Policy on Academic Progress Milestones for Undergraduate Major Programs
1.00 Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to allow departments, divisions, and/or colleges to voluntarily establish milestones for sufficient academic progress in undergraduate major programs. Students unable to achieve the milestones will be required to meet with academic advisors and/or faculty to develop a plan that will lead to the successful completion of the existing program. If successful completion of the current academic program is not achievable based on university policy and minimum graduation requirements, the student will be dismissed from the program and guided to a new program.
2.00 Establishing Milestones
Faculty in a department, division, or a school determining milestones must identify two elements—indicators and intervention:
Clear indicators of whether a student is making academic progress must be identified. The milestones must be consistent with university policy and minimum graduation requirements. The milestones may include but are not limited to the following types of criteria:
- Passing grades in specified required courses;
- Semester GPAs above 2.0;
- GPA in the major above 2.0;
- Numbers of repeats or withdrawals;
- Completion of specific courses;
- Timelines that identify how and by when the milestones must be met (end of one academic year, one calendar year, by 30 units, by 60 units, by 90 units, etc.). Such timelines will include adjustments as necessary for transfer students and students requiring developmental work.
A detailed description of the intervention that will follow a missed milestone must be identified. The intervention must include:
- Mandatory academic advising to provide the student with guidance to meet the missed milestone the following semester;
- Clearly articulated timelines for dismissal from the program (e.g., when students have missed a milestone for two successive semesters), and;
- A description of the process by which students will be notified of their dismissal from the program and advised and guided into a new academic program. This process must include a change of major in the Student’s Academic Record that is communicated to the Office of the Registrar in a timely manner.
3.00 Approval Process
Academic progress milestones that potentially dismiss a student from the major must first be approved through regular, campus curricular approval processes (College Curriculum Committee, Dean’s Office, Senate Curriculum Committee Council, and finally, submitted to the Office of the Provost). All milestones must be approved by the Office of the Provost and published in the University Catalog and in advising materials prior to implementation.
Milestones may be revised and subject to approval through curricular processes. The impact of milestones will be reviewed as part of the Program Review Process.
4.00 Appeal of Dismissal From an Academic Program
Students who are dismissed from an academic program have the right to appeal that dismissal to the Dean of the College, and if not satisfied, may file an appeal with the Provost or designee. A student shall initiate the appeal process no later than 30 calendar days from the beginning of the semester. The decision of the Provost is final.
5.00 Limits to Declaring a Major
Continuing students may be denied a request to declare a major if the student’s academic record demonstrates a lack of success based on that program’s approved milestones. These students will be referred to the University Advising Center.
6.00 University-wide Academic Progress Rules
6.10 Students who have failed to achieve an academic progress milestone or who have cumulative GPAs below 2.5 may not add additional degree objectives, minors, or certificates unless approved by the advisor for their current primary academic program.
6.20 Students who have missed a milestone or have GPAs below 2.5 may change primary academic programs to facilitate timely progress to degree.
7.00 Continuous Renewal
This policy shall be assessed ten years from its effective date to determine its effectiveness and appropriateness. This policy may be assessed before that time as necessary.
s/ President Vanya Quiñones
Effective Date: November 22, 2024
Certification of Process:
Reviewed by: EPPC, Academic Senate Executive Committee, Academic Senate, Academic Leadership Team, Associated Students, and Enrollment Management & Student Affairs.