Academic standing is defined by the student’s GPA. The GPA is calculated by dividing the number of grade points earned in courses that assign letter grades by the number of units attempted. Courses in which grades of CR, NC, I and W are assigned are not used in GPA calculation. A student’s academic status takes into account both the cumulative total GPA, which includes coursework transferred from other institutions as well as coursework taken at CSUN, and the CSUN GPA, which includes only coursework taken at CSUN.

The four categories of undergraduate academic status and the regulations pertaining to each are listed below:

1. Good Standing: Students are in good standing at the conclusion of any matriculated term in which they have both a cumulative total GPA and a CSUN GPA of 2.0 or higher. Students in good standing are eligible to enroll in the University through the regular enrollment process. Students can enroll in the maximum number of units determined by the University for the coming semester. To request enrollment in more than the maximum units, students must complete the Extra Unit Authorization form and obtain the appropriate approvals according to the timeline published at www.csun.edu/process-repository/maximum-unit-load.
2. Probation: Undergraduate students are placed on probation if either their cumulative total GPA or CSUN GPA falls below 2.0 at the conclusion of any term. Students remain on probation until they either regain good standing or are placed in disqualified status. Students on probation are eligible to enroll in the University through the regular enrollment process. However, they receive registration holds and are not able to register for classes until they have received advisement to review progress toward improving academic status. Declared majors on probation will typically receive advisement from the Student Services Center/EOP (SSC/EOP) Satellite in their College. Undecided students will receive advisement in the Advising Resource Center/EOP (ARC/EOP). Students on probation can enroll in a maximum of 13 units in a semester or summer term. To request more than 13 units, students must complete the Extra Unit Authorization form and obtain the signatures of the Director of their College SSC/EOP Satellite and the Associate Vice President of Undergraduate Studies. Students on probation will be disqualified if either their cumulative total GPA or CSUN GPA falls below the GPA listed for each class level in the chart below under “disqualified status.”
3. Disqualified Status: Undergraduate students who were on probation the previous semester are placed in disqualified status if, at the end of the next semester, either their cumulative total GPA or CSUN GPA falls below the floor listed for each class level in the table below:
   

   Class Level	Units	GPA at the Time of Disqualification
   Freshman	1-29 units	1.50
   Sophomore	30-59 units	1.70
   Junior	60-89 units	1.85
   Senior	90-plus units	1.95

   Second Baccalaureate Disqualification: Second baccalaureate students will be placed in disqualified status if either their cumulative or total GPA or CSUN GPA falls below 2.0.

   Units of developmental coursework are included in determining class level. Students in disqualified status are not eligible to enroll in the University through the regular enrollment process. They can enroll in CSUN courses only through Open University in the Tseng College. Students seeking to enroll in courses should refer to the Tseng College website. Only 24 units of course credit earned in the Tseng College can be counted toward a CSUN Degree. However, second baccalaureate students are limited to 9 units of course credit through Open University. The unit limits include courses completed in Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer sessions through Tseng College. Before students in disqualified status can be readmitted under an Academic Performance Agreement (APA), they must demonstrate acquired skills or achievements that support a successful return to the University. Such evidence may include successful completion of courses in the student’s Degree Program at another institution or through the Tseng College with grades that demonstrate the student can achieve good standing in a reasonable time frame if readmitted to CSUN. Students are strongly urged to meet with their CSUN academic advisor to discuss the requirements that must be completed in order to be readmitted to the University. When all requirements have been met, students may apply to the University for readmission.

4. Readmitted Under Academic Performance Agreement (APA): Students who have been academically disqualified, but who are readmitted to the University under terms of probation, are classified as readmitted under an APA. Students who are readmitted under an APA have registration holds and are not able to register for classes until they have received advisement. During advisement, the student and advisor examine the student’s progress toward improving academic status and set goals for the next semester. Declared majors typically receive advisement from the SSC/EOP Satellite in their College. Undecided students receive advisement in the ARC/EOP. Students who are readmitted under APA can enroll in a maximum of 13 units in a semester or Summer term. To request additional units, students must complete the Extra Unit Authorization form and obtain the signatures of the Director of their College SSC/EOP Satellite or ARC/EOP for Undecided or Undeclared majors and the Associate Vice President of Undergraduate Studies. Students in this status, whether they have one or more disqualifications, must fulfill all of the following requirements until they reach good standing: (1) earn a minimum 2.0 semester GPA; (2) enroll in classes each semester; and (3) have in place a signed APA that details the academic progress that must be achieved to move the student toward completion of the baccalaureate Degree within a designated time period. Students who are readmitted under an APA, but who fail to maintain continuous enrollment in classes each semester or who fail to achieve a 2.0 semester GPA, revert back to disqualified status. They must reapply and be readmitted to the University as a previously disqualified student in order to be eligible to enroll in classes through the regular enrollment process. See Readmission of Previously Disqualified Students in this Catalog. Academic disqualification is a permanent notation in a student’s academic record and has serious consequences that can impact attainment of a baccalaureate degree. The consequences of academic disqualification depend upon whether it is the first, second, third or fourth disqualification that the student receives.

Related Topics

Categories of Disqualification

Readmission of Previously Disqualified Students

Academic Reinstatement to the University