Information and resources for COSSPP undergraduate students who have been Academically Dismissed from the University.
Information
- Academic Standing and Our Commitment
- What is Academic Dismissal?
- How to Resolve a GPA Deficiency
- Reinstatement Process
- Appealing Academic Dismissal
- Important Dates and Academic Policies
- Support Resources and Referrals
Academic Standing and Our Commitment
College Commitment to Students
The College of Social Sciences and Public Policy is committed to empowering students through teaching, mentoring, and advising as they pursue their academic goals. When students fall out of good academic standing, the Office of Academic Affairs steps in to provide information, resource referrals, academic advising, and guidance on appropriate University policies and procedures. We are here to support students as they work to improve their standing and make progress towards completing their degree requirements.
FSU Academic Standing Policy
Florida State University’s academic standing and retention policy can be found online in the University Bulletin. Under this policy, if the student fails to return to an overall 2.0 FSU GPA (good academic standing) after being placed on Academic Probation, they may be Academic Dismissed by the University.
- Academic Probation: Any time a student’s FSU cumulative GPA falls below 2.0, they will have a designation of “Academic Probation” placed on their transcript and the student will be placed on academic probation for their next term of enrollment at FSU. Students must enroll in enough credit hours and earn grades high enough in those courses to return their FSU GPA to a 2.0 or higher to return to good academic standing.
- Academic Probation Continued: Students on probation who do not earn a 2.0 FSU GPA but who earn a term (semester) GPA of 2.5 or higher at FSU will be placed on “Academic Probation Continued”. A student may be on “Academic Probation Continued” for a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms.
- Academic Dismissal: Students who do not earn a 2.0 FSU GPA after one semester on academic probation and who earn a term (semester) GPA of less than 2.5 will be dismissed from the university. Students who have not returned to good academic standing after two consecutive semesters of “Academic Probation Continued” status will be dismissed.
What is Academic Dismissal?
Academic dismissal constitutes a separation of the student from the University for academic reasons.
While on Academic Dismissal, you may not attend Florida State University, and you are not considered a degree-seeking student. You can view the university Dismissal and Reinstatement policy from the General Bulletin under the “Academic Standing and Retention” section.
To be considered for reinstatement back to FSU, you must do the following:
- Achieve a 2.0 FSU GPA (see below on how to resolve your GPA deficiency)
- If you remain inactive from FSU for 3 or more semesters apply for readmission by the university published readmission deadline
How to Resolve a GPA Deficiency
A GPA deficiency reflects that an undergraduate student lacks the number of quality points (grade points) to achieve an average 2.0 FSU GPA. To rectify this deficiency, the student must enroll in enough letter-graded course credit hours and earn grades high enough to regain the 2.0 FSU GPA.
Courses graded on an S/U basis and non-FSU courses (except UF Flex Learning – see below) do not count towards FSU GPA points and do not address the deficiency.
Information about your GPA deficit and how many credit hours or correspondence courses will be needed to resolve it may be obtained by reviewing the dismissal notification sent to you by the Office of Academic Affairs to your FSU student email account or by contacting coss-academic-dean@fsu.edu.
Take Classes via UF’s Flexible Learning Program
There is only one way to improve your FSU GPA through coursework while on academic dismissal. You will need to take courses through the University of Florida’s Flexible Learning program and return grade reports to the FSU Registrar for posting to your records. Once you earn enough grades high enough to return your FSU cumulative GPA to 2.0 or higher, you may petition the Office of Academic Affairs for reinstatement.
NOTE: UF’s Flexible Learning program (also known as Correspondence Courses) is the only method accepted by FSU for decreasing your quality point deficit through coursework. Taking courses through any other institution or program and transferring them back to FSU (transient coursework) or earning credit through exams (e.g. CLEP) will not impact your FSU GPA or FSU academic standing.
How does Flexible Learning work?
A list of available courses on the UF Flexible Learning Program website. You cannot take a class through Flex Learning to improve your FSU GPA if you have ever taken and passed it at any institution with a D- grade or higher.
After completing the class(es) and receiving your final grade(s), request a Grade Report (not a UF transcript) be sent to FSU’s Office of Admissions and Records.
For more information about UF’s Flexible Learning Program, please review their website or contact their office directly for more details at (352) 392-1711.
GPA Recovery Points – Credit Hours and Grades
Recovery points (quality points which reduce a GPA deficit) are earned with grades of C+ or better. C grades have no impact on the deficit. Grades lower than C will increase the deficit. The chart below indicates the number of recovery points you can regain in three-hour and one-hour classes based on the grades that you earn.
| Recovery Points | Recovery Points |
| Three-credit hour course | One-credit hour course |
| A = 6.00 | A = 2.00 |
| A- = 5.25 | A- = 1.75 |
| B+ = 3.75 | B+ = 1.25 |
| B = 3.00 | B = 1.00 |
| B- = 2.25 | B- = 0.75 |
| C+ = 0.75 | C+ = 0.25 |
| C = 0.00 | C = 0.00 |
Incomplete “I” Grades
Incomplete “I” grades in letter-graded courses do not count toward a student’s FSU GPA hours until they are either resolved or roll to their default grade on the allotted date. However, “I” graded courses do count as attempted enrollment. An “I” grade with no other letter-graded enrollment in that same semester will result in a 0.0 term GPA displaying on the transcript and if a student was previously on academic probation will result in an academic dismissal.
Resolving or defaulting outstanding incomplete “I” grades may either increase or decrease the GPA deficit depending on the letter grade earned. This may alter academic standing in one or several terms as the student’s GPA is updated from that term moving forward.
Resolved or defaulted “I” grades which increase a student’s GPA deficit may result in the transcript being updated to reflect an increased number of terms on academic probation or dismissal. The associated penalties of these updated statuses are applied from the point of the grade update moving forward.
It is the student’s responsibility to remain in contact with their instructor(s) to ensure resolving “I” grades successfully and in a timely manner.
Reinstatement Process
Petitioning for Reinstatement
After a student has resolved their GPA deficiency, they must contact the Office of Academic Affairs to petition for reinstatement.
Reinstatement is not an automated process – the student must submit a request to coss-academic-dean@fsu.edu to request a review of their records. Once it has been determined that a student’s FSU cumulative GPA is again above a 2.0, the Office of Academic Affairs will request to the University Registrar’s Office that the student be reinstated in good standing with any accompanying dismissal registration holds be removed from their account.
Any student who has been academically dismissed more than two times or who has completed more than two semester withdrawals may not be automatically reinstated. They must petition the Multiple Withdrawal and Dismissal Committee after returning to a 2.0 FSU cumulative GPA for a recommendation to the Academic Dean for reinstatement or readmission to FSU.
Non-Enrollment and Applying for Readmission
Undergraduate students are considered active students for two consecutive semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer) from their last term of enrollment at FSU.
Students who have been academically dismissed but who are reinstated and who register for classes for or before their third term since last enrollment do not have to apply for readmission to FSU. Those who have not enrolled in classes for at least three consecutive semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer) must apply for readmission to FSU.
Appealing Academic Dismissal
Reinstatement on Probation
Academic reinstatement on probation is considered by the Office of Academic Affairs after semester grades have officially posted to students’ records. Appeals are initiated by submitting the Undergraduate Petition for Reinstatement after Dismissal form including with personal statement, academic plan, and documentation.
College policy dictates appeals be considered holistically based on factors including but not limited to history of prior dismissals, overall FSU GPA deficit, prior term GPA, existence of documentable extenuating circumstances, and submission of a realistic academic plan of action outlining steps towards timely degree completion.
Extenuating circumstances must have been unforeseen, beyond the student’s control, and directly impacted their ability to perform academically. Documentation must be cause-specific to the petition and student’s own circumstances.
Any student reinstated without first returning to good academic standing will remain on academic probation. A student academically dismissed after having previously been once reinstated on probation is not eligible to petition for reinstatement.
NOTE: Reinstatement petitions must be received by the Office of Academic Affairs no later than one full business week prior to the start of classes in the semester in which reinstatement is sought. Petitions received after this deadline will be considered for reinstatement in the immediately following semester.
Retroactive Course Drops and Semester Withdrawals
Students may petition for retroactive course drops or semester withdrawals which may cause a student’s FSU GPA to rise above 2.0 to return to good standing or to remain on academic probation. Retroactive drops and withdrawals are only considered in the case of failing “F” or unsatisfactory “U” grades. Detailed information and criteria is on our Drops and Withdrawals information page.
All drop and withdrawal petitions are initiated through the COSSPP online Course Drop and Withdrawal Petition Application.
Drop and withdrawal petitions based on medical or mental health require supporting documentation from state-licensed providers and are reviewed by University committees affiliated with University Health Services. The recommendation from this committee to approve or deny a petition will ultimately be followed by the College.
Drop and withdrawal petitions based on personal hardship (criteria other than the student’s own medical or mental health circumstances) are considered by the College’s Drops, Exceptions, and Waivers (DEW) Committee. The DEW Committee’s decision on personal hardship drop and withdrawal petitions is final.
The course drop/withdrawal petition process can take three weeks or more for committee review and a decision to be rendered.
Important Dates and Academic Policies
Dates and Deadlines
The COSSPP academic reinstatement deadline each semester is one business week prior to the start of classes.
- Spring 2024 – January 3, 2024; 12:00 pm Eastern (first day of class: January 8, 2024)
Exception to one-week deadline based on University-wide early closure for winter break. - Summer 2024 – May 6, 2023; 5:00 pm Eastern (first day of class: May 13)
Summer reinstatement must be approved prior to semester start, even if only taking B session courses. - Fall 2024 – August 19, 2024; 5:00 pm Eastern (first day of class: August 26)
Review the University Academic Calendar for the most up-to-date information on University dates and deadlinesin any given semester. Once reinstated, students should pay particular attention to the drop and withdrawal deadlines each semester.
- 7th Week Deadline (Spring 2024 – February 23)
- Last day to drop a class without dean’s permission.
- Last day to change a course from letter-graded to S/U grading.
- Last day to withdraw without extenuating circumstances.
- 12th Week Deadline (Spring 2024 – April 5)
- Deadline for one-time late drop with dean’s permission.
Financial Aid
Academic Probation status can have a serious impact on your financial aid status. Low cumulative GPA and/or low course completion rate may impact satisfactory academic progress and/or make you ineligible for Federal and/or other types of financial aid.
Check your financial aid status before the start of classes – you will need to contact the Office of Financial Aid with any questions regarding financial aid eligibility and/or Student Business Services with questions tuition and fees, payments, university debt, and financial customer service.
Grade Disputes and Appeals
Students who feel they were given a grade in violation of the instructor’s specified grading statement in the course syllabus may attempt to appeal the grade. This must be initiated first with the instructor within 15 class days, and if unresolved within that period, submitted to the Department Chair or Director within 10 class days. The Office of Academic Affairs plays no role in the grade appeals process.
Additional and detailed information on this process is available through the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement.
Support Resources and Referrals
FSU offers a variety of support resources to students. Academic resources are most often available to currently enrolled students, but many of the health and life wellness resources are also available to offer assistance to those appealing their academic dismissal status.
Academic Resources
FSU offers a variety of academic support services across campus and many times accessible virtually. We encourage students to take advantage of these opportunities as well as many others on campus.
- Tutoring through the FSU Academic Center for Excellence and/or the FSU Library
- Academic success workshops
- Writing assignment assistance through the Reading Writing Center
- Specialized support offices for transfer students, students in distance learning programs, and student veterans
- Student success courses (recommended but not required) – letter graded so they can help build your GPA while also building academic skills
- SLS 1122 Strategies for Academic Success – for students who started college at FSU (1 credit hour)
- SLS 3140 Academic Success for Transfer Students – for students who transferred to FSU (1 credit hour)
- SDS 3340 Introduction to Career Development – build life/career planning skills (variable 1-3 credit hours)
Health and Life Wellness Resources
Every student faces the possibility of enduring some type of personal hardship outside of classes that can directly impact their academic performance. In addition to the following common resources, the Department of Student Support and Transitions and other offices on campus can offer assistance and guidance on a variety of issues.
- Case Management Services – provides emotional support, counseling, advocacy, and identification of immediate needs, and makes referrals to campus and community resources
- Counseling and Psychological Services – services including counseling, alcohol and drug assessments, anxiety management programs, peer support, and emergency walk in appointments
- Food Pantry – an on-campus food pantry supporting students experiencing food insecurity
- Office of Accessibility Services – supporting student access and success though academic, housing, and dining accommodations; testing support; assistive technologies; and more.
- Victim Advocate Program – confidential advocates offer emotional support, instructor notification, referrals, crisis intervention and assistance in student conduct, legal, and medical matters