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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the evaluation process used to determine Academic Dismissal?

Your record is reviewed for Academic dismissal at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters however, you can only be Academically Dismissed at the end of the SPRING semester. Your credits are compared to your cumulative grade point average. At the end of the SPRING semester you will be Academically dismissed if:

  • You have between 30-59 (attempted + transfer + proficiency) credits and your cumulative GPA is lower than 1.75.

  • You have between 60-89 (attempted + transfer + proficiency) credits and your cumulative GPA is lower than 1.90.

  • You have 90 and above (attempted + transfer + proficiency) credits and your cumulative GPA is lower than 2.00.



(At the end of the Fall semester you will be placed on Academic Probation using the above criteria)

***You cannot be Academically Dismissed at the end of your first semester at RIC. Instead you would be placed on Academic Probation

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I think I am going to get academically dismissed. How will I be notified?

At the end of the Spring semester, if you are academically dismissed you will receive a letter in late May or early June. The letter will be from the Director of Records. You will be told what your cumulative GPA was and the cumulative GPA you needed to have to avoid dismissal. You will be informed of the consequences of being academically dismissed and provided directions for future academic opportunities.

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I have been Academically Dismissed from school, what does that really mean?

The consequences of being Academically dismissed from the college are significant. Your status at the college changed from being a Undergraduate Degree student to a Undergraduate Non-Degree student. Any classes you may have pre-registered for Summer Session II and or the Fall semester will be dropped. You will have a printable notation of your transcript that will state you were "Academically Dismissed from Degree Program". Opportunities to receive financial aid will be severely limited. You will not be allowed to participate on athletic teams. You be the last group to register for courses.

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I think my grades are just going to be okay at the end of the semester. Is something going to happen to me?

At the end of the Fall and Spring semesters, your grades will be evaluated. Depending upon the number of credits you have attempted as well as your cumulative grade point average, you may find yourself placed on Academic Probation. Academic Probation occurs at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters. Academic Dismissal only occurs at the end of the Spring Semester.

You will be placed on Academic Probation if you fall into the following categories:

  • 0-29 (attempted* + transfer + proficiency) credits and your cumulative GPA is lower than 1.75

  • 30-59 (attempted* + transfer + proficiency) credits and your cumulative GPA is lower than 1.90

  • 60 or more (attempted* + transfer + proficiency) credits and your cumulative GPA is lower than 2.00


*Attempted Credits-Do Not Use the attempted credits total listed on your transcript. They are inflated and inaccurate for the purposes of determining Academic Probation and Academic Dismissal.

To figure out your attempted credits, add up all the courses you took then subtract the courses you received a "W" and "I" as well as any course you may have that has "Original attempt of Class" notation under it.

Once grades are submitted and processed, if you are placed on Academic Probation for not having attained the required cumulative GPA, you will receive a letter from the Records Office. You will also receive a Probation Information Sheet giving you further information on your situation.

Being placed on Academic Probation means you are not allowed to take more than 14 credits for the next period you are enrolled at RIC. (Excluding the Summer). It also means you will be blocked, prevented from the registration period for the following year until you have met with your Advisor. If you have already pre-registered for the following semester (Fall or Spring), you have until the last day to add a class, to adjust your schedule down to 14 or less credits or your respective Dean will adjust your schedule for you.

If you feel there were extenuating circumstances (medical, personal) that contributed to your poor academic performance, you can petition the Academic Standing Committee for an exception to exceed the 14 credit restriction. Petitions can be obtained in the Records Office. On the Academic Standing Committee petition, you need to clearly state how many credits you wish to take, explain and document your circumstances and submit your petition to the Records Office by the deadline date as stated on the Probation Information Sheet you would have also received.

Once the ASC meets, you will be sent a letter informing you of their decision. If your request was denied, you will have to adjust your schedule down to 14 credits by the last day to add a class.

For further information on the Academic Probation and or the Academic Standing Committee, you can call 456-8213 to schedule an appointment to meet with Terry Riley-Wilcox or Jan Shumate.

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How can I just take a course to refresh my knowledge in that subject, if receiving credit and a grade is not important?

If you want to participate in a course without receiving credit or having your grade point average affected you can audit a course. If you wish to audit a course you must fill out an "Audit Form", obtain the signature of both the instructor and the department chair. This form can be obtained in the Records Office, East Campus, Building #4 , Lower Level. Once signed, you must drop the form off at the Records Office for processing. A course can be changed from credit to audit up until the last day to withdraw over the phone. Audited courses cannot be counted for credit towards graduation. Full-time undergraduates do not have to pay additional fees to audit a course, part-timers must pay the usual per credit fee.

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What are cognates?

Many students have cognates to be fulfilled to complete their major. Please understand it is the responsibility of your Advisor or Department Chair to submit the list of approved cognates to the Records Office. Frequently, this is not done and as a result, many students are removed from the graduation list. Students need to read their Academic Progress Reports carefully and make sure their Advisors or Department Chairs submit the necessary paperwork to the Records Office ASAP.

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Can I take a course and not have it affect my grade point average?

Yes. If you want to take a course and not worry about the grade affecting your grade point average, you should consider taking the course using the credit/no credit option. Courses taken with the credit/no credit option can only be used as ELECTIVE CREDIT. Course taken for credit (cr) CANNOT be used to fulfill a general education, a curriculum, a major or a minor requirement. If you want to take a course cr/ncr you must submit a "Credit/No Credit Form" to the Records Office, East Campus, Building # 4, Lower Level. Have this form signed by your advisor, not the professor of the course, and return it to the Records Office for processing. You can only take one course cr/ncr per semester. The total number of courses taken cr/ncr cannot exceed six.

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Did I make the Dean's List?

The answer is yes, if you are a full-time student and attained a semester grade point average of 3.25 or higher for a given semester. If you are student teaching that semester, you must attain both a semester and cumulative grade point average of a 3.00 to be placed on the Dean's List. The Dean's List is not awarded during summer sessions I or II.

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Am I going to graduate with graduation honors?

To be considered for graduation honors you must have a minimum of 54 attempted credits at Rhode Island College and have a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.25. Although courses taken in which "s", "h", "cr" were earned and courses under 100 level do not get calculated into the attempted credits, for the purposes of determining graduation honors, these courses can be used to meet the 54 attempted credit requirement. Second Degree candidates are also eligible for graduation honors. If you have a cumulative grade point average of:

  • 3.85 or higher = you will graduate with summa cum laude honors

  • 3.60 to 3.84 = you will graduate with magna cum laude honors

  • 3.25 to 3.59 = you will graduate with cum laude honors


In addition to graduation honors, you can also receive General Education Honors and Departmental Honors. Contact Dr. Spencer Hall, Craig Lee 368, 456-8671 for more information.

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What are the steps needed to graduate from RIC?

In order to graduate from Rhode Island College you must have met all your general education requirements, all your curriculum, major and minor requirements as well as: be an admitted degree candidate, have earned at least 120 credits, have at least 30 attempted credits taken at RIC, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 and have satisfied both the College Math Requirement and the College Writing Requirement. (Students admitted or readmitted Fall 2003 or later must complete at least 45 attempted credits at RIC).

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Did I graduate? When will I get a diploma?

To find out if you have been cleared for graduation you can call the Records Office at 456-8213 or you can check your transcript on line to see if your degree has been posted to your transcript. Degrees are posted on top left hand corner of the transcript.

If you have been cleared for graduation, your degree was posted to your transcript and we are in the process of ordering your diploma. Expect to receive your diploma in the mail in 8-10 weeks.

If there was no degree posted to your transcript either you had a problem and you were removed from the graduation list and sent a letter informing you of the problem or we never knew of your intent to graduate. To declare your intent to graduate you have to apply on line. Navigate to RIConnect, click RIConnect, click Student Services, click Academics, click Apply for Graduation.

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Which Graduation Date do you select?

There seems to be a great deal of confusion about whether to indicate May or August as your graduation date. The answer is quite simple.

If ALL degree requirements will be complete by the end of the Spring semester, your graduation date is MAY. All those that indicate MAY will be invited to participate in the MAY graduation ceremony. By indicating MAY you are informing the Records Office that ALL requirements will be done and that no classes will have to be taken over the Summer.

If ALL degree requirements will be completed by the end of the Summer SEMESTER and you have no more than 9 credits to complete, you should indicate AUGUST. All those that indicate AUGUST will also be invited to participate in the MAY graduation ceremony.

Those students actually done in MAY will receive their diploma at the end of the ceremony. Those still having to complete requirements over the Summer, will receive their diplomas in the mail in late September, early October.

If you would like your name to appear differently than it appears on your transcript, you now have the ability to do this on-line. Navigate to RIConnect, click RIConnect, click Personal Data, click Tasks, click Names. At the bottom of the screen single click on "Add a new name." At Name Type click and select "Degree" and then type your name exactly as you would like it to appear on your diploma. Once you have completed adding this information, it is important that you click SAVE to insure that we have the correct information.

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What is an APR?

An Academic Progress Report is extremely important to any student wanting to graduate from Rhode Island College. The APR lists all the courses you have taken as well as all the courses you need to take to complete all degree requirements. Once you receive your APR review it carefully. If you have any questions, immediately make an appointment to meet with the person who sent you the APR.

The APR is what the Records Office is holding you accountable for in order to graduate. You are bound to follow the requirements listed in the catalog in existence at the time you were first admitted. If by chance you had to get readmitted or had more than a 3 semester gap in your attendance at the College, you will be bound by the catalog in existence at the time you return to the College.

You will be held responsible for all outstanding requirements listed on your APR unless the Records Office receives written notice from your Department Chair or the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences if in regards to General Education Requirements.

You only receive ONE APR so don't lose it. Many students ignore their APR or don't take it seriously and run into difficulty when it comes time to graduate. It is one of the most important documents you will receive from the College. Read it carefully and take it seriously.
Bound by catalog admitted under:

As STUDENTS, you need to understand that you are bound to the requirements listed in the College Catalog in existence at the time you were admitted or readmitted to the College. Too many students make the mistake of following the degree requirements listed in the present catalog. Only your Department Chair can allow you to follow an earlier or later catalog. If that they agree to do that, they must put it in writing and submit it to the Records Office.

Discrepancies with APR:

Upon receiving your APR you should review it carefully. If you feel there are some discrepancies, errors, problems, etc you need to contact the person who sent you the APR. If your last name begins with A-K you should contact Terry Riley-Wilcox in the Records Office, East Campus, Building # 4, Lower Level. If your last name begins L-Z you should contact Jan Shumate in the Records Office. You can call 456-8213 to schedule an appointment to meet with them.

It is very important to follow up on any problems as soon as possible. You don't want any surprises at graduation! Exceptions, waivers and substitutions to your curriculum should be directed to the department chair of that curriculum. Exceptions, waivers or substitutions to your major or minor should be directed to the department chair of that major/minor.

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How can I get a copy of my grades?

You can get a copy of your grades/transcript a couple of different ways:

  1. Go to www.ric.edu and click "On Line Services". On the next screen, click "Students". You will be brought to the RIConnect login screen. You must enter your userid and password. Follow the online instructions. You will receive a copy of your grade report in the mail within the next couple of weeks of the semester ending.

  2. You can come to the Records Office, Building #4, Lower Level and request a copy of your transcript.



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I received an Incomplete in one of my courses and I am not going to have it completed by the end of the next semester, what will happen to it?

If you received an "I" in a course, you are given until grades are submitted for classes the following semester ( excluding summer sessions) to submit missing assignments. Incompletes will turn to F's or to their default grade on the same day grades are due for graduating seniors. If you are not going to have all the work completed by the deadline and you don't want to receive an "F" your only recourse is to talk with your instructor to see if he is willing to give you an extension. If you are granted an extension, your instructor must inform the Records Office in writing of this arrangement or the "I" will turn to an "F".

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Under what circumstances can I arrange an Incomplete in a course I am taking?

Incompletes are only appropriate if you are experiencing extenuating circumstances, most of the work has already been completed and you will be able to complete all the work by the time grades are submitted for the succeeding semester (excluding summer sessions) with a minimum of faculty supervision.

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What is RIC's policy for repeating classes?

Repeating a course at RIC:

Students should be aware that if you want to repeat a course to improve your grade point average, YOU MUST REPEAT THE COURSE AT RIC.

Repeat Policy:

Students should know that you can only repeat a course once. Whatever grade you get the second time factors out the grade you got the first time. All courses will automatically get adjusted a at the end of the semester. You must repeat the course at RIC for it to get adjusted.

College policy states that you are allowed to repeat any course once. You must retake the same course at RIC if you want the grades to be adjusted. Whatever grade you get the second time will factor out the grade you received the first time, even if the second grade is worst than the first grade.

All other courses will be adjusted at the end of the semester in which the repeat has occurred. The first time you take the course, the following notation will appear on your transcript below the course, "Original attempt of class." The second time you take the course the following notation will appear on your transcript below the course, "Replaces previous attempt."

If by chance you need or want to take the same course for a third time, you must petition the Academic Standing Committee before even registering for the course. Petitions to the ASC can be obtained in the Records Office. You must clearly state why you want to take the course for a third time. You need to explain in detail why you were unsuccessful the first two times and what steps you will be taking to ensure you will be successful the third time. If you are citing extenuating circumstances, you should provide supporting documentation. Obtaining a letter of recommendation from someone in your academic department that knows you is strongly advised.

Return your signed petition to the Records Office ASAP. Make sure either your academic advisor or someone from OASIS has also signed your petition. The ASC meets once a month. You will receive a letter in the mail informing you of the decision of the ASC.

Taking a course for the third time:

Students should know that if you want to take the same course for a third time to adjust previous grades-you must first petition the Academic Standing Committee before even registering for the courses. Petitions to the ASC can be obtained in the Records Office.

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What is RIC's policy on substituting classes?

Students need to understand that substitutions, waivers and exceptions that may have been approved by their advisor must ALSO get approved in writing by their Department Chair. This information must then be submitted to the Records Office for processing so when it comes time to determine if you have met all degree requirements, these exceptions, etc are on hand.

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Do I need to submit a Substitution or a Waiver Form to the Records Office?

The answer is YES if your department chair has allowed you to take one course in place of another required course. The answer is also YES if your department chair is allowing you to waive a particular requirement that is listed as being required.

When an Academic Progress Report is produced, it matches your transcript with the requirements listed in the catalog at the TIME YOU WERE ADMITTED or READMITTED to the College, not the time you declared your major. When no matches are found, a requirement is listed as being outstanding. Agreements or arrangements made between you and your department chair must be put in writing and submitted to the Records Office, Building # 4, East Campus, Lower Level.

Unless substitutions or waivers are submitted to the Records Office, the Records Office has no way of knowing that prior arrangements had been made. You will be held accountable for what is listed in the catalog and on your Academic Progress Report unless the Records Office is notified otherwise. Substitution Forms can be found in the Records Office. Waivers or exceptions can just be written on a note and submitted to the Records Office for processing.

Any questions on these policies feel free to contact Terry Riley-Wilcox at 456-9755 if last name begins A-K and Jan Shumate at 456-9756 if last name begins L-Z.

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Can I take a course at CCRI, URI or at any other institution and transfer the credit back so that it will be applied towards meeting my graduation requirements?

Yes. If you are a Rhode Island College student who has been formally accepted into the College, you are a degree candidate and thus can take a course at another institution and have the credit transferred back and added to your RIC transcript.

To do this, you must fill out an "Authorization of Credit Form" which can be obtained in the Records Office, Building # 4, East Campus, Lower Level. You must obtain the signature of the department chair in which the course will be equivalent. For example, if you wish to take and English course at another institution, it must be signed by the department chair of English a RIC even if it is satisfying a requirement in your Communications major.

Once the department chair's signature is obtained you need to return the Authorization of Credit form back to the Records Office. It will be kept in a book. Upon the completion of the course, you need to have an Official copy of your transcript sent to the RIC Records Office.

Once we have both the Authorization of Credit and the Official transcript showing a grade of a C or better, the course and credit only will get posted to your RIC transcript. No grades are transferred in.

DO NOT TAKE A COURSE at another institution if you already took the same course at RIC and got a grade of D- or better. You cannot receive credit for the same course twice.

* you only get the number of credit for course taken - not RIC equivalency credits

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What is RIC's policy on waivers?

Students need to understand that substitutions, waivers and exceptions that may have been approved by their advisor must ALSO get approved in writing by their Department Chair. This information must then be submitted to the Records Office for processing so when it comes time to determine if you have met all degree requirements, these exceptions, etc are on hand.

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Do I need to submit a Substitution or a Waiver Form to the Records Office?

The answer is YES if your department chair has allowed you to take one course in place of another required course. The answer is also YES if your department chair is allowing you to waive a particular requirement that is listed as being required.

When an Academic Progress Report is produced, it matches your transcript with the requirements listed in the catalog at the TIME YOU WERE ADMITTED or READMITTED to the College, not the time you declared your major. When no matches are found, a requirement is listed as being outstanding. Agreements or arrangements made between you and your department chair must be put in writing and submitted to the Records Office, Building # 4, East Campus, Lower Level.

Unless substitutions or waivers are submitted to the Records Office, the Records Office has no way of knowing that prior arrangements had been made. You will be held accountable for what is listed in the catalog and on your Academic Progress Report unless the Records Office is notified otherwise. Substitution Forms can be found in the Records Office. Waivers or exceptions can just be written on a note and submitted to the Records Office for processing.

Any questions on these policies feel free to contact Terry Riley-Wilcox at 456-9755 if last name begins A-K and Jan Shumate at 456-9756 if last name begins L-Z.

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Page last updated: Wednesday, October 25, 2006