Probation

Policy

You can expect to be placed on probation for a semester if you accumulate a certain number of D and/or F grades. See the section on grades for a detailed listing of grade combinations and outcomes. A semester of probation is designed to serve as a "wake-up" call. It is a sign that you are in imminent danger of being withdrawn from Duke for academic reasons.

Students who get poor grades in the fall will be placed on probation in the spring. Students with poor grades in the spring will be placed on probation in the fall. If, for compelling reasons, you petition for and are permitted to withdraw from a course to an underload during your semester of probation, your probationary status will automatically be extended to the next semester. Parent(s)/guardian(s) are notified of probationary status. Probationary information is not placed on your official transcript.

Procedure

If your semester academic record warrants probation you will receive notification from your academic dean. The terms of probation stipulate that you must:

Acknowledge your probation in writing by signing an acknowledgment form. Failure to sign the acknowledgment form by the end of the first week of classes will result in your dismissal for a period of two semesters.
Meet with your academic dean.
Enroll in four and only four full credit (1.0 cc) courses for the semester of probation.
Have your courses approved by your academic dean.
Meet established academic standards to clear probation. At the end of the probationary semester, if you maintain a C (2.0) average or you have no grade lower than a C- for the semester, you will clear probation.

If you fail to clear probation, you will be dismissed from Duke for two semesters. Regardless of probation, you must still meet all continuation requirements.

If placed on probation, you should take the time to review all aspects of your academic and social life and institute changes whereever appropriate that may enhance your academic success in the future. To this end, we urge you to confer with your academic dean, advisor, instructor, a counselor at CAPS, or with a member of the staff of the Academic Resource Center, as appropriate, early in the semester of probation.