SUBSTANDARD GRADES: For School of Dance majors, a substandard grade is any grade below a C- (D+ or lower). If a student receives a D+ or lower in a School of Dance course, the student must re-take that course for credit and receive a passing grade for the course to count toward the major. In rare and extraordinary circumstances (such as a death in the family or serious illness), a substandard grade of D, D+, or D-, may be counted toward graduation if approved through an appeal process. To file an appeal, within 2 weeks of receiving the probation notice the student must submit a formal written request with supporting rationale via uMail to the School of Dance Director. The appeal will be reviewed by the Director and School of Dance Scholarships & Appeals Committee. If the appeal is approved, the student will be notified, and within 2 weeks of the notification must then submit a curriculum exception form. No more than two classes with a substandard grade may be counted toward graduation.

PROBATION: A School of Dance Major/Minor must maintain a C- or above in all dance courses to be considered “in good standing.” “Good standing” signifies that a student is eligible to continue as a major or minor in the School of Dance. If a student is in danger of failing a class at mid-semester, they will be invited for a consultation with the faculty member in charge of the class. A student earning one or more substandard grades in any semester will be placed on probation. When placed on probation, the student will 1) Be expected to meet with an academic advisor to review the student records, and 2) Receive a formal letter of probation from the Director of the School of Dance. This letter will also be sent to the School of Dance Scholarships & Appeals Committee, as students placed on probation are ineligible for scholarships awarded through the School of Dance for the semester after their probation. Once a student meets the School’s academic standards, the student is considered “in good standing” again. If a student earns substandard grades for two consecutive semesters, that student will be dismissed from the program, though they may appeal this decision (see below). If a student is in probationary status for three consecutive semesters, the student will be dismissed from the program without an option for appeal. A major may only change into a minor status if they are in good standing (i.e. students on probation or in dismissal cannot transfer into the minor).

DISMISSAL: Dismissal will be considered once a student has earned sub-standard grades for two consecutive semesters. The student will receive a formal dismissal letter outlining the terms of the dismissal. Should the student choose to appeal the dismissal, within 2 weeks of receiving the dismissal notification they must submit a clearly articulated letter including 1) a detailed plan outlining conditions for their success and 2) name two faculty members who have agreed to work with them as mentors, one of whom will be designated by the faculty as a mentor for the semester post dismissal. The appeal must be submitted via uMail to the School of Dance Director and will be considered by the Director and Scholarships & Appeals Committee. The appeal will either be approved at the School of Dance level, or the School of Dance will forward a recommendation of dismissal to the College of Fine Arts Academic Appeals Committee, who will make the final decision (See University Policy 6-400: Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities). In the case that a student has three semesters in which they have received a substandard grade(s), a second dismissal may not be appealed.

SEMESTER POST DISMISSAL: If a student is re-admitted after dismissal, they must meet with a designated faculty member twice a month to provide updates and reports on their coursework. Failure to comply with these meetings will result in a renewed dismissal process. The designated faculty member will report to faculty about the student’s progress and any concerns. Ultimately the student will provide a written report to the full faculty of their discipline at the end of the semester describing their improvements and/or changes and the full faculty will vote on retaining or dismissing the student. It is the responsibility of the student who has been placed on academic or progress probation to regularly and consistently confer with a faculty member regarding the probationary status.