When your cumulative grade-point average falls below a 2.0, you are considered to be in academic difficulty. This can lead to academic warning, probation, or even dismissal. If you feel that you are in academic difficulty (even if your CPHR is above a 2.0), you should see your Arts and Sciences academic advisor as soon as possible to discuss the issues that may be affecting your academic performance and for advice on how to get back on track. Below are descriptions of the different levels of academic difficulty.

Academic Warning

You will be placed on academic warning when you have accumulated between .1 and 14.9 deficiency points. You will receive an e-mail from a Dean in Arts and Sciences and should consult with your assigned Arts and Sciences academic advisor. Once your CPHR reaches a 2.0, you will again be in good academic standing.

The following example illustrates this:

This student has attempted 15 credit hours, earned 25 points, and would have a QPHR of 1.66 with 5 deficiency points. The reason the deficiency point total is 5 is that that student needed 30 points to attain a 2.00 and by earning only 25, fell short by 5.

Academic Probation

You will be placed on academic probation when you have accumulated 15 or more deficiency points. You will receive a letter and an e-mail from a Dean in Arts and Sciences and should consult with your assigned Arts and Sciences academic advisor. Once your CPHR reaches a 2.0, you will again be in good academic standing.

Academic Dismissal

Any student in academic difficulty is at risk of being dismissed from the university. There is no particular CPHR or number of deficiency points that warrants a dismissal. These decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and given serious thought by a Dean in Arts and Sciences. You are a likely candidate for dismissal if you are on academic probation and continue to accumulate deficiency points. Dismissed students will be notified of their status by letter and by e-mail.

Fresh Start

Students who have a CPHR under a 2.0 or who have been dismissed from the university may want to petition to use Fresh Start. This will eliminate any deficiency points that you may have earned previously and will let you start at Ohio State will a clean CPHR (0.00).

If you have not been enrolled at the university 20 or more consecutive quarters (5 or more years), you may petition for the Fresh Start Rule. While all courses will remain on your permanent record, only courses in which you received a C- or higher will be counted for credit. Other course work will not be counted for credit, towards any requirement, or toward graduation. You will return to Ohio State with a recalculated Cumulative Point Hour Ratio of 0.00. You must complete a minimum of three quarters and 45 credit hours after using the Fresh Start Rule before you are eligible to graduate. Meet with an Arts and Sciences academic advisor for more information.

Keep in mind that if you are considering applying to graduate or professional schools, or even to other colleges at Ohio State, their admissions processes will look at all of your grades and may recalculate the original grade(s) into your total.