Appealing Suspension/Dismissal

Read the following information carefully:

A student at Northern Michigan University is academically removed from attendance in one of three ways: 1) a new freshman or transfer student who earns less than a 1.00 Grade Point Average(GPA) in their first semester of enrollment (eight credits or more) is academically suspended; 2) a student on academic or freshman probation who does not meet specific GPA requirements is academically suspended; or 3) a student who returns to NMU after being academically suspended previously, and fails to meet specific GPA requirements, is academically dismissed.

For further information regarding probation and GPA requirements, visit the Academic Proficiency and Probation page of our website, or consult the respective academic or freshman probation agreement students were asked to sign when placed on probation.

Note: Typically, all state-funded colleges and universities honor the terms of academic suspensions and dismissals; a student suspended or dismissed from one Michigan four-year institution will usually not be allowed to enroll at another Michigan four-year institution.

Due to your suspension/dismissal you have been dropped from any courses for which you were pre-registered.

If you feel that an error has been made in recording the grade for one or more of your classes, you should contact the instructor(s) directly to pursue any appropriate grade change(s) or the Records Office at (906) 227-2278.  Unless there is an error, your suspension/dismissal remains in effect.

Length of Suspensions and Dismissals

• Academic Suspension – A student is academically suspended for one calendar year. After one calendar year, the student may, after completing the appropriate re-entry procedure, re-enroll at NMU. If a student feels they have extenuating circumstances (e.g., illness) that may have affected their ability to achieve a required GPA, the student has the option to appeal the length of the suspension and may return earlier than one calendar year, if the appeal is granted.
• Academic Dismissal – A student that is academically dismissed is indefinitely removed from NMU and may not appeal their dismissal for one calendar year. The student can only  re-enter NMU after being granted an appeal.

Appeal Procedures

Students may appeal the length of an academic suspension to be allowed to re-enter earlier than one calendar year and may, after one calendar year, appeal to return to NMU after being dismissed.  Appeals for students that were suspended after being on freshman probation are heard by the Freshman Probation Program Directors.  Appeals for students suspended or dismissed after being on academic probation are heard by the Admissions and Academic Policies Committee (AAPC) of the Academic Senate.  In both cases, the decision of the appeal body is final. To file an appeal, students must:

• Fully complete all sections of the Academic Suspension/Dismissal Appeal form; a paper copy is available upon request. Incomplete appeals, including those lacking appropriate documentation, will not be considered.
• Include extenuating circumstances leading to the suspension/dismissal, detailing how the problem has been resolved;.
• Include any  supporting documentation, letters of support, transcripts of coursework completed elsewhere since leaving NMU. etc.
• File a re-entry application with the Admissions Office.

Appeal Form-rtf

Send, mail, e-mail or deliver the completed form and any supporting documentation to:

Academic Proficiency Officer
Northern Michigan University
Academic and Career Advisement Center
1401 Presque Isle
Marquette, MI  49855
acac@nmu.edu
phone:  906.227.2971
fax:  906.227.1751

For questions or further information, please feel free to contact our office.

Appeal Deadlines and Meetings - No appeals submitted after the established deadlines will be considered.

NOTE:  The AAPC conducts regularly-scheduled meetings throughout the fall and winter semesters.  Appeals submitted, therefore, during the academic year may be reviewed at one of the regular meetings instead of being heard as listed below.

*A student suspended in August (at the end of the summer session) may not be able to meet the appeal deadline for the fall semester as outlined above.

Important Financial Aid  Information

A student’s financial aid eligibility at NMU, at the time they are suspended or dismissed, is immediately voided. To have eligibility restored, a student must either:

• Successfully appeal to return early from a suspension or from a dismissal, eligibility will be restored without the student filing an appeal with the Financial Aid Office,
• After waiting one calendar year to return from a suspension, file an appeal with the Financial Aid Office, and have the appeal granted.