The College Office in Arts & Sciences is committed to helping students achieve their academic goals and have a successful learning experience. More specifically, our programs are designed to
Academic Concern is an early alert to the student and their advisor(s) that additional support may be needed to maintain academic progress. Academic Concern status may be applied the first time a student meets one of the following criteria:
Students who are assigned to Academic Concern status in one semester and fail to address the issue(s) that led to that status in a subsequent semester may be moved to Academic Notice or Academic Time Away status.
Students experiencing more significant academic difficulties than those noted above in the Academic Concern section may be placed on Academic Notice. Students on Academic Notice are not in good academic standing. This status is applied when a student meets one of the following criteria for more than one semester or meets multiple criteria in one semester:
If a student is placed on Academic Notice, they are expected to participate in an academic success program the following semester (e.g., Progress Counseling, student success course, mentoring). These measures are meant to assist students to return to good academic standing. The student must complete an academic agreement that articulates an improvement plan.
To be eligible to return to good academic standing, a student on Academic Notice must address the academic difficulties identified by the Committee on Academic Progress, including participation in support programs. Failure to participate in these support programs, or to attend class or complete work in a timely manner while on Academic Notice, may result in termination of enrollment at the end of the semester. Additionally, students who fail to address the issue(s) raised by the Committee at the end of the semester during which they are on Academic Notice may be moved to Academic Time Away status.
Academic Time Away is recommended for serious academic difficulty that jeopardizes a student’s ability to complete their degree in a timely manner. Students recommended for this status are required to take a one semester break from course work. This break allows the student time to address matters that have significantly impeded their academic progress. Academic Time Away may be applied when the student meets one of the following criteria:
Students may return to the College of Arts & Sciences from Academic Time Away only when they demonstrate, under the conditions set for each individual case, a capacity to work productively at the level required by the College.
Students are responsible for understanding requirements to return and for consulting with their school’s advising office to confirm eligibility and any additional requirements for reinstatement. Return requests will be reviewed by relevant departments to assess readiness. This may take a few weeks. All notifications will be sent to a WashU/wustl.edu email.
You can find information about the process to Return to WashU on the ArtSci Policies and Procedures webpage.
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Welcome to a new chapter in your academic journey! College is a time of exciting growth, but it can also be a big adjustment. The expectations, independence, and rigor are different from high school—and that’s okay. Many students take time to find their rhythm. You’re not alone, and plenty of resources are available to help you succeed. Take the initiative, stay curious, and don’t hesitate to reach out for support. WashU is here to help you thrive.
To help you navigate these next steps, we created the following guide that includes valuable information on topics like academic progress and academic accommodations, as well as a list of guiding questions and helpful resources.
The Big Four Guide for Students
Parents, we encourage you to check in periodically with your student about their experiences in and outside the classroom. Academically, it is common for a student to undergo an adjustment period as the rigor and classroom environment of college are different from high school. Students are more likely to succeed if they use available support resources, even if they didn’t utilize those resources in high school.
To help you navigate this next chapter with your student, we created the following guide that includes valuable information on topics like academic progress and academic accommodations, as well as a list of guiding questions and helpful resources.