Academic Standing

On this page:

• Overview
• Good standing
• Academic progress notice 1
• Academic progress notice 2
• Academic recess
• Who to contact

Overview 

At the end of each term, LSA updates students' academic standing to one of four statuses based on cumulative GPA:

• cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher: good standing
• cumulative GPA below 2.0 for one term: academic progress notice 1
• cumulative GPA below 2.0 for a second term in a row: academic progress notice 2
• cumulative GPA below 2.0 for a third term in a row: academic recess

We want to help students reach good academic standing. Academic difficulty is normal in college. Students face all sorts of challenges that can impact their academic performance. Most students are able to recover and LSA offers many resources to help students work through many different types of challenges. The academic standing system is intended to offer support and guidance rather than discourage or punish students who are struggling.

Note: Academic standing is calculated using cumulative GPA only and cannot be changed through a petition.

Good standing

• Good standing is when a student's cumulative GPA is at or above 2.00. 
• Students in good standing may continue to enroll in classes. 

Academic progress notice 1

• A student's status changes to academic progress notice 1 when their cumulative grade point average drops below 2.0 at the end of a semester. 
• First semester students who do not successfully complete any classes and, therefore do not establish a cumulative GPA, will have a status of academic progress notice 1.
• Students on academic progress notice 1 may continue to enroll in classes.
• To return to good standing, a student’s cumulative GPA must be 2.00 or higher. 
• If a student with this status does not get their cumulative GPA at or above 2.0 at the end of the next full term, they will be changed to a status of academic progress notice 2.
• If a student with this status completes two consecutive full-term withdrawals (Fall/Winter), they will be advanced to academic progress notice 2. 

Academic progress notice 2

• A student's status changes to academic progress notice 2 when their cumulative grade point average is below 2.0 for a second full term in a row. 
• Students on academic progress notice 2 may continue to enroll in classes.
• To return to good standing, a student’s cumulative GPA must be a 2.00 or higher. 
• If a student with this status does not get their cumulative GPA at or above 2.0 at the end of the next full term, they will be placed on academic recess.
• If a student with this status completes two consecutive full-term withdrawals (Fall/Winter), they will be placed on academic recess.

Academic recess

• A student's status changes to academic recess when their cumulative grade point average is below 2.0 for a third full term in a row. 
• Students on academic recess are not eligible to enroll in classes for one calendar year.
• Students who return must request reactivation through LSA Student Records (lsa.student.records@umich.edu) and meet with a Student Success Advisor before registering for classes. 
• The semester the student returns to LSA, their status will be academic progress notice  1.

Example

• Placed on APN2 at the end of the Fall 2024 
• Completed a term withdrawal during the Winter 2025 and Fall 2025 terms 
• Placed on academic recess at the end of Fall 2025 term
• Eligible to return Winter 2027 with a status of APN1

Who to contact

• Student Success advisor or general advisor 
• LSA Student Records: lsa.student.records@umich.edu

Related policies

• Grades and Grading
• Returning Students
• Term Withdrawal