Status Maintenance Policy
Students who maintain their status in Commonwealth Honors College (CHC) are eligible to apply for:
- CHC scholarships, fellowships, and grants
- CHC Residential Community (CHCRC) housing during the first round of the housing selection process*
*CHCRC housing is not guaranteed. Honors students on CHC academic notice or CHC academic recovery may become eligible to participate a) only in the final round of the selection process and b) only if space is available.
CHC STATUS MAINTENANCE
To maintain status in Commonwealth Honors College, a student must
- Be in good standing with UMass Amherst by complying with all its policies, including the Code of Student Conduct and the Academic Honesty Policy.
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) at or above 3.400.
- Complete the honors course requirements of a CHC graduation sub plan with earned grades of “B” or higher in all components.
Recommendations for maintaining CHC status
- Abide by the expectations outlined in CHC Terms of Agreement.
- Make progress towards completion of honors coursework as specified in Curriculum Requirements by earning grades of “B” or higher in all honors courses intended to fulfill CHC curriculum requirements, including the root courses affiliated with one-credit add-on honors independent studies or colloquia. (Note: with the exception of HONORS 391A, one-credit freestanding honors courses do not fulfill honors curriculum requirements.)
- Meet with a CHC Advisor during the first semester of membership, and at least once each year thereafter.
CHC ACADEMIC NOTICE
An honors student will be placed on CHC academic notice if their cumulative GPA drops below 3.400.
If after one semester on CHC academic notice a student’s cumulative GPA reaches 3.400 or higher, the student will maintain their CHC status without any additional intervention. If their cumulative GPA remains below 3.400, the student will be in CHC academic recovery status.
Any student on CHC academic notice is strongly encouraged to meet with a CHC Advisor as soon as possible to discuss an action plan.
CHC ACADEMIC RECOVERY
After one semester of CHC academic notice, an honors student will be in CHC academic recovery status if the cumulative GPA remains below 3.400.
If, after one semester in CHC academic recovery status, a student’s cumulative GPA reaches 3.400 or higher, the student will maintain CHC status without any additional intervention. If their cumulative GPA remains below 3.400, the student will be dismissed.
Any student in CHC academic recovery status is strongly encouraged to meet with a CHC Advisor to discuss an action plan.
CHC TEMPORARY DISCONTINUATION
If after an CHC academic notice and CHC academic recovery status an honors student's cumulative GPA remains below 3.400 they will have a temporary discontinuation of their CHC status.
Any student who has a temporary discontinuation of their CHC status and wants to still complete the CHC curriculum before their expected graduation date is strongly encouraged to meet with a CHC Advisor to discuss an action plan.
Students who have a temporary discontinuation can regain CHC status when their cumulative GPA is again at/above 3.400. More details about CHC status reinstatement are provided below.
CHC DISMISSAL/WITHDRAWAL
An honors student will be dismissed from CHC if any of the following is true:
- It is mathematically impossible for the student to regain a cumulative GPA of 3.400 by the anticipated graduation date.
- The student will be unable to satisfy the honors course requirements of one of the four CHC graduation sub plans: Breadth of Study + Departmental Honors Depth of Study (GSDH), Breadth of Study + Multidisciplinary Honors Depth of Study (GSMH), Departmental Honors Depth of Study only (DH), or Multidisciplinary Honors Depth of Study only (MH).
- The student decides they no longer wish to maintain CHC status and communicates that to a CHC Advisor.
CHC STATUS REINSTATEMENT
A former CHC student who regains a cumulative GPA of 3.400 should meet with a CHC Advisor to request CHC status reinstatement and discuss their academic planning to ensure they can complete the CHC curriculum in a timely manner upon reinstatement.
Students who are completing Departmental Honors (DH) should also meet with the Honors Program Director of that department to ensure they are on track to complete the DH requirements.