ACADEMIC SUSPENSION FROM MSU
MSU's Suspension Policy
Students who develop a pattern of low academic achievement risk being suspended from MSU. After a first suspension, you may not enroll in classes for the next semester; with Spring suspensions, this means for both Summer and Fall. Following a second suspension, you may not enroll for a full academic year. Details of MSU's suspension policy are found here in the undergraduate catalog.
The Impact of a Suspension
Being suspended from MSU may be both traumatic and problematic for you. However, by no means does a suspension necessarily indicate that you will not be successful in college. Many MSU students have difficulty getting focused and establishing good academic habits. A suspension period out of school often provides the motivation to give the necessary attention to your academic life. In addition, the money saved from working during this time can help with the cost of college.
Returning to MSU After Being Suspended
Once your suspension period is over, you are automatically reinstated to MSU. There are two things you must do before you can register for classes, however: 1. File the Intent to Register form that you received with your suspension notice from the Office of the Provost and 2. Meet with the Assistant Dean of University College, Dr. Philip Gaines; make an appointment by contacting University Studies at 406-994-3532. Be sure to file the Intent to Register and meet with the Assistant Dean at least three weeks in advance of the beginning of the semester in which you plan to take classes so that the courses you want will be available.
When you meet with the Assistant Dean, he will discuss with you strategies for academic success in the future. Your first semester back will be in a probationary status, but as soon as your semester and cumulative GPAs are at 2.0 or higher, you will once again be in Good Standing.
Extraordinary Circumstances Around Your Suspension
Sometimes a student is suspended for low academic performance in a given semester during which there were extraordinary circumstances beyond their control: a significant illness near the end of the semester, a traumatic event from which the student was unable to recover, an ongoing medical condition, etc. If you believe your academic performance in the semester for which you were suspended was due to circumstances like this, you can appeal your suspension. (Note that circumstances such as having too many morning classes, needing to go to a friend's wedding, noisy roommates, not going to class, working too many hours, brief illnesses, etc., do not qualify as extraordinary.)
How to Appeal a Suspension
- Locate the Suspension Appeal Form that came with your suspension letter. (If you can't find it or if you are out of town, the Provost's office will fax you one.)
- Fill out all the information on the front of the form. (Note: "GID" means "generated identification," i.e., your MSU student ID.)
- Review the Required Documentation on the back of the form (not all of which may apply to you).
- Fill out, print out, and sign the Suspension Appeal Personal Statement.
- Describe the extraordinary circumstances that explain your low academic performance in the semester for which you were suspended. (Note: Read carefully the information under 3 on the back of the Suspension Appeal Form to help you prepare this.)
- If you have gotten any Ds or Fs in prior semesters at MSU, explain the reasons for those grades and for any general problem of low academic performance.
- Discuss the changes in circumstances and in your overall strategy that will help you be academically successful at MSU.
- Provide the name, contact information, and course of a faculty member who can speak in your behalf. (Note: To find contact information, talk to the faculty member's department.)
- Gather any other documentation that you believe will help your case, e.g., memo from a doctor, disability test results, medical or psychological evaluation, etc. Include only essential materials, please. If you plan to include documentation of a disability, go here for information.
- Bring, mail, or fax your appeal package (Suspension Appeal Form, Statement of Extraordinary Circumstances, and any supporting documentation) to University Studies, PO Box 173000, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-3000, fax: 406-994-6049. Be sure to get your package in before the deadline indicated in your suspension letter.
If you have any questions, please call our office. If you are a Pre-University Studies student, first-time suspension rules are more stringent; for more information contact Patricia Lane in University Studies at 406-994-6833 or plane@montana.edu.
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