Approved — January 15, 2010
Background: The ELI has policies for student dismissal based on attendance or dishonesty but not for academic failure. Given that we are first, and foremost, an academic unit, the absence of any means to dismiss a poor performing student seems inconsistent with our mission.
Discussion: The University has a policy that the ELI could parallel, making adjustments for our unique six-session calendar.
Proposal: Be it resolved that if a student’s overall session-end grade point average falls below 2.0 for that session, he/she shall be placed on academic probation for the following session. During the probationary period, he/she must have no more than four absences per class in an eight-week session (three in a seven-week session) and display outstanding effort (an effort grade of 1.) If, at the end of the probationary session, the student has achieved a 2.0 GPA for his current course work, then the probation will be lifted for any successive sessions. If, however, these standards have not been met and the grade point average has not risen to 2.0 or greater for that session, the student shall be dismissed from the ELI. As with the dismissal policies already in use, the student has the right to appeal the decision through a letter to the director followed by a meeting with the Committee on Student Conduct and Attendance and the instructors of record.