Probation & STAR Program
What is the STAR Program?
The Students Taking Academic Responsibility (STAR) Program provides extra support to students on academic probation or students in need of support and accountability to raise their GPA.
Academic definitions
Probation
Academic probation is an indication to students that their academic record is unsatisfactory and that failure to improve may lead to suspension from further work at the University.
Students on academic probation will be required to meet with an academic counselor in Academic Services and enroll into the University’s academic assistance program known as Students Taking Academic Responsibility (STAR). These requirements are mandatory for their registration to be considered official for the ensuing semester. Their student success counselor and faculty advisors will monitor their academic progress.
Students with a Cal Lutheran or cumulative GPA that falls below a 2.0 will be placed on academic probation. Once placed on academic probation, students must meet the minimum following criteria:
1. Fully participate in the STAR program;
2. Earn a 2.0 or higher semester GPA;
3. Earn a 2.0 or higher Cal Lutheran and cumulative GPAs.
Students who meet all three criteria will be removed from academic probation. If these criteria are not accomplished, students may be placed on academic suspension. Students who meet criteria 1 and 2 but not 3 may be granted a second semester on probation.
Students having attained a semester GPA above 2.0 in the first semester on probation may be given a second semester on probation in which to raise the Cal Lutheran and cumulative GPAs to 2.0 or above. Students who have returned to probation in the second semester and who have not achieved above a 2.0 Cal Lutheran or cumulative GPA will normally be placed on academic suspension.
Suspension
The following classes of students may be placed on academic suspension:
- Students who fail to achieve a 2.0 or higher semester, Cal Lutheran, and cumulative GPAs in the first semester after being placed on academic probation;
- Students who fail to fully participate in the STAR program;
- Students who have been granted a second semester on probation who fail to raise their semester, Cal Lutheran, and cumulative GPAs to 2.0 or higher;
- Students who have been reinstated following suspension that fail to meet all readmission conditions specified for that individual at the time of readmission.
Students on academic suspension may not take courses at Cal Lutheran. Academic suspension normally lasts for one full academic year; however, students may be reinstated after one semester if they complete a semester of full-time letter graded coursework and earn a semester GPA at or above a 3.0 at another accredited institution.
Appeal Process
Students who have been suspended from the University must submit a letter of appeal to be considered for reinstatement. All students who have been reinstated following suspension will be subject to rules that apply to students in their second semester on probation.
In order to establish the conditions that may lead to readmission, the letter of appeal must include the following:
• A written rationale for readmission
• A tentative plan for success if granted readmission
• Transcripts of all work completed since suspension
If, following readmission, a previously suspended student is suspended for a second time, that student cannot appeal to be readmitted until after a two-year absence or by completing two semesters of full-time letter graded coursework with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher at another accredited institution.
All petitions for readmission must receive final approval from the Provost.
How to get off of academic probation
You must meet with your Student Support Services Academic Counselor by calling our office to make an appointment by the first week of school. Elements of the contract include:
- Signed contract by the add/drop deadline
- Bring your GPA's (term, cumulative and institutional) to at least 2.0
- Complete mandatory weekly study hours
- Meet with your Academic Counselor weekly
- Have no more than 12 semester credits
- Attend monthly workshops semester put on by Student Support Services
Consequences
If you don't sign the contract by the add/drop deadline of your probation semester, all of your classes will be dropped from your schedule. You will have to contact Student Support Services before you can attend them.