12. Graduate Academic Standing

The scholastic requirements below apply to each student enrolled in the Graduate College. Programs may have additional requirements. Refer to your program handbook for more information.

A student must have a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 to receive a graduate degree.

All courses taken by a graduate student for which grades are given (not Satisfactory/unsatisfactory) will be used in calculating the semester and CGPA.

• Grades of A, B, C or S may be used to fulfill graduation requirements.
• Earning more than two grades of C, D, F or U may be grounds for dismissal upon recommendation by the program coordinator.

12.1. Good Standing

12.2. Academic Warning

12.3. Continued Warning

12.4. Academic Probation

12.5. Academic Dismissal from the Graduate College

12.1. Good Standing

Good standing is achieved when a student's cumulative GPA is at or above a 3.00.

12.2. Academic Warning

Academic warning is applied when a student who entered the grading period on good standing earns a cumulative GPA below the minimum 3.00.

• Any student admitted in conditional status is placed on academic warning starting their first semester.
• Students on academic warning remain eligible for graduate assistantships.
• An academic warning does not appear on the official academic transcript. Students are notified of their academic warning status via official NDSU email.
• Students on academic warning can take a leave of absence from their graduate studies; this will not change their academic standing.

12.3. Continued Warning

This status serves as a formal extension to the academic warning status for students demonstrating positive academic improvement. Students currently on Academic Warning who achieve a 3.00 semester GPA will transition to "Continued Academic Warning." This designation recognizes a student's adequate academic progress in cases where the cumulative GPA has not yet reached the 3.00 minimum.

• Students on continued warning remain eligible for graduate assistantships.
• A continued academic warning does not appear on the official academic transcript.
• Students are notified of their continued academic warning status via official NDSU email.
• Students on continued academic warning can take a leave of absence from their graduate studies; this will not change their academic standing.

12.4. Academic Probation

Students on Continued Academic Warning who fail to achieve a cumulative GPA (CGPA) of at least 3.00 by the conclusion of the semester will be placed on Academic Probation.

• A student on academic probation is not eligible for a graduate assistantship or tuition waiver.
• An academic probation does not appear on the student's official academic transcript.
• Students are notified of their academic probation status via official NDSU email.

To continue the pursuit of a graduate degree program, a student on academic probation must develop a remediation plan in collaboration with the advisor and submit the Academic Probation Remediation Plan form. This plan must include:

• Specific Courses: The courses the student plans to take in the subsequent semester(s).
• Target Grades: The grades the student aims to achieve in those courses to raise their CGPA to 3.00 or higher.
• Improvement Strategies: An explanation of the specific steps the student will take to improve their academic performance (e.g., study groups, tutoring, improved time management).

The completed Remediation Plan must be received (with all signatures) by the Graduate College before the last day of online registration in Campus Connection.

Students on academic probation can take a leave of absence from their graduate studies; this will not change their academic standing. Students on academic probation must submit their remediation plan before requesting a leave of absence.

12.5. Academic Dismissal from the Graduate College

Dismissal results in the loss of active graduate student status with the Graduate College and participation in all graduate programs and course work.

Graduate students may be dismissed from the Graduate College as a result of:

• Failure to meet professional and scholastic standards and expectations
• Academic or professional misconduct
• Insufficient progress toward a degree (this can include more than two grades of C, D, F, or U)
• Failure to submit an acceptable remediation plan
• Failure to meet the goals outlined in the approved remediation plan

Additional Information:

• The student has the right to appeal their dismissal with the Graduate Students Appeals process.
• A dismissal is documented on the student’s official academic transcript. Students are notified of their dismissal via official NDSU email.
• Students dismissed from the Graduate College may reapply for admission after at least one calendar year from the date of their dismissal.