Academic Alert and Probation

Determination of a student’s academic status is made by the faculty Committee on Academic Standing. The committee reserves the right to make decisions on an individual student’s academic progress. The criteria differ according to degree program. See below for details on the criteria for the three undergraduate degrees: BS in Engineering; BA or BS in the School of Arts and Sciences; and BFA in the School of Arts and Sciences. Students in the Arts and Sciences Combined BFA and BA or BS degree are held to the criteria for the BA or BS in Arts and Sciences.

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 Standing

The academic status of students earning a BA or BS in the School of Arts and Sciences is determined by the School of Arts and Sciences faculty Committee on Academic Standing. The committee reserves the right to make decisions on an individual student’s academic progress. 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.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements

Students must earn 12 credits and a grade point average of 2.0 or better for each semester of full-time enrollment. Incompletes are not considered earned credits and may impact a student's academic standing if unresolved before academic standing is reviewed. If a letter grade later replaces the grade in Incomplete, this will not alter the student’s academic standing for the semester in which it is in force.

Failure to Make Satisfactory Academic Progress

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 8 credits and/or failed one course of any credit value. A student will also receive an academic alert if they have fallen below the minimal credit expectations for Satisfactory Academic Progress (see chart below). The student’s advisor will be notified. Students who receive an academic alert are still considered to be in “Good Academic Standing” and no transcript notation will be made.

Academic Probation: A student will normally be placed on academic probation by the Committee on Academic Standing at the end of any semester in which a student earned 8 credits or fewer and/or a semester GPA lower than 2.0. If placed on academic probation, the student will no longer be in good academic standing, and notification of this status will be sent to the student’s advisor. A notation of academic probation will be recorded on the student’s unofficial transcript. To return to good academic standing, in the following semester, the student must complete a minimum of 12 credits and earn a minimum term GPA of 2.0.

Required to Withdraw (1 semester): Students whose academic performance meets the criteria for academic probation for a second semester (consecutive or not) will be subject to a required academic withdrawal for one semester. The requirement to withdraw will be recorded on a student’s transcript, and the student's advisor and parents/guardians will be notified. A student who returns after a required withdrawal will return on a probationary status.

Permanent Academic Withdrawal: If a student returns to Tufts after a required withdrawal, they must remain in good standing from that point forward. If the student meets the criteria for academic probation in any ensuing semester, they may be permanently withdrawn from the university as determined by the Committee on Academic Standing. The permanent withdrawal will be recorded on the student’s transcript.

Satisfactory Progress Toward the Degree: Undergraduate students in the School of Arts and Sciences are expected to earn on average 15 credits per semester to make good progress toward completing their bachelor’s degree within eight full-time semesters. Students will be alerted by their Advising Dean if they have fallen below the minimal recommended credit thresholds and are not earning substantive credits to make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Satisfactory progress is defined by the number of cumulative credits completed by the end of each semester, as follows: 

The above chart is a recommended guideline: students are required to earn a minimum of 120 cumulative credits to reach degree completion. If a student decides to pursue fewer credits during a fall or spring term, it is their responsibility to adhere to the academic standing criteria outlined above and to pursue additional credits at a later time to remain on a reasonable track to complete 120 credits by their final semester of academic study. While first semester First Year students must remain enrolled in a minimum of 9 credits, it is understood that they may choose to enroll in fewer than the recommended number of credits while they adjust to collegiate life. All students should consult their Advising Dean if they need guidance about satisfactory academic progress.

Students who receive financial aid will need to consult their financial aid coordinator to ensure they are adhering to financial aid compliance standards.

Academic Standing/Satisfactory Progress Toward the Degree 

Determination of a student’s academic status is made by the School of Engineering faculty Committee on Academic Standing. The committee reserves the right to make decisions on an individual student’s academic progress. 

Academic Alert: A student will be sent an academic alert at the end of any semester in which the student earned fewer than 12 semester hours but more than 4, and/or failed one course of any semester hour value. Incompletes are not earned credits. The student’s advisor will be notified. No transcript notation will be made. 

Academic Probation: A student will normally be placed on academic probation by the Committee on Academic Standing at the end of any semester in which the student earned 4 semester hours 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. Satisfactory academic progress for each semester is defined by the number of semester hours listed below (see table). Incompletes are not earned credits. If put on academic probation, the student will no longer be in good academic standing, and notification of this status will be sent to the student’s advisor. The probation status will also be recorded on the student’s unofficial transcript. To return to good academic standing, in the following semester a student must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours 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 semester hours earned (see table). Students on academic probation who do not meet these criteria will either remain on academic probation or will be required to withdraw for one semester. 

Required Academic Withdrawal: If a student’s academic performance in any subsequent semester meets the criteria for academic probation, then the student will normally be required to withdraw for one semester. 

Summary: 

•  Academic Alert: 5-11 semester hours and/or failed one course of any semester hour value. In good academic standing; student and advisor notified; no transcript notation. 
•  Academic Probation: 0-4 semester hours and/or term GPA 0–1.99 and/or failed to make satisfactory progress as defined by the number of semester hours earned at the end of any semester beyond their first semester. No longer in good academic standing; student and advisor notified; notation on unofficial transcript. 
•  Required Academic Withdrawal for one semester: Credits and GPA meet the criteria of academic probation for any subsequent semester. No longer in good standing; student, advisor, and parents/guardians notified; notation on unofficial transcript. 

Permanent Academic Withdrawal: A student who returns from having been required to withdraw for a semester and meets the criteria for academic probation in any semester after the return will be subject to a permanent academic withdrawal, determined by the Committee on Academic Standing.

Satisfactory Progress Toward the Degree: Undergraduates will be alerted by their Advising Dean if they are not earning adequate semester hours to make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Satisfactory progress is defined by the number of semester hours completed by the end of each semester, as follows: