Academic Standing
Academic Honors
Dean’s List
To be eligible for Dean’s List honors, an undergraduate student must achieve a grade-point average of 3.5 or better and complete at least 15 graded credits with no incompletes or grades lower than C.
Honors Awarded with the Degree
At the end of the academic year, a select portion of the candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree who have achieved the highest academic cumulative grade-point average are accorded Latin honors. Latin honors are awarded in three categories (cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude) to no more than 25 percent of the graduating class, with no more than 5 percent summa cum laude, 10 percent magna cum laude, and 10 percent cum laude. Honors are awarded on the overall record of graduating seniors who have completed a minimum of six semesters at Columbia. Students may not apply for honors.back to top
Academic Monitoring
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science Committee on Academic Standing determines academic policies and regulations for the School except in certain instances when decisions are made by the faculty as a whole. The Committee on Academic Standing is expected to uphold the policies and regulations of the Committee on Instruction and determine when circumstances warrant exceptions to them.
The Office of Graduate Student Services will monitor the academic progress of graduate students in consultation with the departments.
Academic performance is reviewed by advisers at the end of each semester. The Committee on Academic Standing, in consultation with the departments, meets to review undergraduate grades and progress toward the degree. Indicators of academic well-being are grades that average above 2.0 each term, in a coordinated program of study, with no incomplete grades.
Possible academic sanctions include:
- Warning: C- or below in any core science course; low points toward degree completion
- Academic Probation: Students will be placed on academic probation if they
- fall below a 2.0 GPA in a given semester
- have not completed 12 points successfully in a given semester
- are a first-year student and have not completed chemistry, physics, University Writing, Gateway Lab, and calculus during the first year
- receive a D, F, UW, or unauthorized Incomplete in any first-year/sophomore required courses
- receive a D, F, UW or unauthorized Incomplete in any course required for the major
- receive straight C’s in the core science courses (chemistry, calculus, physics)
- Continued Probation: Students who are already on probation and fail to meet the minimum requirements as stated in their sanction letter
- Strict Probation: Students who are already on probation and are far below minimum expectations; this action is typically made when there are signs of severe academic difficulty
- Dismissal: Students who have a history of not meeting minimum requirements will be dismissed from The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Medical Leave of Absence
A medical leave of absence for an undergraduate student is granted by the Committee on Academic Standing to a student whose health prevents him or her from successfully pursuing full-time study. Undergraduates who take a medical leave of absence are guaranteed housing upon their return. A medical leave of absence for a graduate student is granted by the Office of Graduate Student Services. Documentation from a physician or counselor must be provided before such a leave is granted. In order to apply for readmission following a medical leave, a student must submit proof of recovery from a physician or counselor. A medical leave is for a minimum of one year and cannot be longer than two years. If the student does not return within the two-year time frame, they will be permanently withdrawn from the School. During the course of the leave, students are not permitted to take any courses for the purpose of transferring credit and are not permitted to be on the campus. For the complete policy, consult your advising dean.back to top
Voluntary Leave of Absence
A voluntary leave of absence may be granted by the Committee on Academic Standing to undergraduate students who request a temporary withdrawal from The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science for a non-medical reason. Students considering a voluntary leave must discuss this option in advance with their advising dean. Voluntary leaves are granted for a period of one calendar year only; VLOAs will not be granted for one semester, or for more than one year. Students must be in good academic standing at the time of the leave, and must be able to complete their major and degree in eight semesters. Students may not take courses for transferable credit while on leave. Finally, students who choose to take voluntary leaves are not guaranteed housing upon return to the University. International students should contact the International Students and Scholars Office to ensure that a leave will not jeopardize their ability to return to SEAS.back to top
Leave for Military Duty
Any student who is a member of the National Guard or other reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or of the state-organized militia and is called or ordered to active duty will be granted a military leave of absence for the period of active duty and for one year thereafter. Upon return from military leave of absence, the student will be restored to the educational status attained prior to being called or ordered to such duty without loss of academic credits earned, scholarships or grants awarded, or tuition or other fees paid prior to the commencement of active duty. The University will credit any tuition or fees paid for the period of the military leave of absence to the next enrollment period or will refund the tuition and fees paid to the student, at the student’s option. Students returning from military duty are guaranteed housing.
Students in need of a military leave of absence should contact the Dean of Students for their school.
back to topInvoluntary Leave of Absence Policy
The Dean of Students or his/her designee may place a student on an
involuntary leave of absence for reasons of personal or community
safety. This process will be undertaken only in extraordinary
circumstances when there is compelling information to suggest that the
student is engaging in or is at heightened risk of engaging in behavior
that could lead to serious injury to others, including as a result of
physical or psychological illness. In addition, the involuntary leave
process may be initiated if, based on an individualized assessment from
Counseling and Psychological Services or other University personnel, it
is determined that there is a significant risk that the student will
harm him/herself, and that the risk cannot be eliminated or reduced to
an acceptable level through reasonable and realistic accommodations
and/or on-campus supports.
This policy will not be used in lieu of disciplinary actions to address
violations of Columbia University rules, regulations, or policies. A
student who has engaged in behavior that may violate rules,
regulations, or policies of the University community may be subject to
the Dean’s Discipline Process of his/her particular school. A student
may be required to participate in the disciplinary process for his/her
school coincident with placing the student while on an involuntary
leave of absence. A student who is placed on an involuntary leave of
absence while on academic and/or disciplinary status will return on
that same status.
Before an involuntary leave is considered, efforts may be made to
encourage the student to take a voluntary medical leave of absence.
These procedures are described in the Medical Leave of Absence Policy
on page 230. A readmission process may still be required of a student
electing a voluntary medical leave to determine his/her readiness to
return to school. A student will not be deemed ready to return to
school if returning may increase the risk of self-harm and/or harm to
others.
International students are advised that an involuntary leave of absence
will likely affect their student visa status and should consult with
the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO).
When safety is an immediate concern, the Dean of Students or his/her
designee may remove a student from the campus pending final decision on
an involuntary leave. If this action is deemed necessary, the student
will be given notice of the removal. An opportunity to be heard by the
Dean of Students and, if desired, appeal the final decision will be
provided at a later time.
For the complete policy and guidelines, consult your advising dean in the Center for Student Advising.
back to topRequired Medical Leave for Students with Eating Disorders
With eating disorders, a medical leave is sometimes necessary to protect the safety of a student. Usually this is because the student’s illness is advanced enough to require hospitalization or intensive day treatment beyond the scope of University medical and psychological resources. A medical leave is also sometimes deemed necessary when an individual student’s eating disorder has negatively impacted the integrity of the University’s learning environment.
Before an involuntary medical leave is considered, efforts will be made to encourage the student to take a voluntary medical leave, thus preserving, to the extent possible, confidentiality and privacy. The policy will be invoked only in extraordinary circumstances, when a student is unable or unwilling to request a voluntary medical leave of absence.
For the complete policy and guidelines, consult your advising dean in the Center for Student Advising.
Readmission
Students seeking readmission to The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science must submit evidence that they have achieved the purposes for which they left. Consequently, specific readmission procedures are determined by the reasons for the withdrawal. Further information for undergraduate students is available in the Center for Student Advising. Graduate students should see the Office of Graduate Student Services.
Students applying for readmission should complete all parts of the appropriate readmission procedures by June 1 for the autumn term or October 1 for the spring term.
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