Academic dismissal is when a student is unable to continue registering for classes due to poor academic performance. It may be temporary, and steps to re-enter Chapman are provided below.
Academic dismissal also carries the cancellation of any federal financial aid or VA benefits.
Undergraduate students are subject to academic dismissal from Chapman if either of these occur:
- Your cumulative GPA at Chapman remains below a 2.00 (a “C” average) for two consecutive semesters.
- Your term GPA falls below 2.00 for two consecutive semesters and your cumulative GPA falls below 2.70.
Next steps after academic dismissal
After getting dismissed from Chapman, you would be able to re-enter by successfully doing either of the following:
- Completing college-level coursework elsewhere.
- Appealing the academic dismissal process.
Option 1: Complete college-level coursework elsewhere
You can re-enter Chapman by successfully completing college-level coursework elsewhere. To do this, you must achieve the following within two academic years from the time of dismissal:
- Enroll in at least 12 graded baccalaureate-level semester credits/units (or 18 quarter credits/units) in one term at another regionally accredited institution. The credits must be transferable to Chapman University.
- Earn all grades of C or higher.
Please note that prior to beginning coursework elsewhere, we recommend students contact their Academic Advisor to review the coursework they plan on taking outside Chapman. This will help ensure the courses fulfill the requirements set forth by Chapman.
In accordance with the university’s graduation requirements, some credits might not be accepted in transfer upon a student’s return. A maximum of 24 credits may be transferred after matriculating at Chapman. Refer to the University Catalog for more information on the transfer policy.
Returning to Chapman after dismissal
If you are seeking to return within two years of dismissal, you must submit your request to be reinstated using the Undergraduate Petition Form.
Check the box that says "other" and write "reinstatement" on the line. Submit it to the Office of the University Registrar (email it to articulation@chapman.edu) along with a narrative explaining your desire to return to Chapman and how you will be successful here.
- Verification of enrollment information through an official transcript must accompany the petition for reinstatement.
- If you are reinstated, you may be reconsidered for financial aid at that time; however, reinstatement does not necessarily mean that financial aid will be available for that semester or any future semester.
If you are seeking to return after more than two years from the time of dismissal, you must reapply for admission via the Office of Admission.
- When you return after academic dismissal, you will be placed in probation status and may enroll in no more than 16 semester credits for the first semester or first year after return.
- If you fail to achieve an institutional GPA of at least 2.000 in the first semester back at Chapman, you will remain in probation status. If you remain on probation after two consecutive semesters of being reinstated, you will be permanently dismissed.
Option 2: Appeal the academic dismissal decision
If you believe there were extenuating circumstances that prevented you from achieving a 2.00 GPA or above, you may appeal your dismissal status to the Undergraduate Student Standards Committee. To initiate an appeal, you must:
- Inform the Office of the University Registrar (via email at registrar@chapman.edu) of your request to schedule a hearing. This must be done before the deadline indicated on your dismissal email.
- Submit a typed narrative and supporting documentation detailing the extenuating circumstances that contributed to your academic performance.
If your appeal to the committee is denied, you may petition the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at vpuged@chapman.edu to reconsider the dismissal only if:
- There is no additional information about your case that was not available to the Undergraduate Student Standards Committee in your original petition.
- There is evidence of procedural error by the Undergraduate Student Standards Committee.
