Academic Standing

• Academic Probation
• Academic Suspension
• Dean’s List
• Dismissal from or Denial of Admission to Academic Programs

Academic Probation

Students who complete a regular semester with cumulative Newman University GPA of less than 2.0 shall be notified by the Registrar that they are on academic probation. This information is recorded on the student’s permanent transcript. Academic probation is official notice that he/ she is not making satisfactory academic progress towards degree completion. The student must raise the cumulative Newman University GPA to 2.0 or greater by the end of the next regular semester. A student on academic probation may not participate in or audition for theatre or music productions (with the exceptions of class-based requirements) or noncredit performing groups which are sponsored by or represent the university, may not hold office in student government or other student organizations officially recognized by the university, and may not serve on any committees related to university activity.

Student athlete eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletic competition shall be governed by NCAA DII rules and overseen by the Athletic Compliance Officer.

Students who are placed on academic probation shall develop an academic contract with the Academic Advisor for Special Populations, which shall include (but not necessarily be limited to):

Limiting the number of credit hours they take during the semester to no more than 14 credit hours.

Documented visits with their advisor on a biweekly basis.

Other measures deemed appropriate by the university.

For probation purposes, the summer session is not considered a semester.

Academic Suspension

A student on academic probation who fails to raise his/her cumulative Newman University GPA to 2.0 or greater by the end of the next regular semester of enrollment will be placed on academic suspension for one semester. Students may apply for reinstatement after the suspension is complete. Students seeking reinstatement shall develop an academic contract with Academic and Student Support Services, which shall include (but not necessarily be limited to):

• Limiting the number of credit hours they take during the semester to no more than 14 credit hours.
• A plan of study that includes grades needed for satisfactory academic progress.
• Documented meetings with their advisor (Academic & Faculty) on a biweekly basis.
• Other measures deemed appropriate by the university.

Students placed on academic probation following reinstatement will result in final academic suspension. This information is recorded on the student’s permanent transcript. Students have the right to appeal suspension decisions to the Academic Exceptions Committee.

Dean’s List

Students completing 12 or more credit hours at the end of a semester are included on the Dean’s List if they have attained a grade point average of 3.5 for that semester. Students receiving an “IN” (incomplete) grade (unless for an approved two semester honors project) will not be included on the Dean’s List.

Dismissal from or Denial of Admission to Academic Programs

Individual departments, schools and academic programs, at both the graduate and the undergraduate level, have a right to establish their own criteria for admission to, and dismissal from, any program or course of study.

1. Programs that maintain separate requirements for admission or continuation must publish those requirements in an accessible format.
2. Published requirements for each program should also include information on appealing a negative decision to departmental or programmatic personnel.
3. Only current Newman University students may appeal denial of admission to specific academic programs.
4. Any student dismissed from a program will be notified in writing of the available appeal processes and options.
5. Current Newman University students who have applied to specific programs as well as dismissed students from specific programs for any reason must exhaust all departmental and programmatic appeal procedures before filing an appeal with the Dean.
6. Only the following shall be considered good cause for appeal to the Dean:
   1. Evidence that published criteria for admission or continuation were not followed by the program or department.
   2. Evidence that published criteria for admission or continuation were not applied uniformly by the program or department
   3. Evidence of substantial procedural errors in earlier appeals.
   4. Evidence of discrimination on the grounds of a student’s age, sex, race, creed, color, national origin, ethnic origin, or handicap.
7. The following shall not be considered good cause for appeal to the Dean:
   1. Disagreement with admission requirements or criteria for continuation in a program or course of study.
   2. Disagreement with the program or department’s application of its published criteria.
   3. Extenuating circumstances that may have affected a student’s ability to meet published admissions requirements or criteria for continuation, including specific physical requirements necessary to work in the field and criminal background checks and/or drug and alcohol testing. Such circumstances can only be considered on the programmatic or departmental level.
   4. The student’s desire for, or need of, a particular outcome.
   5. Consequences that a student might face as a result of a negative outcome to the appeal.
8. If the student’s denial of admission to or continuation in a program is based solely on one or more grades in any Newman University course, the appeal should be handled as a grade appeal rather than appeal of denial of admission or continuation in a specific program.

Appeal of Denial of Admission to an Academic Program:

1. Appeal to the Dean
   Current Newman University students who have been denied admission to a specific program and who have been unsuccessful in appeals at the program or department level have the right to appeal to the Dean if they can demonstrate good cause for appeal. When considering filing an appeal:
   1. Understand that the appeal has already received a thorough review. However, there is an option to appeal the denial decision if the criteria for good cause are met (listed above.)
   2. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee that the appeal will be approved.
   3. The appeal to the Dean must be made in writing and received no more than ten class days after the date of the final programmatic or departmental appeal.
   4. In all cases, the student has the burden of proving all assertions made to appeal the denial of admission into an academic program. The appeal letter should include any documentation necessary to prove any statements.
   5. The Dean may consider the appeal with review of available documentation which may include, but is not limited to, the student’s original departmental appeal, the findings of earlier appeals, any documentary evidence submitted by the student or the department or program and the testimony of relevant witnesses.
   6. The Dean shall inform the student and Academic Affairs of the outcome of the appeal process. Academic Affairs will be responsible for informing the program director of the outcome.
2. Appeal to the Exceptions Committee
   If the student alleges procedural errors in the Dean’s process, he/she may request a review of the Dean’s procedures to the Exceptions Committee by filing a written statement with the Exceptions Committee within ten class days of receiving the Dean’s report.
   1. Within ten class days of receiving the written appeal, the Exceptions Committee shall notify the Dean that an appeal has been filed.
   2. The Dean will forward his written report of the appeal review procedures to the Exceptions Committee.
   3. The Exceptions Committee may request interviews with the student or with others whose information may have bearing on the appeal.
   4. The Exceptions Committee must reach a decision no later than the last day of regular classes before the final exam period of the semester when the appeal was filed. The Chair of the Committee will inform the student, the Program Director or Division Chair in writing of the decision of the Committee.
   5. If the Exceptions Committee determines that a procedural error has occurred, the Chair will inform the Vice President of Academic Affairs who will assign the appeal for re-evaluation.
   6. The decision of the Exceptions Committee is final.

Appeal of Dismissal from an Academic Program:

1. Appeal to the Dean
   Current Newman University students who have been dismissed from a specific program and who have been unsuccessful in appeals at the program or department level have the right to appeal to the Dean if they can demonstrate good cause for appeal. When considering filing an appeal:
   1. Understand that the appeal has already received a thorough review. However, there is an option to appeal the deny decision if the criteria for good cause are met (listed above.)
   2. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee that the appeal will be approved.
   3. The appeal to the Dean must be made in writing and received no more than ten class days after the date of the final programmatic or departmental appeal.
   4. In all cases, the student has the burden of proving all assertions made to appeal the dismissal from an academic program. The appeal letter should include any documentation necessary to prove any statements.
   5. The Dean may consider the appeal with review of available documentation which may include, but is not limited to, the student’s original departmental appeal, the findings of earlier appeals, any documentary evidence submitted by the student or the department or program and the testimony of relevant witnesses.
   6. The Dean shall inform the student and Academic Affairs of the outcome of the appeal process. Academic Affairs will be responsible for informing the program director of the outcome.
2. Appeal to the Exceptions Committee
   If the student alleges procedural errors in the Dean’s process, he/she may request a review of the Dean’s procedures to the Exceptions Committee by filing a written statement with the Exceptions Committee within ten class days of receiving the Dean’s report.
   1. Within ten class days of receiving the written appeal, the Exceptions Committee shall notify the Dean that an appeal has been filed.
   2. The Dean will forward his/her written report of the appeal review procedures to the Exceptions Committee.
   3. The Exceptions Committee may request interviews with the student or with others whose information may have bearing on the appeal.
   4. The Exceptions Committee must reach a decision no later than the last day of regular classes before the final exam period of the semester when the appeal was filed. The Chair of the Committee will inform the student, the Program Director or Division Chair in writing of the decision of the Committee.
   5. If the Exceptions Committee determines that a procedural error has occurred, the Chair will inform the Vice President of Academic Affairs who will assign the appeal for re-evaluation.
   6. The decision of the Exceptions Committee is final.