2008 Woodie Awards
MSU Increases GPA Expectations
Lauren Lampe
Issue date: 9/30/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
As of fall 2004, Montclair State University has increased its required minimum cumulative grade point average from a 1.7 to a 2.0, as per a memo circulated by Karen Pennington.
To avoid being placed on academic probation, students must achieve a cumulative grade point average of a 2.0, the equivalent of a C average.
Academic and Student Development and Campus Life staff pushed for the GPA increase; after review and corrections from several committees, the new policy was approved.
According to the Vice President of Student Development and Campus Life, Dr. Karen Pennington, the new GPA requirement reflects the standards of many public universities across the nation.
The new requirement will also serve as an incentive to make students in danger of academic probation work harder.
"Knowing that your peers are working hard may serve as an incentive for some students to push a little harder to match their efforts," said Pennington. "Obviously, on an individual basis, students who are doing well academically will graduate sooner and with higher GPAs than other students, thus improving their efforts at graduate and professional school acceptance, job placement, and overall self-esteem."
Although a change in policy was made, many MSU students do not feel directly impacted. "It's really not going to effect me. If you slip below a C [average], you should be put on academic probation," History major Sean Kase said.
If a student is placed on academic probation they must immediately meet with an academic advisor and discuss a plan of improvement. According to the 2004-2005 MSU Undergraduate Catalog, a student on academic probation has one semester, a minimum of 12 semester hours, to achieve a cumulative GPA of a 2.0.
Failure to achieve a 2.0 will result in academic suspension. Once on academic suspension, a student is not permitted to enroll in courses at MSU for two semesters, the catalog said.
After two semesters, the student may apply for readmission
To avoid being placed on academic probation, students must achieve a cumulative grade point average of a 2.0, the equivalent of a C average.
Academic and Student Development and Campus Life staff pushed for the GPA increase; after review and corrections from several committees, the new policy was approved.
According to the Vice President of Student Development and Campus Life, Dr. Karen Pennington, the new GPA requirement reflects the standards of many public universities across the nation.
The new requirement will also serve as an incentive to make students in danger of academic probation work harder.
"Knowing that your peers are working hard may serve as an incentive for some students to push a little harder to match their efforts," said Pennington. "Obviously, on an individual basis, students who are doing well academically will graduate sooner and with higher GPAs than other students, thus improving their efforts at graduate and professional school acceptance, job placement, and overall self-esteem."
Although a change in policy was made, many MSU students do not feel directly impacted. "It's really not going to effect me. If you slip below a C [average], you should be put on academic probation," History major Sean Kase said.
If a student is placed on academic probation they must immediately meet with an academic advisor and discuss a plan of improvement. According to the 2004-2005 MSU Undergraduate Catalog, a student on academic probation has one semester, a minimum of 12 semester hours, to achieve a cumulative GPA of a 2.0.
Failure to achieve a 2.0 will result in academic suspension. Once on academic suspension, a student is not permitted to enroll in courses at MSU for two semesters, the catalog said.
After two semesters, the student may apply for readmission