To qualify for graduation from St. Bonaventure University, each student must meet two academic index requirements. The student’s overall cumulative index must be at least 2.00. In addition, the student’s cumulative index for courses taken in the major field must be at least 2.00. Any student in Elementary Education or Physical Education must have an overall cumulative index in the major of 3.00.
Any student whose overall index is below 2.00 must be regarded as academically deficient. Students who are regarded as academically deficient may be academically dismissed from the University, offered the opportunity to remain enrolled through the auspices of either the Academic Restoration Program or the Academic Intervention Program. Students who are regarded as academically deficient are automatically placed on academic probation. The Academic Review Committee, whose membership is comprised of the undergraduate academic deans, the Registrar, the Director of the Learning Center, the Director of Disability Support Services, the Executive Director of Residential Living and the Director of the Counseling Center, meets at the end of each semester to evaluate the status of each student with an overall cumulative index below 2.00.
Although St. Bonaventure University attempts to notify students of their academic status and/or dismissal, it is the sole responsibility of the student to be aware of University expectations regarding satisfactory academic progress and his or performance in each semester.
A.
Academic Probation
A student should view academic probation as a serious warning his or her
academic record is unsatisfactory. It should be
viewed as an opportunity and an obligation to improve.
Probationary status has a duration of one semester, and during this semester the student must make, in the judgment of the Academic Review Committee, significant academic improvement; otherwise, he or she incurs academic dismissal. If, over the course of this first probationary semester, the student is judged by the Committee to have made significant academic improvement but has not raised his or her cumulative index to at least 2.00, probationary status will be extended for a second semester. If, at the conclusion of this second consecutive probationary semester, the student has not raised his or her cumulative index to the appropriate level, based on the credits completed as outlined in points B1, B2, and B3, below, he or she may incur academic dismissal.
Freshmen students placed on probation after the first semester at SBU are required to enroll in a section of FRES 101. This non-credit course is specifically designed to provide the first year student with additional support and skills necessary to succeed academically.
B.
Academic Dismissal
A student who incurs academic dismissal may not enroll in any division of the
University and may not apply for readmission to any division of the University
until at least six months have elapsed since the dismissal date and all
requirements to raise the student’s cumulative index have been met.
The student must attend another institution of higher learning to achieve
this.
If the student is to be readmitted, the student’s performance at the alternate institution should provide evidence that the student can successfully complete the academic program at St. Bonaventure. In no case is readmission automatic, since it is a privilege granted by the University.
The following students are liable to be academically dismissed from the University:
1. Students who have completed 23 or fewer
credit hours and whose cumulative quality point index is less than 1.70;
2. Students who have completed more than 23,
but fewer than 60 credit hours and whose cumulative quality point index is less
than 1.85;
3. Students who have completed 60 or more
credit hours and whose cumulative quality point index is less than 2.00;
4. Any student who fails and/or withdraws
from three or more
courses in a single semester;
5. Any student who has completed two
consecutive semesters on probation (excluding summers) and who fails to raise
his or her cumulative quality point index to the appropriate level, based on the
credits completed as outlined in points 1, 2 and 3 above.
Students should note that repeating failed courses during the summer
session may raise the cumulative quality point index, but does not
remove probationary status for the next semester.
C.
Appeal of Academic Dismissal
A student who incurs academic dismissal from the University may appeal the
decision in writing to the chair of the Academic Review Committee; the entire
committee will review the appeal. Full notification
of the appeals procedure is included with the communication notifying the
student of the dismissal. If the Committee does not
reverse a decision to dismiss a student, the student may appeal in writing to
the chief academic officer; however, the decision of the Academic Review
Committee will be reversed only if there is compelling evidence of an error in
procedure or a clearly erroneous finding of fact.
D.
Academic Restoration Program
If a student becomes liable for academic dismissal at the end of his or her
initial semester at St. Bonaventure, the Academic Review Committee may, at its
discretion, offer the student the Academic Restoration Program in lieu of
academic dismissal.
The student and his/her parent/guardian (if applicable) must sign a statement
agreeing to complete in full a series of rigorous academic exercises, including
weekly meetings with members of the Teaching and Learning Center.
Failure to comply with any component of the program will result in
immediate dismissal from St. Bonaventure.
The semester spent in the Academic Restoration Program is considered a
probationary semester, and all provisions concerning academic progress during
probation as listed in section A above apply.
E.
Academic Intervention Program
A student liable for academic dismissal at the end of the semester other than
the initial semester at St. Bonaventure University may be offered the
opportunity to return to the University if the student agrees to participate in
the Academic Intervention Program.
The dismissed student and his or her parent/guardian (if applicable) must sign an Academic Intervention Program Pledge to continue enrollment at the University; a signed AIP Pledge commits the student to weekly academic meetings and classroom attendance. AIP students who violate their pledge are dismissed from the Program.
The semester spent in the Academic Intervention Program is considered a probationary semester and all provisions concerning academic progress during Probation, as listed in Section A, apply.
F. A student may participate only once in a
program offered in lieu of dismissal. If a student
participated in the Academic Restoration Program he or she is not eligible at a
later date to participate in the Academic Intervention Program.
2010
Academic Dismissal section revised by the Faculty Senate, April 2014; Approved by the President, April 2014