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Northern Illinois University

College of Education

Undergraduate Academic Dismissal

Academic dismissal occurs under one of the following circumstances:

  • The student fails all the course work attempted for a single semester, including a summer term. This leads to academic dismissal regardless of the student's cumulative grade point average.
  • A student on academic probation fails to raise the cumulative grade point average to a 2.0 at the end of their probationary period.
  • A student who has been retained on academic probation (see section on Dismissal Review below) fails to raise the cumulative grade point average to a 2.0 at the end of the semester of retention.
  • A student who has been reinstated (see section on Academic Reinstatement) fails to attain a cumulative grade point average of a 2.0.
  • A student who has re-entered with community college compact benefits after being previously dismissed fails to establish a new term and cumulative grade point average of at least a C (see community college compact benefits re-entry below).
  • A student previously retained on academic probation falls below a cumulative 2.0 average after attaining senior standing (90 hours).

Any student whose circumstances fit any of these criteria becomes a candidate for academic dismissal. The student's record is considered by the dean (or the dean's designee) in the process below.

Dismissal Review

At the end of each semester, the records of all candidates for academic dismissal are reviewed by the dean (or the dean's designee) of the student's major college. In that review, the dean or the designee may elect to retain on final academic probation a student whose record shows promise for success in attaining a cumulative grade point average of a 2.0 if the student is retained for one more semester. All students who are retained on probation must meet with the dean or the dean's designee to discuss the terms of their retention. Additional retention for a subsequent semester happens very rarely and only under exceptional circumstances, so the retained student should schedule an appointment prior to or during the first week of the semester of retention.

Any student not retained on final probation will be dismissed. Students have the right to appeal that dismissal, but such appeals should be initiated with an awareness that a review has already occurred and the record did not appear to warrant retention.

Dismissal Appeal

If the student who has been dismissed wishes to appeal that dismissal, the student must do so in writing. In the written appeal, the student should discuss the following concerns:

  • the student's perception of what led to the unsatisfactory academic performance;
  • the steps the student would take to address the factors outlined above;
  • the specific schedule which the student has planned for the next semester
    if the appeal is successful; and
  • any extenuating circumstances which the student believes warrant consideration.

Students receive written responses to their written appeals. If the decision is to retain, the student will be required to come in for a retention interview to plan for academic success.