Academic Standing Policies

Academic Standing

The minimum graduation requirements for students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at Shenandoah University are the completion of 120 credit hours with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Assuming that a student wishes to complete a degree in the standard four years, they would need to complete 15 credit hours per semester with a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. As some programs require a student to complete more than 120 credit hours, and some students choose to pursue their education on a less than a full-time basis, students should plan accordingly for this extended period of time.

Academic standing is calculated for all students at the end of Spring and Fall Terms.  Academic standing will be calculated for January Term and Summer Term for only those students who are eligible for promotion to good academic standing.

Students who have difficulties in the initial hours of enrollment at Shenandoah frequently make sufficient improvement in subsequent coursework to overcome their deficit in grades or credit hours or both. For this reason, Shenandoah has set a rising scale of minimum requirements for the successive completed credit hours, shown in the chart below, for determining the conditions under which a student may continue his/her education.

*Credit Hours Graded includes transfer credit hours transferred in to student’s program of study.

Academic Notice

If a student’s cumulative GPA does not meet minimum standards* at the end of a 15-week term (Fall/Spring), that student will be given an Academic Notice which will be noted on their transcript. Following an Academic Notice, a student will be placed in STSK 103 Study Skills or they will be assigned an Academic Coach for the next semester. 

Academic Notice is designed to provide students with structured support to address academic challenges, which may include navigating personal, financial, or systemic barriers to success. Through placement in the Academic Coaching program or STSK 103, at the discretion of the university, students will develop skills and strategies to build on their strengths and achieve consistent academic success.

*Minimum standards are defined under the previous section, Academic Standing.

Academic Suspension and Dismissal

1.  If a student is issued Academic Notices in two consecutive 15-week terms (Fall/Spring), and if that student is unable to meet minimum standards by the end of the following 15-week term, that student may be academically suspended from the university. 

2. Students suspended from the university may not register for courses at Shenandoah University for a period of at least one term and no longer than two terms (Fall/Spring/Summer). During this time, a student can petition for reinstatement through the school dean. If a student is suspended after a Fall term but is registered for a J-term course, they may choose to stay enrolled in the J-term course while their reinstatement petition is under review.

3. ​Once reinstated, the student:

• must achieve at least a 2.0 GPA each term until a return to good Academic Standing and
• must not be recommended for suspension a second time (per #1 above)​

 Failure to meet these conditions may result in academic dismissal. 

 Students not attending classes for three consecutive terms (Fall/Spring/Summer) must re-apply for admission.

Individual schools or programs may have more strict requirements for programmatic continuation.

Condition of Dismissal

Only under justifiable conditions shall a petition for reinstatement be considered, and then only after a period of one calendar year from the date of dismissal.

Conduct Suspension or Dismissal

Students suspended or dismissed for student conduct reasons will receive a grade of “W.”

Academic Honors

Dean’s List

Students enrolled full-time in baccalaureate degree programs who have attained a term grade point average of at least 3. 50 will be placed on the Dean’s List of honor students. The Dean’s List is calculated for fall and spring semesters only.

President’s List

Students enrolled full-time in baccalaureate degree programs who have attained a term grade point average of at least 3.90 will also be placed on the President’s List of honor students. The President’s List is calculated for fall and spring semesters only.

Graduation Honors

All candidates for baccalaureate degrees are eligible for honors based on the cumulative grade point average for any credits earned after initial registration at Shenandoah University. The grade point averages required for undergraduate academic honors are:

3.900 — Summa Cum Laude, with highest praise
3.700 — Magna Cum Laude, with great praise
3.500 — Cum Laude, with praise

Gold cords are worn by students graduating with honors. These gold honor cords are distributed during graduate line-up. Honors for the graduation ceremony are calculated at the end of the fall semester prior to graduation and are listed in the program. Final honors are calculated with the spring semester grades and appear on the transcript and diploma.