Your dismissal letter provides information about your current academic standing and explains options for continued study in the College of Arts and Sciences, and at IU Bloomington. The College of Arts and Sciences Bulletin contains the Academic Standing policy, including the criteria for academic dismissal. The FAQs below provide additional information. Please contact us with any questions you may have.
Office of Undergraduate Retention and Student Success (OURSS)
Office hours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
You are dismissed from the College of Arts and Sciences when you fail to make adequate progress toward your degree.
Academic dismissal criteria
You are automatically dismissed when:
Your academic standing for the previous term is 'Academic Alert'; and
Your term grade point average is below 2.000; and
Your cumulative grade point average is below 2.000.
Regardless of prior academic standing, you may be dismissed if your record reveals a failure to make adequate progress toward completion of a College of Arts and Sciences degree program in which you are enrolled.
If you were dismissed from the College of Arts and Sciences after December 2024, you are automatically dismissed from the IU Bloomington campus.
Purpose of academic dismissal The purpose of academic dismissal is not to prevent you from completing your education, but rather to intervene when you have been caught in a pattern of academic performance that may jeopardize your chances of completing a degree in the College or at IU Bloomington's campus.
Dismissal may affect your access to services that are available to degree-seeking students, but the impact varies by service and service provider:
Future enrollment: All enrollment at IU Bloomington for future terms is cancelled once you are academically dismissed
Financial aid: Contact Student Central for information regarding financial aid eligibility and your repayment status
Housing:Residential Programs and Services cancels the housing contracts of students in dismissal status, but you will need to check with them directly regarding eligibility, fee questions, and timelines
Email:University Information Technology Services (UITS) manages email accounts, and they regularly review and deactivate accounts for graduated students, students who have stopped attending IU, as well as for students who have been dismissed. Removal of student email access is not instantaneous, but you should ensure that you have an alternate email on file in your student record that you check regularly. You can update your email address through the Student Center in One.IU. If you are taking classes on the Bloomington campus as a non-degree-seeking student or if you are taking courses at other IU campuses, you will continue to have some eligibility for IUB email and computing services, but you should confirm this with UITS
Transcripts and other official IU records: While in dismissal status, you will continue to have access to your academic records. You can request your transcript via One.IU or via the Registrar's webpage
No, you are eligible to apply for reinstatement; however, reinstatement is not automatic, nor is it guaranteed.
If you were dismissed from the College of Arts and Sciences prior to December 2024, your next step is to contact the College of Arts and Sciences at 812-855-1647 or 812-855-8245 to schedule an appointment to discuss the reinstatement process.
If you were dismissed from the College of Arts and Sciences after December 2024, you were also dismissed from the IU Bloomington campus and must follow the procedures described on the IUB Undergraduate Education website.
Once you submit your reinstatement petition, the College Academic Retention Committee will evaluate your petition, assess your readiness to resume studies and your prospects for successful completion of a degree, and communicate their decision to you. The review process may take a few weeks.
We are here to help you determine what the next right step is for you. For some students, taking a break and working to address the challenges that have impacted their academics is the next step; for other students, reflecting on major and career choices is next, and for others, working to repair their academic record is a good start to reinstatement. Here are a few steps you can take now:
Schedule a meeting with a member of the College Student Success Team
Call our office to schedule a meeting. (This is a required step in the reinstatement process if you were dismissed priorto December 2024.) This meeting can:
Help you understand your academic record.
Explain the reinstatement process.
Give you information about your options for enrollment while in dismissal status.
Support you in making a realistic, informed plan.
Connect you to resources that can help support your success.
Identify your academic barriers Take time to reflect on your experience at IU. Ask yourself:
What factors led to my dismissal?
Were there challenges with attendance, motivation, focus, or time management?
Did personal, health, or financial issues interfere with my studies?
Am I truly ready to resume full-time studies?
Dismissal is rarely about "just bad grades." The goal is to understand what held you back, both externally and internally, so you can address those factors directly.
In addition, consult with family and friends to get a number of perspectives on these questions. You should also consider whether transferring away from IU Bloomington may be a better path to success for you.
Make a corrective action plan For each barrier you identify, develop a clear plan to address it:
Have past challenges (like personal, financial, or mental health issues) been resolved? How?
If similar challenges come up again, how will you handle them?
What support resources (academic or mental health) will you utilize moving forward? How will those resources help you?
Are you balancing work and school effectively?
Are you in the right major? Is there another degree path that would be a better fit?
If your major GPA is low or your transcript shows repeated difficulty in major courses, you may want to consider a different major within the College.
Students who have a GPA deficit in their major are rarely approved to continue in that program. If this applies to you, it's a good idea to start thinking about other degree options before submitting your petition for reinstatement. Exploring alternative paths now can help you find a better fit and strengthen your chances of success moving forward.
Change requires purposeful action. The College Academic Retention Committee wants to see evidence that you have thoughtfully considered the factors that led to your dismissal, taken concrete steps to resolve those issues, and developed a clear plan for future academic success.
Put your plan into action The strongest petitions show that a student has already started making changes. The best evidence you are ready to be successful is often earning strong grades in coursework you complete after dismissal. Here are some ways to get started:
Enroll in one or two courses (at IU or another institution) to apply your new strategies and assess your readiness to succeed academically.
Focus on earning strong grades – prioritize quality over quantity.
If you still struggle, it may be a sign that you need more time or support before returning to full-time studies.
When you are in dismissal status, you have several options for repairing your academic record and cumulative GPA, including:
Finish work for any Incomplete ("I") grades listed on your transcript.
Enroll in Fall, Spring, or Summer classes at IU Bloomington as a non-degree seeking student.
Enroll in classes at another IU campus.
All coursework you complete at any IU campus will affect your cumulative and major GPA (if applicable).
Incompletes
Finishing courses with grades of Incomplete: When you finish work for Incomplete courses on your record, the "I" grades on your transcript will be replaced by the letter grade you earn. The College Academic Retention Committee views finishing Incomplete coursework as a sign that you are starting to improve your record and meet your academic responsibilities.
Consequences of not finishing Incomplete courses: Incompletes must be removed within a year; once the deadline passes, they are automatically converted to grades of F by action of the Registrar. The Committee views Incompletes as potential grades of F that could be added to your record.
Cost of completing coursework: Because you have already paid tuition for courses in which you earned a grade of Incomplete, you can complete these courses without taking on any additional financial burden.
Impact on academic standing: Completing courses with grades of Incomplete will not automatically rescind dismissal or probation, even if the grade earned raises your term GPA or cumulative GPA above 2.000
Enrollment in non-degree seeking status in IU Bloomington courses while in dismissal status Students dismissed from the College of Arts and Sciences are permitted to enroll in a limited number of courses in non-degree seeking status each term.
How to register: To request enrollment in non-degree seeking status at IU Bloomington, you must identify the specific course(s) in which you plan to enroll and then complete the Returning Student Application.
Enrollment limits: You may enroll in 1 course during Fall and Spring semesters, and up to 4 courses (no more than 2 in over-lapping sessions) during the Summer term.
Financial aid eligibility: Students with questions about financial aid eligibility for non-degree seeking enrollments should contact Student Central.
Complete IU Coursework (See topic: How can I repair my cumulative GPA while in academic dismissal status?)
Complete coursework outside of IU Completing coursework at other colleges and universities and then transferring the credit to IU can help you make progress toward your degree and demonstrate a readiness to return to your studies.
Only courses in which you receive a grade of C or higher will transfer.
Non-IU courses will not affect your IU GPAs, but may count toward degree requirements.
What courses should I take? If you plan to take courses at another institution, visit the Admissions Credit Transfer Service and work with your academic advisor to discuss your enrollments. The Admissions Credit Transfer Service shows how courses at other institutions count towards an IU degree. Keep in mind that only courses in which you earn a grade of C or higher can be transferred to IUB and carry credit toward a degree.
Use your Academic Advising Report and the College Bulletin (select the year you started at IU, which can be found in the blue box option, located in the top-right corner of the webpage) to understand your remaining degree requirements. Identify courses you can take at a non-IU institution that will help you make degree progress.
If you were dismissed from the College, including the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and The Media School, before December 2024:
First, meet with a member of the College Student Success Team to discuss your academic difficulties and learn about the process and timelines. These meetings can be held in-person or conducted by Zoom.
Schedule your meeting by calling call 812-855-1647 or 812-855-8245. (Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday)
After the meeting, you will receive a message containing the link to the College of Arts and Sciences Reinstatement Petition.
If you were dismissed from the IU Bloomington campus after December 2024:
You must follow the reinstatement process described on the IUB Undergraduate Education website and submit the Petition for Reinstatement to IU Bloomington
We encourage you to meet with a member of the College Student Success Team to discuss the reinstatement process, however, a meeting is not required
Dismissals Before December 2024 – College of Arts and Sciences Reinstatement
Fall Reinstatement
Spring Reinstatement
Summer Reinstatement
June 10
October 1
February 15
Dismissals After December 2024 – IU Bloomington Campus Reinstatement
Fall Reinstatement
Spring Reinstatement
Summer Reinstatement
June 5
September 10
February 1
Late or incomplete petitions will not be reviewed.
Academic record review
When your reinstatement petition is reviewed, the College Academic Retention Committee reviews your entire academic record at IU, as well as any coursework you have completed at other institutions that is on your transcript. The College Academic Retention Committee will look at whether you've taken time off since your dismissal and whether you've done anything to improve your IU GPA or make progress toward your degree by completing coursework while in dismissal status.
GPA deficit
The GPA deficit is a measure the College uses to show how many credit hours you need to raise your GPA to 2.000 (the minimum required to be in good academic standing in both your College and Major GPAs). The deficit is the number of credit hours in which you need to earn grades of B or higher to bring your GPA up to 2.000.
Deficits in your cumulative GPA are taken very seriously by the Committee because it means that you are at higher risk for a second dismissal. Deficits greater than 10 credit hours are particularly concerning because they reflect nearly a full semester 's worth of work. If your cumulative GPA deficit is above 10 credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to complete repair work before submitting a petition for reinstatement.
Petition questions
The questions on the reinstatement petition give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you have reflected on the reasons for your dismissal beyond low grades and to identify the concrete steps that you have taken (importantly, not steps that you will take) to address these factors. Answers that demonstrate a thoughtful, truthful, and thorough approach tend to be most persuasive.
Accuracy Strong reinstatement petitions are thoughtful, clearly-written, complete, and free of errors. You must allow yourself sufficient time to reflect, to address the factors that contributed to your dismissal, and to gather relevant supporting documentation.
Evidence over intent The goal of the reinstatement petition is to allow you the opportunity to identify, analyze, and, ideally, resolve many of the factors that have interfered with your studies. It is crucial to demonstrate that you have already taken steps to be successful and that you have a realistic plan for moving forward. The College Academic Retention Committee is looking for evidence that your circumstances have changed.
Familiarity with resources There are a number of support services and resources available to students to aid with academic challenges, finances, as well as health and wellness. Begin by exploring our Support Services webpage to learn more. It is important to consider how different resources can be leveraged to help overcome academic barriers.
Strong grades Strong grades earned after dismissal, especially in IU Bloomington courses, are the best evidence that you are ready to return to your studies and be successful. However, other factors will also be considered.
Documentation If external circumstances contributed to your academic difficulties, you may want to include documentation of these with your petition. In addition, you are welcome to submit anything that provides evidence that you are ready to return to IU Bloomington, such as:
Evidence of volunteer work.
Letters of recommendation.
Readiness statements from healthcare providers.
Proof that you've used or sought out support resources (such as advising, mental health counseling, Accessible Educational Services, or academic coaching).
Documentation showing you've taken steps to seek help and prepare for success.
The Committee denies petitions that are incomplete, late, or that do not provide evidence that your circumstances have changed enough to allow you to be successful.
If you want to complete your degree in another unit at IU Bloomington rather than in the College of Arts and Sciences, you should contact Advising & Major Exploration Services (AMES). These advisors will help you determine a path to another unit.
