Policies

Index of Policies

Student Academic Standing

All courses completed at Fitchburg State University determine current academic standing. Credits transferred from another institution are applied to a student’s total number of credits earned, but grades earned from transferred credits are not calculated into the cumulative GPA. The Dean of Students also coordinates the review, listing and notification of students placed on probation, suspension or dismissal based on academic performance. Appeals regarding academic standing are addressed to the Dean of Students.

Good Academic Standing

To achieve good academic standing, students must:

  • Maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
  • Meet any additional requirements of the major which have been approved by the All University Committee (AUC) and are consistent with university policy.
  • At the end of each term, the office coordinates the listing and notification of students named to the President's List and Dean's List.

President’s List

Honors students for consistently high academic achievement. Students are named to the President’s List when they have attained a semester average of 3.75 or higher for three successive semesters while maintaining full-time status. Incompletes do not count toward the President’s List.

Dean’s List

Honors students who have attained an average of 3.2 or better for the semester while maintain full-time status. Incompletes do not count toward the Dean’s List.

Probation

If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 at the end of any semester, that student will be placed on probation. To prevent suspension, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • A student on probation who has attempted fewer than 33 semester hours and who has maintained a cumulative GPA of 1.6 or higher for two semesters may enroll for a third semester to improve academic standing.
  • A student on probation who has attempted 33 to 59 semester hours and who has maintained a cumulative GPA of 1.8 or higher for four semesters may enroll for a fifth semester to improve academic standing.

Students on probation must:

Students placed on probation for the first time will remain eligible to:

  • Hold elected or appointed office
  • Serve on campus committees
  • Participate on athletic teams (provided academic progress meets the criteria in Section 1)

Any additional probation will disqualify a student from eligibility for these activities. Students who voluntarily withdraw or take a leave of absence from the university while on probation will remain on probation if they are readmitted. Students who maintain the University’s academic standards for probation must also meet the financial aid and athletic eligibility requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress. (Financial Aid and Athletics offices have additional academic requirements for probationary students. Students should consult the appropriate office to determine their eligibility.)

Suspension

Any student who earns a grade point average of 1.0 or lower in their first semester of full-time study at Fitchburg State University will be suspended from the University. In all other cases, students will be suspended at the end of their second consecutive semester on academic probation if they do not meet the following GPA and credit criteria:

  • A student who has attempted fewer than 33 semester hours and has a cumulative GPA below 1.6 after two semesters.
  • A student who has attempted 33-59 semester hours and has a cumulative GPA below 1.8 after four semesters.
  • A student who has attempted 60 credits and has less than a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Suspended students are not eligible to enroll in any credit course in any division of Fitchburg State University for at least one semester.

Following suspension, students must submit a Readmission Application before the Add/Drop deadline, which is provided in the Academic Calendar. Students who are readmitted after a suspension do so under a Dean Probation Contract with the Dean of Students. Suspension status is not changed by a voluntary withdrawal or leave of absence.

Dismissal

Once students have been readmitted after a suspension, they must meet probationary standards and do so under contract with the dean of student and academic life to avoid dismissal. Dismissal status results in permanent dismissal from all divisions of Fitchburg State University. A dismissed student may not enroll in any credit courses in any division of the university for a period of five years.

Credit Elimination Policy

The Credit Elimination Policy applies to students who leave the University and desire to return after five or more calendar years. Such students may eliminate all or part of previously earned credits from their transcripts, in units of one semester or more. When a particular semester of credit is designated to be eliminated, all credits from this semester must be eliminated, which benefits a student’s grade point average. However, please note, credit elimination does not erase or alter attempted credits per federal financial aid guidelines.

This policy requires that:

  • Credit elimination may only occur once
  • A request for credit elimination must be in writing
  • The dean of student and academic life must approve the request

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Requests

Each year, the financial aid office reviews credit and grade point average compliance relative to financial aid regulations. Letters are forwarded to students not in compliance with current regulations, outlining alternate options available to them for financial aid. Students have a one-time opportunity to appeal for continued financial aid on a probationary status. This is known as a SAP Appeal, and has academic stipulations that students must adhere to in order to maintain and continue receiving federal aid. SAP appeals request are reviewed by the Dean of Students Office.

Academic Policy Waiver Requests

Requests or appeals of academic policies identified in the University catalog and issues or concerns related to classes or department polices, must be submitted through a Student Petition and approved by faculty and Academic Affairs administrators. If you are unsure how to navigate this process, a member of the Case Management team can assist you.

Leave of Absence Policy

Students enrolled in the university may request a period of separation – normally not to exceed one semester. Students who are on an approved Leave of Absence (LOA) maintain their active status. Students on a Personal Leave of Absence (not a medical or veteran leave) will be able to contact their advisor directly in order to register themselves for the semester of their return. Students on a Medical Leave of Absence should contact the Office of Student Affairs office prior to their return. Veterans should reach out to the Registrar’s Office. Please note: Taking a Leave of Absence does not change the status of a returning student who was not in good academic standing at the start of their Leave of Absence. 

A student who does not return for the approved semester will be withdrawn unless an extension is granted through the Student Affairs office. A student who wishes to extend a Leave of Absence must request that through the Student Affairs Office and present a valid reason for the extension. A leave that extends beyond one semester is reported as a withdrawal from the university. However, your student account will remain active. 

Most common exceptions to the one semester limit would include military deployment and medical conditions that require more than a semester for recovery. Appropriate documentation (medical documentation, military orders) may be required. 

Please note: A leave of absence does not pause federal loan repayment and the Title IV refund policy will be applied to all leave of absences. 

For more information regarding taking a Leave of Absence, refer to the Case Management webpage, or contact the Office of Student Affairs for assistance.

Withdrawing from Fitchburg State University

Students seeking a short-term leave of absence from the University should review the Leave of Absence information above. Students who wish to withdraw from the University entirely, or for an extended period of time, should email the the Office Student Affairs at studentaffairs@fitchburgstate.edu to initiate the withdrawal process. Students may require a meeting with Student Affairs and complete necessary paperwork. For more information on the process, refer to the "Withdrawal from the University" section of the Student Handbook or the Fitchburg State University Catalog.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

The University is committed to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity. The University is dedicated to providing educational, working, and living environments that value the diverse backgrounds of all people.  To see the full statement, policy, and grievance procedures related to discrimination, including sexual harassment and misconduct, visit Equal Opportunity and Title IX.