Probation/Dismissal

warning iconAcademic Probation

Probation I

Students are placed on Probation I when their term or cumulative GPA falls below 2.00.  Students are notified of their status via a letter and email from the Office of the University Registrar.  Once students are placed on probation, a hold is placed on their account for future registrations.  To remove probation status, students must complete a semester of coursework with both a semester and cumulative GPA above 2.00.

Probation II

Students are placed on Probation II when their term or cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 for two consecutive semesters.  Students are notified of their status via a letter and email from the Office of the University Registrar.  Once students are placed on probation, a hold is placed on their account for future registrations.  To remove probation status, students must complete a semester of coursework with both a semester and cumulative GPA above 2.00.

Status AfterUNL Term GPANU Cumulative GPAAttempted NU Credit HoursProbation & Dismissal
One Semester <2.00 OR <2.00 Any Probation 1
Two Consecutive Semesters <2.00 OR <2.00 Any Probation 2
Three Consecutive Semesters <2.00 OR <2.00 Any Dismissed

sun iconAcademic Recovery

After being placed on probation, it is critical to return to good standing as quickly as possible to maintain your progress toward graduation. In the immediate next spring or fall term after being placed on probation, you must engage in the academic recovery process to address your registration hold. This process includes working closely with your advisor to explore and address the circumstances that may have led to your probation status, create a plan to earn both a term and cumulative GPA of 2.0, and have your registration hold lifted in time to register for courses for the next term.

Probation-Related To-Do Items in your MyRED message center:

  • Probation Self-Assessment: Complete the Probation Self-Assessment e-form in MyRED before meeting with an advisor to discuss your academic status.
  • Probation Meeting/Plan: Meet with an Academic Advisor in your academic program to develop a plan for returning to good academic standing.This meeting should take place early in the semester, and your advisor may outline a plan of next steps that may include additional check-in meetings, changes to your daily activities, and use of relevant campus resources. This To-Do item will be removed immediately after your advisor releases your registration hold.

sun iconSummer Classes

Undergraduate students taking summer classes should be aware that ANY course, or any combination of courses, constitutes a full semester's work in terms of academic standards. The student at highest risk is one who, at the beginning of summer classes, is:

  • "continued on probation" (as a result of spring semester grades); or
  • "readmitted on probation"; or
  • "continued on probation" (as the result of successful dismissal appeal).

Because all summer classes (whether just one course or many) constitute a full semester's work, a student's probation/dismissal status WILL be assessed either at the end of the First 5-week Session (for students enrolled in 3-Week Session, 8-Week Session and/or First 5-Week Session, but not in the Second 5-Week Session) or at the end of the Second 5-Week Session (for students enrolled in that session).

Under certain circumstances, taking a single course could appropriately cause a student to be academically dismissed from the University, particularly if the student receives a grade below C.

Any student who is unsure of the effect of summer work on their probation/dismissal status should consult with an academic advisor before taking any summer course or combination of summer courses.

no iconAcademic Dismissal

Dismissal rules are contingent on attempted NU credit hours. A student will be dismissed from UNL if any semester ends under the following conditions:

  • If a student has 1-18 cumulative attempted NU credit hours, has attended UNL, UNO or UNK for more than one semester, and their cumulative GPA is below 1.00.
  • If a student has 19-45 cumulative attempted NU credit hours, their prior cumulative GPA is below a 2.00, and both semester and cumulative GPA are below 1.75
    or the student has spent three consecutive semesters on probation.
  • If a student has 46 or more cumulative attempted NU credit hours, their prior cumulative GPA is below 2.00, and both semester and cumulative GPA are below 2.00
    or the student has spent three consecutive semesters on probation.

If a student is dismissed, the university will automatically cancel any registrations for the following semester.

Decisions regarding continued eligibility for federal financial aid are made independently of the academic dismissal/reinstatement policy.  Students should contact Husker Hub for assistance.

Attempted NU Credit Hours*Prior Cumulative GPASemester GPACumulative GPAProbation and Dismissal
1 - 18 hours
and > 1 semester
Any Any <1.00 Dismissed
19-45 hours <2.00 and <1.75 and <1.75 Dismissed
≥46 hours <2.00 and <2.00 and <2.00 Dismissed
3 Consecutive Semesters On Probation Dismissed

*Notes:

  • Does not include UNO/UNK/UNMC withdrawal hours.
  • Does not include transfer credit from outside the NU system.
  • Does not include credits labeled as “Other” or “Test” on the transcript.
  • Students who are readmitted after a prior academic dismissal are not subject to dismissal again until their second semester after readmission.