Academic Standing and Appeals
Academic standing is determined by a student’s CSULB GPA and Overall GPA and is noted on the transcript after the fall and spring semesters. Academic standing notations include Good Standing, Academic Warning, Cleared Academic Warning, Continued with Academic Warning, and Disqualification. Please refer to the University Catalog for more information.
An academic appeal may be made when unusual circumstances occur and the student must request an exception to academic policy.
The information below gives you more information on both understanding academic standing and the academic appeals process.
Academic Standing, Academic Warning, and Disqualification:
To be in good academic standing, undergraduate students are expected to maintain at least a 2.00 GPA in each of the following areas:
- All coursework completed at CSULB (referred to as the CSULB GPA and noted on transcript as “Cum GPA”)
- All transferable college coursework plus all coursework completed at CSULB (referred to as the Overall GPA and noted on transcript as “Combined Cum GPA”)
To be in good academic standing, graduate students are expected to maintain at least a 3.00 GPA on all courses applicable to the degree.
As of Fall 2022, "Academic Probation" is noted as Academic Warning.
An Academic Warning (formerly known as "Academic Probation") is a serious warning that a student's academic performance is below the minimum requirement for good academic standing and for graduation.
An Academic Warning applies when:
- An Undergraduate's CSULB and/or Overall GPA falls below 2.00 at the end of any Fall or Spring term.
- A Graduate's CSULB and/or Overall GPA falls below 3.00 at the end of any Fall or Spring term.
- Other post-baccalaureates' CSULB and/or Overall GPA falls below 2.50 at the end of any Fall or Spring term.
Strategies for Academic Success
Undergraduate students with an Academic Warning are strongly encouraged to attend the Strategies for Academic Success program. The program offers workshops with information about University policies and procedures, the reasons why students may encounter academic problems and the assistance available to support students’ academic success.
For more information or to sign up for a workshop, please contact the University Center for Undergraduate Advising.
Academic Disqualification is dismissal from CSULB.
Undergraduate students with an Academic Warning are subject to academic disqualification when:
- As first-year students (fewer than 30 units completed), the CSULB and/or Overall Grade Point Average falls below 1.5
- As sophomores (30-59 units completed), the CSULB and/or Overall Grade Point Average falls below 1.7
- As juniors (60 to 89 units completed), the CSULB and/or Overall Grade Point Average falls below 1.85
- As seniors (90 or more units completed), their CSULB and/or Overall Grade Point Average falls below 1.95
- At any time, a student with an Academic Warning for more than two consecutive semesters (i.e., the CSULB and/or Overall GPA remains below 2.00 for two consecutive semesters)
Graduate and post-baccalaureate students are subject to disqualification if they fail to earn grades of sufficient quality to remove themselves from 'Academic Warning' status. Disqualification will bar such students from any further enrollment at CSULB.
Please refer to the University Catalog for information regarding Administrative Academic Disqualification.
Immediately after disqualification, students can submit an Appeal of Disqualification to the Academic Appeals Committee. Please note the deadline to submit an Appeal of Disqualification is within days of being notified of disqualification.
The appeal should include:
- Evidence of significant academic progress
- Documentation of extenuating circumstances that led to weak academic performance
- Tangible changes which will be made to lead to future academic success
- Any participation in intervention programs offered through the University Center for Undergraduate Advising should also be included in the appeal
Additional information about the Appeal of Disqualification can be found at the University Center for Undergraduate Advising. An approved Appeal of Disqualification will result in one additional term with an Academic Warning.
Students who are disqualified may return to the University if they are approved for reinstatement. Students may apply for reinstatement once they have been out of attendance for at least one Fall or Spring term, have demonstrated an ability to succeed academically and have met the following minimum criteria:
- Demonstrate degree progress by satisfying all Major Specific Declaration Requirements, including minimum GPA
- Reduce the grade point deficiency at the time of disqualification by at least one-half. This can be achieved by earning A and/or B grades in transferable academic courses acceptable for degree credit at CSULB’s College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) or at an accredited college or university
- Demonstrate an ability to complete degree requirements within established University policies, including repetition of courses, Academic Progress Rules and Timely Graduation
Meeting minimum criteria does not guarantee Reinstatement. Students who are disqualified are strongly encouraged to attend a Reinstatement Workshop offered by the University Center for Undergraduate Advising.
Students who have a considerable CSULB grade point deficiency are strongly encouraged to address the deficiency by taking courses through the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE), which count towards both the CSULB and Overall GPAs. Grades earned at another accredited college or university will not reduce your CSULB grade point deficiency but they will serve as indicators of academic ability and count towards your Overall GPA.
Students who are disqualified have the following enrollment limitations through the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE):
- Fall and Spring terms: two courses, no more than seven total units
- Summer Session: two courses, no more than seven total units
- Winter Session: four units
Note: 24 College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) units may count towards a CSULB degree.
If a CSULB course with a D, F or WU grade is repeated through the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) and a C grade or better is earned in the second attempt, the grade earned in the first attempt will be removed from the CSULB and Overall GPA. If less than a C grade is earned in the second attempt, both grades will be included in the CSULB and Overall GPA.
CSULB courses with a D, F or WU grade which are successfully repeated at another college or university are not removed from the CSULB or Overall GPA. However, any grade earned in the second attempt will be used as an indicator of academic ability and will factor into your Overall GPA.
Please also review the limits on repeating classes.
To apply for Reinstatement, the following must be submitted to the Academic Appeals Committee by the requested reinstatement term’s application deadline:
- Cal State Apply Application
- Reinstatement Petition (DocuSign)
- Official transcripts for allwork completed and in progress since disqualification.
Electronic copies of official transcripts may be sent directly from your college or university to ES-IDPTrans@csulb.edu or mailed to:
ATTN: Enrollment Services
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd.,Brotman Hall 101
Long Beach, CA 90840
Official transcripts cannot be forwarded by the student.
Note: Transcripts for enrollment through CSULB’s College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) do not need to be submitted.
- For Reinstatement Application Deadlines - Please refer to the Application Calendar.
- For more information regarding Reinstatement, please see the University Catalog, visit the University Center for Undergraduate Advising or call Enrollment Services at 562.985.5471.
Undergraduate Academic Appeals
Under certain circumstances, you may appeal for an exception to academic policy. An exception will be considered only in cases of demonstrated need and documented circumstances which support the potential for your future academic success. Appeals are submitted online and are reviewed by the Academic Appeals Committee. Allow approximately 4 to 5 weeks for the committee to review your request and email you a decision.
The requirements depend on the exception you are requesting. Please review the requirements and instructions below:
To appeal for a CSULB course that you have completed to count toward your General Education requirements, you will need:
- The name of the General Education category (for example, Critical Thinking GE Category A3).
- The course department, number, title, term, units, and grade you received.
- A personal statement that includes any/all specific circumstances that support your request. Include details such as courses, semesters, dates, and/or names of people you have previously consulted.
- Any additional documentation that supports your request, which may include a statement of support from your advisor.
As a reminder, an exception will be considered only in cases of demonstrated need and documented circumstances which support the potential for your future academic success.
Submit a GE Course Substitution Appeal
If you believe that a transfer course on your record should count toward your General Education requirements, you may submit an appeal. You cannot submit an appeal until the transfer credit is official and has posted to your record.
If you are planning to attend another school to earn credit while currently enrolled at CSULB, you should submit a Request for Evaluation of Course Work from Another Institution before enrolling elsewhere.
To appeal for a course that you completed at another institution to count toward your General Education requirements, you will need:
- The name of the General Education category (for example, Critical Thinking GE Category A3).
- The course department, number, title, term, units, and grade you received.
- The name and email address for the department chair of the department at CSULB that matches the transfer course department at the other institution. Visit Undergraduate Advising Resources to find the department chair's name and email.
- The syllabus for the transfer course. (If this is not available, you may submit the course description from the institution's catalog.)
- A personal statement that includes any/all specific circumstances that support your request. Include details such as courses, semesters, dates, and/or names of people you have previously consulted.
- Any additional documentation that supports your request, which may include a statement of support from your advisor.
As a reminder, an exception will be considered only in cases of demonstrated need and documented circumstances which support the potential for your future academic success.
Submit a Transfer GE Course Substitution Appeal
To appeal for one of your General Education requirements to be waived, you will need:
- The name of the General Education category (for example, Critical Thinking GE Category A3).
- A personal statement that includes any/all specific circumstances that support your request. Include details such as courses, semesters, dates, and/or names of people you have previously consulted.
- Any additional documentation that supports your request.
As a reminder, an exception will be considered only in cases of demonstrated need and documented circumstances which support the potential for your future academic success.
Submit CSULB GE Requirement Waiver Appeal
You may withdraw from a maximum of 18 units throughout your entire CSULB undergraduate career. Once the limit is reached, you can no longer withdraw and must remain enrolled. To appeal to exceed the maximum number of units that you may withdraw from, you will need:
- The course department, number, title, and units for the class(es) you are requesting to withdraw from.
- A personal statement that includes any/all specific circumstances that support your request. Include details such as courses, semesters, dates, and/or names of people you have previously consulted.
- Any additional documentation that supports your request, which may include a statement of support from your advisor.
Refer to Key Dates and Deadlines for the deadline to withdraw from one or more classes for the semester. After the deadline, students are not allowed to withdraw from any classes except in cases such as an accident or serious illness where the circumstances are clearly beyond the student's control and Incompletes are not possible. This is considered a Catastrophic Withdrawal. For more information about withdrawing, see Dropping and Withdrawing.
As a reminder, an exception will be considered only in cases of demonstrated need and documented circumstances which support the potential for your future academic success.
Submit Withdrawals Limit Appeal
Undergraduate students with extenuating circumstances who wish to attempt a course for a third time or repeat a course for audit must submit request a Repeat Limit Exception through MyCSULB Student Center.
If you have reached the maximum number of units that you may repeat during your CSULB undergraduate career (28 units), you will not be allowed to repeat any additional courses. To appeal to exceed the maximum number of units that you may repeat, you will need:
- The course department, number, title, units, and term you plan to enroll in the course.
- A personal statement that includes any/all specific circumstances that support your request. Include details such as courses, semesters, dates, and/or names of people you have previously consulted.
- Any additional documentation that supports your request, which may include a statement of support from your advisor.
As a reminder, an exception will be considered only in cases of demonstrated need and documented circumstances which support the potential for your future academic success.
Submit Repeating Courses Limit Appeal
If you are requesting an exception to your General Education requirements, you must submit the appropriate GE Course appeal as described above. Additionally, please note that course substitutions within your major requirements are managed by the department, so do not complete this appeal. Instead, for course substitutions within your major requirements, you should consult your major advisor. In all cases, academic regulations contained in Title 5 of the California Administrative Code cannot be waived.
To appeal for an exception to graduation requirements (not related to General Education or major requirements), you will need:
- A personal statement that includes any/all specific circumstances that support your request. Include details such as courses, semesters, dates, and/or names of people you have previously consulted.
- Any additional documentation that supports your request, which may include a statement of support from your advisor.
As a reminder, an exception will be considered only in cases of demonstrated need and documented circumstances which support the potential for your future academic success.
Submit Graduation Requirements Appeal
To permit graduation from CSULB, an undergraduate student may petition to have all the grades and units received during one or two semesters (or up to three quarter terms) of undergraduate work disregarded in the computation of grade point averages and academic standing (see Policy Statement 09-08).
Note: No student may use academic renewal to raise any grade point average above what is required to graduate.
Eligibility
To be eligible to appeal for academic renewal:
- At least five calendar years must have passed since the work in question was completed.
- The student must have subsequently completed at least:
- 15 semester units with at least a 3.0 GPA, or
- 30 semester units with at least a 2.5 GPA, or
- 45 semester units with at least a 2.0 GPA
- All graduation requirements other than one or more GPA requirements be complete or in progress at the time of the appeal.
Appeal Process
To appeal for academic renewal, you will need:
- A personal statement that includes any/all specific circumstances that support your request. Include details such as courses, semesters, dates, and/or names of people you have previously consulted. Provide evidence that it would be necessary to complete additional units to graduate if the request is not approved.
- Any additional documentation that supports your request, which may include a statement of support from your advisor.
Submit Academic Renewal Appeal
All requests to change the grading option for a class must be completed (including approvals) by the deadline for the semester (see Key Dates and Deadlines). To appeal to change your grading option for a class after the deadline, you will need:
- A personal statement that includes any/all specific circumstances that support your request. Include details such as courses, semesters, dates, and/or names of people you have previously consulted.
- Any additional documentation that supports your request, which may include a statement of support from your advisor.
Under no circumstances can a grading option be changed after the last day of classes for the term.
As a reminder, an exception will be considered only in cases of demonstrated need and documented circumstances.
Submit Grading Option Change Appeal
The following actions are covered under other procedures:
- For change of grade, contact your course instructor.
- For a grade appeal, refer to the Grade Appeal Policy.
- If your request is related to requirements for your major, contact your academic advisor.
- If your request is to repeat a course more than once or repeat a course for audit, submit your request for a Repeat Limit Exception in MyCSULB Student Center.
- If your request is to exceed the maximum number of units for a term, submit your request for a Maximum Unit Exception in MyCSULB Student Center.
- If you are applying for reinstatement, complete a Reinstatement Petition (see Readmission for instructions).
If you have any questions about exceptions to academic policy not described above, email ES-Registration@csulb.edu.
