Faculty of Arts & Science
Academic Advising

What grade point average do I need to be in good academic standing?

To be in good standing, a student must maintain the following minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA):

Students in post-diploma programs are considered to be students with more than 20 completed courses.

Will I be required to withdraw?

There are two reasons that students may be required to withdraw:

A. Academic Indices
Students whose cumulative grade point average, at the end of the Spring Semester, falls below the following indices are required to withdraw from the University:

B. Semesters on Probation
Students who, at the end of the Spring Semester, have remained on academic probation for two or more consecutive semesters are required to withdraw from the University.

What is academic probation?

Students are considered to be on academic probation with their cumulative grade point average falls below the academic indices required for good standing. A student on academic probation may not register in more than four courses (12.0 credit hours) in a semester.

How do I get off academic probation?

Academic standing is determined after each Fall and Spring semester. To get off of academic probation, your grade point average must exceed the academic indices required for good academic standing.

What do I need to do to be readmitted to the University after being Required to Withdraw?

Students who have been required to withdraw from the University will not be granted readmission until at least one year has lapsed and they can provide evidence that the causes of previous unsatisfactory work have been identified and removed.

Students who have completed at least eight courses with a GPA of at least 2.00 at another institution for transfer credit or at the U of L as an open studies student are generally readmissible to the Faculty of Arts and Science after one year.

Students who have been required to withdraw twice are usually not eligible for readmission.

What is tabula rasa?

Tabula rasa is latin for "blank slate." It is usually granted to all first-degree University of Lethbridge students upon readmission to the Faculty of Arts and Science after being required to withdraw for unsatisfactory academic performance. Students are not eligible to receive tabula rasa more than once.

When tabula rasa is granted, the GPA is reset and students retain ungraded credit for all U of L courses completed with a grade of 'C-' or higher, subject to limits defined in the Calendar. It essentially allows students to retain credit for the satisfactory work that students completed prior to being required to withdraw, while losing the baggage of the unsatisfactory work completed, giving students a fresh start upon readmission after being dismissed for unsatisfactory academic performance.

Each student's situation is unique, so it is important to discuss your plans to return to the U of L after being required to withdraw with a student program advisor.