Scholastic Actions

Academic actions are automatic responses taken when grades have been submitted at the end of the fall/spring semesters and, effective Summer 2020, the summer term.

A student shall be considered in good standing if that student has:

• a GPA of 2.0 or above in the semester just completed, and
• a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.

A student shall be placed on academic probation when, in the semester or term just completed, that student has:

• attained less than a 2.0 GPA, or
• earned two or more grades of F.

Once on probation, the student is continued on probation until either removed from probation or dropped.

A student shall be removed from probation when that student has:

• attained a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, and
• earned a GPA of at least 2.0 in the term or semester just completed, and
• no outstanding Incompletes.

AA student already on academic probation shall be dropped (academically dismissed) for at least one semester or year at the end of any term or semester in which that student has earned a GPA of less than 2.0.

Note: There is a distinction in terminology between term and semester. Fall and spring are semesters, and summer session is a term. Effective Summer 2020, courses taken during summer term WILL affect student academic standing (i.e. summer courses will be used to place a student on probation or dropped status, or to clear probation based on the criteria listed above).

Dropped Status

The first time a student is dropped, they are required to sit out for one semester. Students wishing to reenter after sitting out for one semester will need permission from a dean before they are readmitted. The student should submit a re-entry application to UW-Madison and also meet with an academic dean in the Office of Academic Affairs to provide evidence that time between being dropped and applying for reentry has been used gainfully. Such activity must give evidence of serious desire to gain an education, careful thought about academic goals, and strategies that will improve academic performance. Additional information can be found here. If the student's re-entry application is accepted, the student will be readmitted on probation.

A student who has been readmitted and dropped for a second time will not be permitted to re-enroll for at least one year and then only upon appeal to the Scholastic Policies and Actions Committee with good evidence of changed circumstances that would indicate a reasonable probability of success.

A student dropped for a third time will not be allowed to appeal without approval from the Office of Academic Affairs.

Note: Summer term is not counted as a semester when required to sit out for one semester. A student dropped for one semester at the end of the spring semester will be required to sit out the summer term and fall semester, unless allowed to continue through appeal. Students dropped for one semester at the end of the fall semester must sit out the spring semester and summer term unless allowed to continue through appeal. Students dropped for one year must sit out a full calendar year before seeking re-entry through appeal. Students dropped for one semester at the end of summer term are required to sit out the fall semester, and for a full calendar year if dropped for a year, unless allowed to continue through appeal.

*Student may appeal to SPAC to request an earlier return

Appeals

Students who are dropped may submit an appeal to continue their enrollment at UW-Madison without taking time off. The requests will be reviewed by the CALS Scholastic Policies and Actions Committee (SPAC). The Office of Academic Affairs will provide information about appealing to students in dropped status once the actions have been taken.