the transcript, then the student will be permitted to finish the class, and future enrollment is removed.
    • Enrollment is canceled prior to the tuition reimbursement deadline returning applicable tuition and fees. Questions about account information should be directed to the Student and Departmental Account Services (formerly, the Bursar’s Office) at 866-234-6153.
    • Cancellation of university housing in the next term. A campus resident should contact the Office of Residence Life at 928-523-3978 to officially check out of the residence hall and receive any refund due.
    • Students are unable to enroll in any Northern Arizona University courses.
  4. If a student is “Academically Paused”, an email to their NAU account will be sent along with a letter addressed to their last permanent address listed in the LOUIE student information system (nau.edu/LOUIE). The email and letter satisfy the university’s responsibility of notifying students of ineligibility.

Related Information

Related Policies for Student Status

Student persistence may be impacted by policies and procedures other than Academic Standing.  Please be aware of similar university policies and/or procedures that may prevent enrollment.

Student Support

Academic standing provides a scaffolding by which University professionals can identify and prioritize student support initiatives, informed by student GPA.  A variety of units within the campus community are positioned and charged to work with students in all academic standing levels to support their efforts to thrive while achieving their academic goals.    

Students will be officially notified of any change in standing through a formal notification from the University Registrar.  In addition to this official communication, teams of university support resources (student affairs, advising etc.) will utilize the standings to explore opportunities to provide students assistance, caution, or additional support.

Given that the circumstances for any individual student’s change in standing can vary, the support provided by the institution will vary as well.  Outreach to students may be initiated by their academic standing, and any subsequent support, resource referral, or follow-up will be defined by the individual student needs.   Examples of the type of outreach/messaging that might be meaningful by standing level are listed below.  A working group of student service professionals will coordinate and orchestrate the detailed support/communication initiatives for these standings each term.  

Examples:

Good Academic Standing:

  • Positive reinforcement – "Keep up the good work!"
  • Reminders about the importance of maintaining GPA.

Academic Caution:

  • Resource referrals (tutoring, writing, counseling, etc.).
  • Outreach to discuss academic needs with advisors, mentors, and other key influencers; initiating conversations to explore alternate academic paths to completion that may alleviate challenges.

 Academic Warning:

  • Intrusive advising support and outreach to devise a plan to avoid ‘academic pause’.
  • A plan may include new items, or a review of items previously discussed from 'good academic standing' or 'academic caution'.

Academically Paused:

  • Outreach to discuss partnerships at community college, credit recovery, etc.
  • These discussions are comprehensive to determine the best path forward which may be a reinstatement appeal and/or petition(s) for a single course or term withdrawal.

Visit Guidelines and Procedures under Academic Review deadlines and processes for further details regarding extenuating circumstances.

Forms or Tools

Academic Renewal
Reinstatement Guidelines and Protocols

Appendix

Previous Academic Standing Definitions (Policy 100328 effective thru 8-27-2023)

Good Academic Standing: A student is placed on “Good” academic standing with a minimum cumulative and term/semester GPA of 2.0.

Probation: A student is placed on “Academic Probation” if their cumulative GPA is below 2.0. A student may continue with an academic standing of “Academic Probation” if they maintain a term GPA of at least 2.0.

Suspension: A student is “Academically Suspended” after being placed on “Academic Probation” and then earning a cumulative and term/semester GPA below 2.0.

Policy Transition

To make the transition from the Academic Continuation policy (effective through summer 2023) to this Academic Standing policy (effective fall 2023) as seamless as possible; no changes in students’ academic standing will occur until the end of fall 2023. 

Students on Academic Probation attending fall 2023:

  • At the end of fall 2023 all students with a cumulative GPA less than 2.0 will begin the following term on Academic Caution.
  • Academic Pause will not be run until the end of fall 2024.
  • Students who receive an academic standing of Academic Caution will receive communication about their standing related to the new policy at the end of fall 2023.

Effective spring 2024:

  • All processes for the new policy will begin.
  • Academic Probation - Academic Caution for all processes.
  • A student entering a term/semester on Academic Probation may be assigned the following standings at the end of the term/semester: Academic Caution, Academic Warning, or Good Academic Standing.

Returning to NAU after Academic Suspension or Academic Pause:

  • Students should follow the Reinstatement process if they would like to return.
  • Any student reinstated from Suspension or Pause will return on Academic Caution.

Transcript:

  • No standings will be converted from the old policy to the new policy on a transcript; students who attend under both policies will have each standing on their transcript.
  • The transcript will represent the standing classification earned that corresponds with the acting policy in place.  

 

Academic Standing vs Academic Continuation Comparison Chart
Policy Effective Through Summer 2023 Policy Effective Fall 2023
Academic Standing Term GPA CUM GPA Prior Term Standing Academic Standing Term GPA CUM GPA Prior Standing

Probation

 N/A < 2.0 Any Caution N/A* < 2.0 Any
Continuing Probation >= 2.0 < 2.0 Probation

Continuing Caution

 >= 2.0 < 2.0 Caution
N/A N/A N/A N/A

Warning

 < 2.0 < 2.0 Caution
Suspended < 2.0 < 2.0 Probation

Paused

 < 2.0 < 2.0 Warning

< less than 

> greater than

*A student may return to Caution from Warning with term GPA of at least 2.0 and a CUM GPA < 2.0

Related policies:

Back to Policies List