Academic Standing

Defined: Students in good academic standing maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 and successfully complete (earn) at least 67% of their attempted hours. 

Defined: Students in good academic standing may receive a completion rate notice if their semester completion rate falls below the 67% required completion rate. New students whose first semester completion rate falls below the 67% required completion rate will recieve a status of good academic standing with a completion rate notice. 

Next Steps: Students who recieve the completion rate notice should take the necessary steps to ensure they can complete the credits in which they enroll for the next semester. This can include:

• Speaking with an academic advisor about course selection
• Finalize your schedule prior to the end of add/drop deadline
• Consider using campus resources to stay on track for your academic goals
• Consult with an academic advisor if considering a course withdrawal

Defined: Continuing students are placed on academic warning if the student’s cumulative Western Carolina University grade point average (GPA) falls below 2.0 or if the student fails to complete 67% of their attempted hours in their two most recently completed terms of enrollment or if the student fails to complete 67% of their overall WCU attempted hours.

New students are placed on academic warning if the student's first semester GPA falls between 1.0 and 1.999, and these students will be required to complete the learning contract program.

Next Steps: Students on academic warning have one semester (including summer) to regain good academic standing. They will be required to complete the following:

• Earn a 67% semester completion rate on the credits attempted for the semester, and
• Earn a 67% cumulative completion rate on all WCU credits attempted, and
• Raise the cumulative GPA to 2.0 OR earn a 2.30 term GPA

During the semester of academic warning, we want to partner with students to develop better study habits, to plan an appropriate courseload, and to utilize all of their campus resources to enhance their success. We ask that students accept this partnership and work with the Office of Student Retention from the beginning of the academic semester!

Defined: Continuing students who are on Academic Warning and who fail to meet the criteria necessary for continued enrollment (listed under Academic Warning next steps) will be suspended. New students who earn a first-semester GPA below 1.0 will be academically suspended. Students who are suspended are not eligible to enroll at the University during the next semester. (See Temporary Summer Status for the exception to enrollment eligibility).

Next Steps:

• Students have the right to appeal an academic suspension prior to the publish appeals deadline. Appeals are reviewed by the Academic Appeals Board, and all decisions are final.
• Students who return to WCU after a suspension must reapply to the University and complete all readmission steps. 

The Office of Student Retention encourages students serving an academic suspension to spend their time away from WCU focusing on their educational, professional, or personal goals. This can include: 

• Attending community college or earning credits elsewhere
• Gaining employment
• Receiving medical care
• Receiving mental health care. If living in Jackson County, we encourage you to review the mental health resources in this Resource Guide. If outside of Jackson County, Psychology Today's website contains search options for providers.

Defined: An Academic Action Plan is a signed committment for a student to achieve their academic goals. Students who have returned to the University after an academic suspension or dismissal or students who have successfully appealed to continue enrollment will be required to sign an academic action plan to continue enrollment. 

Academic action plans require the student to achieve the following:

• 67% semester completion rate
• 2.3 semester GPA OR 2.0 cumulative GPA
• During the first semester with an academic action plan, students with a cumulative GPA below 2.0 are required to participate in the Learning Contract Program.

As long as the terms of the academic action plan are met, students can continue enrollment on a semester-by-semester basis  until the student regains good academic standing or until their graduation. 

Next Steps: Once approved for an academic action plan, students must:

1. Review the terms of the academic action plan with a representative from Student Retention
2. Sign and return via email (retention@wcu.ed) or fax (828-227-7101)

Students with an academic action plan are encourage to partner with Student Retention to develop better study habits, to plan an appropriate courseload, and to utilize all of their campus resources to enhance their success. We ask that students accept this partnership and work with the Office of Student Retention from the beginning of the academic semester!

Defined: A student who fails to meet the terms of their academic action plan will be academically dismissed from the University. Students who are dismissed must sit out for two years before they will be eligible to reapply for future enrollment.

Next Steps:

• Students have the right to appeal an academic dismissal prior to the publish appeals deadline. Appeals are reviewed by the Academic Appeals Board, and all decisions are final.
• Students who return to WCU after a dismissal must reapply to the University and complete all readmission steps. 

The Office of Student Retention encourages students serving an academic dismissal to spend their time away from WCU focusing on their educational, professional, or personal goals. This can include: 

• Attending community college or earning credits elsewhere 
• Gaining employment
• Receiving medical care
• Receiving mental health care. If living in Jackson County, we encourage you to review the mental health resources in this Resource Guide. If outside of Jackson County, Psychology Today's website contains search options for providers.

Defined: Students who were suspended at the end of the Spring semester may be granted temporary summer status and allowed to continue their enrollment during the summer. Students who choose this option to continue their enrollment during the summer are not eligible for any federal, state, or institutional financial assistance. If at the end of summer, a student fails to regain good academic standing, then the suspension remains in effect and enrollment will cease except as might be allowed through the appeals process. 

Next Steps: Students considering temporary summer status should consult with the Office of Student Retention and will be required to sign an agreement before continuing summer enrollment. Summer course offerings are limited, and students are not guaranteed enrollment.