Registrar

Academic Standing and Student Responsibility

Students are considered in good academic standing as long as they maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (C), unless their college or program has a higher standard. The Office of the Registrar will monitor students’ academic progress at the end of each term and notify them if their academic standing falls below a 2.0 (C); however, it is the students’ responsibility to take steps to improve their academic status whenever necessary. A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (C) is required to complete all degree programs at Chicago State University. Some programs require a higher cumulative grade point average for graduation. Students with a cumulative grade point average below 2.0 (C) are ineligible to graduate, irrespective of the number of course hours earned.

The Office of Academic Support Services is available to provide students with information on study skills workshops, tutoring in a variety of academic disciplines, and other services. Students with GPAs below 2.0 (C) are strongly encouraged to take advantage of these services. However, students are responsible for earning and maintaining the minimum cumulative grade point average required for academic success. Students should maintain close contact with their departmental academic advisors to ensure their current academic status is always clear.

Academic Probation

The Office of the Registrar will place undergraduate students on academic probation when their cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0. The purpose of academic probation is to provide students with a warning that their academic performance does not meet minimum university standards. While on probation, students may enroll for no more than 12 credit hours.

Registration for additional credit hours requires the written approval of the Department Chair or Dean.

Eligibility for Probationary Status

Students on academic probation are given opportunities for academic assistance from the Office of Academic Support Services. Students who are placed on probation will be notified by letter. In addition, the Office of Academic Support Services will require regular progress reports from the student’s instructors. During the probationary period, students are expected to meet monthly with their advisor and a representative from the Office of Academic Support Services to assess academic progress and develop a written plan to improve academic performance, and they are expected to participate in appropriate activities such as workshops or tutoring sessions to improve their academic performance. Students on probation will be permitted to register for up to 12 semester hours as long as their cumulative grade point average is 1.80 with fewer than 30 credit hours, 1.90 after reaching 30 credit hours, and 2.00 after reaching 60 credit hours. The credit-hour status of transfer students will be determined by the combined total of transfer hours accepted and credit hours enrolled at Chicago State University. However, only courses taken at Chicago State University will be used to determine a student’s term and cumulative grade point average. CSU courses and transfer courses will be used to determine a student’s classification.

Dismissal for Poor Scholarship

Students will be dismissed from the university for poor scholarship. The following constitutes poor scholarship:

1. Failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress, as defined in the Catalog.
2. Two consecutive terms without satisfactory completion of course work.

The academic progress of students on academic probation will be reviewed at the end of each semester. Students who are dismissed for poor scholarship will be notified by letter. Students who are dismissed for poor scholarship must spend one or more terms out of residence. During this period, students are required to demonstrate their ability to succeed at university-level work by taking one or more courses at a community college or at another university.

Appeals

Students have the right to appeal the university’s decision on dismissal before the onset of the next term after dismissal. Students must present their appeal in the form of a written petition addressed to the Academic Appeals Committee of the appropriate college. The petition must be delivered to the office of the appropriate dean. The petition will be considered and acted on by a committee appointed by the appropriate college Dean. The petition must describe succinctly and concisely what the problem is and what the student is requesting. Supporting documents (e.g., medical statements, a statement from the student’s academic advisor, etc.) must accompany the student’s petition. Students will be notified by email of the disposition of their appeals.

Reinstatement of Students Dismissed for Not Maintaining Academic Standards

Students dismissed for not maintaining academic standards may petition for reinstatement to the university after one or more long terms. Petition forms are available in the Office of the Registrar. The student must present the request for reinstatement in the form of a written petition addressed to the Office of the Registrar. All petitions must be filed by the following dates.

A petition for reinstatement must contain documented evidence and logical reasons for the student’s ability and desire to successfully complete a program of study at the university. Official transcripts of all college work taken since leaving the university must accompany the petition.

The Office of the Registrar will notify students, by letter, of the decision regarding their petition for reinstatement. Students may be reinstated a maximum of two times prior to completion of the degree.

The State Seal of Biliteracy

The State Seal of Biliteracy is a recognition given to graduating high school students who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in English and in reading, writing, listening and speaking in another language.

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, the State Seal of Biliteracy “recognizes public high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English.” Through HB 4330, the School Code was amended to include the Seal of Biliteracy. For more information, go to https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Illinois-State- Seal-of-Biliteracy.aspx

Chicago State University (CSU) accepts the State Seal of Biliteracy. CSU translates the State Seal of Biliteracy into foreign language course credits based on course equivalencies identified by CSU.

It is the student’s responsibility to request course credit based upon an earned State Seal of Biliteracy. A student must request course credit for their seal within two academic years after graduating from high school.

Once requested, a student who has received the State Seal of Biliteracy will be awarded a total of 6 credits (lower division). This is the equivalent of first semester (3 credits) and second semester (3 credits) of language study at CSU. When the seal is granted in a language not offered at Chicago State University, 6 credit hours of lower division foreign language elective will be awarded.

Request should be made in person by bringing the actual State Seal of Biliteracy document(s) to:

Office of Records and Registration
Academic Evaluations and Advisement
ADM 128 Chicago State University
9501 S. King Drive
Chicago, IL 60628

Students who have received the State Seal of Biliteracy and would like to continue their language study at CSU should contact the Department of Foreign Languages (Dr. Brenda Aghahowa, Chair) for placement advice.

The State Commendation toward Biliteracy is a recognition given to graduating high school students who have demonstrated significant progress toward achieving a high level of proficiency in English and in reading, writing, listening and speaking in another language.

Chicago State University will not award credit for the State Commendation towards Biliteracy.

Grading System

The unit of credit used by Chicago State University is the semester hour. The grades assigned in courses are as follows:

Year of Study & Classification of Students

The total number of credit hours earned determines the academic classification for undergraduates. Students are classified as follows:

Withdrawal from Courses (Dropping Courses)

The dates of the last day to drop a course or courses are published in the Academic Calendar for each term.

• Students may drop courses without a “W” up until the 100% refund deadline.
• After the 100% refund deadline, students must submit an Add-Drop Form to the Office of the Registrar to withdraw from a course. Simply ceasing to attend class or notifying the instructor is not sufficient and will result in a final grade of F.
• Students will not be permitted to drop classes after the published deadline date for dropping/withdrawing from classes, without penalty of W or F.

F-1 & J-1 international students are required to receive authorization from a Global Engagement Office Designated School Official (DSO) before dropping a course that would reduce the student’s credit hour load below 12 semester hours.

Withdrawal from the University

An undergraduate student who wishes to withdraw from the university must complete and submit the online “Complete Withdrawal Form” via CSU-Xpress by the deadline. Students may withdraw from the university until 60% of the enrollment period of instruction during a 16-week semester or until the third week of instruction during a summer term. The last date to withdraw from the university without penalty is published in the Academic Calendar for each term.

If students submit a Complete Withdrawal via Cougar Connect, by the deadline, they will receive 100% refund. After the 100% refund deadline, a student may submit a Complete Withdrawal via Cougar Connect and receive a 50% refund of charges until the published deadline for 50% withdrawal refunds.