Academic Standing
A student’s academic standing is set at the end of each grading period (including each regular academic semester, after interterms, and when pending grades resolve) based on the minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) scale outlined below. The categories of academic standing are good standing, probation, and suspension. Students should maintain awareness of the GPA requirements for their financial aid, as these may be different from the requirements for academic standing.
In order to allow evaluation of academic standing before a new semester begins, incomplete grades for students whose academic standing could be affected by the resolution must be resolved within two weeks of the last day of the term. Notification of suspension and other academic standing changes is sent to students in writing after final grades are processed.
Good Standing
A student will remain in or return to good standing provided their Principia cumulative GPA meets these requirements:
| Total Semester Hours Earned | Minimum GPA Required |
|---|---|
| 0-30 | 1.800 |
| >30 | 2.000 |
Total semester hours earned in the chart above include Principia College courses only.
Academic Probation
A student will be placed on academic probation if their cumulative GPA is below the minimum for good standing and falls within the probation requirement scale outlined below. A student has one semester of probation to bring their cumulative GPA above the minimum required for good standing. If a cumulative GPA remains below the minimum required for good standing after the end of the first semester of probation, the student will be immediately suspended for one year.
| Total Semester Hours Earned | Probation Requirement |
|---|---|
| 0-30 | 1.600 - 1.799 |
| >30 | 1.800 - 1.999 |
Academic Suspension
In addition to the requirements of the Academic Probation policy, a student may be suspended directly from good standing for extremely poor performance (for example, a term GPA below 1.0).
A student notified of academic suspension will be provided an opportunity to appeal. In the case of an international student on a student visa, the suspension will not go into full effect until the deadline for the appeal has passed. If no appeal is received by the stated deadline or if the appeal is not approved, the SEVIS principal designated school official (PDSO) will then assist the student in making travel arrangements. Once the arrangements have been secured, the PDSO will notify the Dean of Academics and the Registrar. The student will then have 24 hours to leave campus and the PDSO will change the student’s status in SEVIS according to immigration timelines.
A student may appeal an academic suspension in writing to the Dean of Academics. Appeals are rarely granted, but may be considered in cases where there were extreme circumstances outside the student’s control that interfered with successful academic work. Appeals must be submitted no later than two weeks before the beginning of the following semester.
Any student who has been withdrawn from Principia College for one semester or more for any reason must contact the Registrar's Office concerning re-enrollment. A student on academic suspension becomes eligible for re-enrollment to Principia upon completion of a full year of satisfactory coursework at another accredited college or a full year of combined academic work and employment (including at least 9 semester hours of college-level work).
Upon re-enrollment after academic suspension, students will be placed on probation unless they show evidence that demonstrates a capacity to succeed. At the end of that semester, academic standing will be set according to the rules for academic standing.
