Retention Table

Academic Standards and Retention Table

Tennessee Technological University expects all students to strive for the highest academic achievement of which they are capable. Knowing that grades, once obtained, become a permanent record, the University is desirous that grades truly represent student accomplishment. A quality point average (QPA) of 2.00 is required to be eligible for the baccalaureate degree. This means that a 2.00 QPA is required over all college work taken, for all courses taken at Tennessee Tech, and for all courses taken in the major field.

It is the intention of the University to give the student ample opportunity to demonstrate satisfactory work. To achieve this purpose, a graduated retention standard scale has been adopted. A student who desires to raise his or her quality point average is encouraged to repeat courses in which he or she has unsatisfactory grades, to consider a reduced load, and to evaluate the choice of major.

Unsatisfactory Academics. Students who have completed less than 14.10 credit hours with less than a 1.5 semester QPA will have an "Unsatisfactory Progress" statement on his/her grade mailer and on Eagleline and Eagle Online.

Warning. Students who fail to satisfy the minimum semester QPA standard as given in column 2 of the Retention Table (below), will be placed on academic warning. Students who have been issued an academic warning and who fail to meet the minimum semester QPA standard (column 2, Retention Table) the next semester enrolled will be placed on academic probation. In cases where, concurrently, the semester QPA would indicate academic warning and the cumulative QPA would dictate academic probation, the student will be placed on probation.

Probation. Students who fail to maintain the cumulative or current semester quality point average required for unconditioned retention are placed on probation. This indicates that the quality of work performed is not satisfactory and the student is in danger of suspension unless his/her achievement shows the required improvement.

A student must remove probation the next semester enrolled. He/she must not enroll for more than sixteen hours at Tennessee Technological University during the semester on probation, and fewer hours are recommended many times. A student may remove probation by exceeding the requirements of the Academic Retention Table. If a student does not equal the cumulative requirement of the Academic Retention Table but does meet the semester average requirement, the student will continue on probation.

Suspension. Any student who has been placed on probation and who fails to meet both the required cumulative QPA standard (column 1, Retention Table) and semester QPA standard (column 2, Retention Table) the next semester enrolled will be suspended for a minimum of one semester. The summer term may not be counted as the term of suspension. The only exception to the previous statement is that a student placed on probation and who earns a semester QPA of at least 2.0 (or required minimum semester QPA) the next term enrolled, but who does not raise his/her QPA to the required cumulative QPA standard (column 1), will remain on probation. A student suspended for a second time must remain out of school for one calendar year. If a student is suspended a third time, the student will be denied enrollment in the University for a period of two calendar years. The student may wish to enroll at a community college during that time. If a student remains out of school for four years, the student is eligible to apply for "Academic Fresh Start," which allows the student to begin a brand new academic career.

Part-time. The status of part-time students (fewer than 7 hours current term) on academic warning or probation will not change until a minimum of 12 hours is accumulated for the terms while on part-time status. At that time, students must meet columns 1 and 2 of the Retention Table. Students taking 7 hours or more per term are affected by the table below.

Readmission After Suspension. Students suspended for the first time will be accepted for readmission after one regular semester away from the University. The summer session may not count as a term of suspension. A student asking for readmission after a second or third suspension should follow the procedure below. AFTER being away from the University for one calendar year for a second suspension and two calendar years for a third suspension:

Appeal. A student may appeal the suspension by completing the "Readmission after Suspension" application process prior to the term she/he might ordinarily be readmitted after the suspension is completed. The form may be filed at any time after the suspension occurs but must be filed at least 10- days prior to the beginning of the next term for which the student wishes to enroll. During the appeal process, most of the suspensions are upheld with exceptions being made only when rare extenuating circumstances exist. The Admissions and Credits Committee will usually require the student to wait one intervening semester before he or she can be readmitted.

A student suspended for a second time must remain out of school for one calendar year. A student suspended for a third time must remain out of school for two calendar years. After the student has been suspended, the above procedures for readmission will apply. An exception may be made for the student who completes an Associate of Arts or Science degree in a university parallel curriculum at a community college in the interim.