ACADEMIC STANDING
Academic standing is determined by a student’s ISOM GPA and Overall GPA and is noted on the transcript. Academic standing notations include Good Standing, Probation, Cleared Probation, Continued on Probation, and Disqualification. Please refer to the University Catalog for information regarding Administrative Academic Probation and Administrative Academic Disqualification.
An academic appeal may be made when unusual circumstances occur and the student must request an exception to academic policy.
The information below gives you more information on both understanding academic standing and the academic appeals process.
Academic Standing, Probation, and Disqualification
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GOOD STANDING?
To be in good academic standing, undergraduate students are expected to maintain at least a 2.00 GPA in each of the following areas:
- All videos watched in a timely manner (not marking videos as watched quicker than the timelength of the course videos).
- All exams completed after watching the videos.
- All exams successfully completed at no more than three attempts.
- All 12 months of payments paid for. coursework completed at ISOM (referred to as the ISOM GPA and noted on the transcript as “Cumulative GPA”)
- All transferable college coursework plus all coursework completed at ISOM (referred to as the Overall GPA and noted on the transcript as “Combined Cumulative GPA”)
To be in good academic standing, graduate students are expected to maintain at least a 3.00 GPA on all courses applicable to the degree.
WHAT IS ACADEMIC PROBATION?
Academic Probation is a serious warning that a student’s academic performance is below the minimum requirement for good academic standing and for graduation.
- Probation for undergraduate students (associate and bachelor’s) occurs when the Overall GPA falls below 2.00.
- Probation for graduate students (master’s) occurs when the Overall GPA falls below 3.00.
- Probation for other post-baccalaureates occurs at the end of any Fall or Spring term in which the ISOM and/or Overall GPA falls below 2.50.
WHAT IS ACADEMIC DISQUALIFICATION?
Academic Disqualification is dismissal from ISOM.
Undergraduate students on academic probation are subject to academic disqualification when:
- As associate students (up to 60 units completed), the Overall Grade Point Average falls below 1.7
- As bachelor students (60 to 90 units completed) their Overall Grade Point Average falls below 1.95
- At any time, a student remains on academic probation for more than two consecutive semesters (e.g., the Overall GPA remains below 2.00 for two consecutive trimesters)
Graduate students are subject to disqualification if while on probation they fail to earn grades of sufficient quality to remove themselves from probationary status. Disqualification will bar such students from any further enrollment at ISOM.
CAN I APPEAL MY DISQUALIFICATION FROM ISOM?
Immediately after disqualification, students can submit an Appeal of Disqualification to the Academic Appeals Committee. Please note the deadline to submit an Appeal of Disqualification is within days of being notified of the disqualification.
The appeal should include:
- Evidence of significant academic progress
- Documentation of extenuating circumstances that led to weak academic performance
- Tangible changes will be made to lead to future academic success
CAN I RETURN TO ISOM AFTER DISQUALIFICATION?
Students who are disqualified may return to ISOM if they are approved for reinstatement. Students may apply for reinstatement once they have been out of attendance for at least one Fall or Spring term, have demonstrated an ability to succeed academically, and have met the following minimum criteria:
- Demonstrate degree progress by satisfying all Major Specific Declaration Requirements, including minimum GPA
- Reduce the grade point deficiency at the time of disqualification by at least one-half. This can be achieved by earning A and/or B grades in transferable academic courses acceptable for degree credit at CSULB’s College of Continuing and Professional Education (CCPE) or at an accredited college or university
- Demonstrate an ability to complete degree requirements within established University policies, including repetition of courses, Academic Progress Rules, and Timely Graduation
Meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee Reinstatement. Students who are disqualified are strongly encouraged to attend a Reinstatement Workshop offered by the University Center for Undergraduate Advising.
HOW DO I ADDRESS MY GRADE POINT DEFICIENCY?
Students who have a considerable ISOM grade point deficiency are strongly encouraged to address the deficiency by taking courses through the College of Continuing and Professional Education (CCPE), which count towards both the CSULB and Overall GPAs. Grades earned at another accredited college or university will not reduce your CSULB grade point deficiency but they will serve as indicators of academic ability and count towards your Overall GPA.
Students who are disqualified have the following enrollment limitations through the College of Continuing and Professional Education:
- Fall and Spring terms: two courses, no more than seven total units
- Summer Session: two courses, no more than seven total units
- Winter Session: four units
Note: 24 College of Continuing and Professional Education units may count towards a CSULB degree.
If a CSULB course with a D, F or WU grade is repeated through the College of Continuing and Professional Education and a C grade or better is earned in the second attempt, the grade earned in the first attempt will be removed from the CSULB and Overall GPA. If less than a C grade is earned in the second attempt, both grades will be included in the CSULB and Overall GPA.
CSULB courses with a D, F or WU grade which are successfully repeated at another college or university are not removed from the CSULB or Overall GPA. However, any grade earned in the second attempt will be used as an indicator of academic ability and will factor into your Overall GPA.
Please also review the limits on repeating classes.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR REINSTATEMENT?
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Academic Probation
If at any time an undergraduate (associate and bachelor’s) student’s cumulative grade-point average in all coursework attempted or their cumulative GPA at ISOM falls below 2.0 (a “C” grade), they will be placed on academic probation. If this should happen to you, realize that your GPA is important but it does not necessarily measure your ability to learn, your motivation to pursue your ministry/career, your non-academic talents, and your capacity to do better in the future. However, academic probation is a serious warning that you need to make some academic changes and that your progress thus far is unsatisfactory.
The student support team at ISOM will review the records of all students who fail to maintain an overall GPA of 2.0. The goal of this review is to maximize your chances of receiving a degree. In some cases, we might require you to alter your schedule in the following trimester/module or take other measures to improve your performance in ISOM courses.
Academic Disqualification
Academic Disqualification occurs when a student who has been placed on academic probation did not raise their Overall GPA to a 2.0 or better, and as such results in dismissal from ISOM. This can happen after one or two trimesters/modules on academic probation.
Students can appeal their disqualification. Students who have been disqualified may apply for reinstatement.
Repeating an Exam
If a student does not pass a course or fails to complete the course, there is the option to repeat it. The repeat policy allows for a student to repeat up to 3 attempts on any failed exam. Check out your Student Dashboard to track your individual courses.
Grade Forgiveness
A maximum of 3 attempts on any failed exam can be applied for Grade Forgiveness. When a passing grade is earned on the third attempt, only the passing grade will be calculated in the GPA.
Academic Appeals
In some cases, students can petition for an exception to academic policy. Typically, exception requests include issues such as:
- Record errors
- General Education substitutions or waivers
- Reinstatement
- Exceptions to the repeat/delete policy
Academic Appeals
Under certain circumstances, you may appeal for an exception to academic policy. An exception will be considered only in cases of demonstrated need and documented circumstances that support the potential for your future academic success. Appeals are submitted online and are reviewed by the Academic Appeals Committee. Allow approximately 4 to 5 weeks for the committee to review your request and email you a decision.
The requirements depend on the exception you are requesting. Please review the requirements and instructions below.
Under certain circumstances, you may appeal for an exception to academic policy. An exception will be considered only in cases of demonstrated need and documented circumstances that support the potential for your future academic success. Appeals are submitted online and are reviewed by the Academic Appeals Committee. Allow approximately 4 to 5 weeks for the committee to review your request and email you a decision.
The requirements depend on the exception you are requesting. Please review the requirements and instructions below.