Academic Proficiency Proposal
At present, students at NMU whose Overall NMU GPA falls below a 2.00 are placed on Academic
Probation (AP) and, if they are unsuccessful in meeting Semester GPA Standards (1.70 for freshmen,
1.80 for sophomore, and 2.00 for juniors and seniors), are academically suspended for one calendar
year. Frequently the students being suspended are in their first few years of their college experience
and perhaps unable to fully grasp the significance of poor study habits and the meaning of less than
satisfactory grades.
This proposal is intended to extend the time before a student is placed on Academic Probation by
placing some students on a warning status prior to being placed on AP to provide more time to gain the
necessary academic experience to ultimately become successful. In addition, this proposal seeks to
correct inconsistencies between how freshmen are treated by the proficiency system by eliminating a
different set of standards for conditionally-admitted freshmen. Currently, students admitted on
Freshman Probation (FP) or in the College Transitions Program (CTP) must reach a higher standard to
remain enrolled at NMU. NOTE: FP and CTP students are both considered to be on Freshman Probation.
It is proposed that the academic proficiency policy be changed to allow a period of Warning Probation
(WP) for some students before being placed on Academic Probation (AP) and to bring into consistency
all proficiency standards. Being that the majority of these students are now advised by the Academic
and Career Advisement Center (ACAC), they will be provided with additional opportunities to become
better students (the ACAC works with students to improve their study skills and have reintroduced a
study skills workshop series in coordination with Centralized Advising). Following is a description of the
proposed new system.
1. Students admitted on FP or in the CTP would be required to meet the same standards as any other
incoming freshman student.
2. Regularly-admitted students whose Overall NMU GPA falls below a 2.00, but still remains above 1.70
(“C-“ average), would be placed on Warning Probation (WP). FP and CTP students whose Overall
NMU GPA falls below a 2.00, but still remains above 1.70, will remain on Freshman Probation.
(Recent data suggests that this measure matches what actually unfolds. For instance, in the fall of
2014, only 15.97% of students with a GPA of 2.00 to 1.70 were actually suspended after being
placed on Academic Probation, in fact, an academic “warning” for them.) Students will remain on
WP or FP until they either: 1) attain academic good standing (see #5 below), 2) fall into Academic
Probation (see #3 below), or 3) are academically suspended (see #6 below).
3. Regularly-admitted, FP, and CTP students whose Overall NMU GPA falls below 1.70 would be placed
on Academic Probation (AP) immediately. (Data suggest that this group does not do well in
subsequent semesters and that those that cannot attain at least a “C-“ average may well not be
ready to complete college-level work. As an example, over 32.00% of students earning less than a
1.70 Overall NMU GPA were suspended after being placed on Academic Probation after the fall
semester of 2014.) Students will remain on AP until they either: 1) attain academic good standing
(see #5 below), or 2) are academically suspended (see #6 below).
4. Regularly-admitted, FP, and CTP students – including transfer students – in their first semester at
NMU will be required to attain an Overall NMU GPA higher than 0.00 GPA to avoid being
Immediately Suspended. (Currently, regularly-admitted students must attain at least a 1.00 Overall
NMU GPA and FP/CTP students must attain a 1.70 Semester GPA to avoid an immediate academic
suspension. It is also noted that sister institutions in Michigan that have similar immediate
suspension policies maintain a 0.00 GPA standard.)
5. Students on either Warning, Academic, or Freshman Probation who attain/regain an Overall NMU
GPA of 2.00 will be deemed in Academic Good Standing. If their Overall NMU GPA was to dip below
2.00 again, they would be placed on Warning or Academic Probation, depending upon the GPA.
6. Students who fail to meet the required Semester GPA while on Academic Probation will be
academically suspended for one calendar year. (Appeals of the length of the suspension will still be
heard by the AAPC, but will now include students on FP or CTP.)
Proposed Revisions versus Current Practice At-A-Glance
Freshman Status
Academic
Probation
FP and CTP
Current Standards
AP = Less than 2.00 Overall
GPA
n/a
Regularly-Admitted
n/a
FP and CTP
n/a
Regularly-Admitted
Warning
Probation
Academic
Suspension
Immediate
Suspension
Regularly-Admitted
FP and CTP
Regularly-Admitted
FP and CTP
Suspension = Less than 1.70
Semester GPA
Suspension = Less than 1.70
Overall GPA
Immediate Suspension = Less
than 1.00 Overall GPA
Immediate Suspension = Less
than 1.70 Overall GPA
Proposed Standards
AP = Less than 1.70 GPA
AP = Less than 1.70 GPA
WP = Less than 2.00 Overall
GPA and more than 1.70
Overall GPA
WP = Less than 2.00 Overall
GPA and more than 1.70
Overall GPA
Suspension = Less than 1.70
Semester GPA
Suspension = Less than 1.70
Semester GPA
Immediate Suspension = 0.00
Overall GPA
Immediate Suspension = 0.00
Overall GPA
Revised October 29, 2015