Academic Notice, Disqualification, and Reinstatement

It’s important that you meet with an advisor to learn strategies to help you quickly improve your GPA and develop an academic plan for the semester. Once you have met with your advisor, they will remove the hold. 

It varies from 1-2 semesters, but you should try to improve your GPA as soon as possible. Academic Notice means that you are vulnerable to disqualification and it requires immediate action including possible adjustments to your schedule and meeting with your academic advisor. If you are on academic notice and your Humboldt or cumulative GPA is below the following levels at the end of your first semester on academic notice, you will be academically disqualified:

• Freshmen (<30 units) below 1.50
• Sophomores (30 to 59.9 units) below 1.70
• Juniors (60 to 89.9 units) below 1.85
• Seniors (≥90 units), below 1.95

Disqualification can happen within one semester after being placed on academic notice. You may remain on academic notice for no more than two sequential semesters. After two semesters on academic notice, you must either return to good academic standing or face being disqualified. To determine your class standing and which GPA level applies to you, remember to include any units that are currently in progress.

You will not be dropped from your classes. Your schedule is exactly as it was before when you registered. We suggest you meet with your academic advisor to see if you need to adjust your schedule as soon as possible and prior to the Add/Drop deadline.

It may benefit you to repeat a class. Meet with your advisor to see if it's a good idea for your situation. Classes in which you earned a grade of C- or below can be repeated at Humboldt for grade forgiveness. Click here to review the Repeat Policy. 

The Academic Notice hold does not prevent you from withdrawing from the semester. If you wish to withdraw from the semester (and it is not past the withdrawal deadline), read about the withdrawal process at humboldt.edu/registrar/register/withdrawal-process or contact the Office of the Registrar registrar.humboldt.edu. 

The Learning Center's GPA calculator, humboldt.edu/learning-center/digital-resources/gpa-calculator, can help you calculate your semester GPA, Humboldt GPA, and Overall GPA. You will need your academic transcript to calculate any GPA; you can get an unofficial transcript from your Student Center.

Yes, finding the major that aligns with your strengths and interests allows you to succeed academically.

Pay close attention to the following academic deadlines:

• ADD/DROP Deadline (first two weeks of class) - Work closely with an academic advisor before the Add/Drop deadline to get the best schedule for success.
• Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) Option (mid semester) - With your academic advisor, discuss the nuances, pros, and cons behind changing a class grade mode to CR/NC and how it can improve your GPA.
• Withdrawal deadlines - (with paperwork to support Serious & Compelling or Catastrophic reason.) Before you choose to Withdraw, discuss options with your academic advisor, staff at the Office of the Registrar (records@humboldt.edu or 707-826-4101), or an advisor at the Academic Advising Center.

Tips to Consider:

• Visit the complete list of academic deadlines at Calendar of Activities & Deadlines.
• The Credit/No Credit option can help to improve your GPA.
• Keep in regular contact with your academic advisor.
• Participate regularly in peer study groups.
• Make the Learning Center part of your weekly study routine: Use the Writing Studio and drop-in tutoring, receive academic peer coaching to improve time management and study skills, and consider taking a Supplemental Instruction course to augment time spent studying for difficult science courses.
• Take care of yourself! humboldt.edu/basic-needs

The Office of the Registrar or the catalog is a good place to start.  Specifically, you can learn more about the Academic Standing policy and the Grade Forgiveness or “Repeat Policy.”

Academic disqualification occurs when the GPA of a student who is already on notice falls below the minimum level allowed or when a student has not achieved good standing within two semesters. When disqualified, a student is no longer enrolled at the university; they must take a minimum of one semester off before beginning the petition for reinstatement process. More information can be found at Disqualification & Reinstatement.

If you are disqualified, you should contact the Academic Advising Center to discuss your next steps, a plan for your time off, and guidelines for petitioning for reinstatement. It is important to know that a disqualification doesn't mean your college career is over. It means that you are required to take a break, but encouraged to return and finish your degree. Many students return to Humboldt, recover academically, and graduate. 

Reinstatement is an academic standing that is similar to Academic Notice and Disqualification. It recommends that students register for a maximum of 12 units each semester until their Humboldt and Cumulative GPAs return to good standing (2.0). Additionally, they are required to earn a 2.0 or better for each semester in all graded courses.

Students who are on Academic Notice may be changed to reinstated standing if their Cal Poly Humboldt GPA-level technically disqualifies them, but they earned a 2.0 term GPA in the most recent term. They are "automatically reinstated" by the Office of the Registrar and required to see an ACAC Academic Advisor or their EOP advisor.

Students who were disqualified and are returning to Humboldt after the mandatory waiting period are also in reinstated standing. The Office of the Registrar refers to this as "non-immediate reinstatement". As part of the petition for reinstatement process students are required to meet with an ACAC Academic Advisor or their EOP advisor to create an action plan for Academic Recovery. They have a reinstated hold on their Student Center until they meet with an advisor.