** Effective Fall 2026, this policy applies to all RMC undergraduate students.
Randolph-Macon College is committed to supporting student success. The Academic Standing Policy establishes clear expectations, provides early feedback, and connects students with structured support when academic challenges occur. Academic standing is reviewed at the conclusion of each fall and spring semester. Incomplete (I/NG) grades are not factored into the GPA calculation at the time of the academic standing review. The Registrar will recalculate standing once the final grade is recorded. The resolution of Incomplete grades may affect academic standing retroactively.
Students are expected to maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00. Students whose GPA falls below this standard may be placed on Academic Alert, Academic Concern, or Academic Suspension, as outlined below. Additionally, students who earn a GPA of 0.0 in any fall or spring semester may be placed on Academic Concern or Academic Suspension, as outlined below.
This policy applies to all degree-seeking undergraduate students, including first-year, transfer, and part-time students.
Academic Alert
- Eligibility
- Students who have just completed their first semester at Randolph-Macon College, including transfer students, whose Randolph-Macon College cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 (for 0.0 cumulative GPA cases, see Academic Suspension section).
- Status
- Students remain in good academic standing while on Academic Alert. Academic Alert is not noted on the student transcript.
- Requirements
- Students on Academic Alert must commit to and complete an academic recovery program approved by the Higgins Academic Center (HAC) during their next semester of enrollment.
- Students who do not commit to an approved academic recovery program by the end of the add/drop period will be placed on Academic Concern for that semester.
- Students on Academic Alert are expected to be enrolled full-time and may not enroll in more than 15 credit hours in fall and spring semesters. Exceptions (e.g., dropping below full-time enrollment, etc.) require approval from the Registrar.
- Appeals
- Placement on Academic Alert may not be appealed except in cases of administrative error.
Academic Concern
- Eligibility
- Students whose cumulative GPA remains below 2.00 after one semester on Academic Alert; or
- Students on Academic Alert who do not commit to an approved academic recovery program; or
- Students returning to Randolph-Macon College from Academic Suspension; or
- Students who have completed at least two semesters at Randolph-Macon College who earn a 0.0 GPA in fall or spring semester, regardless of cumulative GPA; or
- All other students who have completed at least two semesters at Randolph-Macon College with a cumulative GPA below 2.00.
- Status
- Students on Academic Concern are not in good academic standing but may continue enrollment while working to restore good standing. Academic Concern is not noted on the student transcript.
- Requirements
- Students must complete an academic recovery program approved by the Higgins Academic Center (HAC).
- Students on Academic Concern are expected to be enrolled full-time and may not enroll in more than 15 credit hours in fall and spring semesters. Exceptions (e.g., dropping below full-time enrollment, etc.) require approval from the Registrar.
- Consistent with NCAA standards, student-athletes on Academic Concern are not eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletic competitions until good standing is restored. Student athletes on Academic Concern are eligible to continue practicing.
- Placement on Academic Concern may impact the student’s ability to participate in student organizations.
- Appeals
- Placement on Academic Concern may not be appealed except in cases of administrative error.
- Students who raise their cumulative GPA to 2.00 or higher during January Term or Summer Terms may petition the Registrar for an early review and a return to good academic standing.
Academic Suspension
- Eligibility
- Students who have just completed their first semester at Randolph-Macon College, including transfer students, who earn a 0.0 GPA in their first semester.
- Students who do not raise their cumulative GPA to at least 2.00 following one semester on Academic Concern.
- Status
- Students on Academic Suspension are not in good academic standing and are not enrolled at Randolph-Macon College during the suspension period.
- Academic Suspension is noted on the student transcript for the duration of the suspension period.
- Requirements
- Students placed on Academic Suspension must apply for readmission (see Readmission).
- Students placed on Academic Suspension after the fall semester may apply for readmission for the following fall semester or any fall or spring semester thereafter. Students placed on Academic Suspension after the spring semester may apply for readmission for the following spring semester or any fall or spring semester thereafter.
- Students readmitted to the college from Academic Suspension will be placed on Academic Concern.
- Students may take courses at another institution during their suspension. Credits earned may be transferred to Randolph-Macon College, but grades earned elsewhere will not affect the Randolph-Macon College GPA.
- Students who have been placed on Academic Suspension twice are unlikely to be readmitted.
- Appeals
- Students may appeal an Academic Suspension and request to continue enrollment for an additional semester. Students suspended after earning a 0.0 GPA in their first semester would be placed on Academic Alert if the appeal were to be successful. Students suspended after a semester on Academic Concern would be continued on Academic Concern if the appeal were to be successful.
- Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Committee on Academic Policies by the stated deadline and must include:
- A reflection on the factors that significantly impacted academic performance;
- For students who have just completed a semester on Academic Concern: a reflection on the student’s engagement with their academic recovery plan during the previous semester (including what worked, what may need to be changed, and their level of engagement with their plan). For students who earned a 0.0 GPA in their first semester: a reflection on which campus or non-campus resources were used, if any;
- A reflection on the specific steps the student will take in the upcoming semester to promote academic success; and
- Documentation of a meeting with the Financial Aid Office to discuss the financial implications of being placed on Academic Alert or continuing on Academic Concern, as applicable.
- The Committee on Academic Policies may consult with the Higgins Academic Center, academic advisor, and faculty regarding the student’s engagement with their academic progress in the preceding semester.
- Decisions of the Committee on Academic Policies are final and cannot be appealed.