Academic Progress

Academic Standing Policy

Academic standing is determined by semester or cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) and the credit hours earned by class year. To remain in good academic standing at Fordham College and retain any awarded financial aid, students must meet established year-by-year standards of "academic progress." Faculty and administrators are dedicated to supporting students in meeting these standards for each class year as outlined in the Academic Status section.

The following categories are used to define a student's academic standing at Fordham College:

Good Academic Standing

Students are in good academic standing when they have a cumulative 2.0 GPA and are on track toward graduation as defined by the Credit Completion Policy below.

Academic Notice

Academic Notice is meant to help the student stay on track toward graduation and improve their GPA in the next semester. Students on Academic Notice are expected to work with their Academic Advisor on a Success Plan. Students may be placed on Academic Notice if:

• They meet the 2.000 GPA requirement, but are below a 2.300; OR
• They withdrew from more than one 3+ credit course in a semester.

Academic Restoration

Academic Restoration is a serious warning that a student's academic record at the University is not satisfactory. Students on Academic Restoration may continue to study at Fordham and are expected to work with their Academic Advisor on a Success Plan, which will include a discussion about participation in non-academic activities, including student organizations. Students may be placed on Academic Restoration if:

• They earn lower than a semester or cumulative 2.000 GPA.

Suspension

Suspension is a University-sanctioned pause in academic studies at Fordham College for at least one semester, and can only be granted for a maximum of 2 semesters. A student can be placed on Suspension if:

• They earn a GPA as indicated in the Academic Status section of the Bulletin; OR
• They receive three or more failing grades in one semester; OR
• They have been on Academic Restoration for two consecutive semesters.

To return to Fordham College after a Suspension, a student must apply for readmission. Readmission is granted as long as the student has demonstrated academic readiness to be successful at Fordham.

Dismissal

Academic Dismissal is the ultimate sanction imposed for failure to meet the standards outlined below toward completion of a student's bachelor's degree. A student who has been dismissed is no longer permitted to take undergraduate courses at Fordham College. A student may be dismissed from the College for any of the following reasons:

• Falling below the GPA as outlined in the Academic Status section of the Bulletin; OR
• Attaining a GPA of 1.000 or lower in any semester; OR
• Returning from Suspension and not demonstrating academic readiness in the first semester; OR
• Being placed on Academic Restoration for three consecutive semesters.

Appeal Policy

All academic standing decisions may be appealed in writing to the Dean of the college. The appeal must be made within three business days of the notification of change in academic standing. An appeal should include the following items:

• Documentation of any extenuating circumstances that may have impacted the student, such as death in the immediate family or an illness; AND
• A statement from the student explaining the reason for the appeal.

Once the appeal is received, the Dean will make a decision in consultation with the Associate Deans, and that decision will be final.

Academic Status

The guidelines below are used to determine a student's Academic Standing as well as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) which is connected to their financial aid package. Students who do not meet the standards below may need to appeal their financial aid package. More information on the SAP Appeal can be found at Financial Aid.

For graduation, the student must successfully fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete a minimum of 36 courses of three credits or more; AND
• Complete a minimum of 124 credits; AND
• Complete a minimum of 64 credits at Fordham University, not to include any courses taken as Pass/Fail; AND
• Earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher; AND
• Complete the Core Curriculum; AND
• Complete the requirements for a major.

Full-time students should complete their coursework in four years. Students who require extra time to complete their degree due to special circumstances such as illness, a change in major, etc. should work with their Academic Advisor or Class Dean to complete their coursework in at least six years.

W (Withdrawal), ABS (Absent from exam), or INC (Incomplete) grades are to be used in special situations based on an individual's circumstance. Students are advised to minimize grades of W, ABS, and INC, as these may delay progress towards graduation.

Repeated courses will be calculated into a student's GPA and will not replace the original grade.

The outline below is a guide for students to keep on track toward graduation. Failure to meet these standards based on class year will result in a change in the student's Academic Standing and could affect financial aid.

Credit Completion Policy

Independent of the student's GPA, the completion of fewer credits than outlined below may affect a student's academic standing for not maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward the bachelor's degree. Falling below these completion rates may cause a student to lose financial aid.

Please note: these standards differ slightly for students receiving funds from the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

¹

Transfer credits accepted by Fordham are counted in both credits attempted and credits completed, although the grades are not counted in the GPA.

²

For students pursuing a degree on a part-time basis, credits earned will be proportionate; for example, half-time students should complete half of these credits.