Academic Standing

Grade Point Average (GPA)

UMaine calculates official student grade point average (GPA) values for each term (term GPA) and for the entirety of a student’s enrollment at UMaine (cumulative GPA) based exclusively on courses completed at UMaine and receiving letter grades of A-F. These calculations are completed by multiplying the number of credit hours earned for each eligible course by the numerical equivalent (e.g. 4.00, 3.67, etc.) of the letter grade earned, as defined in the Grading System policy. These calculations are carried to two decimal places (truncated) and are not rounded (e.g. a calculation of 3.679 is recorded as 3.67).

For example, a 3-credit course with a grade of B- earns 2.67 points per credit hour, for 8.01 total points, while a 3-credit course with a grade of A- earns 3.67 points per credit hour, for 11.01 total points. Those two courses taken together during a single term would result in a term GPA of 3.17.

Courses a student has withdrawn from, taken as Pass/Fail (or any other non-GPA grading basis), earned via examination (e.g. AP, CLEP, etc.), or completed at any other institution (transfer credit; see Course Repeat Policy) are not included in the calculation of the term or cumulative GPA.

Individual academic departments or programs may calculate specialized GPA values (e.g. major or program GPA) to meet departmental or accreditation requirements. While these specialized GPA values are generally reflected in the degree progress report within MaineStreet, they are distinct from the term and cumulative GPAs and are not reflected on the official transcript.

Academic Standing

Each student’s academic standing is determined based on their term and/or cumulative GPA values for courses taken at UMaine. Students with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or greater are considered to be in good academic standing. Statuses of Academic Concern, Academic Contract and Probation, do not specifically prohibit a student from participating in extracurricular activities unless otherwise specified by University policy, rules, or by-laws governing the activity or organization.

Academic Recognition

The University recognizes outstanding academic achievement of degree-seeking students in several ways. Two of the most prestigious are the Presidential Scholar and the Dean’s List designations, which are awarded in the Spring and Fall terms only. These achievements are based exclusively on courses and credit hours applicable toward the term and/or cumulative GPA (See GPA policy).

Eligibility to be recognized for these academic achievements is assessed thirty-five (35) calendar days after the last day of the final exam period of each Spring and Fall term. Students with any missing grades, or unresolved Incomplete grades, remaining on their record for the relevant term when eligibility is reviewed will be ineligible to receive recognition, and their records will not be reassessed for eligibility at a later date.

Once awarded, academic recognitions are recorded on the official transcript by the Office of Student Records.

Presidential Scholar

To be recognized as a Presidential Scholar a student must earn 12 or more credit hours from courses applicable toward the GPA in the relevant term, and earn a 4.0 term GPA.

Full-time Dean’s List

To be eligible for the Full-time Dean’s List, a student must earn 12 or more credit hours from courses applicable toward the GPA in the relevant term and earn a 3.50 or higher term GPA.

Student teachers may qualify for the Full-time Dean’s List during their semester of student teaching provided they are enrolled full-time and either A) enter the term with a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA and earn a minimum 3.50 term GPA or B) earn a minimum 3.50 term GPA on 6 or more credit hours from courses applicable toward the 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 credit hours from courses applicable toward the GPA over both terms and have earned a combined GPA in those terms of 3.50 or higher.

Academic Actions (Concerns, Probation, Suspension, Dismissal)

Degree-seeking students who fail to meet the minimum academic standards for satisfactory progress toward their degree (separate from the satisfactory academic progress (SAP) assessed for financial aid), both in a single semester and overall, are considered to be in negative academic standing and may be subject to an academic action.

A university-wide committee administers the academic standing policy by placing students on concern, probation, suspension, or dismissal. Review occurs at the end of the fall and spring semesters.

Academic Concern

Students whose cumulative GPA remains above 2.00, but whose term GPA was below 2.00 for a given term, will be assigned a status of academic concern. Students with this status remain in good academic standing, but will be contacted to determine what factor(s) may have contributed to their drop in term GPA and what resources may be available to assist with their academic success.

Academic Probation

Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 following a spring or fall term are placed on academic probation. Students on probation may also be placed on a contract by their college’s Dean’s Office that requires them to meet certain academic conditions defined by their college dean.

Students on academic probation who do not improve their cumulative GPA to a 2.00 by the end of the next semester, or who fail to meet the conditions of an academic contract, may be continued on probation or have their action escalated to academic suspension.

Students on probation are restored to good standing after achieving a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher following any term.

Students who return to good standing but fail to meet the terms of an academic contract may be subject to continued academic restrictions from their College, up to and including Program Dismissal.

Academic Suspension

Students will be subject to suspension following any fall or spring semester when any of the following conditions apply:

The student’s earned semester GPA is 0.00 and their cumulative gpa is below 2.00.
The student has failed to fulfill the terms of an academic contract.
The student is already on probation and has earned a semester GPA of 1.00 or below.
The student is already on probation and has not met required cumulative GPA minima (at least 1.7 for students with 0-23 earned credits; at least 2.0 for students with 24 or more earned credits) unless the student’s semester GPA is 2.00 or higher.

Suspension is noted on the student’s official academic record, a hold will be placed on their account, and they are made inactive in MaineStreet pending readmission.

Suspended students may file an application for readmission to resume their studies after one semester (Spring or Fall) of non-enrollment.

Students may request permission from their associate dean to take up to two courses (maximum 8 credit hours) per semester, and/or during the summer term, as a non-degree student while they are under suspension. Courses completed while enrolled as non-degree do impact the cumulative GPA and may be used to meet degree requirements, however, students are ineligible for housing and financial aid while enrolled as non-degree.

Double Major and Dual Degree students:

If a student is pursuing a double major or dual degrees and is suspended, recommendation from both Associate Deans (if the majors or degrees are in different colleges) are required for the student to register as a non-degree student.

Academic Dismissal
Dismissal is 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 GPA or otherwise fail to meet conditions set by the college. A student who has been dismissed is considered separated from the University permanently, and a notation stating this is placed on the student’s official transcript.

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 these programs. Since this is a program dismissal and not a dismissal from the University, the student may have the opportunity to earn a degree 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 outlined in the notification of dismissal. The decision of the committee is final.

Summer Session Courses for Suspended and Dismissed Students
Students who are notified of suspension or academic dismissal from the university while attending a summer session or winter term course will be allowed to complete that course for a 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 GPA 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.

Any semester of non-degree enrollment will not be considered under this policy. Students receiving Academic Forgiveness are excluded for consideration of Valedictorian or Salutatorian awards. Academic Forgiveness may impact a student’s eligibility for financial aid due to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Information is available at http://umaine.edu/stuaid/policies/sap/.

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 GPA. 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 cumulative GPA. 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. For more information, contact the Associate Dean or Director of the School or College you are readmitting into. Fresh Start may impact a student’s eligibility for financial aid due to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Information is available at http://umaine.edu/stuaid/policies/sap/.