;       Standards for Academic Progress

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Good Standing Probation Unsatisfactory Work and Dismissal

Note:  Each program, department, school or college may have standards above the general standards listed.  The student should consult the major department and academic college for additional requirements.

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Good Standing

A graduate student is judged to be in good standing when making adequate progress toward completion of degree requirements, has a cumulative GPA of 3.00 and is not on probation or subject to dismissal.

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Probation

Failure to complete the required hours and maintain a GPA of 3.00 or better will result in a one semester probationary period.  Probation is intended to provide the student whose performance is less than fully satisfactory a period of time to bring his/her performance up to a level consistent with the minimum standards enforced by the Graduate School and/or the program in which the student is enrolled.

Students whose grade point average falls below 3.00 in any semester will be placed on probation.  That student must attain a cumulative 3.00 grade point average by the end of the following (probationary) semester. When a student is placed on probation, he/she will be notified of the fact in writing by the department.  If, at the end of this period, all deficiencies have been removed and no other circumstances warranting probation have developed in the interim, the student will be returned to good standing.  If the deficiencies have not been corrected by the end of this period, the student may become subject to dismissal.

Probation may be initiated by the Graduate Dean or by the recommendation of the Graduate Advisor in the student’s major department, school, college or graduate group.  A student may be placed on probation for one or more the following reasons:

1. Failure to maintain an adequate level of performance (as measured by GPA) in courses central to the student’s program of study.
2. Failure on the department’s preliminary examinations or failure to stand for such exams in a timely manner.
3. Failure to proceed to the comprehensive or qualifying examinations within a reasonable period of time.
4. Failure to make adequate progress in meeting other stated requirements.
5. Failure to make adequate progress in thesis or dissertation research or in the independent study project.

Students on probationary status…

• may not be admitted to examinations (Graduate English Competency, Masters’ Comprehensive, Doctoral Qualifying, and Doctoral Comprehensive)
• may not be advanced to Candidacy
• may not hold an academic appointment
• may not receive a graduate fellowship,assistantship or tuition-waiver
• are not eligible to receive a graduate degree.

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Dismissal

A graduate student whose coursework is unsatisfactory may be requested to withdraw.  The recommendation must be made in writing by the advisor, stating specific examples of unsatisfactory work, and must follow a conference between the student and the advisor, department chair/program director, and college dean or designee.  Notification will be sent to the Dean of the Division of Graduate Studies.

A former student must submit an Application for Readmission.  Official transcripts from all institutions attended since the student was last enrolled at Jackson State must be mailed to the Office of Graduate Admissions.  Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted.  Dismissed students who are approved for readmission to a department will be admitted on probation and follow the requirements outlined by the department.

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Last Revised:  July 2006