CAS Academic Probation Program
Mission Statement
The University of Scranton CAS Academic Probation Program is a holistic approach designed to help students develop academic skills as well as effective self-management strategies and to encourage emotional development with the intent of promoting academic success with lifelong learning competencies.
What is Academic Probation?
A student is placed on academic probation if:
- His or her overall GPA falls below a 2.0;
- He or she receives two or more F’s in one semester;
- He or she accumulates three or more unrepeated F’s.
A student is granted one semester to increase his or her cumulative GPA to a 2.0 or greater in order to remove his or herself from academic probation. Please note: Academic Probation is separate and distinct from scholarship probation. Contact Financial Aid regarding scholarships, grants and loans which may be impacted by academic standing.
As a student on academic probation, you are in danger of:
- Losing your financial aid package (different scholarships have different GPA requirements); Clcik here for a list of GPA requirements for each scholarship.
- Not graduating on time due to lost credits;
- Being forced to choose a new major due to poor academic performance;
- Being dismissed from The University of Scranton.
You may face dismissal from The University of Scranton if you:
- Do not increase your cumulative GPA to at least a 2.0 by the end of this semester;
- Receive an F while on probation;
- Accumulate three or more unrepeated F’s;
- Do not fully participate in the CAS Academic Probation Program.
Requirements for Academic Probation
Students on academic probation may be limited in the number of credits they can take. The student’s academic advisor will work in conjunction with the CAS Dean to determine an appropriate credit load.
A student on academic probation is required to meet with his or her advisor on a regular basis, complete all materials assigned and participate and work in coordination with the campus resources that are outlined below. Students on academic probation are ineligible to play a varsity sport and/or participate in extracurricular activities such as theatre, music, etc. Only departmental clubs are permitted.
Summary of Responsibilities of Advisees
- Attend all individual meetings with your academic advisor.
- Provide 24 hours’ notice if you need to reschedule an appointment with your academic advisor.
- Earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.
- Study at least 2-3 hours per credit per week (minimum 28-42 hours per week).
- Participate fully in the PASS Program, which means that you will keep at least 6 appointments with your Practicum Counselor.
- Evaluate whether your chosen field of study is a match for your interests and abilities. If not, talk to your academic advisor as soon as possible to determine a better suited major.
- Visit Career Services to discuss career and internship possibilities.
- Use your planner to track assignments, examinations and appointments.
- Check your University of Scranton email daily.
- Utilize all additional campus resources that can help you improve your academic performance.
Responsibilities of Academic Advisors
- Actively engage in all meetings.
- Respond to all communications within 24 hours between Monday and Friday.
- Provide accurate and honest feedback and information.
- Provide 24 hours’ notice of rescheduled appointments.
- Protect confidentiality of all information discussed.
PASS Program
The PASS (Professional and Academic Support for Success) Program is a support service provided to you by graduate practicum counseling students who are nearing completion of a master’s degree in counseling. The Academic Advising Center has referred you to the PASS Program because of your academic probation status. During the semester, you will attend individual counseling/mentoring sessions with graduate students. The graduate students will receive intensive supervision throughout this process.
Students participating in the PASS program will receive approximately 6 -12 individual sessions with a practicum counseling student. The focus will be on individual needs for remediation based on the grades, department evaluation and the initial assessment completed by the practicum counseling student.
Services may include:
-administration and interpretation of inventories
-varied supportive services
-information/referral
-career counseling and goal setting
To arrange for participation in PASS, please email a copy of your current class schedule to Geri Barber at gerianne.barber@scranton.edu. You will be contacted shortly thereafter by the graduate student assigned to assist you.
Probation Questionnaire
Completed packets must be handed in by first Friday of the semester. You can drop your packet off in the CAS Academic Advising Center (St. Thomas Hall 209). If you do not have access to a printer, stop by the Academic Advising Center to pick up a copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What does it mean to be on academic probation?
Q. I did not fail any courses, why do I have a deficient grade?
Q. Am I being dismissed?
Q. Should I change my major?
Q. If I decide to change my major, how do I do it?
Q. Is there any way to remove an F off my transcript?
Q. Should I repeat a course in which I received an F or D?
Q. How soon should I repeat a course?
Q. The course I failed was a prerequisite to a course I want to take next semester. What should I do?
Q. I don’t think the instructor gave me the correct grade and now I am on probation. How do I appeal a grade?
Q. Can I transfer to a different college at The University of Scranton while on academic probation?
Q. Will my instructors be told that I am on academic probation?
Q. How does probation affect my financial aid?
Q. How does an S for Satisfactory or U for unsatisfactory affect my GPA?
Q. I currently have an “I” as a course grade. What does this mean?
Q. Where can I learn about University of Scranton resources?
Q. Can I repeat a course at a different university?
Q. Can I participate in extracurricular activities (e.g. sports, theater, etc)?
Q. What does it mean to be on academic probation?
A. A student is placed on Academic Probation when:
- his or her overall GPA falls below a 2.0;
- he or she receives two or more F’s in one semester;
- he or she accumulates three or more unrepeated F’s.
Q. I did not fail any courses, why do I have a deficient grade?
A. The University of Scranton recognizes a C as the minimal grade you should receive. Even though you do not fail a course with a C, C-, D+ or D, your grade is below average and you should start improving your GPA. Remember, probation is not dismissal; it is a warning that you are in danger of not passing. The graph below will assist you in determining where you are in regards to your grades.
|
C |
2.00 |
Minimal passing grade for ALL Skills courses (WRTG 105, 106, 107, C/IL 102, 102L, COMM 100, INTD 184) |
|
C- |
1.67 |
Deficient grade (Below a 2.0) Credits are still earned |
|
D+ |
1.33 |
Deficient grade (Below a 2.0) Credits are still earned |
|
D |
1.00 |
Deficient grade (Below a 2.0) Credits are still earned |
|
F |
0.00 |
Deficient grade (Below a 2.0) Credit is NOT earned |
A. No, but you will face potential dismissal from The University of Scranton if you:
- Do not increase your cumulative GPA to at least a 2.0 by the end of this semester;
- Receive an F while on probation;
- Accumulate three or more unrepeated Fs.
A. This is an important question to start asking yourself. It is very important to know why you did not do well last semester. Many students struggle because their major did not fit with their interests or aptitudes. This is something that you should discuss with your advisor.
Q. If I decide to change my major, how do I do it?
A. While you are on academic probation, you are not eligible to change majors. However, you can begin taking courses in your new major. Please ask your academic advisor what options are available and what courses you are able to take.
Q. Is there any way to remove an F from my transcript?
A. Unfortunately, no. While retaking the course will remove the F from the calculation of your GPA, the F will remain on your transcript.
Q. Should I repeat a course in which I received an F or D?
A. The recording of grades for repeated courses shall be governed by the following conditions: 1. Credit for a course will be granted only once; 2. Credit for the course will be lost if the course is repeated and failed; 3. The most recent credit and grade will count toward the GPA with this exception: a “W” grade cannot replace another grade; 4. Each attempt to complete a course will be reported on the student’s transcript; 5. Ordinarily, a student may repeat a course only in the same mode in which it was originally taken; 6. A student cannot repeat a course at another institution.
Q. How soon should I repeat a course?
A. It is recommended to repeat the course as soon as possible. Using the table below as an example, you are able to see how a repeated course could boost your GPA. In the example, the student failed History the first semester (as seen in the first column). In the second column, the student repeats History and receives a B. His overall GPA is now a 3.33. In the third column, the student did not repeat the course and his overall GPA is 2.50.
|
Fall Semester 1 |
Spring Semester (Repeat of course) |
Spring Semester (NON Repeat of course) |
||||||||
|
Credits |
Course |
Grade |
Credits |
Course |
Grade |
Credits |
Course |
Grade |
||
|
3 |
English |
B |
3 |
History |
B |
3 |
Math |
A |
||
|
3 |
History |
F |
3 |
Math |
A |
3 |
Science |
B |
||
|
Semester GPA |
1.50 |
Semester GPA |
3.50 |
Semester GPA |
3.50 |
|||||
|
Cumm GPA |
1.50 |
Cumm GPA |
3.33 |
Cumm GPA |
2.50 |
|||||
Q. The course I failed was a prerequisite to a course I want to take next semester. What should I do?
A. If you already registered for the course for next semester, you must drop the course immediately. Prerequisite courses are designed to prepare you for the course that follows. If you did not do well in the prerequisite course, it will be very hard to do well in the next level course.
Q. I don’t think the instructor gave me the correct grade and now I am on probation. How do I appeal a grade?
A. A student who believes the grade received for a course is unreasonable or incorrect should first address the concern to the professor, whose decision is normally final. The student has the right, however, to appeal to the faculty member’s chairperson, who will make a recommendation in writing to his or her Dean. The student may request the Dean to review the grade. The decision of the Dean is final. Ordinarily, no grade change will be considered unless it has been reviewed by the Dean’s Office within one month from the time the original grade was sent to the student.
Q. Can I transfer to a different college at The University of Scranton while on academic probation?
A. No. You cannot change your major while on probation. Under most circumstances you can still take courses that will allow you to progress in the major into which you would like to switch.
Q. Will my instructors be told that I am on academic probation?
A. No. Your instructors are not made aware of you being on probation unless you tell them.
Q. How does probation affect my financial aid?
A. The Financial Aid Office can assist you with this question. Each student has different scholarship requirements. Financial Aid’s number is 570.941.7700. Their hours are Monday- Friday 8:30-4:30.
Q. How does an S for Satisfactory or U for unsatisfactory affect my GPA?
A. It does not affect your GPA but satisfactory completion of pass/fail courses is required for graduation.
Q. I currently have an “I” as a course grade. What does this mean?
A. Grades of “I” or “incomplete” are given at the sole discretion of the professor when a student has not completed all the assignments by the end of the semester. Students are expected to complete and submit the outstanding assignments as soon as possible after the end of the semester. When the instructor has graded the completed work, he or she will submit a change of grade form. If the student has not finished the “incomplete” by the midpoint of next semester, the “incomplete” will automatically change to an “F”. The course will then need to be completely repeated in order to earn credit.
Q. Where can I learn about University of Scranton resources?
A. Click here for a full list of campus resources.
Q. Can I repeat a course at a different university?
A. To receive credit and a grade change for any repeated course, it must be completed at The University of Scranton.
Q. Can I participate in extracurricular activities (e.g. sports, theater, etc)?
A. No. Since you are very close to being dismissed from The University of Scranton, your grades should be your main concern. It is important to organize your free time in a more productive manner and to study and be ahead in all your classes. The only exception of this rule is departmental clubs.