Multimedia Reporting (Bradford-Utsler)

Jeremy Monken knew after being put on academic probation his freshman year that he needed to get his grades up – quickly. But trying to decode the chart of the current policy for academic probation and dismissal seemed daunting. As the number of hours completed rises, so too does the minimum GPA a student must have to avoid dismissal.

“It seemed pretty convoluted and confusing,” Monken said.

Starting in the fall of 2006, however, the system will be simplified drastically. Instead of using a gradual increase in hours in a multi-tiered system, the revamped policy will include two levels - underclassmen and upperclassmen.

“This new policy is meant to give students clearer and more understandable ideas on what it takes to succeed,” said Dr. Kim McNeley, Assistant to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

In this new system, students on probation with less than 60 hours must earn at least a 2.0 GPA the following semester, and must continue to do so until their cumulative GPA reaches a 2.0. Juniors and seniors need to earn a 2.5 GPA the next semester until their cumulative GPA is 2.0. For upperclassmen, the new policy makes it more difficult to reach good academic standing, but McNeley said it benefits students in the long-run.

“In order to attain a cumulative GPA of 2.0, which is necessary to graduate, students who have completed 60 hours or more need that higher GPA per semester to make sure they will meet that minimum,” McNeley said.

The changes include less stringent criteria for freshmen. Previously, a GPA of 0.5 or lower resulted in automatic dismissal for students who had completed more than 13 hours. Starting next fall, students in that situation will get the chance to earn a 2.0 GPA the following semester to avoid dismissal. McNeley said this creates a much-needed transition period for new college students.

For Monken, a junior who was eventually dismissed from KU in the fall of 2005, the updated policy makes it harder for him to reach good academic standing once he returns to the university. However, he said he agrees with the changes being made.

“It makes sense,” Monken said. “Otherwise you’d be able to just slide along and you’d never be able to graduate in a reasonable amount of time. The slacker in me wants to slide along, but I know that won’t cut it if I want a meaningful future.”