Academic Standards

Good Academic Standing

Good academic standing in the college requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 (C) or above in all University of Colorado work. Grades earned at another institution are not used in calculating the grade point average at the University of Colorado (this includes courses taken at Metropolitan State University on the Denver campus). However, grades earned in another school or college within the University of Colorado system are used in determining a student’s scholastic standing and progress toward the degree in the College of Arts and Sciences. 

Academic Probation

Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 are placed on probation. Those students who enroll in any term in the calendar year, excluding summers, after being placed on probation are expected to raise their grade point to a 2.00 or above overall by the end of that term. Neither CU-Boulder’s summer session (including Maymester) nor enrollment through Boulder evening courses counts as a probationary semester. Students are not dismissed at the end of the summer term.

Students placed on academic probation who elect to remain out of school for a full calendar year can return to the university with a two-semester window to achieve the required cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above. Students on probation who return after a hiatus of one year are placed on a second probation at the end of the semester in which they return if their cumulative grade-point average remains below 2.00 and are dismissed from the university if they do not achieve a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade-point average by the end of the semester following the imposition of the second probation. 

Scholastic Dismissal

Students who still have a cumulative average below 2.00 after their semester of probation will be dismissed and will not be able to register for University of Colorado daytime courses on any campus during any academic year, August to May. Students dismissed from the college are eligible for readmission when they have achieved a cumulative 2.00 average by virtue of work done during the University of Colorado’s summer term (any of the three campuses) and/or through the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies (Boulder evening or correspondence courses). Students who choose to enroll in continuing education courses to restore their good standing must maintain a 2.50 GPA or above in each term in continuing education or be dismissed from both day classes and continuing education classes. They also may return as transfer students when they have overcome their deficiencies by enrolling at another institution (i.e., by achieving an overall 2.00 average in the University of Colorado work plus all work taken elsewhere since dismissal). These transfer grades are used only for the purpose of readmission and do not remain in the University of Colorado cumulative grade-point average. Dismissed students pursuing this latter option have two semesters after readmission to bring their University of Colorado grade point average up to 2.00 or they are dismissed again.

Academic Ethics

A university’s intellectual reputation depends on the maintenance of the highest standards of intellectual honesty. Commitment to those standards is a responsibility of every student and faculty member at the University of Colorado. Cheating; plagiarism; illegal possession and distribution of examinations or answers to specific questions; alterations, forgery or falsification of official records; presenting someone else’s work as one’s own; or performing work or taking an examination for another student are examples of acts that may lead to suspension or expulsion. Reported acts of academic dishonesty must be referred to the Honor Council. The policies and procedures governing acts of academic dishonesty can be found on the Web at honorcode.colorado.edu.

Appeals and Petitions

The College of Arts and Sciences does not waive degree requirements or excuse students from completing degree requirements. Petitions for exceptions to the academic policies stated here may be submitted to the Appeals Committee on Academic Rules and Policies. Such petitions will be considered only if they meet all three of the following conditions:

1. The student must document that she/he has made every effort to fulfill the policy or requirement as defined and must demonstrate that no other options exist for fulfilling the requirement as defined in this catalog.
2. The student must document that she/he is prevented from fulfilling the policy or meeting the requirement as defined here for compelling reasons beyond the student’s control.
3. The student must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the faculty committee that she/he has fulfilled or will fulfill the intent of the policy or the requirement through an appropriate alternative.

Students who believe that their circumstances meet the conditions to submit a petition must first consult with their academic advisor. If the advisor offers options for meeting the requirement or policy as defined here, the student must pursue those options and should not submit a petition.

The Appeals Committee on Academic Rules and Policies is located in the Academic Advising Center.