Our goal is for all students admitted to the Orfalea College of Business to graduate in a timely manner. Based on students' qualifications at admissions, we are confident that with diligent effort and proper setting of priorities students will successfully graduate in a timely manner.
We can help you find support
We realize that there are many factors that affect students' progress at Cal Poly including part-time employment, financial pressures, social pressures, emotional issues and issues related to drugs and alcohol. If students are having academic difficulty and any of the above issues are a problem, we would like to provide the appropriate support. For example, if a student was admitted with excellent credentials (3.8 GPA and a 1250 SAT) but is now struggling to complete and pass courses because he/she is using drugs and alcohol, we can provide appropriate referrals to the drug and alcohol counselor at the Cal Poly counseling services office.
Do you need to evaluate your priorities?
Some students need to evaluate their personal and academic situation and make the necessary changes to insure their academic success. Students who are not ready to continue at Cal Poly should take a leave and return when they are determined to be successful.
What if I am on Academic Probation one quarter?
If a student is on academic probation (generally defined as term GPA or Cal Poly cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 in a particular quarter-see definition in catalog at http://www.calpoly.edu/~acadprog/) they will receive a letter that requires a mild amount of intervention including:
- Information sheet that the student completes and returns to the advising center where the student explains the source of the unexpected academic difficulty with attached documentation where appropriate,
- Attend at least one academic skills center session,
- Suggested appointment with an academic advisor, and
- A GPA for the current quarter of at least 2.0 or 2.25 depending on the student's Cal Poly cumulative GPA.
What if I am on Academic Probation for two or three quarters?
If a student's academic probation persists (generally defined as academic probation of two or three quarters) to a point where the probability of successful completion of their degree is in doubt, more significant steps are taken to find the cause of the unexpected deficiency. These students will receive a letter that requires intervention including:
- An initial meeting with an Orfalea College of Business academic advisor to determine the cause of the deficiency and to provide a referral to other campus services such as counseling services or academic skills center services if necessary,
- Information sheet that the student completes and returns to the advising center where the student explains the source of the unexpected academic difficulty with attached documentation where appropriate,
- Attend at least one academic skills center session,
- Meeting with one of the student's professors and completion of Academic Success form,
- Follow-up appointment mid-quarter with academic advisor,
- A GPA for the current quarter of at least 2.0 or 2.25 depending on the student's Cal Poly cumulative GPA.
What if my Academic Probation lingers?
If after two or three quarters on academic probation the students academic difficulty continues, it may be necessary for the student to leave Cal Poly and return after they are able to provide additional academic evidence of their ability to succeed at Cal Poly. Many students view academic disqualification as "being kicked out of Cal Poly." We view academic disqualification as the need for the student to provide additional evidence that they are willing and able to complete their degree at Cal Poly in a timely manner. A student that provides this evidence will be re-admitted to Cal Poly as a former student and does not have to compete with other applications for admission similar to regular transfer student applicants.
The specific evidence that is required is shown on the attached document "Requirements for Disqualified Student to Return to Cal Poly." The general requirement (see the above document for the specific requirements) is that a student must return to another college (usually community college) to complete 33-quarter units or 22-semester units of degree applicable courses with a GPA of 3.0. and complete all of the lower division general education, major and support courses. The student would be eligible to return to Cal Poly one year after disqualification.
A student can return to Cal Poly sooner than one year if they complete 16-quarter units or 12-semester units of degree applicable courses with a GPA of 3.5. Students that have completed all of their lower division work should be especially careful of the level of academic difficulty because they will have to return to a four-year college, which generally requires geographic relocation. The guidelines to evaluate students having academic difficulty are consistently applied. Extenuating circumstances are taken into consideration where appropriate.
