Academic Standing

Academic Standing

Good academic standing is maintained by students meeting their departmental and/or program academic benchmarks, including but not limited to:

• Term and cumulative grade point average minimums, as established by the department.

• Course grade minimums as determined by program/departmental policies.

• Making satisfactory academic progress toward students’ declared degree requirements.

• Other requirements as determined by program/departmental policies.

Academic Review Process

• Students who do not meet their departmental program standards and benchmarks, as defined in their Departmental Student Handbooks, are reviewed by their program and/or department to determine future academic standing. Actions taken can include:

  • Return to Good Standing: Students who were previously on Notice of Academic Alert or Notice of Academic Concern, who have been determined to have met their departmental/program requirements, and are therefore returned to good standing.

  • No Action: Students will remain in good standing.

  • Notice of Academic Alert: Serves as an alert to students who may have fallen below departmental academic benchmarks, who are not making satisfactory progress toward their degree, and/or who may be at risk for future Notice of Academic Concern status. Students on Notice of Academic Alert who receive financial aid should consult with the Office of Financial Aid to determine if their aid is at risk.

  • Notice of Academic Concern/Continued Notice of Academic Concern: Serves as an alert to students who have fallen below departmental academic benchmarks, who are not making satisfactory progress toward their degree, and/or who may be at risk for future academic dismissal. Students on Notice of Academic Concern who receive financial aid should consult with the Office of Financial Aid to determine if their aid is at risk.

• Incomplete grades may result in a review of academic action if students fail to complete 50% or more of their attempted credits. They may also impact satisfactory academic progress as defined by the Office of Financial Aid.

• Any changes made to grades after each term's COSP review do not affect the academic standing recommendation. Students on Notice of Academic Alert or Notice of Academic Concern will be reviewed automatically the next term, with prior semester grade changes considered during that review.

• All students who are returned to good standing or placed on Notice of Academic Alert, Notice of Academic Concern, or Continued Notice of Academic Concern are notified via email to their NYU email address after the review process is completed.

• All decisions, with the exception of dismissal, within the Academic Review Process are final and not eligible for appeal.

Committee on Student Progress (COSP)

The Steinhardt Committee on Student Progress (COSP) is co-chaired by the Senior Director of Advising and Student Success and the Assistant Dean for Academic and Registration Services, ex officio. The remainder of the committee comprises faculty representatives from across the School. 

The COSP meets at the end of the Spring and Fall academic terms and in the Summer term to review and take action on the academic records of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at NYU Steinhardt. 

Students whose academic records are scheduled for dismissal review are notified via email to their NYU email address, asked to share with the COSP any relevant information regarding their records, and referred to their academic advisors for further discussion on their academic progress. 

The COSP invites departmental representatives whose students are being reviewed for dismissal to submit a rationale for the dismissal recommendations. The committee takes action on the student's total record in accordance with departmental recommendations and information submitted by the student. 

Actions taken include:

• Notice of Academic Alert, Notice of Academic Concern or Continued Notice of Academic Concern: Serves as an alert to students who have fallen below departmental academic benchmarks, who are not making satisfactory progress toward their degree, and/or who may be at risk for future academic dismissal. Students on Notice of Academic Concern who receive financial aid should consult with the Office of Financial Aid to determine if their aid is at risk.

• Dismissal: Students’ records are terminated with the University, and a notation of academic dismissal is added to the final official transcript.

  • Unless otherwise indicated in a given case and at the school's sole discretion, Students are notified via an electronic correspondence sent to their NYU email address of the action taken by the COSP. A registration hold is placed on students who have been dismissed.

  • Students who are dismissed must be away from the University for a full academic year before they are eligible to apply for readmission.

  • Readmission is not guaranteed. Students must reapply through the formal admissions process.

Academic Dismissal and Appeal Procedure

Unless otherwise indicated in a given case and at the school's sole discretion, Students will receive a formal letter via an electronic communication with information on how to appeal through an online form. Students can appeal the dismissal action taken by the COSP no later than ten (10) calendar days from the date of their email notification of dismissal.

There are limited grounds to an appeal. Appeals will be reviewed only if:

1. There is new, additional, relevant information that was unavailable at the time of the original decision and thus was not considered; and/or

2. There was a material violation in procedure.

Below are guidelines and requirements for submitting the online form:

1. A student’s appeal must include:

   • Student’s name and NYU ID number (“N” number)

   • An explanation of the circumstances contributing to the academic dismissal.

   • Identify and elaborate on the grounds for your appeal that fall under the two allowable reasons for an appeal:

     1. There is new, additional, relevant information that was unavailable at the time of the original decision and thus not considered.

     2. There was a material violation in procedure.

2. Attach all critical documentation supporting your appeal, including:

   • Official email/letter that informed the student of their dismissal.

   • Documents that support details provided in the written statement for the appeal.

A decision will be rendered based on a review of the written appeal and supporting documentation. The review will either affirm or overturn the dismissal and will be communicated to the student by email.