Academic standing is determined by students meeting departmental and University standards as described in the following sections. 

• Undergraduate Academic Standing
• Graduate Academic Standing

Good Academic Standing is defined differently for graduate and undergraduate students and may affect a student's ability to register for a subsequent term, ability to receive scholarships, fellowships or assistantships, and eligibility for graduation.

Classification

Students at UT Arlington are classified in accordance with the number of hours earned. Hours earned are interpreted as hours passed at UT Arlington plus hours accepted in transfer from other institutions and/or credit by examination.

• Freshman: One who has earned fewer than 30 hours.
• Sophomore: One who has earned 30 hours but fewer than 60 hours.
• Junior: One who has earned 60 hours but fewer than 90 hours.
• Senior: One who has earned 90 hours or more.
• Degreed: One who has earned a bachelor’s degree or higher and is enrolled as an undergraduate.
• Masters Student: One who is enrolled in a master's degree program.
• Doctoral Student: One who is enrolled in Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program.

Academic standing regulations apply to all undergraduate students.  Additional regulations may apply to provisionally- and conditionally-admitted students until they have met the requirements for regular admission.

Academic standing is determined when grades are reported at the end of each fall and spring term and at the end of the entire summer session. A student’s cumulative grade point average may change between these grade-reporting periods (e.g., by recording a final grade in place of an incomplete, or another grade change), and the student’s academic standing status may change when the grade change is processed.

Academic standing is differentiated from Satisfactory Academic Progress, and from Scholastic Dishonesty which are discussed elsewhere in this catalog.

The academic standing policies of UT Arlington are designed to encourage students to make academic and life adjustments that promote academic progress and lead to degree completion. Students who fail to maintain the minimum requirements of Good Standing as defined below may be required to participate in student success activities, meet term GPA requirements, and may be restricted in course load and/or course selection until they return to Good Standing. 

Students who are not in Good Standing cannot hold office in any club or organization, represent UT Arlington at any official or social event, or make any University trip without the permission of the appropriate dean of the University Advising and Engagement Center (UAEC). Academic standing is determined solely by UT Arlington coursework. Coursework from another institution cannot be used to improve a student's academic standing at UT Arlington. 

Good Standing

Academic good standing for undergraduates studying at UT Arlington is defined as a cumulative University grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 or higher.  A University GPA of at least 2.00 is necessary for satisfactory progress toward a degree. Individual programs may have additional requirements to be in good standing within that program. 

Academic Probation 1

A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 will be placed on Academic Probation 1.

Academic Probation 1 is designed to support students as they make adjustments needed to return to Good Standing and achieve academic success. Students should recognize the significant nature of academic probation and intentionally make a plan for success. The University requires certain protocols and standards to provide support for degree progression and in an effort to bring a student back to Good Standing.

A student on Academic Probation 1 must meet the following requirements in the next term of enrollment following Probation 1:

• Meet with an advisor or staff member designated by the University and participate in student success activities are determined by the Division of Student Success or College 
• Earn a semester GPA of 2.20
• Enroll in a minimum of 3 credit hours
• Enroll in no more than 14 credit hours

If a student's cumulative GPA meets the 2.00 minimum requirement, the student will return to Good Standing.

If the student meets the requirements of Academic Probation 1, but does not meet the minimum requirement for Good Standing, the student will continue on Academic Probation 1.

If the student does not meet the requirements of Academic Probation 1 and does not meet the minimum GPA for Good Standing, the student will be placed on Academic Probation 2. 

Academic Probation 2

A student will be placed on Academic Probation 2 immediately following a Probation 1 term in which the student does not return to Good Standing or meet the term requirements. 

Academic Probation 2 is the final category of academic standing prior to suspension and requires urgent action on the part of the student to make the life and significant academic adjustments needed to return to Good Standing. The University requires certain protocols and standards to provide support for degree progression and in an effort to bring a student back to Good Standing.

A student on Academic Probation 2 must meet the following requirements in the next term of enrollment following Probation 2:

• Meet with an advisor or staff member designated by the University and participate in student success activities are determined by the Division of Student Success or College 
• Earn a semester GPA of 2.20
• Enroll in a minimum of 3 credit hours
• Enroll in no more than 14 credit hours

If a student's cumulative GPA meets the 2.00 minimum requirement, the student will return to Good Standing.

If the student meets the requirements of Academic Probation 2, but does not meet the minimum requirement for Good Standing, the student will continue on Academic Probation 2.

If the student does not meet the requirements of Academic Probation 2 and does not meet the minimum GPA for Good Standing, the student will be placed on Academic Suspension 1. 

Academic Suspension 1

Undergraduate students placed on Academic Suspension 1 are eligible to continue enrollment after not attending UT Arlington for one regular term (fall or spring) without having to reapply to the University.

In the first enrolled semester following the period of non-enrollment, a student will retain Academic Suspension 1 status and will be subject to the term requirements of Academic Probation 2 and any further probationary conditions placed by the student's program of study.

If the student meets the term requirements but does not meet the minimum GPA for Good Standing, the student will be placed on Academic Probation 2.

If the student does not meet the term requirements and does not meet the minimum GPA for Good Standing, the student will be placed on Academic Suspension 2. 

Academic Suspension 2

A student will be placed on Academic Suspension 2 if the student does not meet requirements in the first enrolled semester following the period of non-enrollment resulting from an Academic Suspension 1 or Suspension 2 standing.

A student placed on Academic Suspension 2 is eligible to apply for readmission to the University after not attending UT Arlington for a minimum 12-month period. A student returning from a 12-month suspension must reapply for admission and complete the University readmission process. To begin the readmission process, the student must contact uaec@uta.edu at least 30 days prior to the first day of class.

A student readmitted to the University must meet all published academic requirements to re-declare a major program of study. A returning student is not guaranteed readmission into the previously declared major or intended major choice. Students must first meet with the intended major advisor to discuss eligibility to declare a major.

In the first enrolled semester following the period of non-enrollment, a student will retain Academic Suspension 2 status and will be subject to the term requirements of Academic Probation 2 and any further probationary conditions placed by the student's program of study.

If the student meets the term requirements but does not meet the minimum GPA for Good Standing, the student will be placed on Academic Probation 2.

If the student does not meet the term requirements and does not meet the minimum GPA for Good Standing, the student will be placed back on Academic Suspension 2 and suspended for another 12-month period. 

Early Readmission: Appeal for Waiver of Academic Suspension

Some schools/colleges may waive the one long term period of non-enrollment for students who experienced extenuating circumstances during the term that resulted in Academic Suspension 1. A student who wishes to seek an appeal of a one-term suspension must complete the following steps:

• Meet with an academic advisor to determine viability of appeal and complete an enrollment contract detailing terms of readmission should the appeal be accepted.
• Write an appeal letter describing the general reasons for academic struggles, changes made and ongoing plans to address issues impacting academic success, and any additional information pertinent to appeal.
• Submit appeal though the Office of the Dean (associate or assistant dean) who will, on behalf of the student, submit complete appeal packet to the Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Advising. Submission of completed appeals must be received by the AVPAA at least ten days prior to the start of the term the student wishes to attend. 

A student who has been approved to return early after being placed on Academic Suspension 1 will retain the Suspension 1 standing and will be subject to the requirements of Probation 2 and any further probationary conditions placed by the program of study.

Appeals for academic continuance and financial aid continuance are handled separately; approval of one does not ensure approval of the other or that enrollment is guaranteed in the event the student has been suspended. Refer to the Academic Standing webpage for additional information. Academic probation and suspension standing is reflected on the student’s transcript and academic record.

Students in Degree Programs

Students on academic probation who have been accepted into a degree program are subject to all additional rules governing the definition and terms of admission and enrollment established by the program in which they are enrolled. Students dismissed from a degree program or leaving a degree program voluntarily may transfer to another major or pre-major with the permission of the dean of the receiving college/school, or to undeclared status or the University Studies degree program with the approval of the Associate Vice Provost of the Division of Student Success.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal regulations require that the University of Texas at Arlington establish policies to monitor the academic progress of students who apply for and/or receive financial aid. To retain eligibility, undergraduate recipients must show satisfactory progress toward a degree based on the following requirements. There are two areas specifically addressed in these requirements. The first is cumulative grade point average (qualitative standard) and the other is a comparison of the number of credit hours annually and a review of the maximum number of hours attempted (quantitative standard).  The cumulative grade point average required to meet this portion of the SAP standards mirrors the grade point average required to remain in good academic standing at the University.  Information regarding the calculation of the quantitative standard as well as the notification and appeal process may be found on the Financial Aid website.  Click on the Satisfactory Academic Progress tab.

Good Standing and Satisfactory Scholastic Progress

Graduate students are considered to be in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress in a degree or certificate program if they 1) meet all admission conditions within the time required 2) have a B (3.000) or better grade point average on all coursework undertaken while enrolled as a graduate student at UT Arlington and 3) have a B (3.000) or better grade point average in courses needed to satisfy degree requirements by the end of the semester in which they intend to graduate. Departments may specify additional requirements that students must meet in order to be in good standing or to be considered to be making satisfactory progress. Students should understand and follow those requirements because failure to meet them may lead to dismissal (see Dismissal, below). Students must be in good academic standing by the end of their final semester in order to receive an advanced degree or certificate from UT Arlington. Refer to the section Courses That Do Not Provide Graduate Credit for an explanation of courses that do not provide graduate credit and will not be used to determine academic standing or to satisfy degree requirements.

Academic Probation

A graduate student whose cumulative grade point average falls below a 3.000 in all graduate courses, be they graduate or undergraduate level taken while enrolled as a UT Arlington graduate student, will be placed on academic probation. The student must attain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.000 in the next semester he or she is enrolled or be subject to dismissal. Undergraduate courses or graduate courses graded P, R, I or W or courses that do not provide graduate credit (see Courses That Do Not Provide Graduate Credit) cannot be used to remove the condition of academic probation.

Dismissal

Students have the initial responsibility to recognize when they are having academic difficulties and are expected to initiate steps to resolve the problem. When a student is in academic difficulty, and dependent upon the severity of the problem, the student may receive an oral warning and/or written statement of the problem and required corrective actions from his or her program. Failure to take these corrective actions can result in termination from the degree program.

Graduate courses or undergraduate graduate courses graded P, R, I or W or courses that do not provide graduate credit (see Courses That Do Not Provide Graduate Credit) cannot be used to remove the condition of academic probation.  If a student is on academic probation and earns only grades that do not provide graduate credit, he or she will be dismissed.

A student who has been dismissed from their program for failure to remove the condition of academic probation by meeting the 3.00 grade-point average requirement may be readmitted for further graduate study in the same or different program only if a petition has been approved by the Committee on Graduate Studies and the Academic dean of the program in which readmission is sought.

A student can be dismissed from a degree program not only for failure to maintain an adequate grade point average but also for such reasons as unsatisfactory progress toward a degree as defined by the department or program inability to pass a comprehensive examination, failure to prepare or to defend a thesis or dissertation in a satisfactory manner or complete thesis or dissertation work in an acceptable amount of time.  In such cases, students will receive a written warning which will include a statement of the problem, the corrective actions that need to occur.

Termination due to inadequate academic progress is a decision made by the student’s examination/supervising committee and/or the program's or department's graduate advisor and Graduate Studies Committee. Their decision will be based on whether the student has addressed the issue as required in the warning. Such decisions to terminate a student must be communicated to the academic dean by the Chairman of the Graduate Studies Committee with required justification. The academic dean will review the case and finalize the termination decision within 60 days. The student may continue enrollment while the dean considers the matter, but they will not be allowed to graduate with a graduate degree or certificate unless the dean decides in favor of the student's appeal.

Appeal Procedures Related to Dismissal

The academic dean’s judgment is final unless compelling evidence shows differential treatment or procedural irregularities. Students may appeal to the dean of the Graduate School for review of a decision to dismiss by the academic dean if there is evidence that differential treatment or procedural irregularities were not properly considered.  Students must submit the appeal in writing to the dean of the Graduate School. The dean of the Graduate School does not review objections to state certification/licensure preparation program dismissals.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal regulations require that the University of Texas at Arlington establish policies to monitor the academic progress of students who apply for and/or receive financial aid. To retain eligibility, recipients must show satisfactory progress toward a degree based on the following requirements. There are two areas specifically addressed in these requirements. The first is cumulative grade point average (qualitative standard) and the other is a comparison of the number of credit hours annually and a review of the maximum number of hours attempted (quantitative standard).  The cumulative grade point average required to meet this portion of the SAP standards mirrors the grade point average required to remain in good academic standing at the University.  Information regarding the calculation of the quantitative standard as well as the notification and appeal process may be found on the Financial Aid website.  Click on the Satisfactory Academic Progress tab.