Academic Advising

Academic Progress

The following information offers clarification of certain university academic policies related to Academic Progress. Detailed information about Academic Progress can be found in the Stanford Bulletin: Undergraduate Academic Progress and in the Stanford Bulletin: Coterminal Academic Progress.

Academic Progress for Undergraduate Students

Minimum Undergraduate Academic Progress Requirements

To remain in good academic standing, undergraduate students must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

  • Earn at least 9 units of credit in a single quarter
  • Earn at least 36 units over the most recent three enrolled quarters
  • Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or above

Undergraduate Academic Notice

Undergraduates who do not satisfy the minimum requirements above may be placed on undergraduate academic notice. Students are removed from undergraduate academic notice by doing the following for their next enrolled quarter:

Undergraduate Academic Probation

Undergraduates who do not earn 12 units of new course work per quarter or maintain a quarterly and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above while on undergraduate academic notice may be placed on undergraduate academic probation. Students are removed from undergraduate academic probation by doing the following for the next two (2) enrolled quarters:

NOTE: A student may be placed directly on undergraduate academic probation or suspended (see below) without first being placed on undergraduate academic notice if the student has had a prior academic notice status.

Undergraduate Academic Suspension

Undergraduates who do not earn 12 units of new course work per quarter or maintain a quarterly and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above while on undergraduate academic probation may be placed on undergraduate academic suspension.  In some cases, students may be suspended directly from undergraduate academic notice.

Academic Progress for Coterminal Students

Minimum Coterminal Academic Progress Requirements

To remain in good academic standing, coterminal students must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

  • Maintain a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.0 or above
  • Maintain a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or above
  • Earn a quantitative unit requirement based on tuition group
    • Students in the Coterminal Undergraduate Tuition Group (COTU) must earn at least 9 units in a given quarter
    • Students in the Coterminal Graduate Tuition Group (COTG) must earn at least 8 units of 11-or-more attempted OR earn at least 6 units of 8-10 units attempted

Coterminal Academic Notice

Coterminal students who do not satisfy the minimum requirements above may be placed on coterminal academic notice. Students are removed from coterminal academic notice by doing the following for their next enrolled quarter:

  • Maintain a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.0 or above
  • Maintain a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or above
  • Meet additional requirements based on tuition group
    • Students in COTU must maintain a minimum 2.0 quarterly undergraduate GPA for any attempted units on that career and earn at least 12 units of new coursework
    • Students in COTG must earn at least 8 units of new coursework of 11-or-more units attempted OR earn at least 6 units of new coursework of 8-10 units attempted
  • For further information, see the Stanford Bulletin: Coterminal Academic Progress.

Coterminal Academic Probation

Coterminal students who do not meet the conditions of coterminal academic notice above may be placed on coterminal academic probation. Students are removed from coterminal academic probation by doing the following for their next enrolled quarter:

  • Maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA
  • Maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA
  • Meet additional requirements based on tuition group
    • Students in COTU must maintain a minimum 2.0 quarterly undergraduate GPA for any attempted units on that career and earn at least 12 units of new coursework
    • Students in COTG must earn at least 8 units of new coursework of 11-or-more units attempted OR earn at least 6 units of new coursework of 8-10 units attempted
  • For further information, see the Stanford Bulletin: Coterminal Academic Progress.

NOTE: A student may be placed directly on coterminal academic probation or suspended (see below) without first being placed on coterminal academic notice if the student has had a prior academic notice status.

Coterminal Academic Suspension

Coterminal students who do not meet the conditions of coterminal academic probation above may be placed on coterminal academic suspension.  In some cases, students may be suspended directly from coterminal academic notice.

VPUE will collaborate with the graduate department/program in the deliberation of any academic suspension. Additionally, academic departments and programs already hold authority to dismiss candidates from their Master’s programs through their own internal process. As such, any decisions made by the academic department/program to dismiss a coterminal student from the Master’s program would supersede or supplant the VPUE coterminal academic review process.

Additional Considerations

All students—but especially international students, financial aid recipients, varsity athletes, and those with an academic notice status—should take care to ensure their Study List has an appropriate number of units for meeting any necessary federal, organizational, or University requirements.

Please note that students with a documented disability who have received an approved Reduced Course Load accommodation from the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) should contact that office for more information on requirements for academic progress.

Any student who wishes to discuss an issue or a decision relating to academic progress should contact their Academic Advisor to discuss their situation. 

If you matriculate into a coterminal program while on an undergraduate academic status, we strongly recommend that you meet with Paula Aguilar, Undergraduate Advising Director for Coterminal Degree Programs, to better understand all possible issues that may be related to that transition.

For more information