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Academic Concern, Conditional Standing/Dismissal and Readmission

All students permitted to enroll at Rider University are in good standing and are qualified to be bona fide students.  Decisions regarding academic progress, conditional standing, and dismissal for poor scholarship are the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Standing within each college or school. These committees may establish and apply criteria in addition to the minimum university cumulative grade point average (GPA).  Using approved academic criteria1, the Committee on Academic Standing within each college or school may review the academic record of any student. 

Because a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation, students are expected to maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA while enrolled at Rider.  Students who fail to meet this minimum will be reviewed by the appropriate Committee on Academic Standing and may receive a letter of academic concern, be placed on conditional standing, or be dismissed from the University.  Students who meet the minimum cumulative GPA but who are dismissed from a specific college or school for other reasons are eligible to apply to another college or school of Rider University.

Undergraduate education students are required to maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in all courses taken at Rider University and must receive a grade of ‘C+’ or higher in all education courses.  It is the individual student’s responsibility to retake any education course in which a grade lower than ‘C+’ has been earned.  Undergraduate education students will be permitted to undertake student teaching only if they have received ‘C+’ or higher in all education courses and have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.  See the Undergraduate Education section below for further information.

Undergraduate music education students are required to maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in all courses taken at Rider University and must pass the sophomore portfolio to remain in good standing in the major.  See the Undergraduate Education section below for further information.

1

Rider calculates Grade Point Average (GPA) to four decimal points within for Latin Honors.  Refer to the Graduation with Honors policy for complete information:  /policies/undergraduate/graduation-honors/

Academic Concern

Upon review of a student’s academic record, a Committee on Academic Standing may issue a letter of concern, which responds to academic progress that does not meet college, school or university expectations, and describes an academic plan of study that must be met in the subsequent semester.  Students who fail to pursue a course of study prescribed by an academic standing committee, who do unsatisfactory work in the prescribed course of study, or who fail to meet other academic standards may be placed on Conditional Academic Standing or dismissed.

Conditional Academic Standing

Upon review of a student’s academic record, a Committee on Academic Standing may place a student on Conditional Academic Standing.  In reaching this decision, the committee may require a student who does unsatisfactory work to pursue a specific course of study during a particular academic session.  Students who fail to pursue a course of study prescribed by an academic standing committee, who do unsatisfactory work in the prescribed course of study, or who fail to meet other academic standards may be continued on Conditional Academic Standing or may be dismissed without further right of appeal.  There must be substantial evidence of proper motivation and a capacity for doing college level work to warrant maintaining a student in school with a record of continued conditional status as opposed to dismissal.

Students on conditional academic standing may not register for an academic overload.  Additionally, students must be removed from conditional status in order to be approved for graduation.

Academic Dismissal from the University

Students who have not done satisfactory work may be dismissed from the University for poor scholarship at the end of any semester after an appropriate review of their scholastic records by the Committee on Academic Standing within their college or school.  Students may also be subject to academic dismissal if their cumulative GPA falls below the required minimum for two or more consecutive semesters, or the GPA falls below the required averages established at the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior levels. Academic dismissal at the end of the fall semester is effective prior to the beginning of the spring semester.  Academic dismissal at the end of the spring semester is effective prior to the beginning of summer session II.

Students who wish to appeal a dismissal must submit a written statement of appeal to the academic dean of their college or school within 10 days from the date on their letter of dismissal.  All appeals submitted by the deadline will receive consideration from the appropriate academic standing committee.

Dismissal for academic reasons terminates a student’s relationship with Rider.  Dismissed students may not enroll for courses nor participate in university-sponsored activities or ensembles at either campus for a period of one year following their dismissal.  Students dismissed for academic reasons normally will not be eligible for readmission within one calendar year of the dismissal date.  Although some students will apply for readmission, there is no real or implied right to such readmission.

Students dismissed by Performing Arts or Westminster Choir College (WCC) but not Rider University may apply for enrollment in other colleges of the University.  Students dismissed by WCC but not Rider University may not enroll in WCC courses, ensembles or activities until they have been readmitted to WCC with the exception of courses, ensembles or activities that are delivered by or at WCC and are required in music degrees housed within Performing Arts.  Students dismissed by Performing Arts but not Rider University may not enroll in Performing Arts courses, ensembles or activities until they have been readmitted to Performing Arts.

Dismissal from a Major within Westminster Choir College or Performing Arts

Academic departments within the Westminster Choir College or Performing Arts reserve the right to dismiss a student from a major following notification that their standing in the major is in jeopardy and the passage of a suitable amount of time permitted to address stated issues, typically one semester.  Such dismissal may be based upon any of the following conditions: failure to maintain a satisfactory or minimum GPA; failure to sustain academic progress in the courses of the major; conduct in violation of the standards of the department or profession; failure to meet conditions or requirements as stated in university catalogs, The Student Code of Social Conduct, or the departmental handbook; or the student’s general standing at Rider University.  Such dismissal will become effective at the end of the semester in which the decision is reached.  Students dismissed from Music Education are not permitted to enroll in Music Education courses until readmitted into the Music Education major.

Undergraduate Education Minimum Standards

Undergraduate education students are required to have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA by the time they register for student teaching and must receive a grade of ‘C+’ or higher in any Education course (a) that is specifically required for a major or minor in Education and (b) in which enrollment is limited to Education majors.  It is the individual student’s responsibility to retake any required education course in which a grade lower than ‘C+’ has been earned. Undergraduate education students will be permitted to undertake student teaching only if they have received ‘C+’ or higher in all required education courses and have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. See the Undergraduate Education section below for further information.

The undergraduate education department also reviews the professional development of all students to ensure that they meet departmental standards for professional conduct and that they show promise of success in teaching.  This review is in addition to the grade requirements listed above.  Students must earn a passing score on all sections (reading, writing, math) of the Core Academic Skills for Educators Test before registering for any methods courses.  This is an N.J. Department of Education rule that applies to all elementary, secondary and business education students.

Undergraduate music education majors are required to maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in all courses taken at Rider University, must pass the sophomore portfolio to remain in good standing in the major, and must earn a passing score on all sections (reading, writing, math) of the Core Academic Skills for Educators Test.

All undergraduate education and music education students must present evidence of a passing score on the Praxis Content Area (Secondary) or Multi-Subject (Elementary) Assessment (formerly Praxis II) in their specialization area prior to the full time student teaching semester (by March 1 for those applying for full time student teaching in the fall semester and July 1 for those students applying for full time student teaching in the spring for Secondary Education and before registering for ELD 308/376 for Elementary Education).  This is the same Praxis Content Area or Multi-subject Assessment (formerly Praxis II) students will need for certification.

As appropriate, students who fail to meet the undergraduate education department’s standards will be counseled on ways to improve their performance or will be asked to leave the program.

Readmission after Academic Dismissal

Dismissed students seeking readmission must first contact the Registrar's Office, Bart Luedeke Center, or the Associate Dean of Students Office, Bart Luedeke Center, to obtain appropriate forms.   Once the Registrar or Associate Dean of Students or his/her designee approves the readmission application, the application is forwarded to the dean of the college to which the student seeks reentry.  Students dismissed for academic reasons must submit with their readmission application a personal letter to the Academic Standing Committee which will make decisions concerning their readmission.  They should also provide evidence, usually in the form of a transcript from another institution, of formal study and/or accomplishment.  If possible, such work should have been done in specific areas of deficiency in the student’s academic record. 

Academically dismissed students must meet all academic requirements in place at the time of their readmission. Readmission will be dependent upon various criteria including GPA, current academic progress, and the student’s general standing. Students in the Westminster College of the Arts may be required to reapply or reaudition.

If readmission is granted, the student is placed on conditional academic standing until the cumulative GPA reaches a satisfactory level of at least 2.0.  A readmitted student is responsible for curriculum requirements in effect at the time of readmission.