Academic Standing

Loyola University Chicago understands education to be a process of academic development and growth; therefore academic progress is an important element in an individual's life at the university. The university has instituted formal procedures for warning and ultimately dismissing those who are not progressing as required. Academic probationary status and even academic dismissal should be understood as necessary, although unfortunate, consequences for those students directly involved. During the period of academic probation no student will be allowed to represent the university publicly. Any exception to this restriction must come explicitly from the student's academic dean. The student's academic dean determines when a student is placed on academic probation or dismissed for academic reasons.

Generally, academic standing is determined using a basic grade point average (GPA) criteria. Students must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.00 to be in good academic standing. Graduation from the university requires at least a 2.00 average for all coursework attempted and a minimum of a least a 2.00 average in a student's major.

Note - some majors have additional GPA requirements. Students must check with their major department to learn of the minimum grade point guidelines.

Probation

There are two types of academic probation: Academic Standing and Progress Toward a Degree. Any undergraduate student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 and who has a Quality Point Deficit of between 1 and 14 points will be placed on probation. Quality Point Deficit refers to the number of Quality Points below a 2.00 GPA on a student's record. For example, a student who has completed 34 semester hours with a 2.00 GPA has 68 Quality Points. A Quality Point Deficit refers to the number of quality points below 68. This formula is the same for any number of semester hours completed - 2.00 times the number of semester hours equals the minimum Quality Point Standard.

Students may also be placed on probation for not making progress toward degree completion. Any student whose cumulative GPA is 2.00 or better but who fails to show timely progression toward completion of his/her degree requirements may, at the discretion of his/her dean, be placed on probation. In such cases, the dean may require a contract defining the terms under which the student can remove him/herself from probation.

Continued on Probation

Any undergraduate student who achieves a term GPA of at least 2.33 during the probationary semester, while not yet achieving a cumulative GPA of 2.00, will be continued on probation.

Multiple Probations

Any undergraduate student who is placed on probationary status more than one time will be allowed only one semester in which to return to good standing. If the student does not return to good standing at the end of that probationary semester, he/she may be dismissed for poor scholarship.

Dismissal for Poor Scholarship

Any undergraduate student who has a quality point deficit of 15 or more points, even if he/she has not had a previous semester of probationary status, may be dismissed for poor scholarship. Any student who fails to achieve a term GPA of at least 2.33 for the probationary semester (unless he/she restores his/her cumulative GPA to a minimum of 2.00 at the end of that semester) will be dismissed for poor scholarship.

Graduate Student Academic Probation

Any graduate student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 will be placed on probation. Students may also be placed on probation for not making progress toward degree completion. Any student whose cumulative GPA is 3.00 or better but who fails to show timely progression toward completion of his/her degree requirements may, at the discretion of his/her dean, be placed on probation. In such cases, the dean may require a contract defining the terms under which the student can remove him/herself from probation.

Any graduate student who achieves a term GPA of at least 3.33 during the probationary semester, while not yet achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.00, will be continued on probation.

Any graduate student who fails to achieve a term GPA of at least 3.33 for the probationary semester (unless he/she restores his/her cumulative GPA to a minimum of 3.00 at the end of that semester) will be dismissed for poor scholarship.

Dean's List

The School of Communication dean's list is a semester-by-semester acknowledgement of those full-time undergraduate students (taking 12 semester hours or more) who obtain at least a 3.5 grade point average in any given academic semester. Students on the dean's list receive a personal acknowledgement from the dean.

University Honors Program

Since 1936, the Honors Program has been an academic home for the university's most talented and motivated undergraduate students. It provides an educational environment to inspire the highest level of performance and to create special educational experiences. Students in all undergraduate colleges may be admitted to the program. Honors requirements are adjusted to fit the requirements of each college or school.

The director of the Honors Program has responsibility for planning and implementing general program policy. In addition, the director serves as academic counselor to all honors students.

All students admitted to the Honors Program are assumed to be candidates for an honors degree; continued membership is therefore based on regular progress toward completion of honors degree requirements. These requirements are compatible with any conventional degree program and with any major available in the university.

As the highest academic distinction awarded by the university, the honors degree commands special acknowledgement. Candidates are identified separately in the commencement program, and the word "Honors" follows the degree citation, e.g., Bachelor of Arts, Honors. The official transcript identifies all honors courses.

Admission: Application to the Honors Program is part of the admission process to Loyola University. The Undergraduate Admission Office identifies potential members through high-school records and standardized test scores.  The formal application process includes a brief essay and a faculty recommendation. Students are admitted to the Honors Program prior to the beginning of freshman year. To download the application, visit the Honors Program site.

Regulations and Definitions: On the certification of the honors director, honors credit is recorded on the student's official transcript and is the basis for the award of the honors degree. Honors credit may be earned in the following way:

Honors courses: Interdepartmental courses, designated by the Honors Program as honors courses, automatically carry honors credit if the student earns a grade of "C" or better. Such courses, open only to honors students, may correspond to conventional offerings of a department, or they may be courses for which there is no counterpart in the conventional curriculum. Honors courses are marked by small enrollment, distinguished teaching, and intellectual sophistication.

Collegiate Honors: The honors degree is awarded on the recommendation of the Honors Council to qualified graduates who meet the following minimum requirements:

• Twenty-seven credit hours of coursework specifically carrying honors credit
• A 200-or-300 level Service Learning Course
• A cumulative GPA of 3.33

For more information about the Honors Program, contact the program director at 773.508.2780 or visit the Honors Program site.

Laudatory Honors at Graduation

Undergraduate students earning 60 or more graded Loyola credits are eligible to graduate with laudatory standing according to the criteria below. This outstanding accomplishment will be noted on the students' diplomas, transcript, and at the graduation ceremony.

Cumulative Loyola GPA	Laudatory Honor
3.500 - 3.699	Cum laude (with praise)
3.700 - 3.899	Magna cum laude (with high praise)
3.900 or higher	Summa cum laude (with highest praise)

Note: GPA is not rounded for laudatory honors.

Residency Requirement (Required Hours in Residence)

In-residence hours refers to the course credit hours taken at Loyola University, the Rome Center, or taken from any of the Loyola-sponsored study abroad programs through the Office for International Programs.

Undergraduate students must take their final, uninterrupted 45 hours of instruction or a minimum of 60 hours in residence at Loyola University Chicago.

Graduate students are not allowed to take any of their program courses elsewhere.