OUR ADVISORS

Academic Policies and Procedures

Academic Standing

All graduate students must maintain at minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0. If a student's cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0, that student is then placed on Academic Probation. Once you are on Academic Probation, you will be given 12 credits to bring the cumulative GPA back up to a 3.0. During this time, you must also get at least B's in those 12 credits. If after this probationary period the cumulative GPA is still below a 3.0, the student will be academically dismissed from the program and will no longer be able to take classes. ABS and INC grades are NOT PERMITTED while a student is on probation.

Appeals Information

Graduate students who wish to appeal decisions relating to the academic standing and scholastic requirements of their program may do so by submitting an appeal to the School of Public Affairs' Committee on Academic Standing. The appeals form must be filled out and the student must write up the appeal explaining the situation and all the factors in the case (maximum of 300 words). Supporting documentation can be very helpful. If for example, a student never fully withdrew from a class due to an illness, and has now received an F for that class, the student can appeal to be retroactively withdrawn from that class on the basis of the illness. In this case, the student must provide documentation from the doctor, and/or hospital reports. Appeals are also reviewed for grade petitions, re-entry into the program after extended leave, reinstatement into the program, or a variety of other requests. Completed appeal applications can either be brought in person to the Office of Graduate Admissions & Student Services (GASS) or sent to:

The School of Public Affairs
Attn: Academic Appeals
1 Bernard Baruch Way
Box D-0901
New York, NY 10010

Download the Appeals Form here

Pass/No Credit Option

Students can use a Pass/No Credit (P/NC) option ONCE during their entire length of study. The grade of P or NC is not computed in the students GPA. Therefore, if a student receives a C, it is a Passing grade and the student will receive credit for the course, but the C will not count in the GPA. Similarly, if you receive an A for the course, only a P would be reflected on the transcript and the A would not count in the GPA.

You cannot change your mind after you sign up for the P/NC option. Students who began their programs on or after Fall 2002, can only use the P/NC option for elective courses. The instructor of the course that you choose to take with the P/NC option is not informed of your decision. If you take a class with the P/NC option and you do not pass, your transcript will reflect an NC grade instead of an F. If it is an elective course, the student can either re-take the same course or another in its place, but this time a conventional grade would be assigned (you cannot use the P/NC option again).

Students interested must apply for this option at the Registrar's Office no later than the third week of the semester (check the Schedule of Classes for that semester for specific deadlines).