Academic Alert and Probation
The rules and guidelines around Academic Alert/Warning and Probation vary depending on your degree type.
Arts and Sciences BA/BS and Engineering Candidates
Academic Standing and Satisfactory Progress toward the Degree
The academic status of students earning a BA or BS in the School of Arts and Sciences or School of Engineering is determined by the faculty Committees on Academic Standing. Students earning a BFA are not subject to the degrees of academic status outlined below, though students earning a BA/BFA or BS/BFA are subject to the terms of academic status for the BA or BS portion of their program.
Academic standing is reviewed by the faculty Committees on Academic Standing in January for the fall semester and June for the spring semester. Incompletes are not considered earned credits and may impact a student's academic standing if unresolved before academic standing is reviewed.
Due to the pedagogical changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the academic standing criteria were adjusted for Spring 2020 and Fall 2020. Please refer to the Academic Policy Exceptions website for details.
Academic Alert
A student will be sent an academic alert at the end of any semester in which a student earned fewer than 12 credits but more than 4 credits and/or failed one course of any credit value. Incompletes are not earned credits. Students are still considered to be in good academic standing and no transcript notation will be made.
Academic Probation
A student will be placed on academic probation at the end of any semester in which a student earned 4 credits or fewer and/or a semester GPA lower than 2.0 and/or failed to make satisfactory progress as defined by number of credits earned at the end of any semester beyond their first semester as defined in the table below. If you are put on academic probation, you will no longer be in good academic standing, which can affect your ability to participate in certain University activities. A notation of academic probation will be on the student’s unofficial transcript. To return to good academic standing, in the following semester the student must complete a minimum of 12.0 credits and earn a minimum term GPA of 2.0. An additional grace period may be allowed for the student to make satisfactory progress toward their degree as defined by the number of credits earned (see table below).
Required to Withdraw
If your academic performance meets the criteria for academic probation for a second semester (consecutive or not), you will be subject to a required academic withdrawal for one semester. You will no longer be in good academic standing, which can affect your ability to participate in certain University activities. The student’s advisor and parents/guardians will be notified.
A note on Incomplete Grades: Undergraduate students who have been required to withdraw from the University or who take a personal or medical leave of absence must complete all outstanding written work and exams to resolve all grades of Incomplete prior to being able to return for subsequent semesters. Learn more: Arts and Sciences BA/BS, Arts and Sciences BFA, and Engineering.
Permanent Academic Withdrawal
If you return from having been required to withdraw for a semester and meet the criteria for academic probation in any semester after your return, you will be subject to a permanent academic withdrawal, determined by the Committee on Academic Standing. The student’s advisor and parents/guardians will be notified.
Satisfactory Progress toward the Degree for Arts and Sciences and Engineering Undergraduates
Arts and Sciences and Engineering undergraduates will be alerted by your Advising Dean if you are not earning adequate credits to make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Satisfactory progress is defined by the number of credits completed by the end of each semester, as follows:
|
|
Credits - 1st Semester |
Credits - 2nd Semester |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | 12 | 24 |
| Sophomore | 39 | 54 |
| Junior | 70 | 86 |
| Seniors | 102 | 120 |
Arts and Sciences BFA Candidates
Academic Standing and Satisfactory Progress Toward the Degree
- BFA students must receive a minimum of 75% of credits attempted each semester and maintain a cumulative grade point average of C‐ (1.67) or better.
- Grades of Incomplete (INC) will be considered “credit not earned.” Two or more grades of INC within a given semester constitutes unsatisfactory progress.
- Grades of W will also be considered “credit not earned” for the purposes of satisfactory academic progress. Grades of W do not factor into a student’s GPA.
Academic Warning
Students in good standing who do not make satisfactory academic progress as defined above during any semester will be given an Academic Warning. Students who make satisfactory academic progress for the semester in which they are on Academic Warning will return to good standing.
Academic Probation
Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress as defined above for a semester in which they are on an Academic Warning will be placed on Probation. Students on Probation are still eligible to enroll at SMFA at Tufts but are ineligible for federal financial aid. Students on Probation have the right to appeal to retain financial aid one time during their academic career. Appeals and supporting documentation must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office for review and approval. Students who make satisfactory academic progress for the semester in which they are on Academic Probation will return to good standing. Students on Probation are required to meet with the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Advising for the SMFA at Tufts prior to the beginning of the next semester of enrollment in order to develop an academic plan for returning to good academic standing and successful completion of the program.
Required to Withdraw
Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress for a semester in which they are on Probation will be required to withdraw for 1 semester. A student who returns after being required to withdraw will return on a probationary status. It is important that students who successfully petitions for reentry consider their readiness to resume academic studies. Any student who reenters after being required to withdraw who falls into that status for a second time may be permanently withdrawn from Tufts.
A note on Incomplete Grades: Undergraduate students who have been required to withdraw from the University or who take a personal or medical leave of absence must complete all outstanding written work and exams to resolve all grades of Incomplete prior to being able to return for subsequent semesters. Learn more: Arts and Sciences BA/BS, Arts and Sciences BFA, and Engineering.
Permanent Academic Withdrawal
A student who returns after having been required to withdraw for a semester and meets the criteria for academic probation in any ensuing semester will be subject to a permanent academic withdrawal, determined by the SMFA Committee on Academic Standing.