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Report, Probation, and Suspension

At the end of every term, the Academic Standing Committee reviews the academic record of all students enrolled in the College and places on probation or suspends those students who are not making satisfactory progress toward their degree, i.e., those whose grade point average is below 2.0 and/or who are not earning term credits in accordance with the College's expectations. In general, students are expected to earn one term credit every term except for an occasional vacation term (see ``Vacation Term''). Students are considered to have lost a term credit if they (1) receive a failing grade; (2) withdraw with a grade of W, WH, or WR; or (3) take an illegal vacation. They are considered to have lost two term credits if they (1) take a vacation term immediately after receiving a final grade of F, NC, W, WH, or WR; or (2) receive such a grade immediately after having taken a vacation term.

There are three gradations of warnings issued by the Committee: Report, Probation, and Probationary Suspension. These reflect the likelihood of the student's being suspended from the College if her or his academic situation does not improve. Report is usually the first warning, when the risk of suspension is not immediate. A student who is placed on Probation faces imminent suspension. Probationary Suspension is an option available to the Committee when it believes that there are special circumstances that argue against suspending a student already on Probation.

These three warnings carry no restrictions on a student's right to take courses and participate in all the activities of the College. Students, however, who receive a warning are expected to work with their faculty advisors and the members of the Counseling and Health Services, the Registrar, other professionals, and their parents to identify and resolve the problems that are causing their academic difficulties. Failure to heed these warnings and to seek appropriate help will most likely result in suspension.

Students who are placed on Report or Probation because of a deficiency of term credits remain on Report or Probation, regardless of their average, until they have earned nine term credits. During this period they are not permitted a withdrawal or a vacation term without the Committee's permission.

The words ``withdraw'' and ``withdrawal,'' as used in the remainder of this section, refer to those situations where students would receive on their transcript the notation W, WH, or WR. Students, however, are always permitted to drop one course and to add another in its place either before a term begins or during the first three days of a term. Students in academic difficulty should confer with their advisors and give serious thought to revising their registrations to ensure their taking courses in which they have every chance of success.

Students are placed on REPORT if they:
1. fail to achieve or maintain an average of 2.0 or higher provided their average is at or above the minimum for their class standing (see minimum grades);
2. fail to earn at least one term credit in any two consecutive terms even though their average is 2.0 or higher;
3. fail to earn at least seven term credits in nine consecutive terms, irrespective of the academic and calendar years, even though their average is 2.0 or higher;
4. increase beyond four the differential between their term credits attempted and course credits earned even though their average is 2.0 or higher; or
5. take an illegal vacation term. (Seniors and Continuing Education students are exempt from this restriction.)
Students are continued on REPORT until they:
1. achieve an average of 2.0 or higher;
2. earn nine consecutive term credits (regardless of their average) after being placed on Report for a deficiency of term credits; or
3. are placed on Probation.
Students are placed on PROBATION if they:
1. have an average below the minimum for their class standing (defined as the number of terms in which they have been enrolled at Cornell, whether or not they earned term credits for these, plus any other credits earned from adjunct courses or by examination or transfer):
```
    Credits    Minimum Average

       1             0.0

       2             1.0

       3             1.3

      4-6            1.5

      7-10           1.6

     11-18           1.7

     19-26           1.8

     27-             1.9
```
2. have an average below 2.0 and fail to earn at least one term credit in any two consecutive terms;
3. have an average below 2.0 and fail to earn at least seven term credits in nine consecutive terms, irrespective of the academic and calendar years;
4. are on Report because their average is below 2.0 and fail to earn a grade of C (not C minus) or higher;
5. are on Report and withdraw without the Committee's permission;
6. are on Report because of a deficiency of term credits and fail to earn one term credit in each of the succeeding nine terms;
7. fail to maintain an average of 2.0 or higher in any one of the three terms following removal from Report, Probation, or Probationary Suspension (in the reckoning of these three terms, vacations and terms graded W, WH, or WR are not counted);
8. fail to earn at least two term credits in the three terms following removal from Report, Probation, or Probationary Suspension;
9. fail to earn seven term credits in the nine terms concluding the third term after removal from Report, Probation, or Probationary Suspension;
10. have an average below 2.0 and the differential between their term credits attempted and course credits earned is more than four; or
11. have an average below 2.0 and take an illegal vacation term.
Students are continued on PROBATION until they:
1. achieve an average of 2.0 or higher;
2. earn nine consecutive term credits (regardless of their average) after being placed on Probation for a deficiency of term credits; or
3. are placed on Probationary Suspension or suspended.
. Students are placed on PROBATIONARY SUSPENSION if they:
1. fail to satisfy the conditions of their Probation and in consequence qualify for suspension but, in the opinion of the Committee, warrant a chance to prove that they can make satisfactory progress toward a Cornell degree;
2. are suspended and immediately reinstated upon appeal; or
3. are readmitted after an absence from the College because of suspension.
A student who has been placed on Probationary Suspension must earn grades of C (not C minus) or higher in each term of the probationary period. Failure to earn a C or higher in any one of the preliminary terms will result in the student's being suspended before the end of the probationary period. A student who, without the prior consent of the Committee, takes a vacation term or withdraws from any course during this probationary period is considered to have violated the conditions of her or his probation and will be suspended.
Students on Probationary Suspension are required to take ``graded'' (see continued on Probationary Suspension) courses on campus unless granted permission by the Committee to do otherwise.
The student must also design and sign a learning contract (described in the letter of Probationary Suspension) with the Director of Counseling Services, any violation of which will result in the student's being suspended.
Students are continued on PROBATIONARY SUSPENSION for three consecutive graded terms (four consecutive graded terms for students readmitted after an academic suspension) unless they are suspended before the end of their probationary period. [``Graded'' in this context refers to grades that carry grade points, i.e., are computed into the grade point average.] At the end of the probationary period, students are:
1. removed from Probationary Suspension and all other forms of Probation if their average is 2.0 or higher;
2. continued on Probation until their average is 2.0 or higher; or
3. suspended.
Students are SUSPENDED if they:
1. are on Probation or Probationary Suspension because their average is below 2.0 and fail to earn a grade of C (not C minus) or higher in their next course;
2. are on Probation or Probationary Suspension due to a deficiency of term credits and receive a grade of F or NC in their next course;
3. are on Probation or Probationary Suspension and withdraw from their next course without the Committee's permission; or
4. are on Probationary Suspension for any reason or on Probation because of a deficiency of term credits and take a vacation term without the Committee's permission.
A student who is suspended for unsatisfactory scholarship, disciplinary or financial reasons, is denied permission to continue to attend classes, to enroll in subsequent terms, to reside in college housing, to receive Cornell-funded financial aid, and to participate in Cornell-sponsored extracurricular activities in ways that are not also open to the general public.
Persons who have been suspended for unsatisfactory scholarship have two and a half class days from the date on their letter of suspension to file an appeal. Students who appeal should continue to attend classes until the appeal is decided; however, faculty legislation prohibits the Committee from taking into consideration any recommendations based upon the course in progress during the week of the appeal. Should the student elect not to appeal or should the appeal be denied, the student must leave the campus within three days unless granted an extension by the Dean of Students. Failure to leave in a timely and orderly manner may jeopardize a student's readmission. Students who are suspended at the end of December or May will be told in their letter of suspension the deadline for filing an appeal.
To apply for readmission after leaving Cornell, a suspended student must present to the Academic Standing Committee evidence of satisfactory scholarly achievement at another school and a serious commitment to attaining her or his stated educational goals. The specific requirements and procedures for readmission are described in the letter of suspension and may also be obtained from the Registrar. (See ``Readmission.'')
A second suspension for unsatisfactory scholarship at any time after readmission will result in the student's being permanently dismissed from the College.

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