Academic Standards |
- Student Responsibility
It is the responsibility of all students to be aware of USC academic standards and their current academic record. Students should check their Record of Academic Work in VIP at the conclusion of each semester. The academic record will list any probationary status that requires attention by the student.
- Academic Standards
For purposes of academic standards, cumulative GPA is defined as the grade point average of all in-date
graduate-credit courses recorded on the official USC academic transcript. In-date courses are less than eight years old for
doctoral students and less than six years old for master's, specialist, and graduate certificate. Revalidated courses are also
included in the cumulative GPA calculation. Grades earned on graduate credits transferred from other universities are not
included in the grade point average.
- Academic Standards For Progression
Graduate courses may be passed for degree credit with a grade as low as C, but a
degree-seeking student's cumulative grade point average must be at least B (3.00 on a 4.00 scale).
- Academic Standards For Graduation
At the time of graduation, the student's cumulative grade point average must be at
least 3.00. Additionally, the student's average on all grades recorded on the Program of Study for courses numbered 700
or above must be at least 3.00.
- Academic Probation and Suspension Policy ("3.00 Rule")
Graduate degree-seeking students whose cumulative grade point average drops
below 3.00 (B) will be placed on academic probation and allowed one calendar year in which to raise the grade point
average to at least 3.00. In the case of conversion grades for incompletes that cause a GPA to drop below 3.0, a degree-seeking student will be placed on academic probation at the end of the semester in which the grade is posted. Students who do not reach a cumulative 3.00 grade point average during the probationary period will not be permitted to enroll for further graduate course work as a degree or nondegree student.
Colleges and departments may impose more stringent requirements than The Graduate School's Academic suspension policy.
Students should consult their advisors to ensure familiarity with departmental regulations.
- Academic Forgiveness Policy for Former USC Graduate Students with Less than a 3.00 Cumulative GPA
The Academic
Forgiveness Policy applies to any former USC graduate student who has not been enrolled in The Graduate School at
the University for at least 24 consecutive months. Academic forgiveness provides an opportunity for graduate students
to complete a degree program by setting aside all former grades earned as a USC graduate student so that they will not
be calculated into the student's graduate GPA. With notification from the dean of The Graduate School, the registrar's
office will segment the student's academic record showing all courses and grades to be included in academic forgiveness
and recalculate the USC graduate GPA accordingly. The courses and grades will remain a part of the student's academic
record. A notation will appear on the transcript indicating the student was approved for academic forgiveness. Once
academic forgiveness is granted, courses taken during and prior to the term elected cannot be revalidated or count
toward the completion of a graduate degree.
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Appeals for Extension of Probation, Reinstatement after Suspension, or Academic Forgiveness
Appeals should be reviewed
first by the department and/or college and then forwarded to the dean of the Graduate School. Appeals may be referred
to the Petitions and Appeals Committee of Graduate Council. Guidelines for Appeals are listed below.
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Filing an Appeal For Extension of Academic Probation Period
The current policy of The Graduate School on Academic Probation and Suspension stipulates that,
when a degree-seeking graduate student's cumulative graduate grade point average (GPA) falls below
3.0, the student is placed on academic probation.* The student has one calendar year from the academic
probation term to increase his/her cumulative graduate GPA to at least 3.0. Failing to meet this
condition will result in academic suspension from all graduate study at the University of South Carolina.
When extenuating circumstances exist that prevent a student from raising the GPA to 3.0 in the given
twelve months, the student may file an appeal to extend the probationary period. The appeal must be
filed in The Graduate School at least forty-five days before the end of the last term of probation.
(Note: Once a student is suspended, this appeal option is not available)
Any appeal must include all of the following components before it will be considered by the Graduate
Council's Petitions and Appeals Committee:
- A written statement from the student explaining why his/her performance led to the academic probation
and describing the extenuating circumstances that merit an extended probation.
- An explicit written plan by the student, endorsed by the student's academic advisor, showing how the
student will overcome the extenuating circumstances (e.g., medical treatment, change of major, adjustment
of work demands, etc.) and raise his/her GPA to 3.0 or better.
- A feasible projection of what grades will be required in what courses and which terms to yield the
requisite overall GPA of 3.0.
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A statement of student progress from each instructor in every course during the term in which the
appeal is being submitted.
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A letter from a department chair or graduate director to confirm that all materials for this
appeal are in order and that the appeal is supported by faculty in the unit.
*In the case of conversion grades for incompletes that cause a GPA to drop below 3.0, a degree-seeking
student will be placed on academic probation at the end of the semester in which the grade is posted.
Deliver complete packet to:
Dr. James Buggy
The Graduate School
Byrnes 302
CAMPUS
777-4243
buggy@sc.edu
Filing an Appeal For Reinstatement after Suspension
The Graduate School's current policy on Academic Probation and Suspension stipulates that when a
degree-seeking graduate student's cumulative graduate grade point average (GPA) falls below 3.0
the student is placed on academic probation. The student has one calendar year from the academic
probation term to increase his/her cumulative graduate GPA to at least 3.0. Failing to meet this
condition will result in academic suspension from all graduate study at the University of South Carolina.
Reinstatement cannot be granted for one calendar year following the term of suspension. Appeals
may be initiated at any point following suspension.
To seek readmission, a student must formally reapply, and the respective department must recommend
admission as part of a well-documented appeal packet.
Completed packets must be submitted to The Graduate School not less than forty-five days before the
start of the term for which the student seeks readmission. Appeal packets must contain all of the
following components or they will not be considered.
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A letter from the student that explains the factors that resulted in his/her academic suspension.
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An explicit plan written by the student and endorsed by the graduate director showing how the
student will overcome the extenuating circumstances noted in the student's letter of appeal (e.g.,
medical treatment, change of major, adjustment of work demands, etc.) and raise his/her GPA.
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A feasible projection of what grades will be required in what courses and which semesters to
yield the requisite overall GPA of 3.0.
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A letter from the appropriate department chair or graduate director to confirm that all materials
for this appeal are in order and that the appeal is supported by faculty in the unit. The respective
department must recommend readmission.
Deliver complete packet to:
Dr. James Buggy
The Graduate School
Byrnes 302
CAMPUS
777-4243
buggy@sc.edu
Academic Forgiveness Policy
The Academic Forgiveness Policy applies to any former USC graduate student who has not been enrolled in
the Graduate School at the University for at last 24 consecutive months. Academic Forgiveness refers to
the opportunity for graduate students returning to the University to complete a degree program by setting
aside all former grades earned as a USC graduate student so that they will not be calculated into the
student's graduate GPA. The request for Academic Forgiveness must include the term in which the student
wishes the policy to take effect.
This policy is intended to assist former University of South Carolina graduate students whose cumulative
USC graduate grade point average is below 3.0 and who have applied to be re-admitted along with the
prospective academic unit's endorsement (Graduate Director of Chair).
A student who seeks Academic Forgiveness must submit a written request to the Dean of the Graduate School.
That request must include: a) What precipitated the academic suspension; and b) Why the applicant should
receive Academic Forgiveness and be readmitted. The written request must be accompanied by a letter of
support from the prospective academic unit. Each appeal for Academic Forgiveness will be considered on
a case-by-case basis.
With notification from the Dean of the Graduate School, the Registrar's Office will segment the student's
academic record showing all courses and grades to be included in Academic Forgiveness and re-calculate the
USC graduate GPA accordingly. The courses and grades will remain a part of the student's academic record.
A notation will appear on the transcript indicating the student was approved for Academic Forgiveness. Once
Academic Forgiveness is granted, courses taken during and prior to the term elected cannot be revalidated
or count toward the completion of a graduate degree.
Deliver complete packet to:
Dr. James Buggy
The Graduate School
Byrnes 302
CAMPUS
777-4243
buggy@sc.edu
