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Satisfactory Progress Continuation Policy
While the University has general regulations governing scholastic eligibility for continuation, the Department of Mathematics has adopted additional requirements in order to make the best use of departmental resources and to provide reasonable assurance of academic success of our majors.
Math Majors who are considering dropping a MATH course, using the Current Quarter Drop process (replaces Annual Quarter Drop process), should carefully read the Satisfactory Progress Continuation Policy.
The following criteria and procedures will be applied to all undergraduate students majoring in Mathematics for determining continuance in the major. Students are encouraged to frequently review their academic progress, and may seek advising from Mathematics Student Services at any time.
Criteria for Satisfactory Progress:
- Students are expected to take classes such that they are able to graduate within the limits dictated by the University’s Satisfactory Progress Policy. At a minimum, our majors must take one math major course each quarter of enrollment, making progress towards their math option requirements. Excessive course repeats, excessive course drops and excessive University withdrawals may also demonstrate a lack of satisfactory progress. During Summer quarters, students are not required to take math courses. Students who plan to participate in a Study Abroad program should notify the Math & ACMS Advising Office and discuss course planning.
- Students in the BS Comprehensive or BA Teacher Preparation option are required to maintain a 2.5 GPA in all math courses. Students in the BS Standard, BA Standard or BA Philosophy option are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA in all math courses.
- Students must earn a numerical grade of at least a 2.0 in all MATH major courses that could be used to satisfy major requirements, including summer quarter, PHIL courses for the Philosophy option and STAT courses, among other subjects, for the Teach Prep option. Courses taken as satisfactory/not satisfactory cannot be used towards major requirements and thus violate this policy.
Review and Notification of Progress
Math Student Services will review the progress of all majors each quarter. If a student's performance does not meet the standards outlined above in any quarter during their tenure as a major in the Department of Mathematics, they will be first placed on Academic Notification, then Math Warning, and finally Major Dismissal status for each subsequent quarter that they don't meet the policy criteria.
Academic Notification (formerly "Warning")
The first quarter a student does not meet satisfactory progress they will be notified by email and a registration hold will be placed on their account. The Academic Notification email is issued only once. Students receiving an Academic Notification email from the Math Department must reply, acknowledging they received the email and understand the policy criteria, to have the registration hold removed.
Although it is not required, students are encouraged to meet with an adviser. The advisor will assist by recommending campus resources, helping plan a course load that is manageable, and by assisting the student with choosing the correct pathway within the major or discussing other majors at the University. Students are encouraged to discuss all circumstances leading to a lack of satisfactory progress, including extenuating circumstances and situations outside of academic life that may impact success.
Math Warning (formerly "Probation")
Students who are unable to successfully meet the departmental Satisfactory Progress policy in a second, but not necessarily consecutive quarter, will be on "Math Warning" status and a registration hold will be placed on their account. Students will be sent a Math Warning email shortly after the quarter has ended and grades have been posted.
To remove the Math Warning registration hold, students will be required to submit the following (form and instructions will be provided in the Math Warning email):
- create a graduation plan
- complete and submit an online academic self-assessment form
- after the graduation plan has been approved, must schedule a meeting with a Math adviser
Students can expect support during their appointment as outlined for the “Academic Notification” status. Students who do not meet with an advisor will not be able to register for future quarters.
Major Dismissal (formerly "Dismissal")
Students who do not to meet the Math Satisfactory Progress criteria in a third, but not necessarily consecutive quarter, will be on Major Dismissal status. Students will be sent an email and given instructions if they wish to appeal dismissal from the major. There will be a deadline for the appeal clearly stated on the letter. Students have only one opportunity to appeal the Major Dismissal status.
If the appeal is not approved or the student does not appeal before the stated deadline in the Major Dismissal email, they will be dropped from the Math Major. Non-double major/degree students will be assigned a premajor or extended premajor degree code. The Department retains the right to drop dismissed students from future mathematics coursework where it is required to be a declared major to be enrolled.
If the appeal is approved, the student must make satisfactory progress as outlined in the approval notification. If they violate this policy in a quarter after their appeal, they will be dismissed from the Math Major a second time with no opportunity to appeal this final dismissal.
Removing Academic Notification, Math Warning or Major Dismissal Status
In some circumstances, a violation of this policy can be removed if the original grade in question changes to a 2.0 or higher numerical grade or possibly if the course is dropped. For more information and details, please speak with a Math adviser.
Academic Progress Check-ins
Math majors who meet the criteria for Satisfactory Progress, but exhibit poor/concerning/less
than ideal academic performance will be required to meet with an advisor. Students will
receive an email from the Math Advising Office if they have a quarterly GPA below a 2.0 or have
demonstrated lack of academic progress as evidenced by multiple course repeats, incompletes,
or drops/withdrawals. The purpose of the advising appointment is to discuss any challenges or
circumstances affecting your schooling, and identify appropriate UW resources to help support
your well-being and education goals.
Academic Honesty
The UW Math Department expects students not to cheat on tests or plagiarize assignments. Cheating/plagiarism is generally defined as taking credit for someone else’s work whether that be a fellow student, book or online resource. Cheating on assignments and tests hurts both your fellow math majors and you! Cheating, especially repeated offenses, may have severe consequences.
Tips on avoiding inadvertent academic dishonesty
- Sit as far from other students as possible during tests. Do not sit near your regular study partners, so any unusually similar methods you may have learned together won't suggest copying occurred.
- Pay close attention to the rules regarding academic honesty for the particular course and instructor as they may vary.
- Keep phones and other electronic devices put away. If the test is closed book, keep papers put away as well.