Graduate Academic Probation and Dismissal

ACADEMIC STANDING FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Academic Review and Good Standing 

At the end of the fall, spring, and summer 16-week semesters, graduate students are determined to be in good standing if they (1) maintain a semester GPA of at least 3.0 and have completed at least 50% of attempted credit hours in that semester; and (2) maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and have completed at least 50% of attempted credit hours cumulatively. Students who fall below these thresholds are generally placed on academic probation, but they are subject to dismissal if their GPA or rate of course completion would make good standing unlikely in the immediately subsequent semester. 

The number of credit hours attempted is the number of hours for which a student is registered at the beginning of the second week of classes plus the attempted hours accumulated from previous semesters at Calvin. Credited hours are those for which the student has earned credit that applies toward a degree. 

Courses that are repeated are counted in the number of courses attempted, but not in the number of hours credited. For the purpose of calculating the GPA, incompletes are not calculated in the GPA until the deadline for completion. If they are not completed by the deadline, a failing grade is assigned. 

Some programs might apply more stringent graduation requirements based on accreditation or other standards. Graduate students should check carefully with their specific programs or with the Office for Graduate and Continuing Studies about any additional requirements. 

Academic Probation and Dismissal 

The Registrar will notify graduate students and their program directors when students are on academic probation. In consultation with the Academic Review Committee, program directors might recommend specific actions to address the probationary status. These actions might include, but are not limited to, regular meetings with an academic counselor or limited enrollment for the subsequent semester. 

Graduate students on academic probation are subject to academic dismissal after attempting to complete courses in a subsequent semester if they have a resulting cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 or have completed less than 50% of attempted credit hours. The Academic Review Committee, in consultation with program directors, makes final decisions about academic dismissal. 

Students who are not permitted to continue may appeal their academic dismissal to the Academic Review Committee. Students for whom an appeal is granted are placed on academic probation, no longer in good standing, and consequently subject to the interventions determined by the Academic Review Committee and the students’ program directors.

Grade Point Average

Graduate candidates must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to receive their master’s degree. Graduate candidates will be placed on academic probation whenever their cumulative grade point average falls below a threshold in the policy on Academic Review and Good Standing.