Probation

Notice of Probation and Dismissal Decisions

By no later than two weeks after the first day of the semester, the Dean of the student’s respective School or Dean’s designee will send a student a notice of probation or dismissal by email to the student’s University email address and via USPS mail to the student’s mailing address on record. The date of the notice is the date of the postmark on the envelope or the date stamp on the email. Dismissed students will have their Richmont email deleted two weeks following their dismissal date, and their access to all Richmont-related systems will be removed.

A notice of probation should contain the following information:

• A statement of the decision to place the student on probation
• Reason(s) for placing the student on probation
• Requirements (e.g., conditions, academic plan, timeline) the student must meet to be removed from probation
• The consequences of not meeting the probation requirements

Conditions

A student who is placed on probation will have a hold placed on his or her registration. A student placed on probation may be required to do one or more of the following:

1. 1.Obtain permission from their advisor before taking incompletes or withdrawals.
2. 2. Limit the number of credits taken while on probation. This will be outlined in the initial probation letter if required.
3. 3. Complete supplemental work to increase their chance of successfully completing probation. These can include but are not limited to:

• Recommended or required counseling
• Additional writing classes
• ESL classes
• Workshops or Continuing Education requirements
• Complete one or more specified courses

1. 4. Meet other stipulated requirements at the discretion of the Dean of the student’s respective School or Dean’s designee.
2. 5. Meet with their advisor to discuss conditions of the probation and develop a written plan, subject to the approval of the Dean of student’s respective School or Dean’s designee, that will enable the student to fulfill the conditions of the probation.
3. 6. Meet one or more times with the student’s academic advisor during the probation.
4. 7. While on probation, earn no course grade lower than a 3.0 required by the degree.

 

Duration

A graduate student is customarily placed on probation either (a) until the student has successfully completed at least three (3) program-required (not elective) courses or whatever other number of courses is required in the notice of probation, or (b) until the Dean of the student’s respective School or Dean’s designee determines that the student has met all specific conditions of the probation. The Records Office will notify the student each semester that the student remains on probation.

Withdrawals and Incompletes are not allowed for the probation-required courses during the probation period; or when the Dean of the student’s respective School or Dean’s designee determines that a graduate student has not satisfactorily met the conditions of the student’s probation according to the time frame stated in the probation notification.

Probation is not required prior to dismissal. Requirements for reinstatement or readmission of applicants who have been dismissed from the University will be determined by the faculty and clearly provided in writing at the time of dismissal. Students have the right to appeal dismissal from the university.

Students who are dismissed will be dropped or withdrawn (whichever is appropriate) from all classes for which they are registered at the time of dismissal.

Probation Appeals

A student placed on probation may not appeal the decision unless the student is able to produce specific documentation demonstrating an error in the data underlying the probation decision. A student may appeal a decision dismissing the student for academic deficiencies. A student cannot appeal a decision to withdraw the student from an internship, practicum, clinical site, or service-learning placement.

Appeal Process for Probation

1. 1. If a student placed on probation has specific documentation demonstrating an error in the data underlying the probation decision, the student must submit that documentation to the Dean of the student’s respective School or Dean’s designee within five (5) business days of receipt of the notice of probation.
2. 2. A dismissed student must present his or her written appeal to the dean of his/her School by the date specified in the notice of dismissal. The specified date will be no later than 30 days from notice of the probation status.
3. 3. The appeal procedure for probation is designed to deal with exceptional cases of a complex nature. It is not available to circumvent standard requirements (e.g., grade grievance procedures, grades, grade point average, or examination standards).