A student may be academically dismissed whenever any one of the following conditions is met:

1. Failure in 50 percent or more credit hours for which the student is enrolled in any term.
2. The student's dean’s office determines that academic performance at the end of a probationary term does not warrant the student's continuation.
3. A student's cumulative grade point average (CGPA) falls below the minimum level indicated below.

Students who are dismissed from the University for academic reasons, but believe there are extenuating circumstances that warrants consideration may appeal the dismissal in writing to their dean's office.

Students who have been dismissed for academic reasons may apply for readmission subject to the following:

Any student who is dismissed for academic reasons will not be readmitted to Ferris for at least one term (excluding summer term). After that time period a student may re-apply online from our web site.

All degree candidates are required to file a formal application for graduation at their dean's office no later than mid-point of the term prior to the anticipated term of graduation. Failure to meet the deadline may necessitate your graduation being delayed until the next graduation period. To be eligible for graduation you must have at least a 2.00 (C) cumulative grade point average, and meet the course and credit requirements for the selected academic program as well as the University's general education requirements.

To fulfill the residency requirement a student must earn a minimum of 30 semester credit hours from the University for a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 15 semester credit hours from the University for an associate degree. The University expects that these hours are the final credits earned for the degree.

It is expected that a maximum of one-half of the total hours required for completion of the degree at the University may be transferred from non-bachelor degree granting institutions. An exception is made for institutions which have articulation agreements with the University. In this case, additional lower division courses which are required for a bachelor’s degree from the University may be transferred. The dean’s office of the appropriate University college should be consulted for specific requirements.

To be eligible for academic honors, a student must have a minimum 3.25 GPA. Transfer students with 30 or more FSU credits are eligible for graduation with honors but only the Ferris credits and grades are used to determine honors. The designations for graduation with honors are: 3.9 - 4.00 summa cum laude; 3.75 - 3.89 magna cum laude; 3.5 - 3.74 cum laude. Honors designations/notations are included on a student’s diploma and academic transcript.

The minimum requirements for full time students each term are: 3.5 GPA and completion of twelve FSU credit hours or more of graded course work at the 100 level or higher. The minimum requirements for part time students each term are: 3.5 term GPA with completion of at least twelve accumulated FSU credit hours of graded course work at the 100 level or higher and a 3.3 cumulative GPA.

A copy of your official academic record (transcript) may be obtained by going on line to MyFSU, enter your personal information, select ‘My Academics’ and ‘Records Office ’. Then select ‘Request a Transcript ’ to view your options.

Those students who know their MyFSU User Name or Password can go to Quick Links and select Transcript Request to request a transcript. or come to the Timme Center for Student Services. Free unofficial transcript service is available through “MyFSU” or by coming to the Timme Center for Student Services with picture ID. The charge for official transcript copies can be found on the instruction pages. Official transcripts issued directly to the student or mailed to the student are noted "student copy", and may not be considered official by other agencies. Transcript requests will be denied if you owe money to the University. All transcripts sent to FSU from secondary, post secondary, etc., institutions become the property of Ferris State University.

As a vetern, or family member of a veteran, you may be eligible for unique services the Unversity provides specifically to our past and present service members. Many of these points of contact or assistance based organizations can be accessed online.

If you are eligible to receive veteran benefits, you are required to turn in a Request for Certification each term, including summer, to the Veteran Coordinator in the Admissions and Records Office, Timme Center for Student Services, 1201 S. State Street, Big Rapids, MI 49307. Re-certification is required each term for veterans/dependents who are continuing their benefits. If information is not received, your benefits may be discontinued.

Because Ferris State University is a public institution, some of the tuition costs are determined by whether or not the student is a resident of the State of Michigan. The complete residency regulations are provided on Ferris’ homepage by clicking on ‘Future Students’. Students applying to the University who desire further information about residency regulations should direct their questions to the Records Office, Timme Center for Student Services by calling locally 1-231-591-2799, or toll free 1-800-433-7747.

To fulfill the residency requirement for an associate degree, a student must earn a minimum of fifteen term credit hours from Ferris State. To fulfill the residency requirement for a bachelor's degree a student must earn a minimum of thirty term credit hours from Ferris State. The University expects that these hours are the final credits earned for the degree.

It is expected that a maximum of one-half of the total hours required for completion of the degree at Ferris may be transferred from non-bachelor degree granting institutions which have articulation agreements with Ferris. In such a case, additional lower-division courses required for a Ferris bachelor's degree may be transferred.

Approved off-campus degree programs may be exempted from portions of this policy. The appropriate dean's office should be consulted for specific requirements.

An orientation-to-college course (freshman seminar) has proven to increase retention in many of the over 200 institutions nationwide where one is being used. The following policy has been adopted to assist the University in improving its student success and retention:

• All first-time-in-any-college freshmen (FTIAC's) must complete a one-credit FSUS 100, Ferris State University Seminar, requirement. For the purposes of FSUS 100 compliance, “FTIAC” is defined as any freshman who has completed less than 12 credits at another higher education institution, excluding credits earned through dual enrollment, advanced placement, or proficiency testing such as CLEP.
• Students may fulfill the FSUS 100 requirement in a variety of ways. Many students will take a general, one-credit, stand-alone FSUS 100 course open to any Ferris enrollee. Some students who are enrolled in specific programs will take FSUS 100 courses designed especially for them. Other students, who are also enrolled in specific colleges or programs, will meet the FSUS 100 requirement by taking introductory, multi-credit courses in which it is infused.
• Regardless of the specific format of the one-credit requirement, all FTIAC's are required to complete FSUS 100 in their first term at the University.
• All FTIAC's will have their progress toward meeting the FSUS 100 requirement reviewed at the conclusion of their first term. If they have not completed their requirement, these students will have a hold placed on their registration for the next term. In order to have the hold lifted, they will have to enroll in FSUS 100 for the next term.
• All FTIAC's must successfully earn credit for FSUS 100 within their first two terms at Ferris State University.

The following should be retained by instructors for at least one calendar year after the completion of a course:

• Class work used for student evaluation (e.g., Projects, papers, tests) that is not returned to students.
• Grade books (paper or electronic) containing records of how student grades were computed.

At the end of a calendar year, student work not picked up should be destroyed. If a student’s grade is under appeal, the instructor should retain the class work still in the instructor’s possession and the grade book used for that course until the appeal is settled. Discarded student work should be shredded or otherwise altered so that the student’s identity remains anonymous.

In the event of extended absence from the community, faculty members should report the location of the grade book to their department head or dean.

Adjuncts, retirees, and faculty leaving Ferris for other employment should leave their grade books, as well as all other retained student work, with their department head or dean.

Students have one year to appeal a course grade. After one year, grades are not to be changed.

Students receiving an “I” (Incomplete) grade have until the Friday of exam week of the following term (excluding summer term) to complete the necessary work. If the work is not completed, the “I” automatically becomes a “F”, or an otherwise determined default grade, unless the instructor submits a written authorization for a time extension to the Records Office. No time extensions will be given beyond one year after the close of the term in which the “I” was received. An “I” may not be made up after one year and will automatically become an “F”.

Students receiving and “IP” (In Progress) grade must complete all the required work for the course(s) by the close of the term following the end of the last course in the sequence in which the “IP” was received. If the work is not completed, the “IP” automatically becomes a “F”, or in the case of classes taught on a Credit/No Credit basis, a grade of “No Credit” is given, unless the instructor submits a written authorization for a time extension to the Records Office.

All University sponsored functions that involve travel away from campus require that the instructor/advisor/coach, or a person approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, be in attendance and responsible for individuals listed under “Student attending”. Under no circumstances may unlisted individuals participate in the sponsored function. The students in attendance should be excused from classes, but are responsible for all work missed. Students must present a copy of the form to their instructors prior to leaving.

The form, Excusing Students for University Sponsored Functions, should be used when making a request for excusing students participating in University sponsored functions. The form must be completed by the sponsoring faculty member and submitted to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs two weeks prior to travel so that students have adequate time to meet with their instructors. This form must be completed even if the student will not miss classes.

Ferris State University has two policies that must be followed when students withdraw from all classes. The two policies are Ferris State University’s Total Withdrawal Tuition and Housing Refund Policy and Federal Financial Aid Refund Policy mandated by Federal Title IV Regulations. The first policy deals with crediting charges to students’ accounts depending on the point that students withdraw in a term. The latter policy deals with the returning of federal financial aid to the Title IV Programs. An explanation of Tuition Refund Policies both policies follows, in addition to procedures for returning funds to non-federal financial aid programs.

Refunds, or credits to students’ accounts, are made in cases of total withdrawal from the University. A reduction in course load, for example one class is withdrawn, after the 4th day of classes is not a basis for a refund. All tuition and housing charges and financial aid credits are used in calculating student refunds. The number of class days used to determine the percentage point of the semester will vary with each term. Students who are judicially suspended or dismissed will not receive refunds for tuition, fees, housing or dining charges. Click here for more information on Ferris State University’s Tuition and Housing Refund Policy.