Undergraduate Student Success Suspension Information
"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." -- C. S. Lewis.
You didn’t start at the University of Houston with the intention of being placed on Academic Suspension, and I’m sure you are as concerned about your situation as I am. Let’s make a plan for your return.
Fewer than 5% of students who are suspended return to UH and graduate. We believe that getting you on a path to success right away will improve your chances of successfully completing your degree.
What does Suspension mean?
Many students don’t fully understand the consequences of an Academic Suspension until it happens.
- Academic Suspension means that your term GPA is below 2.00 beyond the previous semester when you were already on Academic Probation.
- A First Suspension requires that you not attend UH for a period of at least one long term (fall or spring). If you were enrolled in courses, those courses have been dropped.
- Inform yourself - you can find the policies on Academic Standing in the UH Undergraduate Catalog.
- If you use financial aid, contact the UH Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to understand the impact of your suspension on your financial aid. In particular, since you are not in good academic standing, you will want to review the FAQs for the the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.
- If you live in UH on-campus housing, please consult your contract and direct any questions about your contract or move-out timing to UH Housing.
- If you are currently on a non-immigrant visa, you will need to contact the International Student and Scholar Success Office (ISSSO) to discuss your options.
The traditional Suspension policy requires you to sit out from school for one long semester and reapply to the university for the following semester. The semester away from UH is designed to allow students to take time to assess what habits or obligations were standing in their way of academic performance.
Do these things to use this period away from UH to your advantage:
- Preview the Undergraduate Student Success Readmission Self-Appraisal that will be required when you apply for Readmission. Thinking about your plans to return NOW will assist your serious and honest self-appraisal of your path and timeline to a degree-granting major so that you can determine whether returning to the university is the best plan for you.
- On a piece of paper or a computer file, carefully list all of the factors that contributed to your academic challenges: Did you have financial concerns? Did you have challenges with living arrangements? Did you struggle to establish good learning habits? Be as honest with yourself as you can! Then brainstorm solutions to each challenge that will allow you to be a successful student.
- Make an appointment with a LAUNCH Academic Coach, who can help you with thinking through your academic challenges and potential solutions so you can create a custom Academic Success Plan to help you succeed when you return.
- Contact your academic advisor now to confirm your plans and timeline so you are prepared.)
- You may choose to take courses at another institution but proceed with caution.
- First, make sure you take only courses on the Academic Map for your intended major so you continue toward your graduation path. (Note that courses taken at out-of-state institutions are not guaranteed to transfer as direct UH course equivalencies.) Confirm courses on the Transfer Equivalency Guide for your intended major.
- And, second, remember that when you submit your official transcripts to UH, your credit will transfer but your external GPA will not. In other words, taking courses elsewhere will neither improve nor hurt your UH GPA.
Do these things when you’re ready to come back:
- Prepare well in advance - pay special attention to the posted deadlines for the semester you intend to return.
- Reapply for readmission by completing the admission application.
- Once you reapply, the admissions office will send you a link to the Undergraduate Student Success Readmission Self-Appraisal.
- Complete the self-appraisal.
- You will be contacted through your UH email to make an appointment with an academic advisor to discuss your path and timeline to a degree-granting major.