Academic Status Policies

Minimum GPA Required to Graduate

Students must meet or exceed a minimum 2.0 KU Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) (just KU grades) and a 2.0 KU + Transfer GPA (KU and transfer grades) in order to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design from the Department of Design. Applications for graduation will be denied if the student is not in good academic standing as defined by this policy.

Academic Probation

A student is placed on academic probation after completing a semester at KU without a 2.0 GPA, or upon notification by the Department of Design that a student is no longer in good academic standing. For admissions purposes, students with strong portfolios may be admitted on a probationary basis if their grades or ACT scores are not strong enough. 

Probation is not merely a disciplinary action-- it is meant to be a warning that something needs to change for a student to achieve their degree. We work closely with students on probation to help them identify what obstacles prohibited them from achieving their best and make strategies with them for how to improve.  

Continued on Academic Probation

A student may be continued on academic probation if their semester GPA is above 2.00, but the cumulative GPA is less than 2.00.

Dismissal

Failure to raise the GPA above 2.0 in a semester while on probation may be grounds for dismissal. Students may also be dismissed by the Department of Design chair at any time for excessive absences or for failing to make progress toward the degree. 

Good Standing

Students with KU semester and cumulative GPA's of 2.0 or above are in good academic standing.