Academic Standing

A student’s academic standing depends upon the number of degree credits completed and the accumulative Grade Point Average (GPA). Degree credits are the number of course credits completed in courses numbered 100 and above in which a passing grade was earned. The GPA is the overall numerical grade, which may range from 0.00 to 4.00. This is calculated for each semester (the semester GPA) and overall for all courses taken (the accumulative GPA).

The university calculates the GPA by multiplying the number of credits for each course by the numerical equivalent of the letter grade earned for that course (See “grading system .”) This calculation yields the number of quality points earned for that course. The semester GPA is obtained by dividing the total quality points earned in a semester by the total number of credits for which the student was registered that semester, not counting courses from which the student withdrew with a passing grade or courses taken Pass/Fail. The accumulative GPA is the total number of quality points earned at UMaine divided by the total number of credits taken at UMaine. These calculations are carried to two decimal places.

Academic Honors

The University recognizes outstanding academic achievement in several ways. Two of the most prestigious are the Presidential Pin and the Dean’s List.

Presidential Achievement Pin
Full-time and part-time students both are eligible for the Presidential Pin, which is awarded only once in a student’s career at the University of Maine. Full-time students must attain a 3.0 GPA or better over two consecutive semesters (a minimum of 24 credits) of accumulated UMaine course work, and must also achieve a 3.5 GPA or better for the most recent semester (minimum of 12 credits. Part-time students must achieve a 3.0 GPA or better based on 30 credits of accumulated UMaine course work and a 3.5 GPA or better for the most recent 12 credits. No Pass/Fail courses may be counted towards the 30 and 12 credit minimum registrations for either full-time or part-time students, and no incomplete grades may be on the transcript for any semester used in the computations.

Dean’s List Requirements:
To be eligible for Dean’s List a student must

Be a degree seeking student in one of the five colleges, Academic and Career Exploration (ACE) or Bachelor of University Studies (BUS) programs
Have a semester grade point average of 3.3 or better
Have completed at the end of the semester a minimum of 12 degree credits taken for letter grades (exceptions: courses with a deferred grade for thesis and a maximum of 3 credits in courses restricted to the Pass/Fail grading option may count toward the 12 degree credits)
Have no incomplete or missing grades for the semester.

Academic Actions

The University takes a series of progressive academic actions when a student is failing to meet performance expectations and make continuous progress towards completing degree requirements.

The Faculty Senate recommends the standards to determine which students are making satisfactory progress toward their degree. Those students not fulfilling academic requirements are placed on probation, suspended or dismissed. The Academic Standing Committee administers academic standing policies.

Academic Probation
The minimum acceptable accumulative grade point average needed for graduation is 2.0. Therefore any GPA below 2.0 is a warning to a student that such work will not permit graduation. Students are placed on probation following a semester in which her or his accumulative grade point average falls below 2.0, and a student may be placed on probation following a semester in which he or she receives a semester grade point average less than 2.0.

A student on probation who does not improve her or his accumulative grade point average to a 2.0 may be continued on probation. A student continued on academic probation will be required to meet certain conditions defined by his or her college dean. These conditions will specify the level of coursework and academic achievement required to be removed from probation.

Academic Suspension
Academic suspension indicates that a student is separated from the University for a minimum of one semester. A student must file an application for readmission. Suspension is the usual action when a student fails to make normal progress toward graduation. Situations that lead to academic suspension are any one of the following:

Students receive a semester grade-point average at or below 1.0;
Students continued on academic probation fail to meet conditions as defined by the college dean, program director or school director;
First-year students (0-23 credits) acquire an accumulative average less than 1.5 at the end of the first two semesters; Sophomores (24-53 credits) acquire an accumulative average of 1.7 or less; Juniors (54-83 credits) acquire an accumulative average of 1.8 or less; Seniors (84+ credits) acquire an accumulative average of 1.9 or less.

Regulations under c. above also apply to transfer students. Exceptions may be made for students who have earned a semester average of at least 2.0 while on probation but who have not achieved the required minimum accumulative average.

Academic Dismissal
Dismissal is normally the final action taken when students are not making satisfactory progress toward a degree or when students readmitted after suspension show no improvement in their accumulative average or otherwise fail to meet conditions set by the college.

The student is not normally allowed to apply for readmission.
The action is posted to the official academic record.
A hold is placed on the student record to preclude enrollment as a student at all UMS institutions.

Provisional Continuation
First semester students who are experiencing academic difficulties may be placed in a provisional continuation status. This intermediate status requires the student to discuss his or her academic record with the associate dean of the college, program director or coordinator, or school director to determine whether the student will be placed on academic probation, suspension or dismissal.

Academic Activity during Suspension/Dismissal
Students under dismissal or suspension may not be admitted as matriculated students within the University of Maine System. Students may request permission from their associate dean or program or school director or coordinator to take one or two courses as a non-degree candidate at any UMS institution while they are under suspension.

Summer Session Courses for Suspended and Dismissed Students
Students who receive notification of suspension or dismissal who are currently attending a summer session course will be allowed to complete that course for grade and credit. Students under suspension or dismissal will not be allowed to take any subsequent courses without the permission of the associate dean of their college.

Transcript Re-Evaluation

Once during a student’s association with the university his or her transcript may be reevaluated at the option of the student if certain conditions are met. This can only occur following one of the actions listed below:

Return to the University following suspension or dismissal
Completing a successful semester on provisional continuation
Changing academic majors or colleges within the University
Entering a transitional program
Returning to the University after withdrawal from it

If one or more of these conditions is met, the student’s dean may exclude from the calculation of the student’s accumulative grade point average all grades (including passing grades) received during one or more semester(s) immediately prior to the qualifying program change. For purposes of this policy, any courses taken outside normal term dates (running start or any course attached to a fall or spring semester) will be treated as part of a separate semester. When a transcript is reevaluated, the dean may waive required courses in which passing grades were received (so that students need not repeat them) but neither the grade(s) nor the credit(s) for those courses count toward graduation or the computation of the accumulative GPA.

Alternatively, if one or more of the above conditions is met, the student’s deans may elect to exclude from the calculation of the student’s accumulative grade point average and credits only courses and grades which would not be required by the student’s new major or by General Education requirements received during the one or more semester(s) immediately prior to the qualifying program changes and for which the grade received was less than a C. Thus, the grades of courses which fulfill major or General Education requirements would continue to be included in the calculation of the accumulative GPA unless they are repeated.

Former students needing to complete at least 30 credits to qualify for graduation and who have been away from the University for at least five academic years may reapply as an external transfer student. The student’s previous coursework at the university remains on the transcript, but previous grades do not count. Courses for which the student received a grade below C- are not accepted for degree credit. In effect, such students begin a new UMaine academic career upon their readmission.

Academic Standing Appeal Procedures

Students appealing a suspension or dismissal must do so in writing addressed to the associate dean of their college or, for nursing, engineering technology, Onward or ACE students, to their school or program director or coordinator. Appeals which explain extenuating circumstances (health problems, family emergencies, etc.) beyond the student’s control and which affected academic performance will be brought to the Academic Standing Appeals Committee, which will decide upon them.

Students whose appeals are denied may appeal the decision of the Academic Standing Appeals Committee in writing to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, whose decision is final. The Associate Vice President makes sure that the Appeals Committee properly considered the information provided to it and acted in accordance with university policy and practice in making its decision. The Associate Vice President is unlikely to overturn a decision of the Appeals Committee unless there were procedural irregularities or unless new information becomes available.