SEAS Student Handbook

o Receive a D, F, UW, or unauthorized Incomplete in any course required for the
major
o Receive straight C’s in the core science courses (chemistry, calculus, physics)
or in required courses for their major
o Not making significant progress towards the degree
Continued Probation: Students who are already on probation and fail to meet the
minimum requirements as stated in their sanction letter
Strict Probation: Students who are already on probation, fail to meet the minimum
requirements as stated in their sanction letter, and are far below minimum
expectations. This action is typically made when there are signs of severe academic
difficulty.
Suspension and Dismissal: Students who have been placed on academic probation
and who fail to be restored to good academic standing in the following semester can
be considered either for suspension or dismissal by the Undergraduate Committee on
Academic Standing. The decision to suspend or dismiss a student will be made by
the Committee on Academic Standing in the Berick Center for Student Advising and
the Dean’s Office in close consultation with the student’s departmental adviser when
the student has declared a major. In cases of suspension, the student will be required
to make up the deficiencies in their academic record by taking appropriate courses at
a four-year accredited institution in North America. Students must be able to
complete their degree requirements in their eighth semester at Columbia after
readmission. If this is not achievable, then students should be considered for
dismissal instead.
The courses that the student must take will be determined by the Undergraduate
Committee of Academic Standing and by the student’s departmental adviser when the
student has declared a major. All proposed courses will be reviewed by the appropriate
faculty who teach the equivalent classes at Columbia University. All courses that are
being taken to fulfill a major requirement or as a technical elective must be approved by
the student’s departmental adviser. Courses being taken to count as a nontechnical
elective or to count as general credit would only require the approval of the
Undergraduate Committee on Academic Standing. The existing procedures for the
approval of outside credit will be followed in these cases. Students must receive a grade
of B or better for the credit to be transferred.
The Office of Graduate Student Affairs monitors the academic progress of graduate
students in consultation with the departments. Students will be placed on Academic
Probation if their cumulative GPA is below 2.5 or minimum GPA required by the
academic department, whichever is higher. A student who, at the end of any term, has
not attained the grade-point average required for the degree may be asked to withdraw.
Voluntary Medical Leave of Absence
A voluntary medical leave of absence for an undergraduate student is granted by the
James H. and Christine Turk Berick Center for Student Advising to a student whose
health prevents him or her from successfully pursuing full-time study. Undergraduates
who take a voluntary medical leave of absence are guaranteed housing upon their return
if they were already guaranteed housing.
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