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Academic Policies

Loyola University Chicago has several policies and regulations all students must adhere to. We encourage students to familiarize themselves with the policies. Contact our advising staff with any questions.

Academic Standing

Loyola University Chicago understands 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 academic dismissal should be understood as necessary, although unfortunate, consequences for students who aren’t progressing. 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.

In general, 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 and a minimum of a least a 2.00 average in a student's major.

Note - some programs (University Honors, etc.) have additional GPA requirements. Students should check with their academic advisor for more information.

Probation

There are two types of academic probation:

  • Academic Standing
  • 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 The School of Communication, be placed on probation. In such cases, an academic improvement plan will be required, defining the terms under which the student can return to Good Academic Standing.

Continued on Probation

Any undergraduate student who is already Placed on Probation must raise their GPA during their term of probation. If the student raises their GPA but it does not reach a cumulative 2.0, they are Continued on Probation for one semester.

Dismissal for Poor Scholarship

Any undergraduate student who has a quality point deficit of 15 or more points, even if he/she/they has not had a previous semester of probationary status, may be dismissed for poor scholarship. Any student placed on or continued on probation whose cumulative GPA does not reach a 2.0 cumulative GPA 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, an Academic Improvement Plan will be required, defining the terms under which the student can return to Good Academic Standing.

Any graduate student who achieves a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 during the probationary semester, will be continued on probation.

Any student placed on or continued on probation whose cumulative GPA does not reach a 3.0 cumulative GPA 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.

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 GPALaudatory 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.

Loyola University Chicago has several policies and regulations all students must adhere to. We encourage students to familiarize themselves with the policies. Contact our advising staff with any questions.

Academic Standing

Loyola University Chicago understands 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 academic dismissal should be understood as necessary, although unfortunate, consequences for students who aren’t progressing. 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.

In general, 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 and a minimum of a least a 2.00 average in a student's major.

Note - some programs (University Honors, etc.) have additional GPA requirements. Students should check with their academic advisor for more information.

Probation

There are two types of academic probation:

  • Academic Standing
  • 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 The School of Communication, be placed on probation. In such cases, an academic improvement plan will be required, defining the terms under which the student can return to Good Academic Standing.

Continued on Probation

Any undergraduate student who is already Placed on Probation must raise their GPA during their term of probation. If the student raises their GPA but it does not reach a cumulative 2.0, they are Continued on Probation for one semester.

Dismissal for Poor Scholarship

Any undergraduate student who has a quality point deficit of 15 or more points, even if he/she/they has not had a previous semester of probationary status, may be dismissed for poor scholarship. Any student placed on or continued on probation whose cumulative GPA does not reach a 2.0 cumulative GPA 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, an Academic Improvement Plan will be required, defining the terms under which the student can return to Good Academic Standing.

Any graduate student who achieves a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 during the probationary semester, will be continued on probation.

Any student placed on or continued on probation whose cumulative GPA does not reach a 3.0 cumulative GPA 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.

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 GPALaudatory 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.