Your Academic Status - Academic Advising

The start of a new academic session is a great time to reflect on how your studies are going and seek out supports to help you stay on track or get back on track.

What is Academic Status? (Outlined in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar, under the Policies & Administration section)
Mid-Year Review: Resources and Supports for Understanding Academic Status in January

Academic Status

Each year the Office of the Registrar conducts academic assessments in May after the Fall/Winter academic session and again in August after Summer session grades are posted. Academic assessments are not completed after the Fall semester.

How is Academic Status Determined?

A student’s academic status is determined by a session average and/or by a cumulative average (see below). The initial assessment average is calculated at the end of the academic session in which students have completed a minimum of three full-course equivalents for which grades have been assigned. Thereafter, the cumulative and session averages are calculated at the end of each academic session. Transfer credits are not included in the cumulative average or assessment average.

Session Average

The session average includes all courses in the current session (Fall/Winter or Summer) for which a grade has been assigned.

Cumulative Average

The cumulative average includes all courses for which a grade has been assigned and excludes lower grades of courses that have been repeated. Cumulative average is used for the purposes of determining a student’s eligibility to graduate and for the President’s and Dean’s Honour Roll.

Categories of Academic Status

There are six categories of academic status: (1) Good Standing; (2) Probation; (3) Conditional Probation; (4) Probation in Lieu of Suspension; (4) Academic Suspension; and (5) Suspension—Academic Dishonesty.

1. Good Standing

Students are in Good Standing if their cumulative average is at least 60%.

2. Probation

Students are placed on Probation if their cumulative average is 50–59.9% or if they are returning from Academic Suspension.

Upon the next academic assessment, students will:
a) continue on Probation if their cumulative average is 50–59.9% and their session average is above 49.9%;
b) have their Probation lifted if their cumulative average is 60% or higher; or
c) be placed on Academic Suspension (see below) if their cumulative average OR session average is less than 50%.

3. Conditional Probation

Students who are accepted into the Fresh Start Program after being granted a petition against suspension by the Committee on Undergraduate Petitions will have an academic status of Conditional Probation for one calendar year. The student’s status will be reviewed at the conclusion of each session (August for Summer courses, May for Fall/Winter courses). Students must achieve a minimum session average of at least 50% for courses completed in the Summer session (if applicable) and the Fall/Winter session or Suspension will be reimposed. If at the end of the Conditional Probation year the cumulative average is above 49.9% but less than 60%, Probation is in effect (see 2 above).

4. Probation in Lieu of Suspension

Students continuing after academic suspension (or those on conditional probation) who achieve a session average above 49.9% but have a cumulative average of 49.9% or lower will be placed on probation in lieu of suspension.

Students may be given probation in lieu of suspension where academic status is assessed late and it would be disadvantageous to students to be removed from courses that have already begun.

5. Academic Suspension

Students are suspended from the University if their cumulative average is less than 50%. Students who had been on Probation are suspended if their session average OR their cumulative average is less than 50% upon the next academic assessment.

First Academic Suspension: Students are suspended from the University for one calendar year.
Second Academic Suspension: If a student is suspended a second time, the student will be suspended from the University for one calendar year (a second time).
Debarment: If a student is suspended a third time, the student will be debarred from the University for a minimum of three calendar years.

For readmission to the University after a second Academic Suspension or Debarment, students must provide persuasive evidence that they are ready and able to complete a degree program (see Readmission, p. 546).

6. Suspension—Academic Dishonesty

Students may be placed on suspension by the dean for repeated violations of the Academic Integrity Policy (see Academic Integrity Policy, p. 573). Appeals of the dean’s decision should be made to the Special Appeals Committee. Students seeking clarification on the appeals process may consult an academic advisor or seek advice from faculty members. There is no time limit to reopen a grade in a case of academic dishonesty.

Continuing Post-secondary Studies during Academic or Non-academic Suspension

Students who are on suspension will not be awarded transfer credits for the duration of an academic or non-academic suspension from Trent University. Studies completed at another post-secondary institution during the term of suspension may be considered as a basis for readmission to the University, but will not be eligible for transfer credit consideration.

Procedures for Students on Academic Suspension

Students who are placed on academic suspension may, through an Academic Advisor, petition the Committee on Undergraduate Petitions to have their status reconsidered. If the petition is successful and they are accepted into the Fresh Start Program, they will have their academic standing changed to Conditional Probation. Fresh Start students will be permitted to continue their studies at a reduced course load under the supervision of their Academic Advisor for the Fall/Winter session immediately following placement on Academic Suspension. Students may enroll in the Fresh Start Program one time only. In some cases, the student may be allowed to return on Probation.

Mid-Year Review

The end of the semester is a good time to reflect on your educational plans and goals, which may include your grades if your academic semester did not go as expected. Knowing that Trent is not going to conduct academic assessments in January, it is a great time to look at your average from the Fall semester to determine which academic standing you are on track to getting. Knowing this information early can provide you with an opportunity to make changes and seek supports to help you stay on track or get back on track before assessments are completed in May.

Review these slides to find out which academic standing you are on track to receive in May.

Resources and Supports

All students have unique goals that they are working towards during their time at university. There are many resources, supports and opportunities for involvement to help you make the most of your time at Trent.

A few to highlight if you're seeking support to get back on track in the Winter semester:

Academic Skills

Looking for new strategies to help you stay on top of your course work this academic semester? Academic Skills in the Colleges is a great place to start! Academic Skills offer online resources, workshops – the popular Learning Labs – and individual appointments to support your efforts to improve and refine your skills for success at university. Look for the Academic Skills Tool Kit embedded in participating courses on the Blackboard learning site too!