Academic Standing

A student’s academic standing depends upon the number of degree credits completed and the cumulative 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 cumulative 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 cumulative 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 Recognition

The University recognizes outstanding academic achievement in several ways. Two of the most prestigious are the Presidential Scholar and the Dean’s List. These achievements are based on calculable credits. Courses taken pass/fail are not calculable credit courses.

These recognitions of academic achievement are generated 35 calendar days after the last day of the final exam period. A student with any Incomplete or Missing Grade for the semester at the point when the records are reviewed is not eligible. Eligibility will not be recalculated after that date.

Academic achievements are recorded on the official transcript and are generated at the end of the fall and spring terms only.

Presidential Scholar

To be recognized as a Presidential Scholar, a student must be degree-seeking, have completed 12 or more calculable credits in the semester, and have earned a 4.0 semester GPA.

Full-time Dean’s List

To be eligible for the Full-time Dean’s List a student must have completed 12 or more calculable credits in the semester and have earned a 3.50 semester GPA.

Part-time Dean’s List

Students who have part-time status during both the fall and spring semesters of a given academic year are eligible for Part-time Dean’s List. They must have completed 12 or more calculable credits over both terms and have earned a combined GPA in those terms of 3.50.

Academic Actions (Probation, Suspension, Dismissal)

Faculty Senate recommends the standards that determine which students are making satisfactory progress toward their degree, both in a single semester and overall. When a degree-seeking student fails to meet the standards set by faculty senate, the university responds with an academic action. A university-wide academic standing committee administers the academic standing policy by placing students on probation, suspension or dismissal.

A limited number of students are reviewed for suspension after the fall semester, including students in the Onward program, the Foundations program, and those operating under a fall-only contract in one of the degree granting colleges. All others not making satisfactory progress are placed on probation, often on a contract and subject to a thorough review at the end of the academic year.

Students placed on any action receive an e-mail sent to their @maine.edu address stating they have an important message in their Message Center in MaineStreet. Failure to check the Message Center is not an acceptable excuse for missing an appeal deadline. Students who need assistance accessing their Self Service page in MaineStreet should contact the Office of Student Records.

Academic Probation

The minimum acceptable cumulative 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 cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0. Further 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, even though their cumulative grade point average remains at a 2.0 or higher.

A student on probation who does not improve her or his cumulative grade point average to a 2.0 may be continued on probation, suspended, or dismissed. A student on academic probation may be required to meet certain academic conditions defined by his or her college dean, such as level of coursework, academic achievement, etc. These conditions must be met for the student to be removed from probation and not suspended or dismissed. The action is posted to the official academic record.

Academic Suspension

Academic suspension indicates that a degree seeking student is separated from the University for a minimum of one semester. A suspended student must file an application for readmission. 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 on academic probation fail to meet academic conditions as defined by the college dean, program director, or school director
First-year students acquire a cumulative average less than 1.5 at the end of the first two semesters; Sophomores (24-53 credits) acquire a cumulative average of 1.7 or less; Juniors (54-83 credits) acquire a cumulative average of 1.8 or less; Seniors (84+ credits) acquire a cumulative average of 1.9 (regulations also apply to transfer students)

The Onward Program and Foundations Program students will need to meet specific requirements that are clearly outlined and mutually agreed upon.

The action is posted to the official academic record. A hold is placed on the student record to preclude enrollment as a matriculated student until the conditions of the suspension have been met.

Exceptions to suspension may be made for degree seeking students who have met any of the following conditions:

Earned a semester average of at least 2.0 while on probation, but who have not achieved a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.
Taken only one course in a semester and receive a semester average of 1.0 or below
Been in good academic standing for three full-time semesters prior to a semester average at or below 1.0

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 cumulative average or otherwise fail to meet conditions set by the college.

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

Program Dismissal

Due to accreditation, licensure and career standards, some academic programs have more stringent academic and ethical standards than the University academic guidelines. Failure to meet program requirements will lead to dismissal from the program. Since this is a program dismissal and not a dismissal from the University, the student may seek other opportunities in another academic program at the university. The decision to dismiss a student from their program is considered to be a permanent action. Students who are dismissed from a program have the opportunity to appeal the decision to the Academic Standing Appeals Committee. The process, as well as the timing of such an appeal, is outline in the notification of dismissal correspondence. The decision of the committee is final.

All program requirements regarding successful continuation and completion of particular degree programs are defined in the program’s handbook. Please contact your college office for information on how to view your handbook.

Academic Activity during Suspension/Dismissal

Students under dismissal or suspension may not be admitted as matriculated students at the University of Maine. 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 student while they are under suspension.

Academic Standing Appeal Procedures

Students appealing a suspension or dismissal must do so in writing addressed to the associate dean of their college or 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 Provost for Undergraduate Education, whose decision is final. The Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education 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 Provost for Undergraduate Education is unlikely to overturn a decision of the Appeals Committee unless there were procedural irregularities or unless new information becomes available.

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.

Academic Forgiveness

Academic forgiveness refers to the exclusion of an entire fall or spring semester from the calculation of a student’s grade point average and earned credits. All grades remain on the transcript. When academic forgiveness occurs, the associate dean or designee may waive the re-taking of selected courses for which the student has earned sufficient grades. Though the degree credit has been removed, these courses may be used to meet degree requirements and to meet pre-requisite requirements. Students must achieve program minimum requirements to graduate.

Students may receive academic forgiveness once during their association with the university following one of the actions listed below. In all cases, the semester to be forgiven is the one immediately prior to the qualifying action and is contingent on completion of their first 12 or more graded credits in the subsequent semester with a minimum semester GPA of 2.3 and no grades less than a C-. Students who regularly maintain less than a 12 credit hour load should check with their dean’s office regarding provisions for part-time students. Forgiveness must be requested in writing and once granted may not be revoked.

Actions eligible for academic forgiveness include the following:

Readmission to the University after academic suspension
Readmission to the University after a voluntary break in enrollment
Changing academic majors within or between colleges, if this action represents a substantial change in curriculum as determined by the associate dean or designee.

Students receiving Academic Forgiveness are excluded for consideration of Valedictorian or Salutatorian awards.

Fresh Start (5 year rule)

Students requesting readmission after an absence of five or more years may be treated as external transfers in the determination of credits and grade point average. Credit is allowed for all University of Maine courses passed at the level of C- or higher. All grades remain on the academic transcript, but are removed from calculation of the accumulative grade point average. To be eligible for fresh start, students must have a minimum of 30 credits remaining toward degree completion and must complete those 30 credits in residence at the University of Maine. Students receiving a fresh start are ineligible for Valedictorian or Salutatorian awards.