Academic Standards Review

To maintain academic standards and determine eligibility for continued enrollment, financial aid, and participation in university activities, the University at Buffalo regularly reviews the academic records of all undergraduate students. This review addresses the quality of the student’s studies as measured by the student’s course grades.

Academic review is conducted at the end of each fall and spring semester.

Academic Good Standing

A student is in academic good standing if the student’s cumulative UB grade point average (GPA) is 2.000 or greater and the student’s most recent semester GPA at UB is 2.000 or greater.

A student in academic good standing is eligible for all university activities.

Academic Warning

Many students go through an adjustment period when beginning their baccalaureate studies at the university. Therefore, any student — freshman or transfer — whose first-semester GPA is less than 2.000 will be on academic warning in his/her second semester of study at the university.

Additionally, any student will be placed on academic warning if the student’s cumulative UB GPA is 2.000 or greater but the student’s most recent semester GPA is less than 2.000.

Although a student on academic warning will be considered in good standing for purposes of participation in university activities, he/she may be subject to an advisement service indicator — a mandatory discussion with an academic advisor to help build an effective academic strategy before the student may complete any further registration activity.

Academic warning will not be noted on a student’s official transcript, but will be part of the student’s record.

Academic Probation

A student is on academic probation and not in academic good standing if his/her cumulative UB GPA is 2.000 or greater but his/her most recent two consecutive semester GPAs (fall/spring) are less than 2.000.

A student is on academic probation and not in academic good standing if his/her cumulative UB GPA is less than 2.000 and quality point deficit is less than 20 after two or more semesters (fall/spring) of study at UB.

Through their academic advisor, students may request to have their UB summer or winter session grades evaluated for purposes of reconsideration of their academic probationary or dismissal status. In these instances, winter and summer term coursework is treated as though it was taken during the prior regular term (fall or spring, respectively) when a manual recalculation of the term GPA is conducted. This recalculation is for the purposes of reevaluating the academic standing only and is not reflected on the academic transcript.

Students on academic probation are not eligible to participate in university activities. In addition, students on academic probation may be subject to an advisement service indicator — a mandatory discussion with an academic advisor to help build an effective academic strategy before the student may complete any further registration activity.

Academic probation will not be noted on a student’s official transcript, but will be part of the student’s record.

Academic Dismissal

A student enrolled at UB for two or more semesters who has a cumulative UB GPA less than 2.000 and a quality point deficit of 20 or greater points will be dismissed from the university regardless of his/her most recent semester GPA.

Each dismissed student will receive official notification via U.S. mail and his/her UB email account, and all future fall or spring semester registrations will be removed and/or blocked. Dismissed students may register in or will keep their enrollments in the summer or winter session immediately following dismissal (e.g., students dismissed in June 2021 may enroll in summer 2021 courses).

A dismissed student may register as a non-degree student for enrollment in winter or summer sessions after review and approval by the Scholastic Standards Committee. Students can apply to be readmitted one academic year after their dismissal (e.g., a student dismissed after spring 2020 may apply for re-admittance for fall 2022).

A dismissed student may appeal the dismissal in writing to the Dean of Undergraduate Education during a period of time specified in the dismissal letter. Consultation with an academic advisor is required as part of the dismissal appeal process. If the appeal is granted, notice of that will include the terms and conditions of continued study. Students who successfully appeal their academic dismissal will be assigned an academic standing of dismissal deferred.

Academic dismissal and dismissal deferred will be noted on the student’s official transcript and will be part of the student’s record.