Separation FAQ

Academic separation means that a student has not met the grade point average requirements (GPA) to continue taking classes at Ball State University. Students must maintain an accumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher in order to remain in good academic standing. If a student is academically separated, they will be required to step away from the university for two semesters. After their two-semester break, they may apply for reinstatement to return to the university.  

Undergraduate students interested in appealing their academic separation should visit the Appealing your Academic Separation site here.

Graduate students need to contact the Associate Dean of the Graduate School and complete the Graduate Student Appeals Process. 

 

No. Although Academic Standing (AS) and the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid eligibility are different, Ball State has created a system so that students do not have to submit 2 separate appeals. However, because separation appeals to return to the university and appeals for financial aid continuation are separate decisions that are reviewed at differing times of the year, the procedure can be different depending on the semester. As such, affected students should pay attention to instructions provided to their Ball State email address. For more information regarding the SAP appeal process, please click here. 

For more information on appealing your separation from Ball State, click here 

For further questions concerning AS/SAP Appeals please contact cardinalcentral@bsu.edu.

The Office of Housing and Residential Life will contact students through their Ball State email address once academic standing has been updated with detailed information about next steps.  

If a student successfully completes a separation appeal, their housing contract will remain in place. If the student’s separation appeal is denied or they choose not to appeal, their housing contract will be canceled, and they will be given a move out date before the beginning of the upcoming semester. 

If you decide to appeal your separation and your appeal is approved, then you will remain in your upcoming semester classes. 

If you decide to appeal your separation and your appeal is denied, or you do not submit an appeal, your upcoming semester classes will be canceled.

You will need to apply for reinstatement by using the free Special Undergraduate Application Request form. If you have attended any other college or university during your time away from Ball State, please include a complete, original copy of your transcript from that institution. Please note that if you are reinstated, you will return on academic warning until your grade point average (GPA) reaches the required minimum. 

Yes, summer counts as a semester when counting the number of semesters students can return after a separation. 

  • If a student is separated in Fall, they may return the next Fall. 

  • If a student is separated in Spring, they may return the next Spring. 

  • If a student is separated in Summer, they may return the next Summer. 

Yes, you can take classes at another college or university after being academically separated. Upon your return to Ball State we will ask you to provide a complete, original transcript with your reinstatement application. Any eligible transfer credit will be applied to your record. 

Please note that you will be required to earn a grade point average of 2.0 or higher in order to return to Ball State if you choose to attend another institution.  

When students are reinstated through the appeal process or reinstatement application process, they are placed on academic warning. They remain on academic warning until their accumulative GPA reaches 2.0 or higher. Until that time, students are required to continue to meet the appropriate term GPA to remain on academic warning.  

  • 2.1 or higher term GPA for students who have earned 30 or more credit hours 

  • 2.0 or higher term GPA for students who have earned 29 or less credit hours 

If they do not, then they are subject to academic separation again and will have to step away from the university for 3 full years.