Academic Success and Student Support FAQ

Academic Warning is an early alert to the student and their advisors that additional support may be needed to maintain academic progress. This status may be applied when you meet some criteria, including but not limited to:

• Student received a D or an F in a course
• Student successfully completed less than 12 units with a semester GPA or cumulative GPA  between 2.0 and 2.5
• Student has a semester GPA or cumulative GPA above 2.0 with two incompletes
• Student failed College Writing

Once on Academic Warning, you will be notified and must address the academic concerns identified by the Committee on Academic Progress. Academic Warning status does not appear on your official transcript. To support you while on Academic Warning, you will be encouraged to meet with your Four-Year Advisor regularly to help you identify factors that may have contributed to these difficulties, as well as develop strategies on how to address them.

Students who fail to adequately address those concerns may be moved to Academic Probation or Academic Time Away status.

Academic Probation represents a significant concern regarding a student’s academic progress. Academic Probation status may be applied when you meet some criteria, including but not limited to: 

• Student received Ds or Fs in more than one course
• Student has two unresolved incompletes and a GPA below 2.0
• Student has a semester or cumulative GPA less than 2.0 AND earned less than 12 units
• Student did not pass any major-related courses
• While on Warning, student received more than one final grade of D, F, or I

Academic Probation status does not appear on your official transcript. In the event that you are placed on Academic Probation, you will be expected to participate in an academic success program the following semester. The College is committed to providing our students personalized support. In order to do this, we ask you to complete a survey about your academic needs and preferences. Based on your input, you will be placed into a support program. Two main support programs include:

• Progress Counseling – weekly 30-minute meetings, no credit, one-on-one partnership with a professional staff/faculty member of Washington University.
• College Intensive Study Program (CISP seminar) – weekly 60-minute sessions, 1-credit hour for successful completion, learn and lead with other students enrolled in the seminar.

In order to be eligible for a return to good academic standing, you must address the academic concerns identified by the Committee on Academic Progress. Students who fail to adequately address those concerns by the end of the term may be moved to Academic Time Away status.

Academic Time Away requires that a student take a break from coursework.

This time allows you to address matters that have significantly impeded your academic progress. Academic Time Away status may be applied when you meet some criteria, including but not limited to:

• Student received D’s, F’s and/or I’s in majority of their courses
• While of probation, student received more than two final grades of D, F, or I
• After having been on Academic Probation in the current or previous term(s), student does not meet the requirements to return to good academic standing in the current term
• Student has three or more unresolved incomplete grades

You may return from Academic Time Away to the College of Arts & Sciences only when you demonstrate a capacity to work productively at the level required by the College curriculum. When you are ready to return from the Academic Time Away, you will need to submit a reinstatement form at least six weeks prior to the beginning of the semester to which you would like to return.

During your time at WashU, you may experience life situations, medical conditions, or psychological conditions that significantly impair your ability to function successfully or safely as a student. In these instances, taking a Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA) for treatment and recovery can often restore your functioning to a level that will enable you to participate fully in academic coursework and the university community. Learn more about MLOA.

From time to time, students decide that taking a semester off will allow them to regroup and recharge so that they can more successfully engage in their studies upon their return. In such cases, taking a Leave of Absence can be a helpful option. When you take a Leave of Absence from the University, you have the option to return at a later date. Request a Leave of Absence.

If you wish to take a leave to study abroad with a program not approved by WashU, you must complete a leave of absence request through Overseas Programs.

Leave of Absence/Academic Time Away - To return from a Leave of Absence or Academic Time Away, please submit this form at least six weeks prior to the start of the semester. 

Medical Leave of Absence - To return from a Medical Leave of Absence, please submit this form during the appropriate time period:

• Fall semester return - between June 1 and July 1
• Spring semester return - between November 1 and December 1
• Summer session reinstatement is not available