Student Success

As an undergraduate student at Christopher Newport University, you are expected to maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 each semester. You must maintain a 2.0 for both your cumulative GPA and your major field of study. You will be placed on academic probation at the end of a semester if your cumulative GPA has fallen below a 2.0. See below for the Minimum Standards for Academic Continuance Chart, also found in the Academic Catalog.

Minimum standards for academic continuance

First semester, first-time freshman minimum GPA:

All other students and semesters:

*Attempted credit hours are those hours for which a grade is earned at CNU (excluding I, M, AU, P or W). Attempted credit hours are cumulative. On the academic transcript, these hours are presented as GPA hours.

• The cumulative GPA is the total number of grade points earned from Christopher Newport courses divided by the total number of credit hours attempted (at Christopher Newport).
• Grade points are used to determine quality points by multiplying the amount of grade points by the amount of credit hours for each course.
• Grade points are determined by the Grading System provided below:

An example of how you calculate your cumulative GPA for the semester or overall:

Calculating Term GPA

• Divide the quality points (30.8) by the number of credit hours (16).
• 30.8/16=1.92 Term GPA

Note: Do not round the results

Calculating Cumulative GPA

If you have been here for more than one semester, add your quality points from the current term to quality points from your other terms and divide by the total credit hours attempted.

Quality points are calculated by multiplying the amount of grade points by the amount of credit hours for each course.

For example, you earned a 30.8 quality points in 16 credits this term, and 45.0 last term in 15 credits.

• 30.8+45.0= 75.8
• Divide that by credit hours attempted (16 + 15 = 31)
• 75.8/31 = 2.44 Cumulative GPA.

For information on calculating your GPA with credits transferred in from another school, please refer to the undergraduate catalog or contact the Center for Student Success for further information.

Once you are placed on academic probation, it will be noted on your web-based grade report and on your permanent academic record. As a student on academic probation, you may not enroll in more than 14 credit hours.

You must contact your academic adviser to adjust your course load for the next semester. If you fail to adjust your credit load during the add/drop period, the registrar will automatically do it for you.

You must complete an Academic Recovery Plan with the Center for Student Success (CSS). CSS will contact you regarding your plan and the mandatory in-person workshop at the start of the semester when you begin probation, as part of your academic recovery journey. The workshop teaches how to develop and execute your personalized plan for success during the upcoming academic term.

Failure to complete an Academic Recovery Plan will result in a Hold being placed on your account and you will not be allowed to enroll for future semesters until you have satisfied this requirement.

To get off of academic probation to good academic standing, a student must improve their cumulative GPA to a 2.0 or higher. Here are a few things to consider when creating a plan of action of getting off academic probation:

Personal Reflection On Past Semester(s)

• What can you do to make the next semester more successful for yourself?
• Did you struggle with time management and organization?
• Was it difficult to take notes or prepare for tests?
• Have you struggled with having a balance between academic and personal life?

Understand And Utilize Campus Resources

• CNU offers a variety of resources available to students that can greatly benefit their academic recovery journey! Here are a couple examples, but if you can also check out our Resource Library which includes our Who Do I Ask About? reference guide.
• The Center for Student Success (CSS) is committed to helping you improve your academic skills by providing things such as tutoring services, writing consultations, and one-on-one success coaching. Are you currently on academic probation? Don’t forget to meet with your adviser so they can help you create an Academic Recovery Plan to get back on track. Want to know more about how CSS can help you? Find out more here or contact us!
• The Office of Counseling Services (OCS) can provide information, resources, and support if you are in need of mental health services. Find out more about what they do here.

Get And Stay Connected

• Office of Orientation & Student Involvement
  Schedule an Engagement Meeting with Orientation and Student Involvement or contact their office at orientation@cnu.edu or (757) 594-7767.
• The Compass
  Interested in getting involved on campus? The Compass provides students with all the organizations and clubs available to them.
• Center for Career Planning
  Schedule a meeting with Center for Career Planning to explore major and career paths or contact their office at ccp@cnu.edu or (757) 594-8887.
• Handshake
  The Center for Career Planning uses Handshake as their method to communicate to students. Handshake provides information and resources on upcoming events, job postings, and more. This is also where students can schedule an appointment to meet with CCP.

Other Options

• There also is the opportunity to take repeat courses. If you took a class that you did not do well in, you can retake the course.
  Note: You may not repeat a course at a community college if it has been attempted at CNU. If you started and completed a course at CNU, you must repeat it at CNU. Course repeats are a great way to drastically improve your GPA and help you get off academic probation.
• One recommendation is to consider taking the two-credit class, The Intentional Learner (COLL 150). This course is a great way to help you discover your role and responsibility in learning, develop good study skills and test taking strategies, create both long and short-term goals, and fully engage in your courses through the discovery of possible major options.

Please refer to the checklists at the bottom of this webpage regarding the process of Academic Recovery Plans and Academic Recovery Agreements.

Athletics expects you to know the information presented above. You will follow the academic probation checklist found at the bottom of the webpage, and then schedule your academic recovery plan meeting with the Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Success Services.

You will be suspended from the university if your cumulative GPA drops below the minimum standard of continuance while on academic probation. See the chart below for the standards for academic continuance. Please note that, as you attempt more credit hours, the range for probation or suspension becomes smaller.

For more information about academic suspension and academic continuance, please refer to the undergraduate catalog.

Minimum standards for academic continuance

First semester, first-time freshman minimum GPA:

All other students and semesters:

*Attempted credit hours are those hours for which a grade is earned at CNU (excluding I, M, AU, P or W). Attempted credit hours are cumulative. On the academic transcript, these hours are presented as GPA hours.

If you are suspended from Christopher Newport University, you may not register for any classes at CNU for one full semester (fall or spring). A notation of academic suspension will be placed on your permanent academic record.

You may take pre-approved classes at another institution for transfer credit at CNU during your time of suspension. You can obtain a list of approved classes by contacting The Transfer Center.

You will be eligible to return to CNU after you have completed one term of suspension. If you are academically suspended and do not return for two or more consecutive terms, you must apply for re-admission prior to creating an Academic Recovery Agreement.

If you would like to return to Christopher Newport after the completion of your term of suspension, you must complete an Academic Recovery Agreement. The Academic Recovery Agreement is both an agreement and action plan that details your credit-hour limit, academic conditions and/or requirements you must meet, and establishes a plan of study for the term you will return to CNU.

For the fall semester, Academic Recovery Agreements should be completed no later than Welcome Week. For the spring semester, Academic Recovery Agreements should be completed no later than the first week of classes.

To begin this process, please refer to the checklists at the bottom of this webpage for Academic Recovery Plans and Academic Recovery Agreements.

Still have questions? Please contact the Center for Student Success at (757) 594-7684 or studentsuccess@cnu.edu.

Other Recommendations For While On Academic Suspension

• COLL 150 The Intentional Learner: If you’ve not already completed College 150, the Center for Student Success recommends you consider taking this course.
• Repeat classes: You can expect to repeat classes in which you have earned a grade of UI, D or F.
• Follow your Academic Recovery Agreement: To avoid dismissal, it is important to follow your Academic Recovery Agreement and earn at least a 2.00 term GPA in a minimum of 12 credit hours by the completion the semester you return, and in subsequent terms until your cumulative GPA is above 2.00.

Failure to achieve a term GPA of 2.00 in a minimum of 12 credit hours or to fulfill the terms of your Academic Recovery Agreement will result in academic dismissal. The notation academic dismissal will be placed on your web-based grade report and permanent academic record.

If you earn a 2.00 term GPA but your cumulative GPA is still below 2.00, you will not be dismissed. However, you will be required to develop and sign a new Academic Recovery Agreement for each semester that you remain on academic probation following your academic suspension.

Students who have been academically dismissed from Christopher Newport may not apply for re-admission for at least five calendar years. Your academic record at CNU will be considered part of the relevant materials for re-admission to the university.

• Adjust your course schedule to reflect 12-14 credit hours. You can find the most up-to-date schedule adjustment dates and times on the Office of the Registrar's website.
• It is recommended for students pursuing academic recovery to take COLL 150 – The Intentional Learner. This two-credit elective course assists students who are struggling with study skills, time management, motivation, and/or balancing the demands of college life. To enroll in this course, you may submit an override request in CNU Live.
• Adjust your schedule to repeat courses in which you received a C- or below. If you are unsure of which classes would be the most beneficial to repeat, meet with your faculty advisor.
• Complete the Sailing to Success modules in Scholar. You will be added to the Scholar shell automatically.
• Attend the Sailing to Success Workshop the Sunday evening before classes begin. This in-person workshop will cover important and practical information that you need to meet your academic goals.
• Meet with your Faculty Advisor during add/drop to discuss your plans for degree completion including completing a semester-by-semester degree map.
• Meet with a Center for Student Success staff member before the third Friday of the semester to review your Academic Recovery Plan, talk about your goals, and then identify potential resources that can support you during the coming semester. Appointments can be scheduled via the Sailing to Success modules in Scholar.

• Adjust your course schedule to reflect 12-14 credit hours. You can find the most up-to-date schedule adjustment dates and times on the Office of the Registrar's website.
• It is recommended for students pursuing academic recovery to take COLL 150 – The Intentional Learner. This two-credit elective course assists students who are struggling with study skills, time management, motivation, and/or balancing the demands of college life. To enroll in this course, you may submit an override request in CNU Live.
• Adjust your schedule to repeat courses in which you received a C- or below. Repeating courses is the quickest way to raise your GPA and get to good academic standing.
• Complete the Sailing to Success modules in Scholar. You will automatically be added to the Scholar shell.
• Attend the Sailing to Success Workshop the Sunday evening before classes start. This in-person mandatory workshop will review important and practical information you need to meet your academic goals.
• Meet with your Faculty Advisor in during add/drop to discuss your plans for degree completion. It is recommended that you work with your Faculty Advisor to complete a degree plan to include courses you need to take each semester to complete your degree.
• Meet with a Center for Student Success staff member before the third Friday of the semester to sign your Academic Recovery Agreement, talk about your goals and then identify potential resources that can support you during the coming semester. Appointments can be scheduled via the Sailing to Success modules in Scholar.