Academic Course Load

The average semester load for full-time students is 15 to 17 semester (or credit) hours. Students must carry at least 12 semester hours to be classified as full time.

Academic overloads during fall and spring semesters (18 or more semester hours for students in the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Science and Technology; 19 or more semester hours in all other schools and colleges) need special approval of the dean of the school or college in which a student is matriculated. Tuition for full-time students covers 12 to 17 hours. Credits over 17 carry additional tuition charges. See Tuition and Fees in the Financial Information section of the Bulletin.

Summer sessions: Undergraduates must get overload approval for 9 credits or more.

Academic Credit

A semester hour is a unit of academic credit. For courses that meet on a regularly-scheduled semester basis, a semester hour corresponds to one hour a week of lecture or recitation (or two hours of laboratory or studio activity) throughout one semester. For courses that do not meet on a regularly-scheduled semester basis, the guideline is that one semester hour corresponds to 700 minutes of classroom contact.

Academic credit may be earned through traditional coursework at Temple University, courses approved for transfer from other institutions, Advanced Placement Tests, International Baccalaureate Exams, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), military experience, cooperative work experience, and prior work or life experience. See the Admissions section of the Bulletin and the policy on Credit for Prior Learning (formerly Non-Traditional Credit).

Courses evaluated for transfer from colleges and universities with different credit systems (quarter hours, units) are converted to semester hours (i.e., 2 quarter hour credits are equivalent to 1.5 semester hour credits; 3 quarter hour credits are equivalent to 2.0 semester hour credits; 4 quarter hour credits are equivalent to 2.5 semester hour credits).

Academic Residency Requirements

Temple University requires that all undergraduate degree candidates complete 30 hours of the last 45 hours of the degree or program as matriculated students at Temple University. If a matriculated student previously took Temple courses on a non-matriculated basis, those courses are counted towards this requirement. See the policy on Transfer Credits.

To graduate with Latin Honors, a student must complete at least 60 semester hours of the program matriculated at Temple. See Honors.

Students should consult their school or college for additional academic residency requirements.

Academic Rights and Responsibilities

See Academic Rights and Responsibilities in the Student Rights section of the Bulletin.

Academic Standing

Click here for the up-to-date version of the Academic Warning, Probation, Dismissal and Reinstatement policy (policy number 02.10.11).  The policy is printed below.

Academic Warning, Probation, Dismissal, and Reinstatement

Effective Date: June 12, 2003; revised September 26, 2007

Policy

Academic Good Standing

A matriculated undergraduate student in the University is in Academic Good Standing if he/she has not been dismissed.

Unsatisfactory Academic Performance

Unsatisfactory Academic Performance is defined as having a semester or cumulative grade-point average below 2.0 (C) resulting in grade point deficiencies. Excessive accumulation of grade point deficiencies can result in dismissal. The Office of the University Registrar notifies students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory.

Levels of Unsatisfactory Academic Performance: Academic Warning and Probation

Academic Warning

A student is placed on Academic Warning under the following conditions:

• if the semester grade point average (GPA) is below 2.0, though the cumulative GPA may be at 2.0 or above

        or

• if prior to the accumulation of 30 credits, the cumulative grade point average is below 2.0

A student on Academic Warning cannot register for courses online and must meet with an advisor to register. Advisors will help in planning a schedule of courses selected to assist the student in achieving acceptable, cumulative GPAs.

The university issues academic warning based on academic performance in fall or spring semesters. Academic Warning is not assessed as a result of grades earned during summer sessions.

Academic Probation

A student is placed on Academic Probation when the cumulative grade point average is below 2.0 after having accumulated 30 or more credits.

A student on Academic Probation cannot register for courses online and must meet with an advisor to register. Advisors will help in planning a schedule of courses selected to assist the student in maintaining an acceptable cumulative GPA.

The university issues academic probation based on academic performance in fall or spring semesters. Academic Probation is not assessed as a result of grades earned during summer sessions.

Students not in Academic Good Standing: Dismissal and Conditional Status

Dismissal

The academic action of Dismissal is assessed when a probationary student's grade point deficiency reaches the University-defined maximum. These grade point deficiency requirements are standard across all schools and colleges.

• Only students on Academic Probation are subject to Dismissal.
• No probationary student will be dismissed who has earned at least a 2.0 semester GPA in the most recent semester.
• A dismissed student is not in Academic Good Standing.

The University dismisses probationary students based on academic performance in fall or spring semesters. Students are not dismissed based on grades earned during summer sessions.

A baccalaureate degree candidate on probation is automatically dismissed from degree candidacy if:

Table 1

Note:

• "Cumulative Credits" are determined for the purposes of this policy by counting credits in all courses graded "A" through "F" and ignoring credits in courses with incomplete grades ("I"), Withdrawals ("W", "WE" or "WS"), Registered ("R"), or Audit ("AU") and credits completed in courses graded Credit/No Credit ("CR/NC") or Pass ("P"). Credits for repeated courses are calculated according to the course repeat policy. "Cumulative Credits" may differ from credits counted toward the degree, since the latter excludes courses the student does not pass.
• Credits transferred to Temple University will be counted as "cumulative credits" in order to establish the level of progress towards a degree.
• Grade point deficiencies, if any, accrue only from courses taken at Temple University.

Notification

Students can check their academic status via OWLnet. Students placed on Academic Warning or Probation or who have been Dismissed, are notified by e-mail that their academic standing has been assessed and are directed to OWLnet for specific information.

Conditional Status for Dismissed Students

A student dismissed from baccalaureate degree candidacy for Unsatisfactory Academic Performance may register for Temple courses as a non-degree Conditional Status student, with the following conditions:

• A non-degree conditional status student is not in Academic Good Standing and is not eligible for financial aid or University housing.
• The advising office of the Temple school, college, or academic unit from which the student was dismissed registers the student during the enrollment period reserved for non-matriculating students.
• The courses taken must be suitable for demonstrating the student’s ability to succeed at Temple University.
• The student may enroll for up to 13 credits for a fall or spring semester or up to 7 credits for a summer session, for a total of up to 40 credits to be completed within two calendar years from the dismissal date.
• Students will be Summarily Dismissed if they are unable to achieve a 2.0 GPA after having completed 40 semester hours or after a period of two calendar years from the dismissal date, whichever occurs first. Summarily Dismissed students will not be eligible for Readmission for a period of five (5) years from the end of their last semester of enrollment.
• A student may be on Conditional Status only once during his or her undergraduate career.

Reinstatement

Students who complete coursework on Conditional Status may apply for reinstatement to degree candidacy to the school or college from which they were dismissed when they have achieved a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Students will be accorded only one opportunity for reinstatement.

Readmission

A dismissed student, whether he or she has taken courses on Conditional Status or not, may apply for readmission after five years from the date of last enrollment at Temple University. Application for readmission to degree candidacy may be made to any Temple school or college. Readmitted students will be treated as transfer students in that they will receive credit for courses passed at Temple or elsewhere, when those course credits meet the requirements for courses applicable to graduation stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin:

"In admitting transfer or returning students, the University will, when possible, allow credit for courses taken ten or more years prior to the date of admission or readmission.

However, academic units may choose not to accept courses regardless of age for credit in the major. Courses of a technical nature or courses in a particularly dynamic field may not be accepted for credit.

Final determination of the acceptability of such courses is the responsibility of academic units and generally occurs after the student has matriculated or been readmitted."

Students will re-enter the university with no cumulative grade-point average. This readmission policy, with its forgiveness provision, will go into effect for fall 2009 for students dismissed from fall 2003 on.

Calculating Grade Point Deficiencies

Grade point deficiencies are the number of grade points below the required minimum for a "C" (2.0) GPA.

Example 1: Student with minimum satisfactory academic performance

If a student has completed 30 cumulative credits at an average of a "C" (2.0) grade level, the student will have 60 grade points:

     30 cumulative credits X 2.0 = 60 grade points.

Example 2: Student on academic probation

If the student has complete 30 cumulative credits at an average of a "C-" (1.67), the student will have 50.1 grade points, which is 9.9 points below the required total.

This grade point deficiency is less than the university limit of 15 (see Table 1) and academic probation is noted on the student's record.

     Required grade point total is 30 X 2.0 = 60.0 grade points

     30 cumulative credits X 1.67              = 50.1 grade points

     Grade point deficiency is                   =   9.9 grade points

Example 3: Dismissed student

If the student has 61 cumulative credits at an average grade of a "C-" (1.67), the student will have 101.9 grade points, which is 20.1 points below the required total.

This grade point deficiency is greater than the university limit of 10 (see Table 1) and the probationary student is dismissed.

     Required grade point total is 61 x 2.0 = 122.0 grade points

     61 cumulative credits X 1.67              = 101.9 grade points

     Grade point deficiency is                   =   20.1 grade points

Eliminating Grade Point Deficiencies

Students can remove grade point deficiencies by earning C+ grades or better in subsequent courses. (See Appendix 1: "Removing Grade Point Deficiencies")

Associate Degree Candidates

Academic Warning

The rules and procedures related to Academic Warning for baccalaureate degree students apply also to associate degree candidates. However, students are issued Academic Warning when the semester GPA is below 2.0 or when the cumulative grade point average is below 2.0 and the student has earned fewer than 20 cumulative credits.

Academic Probation

The rules and procedures related to Academic Probation for baccalaureate degree students apply also to associate degree candidates. However, students are issued Probation when the cumulative GPA is below 2.0 and the student has earned 20 or more cumulative credits.

Associate Degree Dismissal and Reinstatement Policy

An associate degree candidate will not be dismissed from degree candidacy for unsatisfactory academic performance if he/she has acquired fewer than 21 cumulative semester hours of credits.

All other rules related to Dismissal and Reinstatement for baccalaureate degree students also apply to associate degree students.

Conditional Status for Associate Degree Students
Provisions for Conditional Status are the same for associate degree students as for baccalaureate degree students. However, students will be Summarily Dismissed if they are unable to achieve a 2.0 GPA after having completed 20 semester hours or after a period of one calendar year from the dismissal date, whichever occurs first.

Reinstatement and Readmission of Associate Degree Students

The rules are the same for associate degree and baccalaureate degree students.

Table 2

Note:

• "Cumulative Credits" are determined for the purposes of this policy by counting credits in all courses graded "A" through "F" and ignoring credits in courses with incomplete grades ("I"), Withdrawals ("W", "WE" or "WS"), Registered ("R"), or Audit ("AU") and credits completed in courses graded Credit/No Credit ("CR/NC") or Pass ("P"). Credits for repeated courses are calculated according to the course repeat policy. "Cumulative Credits" may differ from credits counted toward the degree, since the latter excludes courses the student does not pass.
• Credits transferred to Temple University will be counted as "cumulative credits" in order to establish the level of progress towards a degree.
• Grade point deficiencies, if any, accrue only from courses taken at Temple University.

Appendix I. Eliminating Grade Point Deficiencies

This chart illustrates how specific grades/credits remove grade point deficiencies.

NOTE:

As a quick reference, keep in mind that every credit earned with a grade of B removes one grade-point deficiency.

Dates of official enactment and amendments:

Adopted by the President on June 12, 2003.

Revised by the President on September 7, 2006, to amend the provisions regarding eligibility for institutional financial aid and university housing, effective immediately.

Revised by the President on September 26, 2007, to amend the requirements for Academic Good Standing and Dismissal, effective immediately.

History:

This policy supercedes all policies and procedures related to academic warning, dismissal and reinstatement for undergraduates, and specifically Probation and Dismissal posted in the Academic Policy section of the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Cross References:

none

This policy is subject to change. The most current version of the applicable policy is available at http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp?policy_no=02.10.11

Assessment of Student Learning

Temple University is committed to providing superior educational opportunities to its students. To help us maintain quality academic offerings, the University and its programs regularly examine the effectiveness of the curricula, teaching, services, and programs the University provides. As Temple University sees appropriate, it may retain representative examples or copies of student work. This might include papers, exams, creative works, or portfolios developed and submitted in courses or to satisfy the requirements for degree program(s).

In addition to regularly collecting and reviewing student work, Temple University may summarize the results of this review, and use the information to improve programs and enhance student learning. Some of this assessment may also be necessary for Temple University or its programs to demonstrate it meets the standards of external review or accrediting bodies.

Typically, results will be reported in a general, summary format and students' names will not appear on the collected examples. Cohorts may be tracked for specific educational purposes, but the expectation is that assessment will be anonymous. Identifiers will only be used when there is a compelling reason and educational value.

Questions about the assessment of student learning at Temple University may be directed to the Office of the Deputy Provost, 215-204-8873 or assessment@temple.edu.