Scholastic Probation and Dismissal

Undergraduate Students

An undergraduate must maintain a minimum cumulative University grade point average (GPA) to remain academically eligible to register for the subsequent semester or summer session. The cumulative University grade point average is calculated on the basis of all work undertaken at the University, including credit by examination, correspondence, and extension, for which a letter grade was given. Courses for which the symbols Q, S, U, X, W, CR, and NC were given are not included. (Note: Since September 15, 2006, the University has awarded only the symbol CR, rather than a letter grade, for credit earned by exam. As a result, credit earned by exam and recorded since that date is not included in the student’s cumulative University grade point average. Through September 15, 2006, students chose either a letter grade or the symbol CR for credit earned by exam; credit by exam that was recorded with a letter grade is included in the student’s cumulative University grade point average.) Grades earned at any institution other than the University are not included in the University grade point average, but semester hours of transfer credit accepted by the University are added to hours taken at the University to determine the total college hours undertaken.

As shown in the following table, the minimum grade point average required varies with the total number of college credit hours the student has undertaken.

Table of Scholastic Standards

Total College Hours Undertaken	UT Austin GPA for Scholastic Probation	UT Austin GPA for Scholastic Dismissal
Below 15	less than 2.00	less than 1.50
15-44	less than 2.00	less than 1.70
45-59	less than 2.00	less than 1.85
60 or more	less than 2.00	less than 2.00

Probation and Dismissal

The following rules govern scholastic probation and dismissal.

1. Change of scholastic status. Scholastic status is determined when grades are reported at the end of each fall and spring semester and at the end of the summer session. Although a student’s University grade point average may change between these grade-reporting periods (because a final grade has been recorded in place of an X, for example), the student’s scholastic status is not changed until the next official grade-reporting period during which the student is enrolled at the University.
2. Effect of grades in courses repeated. All grades earned in University courses, whether repeated or not, count in a student’s grade point average. However, in counting grade points for any semester, a student who earned a grade of at least C- in a course taken in a previous semester may not use grade points earned in that same course in the current semester to meet the minimum requirements for continuance given below without written permission from the dean.
3. Scholastic probation. (a) A student whose cumulative University grade point average falls below 2.00 at the end of a grade-reporting period is placed on scholastic probation. Probationary status is reflected on the student’s permanent academic record. (b) Any student returning to the University after a period of scholastic dismissal returns on scholastic probation. (c) Under exceptional circumstances, the director of admissions may admit a student to the University on scholastic probation.
4. Quantity of work while on scholastic probation. A student on scholastic probation must maintain a course load of at least 12 semester hours in a long-session semester, unless the student’s dean approves a reduced course load in writing before the student registers. Permission to take fewer than 12 hours is based on extenuating circumstances and is not routinely granted. In the summer session, no minimum course load is required of a student on scholastic probation.
5. Removal from scholastic probation. A student on scholastic probation who achieves a cumulative University grade point average of at least 2.00 at the end of a grade-reporting period during which they are registered at the University is removed from scholastic probation. Removal from probation is reflected on the student’s permanent academic record.
6. Scholastic dismissal. Under the conditions noted in items a, b, and c below, a student is subject to scholastic dismissal at the end of a long-session semester. A student is not placed on scholastic dismissal at the end of a summer session unless the dismissal is the result of a previous condition prescribed by their academic dean. Scholastic dismissal is reflected on the student’s permanent academic record.
   1. Any beginning student, freshman or transfer, who has not earned previous credit in residence at the University and who fails 12 or more semester hours of coursework in a long-session semester is subject to scholastic dismissal without a prior probationary period.
   2. To be subject to scholastic dismissal, a student, except the beginning students described above, must first be placed on scholastic probation. A student on scholastic probation is subject to scholastic dismissal under either of the following conditions:
      1. At the end of a long-session semester, a student on scholastic probation who fails to attain the cumulative University grade point average shown in the Table of Scholastic Standards above will be dismissed from the University.
      2. A student on scholastic probation who withdraws from the University after the first four weeks of classes in a long-session semester will be placed on scholastic dismissal, unless the withdrawal is under exceptional conditions approved by the student’s dean.
   3. When a student who has been dismissed from the University returns, the student reenters on scholastic probation and may be subject to dismissal under the policies stated in (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above.
7. Student responsibility. A student who is dismissed from the University after completing registration for the next semester will have their registration canceled and may not attend classes. The student is responsible for knowing their scholastic status and may not appeal the cancellation of registration based on lack of such knowledge.
8. Length of scholastic dismissal.
   1. First dismissal—One long-session semester and any intervening summer session.
   2. Second dismissal—Three calendar years; readmission must be approved by the student’s dean.
   3. Third dismissal—A student dismissed for the third time will not be readmitted.
9. Effect of scholastic dismissal on correspondence courses or registration in another institution. A student who is dismissed from the University for scholastic reasons is not prohibited from taking courses by correspondence or from enrolling in another institution. The period of dismissal will not be decreased as a result of coursework completed while on dismissal.
10. Exceptions permitting continuance in the University. Normally, a student subject to dismissal will be dismissed; however, each college and school within the University has an appeals procedure administered by the Office of the Dean. A student who wishes to appeal should contact the office of their academic dean for procedures and deadlines. In unusual circumstances, a student may be allowed to continue subject to conditions prescribed by the dean. Approval to continue will not be given, regardless of the circumstances, unless the dean believes that the student has a reasonable chance of attaining a degree.
11. Special college regulations. Each college and school of the University determines its own policies regarding the minimum academic standards required of its students. Any college or school may require a higher minimum grade point average than is required to avoid scholastic probation under University-wide rules. In addition, a college or school may restrict enrollment because of the limitation of instructional resources. A student may be ineligible to continue in a particular college or school while remaining eligible to transfer to another; however, no student on scholastic dismissal from the University may be enrolled in any academic program of the University.

Graduate Students

To continue in the Graduate School beyond the first semester or summer session, the student must make satisfactory progress in fulfilling any admission conditions that were imposed, meet any requirements made in writing by the Graduate Studies Committee, maintain a graduate grade point average of at least 3.00, and receive the approval of the student’s Graduate Studies Committee.

Graduate Studies Committees are responsible for evaluating the students in their programs to ensure that they are making satisfactory progress toward a degree. If the Graduate Studies Committee finds that a student is not making satisfactory progress, it may recommend to the graduate dean that the student’s program be terminated.

A graduate student whose cumulative graduate grade point average falls below 3.00 at the end of any semester or summer session will be warned by the Office of Graduate Studies that their continuance in the Graduate School is in jeopardy. The student must attain a cumulative graduate grade point average of at least 3.00 during the next semester or summer session they are enrolled or be subject to dismissal. During this period, the student may not drop a course or withdraw from the University without the approval of the graduate advisor and the graduate dean.

A graduate student who has been dismissed may be readmitted for further graduate study only by petition of the Graduate Studies Committee in the student’s major area or by the Graduate Studies Committee of another program that will accept the student. The petition must be approved by the graduate dean and will only be approved for rare and extenuating non-academic reasons.

Scholastic warning status and academic dismissal are reflected on the student’s permanent record.

Law Students

A law student must receive a final grade of at least D in a course to receive credit for that course. A student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.90 on all law courses taken to graduate from the School of Law.

Grades of F are included in the grade point average, but courses in which the student earned an F are not counted toward the number of hours required for a degree. A student who fails a required course must repeat it until the student has passed. A student who fails an elective course may, at their option, repeat it only once. When a student repeats a course, the original and all subsequent grades are included in the student's grade point average.

A student who receives a grade of F in a law course is placed on scholastic probation. A student who receives two grades of F for law courses in any one semester is dismissed for failure. A student who receives a total of three grades of F for law courses during their law school career is dismissed for failure.

A student will be placed on scholastic probation if their cumulative GPA falls below a 1.90. A student who has received final grades for more than 20 semester hours will be dismissed from the School of Law for failure if their cumulative GPA falls below a 1.80.

Scholastic probation is lifted after one long semester in which the student has completed one or more law courses, provided that the student does not receive another F for any law course during that semester and the cumulative GPA is at or above 1.90. If the student is not able to raise the cumulative GPA at or above a 1.90 after one long semester or if they meet the maximum of three grades of F as stated above, the student will be dismissed from the School of Law for failure.

A student who has been dismissed from the School of Law for failure after receiving grades for 33 or more semester hours will not be readmitted to the School of Law, with this exception: if the student has never been on scholastic probation in the School of Law, the student maybe readmitted on scholastic probation for one long-session semester. A student who has been dismissed for failure after receiving grades for fewer than 33 semester hours may be admitted as a new student after the student has remained out of the School of Law for at least 12 months. The Law School Admissions Committee may attach significance to the prior failure. No student who has been dismissed for failure from the School of Law will be permitted, prior to readmission, to visit classes.