Appealing an Academic Dismissal
Undergraduate students who have been academically dismissed may request a review of their status by submitting an appeal to the Selective Retention Committee. Students are encouraged to appeal if they believe their academic performance was affected by extenuating circumstances that can be addressed with a clear plan for improvement, or if they believe a computational error may have incorrectly lowered their GPA or academic progress.
A successful appeal must include all required materials and be submitted by the deadline listed in your dismissal letter.
How to Submit an Appeal
Letters of appeal should be emailed to the Selective Retention Committee at src@salemstate.edu on or before the deadline stated in your dismissal letter. The Selective Retention Committee meets before the beginning of the following semester to review student appeals. After reviewing your materials, the committee may recommend one of the following outcomes:
- The dismissal terms be upheld (not readmitted); or
- The student be readmitted the following semester on academic probation; or
- Student be reinstated if the dismissal was due to a non-debatable computational error in calculating the GPA or academic progress.
You will be notified of the committee’s decision in time to adjust your plans and schedule for the next semester.
Writing Your Appeal
All appeals should include the following information:
- Student ID
- Name
- Telephone Number Where You Can Be Reached
- Financial Aid Status - tell us if you have been using financial aid for the current academic year.
Required Reflection Questions
Please address all of the following in your email. Be detailed, specific, and honest. Include documentation when appropriate.
- What circumstances prevented you from meeting the goals of your most recent academic improvement plan?
Describe extenuating circumstances, with documentation if applicable. - Aside from those circumstances, what other academic challenges have you experienced?
Consider referring to your probation self-assessment if you completed one. - How have these circumstances changed?
Explain what is different now and why you believe you can succeed moving forward. - If circumstances have not fully changed, what supports and strategies will you use?
Identify concrete steps you will take and resources you will rely on to be successful.
When writing your appeal, be clear, direct, and thoughtful. The committee’s goal is not only to understand your situation, but to determine how the university can best support you if you are readmitted.
If you would like help preparing your appeal, you are encouraged to meet with a professional advisor. Information about appointments or virtual drop-ins is available on the Academic Advising website.
If You are Readmitted
Students who are granted readmission will return on Academic Probation and are required to meet with a professional advisor in the Academic Advising Office to complete an updated academic improvement plan. The Selective Retention Committee will provide information about each student’s case for readmission to the Academic Advising office for use in developing your plan which may include conditions or requirements for your readmission.
Conditions can include, but are not limited to, the following examples:
- reduction of course load
- taking a leave of absence for one semester
- additional required advising meetings or activities
- repeating coursework.
All academic probation restrictions will also apply, including limitations on your course load and extra curricular activities. For more information on probation, visit https://ask.salemstate.edu/kb/what-academic-probation.
If you need help with the appeal process, please visit the academic advising office to meet with a professional advisor. Information about virtual drop-in hours and appointments can be found on their website.
Financial Aid and Readmission after Academic Dismissal
Students who have been academically dismissed are unlikely to be meeting the requirements of Satisfactory Academic Progress. Continued eligibility for financial aid is dependent upon students meeting all state and federal guidelines for financial aid eligibility. In the event that you are not eligible for aid for the upcoming semester, it is your responsibility if readmitted to review your student account for the the next semester and make any necessary adjustments to your registration based on your ability to continue. If you are readmitted and are not eligible for financial aid, you may contact the Student Navigation Center to discuss your specific situation before making decisions for the upcoming semester.
Students Living on Campus
Students who are readmitted through the selective retention process must make immediate contact with the Office of Residence Life to confirm their room assignments for the upcoming term. Housing assignments for dismissed students will be cancelled for students who are not readmitted through the appeal process.