Academic Regulations and Actions

Policy Statement

The Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts as published in the Dartmouth College Bulletin - Organization, Regulation, and Courses establishes the expectation that students will make satisfactory academic progress towards a degree. The Faculty have empowered the Committee on Standards to place students on Risk, Warning, and Probation or to impose Suspension and/or Separation for failure to meet academic standards. In acting upon matters of unsatisfactory scholarship, the Committee on Standards (COS) has delegated to the Office of Community Standards & Accountability the responsibility to automatically take action according to the tables and notes below:

Students Who Have Never Previously Been on Probation or Suspended

Students Who Have Previously Been on Probation or Suspended

Notes

• An unsatisfactory grade is any grade below a C-. For the purposes of academic actions, a final standing of NC in any course shall be treated as a grade of E.
• Any aggregate of two failures or four unsatisfactory grades or a combination thereof in successive terms results in Suspension.
• After receiving three Risk notices, any failing or unsatisfactory grade in any subsequent term will result in Probation (unless the student is otherwise liable for Suspension or Separation).
• Any Risk notice received in any term after a term of Probation as described in the preceding sentence results in Suspension.
• If a student's record at any time warrants a third Warning notice, the student will be placed on Probation.
• A student who warrants a Probation notice for a second time is placed on Suspension.
• A student who warrants Suspension (including Withdrawal with Prejudice) for a second time is Separated.

Academic Risk

Students in Satisfactory Standing will be placed on Academic Risk if they receive one grade of D in one term. After receiving three Risk notices, any failing or unsatisfactory grade in any subsequent term will result in Academic Probation.

Academic Risk carries with it the following consequences:

• The action is recorded in the student's Undergraduate Deans' Office record but not on academic records or transcripts
• A notification letter may be sent to parents
• Students on Academic Risk may not elect the Non-Recording Option during the next term in residence

No other restrictions are associated with being placed on Academic Risk. Students are encouraged to work with their undergraduate dean and/or advisor to identify what led to the unsatisfactory grade and identify academic support resources that may be useful.

Academic Warning

Students in Satisfactory Standing will be placed on Academic Warning if they receive two grades of D or one grade of E (or NC) in one term. Students on Academic Risk will be placed on Warning if they receive one grade of D. Students whose grades would place them on Warning for the third time will be placed on Academic Probation.

Academic Warning carries with it the following consequences:

• The action is recorded in the student's Undergraduate Deans' Office record but not on academic records or transcripts
• A notification letter may be sent to parents
• Students on Warning may not elect the Non-Recording Option in the next term in residence

No other restrictions are associated with being placed on Warning. Students are encouraged to work with their undergraduate dean and/or advisor to identify what led to the unsatisfactory grade(s), to reconsider course choices, and to identify academic support resources that may be useful.

Academic Probation

Students in Satisfactory Standing will be placed on Academic Probation if they receive three grades of D in one term or one grade of D and one grade of E (or NC) in one term. In addition, students on Risk will be placed on Probation if they receive two grades of D or one grade of E (or NC). Students on Warning will be placed on Probation if they receive one grade of D. After receiving three Risk notices, any failing or unsatisfactory grade in any subsequent term will result in Probation (unless the student is otherwise liable for Suspension or Separation). If a student's record at any time warrants a third Warning notice, the student will be placed on Probation. Students in Satisfactory Standing who have previously been Suspended for unsatisfactory scholarship will be placed on Probation for a single D or E (or NC). Students whose grades would place them on Probation for the second time will be suspended.

Students on Academic Probation are advised to limit any extracurricular involvements that detract from their academic obligations. All students have ready access to the academic support resources of the College; students on Probation are especially encouraged to be proactive in engaging these resources, consulting with advisors, and regularly meeting with their faculty. Students on Probation are particularly reminded of their responsibility not to be absent from class without excuse.

Academic Probation carries with it the following consequences:

• The action is recorded in the student's Undergraduate Deans' Office record and is temporarily reflected on academic records while the student is on Probation
• A notification letter may be sent to parents
• Students on Probation may not elect the Non-Recording Option in the next term in residence
• Students on Probation may be prohibited, at the discretion of the COS, from participating in intercollegiate athletic competition, holding of offices in student organizations, and public participation or performance in the name of the College that requires a significant absence from campus or other withdrawal from academic activities. College departments and programs may establish their own eligibility requirements based on academic standing or grade point average.

First-Year Students and Sophomores who are on Probation, and Juniors and Seniors who are continued on Probation or returned to Probation, are denied the following privileges:

• Participation in any Dartmouth-sponsored off-campus or exchange program
• Selection of a four-course load

To be returned to Satisfactory Standing, students must enroll in a minimum of three courses* in one term and earn grades of C-, CT or better in each. Students do not need to accomplish this in the term immediately following probation; students may regroup by taking a two-course term and should consult with their advisors about the advantages and/or implications of doing so. Students who enroll in or withdraw to only two courses and earn grades of C-, CT, or better in each will be continued on Probation until their satisfactory completion of a three-course term.

Students placed on Risk, Warning, or Probation will remain eligible for financial aid but are strongly advised to consult with their Financial Aid Officer and read the information about restrictions noted under Financial Aid—Satisfactory Progress.

*Students who have a reduced course load approved by Student Accessibility Services should consult with their Undergraduate Dean.

Academic Suspension

Suspension is the likely consequence of flagrantly or persistently unsatisfactory scholarship. A return following Suspension is not automatic and must be by application to the Undergraduate Dean's Office. Academic Suspensions are for three academic terms.

Students in Satisfactory Standing will be suspended if they receive two grades of D and one grade of E (or NC) or at least two grades of E (or NC) in one term. Students on Risk will be suspended if they receive three grades of D or at least one grade of D and one grade of E (or NC). Students on Warning will be suspended if they receive two grades of D or one grade of E (or NC) in one term. Students on Probation will be suspended if they receive one grade of D in one term. Students whose grades would place them on Probation for a second time will be suspended. Students whose grades would place them on Suspension for a second time will be separated.

Suspension carries with it the following consequences:

• Students must leave campus within 48 hours of notification of their Suspension
• Students are not eligible to live in any college-owned or affiliated housing including all co-ed, fraternity, sorority, or society housing
• Students may not return to campus without prior permission from their undergraduate dean
• Students may not participate in College academic or extracurricular activities
• Students may not make progress towards their degree by taking courses elsewhere for transfer credit

The Academic Suspension is permanently recorded in the student's file as maintained by the Undergraduate Deans' Office and is temporarily reflected on academic records and transcripts while the student is subject to Suspension. Unless a student is classified as independent, a notification letter may be sent to parents and/or guardians.

Students who are suspended are not allowed to visit campus without permission until they have been readmitted by the Undergraduate Deans' Office. Students are encouraged to return home or otherwise leave Hanover and the surrounding area during the period of suspension. This also applies to medical withdrawals granted in lieu of suspension approved through the request for review process. Requests to return prior to the eligibility date specified in an outcome letter will not be entertained.

Students returning from Suspension are placed on Probation for their first term in residence. Further unsatisfactory scholarship does not entitle such students to receive notices of Academic Risk or Warning prior to a future Probation or Separation.

Academic Separation

Academic Separation is permanent removal (i.e. expulsion) from the College community for unsatisfactory scholarship. A student who warrants Suspension (including Withdrawal with Prejudice) for a second time will be permanently separated from the College. The student must leave campus housing within 48 hours of notification of Separation. Separation is recorded in the student's Undergraduate Deans' Office record and on the student's transcript as 'Separated - Ineligible to re-enroll.' Notice of the Separation may be sent to the parents. College email access will be terminated.

Requests for Review

Students suspended or separated from the College for unsatisfactory academic performance may request COS Review by submitting, in writing, any evidence of extenuating circumstances which would warrant a change in the COS action. Students are encouraged to also address their efforts throughout the term to respond to these circumstances, evaluate their academic effort and attendance throughout the term, and explain what other academic decisions they considered (i.e. course withdrawal, medical or personal withdrawal from the term). In a request for review of an Academic Suspension, a student may request that the Suspension be converted to Academic Probation, or in rare instances, request for permission to take a Medical Withdrawal in lieu of Suspension. In a request for review of an Academic Separation, a student may request that the Separation be converted to Academic Probation, that the Separation be converted to an Academic Suspension, or in rare instances, request permission to take a Medical Withdrawal in lieu of Separation.

A student's written request for review should be addressed to the Committee on Standards and must be submitted to the student's undergraduate dean. Students who intend to request such review must notify their undergraduate dean within 48 hours of their notification of Suspension or Separation. They must submit the written statement by the deadline established by the Undergraduate Dean's Office (to be no later than the first day of the succeeding term). Suspension and Separation decisions are reviewed by a COS academic action panel consisting of two faculty and one administrator. Students requesting review of a Separation will be given the opportunity to meet with the COS.

Students who need additional time to obtain medical or psycho-educational testing documentation, may request of the COS that their appeal be tabled until the begining of the next term, but will not be permitted to enroll during that interval. Students requesting a Medical Withdrawal in lieu of Academic Suspension or Separation will need Counseling and Human Development to confirm their request and are advised that the nature of medical withdrawals may necessitate a period of time away from campus that is longer than a three-term academic suspension.

There is no additional venue for reconsideration after the appeal has been heard. Questions about the Request for Review process should be directed to a student's undergraduate dean or to the Director of Community Standards & Accountability.