Academic Standing

Once a student has attempted 12 units within the San Mateo County Community College District (CSM, Cañada College, or Skyline College), academic standing is calculated each time grades are posted.

Academic Notice (formerly Probation) occurs when:

• Cumulative GPA is below 2.0
• Letter Grades (A, B, C, D, F and all +/- grades in between) affect the GPA

• Completion rate is less than 51% of all attempted units
• A class is not completed if the recorded grading symbol is W, I, NP or NC
• EW's (Excused Withdrawals) do not affect completion rate or GPA

The first semester out of good academic standing is Academic Notice 1 (formerly Probation 1).

The second semester out of good academic standing is Academic Notice 2 (formerly Probation 2).

A third consecutive semester out of good academic standing means a student is Subject to Dismissal.

Being on Academic Notice does not prevent registration, but a student on probation must get back into Good Academic Standing to avoid being subject to Dismissal. Take the following actions now:

• Work to ensure that you successfully complete all your current courses.
• Use resources on campus such as the Learning Center, Writing Center and Math Resource Center to facilitate your success.
• Sign up for the OnTRAC Scholars Program now for extra support
• Meet with a counselor to create or update your Student Educational Plan (SEP)
• You may attend an Academic Standing Support Session (by Zoom)
  • To sign up:
    • Go to your SSL through your OneLogin
    • Look for My Events along the top menu bar
    • You will see the list of upcoming Academic Standing Support Sessions 
    • Click Register to sign up for the one that works for you 

If you are prohibited from registering for classes due to academic standing, this is because of dismissal status, and you must follow the Reinstatement Process. Please see our Academic Policies for more information.

Reinstatement Process

1. Attend an OnTRAC Kickoff Session (by Zoom) if you have not attended within the last 3 years (previously called Reinstatement Workshop). To sign up:
   • Go to your SSL through your OneLogin
   • Look for My Events along the top menu bar
   • You will see the list of upcoming OnTRAC Kickoff Sessions 
   • Click Register to sign up for the one that works for you 
2. Meet with a Counselor - make an appointment through the Student Success link in your OneLogin portal.
3. Complete and submit the Reinstatement Petition during your counseling appointment.

After completing these steps, you will be notified of your reinstatement decision by email.

You must petition for reinstatement each semester until you reach good academic standing. If you do not petition, you will not be cleared to register for the upcoming semester. 

Be ready to register on time! Follow the Reinstatement process by:

• Late March to be ready for Summer and Fall registration
• Late October be ready for Spring registration

If you are working to improve your academic standing, sign up for OnTRAC Scholars and:

• Connect with your counselor and staff in Counseling Services
• Learn effective ways to achieve good academic standing
• Communicate with your instructors regarding your progress
• Learn to utilize instructional services and Student Support Services available to you
• Have personalized check-ins to assist you in achieving your goal

If you have questions about OnTRAC Scholars, please email Alicia Frangos at frangosa@smccd.edu