Academic Standing

All students are expected to earn and maintain good academic standing as has been defined for their class. To be in good academic standing (and to be eligible for continued enrollment), students normally must pass a minimum number of courses and earn a minimum cumulative grade point average as follows:

Arts & Sciences, and Management

Beginning of Semester 2
Minimum number of courses passed: 3
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 1.80

Beginning of Semester 3
Minimum number of courses passed: 7
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 1.80

Beginning of Semester 4
Minimum number of courses passed: 11
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 1.90

Beginning of Semester 5
Minimum number of courses passed: 15
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 1.90

Beginning of Semester 6
Minimum number of courses passed: 19
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 2.00

Beginning of Semester 7
Minimum number of courses passed: 24
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 2.00

Beginning of Semester 8
Minimum number of courses passed: 28
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 2.00

Engineering

Beginning of Semester 2
Minimum number of courses passed: 3
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 1.80

Beginning of Semester 3
Minimum number of courses passed: 7
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 1.80

Beginning of Semester 4
Minimum number of courses passed: ¹
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 1.90

Beginning of Semester 5
Minimum number of courses passed: ¹
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 1.90

Beginning of Semester 6
Minimum number of courses passed: ¹
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 2.00

Beginning of Semester 7
Minimum number of courses passed: ¹
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 2.00

Beginning of Semester 8
Minimum number of courses passed: 29.5
Cumulative Grade Point Average: 2.00

¹

Engineering students must have earned within one (1) course credit of the credits required for their curriculum.

1. Students who have earned the minimum grade point average required but who have not passed the minimum number of courses required are placed on “credit warning.” Such students must make up their credit deficits either by attending the Bucknell summer session or by attending another accredited institution in the summer. In the latter case, prior approval of both the institution and the course(s) must be obtained from the student’s adviser, the Bucknell department chair in which the course would most appropriately fit and the registrar.
2. Students who have not earned the minimum grade point average required are either subject to dismissal from the University or, if the average is close to the minimum, are placed on University “grade point warning.” Students on warning are required to attend the Bucknell summer session and to earn sufficiently high grades so as to reduce significantly their grade point deficits before the beginning of the next academic year.
3. Engineering students who have not met the minimum grade point average in all courses in the College of Engineering are placed on “engineering grade point warning,” and may be required to attend the Bucknell University summer session to earn sufficiently high grades to reduce significantly their engineering grade point average deficit or may be subject to dismissal from the engineering degree programs. Minimum engineering grade point averages are: 1.80 at the start of the third semester, 1.90 at the start of the fourth semester, and 2.00 at the start of the fifth and subsequent semesters.

The dean of the student’s college also will review academic records at the conclusion of the fall semester.

1. Students who have a credit deficiency will be notified by the dean of the student’s college that they are not in good academic standing and will be placed on “credit warning.” Such credit deficits will need to be made up during the following summer (see above) at Bucknell University or elsewhere.
2. Students who have a cumulative grade point average below that required at the end of the academic year – that is, 1.80 for first-year students, 1.90 for sophomores, and 2.00 for juniors – will be notified by the dean that they are on “grade point warning” or are advised to withdraw, or are subject to dismissal, depending upon the severity of the difficulty. (Continuation of a grade point deficiency could well lead to required summer school at Bucknell or dismissal at the end of the spring semester.)
3. Seniors must be in good standing (both in terms of grade point average and passed courses) to be eligible to enroll in the final semester.
4. Engineering students who have not met the minimum grade point average in all courses in the College of Engineering are placed on “engineering grade point warning” and may be advised to withdraw, or may be subject to dismissal, depending on the severity of the difficulty. Minimum engineering grade point averages are 1.80 at the start of the third semester, 1.90 at the start of the fourth semester, and 2.00 at the start of the fifth and subsequent semesters.

All of the foregoing provisions are those normally followed in instances of grade point or credit deficits. Typically, students will not be allowed to continue on grade point and/or engineering grade point warning for longer than two semesters. If a student is on warning for longer than two semesters, they may be subject to dismissal from the University if there is insufficient evidence of progress toward good academic standing. It also should be noted that occasionally a student may be technically in good academic standing and yet be subject to academic dismissal. Such instances might include a disastrous performance in the most recent semester and/or a pattern of decline in performance over several semesters. Similarly, grade point or credit deficiencies may be so great as to eliminate the possibility of continuation "on warning" either in a spring semester or during the summer.

Conversely, in exceptional circumstances, the definition of normal progress toward the degree in terms of passed credits may be altered by the dean of the student’s college to allow a student to extend their undergraduate career to nine semesters.

Students frequently are well advised to consider withdrawing from the University if academic difficulty persists or seems likely to occur. Consultation with staff in the office of the dean of the student’s college may be helpful in such instances.

It is the prerogative of the deans of the colleges to dismiss a student from the University at any time, or to place a student on "warning" for one semester or longer for academic reasons.

In all matters pertaining to academic standing, the decision of the deans of the colleges will be final. If a student is dismissed for academic reasons, readmission consideration will be after one semester or one calendar year depending on the situation. Students who have been academically dismissed may be required to attend Bucknell summer session and to earn sufficiently high grades so as to reduce significantly their grade point deficits before the beginning of the next academic year. Readmission is not automatic and additional requirements may be placed on a dismissed student both during the dismissal period and upon return to Bucknell depending on the student's specific academic situation. Readmission will be considered only upon formal request, and will be approved only if there is substantial evidence that return is likely to be successful, including the reasonable expectation of earning good standing. Requests for readmission consideration must be submitted to and approved by the dean of the student’s college by March 1 for summer session, June 1 for fall semester, and Nov. 1 for spring semester. In the case of academic dismissals and requests for readmission, it is the responsibility of the student to understand the impact on financial aid, bursar balance, athletic eligibility, housing, registrar, etc. Students are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate offices with any questions.