Decisions
of the Committee on Academic Performance
The department reviews each student's performance and prepares
a recommendation for the CAP. CAP discusses each student's performance
and makes one of the following decisions:
No Action
The CAP takes no official action in the
case, leaving to the student's department the choice of taking
action, such as a departmental letter, or no action.
Warning
A
CAP warning is appropriate in the case
of a student whose performance during
the past term is considered unsatisfactory
and who may be required to withdraw
from the Institute if his/her performance
does not improve during the next term.
It is also the appropriate action when,
in the opinion of the department and
the CAP, the student is not making
sufficient progress toward an academic
degree. ("Sufficient progress" includes
completion of Institute and department
requirements, as well as accumulation
of credits at a reasonable rate.)
This action should not be viewed as punitive, but rather as
an expression of concern for a student's performance or progress.
A warning does not appear on the student's external transcript,
but it does appear on the grade report. It is entirely an internal
action.
Students in academic difficulty would often like to make up
for "lost time" or failed subjects by overloading on units and
subjects in the next semester, but overloading usually hinders
students' academic recovery. Therefore, the committee places
a limit on the number of units for which a student may register
during his or her next regular term at MIT following a warning.
The usual limit is 48 units (51 units for upperclass students
taking only four subjects), but at the time the warning is voted
by the CAP, the department may request a higher or lower limit
to fit a student's individual situation.
The CAP will take appropriate action
concerning students falling behind
the minimum required pace in the Communication
Requirement:
- Students who are in otherwise good
academic standing will typically
be flagged by the CAP and limited
to a registration of one appropriate
Communication Intensive (CI) subject
plus 48 units during their next regular
term.
- Students in poor academic standing
(< 3.0 GPA and/or < 36 units
satisfactorily completed) and behind
in the Communication Requirement
will typically be placed on Warning
and limited to a registration of
one appropriate CI subject plus 36
units during their next regular term.
See also: http://web.mit.edu/commreq/background.html
The letter notifying a student of
his or her warning status specifies
the exact credit limit voted. If
such a student has a particular reason
for wishing to exceed the credit
limit, he or she may petition the
CAP. Such petitions are rarely approved.
Required Withdrawal
This action is taken by the CAP
when a student experiences serious academic difficulties over
a period of one or more terms. Generally the CAP does not vote
a required withdrawal for a student who has never been warned
previously. Students who are required to withdraw are typically
expected to take at least a year away from MIT.
Students
who are
required
to withdraw
from MIT
should discuss
a course
of action
with a dean
in Student
Support
Services
(S3), 5-104,
and with
their academic
advisor,
to facilitate
possible
readmission
at a later
date.
A required withdrawal does not appear on a student's external
transcript.
Students who have received financial aid should contact the
Student Services Center, 11-120,
to discuss their obligations while not enrolled at MIT. If the
student received financial aid that included student loans,
or the student's parents borrowed from various parent loan programs,
the student must meet with a loan representative.
Suspension of Services
An undergraduate who is required to withdraw may not use Institute student services. In particular
- The right to live in MIT housing is suspended,
- The MIT Card is deactivated, and undergraduates are not authorized to use the services for which the card provides access. These services include but are not limited to the libraries, the dining system, computing resources, and Institute housing,
- Students are permitted to retain an mit.edu e-mail address which will be forwarded to a specified outside e-mail provider until the normal graduation date. All other computer services, including Athena access and use of MIT licensed software, will be suspended.
- Undergraduates will be excluded from the student payroll and UROP,
- Undergraduates will not be placed on class rosters. They will not be allowed to participate in class projects. Work that is turned in for the class will not be graded or returned.
For additional detail, please see: http://web.mit.edu/acadinfo/undergrad/academic-guide/sec13.html#suspension.
