Deficient Performance, Probation & Dismissal

  1. Academic Warning Analyses - The University is concerned when students perform at a deficient level.  The Academic Warning Notice was developed to help students in academic difficulty.  Faculty members at the University of St. Thomas can now provide interventions to these students through an online referral process known as Academic Warning Notices.  Notices can be completed at any point of the semester, but can be especially relevant during the weeks close to midterm examinations.  A faculty member completes an online form detailing reasons for the academic difficulty, such as performance or behavioral concerns or deficient skills, and recommends actions for improvement.  Once submitted, Academic Warning Notices are emailed to the student, the student’s academic advisor, and the referring faculty member for follow up.  Academic Warning Notices do not become a part of students’ permanent records but provide information and awareness so that they may address their difficulty and aid in our campus retention efforts.
  2. Academic Probation - Students who perform at a deficient level may be placed on academic probation or be dismissed from the University.  Students are placed on probation to allow them to refocus their attention and activities to correct their deficiencies.  If students do not correct their deficiencies, they may be dismissed from the University.  Students who manifest severe deficiencies in their performance may be dismissed without having been on probation.
    Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in their course work at UST.  Students who have completed nine UST semester credit hours and whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation.  Students who are on academic probation must earn a minimum 2.0 semester GPA on course work each subsequent semester until the grade-point deficiency is removed.  Only course work taken at UST will be applied toward the grade point deficiency.  Grade changes made for students on probation will not affect the academic standing for that semester.  Students who leave the university on academic probation will be readmitted on academic probation. Academic probation will be posted to the semester in which the cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 and will begin with the first class meeting of the next semester.  Academic probation will be noted permanently on students’ academic records.
    The Registrar will notify the student’s academic advisor that the student is on probation.  A probation hold will be placed on the student’s myStThom account that will be released by the advisor.  The advisor will meet with the student and develop a learning contract for the student to remediate the deficient academic performance.  Students on academic probation may be required to carry a restricted course load and/or repeat courses as well as perform other activities prescribed by the advisor or dean to address deficiencies.  Students unwilling to accept the conditions of their probation will be dismissed.  The academic advisor will make recommendations to the appropriate dean or the Registrar concerning the student’s compliance with the learning contract and the need for dismissal.
  3. Dismissal - Students who have manifested severe deficient performance may be dismissed from the University.  Students who are on academic probation and earn less than a minimum 2.0 semester GPA will be dismissed from the University.  During academic dismissal, students may not enroll, audit or visit classes at the University.  Academic dismissal will be noted permanently on students’ academic records.
    Students may also be dismissed if they are on probation and are unwilling to accept the conditions of their probation or do not conscientiously fulfill the conditions of their probation. On these matters the student’s academic advisor will make recommendations to the academic dean or the Registrar.
    Other reasons may justify dismissal, including academic dishonesty and violating certain norms of conduct expected of students, as outlined in the Code of Student Conduct.
    A student who has been dismissed for academic reasons may apply for readmission to the University after one year.  The University’s Admissions Committee reviews readmission applications and sets the conditions for readmission.  These may involve the student taking only prescribed courses or a limited load.  In all cases the student will be readmitted on a conditional basis and on probation.  The student’s academic advisor will monitor the student’s progress in meeting the conditions of readmission set by the Admissions Committee.