Academic probation and suspension

Probation
You are placed on academic probation if either your term (semester) or cumulative (overall) GPA falls below 2.00. You’ll stay on probation until both GPAs are at or above 2.00. If you are on probation, CDes will place a hold on your record that requires you to meet with your academic adviser to discuss your progress and to get permission to register for the upcoming term.  

Suspension
You may be suspended if your term and/or cumulative GPA is below 2.00 for two consecutive terms (excluding summer term). If suspended, you are not allowed to register at the U of M for a full academic year and you must request readmission to CDes. You may appeal a suspension decision by following the instructions specified in your suspension notice. For more information, contact Student Services.

Grade Point Average (GPA):

From your first term here until you graduate, you are building your U of M GPA. Grades from transfer coursework are not included in your U of M GPA. Each grade you earn is worth a certain number of grade points (except S or N grades, which are not figured into your GPA).

Grade            Grade Points
A                    4.000
A-                   3.667
B+                  3.333
B                    3.000
B-                   2.667
C                    2.000
C+                  2.333
C-                   1.667
D+                  1.333
D                    1.000
F                     0.000

To calculate your term (semester) GPA……

• Multiply the number of credits for a course by the grade points (above) for the grade you received in that course. This gives you the grade points for that particular course. Do this for each course in a given term.
• Add up the course points for all the courses in that term to arrive at the total course points for that term.
• Divide the course points for the term by the number of credits you took that term. This gives you your term GPA.

Example:
Eng 1001 - 2 credits     A grade     2 credits x 4.000 grade points = 8 course points
Hist 1001 - 1 credit      B grade     1 credits x 3.000 grade points = 3 course points
Econ 2001 - 4 credits    C grade     4 credits x 2.000 grade points = 8 course points
___________________________________________________
7 term credits                                                        17 term course points
17 term course points divided by 7 total credits = 2.428 term GPA 

For your cumulative (overall) GPA….

• Add up the credits for each term and then the grade points for each term to get your cumulative credits and cumulative grade points.
• Divide the cumulative points by the cumulative credits to arrive at your cumulative U of M GPA.
• Use the GPA Calculator to help you figure out how to attain a certain GPA. 

Grades and grading options

You may choose one of two grading options for your courses:  A/F or S/N. Grade base changes can be made only through the first two weeks of the term (see current term deadlines).  You cannot take courses in your major on the S/N grading system.

A/F Grades:
A - Outstanding achievement relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements
B - Achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements
C - Achievement that meets the course requirements in every respect
D - Achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to fully meet the course requirements
F - No credit earned

S/N Grades (“Pass or Fail”):
S - Satisfactory/pass; equivalent to “C-” or better; credit is granted
N - Not satisfactory/fail; credit is NOT granted"
Note: S/N grades are NOT factored into your GPA.
Liberal education courses may be taken S/N, but not major courses.
75 percents of credits must be taken A/F.

Incomplete “I” Grades:
An “I” is a temporary grade that shows that the work for the course has not been completed. You may request an “I” from your instructor if you have passed the halfway mark in your course and if you cannot finish the coursework due to extenuating circumstances. Granting or denying an “I” is your instructor’s decision. If s/he agrees to grant you an “I”, you and your instructor must fill out an Incomplete Contract, which specifies your outstanding requirements and the time and manner in which you will complete them. If you have not completed the requirements for that course within a year from when you received the “I” grade, the “I” will automatically turn into an “F” (or “N” if you took the course on an S/N basis).

Repeating a Course:

When you repeat a course, all grades for the course appear on the transcript, but the course credits are counted only once toward degree and program requirements. The first course is “bracketed,” which means it is removed from your total credits AND your GPA. The most recent grade is the one that counts toward your credits and GPA, even if it is a lower grade than the first.