Academic Policies

Academic Standing and Progression Policy

Effective Spring 2013, the minimum requirements to remain in academic good standing are:

1.80 Semester GPA
2.00 Cumulative GPA
67% Completion

Academic Suspension

Students placed on academic probation must complete a written academic plan and a written financial aid appeal (if receiving financial assistance) in order to meet their probationary terms. Guidelines on how to complete these requirements are outlined in each student’s probationary letter.

The first Academic Suspension is for a period of one long semester (fall or spring). Extenuating circumstances may be presented to the appropriate academic Dean for review. A second Academic Suspension is for a period of at least 12 months. Removal of probation after a suspension is governed by the readmission conditions.

GPA and Completion Ratio

The GPA for a semester includes all courses taken for credit. Therefore, in addition to courses passed with a grade of D or higher, the GPA includes those with F and WF. Not included are zero-hour course; pass/no-pass course; those taken as an Auditor; and courses with grades of W, WX, NC, I, IP, IS, or CR. All courses attempted, however, are figured into the semester completion ratio.

The above policy does not govern eligibility for financial assistance. Please contact the Office of Financial Assistance for eligibility requirements.

Adding Courses

During the 100% refund period (corresponds to the first calendar week of fall and spring semesters or to the first two days of a summer session), changes to course schedules can be processed online via Gateway without incurring any charges. If attempting to add a closed course during the 100% refund period, the student must submit an add/drop form to the Registrar’s office with the signatures of the course instructor, the student’s academic adviser, and the chair of the department from which the course is being offered. If the course is part of the SMC then the signature of the Core Director is required.

During the 75% and 50% refund periods, signatures of approval from the course instructor, Academic Adviser, and Dean are required on all add/drop forms in order to add a course(s) and/or to switch sections within the same course. If a student wishes to add a course that has closed, he/she must submit an add/drop form to the Registrar’s Office with the appropriate signatures as previously indicated.

After the 50% refund period (approximately corresponds to after the third calendar week of classes during the fall or spring semester or after the first calendar week of classes during a summer session or an eight week course), students may not add any courses and/or switch sections within the same course except in extremely rare and extenuating circumstances as approved by the instructor of the course and the Dean of the school from which the course is being offered. This Add/Schedule Change policy is in agreement with our current Attendance policy which states that a student may be dropped from a course after missing the equivalent of two weeks of classes.

Class Attendance

View the Undergraduate Attendance Policy in the St. Mary’s University Policy Library.

For Law Students

St. Mary’s requires regular attendance in class. Students with problems that will cause numerous absences should see the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. In addition to the rules described below, a professor may impose alternate policies that do not affect a student’s grade or course registration. (For example, a student may be required to meet with the professor after a set number of absences.) For further information please refer to the Law Student Handbook.