Academic Warning and Suspension FAQs

Students are placed on academic warning when their term or cumulative GPA (or both, for first-year students) falls below a 2.0.  A registration hold is placed on your record, and you are required to meet with your advisor in order to register.

All students struggle with challenging coursework from time to time.  Academic warning is an opportunity for you to connect with your academic advisor on a regular basis to discuss any challenges or barriers you faced and strategize resources and options to assist you with moving forward.  We value having you as a member of our community, and we are committed to supporting you as you continue your academic journey in the Carlson School.

Students are suspended if they’ve been on academic warning for at least one semester and their term and cumulative GPAs both fall below 2.0.  Students cannot be suspended after completing only their first semester in the Carlson School (all students get the opportunity to improve their GPA with an academic warning semester).

If you are suspended, you will be dropped from your subsequent semesters (including UMN summer courses), and a hold will be placed on your record.  Your suspension period will be a minimum of one academic year, and you will not be allowed to enroll at the UMN during that time.

Suspension may impact your financial aid. Please contact a One Stop counselor if you have questions or concerns about your financial aid during your time away.

During your academic warning semester, you will be expected to meet regularly with your academic advisor.  Your first meeting must take place before the end of the second week of the semester.  Your advisor may require frequent/regular check-ins based on your circumstances.

You must also complete the Academic Success Plan prior to your first meeting with your advisor.  The plan will give you the opportunity to reflect on the challenges you faced while developing an action plan to support your success.  The plan also outlines the specific requirements you must meet to be removed from academic warning.

You and your advisor will strategize a plan for your success during your academic warning semester.  This may include attending office hours, going to tutoring, or meeting with a career coach, among other things.

If you meet with your advisor and you complete your Academic Success Plan, your advisor will temporarily lift your registration hold to allow you to register for your next semester; the hold will not be fully removed until academic warning review after grades have posted, however.

If both your term and cumulative GPAs are above 2.0, and if you have met all other terms of your Academic Success Plan, you will be removed from academic warning.  Your registration hold will be removed as well.

• If you have been suspended, you will not be allowed to enroll at the UMN for one academic year (two semesters).  You should use the time away to reflect on the challenges you faced and what you can do differently to ensure your success when you return.

  • • More information about returning after suspension, including any forms you need to submit, can be found on the Carlson School website.

Summer classes won’t impact your academic warning status.  For example, if you repeat a class in the summer, and it changes your spring GPA due to the grade replacement, you will still remain on academic warning the following fall semester.

You must register for at least six credits towards your Carlson degree (i.e. I-Core prereqs, I-Core courses, major courses, etc.).  If you only enroll in lib eds and/or electives, or you take fewer than six credits, you may remain on academic warning.

Explore our Student Success Resources as you work to get back on track with your academics and overall wellness.

Review information about academic warning and suspension on the One Stop website.

Review the Academic Warning & Suspension for Undergraduate Students policy.

Individuals from outside the University will not be able to see that you are on academic warning. However, many recruiters seek to recruit students that have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Consult with your academic advisor on strategies for improving your GPA. You could consider retaking courses in which you earned a D or F. 

Reach out to your academic advisor if you have any questions or concerns about your status.