Academic Standing Committee

This committee, which meets regularly to determine the academic status of Cornell students and to consider student petitions for exceptions to academic requirements or policies, consists of four teaching faculty members, the Registrar, and the Dean of Students. Students with academic concerns or questions about their status should contact the Registrar or their academic advisor. The status of each student whose grade point falls below 2.0 or who is not making normal progress towards graduation (see Cornell Catalogue) will be reviewed at the completion of each block. The committee may take one of the following actions:

1. Warning: Generally the first warning from the committee is an indication that improvement is necessary. When given an academic warning the student should contact his/her academic advisor, a member of the student affairs staff, or the Teaching and Learning Center for help in improving study habits, motivation, or acquiring a tutor.
2. Probation: A more serious warning, probation restricts students’ academic prerogatives and indicates that the student must make substantial improvement in his/her academic performance. Failure to demonstrate improvement may result in suspension. The student should seek assistance.
3. Probationary Suspension: Students who are subject to suspension but who have, prior to the committee's deliberations, presented evidence of mitigating circumstances that  the Academic Standing Committee then deems compelling, may be placed on probationary suspension. These students continue on probation but may have additional restrictions and obligations as specified by the committee. Students whom the committee deems to have violated these additional restrictions and obligations will be subject to suspension.
4. Suspension: If the committee determines that a student's academic performance is such that it seems unlikely she or he will be able to graduate, the committee will suspend the student. A suspended student is not permitted to continue to attend classes, receive financial assistance, live in College housing, or participate in intercollegiate athletics or in any other College activities in ways not open to the general public. Students who are suspended are not guaranteed readmission. The conditions under which a suspended student will be considered for readmission are explained in the letter of suspension.
5. Dismissal: Students who are suspended, readmitted, and suspended a second time are ineligible for readmission and are permanently dismissed from the College.
6. Readmission: The Academic Standing Committee has the sole power to readmit students, and in making its decision the committee gives equal weight, regardless of the type of suspension or the reason for withdrawal, to all three of the following criteria: the applicant's academic achievement, campus citizenship, and financial responsibility while at Cornell and subsequently. If a condition for applying for readmission was imposed at the time of suspension or withdrawal, this condition must be met before the committee will consider the application, but the College does not guarantee readmission even if the condition is satisfied.