Academic Probation Policies

Effective for May 2025 courses and beyond: For doctoral students in graded courses, Academic Probation begins after they have attempted at least 6 semester hours and have a cumulative GPA below 3.0. If the student’s cumulative program GPA falls below the minimum required by APUS, they will be notified by the Registrar's Office that they have been placed on Academic Probation. The intent of Academic Probation is to provide the student with the opportunity to raise their cumulative GPA to minimum levels so that they may continue to pursue their academic goals. Once placed on Academic Probation, their GPA will be reviewed after 6 hours, or if at the end of their graded coursework, their next course attempt. Students may have up to 2 probation periods before being placed in a 30 day suspension pending dismissal.

Doctoral students cannot be on probation and must hold at least a 3.0 GPA at the conclusion of coursework in order to proceed into the dissertation phase. During the dissertation phase of the program, they will be placed on probation if they receive a “U” (unsatisfactory performance). Probation will be reviewed upon completion of the next dissertation course; two consecutive "U's" will result in dismissal.

Doctoral students may be placed on academic probation up to twice during their academic program.

The student will need to discuss their options with their academic advisor and their funding source as their eligibility for funding may be affected.

Academic Probation

Event	Cause	Result	Outcomes
Student’s GPA falls below 3.0	Failed a course(s) with a grade of F	The student will be: placed on probation and must repeat the failed course before progressing limited to repeating the failed course(s) and withdrawn course(s) if applicable. The probationary term must include a course with letter grades to impact the GPA. Students in a term with only pass/fail courses will continue into a term with graded courses before probation review.	Upon successful completion of the repeated course(s), the new grade, which must be at least a B will replace F Alternative Scenarios IF: the student fails to achieve at least a B- in the repeated course, the student will be removed from the program. the replacement grade lifts GPA to 3.0 (or above), student is removed from probation. the replacement grade is at least a B, but does NOT lift GPA to 3.0 (or above), the student will be allowed a second probation term to raise the GPA; Failure to raise the GPA during the second probation term will result in the student being dismissed from the program. Doctoral students must hold at least a 3.0 GPA at the conclusion of coursework in order to proceed into the dissertation phase.
Students who fall below 3.0	Due to one or more grades of B- in the program	The student will be placed on probation and will be allowed to continue taking courses as a probationary term. The probationary term must include a course with letter grades to impact the GPA. Students in a term with only pass/fail courses will be allowed to continue into a term with graded courses before probation review.	Students who are able to raise their GPA to 3.0 following the first probationary term will be removed from probation. Students who fail to raise their GPA to at least 3.0 during the first probationary term will be allowed a second probation term to raise the GPA. Failure to raise the GPA during the second probationary term will result in the student being dismissed from the program. Doctoral students must hold at least a 3.0 GPA at the conclusion of coursework in order to proceed into the dissertation phase.
Student who does not make satisfactory dissertation progress	Student receives a U (Unsatisfactory) grade in the dissertation course	The student will be placed on probation and will be required to complete an improvement plan to meet dissertation milestones during the next term.	If the student receives an S (satisfactory) grade in the probationary term, the student will be removed from probation. If the student receives a U (unsatisfactory) in the first probationary term, the student will be given a second probationary term to demonstrate satisfactory progress. Failure to demonstrate satisfactory progress during the second probationary term will result in the student being dismissed from the program.

Academic Level	Number of Probation Periods	Probation Rules
Doctoral students	Doctoral students may be placed on academic probation up to twice during their academic program. Placement on academic probation beyond the first time will be based on completing the previous academic probation period with a GPA above a 3.0.	Minimum period GPA of 3.0

If you raise your cumulative GPA above the minimum level at the end of the review period, you will be placed on academic good standing.

Appeals

The student will have 30- calendar days to appeal their pending academic dismissal in writing before it is processed. Refer to the Appeals Information for more information