Academic Review – Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct (2024)

The Academic Review Process is crucial to student success.

This process is conducted once per term and is designed to help students who may need additional support to meet academic requirements.

Reviewing Student Records

At the end of each term, the Administrative Board reviews the academic records of students who:

Purpose of Academic Review

The academic review process helps students and advisors identify academic challenges early and determine how to address them. As a Harvard College student, remember that you have a robust network of support to turn to when you have an unsatisfactory term. As a community, we respond as quickly as possible to help you get the support you need.

Unsatisfactory Records

Procedures for Review

As soon as you find out that your term record is unsatisfactory, you should contact your Allston-Burr Resident Dean or Resident Dean of First-Year Students to discuss your academic situation – they can help you figure out the next steps to get back on track.

Depending on the path that you and your Resident Dean determine aligns with your goals, you may expect the following:

Your Resident Dean will ask you to provide a statement reflecting on your experience. This is an opportunity to explain any challenges you faced and share your plans for improving your academic work going forward.
Your Resident Dean will prepare and present a docket page (a summary of your academic record and the Dean’s understanding of your circ*mstances) to the Administrative Board.
Your Resident Dean will follow up in writing to share the outcome of the Board’s discussion and next steps. Their message will outline any special instructions or follow-up.

Standard Responses for Unsatisfactory Records

Take No Action and Warn

If you experienced significant challenges during your semester that resulted in your first unsatisfactory record, you may submit documentation for special consideration. If you have especially compelling extenuating circ*mstances, the Administrative Board may decide to take no action and warn you about your academic record instead of placing you on academic probation.

Students are automatically placed on academic probation by the Registrar’s Office if they receive an unsatisfactory term. An academic record will be considered satisfactory, for first-year students in their first term, if all grades are passing, at most one grade is unsatisfactory, and at least one grade is a satisfactory letter grade.

Regardless of the Administrative Board’s decision, your record will remain unsatisfactory. The most important thing is to focus on improving your academic performance going forward. If your record is determined to be unsatisfactory, all of your grades in the upcoming semester need to be satisfactory levels.

Academic Review – Office of Academic Integrity and Student Conduct (2)

Place on Academic Probation

Place on academic probation is the standard response to a first unsatisfactory record, as defined in the Student Handbook. It is automatically applied by the Registrar’s Office.

Probation notifies you that your academic performance gives considerable cause for concern. As soon as you receive your probation notification, it’s important to prioritize your coursework. Probation is an opportunity for you to refocus and get back on track. You’ll need to earn grades at a satisfactory level in order to be removed from academic probation status.
There are many people at Harvard available to provide support and help you improve.Being placed on academic probation means you will receive extra guidance from your Resident Dean and academic advisors. They’ll work closely with you to create a customized plan for improvement and offer structured support.

Purposes of Academic Probation

Timely Support: You and your advisors will be alerted when you are having academic difficulties – you will receive help and learn how to fix any problems impacting your coursework. Because you only have a limited number of terms at the College, we want to ensure that you are successful each term. As a community, we will try to help you quickly so you are aware and can take advantage of resources and supports available to you.
Academic Advising: Being on academic probation means you have additional advising resources available to help ensure your success. This structured guidance is designed to connect you with all the support services needed to get back on track academically. Your Resident Dean will work closely with you to schedule follow-up meetings periodically throughout the year, typically before key deadlines (e.g. course registration, add/drop, withdrawal), Reading Period, and Final Exams.

Duration and Terms of Academic Probation

The Harvard College Student Handbook  reviews the rules and provisions of academic probation, and key information is included below:

Typically, academic probation lasts for a specified term. Once you have received all satisfactory grades for a semester, you are removed from academic probation status (a satisfactory grade is defined as C- or better).
Academic probation does not appear permanently on a your transcript. It is only noted during the term you are on probation.
Eligibility for leadership positions and other opportunities: During the period of probation, you may not be eligible for certain opportunities so you have more time to focus on your courses and get back on track academically. If you are considering one of these opportunities, it is important to review the expectations of whatever opportunity you are considering and being on probation impacts your position or opportunity. If this information is not accessible or readily available to you, please consult with your Resident Dean.

Require to Withdraw

Require to Withdraw is the standard response to a second consecutive unsatisfactory record or for failing to meet the College’s minimum academic requirements, as defined in the Harvard College Student Handbook. A requirement to withdraw reflects the Administrative Board’s judgement that your record indicates that you need time to reassess your academic goals and plans. It is an action designed to maximize your chances of completing your Harvard College degree. The length of time for this requirement is ordinarily two terms, although the Board may stipulate a longer period of time.

Disclosures

Requirement to withdraw is disclosed to parents or guardians because it changes your College status (from “in good standing” or “on academic probation” to “required to withdraw”).
Requirement to withdraw is disclosed to graduate or professional schools under certain circ*mstances if it is for academic reasons.

Goals of the requirement to withdraw

Give students the time and space to address difficulties that have limited their ability to focus on their academic work at the College. Given that each student has only a limited number of terms, the Administrative Board seeks to intervene quickly when challenges arise.
Offers students the opportunity to re-examine and re-evaluate their time at the College. Students in this situation often find that the time of reflection and exploration allows them to return with a more focused and directed approach to their studies.
Students who enter this process benefit from intensive advising support, particularly upon their return to the College, when they return through the academic probation system.

Readmission to the College

Readmission to the College after a requirement to withdraw is not automatic and requires a vote of the full Administrative Board. Once you have met the terms for returning, the College will readily welcome you back and support you in your studies. A list of the requirements for readmission following a required withdrawal is found in the Student Handbook. If you are readmitted after a requirement to withdraw for academic reasons, you will be readmitted on academic probation. If you achieve an unsatisfactory record in the term immediately following readmission, you will ordinarily be required to withdraw a second time.

Students can find themselves with a concerning academic record for many different reasons, whether educational, personal, financial, health-related, family, or other concerns. Once students return to the College, they typically have successful terms and report feeling more engaged in their studies.

Second Requirement to Withdraw

A second requirement to withdraw (whether the result of academic difficulty or a disciplinary matter) is ordinarily final. You must make an extraordinarily strong case in order to be readmitted a second time.

Reconsiderations

If you believe you have sufficient grounds for reconsideration, you should consult with your Resident Dean, the Secretary of the Ad Board, or your Personal Advisor (a faculty member or officer of the University affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences).