Non-Academic Dismissal from Academic Units

The Faculty of the University’s academic units (Colleges/Programs) have primary responsibility for determining the conditions for admission and dismissal of students from the unit. Academic dismissal policy formalizes the process (beginning with academic probation) by which students may be subject to dismissal on academic grounds. However, some academic units may have additional, non-academic, professional standards that, if breached, may make it impossible/not feasible for a student to continue in a program or be eligible to pursue the profession related to the program or major. Examples of non-academic requirements might include requirements on integrity, criminal history, or the like. This policy formalizes the process by which students may be removed from academic units on non-academic grounds.

Professional standards and non-academic conditions that potentially limit admission or could result in dismissal from an Academic unit must be approved as policy by the Faculty of that academic unit and ratified by the Faculty Senate and chief academic officers of the university through the same processes used for the approval of academic admission/dismissal requirements.

Students found in violation of ratified policy will be considered for dismissal by the appropriate administrative body of the academic unit. Students under consideration for dismissal will be notified, in writing, of the time, date, and location where they may be heard by and present information to the decision making body. The student will be notified of the decision and, if dismissed, of their right to appeal the decision.

Students may appeal dismissal from an academic unit in accordance with the appeals process found in the Student Code of Conduct. Appeals of dismissals from an Academic Unit will be heard by the University Appeals Hearing Panel.

Students that are dismissed from a college/program are expected to have access to advisors that can help them plan a transition to another college/program. The dismissing unit will inform the student that they may continue to use their current advisor through the student’s next enrolled semester. After this point, any student that has not been admitted to a new College/Program will be placed in University College for advising towards this goal consistent with University College policies. Students whose earned credit hours exceed the credit hour limit of the University College policy on Transferring into a Degree-granting College will be permitted one semester of University College advising.