Revision to Academic Eligibility Policy Presidential Policy Memorandum 167

Policy Memorandum No. 191

Approved by the Commission on Undergraduate Studies and Policies: March 22, 1999
Approved by University Council: April 19, 1999
Approved by President: April 19, 1999
Effective: For all students entering Virginia Tech for the first time in summer 1997 and thereafter.

The University Council, on recommendation of the Commission on Undergraduate Studies and Policies unanimously approved a resolution concerning revision to Academic Eligibility Policy Presidential Policy Memorandum 167.

Following is the text of the resolution as adopted by University Council.

Whereas, the central premise of the Academic Eligibility Policy is to provide students support and encouragement to attain their potential for individual intellectual and personal growth while at the
University-irrespective of degree program or substantive interest, and

Whereas, the requirement for timely progress and for a minimum grade point average should serve as an incentive in the quest for realization of personal potential, and

Whereas, students need to have a clear understanding of the minimum level of performance necessary to graduate, and

Whereas, Academic Policy Memorandum No. 167 is intended to provide for a minimum standard for academic good standing of a cumulative 2.00 QCA, and

Whereas, immediate intervention with students who are performing below the minimum standard for graduation has been shown to enhance students' academic performance and probability of timely graduation, and

Whereas, the Academic Review process as described in Policy Memorandum No. 167 does not consistently result in improvements in student academic performance,

Therefore, Be It Resolved that Policy 167 be revised as follows:

• Student academic performance will be reviewed by the appropriate Academic Dean at the end of both fall and spring semesters.

• Minimum standard for good academic standing will continue to be a cumulative QCA of 2.00.

• Academic probation shall be imposed when cumulative QCA is less than 2.00.

  A student on probation:

  • May take no more than 16 credits per semester;

  • May be required (at the discretion of individual Colleges) to

    1. consult with an advisor before beginning a probationary semester, and

    2. to sign an academic contract acknowledging that her/his performance is not meeting University standards and stating what actions she/he is committed to taking to improve performance.

       Academic probation will be lifted when cumulative QCA is at least 2.00.

  First Academic Suspension shall be imposed when:

  • A student has 2 consecutive semesters (fall/spring or spring/fall) with a cumulative QCA below 2.00.

  • Shall consist of one semester and be served in the first semester (excluding summer session) following its imposition (either fall or spring).

  Returning Academic Performance:

  • A student must earn a minimum 2.00 semester QCA the first semester following First Suspension and raise their cumulative QCA to at least 2.00 by the end of the second semester after their return

    OR:

  • Earn a 2.50 QCA or higher for every semester following First Suspension until their cumulative QCA is 2.00 or greater.

  Second Academic Suspension shall be imposed when:

  • A student fails to meet the Returning Academic Performance requirements outlined above.

    Second Academic Suspension

  • Shall consist of one calendar year following its imposition; --- upon return from Second Suspension, students must meet the same minimum standards for performance as required for First Suspension.

  Permanent Academic Suspension shall be imposed subsequent to Second Academic Suspension and when a student fails to meet the Returning Academic Performance requirements stipulated above.

• Appeal

  Students placed on First, Second or Permanent Academic Suspension have the right to appeal each such suspension to the University Academic Appeals Committee.

• Effective Date

  This policy is effective for all students entering Virginia Tech for the first time in summer 1997 and thereafter. The current Eligibility Policy 167 on P. 39 in the 1998-99 catalogue shall be eliminated in the 1999-2000 catalogue. In the summer of 2000 and thereafter, all undergraduate students will be subject to the eligibility policy outlined in this resolution.

Note: Presidential Policy Memorandum 167, approved on April 15, 1996, can be located on the web at http://purl.vt.edu/vtdocs/policies/ppm167.

PET:sws

President's Policy Memoramdum

URL: http://purl.vt.edu/vtdocs/policies/ppm191