When things don’t go as planned, support is available to help you through the process.
In the College of Natural Sciences, we recognize students worked hard to get to UT, and no student wants to end up on probation. We also understand that success is not always achieved in a predictable path. It is not unusual for students in CNS to be challenged by our rigorous courses and/or life problems that impact their academics. Many go through the probation and dismissal process and, by accessing campus resources and reaching out to others for support, these students are able to improve their grades and go on to graduate. The probation and dismissal process in CNS is designed to support students in identifying the specific factors that led to their academic difficulties and connect them with resources to address those challenges. We believe in you and your potential, and we want to support you in achieving your goals. We encourage you to reach out to your academic advisor here. If you do not have an assigned advisor, please email CNSinfo@austin.utexas.edu to connect with one.
We know that there are many reasons students enter the scholastic probation and dismissal process. These can include mental or physical health, personal, financial, family or other issues. Learn about resources to help students address specific challenges.
The rest of this webpage describes the College of Natural Sciences policies and processes on scholastic probation and dismissal. Please ask an academic advisor if you have questions about the university’s policies.
Go to UT Austin policies on scholastic probation and dismissal
Scholastic Probation
Scholastic probation means that a student’s cumulative university GPA is below 2.0. While it can be stressful to receive notice of scholastic probation, it is meant to be an alert to a student and to their college that they are experiencing academic and/or personal challenges and provide support to address these challenges. It is designed to provide students an opportunity to raise their GPA so they can have a successful academic career. Academic advisors will work with students to help them create a plan, access resources and make use of Q drop or pass/fail options if necessary. You can find your academic advisor here or email CNSinfo@austin.utexas.edu to connect with an advisor.
Ending Scholastic Probation
Scholastic probation ends when a student earns a minimum cumulative university GPA of 2.0. Some students are able to do this by the end of the next semester, while other students work on improving their GPA over several semesters. As long as students are making progress on improving their cumulative GPAs by earning a semester GPA of at least 2.5, with nothing below a C- in their coursework and no incompletes or withdrawal, they will not be dismissed.
Grade Contract
The grade contract is an online document that students on scholastic probation complete at the beginning of the semester. Its purpose is to share resources with students to support them while they’re on scholastic probation and to inform them of policies and processes. A key feature of the policy is that Natural Science students who earn a semester GPA of 2.5 or higher, with nothing below a C- in their coursework and no incompletes or withdrawal, will not be dismissed from the university even if their cumulative university GPA remains below 2.0. After completing the success agreement, students meet with their academic advisor to discuss academic goals and university resources. The success agreement can be found here.
Programs to support students on scholastic probation
The College of Natural Sciences has several programs to support students on scholastic probation. For first-year students, there is a class each Spring called NSC 209: Spring Scholastic Seminar, which provides students with strategies and tools to help them bounce back from a tough first semester, including a personal coach or mentor to meet with on a regular basis. For students not in their first year, CNS has a program called Success. Success is a weekly meeting with an academic advisor and student mentors who were once on scholastic probation themselves. By creating a community and sharing strategies for Success, this program helps students meet their goals. Students who are eligible for the Success program will receive an email inviting them to participate. Participation in these programs is voluntary, but CNS encourages all students on scholastic probation to take advantage of these resources.
If the scholastic probation is also due to non-academic issues (e.g., personal emergency, health or mental health challenge, etc.), CNS also has non-academic counselors available to you for consultation regarding these issues. Their role is not that of a mental health counselor, but they would be able to assist with problem-solving, information, referrals, emergency notifications and assistance with non-academic or medical drops and withdrawals.
Dismissal
First Dismissal
Dismissal is when the university requires a student to suspend, or take a break from, their studies after struggling academically. A first dismissal may happen if a student on probation does not meet the success agreement policy (i.e., earn a semester GPA of 2.5, with nothing below a C- in their coursework and no incompletes or withdrawal). The first dismissal at UT is for one long semester. The dismissal process is designed so that students who are not making progress towards improving their GPA have time to address their barriers to success. For many, being away from the academic environment for a time gives them what they need to be successful when they return to CNS. To return after the first dismissal, students submit a readmission application.
Second Dismissal
It is possible for students to be dismissed from UT Austin a second time if they go on scholastic probation and for a second time do not meet the requirement of the success agreement (i.e., earn a semester GPA of at least 2.5, with nothing below a C- in their coursework and no incompletes or withdrawal). The second dismissal is for three years. However, a process is in place to apply for early return from second dismissal after one year; this is described further below.
Appealing Any Dismissal
The College of Natural Sciences understands that sometimes students are not able to be successful in class because of circumstances beyond their control. Students who experienced serious non-academic issues, such as a documentable mental health struggle, loss of a family member, etc., may appeal their dismissal by first meeting with a CNS non-academic counselor.
Connecting with a CNS non-academic counselor
Students may appeal a first, second or third dismissal. Appeals must be submitted soon after the dismissal, so please do not delay in contacting the College.
Appeal to Return Early from Second Dismissal
Students may appeal to return early from second dismissal. The first step to appeal is to meet with a CNS non-academic counselor.
Connecting with a CNS non-academic counselor
The appeal may be approved if a student has been on dismissal for a minimum of one year and has completed two approved UT Extension classes and earned As or Bs in those classes. We include an appeals process for early return from second dismissal so that students who have demonstrated that they are prepared to return to UT and be successful academically can return earlier than the three-year dismissal period.
Third Dismissal
After students return from their second dismissal, if their cumulative university GPA is below 2.0 and they are on scholastic probation, they must meet the success agreement policy and earn at least a 2.5 semester GPA, with nothing below a C- in their coursework and no incompletes or withdrawal. If they do not meet this requirement they can be dismissed from the university for a third time. The third dismissal is often final, and many students will not return to UT Austin. However, under some limited extenuating circumstance, students may appeal to return after a third dismissal. The first step to appeal, as with earlier dismissals, is to meet with a CNS non-academic counselor.
Connecting with a CNS non-academic counselor