Status Policies

Required Grade Point Average

All undergraduate students must meet the established standards designating appropriate academic progress.

As discussed in the section, Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees, a student must earn a minimum cumulative USA grade point average of 2.0 to graduate. (See special requirements in the College of Education and Professional Studies.) The cumulative GPA hours- all hours taken at USA and all transfer hours -will determine the required minimum USA GPA. Cumulative GPA hours can be found in PAWS.

Academic Probation

Students with a cumulative grade point average below 2.0 are having academic difficulties and are alerted to this fact by being placed on Academic Probation. Students who earn Academic Probation receive a Academic Probation hold and are required to meet with their academic advisor to discuss their course load and plans for the upcoming semester. Students will not be able to adjust or make changes to their schedule until they speak with their academic advisor or designated staff in their dean's office.

Academic Suspension

Academic Suspension for one regular semester, Fall or Spring, results if a student at the end of any semester on Academic Probation does not have the minimum cumulative USA grade point average indicated in the table below. If a student earns a USA grade point average of 2.0 or higher for the term but does not meet the table requirements, the student will be allowed to register for the upcoming term. A student in this case must meet with an academic advisor to create an Academic Success plan that specifies a viable path to degree completion.

The minimum required grade point average varies with the total number of Cumulative GPA hours. No student will be placed on Academic Suspension who has not spent the prior term of enrollment on Academic Probation. Students will not receive credit at USA for courses taken at other institutions while on suspension from USA.

What Should I Do If I Have Been Suspended? 

There are a number of positive things you can do to make good use of your time away from South and improve your chances for academic success moving forward. 

1. Enroll in summer courses at the University of South Alabama during the summer term immediately following your suspension. Students on Academic Suspension for the upcoming fall semester, due to spring grades, can earn reinstatement for the upcoming fall semester by completing courses at USA during the summer term and increasing their cumulative USA GPA to the appropriate level stated on the Suspension/Dismissal Table. Be sure to work with your academic advisor to plan the best course of action for your success.
2. If you have any Incomplete grades from this past semester, be sure to complete the work in the course(s).  Incomplete grades that go unattended will change to I/F grades on your transcript and eventually lower your GPA.
3. Check to see if you have utilized grade replacements or academic reboot. This could impact your GPA and academic status. 
4. When appropriate, consider enrolling in courses at another college and achieve the highest grades you can. Be sure to speak with your advisor about the best course options for you. Note, courses completed at other institutions do not contribute to your USA grade point average.
5. Working may be a good option for some students. Working now might allow you to reduce your work schedule upon reinstatement, especially if you have to work while in school and you know that balancing school and work has been a challenge for you.

• If your academic performance has suffered due to personal or family illness or personal or family issues, use this time while out on suspension to heal, recuperate, and/or attend to family concerns.
• Take stock of your academic strengths and areas of growth and how these relate to your future goals. Is your current major the right fit for you? Do you have a major yet? If you can honestly assess your academic strengths and choose a path of study that allows you to excel rather than struggle academically upon your reinstatement, you will find yourself a much happier and more successful student. Be sure to talk to your advisor and a career counselor.
• Meet with your academic advisor to develop a success plan for your return.

Appeal for First Academic Suspension

The procedure for a student to appeal an academic suspension decision follows:

1. The suspended student must present a letter describing the extenuating personal circumstances that contributed to his or her academic deficiencies. Each individual wishing to appeal an academic suspension is required to submit this letter outlining the reasons for the applicant’s previous academic problems and how the applicant plans to correct the problems.
   
   Examples of extenuating circumstances to be considered for appeal could include:
   – death of an immediate family member, 
   – significant trauma that impaired the student’s ability to be successful, and/or
   – other unexpected, documented circumstances beyond the control of the student.
2. Appropriate documentation relative to the need for additional consideration and/or substantiating the circumstances related to the appeal can be included and will aid in the committee’s decision.
3. An academic success plan developed with the student’s academic advisor detailing a clear path to future academic success.
   
   Additional materials for consideration:
4. While not required, you may submit letters of support from staff/faculty

The student petition with additional documentation should be submitted to appeals@southalabama.edu. Please note – the appeal process can take up to two weeks. 

The suspension appeal documentation will be forwarded to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Should the Office of Academic Affairs approve an appeal, they will recommend that the student be reinstated on academic probation. The student must maintain a minimum 2.0 term grade point average or reach the retention standards outlined on the probation table - https://www.southalabama.edu/bulletin/current/academic-policy/academic-status.html. The decision of the Office of Academic Affairs is final.

If you have applied for or intend to apply for federal financial aid, please be aware that the Financial Aid Academic Progress Policy and appeal process is separate from the Academic Suspension Appeal Policy and procedure. Reinstatement from suspension does not change the Financial Aid academic progress calculation. If you have questions please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (251) 460-6231 or finaid@southalabama.edu.

Academic Dismissal

Academic Dismissal for one calendar year results if a student who has been reinstated following a previous Academic Suspension or Dismissal fails to make satisfactory progress. Satisfactory progress is specified in the sections following titled Reinstatement Following Academic Suspension and Reinstatement Following Academic Dismissal.

Suspension and Dismissal Table

Cumulative GPA hours include both institutional and transfer GPA hours.

Reinstatement Following Academic Suspension

Students reinstated following one regular term, Fall or Spring, (excludes summer term) of Academic Suspension are reinstated on Academic Probation. Students who do not return to the institution immediately following Academic Suspension will be subject to the rules of readmissions. Returning students are subject to Academic Dismissal if they do not make satisfactory progress. A student is considered to be making satisfactory progress as long as he or she maintains a USA grade point average for each semester of 2.0 or above until their cumulative USA grade point average is above the minimum required grade point average as outlined in the table above. Once a student achieves a grade point average higher than the minimum required grade point average, he or she is subject to the requirement to maintain his or her grade point average above the minimum value as listed in the table. Reinstated students will remain on probation until the cumulative USA grade point average is 2.0 or greater.

Reinstatement Following Academic Dismissal

Students academically dismissed from USA will be reinstated on Academic Probation after a period of one calendar year. Reinstatement on Academic Probation requires students to meet with an academic advisor prior to registering for classes. Students reinstated after Academic Dismissal are subject to a second Academic Dismissal if they do not make satisfactory progress. A student is considered to be making satisfactory progress as long as he or she maintains a USA grade point average for each semester of 2.0 or above until their cumulative USA grade point average is above the minimum required grade point average as outlined in the table above. Once a student achieves a grade point average higher than the minimum required grade point average, he or she is subject to the requirement to maintain his or her grade point average above the minimum value as listed in the table. Reinstated students will remain on Academic Probation until the cumulative USA grade point average is 2.0 or greater.

Students intending to seek reinstatement after Academic Dismissal must first file a Readmission Form with the Admission's Office by the official deadline.

Academic Bankruptcy

Undergraduate students readmitted after an absence of at least one or more calendar years may choose to count all or none of their University of South Alabama credits toward completion of degree requirements and the computation of their GPA. Should the student elect to count none of the prior work, i.e., declare academic bankruptcy, the student is, in effect, allowed to start academic work at the University of South Alabama over with a GPA of zero in good standing; however, all course work will remain on the student's academic record. This determination must be made by the student during the term of reentry no later than the last day of class for that term, but preferably at the time of application for readmission. It requires dean's office approval. This election may be made only once during a student's USA career and is irrevocable. Such election also carries with it the stipulation that the student's choice of Bulletin is limited to those in effect from the time in which the student declares academic bankruptcy onward. Academic bankruptcy applies only to courses completed at the University of South Alabama.

In determining academic honors at the University of South Alabama, only the course work taken after academic bankruptcy has been declared counts in the calculation of GPA.

The option of academic bankruptcy is not available to a student who has received a bachelor's degree or certificate.

For financial aid recipients - filing academic bankruptcy will not clear your satisfactory progress problem nor reinstate your federal financial aid eligibility (including loans).

Academic Reboot

Students may request to declare Academic Reboot for one single academic term of study. This could be particularly appropriate for a change of program or major, where none of an earlier semester’s classes are prerequisites for the new major or program of study. If approved, the Academic Reboot request will retroactively remove all registered courses for that term on the last day of classes from the completion of their degree requirements and from the USA GPA calculation for that term.

Note to students: If you are receiving financial aid, please be aware that the Standards of Academic Progress Policy is separate from the Academic Reboot policy. Filing Academic Reboot will not improve the satisfactory academic progress calculation. All work attempted is part of this calculation and rebooting courses could negatively affect your eligibility for financial aid. If you have questions please contact the Office of Financial Aid (251) 460-6231 or finaid@southalabama.edu. 

If you have received a University of South Alabama Scholarship that requires you to complete 30 semester hours/ academic year, be aware that an academic reboot will impact the hour earning required for scholarship renewal. If you are considering petitioning for academic reboot, you should speak with the Office of Scholarship Services about the implication for scholarship renewal. The Office of Scholarship Services can be reached at (251) 461-1958 or at scholarships@southalabama.edu.

The following specific rules apply to any petition for academic reboot:

• Only currently enrolled undergraduate students, first Bachelor degree seeking, at the University of South Alabama are eligible to request Academic Reboot.
• Certain programs do not allow for Academic Reboot, including the College of Nursing clinical program and some other professional, clinical programs. Students should meet with their academic advisor to discuss eligibility.
• Maymester, Summer I, and Summer 2 sessions are together considered a single academic term.
• Academic Reboot is never granted for the academic term in which the student is currently enrolled. The earliest petition for Academic Reboot can be filed is after the end of the following term, provided a 2.0 term USA GPA is earned.
• A petition for Academic Reboot may only be filed following a term in which a student earned a 2.0 term USA GPA.
• Academic Reboot is only granted for coursework completed during an academic term at the University of South Alabama. Transfer and placement credits are not eligible for Academic Reboot.
• Petitions for Academic Reboot must be filed by the last class day during the term prior to graduation.
• No more than one petition for Academic Reboot may be approved during the student's academic career at the University of South Alabama. If approved, the Reboot is irrevocable.
• If the petition for Academic Reboot is approved, the courses the student was registered for on the last day of classes for that term will not contribute to degree requirements or be computed in the USA GPA; however, all course work for that term will remain on the student's academic record, including the transcript. 
• The option of Academic Reboot is not available to a student who has completed any Bachelor's degree.
• The application for Academic Reboot is filed in the Dean's office of the academic college in which the student is enrolled (i.e. the college including their academic major). Once a student has been enrolled in an academic college for one term, that college has the authority to grant Academic Reboot for a term in which the student was enrolled in another academic college.
• A course in which academic misconduct has been established will not be included in an Academic Reboot.
• No courses subject to the Academic Reboot can be used to satisfy prerequisite requirements for any subsequent course.

Related policies: Grade Replacement and Complete Withdrawal from All Courses

Withdrawals

Official withdrawal (dropping all courses in progress) from the University can be done through PAWS (the student on-line self- service system). Students attending with VA benefits need to check with the Veteran Affairs Office prior to withdrawing. Students with financial aid need to check with that office to determine the impact of course drops or complete withdrawals on financial aid eligibility or possible repayments. International students must get authorization from the Office of International Services prior to withdrawing. The symbol "WD" is recorded for all courses when the student completes the withdrawal within the time limits listed in the official calendar. A grade of "F, or U" is recorded when a currently enrolled student leaves the University without completing the withdrawal.

Readmission to the University

Students who were previously enrolled in courses at the University of South Alabama, and have been absent from the University of South Alabama for at least three consecutive terms should comply with the following:

How to Apply for Readmission

An applicant should request the appropriate forms from the Admission's Office. The readmission form, including all required credentials, should be filed with the Admission's Office by the published deadlines found on the Admission's Office website https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/admissions/applytousa.html.

Requirements for Readmission

An applicant must be eligible to return to the University of South Alabama on the basis of a previous academic record at this institution. If the student has attended any college or university subsequent to last enrollment at the University of South Alabama, the student must also have the required transfer average or higher (as computed by the University of South Alabama) on work attempted, and must be in good standing and eligible to return to the last institution attended.

Transient Credits Earned

University of South Alabama students who plan to attend another college or university to take a course(s) for transfer to USA are considered transient students. A student must be in good academic standing (a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher) and submit a Transient Credit form to the University of South Alabama Registrar to take credit work as a transient student at another institution and have the credit applied toward their degree program at USA.

Students should use the USA Transfer Evaluation System (TES) to verify that the course(s) they wish to take will transfer to USA. Students should consult their advisor if uncertain of a course equivalency or an institution or course is not listed in the TES. Students should check with their academic advisor on transfer credit limitations.

Once the transient coursework is completed, the student must request that an official transcript be sent from the other institution to the University of South Alabama Registrar. This can be sent electronically through the National Student Clearinghouse or can be sent directly from the college or university. Information on this process can be found here: https://www.southalabama.edu/departments/registrar/records/transcripts.html.

Students do not need to submit a transient credit form if they have not been enrolled at the University for two or more consecutive terms (not including summer).