[Date changed–posted 4/27/21 (last revision 9/7/18)]
[Updated reference to Senior Vice Provost–11/30/22; no additional change to OP]
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Operating Policy and Procedure

OP 34.07: Undergraduate Academic Status

DATE: April 27, 2021

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Operating Policy/Procedure (OP) is to ensure understanding and a standardized approach regarding academic status levels for students.

REVIEW: This OP will be reviewed in March of odd-numbered years by the Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Student Success and the Registrar with substantive revisions presented to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs by April 15.

POLICY/PROCEDURE

1.  Academic Status Designations

Texas Tech University has the following academic status levels for students:

a.    Academic Good Standing

The student has an adjusted GPA at or above 2.0 and is eligible for all extracurricular activities as governed by the rules of the specific activity. Some academic and extracurricular programs have requirements over and above the adjusted GPA of 2.0. Students who have an adjusted GPA above 2.0 but whose current semester GPA is below 2.0 should seek advice from their academic dean. Cumulative GPA will determine academic status for those students without an adjusted GPA.

b.    Academic Warning

A student whose cumulative institutional GPA falls below 2.0 will be placed on Academic Warning. Such a student may not enroll for more than 16 hours without prior approval of the academic dean. Students should seek to take one course that was not satisfactorily completed for the purpose of grade replacement, which can have a significant positive impact on GPA. Midterm grades for students placed on Academic Warning will be required in the next enrolled term. In addition, the student must continue to seek regularly scheduled advice and counsel from an academic advisor or the academic dean. Students whose semester GPA is below 2.0 in their first semester at Texas Tech must complete in the next semester an Academic Recovery Plan, enroll in a Programs for Academic Development and Retention (PADR) course, and pay a nonrefundable course fee. Once required to enroll in a PADR course, students must repeat the course every term that they are enrolled at Texas Tech until the course is successfully completed. Athletic academic services should be consulted on recovery plans for student-athletes. A student on Academic Warning remains eligible for all extracurricular activities as governed by the rules of the specific activity.

If the student's term and cumulative institutional TTU GPA is above 2.0 at the end of the following attended term, the academic standing for that term would be Good Standing. If the student's term GPA is above 2.0, but cumulative institutional GPA remains below 2.0 at the end of the following attended term, the academic standing for that term would remain Academic Warning. If the student's term TTU GPA and cumulative institutional GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the following attended term, the student will be placed on Academic Probation. Should a student on Academic Warning withdraw during the next attended term, the student's status will remain Academic Warning until such time as additional completed Texas Tech coursework may be considered.

c.    Academic Probation

A student whose cumulative institutional GPA is below 2.0 for the second consecutive term will be placed on Academic Probation. Such a student may not enroll for more than 16 hours without prior approval of the academic dean. Students should seek to take two courses that were not satisfactorily completed for the purpose of grade replacement, which can have a significant positive impact on GPA. Midterm grades for students placed on Academic Probation will be required in the next enrolled term. In addition, the student must continue to seek regularly scheduled advice and counsel from an academic advisor or the dean. Students placed on Academic Probation must complete a College Academic Strategy Course, or an Academic Recovery Plan, or enroll in a Programs for Academic Development and Retention (PADR) course and pay a nonrefundable course fee. Athletic academic services should be consulted on recovery plans for student-athletes. The student will remain eligible for all extracurricular activities as governed by the rules of the specific activity subject to the conditions established by the academic dean or committee granting permission to attend classes.

If the student's term and institutional TTU GPA is above 2.0 at the end of the following attended term, the academic standing for that term would be Good Standing. If the student's term GPA is above 2.0, but cumulative institutional GPA remains below 2.0 at the end of the following attended term, the academic standing for that term would be Academic Warning. If the student's term TTU GPA and cumulative institutional GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the following attended term, the student will be placed on Academic Suspension and all future registration canceled. Should a student on Academic Probation withdraw during the next attended term, the student's status will remain Academic Probation until such time as additional completed Texas Tech coursework may be considered.

d.    Academic Suspension

A probationary student who has a current and a cumulative GPA below 2.0 at the end of fall, spring, or summer semester will be on Academic Suspension. A student on academic suspension is not permitted to take classes for the period of one full term (fall, spring, or summer) and is ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activities once the suspension is posted.

A suspended student must apply for readmission (see section 2). If readmitted, a student may not enroll for more than 16 hours without prior approval of the academic dean. Students should seek to take two courses that were not satisfactorily completed for the purpose of grade replacement, which can have a significant positive impact on GPA. Midterm grades for students returning from Academic Suspension will be required. In addition, the student must continue to seek regularly scheduled advice and counsel from an academic advisor or the dean. Students returning from Academic Suspension must complete a College Academic Strategy Course, or an Academic Recovery Plan, or enroll in a Programs for Academic Development and Retention (PADR) course and pay a nonrefundable course fee. Athletic academic services should be consulted on recovery plans for student-athletes. The student will be eligible for all extracurricular activities as governed by the rules of the specific activity subject to the conditions established by the academic dean or committee granting permission to attend classes.

If the student's term and cumulative institutional TTU GPA is above 2.0 at the end of the next attended term, the academic standing for that term would be Good Standing. If the student's term GPA is above 2.0, but cumulative institutional GPA remains below 2.0 at the end of the following attended term, the academic standing for that term would be Academic Probation. If the student's term TTU GPA and cumulative institutional GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the following attended term, the student will be placed on Academic Dismissal and all future registration canceled.

Should a student returning from Academic Suspension withdraw during the term of readmission, the student's withdrawal must be reviewed by the academic dean and the Office of the Provost. If the withdrawal is for a documented cause (i.e., family, medical, or personal emergency), the academic standing for the withdrawn term will be Withdrawn Without Penalty. A student in this situation will be subject to the same requirements and guidelines for a suspended student upon returning to the institution. If the withdrawal is not for a documented cause, the student will be placed on Academic Dismissal and all future registration canceled. A withdrawn student will be required to apply for readmission.

e.    Academic Dismissal

A student reaching the point of Academic Dismissal is at a critical point of their academic career. Academic Dismissal is a serious consequence of poor academic performance. Students will be dismissed from the institution for a period of one calendar year. Following the dismissal period, the student may appeal the dismissal and apply for readmission. The student's academic dean will review the student's application.

If readmitted, a student may not enroll for more than 16 hours without prior approval of the academic dean. Students should seek to take two courses that were not satisfactorily completed for the purpose of grade replacement, which can have a significant positive impact on GPA. Midterm grades for students returning from Academic Dismissal will be required. In addition, the student must continue to seek regularly scheduled advice and counsel from an academic advisor or the dean. Students returning from Academic Dismissal must complete a College Academic Strategy Course, or an Academic Recovery Plan, or enroll in a Programs for Academic Development and Retention (PADR) course and pay a nonrefundable course fee.

If the student's term and cumulative institutional TTU GPA is above 2.0 at the end of the next attended term, the academic standing for that term would be Good Standing. If the student's term GPA is above 2.0, but cumulative institutional GPA remains below 2.0 at the end of the following attended term, the academic standing for that term would be Academic Probation. If the student's term TTU GPA and cumulative institutional GPA is below 2.0 at the end of the following attended term, the student will be placed on Permanent Academic Dismissal and all future registration canceled.

Should a student returning from Academic Dismissal withdraw during the term of readmission, the student's withdrawal must be reviewed by the academic dean and the Office of the Provost. If the withdrawal is for a documented cause (i.e., family, medical, or personal emergency), the academic standing for the withdrawn term will be Withdrawn Without Penalty. A student in this situation will be subject to the same requirements and guidelines for dismissed students upon returning to the institution. If the withdrawal is not for a documented cause, the student will be placed on Permanent Academic Dismissal and all future registration canceled.

f.    Permanent Academic Dismissal

A student whose academic status is Permanent Academic Dismissal will have no opportunity for appeal. The student will be notified of their expulsion from the institution by the Office of the Provost.

2.  Readmission Following Suspension or Dismissal

Students wishing to return to the university after suspension or dismissal will be treated as former students for reinstatement purposes and must provide official transcripts for all academic work completed at institutions other than Texas Tech. Students seeking to return to the university must have a 2.0 GPA on work taken since leaving Texas Tech. Application materials and deadlines for former students are available at http://www.depts.ttu.edu/formertech.

Students who apply for reinstatement after suspension or dismissal may be subject to additional requirements as prescribed by the academic dean.

a.    Conditions of Return from Academic Suspension

Students on academic suspension may seek reinstatement after a minimum of one semester (fall, spring, or summer). Both summer terms are considered to be a semester for the purpose of serving a suspension. Students who are reinstated after suspension will be required to enroll in a Programs for Academic Development and Retention (PADR) course for their major during their first semester of reinstatement and pay a nonrefundable course fee (see http://www.depts.ttu.edu/passxl). Once required to enroll in a PADR course, students must repeat the course every term that they are enrolled at Texas Tech until the course is successfully completed. Attendance in the PADR class is mandatory from the first day of classes. Five absences in a PADR class in the spring and fall terms or three absences in the summer terms will result in a student being withdrawn from the university. Absences accumulate from the beginning of the semester. Withdrawal from the university may result in Academic Dismissal.

Students who are reinstated from a suspension and desire to change colleges to pursue a different major or career goal must (1) contact the associate academic dean of the college to which they desire to transfer and ensure they meet enrollment requirements, (2) complete an academic transfer form in the receiving dean's office, and (3) complete the process by the last day to change colleges, which is the first day of open registration for the next semester.

b.    Conditions of Return from Academic Dismissal

Students who were academically dismissed from the university may appeal for reinstatement following one calendar year. Students seeking to be readmitted should go to www.depts.ttu.edu/formertech and complete the Returning Student Application Form, including the required statement of how they plan to complete a degree program successfully.

Returning students must submit all transcripts for work completed at other institutions of higher education attended since leaving Texas Tech. After the application, transcripts, and required fee are received by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, a message will be sent to the applicant describing the following remaining steps to be readmitted:

(1)    All returning students are required to meet with the academic dean (or designee) of the college for which they are requesting admission. Returning students will then prepare an academic recovery plan that complies with college and/or program admission requirements.

(2)    Returning students entering as an undeclared major are required to meet with a University Advising staff member to develop an academic recovery plan.

(3)  The completed Return from Academic Dismissal Approval Form concludes the readmission process. This form must be submitted to the Department of Undergraduate Admissions, which will admit the student upon receipt of the form.

Students who fail to adhere to the terms of the agreements required for readmission may be withdrawn from the university and/or barred from enrolling in other Texas Tech University courses until the terms of the contract are successfully completed. Withdrawn students may be permanently academically dismissed.

 

Note regarding transition. The Undergraduate Academic Status Policy for the institution was updated with changes effective Fall 2017. Students who had been enrolled at Texas Tech University prior to Fall 2017 will be transitioned into the new policy in the following manner: At the completion of the Fall 2017 term, all students who would receive a standing of Scholastic Probation or Continued Probation under the former policy will be assigned Academic Warning. All students who would receive a standing of First Suspension or Additional Suspension will be assigned Academic Probation. Students would then continue under the new policy guidelines. Future readmitted students who are affected by the policy change will be treated in like manner.

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