4-Year Plan (University of Maryland Student Academic Success Policy): Students should complete a plan of coursework for their four years as an undergraduate. This plan is to be used as a guide for what the student could take in the coming semesters. The plan can change based on meetings with the student’s departmental advisor or UA&AS advisors and student academic performance. A student should bring this plan to any advising appointment where semester registration will be discussed. NOTE: Suggestions are available for students on how to create a 4-year plan.

Academic Benchmarks: All students who matriculated to the University of Maryland in Fall 2005 and after are subject to academic benchmark reviews. For engineering students, these reviews are at 45 University of Maryland earned credits (not including credit hours earned prior to matriculation) and two other times prior to their graduation. When students are reviewed for the 2nd and 3rd benchmarks depends upon the semester they matriculated.  Students should prepare for these reviews by making progress through their major coursework. Each benchmark has unique requirements by major.

Academic Dismissal: Students who have earned 60 or more total credits will be dismissed if their cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters (excluding winter and summer terms). Students who attain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in the preceding winter or summer term will not be subject to dismissal. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will notify students in writing when they are dismissed. The notices will include a statement that registration for the next semester (excluding winter or summer terms) will be canceled. Normally, a student dismissed for academic reasons must wait one semester (fall or spring) before reinstatement. Exceptions will be determined by the Faculty Petition Board.

Academic Probation: Students will be placed on academic probation if their cumulative GPA falls below 2.0. Normally, the student is expected to attain a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of a probationary semester. Students who fail to achieve a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of their probationary semester may be academically dismissed, depending on their credit level.

Fundamental English: All students must take ENGL101 “Introduction to Writing.” A student must attempt the course within their first 30 total earned credit hours and complete the course within their first 60 total earned credit hours. NOTE: All Clark School of Engineering students must take ENGL393, (Professional Writing Requirement) “Technical Writing”, no matter what grade they achieve in ENGL101.

Policy Violation: A review of pertinent Academic Policies is available online. Students who have extenuating circumstances may ask for permission for an exception to policy. Permission should be requested through a formal Petition for an Exception to Policy Form found under Forms (online form)  which should include all documentation of the extenuating circumstances as well as a personal statement by the student to the Petitions Committee.  NOTE: Approval of petitions is not guaranteed.

Preparing for the 45 Credit Benchmark review: This review typically occurs after a student’s third semester. To pass the review, students must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0, achieve a 2.0 or better in Math141, Chem135, Phys161 and ENES100, and may only repeat one of these courses once to achieve the 2.0 or better. They must also have completed ENGL101 and one Distributive Studies course. NOTE: a ‘W’ counts as an attempt at a course. Thus, the second attempt is considered a repeat of that course.  UA&AS does not recommend that students take all four of these classes the same semester.

Repeat Policy: Any University of Maryland student may attempt any course twice or repeat a course once for up to a total of 18 total credit hours (please note that most MATH courses are 4 credit hours). If a student withdraws from a course they will earn a “W,” which will count as an attempt at the course. NOTE: Both attempts at a course are calculated into the students’ Grade Point Average (GPA) unless the course was originally taken during the first semester (for transfer students) or within the first 24 credit hours (for first-time students) taken at the University of Maryland. For those courses, the new grade will replace the old grade in the student’s cumulative GPA but the original grade WILL NOT be deleted from the transcript.

Withdrawal/Drop Policy: No more than 4 credit hours may be dropped during any one semester after the last day of schedule adjustment. A grade of a “W” (withdrawal) will be present on the student transcript for that course. Please see the Academic Calendar for specific dates per semester.

Withdrawal from a Semester: If your student suffers a serious ongoing illness or other long-term issue and needs to leave the university for the entire term, they can withdraw from all of their courses. The repeat policy will not apply to courses taken during the academic semester from which the student officially withdrew. Students must submit written notice of withdrawal to the Office of the Registrar no later than the last day of classes. A student's return to the University is contingent upon the conditions outlined in the online catalog.  NOTE: Students who have earned a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, with no previous withdrawal or leave of absence, may return to the University the following semester through Re-Enrollment. However, students who withdraw when they are not in good academic standing (cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better), must go through the reinstatement process and are not guaranteed entrance back into the Clark School of Engineering.