FAQ

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What Is Academic Probation And How Do I Clear It?

Academic Probation is assigned to students* who did not satisfy their College's minimum academic requirements at the end of a Fall or Spring semester. The three types of Academic Probation are Term, Cumulative, and Departmental.

  • Students who did not meet their College’s minimum academic requirements at the end of a semester is assigned Term Probation.

  • Cumulative Probation is assigned to students whose cumulative UC GPA did not satisfy their College’s academic requirements by the end of the semester.

  • Departmental Probation is assigned by some Major departments when a student does not fulfill unique academic requirements.

For each type of Academic Probation, each College has a unique set of GPA requirements required in order to return to good academic standing. To learn more about these specific requirements, visit our Academic Probation webpage.

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What Happens If I Don’t Clear Academic Probation?

A student who does not successfully meet their terms of Academic Probation is placed on “Subject to Dismissal” status* and then reviewed by their College to determine if their enrollment will be continued.  

If extenuating circumstances were present, the student can submit a letter of self-advocacy to their College requesting to be “Continued on Academic Probation” for another semester. These requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and our EOP Degree Completion Counselor can assist you in navigating this process. 

If a student’s College determines that the student may benefit from a break in their studies at UC Berkeley, their enrollment may temporarily be paused through the process of Dismissal. The College will determine the “terms of readmission” in order to return to the university. This can include (but is not limited to) completing classes at a community college and/or taking steps to stabilize any personal matters impacting their academic performance.

*For students in the College of Engineering, please note that there is no period of Academic Probation and students who do not meet the College’s minimum academic requirements will immediately be placed on “Subject to Dismissal” status and have their enrollment reviewed by their College. Students in Subject to Dismissal have the opportunity to self-advocate to a process similar to above. Students should consult with their College of Engineering Advisor and their EOP Degree Completion Counselor for support.


Frequently Asked Questions

Can I retake classes that received a "D" or "F" in a community college?

Although some courses that a student received a “D” or “F” in may be retaken at a community college to transfer to the university for credit, they will not count towards a student’s UC GPA. Students can use Assist.org to confirm if the community college course is transferable to UC Berkeley. We encourage students to meet with the EOP Degree Completion Counselor to explore your academic options and develop a plan that is best suited to their needs and timeline.

Can I clear Academic Probation over the summer?

Academic Probation can only be cleared during a Fall or Spring semester. However, taking courses during the Summer term can help a student better position themselves for the Fall or Spring academic term by providing them a boost in GPA and time to reflect, practice, and strategize for the following terms.

Can I take a reduced Course Load while on Academic Probation?

In order to ensure success while still considering health and wellness, students on Academic Probation may be eligible for a Reduced Course Load if they are a graduating senior, working full or part-time, parenting or caretaking, and/or have a disability. Reduced Course Loads are approved through the respective College and the Disabled Students Program (DSP).

Before a student requests a Reduced Course Load, they should first consult with a ...

Can I withdraw while on Academic Probation?

All students, regardless of their academic status, have the option to withdraw from the semester up until the last day of instruction. In the case that a student withdraws while on Academic Probation, their readmission may require additional conditions to satisfy before returning. There can be significant financial and/or academic impacts of withdrawing. For that reason we highly recommend that students meet with an EOP Counselor beforehand to fully assess their options and make an...

What is Readmission?

Readmissionis the process of re-enrollment to the university after a student was absent for one or more semesters due to cancellation, withdrawal, dismissal, or other circumstances. In order to be readmitted, a student must submit an application and fulfill specific requirements set by their college. EOP offers a fee waiver to cover the $70 readmission application cost.

For students that were dismissed from the university, readmission decisions are uniquely determined by their academic progress and/...

Can I request an Incomplete while on Academic Probation?

Oftentimes students may face extenuating circumstances beyond their control. If a student is in good standing in a course, and has completed and passed a majority of the work required, they may request an Incomplete from their instructor during the term that they are on Academic Probation. The granting of the “Incomplete” is at the instructor’s discretion.

Being on Academic Probation provides an additional layer to a student's academic journey....

Will my repeated grades replace the D's and F's on my transcripts?

Both the first and second attempts of a course will appear on a student’s transcript, but only the second attempt will be taken into consideration when calculating the cumulative GPA. If a course is attempted for a third time, the average grade between the second and third attempt will be factored into the GPA. All grades will still remain on the student’s transcript. Before a student retakes a course, they should check that their amount of repeat units is below the 12 unit...

Does Academic Probation affect my financial aid?

Depending on the circumstances, some students on Academic Probation may also not be meeting the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. SAP is distinct from Academic Probation and is a federal policy that requires students to meet three academic conditions in order to maintain their financial aid eligibility. Students who are concerned that their academic status may impact their financial aid should consult...

What is SAP and how does it impact my degree progress?

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a federal policy that requires students to meet the following three academic conditions to maintain financial aid eligibility:

Maintain a cumulative GPA at or above 2.0. by the annual SAP evaluation period that occurs at the end of each academic year. Complete 67% of all units attempted cumulatively (including accepted transfer units) during your undergraduate career. Attempted units (including accepted transfer units) must not exceed 150...

What happens if my SAP appeal is not approved?

If a student’s SAP appeal is not approved, they will not be eligible to receive Financial Aid for that academic year. If the student chooses to remain enrolled for that semester, they are responsible for the charges incurred on their account. If your SAP appeal is denied, we highly recommend that you meet with an EOP Counselor as soon as possible to discuss your options and outline next steps.

I'm worried I might land on Academic Probation, what should I do?

Students experiencing academic difficulty should first know that they are not alone! Many students face adversity during their academic careers and as a result, connecting to campus and personal support networks can help one navigate and feel more supported in their situation. A good first step is meeting with our EOP Degree Completion Counselor to discuss which academic options are available and best for you.

Who can I talk to about my Academic Probation status?

At EOP, students can discuss their academic probation status holistically with any Academic Counselor. We highly encourage you to connect with our EOP Degree Completion Counselor to create a strategic plan that works for you. We also highly recommend that students connect with their College and/or Major advisors for support.

What resources are available to help me clear Academic Probation?

EOP, R2R, and our campus partners make up a network of academic, financial, and wellness resources available to students on their journey to overcoming academic difficulty. Visit our Resources webpage to look through a complete list of resources and our Get Involved webpage to get connected with R2R.

Rausser College of Natural Resources

Rausser CNR students currently in good standing who earn all “P” grades will remain in good standing. Students currently in good standing who earn NP grades, Incompletes, or failing letter grades for more than 50% of units will be placed on academic probation and will be required to meet with their college advisor and complete an Academic Success Plan for subsequent term. Students on AP must take all coursework for letter grades. Students on AP may be removed from probationary status with sufficient letter graded course work to raise their cumulative GPA above 2.0. Students on Academic...

College of Letters & Science

If you are on Academic Probation, you will need to follow typical probation policies around grading options to make letter graded progress. This means that if you are on academic probation, you will need to take all of your courses for a letter grade unless a course is only offered P/NP. Students in good academic standing will not be automatically placed on academic probation for taking all of their courses P/NP during Fall 2020 or Spring 2021. Students who earn all P's will remain in good standing Students who earn all NP's will be placed on academic probation Students who earn a combination...

College of Environmental Design

Students on 1.5 Term Probation who earn all P grades and their overall GPA is 2.0 or above, will clear academic probation CED students currently in good standing who earn all “P” grades will remain in good standing. Students currently in good standing who earn NP grades, Incompletes, or failing letter grades for more than 50% of units will be placed on academic probation and will be required to meet with their college advisor and complete an Academic Success Plan for subsequent term. Students on AP must take all coursework for letter grades. Students on AP may be removed from probationary...

College of Engineering

For the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters, students will be subject to dismissal if any of the following apply: Overall GPA is less than 2.0; Semester GPA is less than 2.0; Less than or equal to 50% of units completed during the semester are NP. Note that all grades of P for the semester will result in no GPA and will not impact a student’s status.

College of Chemistry

CoC students will not be placed automatically on academic probation for taking all courses for P/NP during Fall 2020 or Spring 2021. Students who choose to take all courses for P/NP, and who receive 50% or more units for NP or I, will be placed on probation. Students who are currently on academic probation or who are subject to dismissal may not take classes for P/NP, unless the course is offered only for P/NP. This rule was waived by the Academic Senate in Spring 2020, but not for Fall 2020 or Spring 2021.

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Send Us Your Questions! 

To learn more about the R2R program, feel free to contact jcbautista@berkeley.edu