Academic Standards
Graduate students of Southern University are governed by the following regulations regarding scholarship standards:
- The minimum standard for graduate work is a letter grade of "8" applied to the plan of study used to meet degree requirements.
- Earn a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 on all graduate course work, and all course work applied specifically to the degree.
- However, only two "C" grades are permissible towards a degree program and the "C" grade must not be in the required courses. NO GRADE OF "0" COUNTS TOWARDS A DEGREE PROGRAM.
Any graduate student may be denied further registration in a graduate program if the cumulative grade point average falls below a 3.0. Disciplinary actions will be taken against students with unsatisfactory scholarship. Such actions may include probation or suspension. The following are the conditions for the respective disciplinary actions:
Probation
A student whose cumulative GPA, in either graduate or undergraduate course work while enrolled in Graduate School, falls below 3.0 for the first time. Students on academic probation are expected to take steps to improve their situation and raise their GPA to 3.0 or above. The cumulative grade point average is computed as follows: total quality points divided by total hours pursued (including transfer credits), except for repeated courses.
A graduate student will remain on probation until a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above is achieved.
Failure to earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above a semester, maymester, or summer term average of 3.0 while on probation will result in suspension (see below).
Graduate students with cumulative grade point averages between 2.51 and 2.99 will receive an academic warning that they are below the 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA required for graduation.
When a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above is achieved, the student is in academic good standing.
Suspension
A graduate student who is placed on probation for two consecutive periods, will be suspended if a cumulative GPA of 3.0 is not achieved at the end of the second probationary period. Summer is excluded.
Academic Appeals Process for Suspension
A graduate student may appeal a suspension only if it is the first one for the student and the student is able to provide strong supporting documentation as well as compelling reasons for reconsideration.
All appeals should be directed to the Graduate School's Appeal Committee and submitted to the Graduate School by certified mail. The hearing schedule will be determined by Graduate School's Appeals Committee.
A student who is placed on suspension must remain out of school (and not allowed to register) for the semester or summer session immediately following such suspension, unless there is/are extenuating circumstance(s) that are documentable. A suspended student shall follow the steps listed below:
The student submits a written appeal with supporting documentation to the Graduate School by certified mail
If the student is successful with such appeal, the removal of suspension is submitted to the Registrar for posting and the department is notified. If appeal is not successful, the student may appeal to Academic Affairs.
Expulsion
A student who fails to earn a cumulative 3.0 GPA after readmission following a suspension will be expelled from the Graduate School. The student may submit an appeal to the Office of Academic Affairs, if they have compelling reasons or documentation to support extenuating circumstances that affected their academic performance.
A student who is expelled from a program ineligible for readmission to the program from which they were expelled.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is using someone else's work without giving proper credit, a failure to cite adequately. (Council of Writing Program Administrators, 2003) Citing sources allows writers to give credit to their sources for the original author's work and ideas; and, provides a roadmap for readers who are interested in learning more about the topic.
In an academic environment, if you fail to cite your sources adequately, you are guilty of plagiarism, which is taken very seriously. Plagiarism is considered academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty can result in a failing grade in the paper, failing grade in the course, academic probation, expulsion from the university, or recreating the research process.