CIT Minimum Grades and GPA

This page communicates minimum course grade and grade point average requirements for students in the CIT M.S. degree programs. These requirements, written and approved by the CIT Graduate Education Committee, meet the minimum expectation of the Graduate School, and are similar to, but an extension to the requirements in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

Minimum Course Grades for CIT Graduate Students

Graduate School requirements state that no grade of “D” or “F” is allowed in any graduate course on the plan of study. Any plan of study course in which a grade of “D” or “F” is received must be repeated and completed with a better grade; it cannot be simply dropped from the plan of study.  IMPORTANT: If you repeat a course at Purdue, the LAST grade counts in the GPA; not the best grade. Note that University requirements are subject to change with notice.

Graduate School requirements also state that no grade of “C”, “D” or “F” is allowed in any undergraduate course included on a graduate plan of study. Any undergraduate plan of study course in which a grade of  “C”, “D” or “F” is received must be repeated and completed successfully; it cannot be dropped from the plan of study. Also note that university requirements are subject to change with notice.

The Department of Computer & Information Technology requirements state that a student may not earn more than two grades of “C+” or lower in any courses included in their graduate plan of study.

Minimum Cumulative GPA for CIT Graduate Students

The Department of Computer & Information Technology has a specific minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) requirement for continuation of their studies and graduation as shown in the table below.

Status	Cumulative GPA Requirement
Graduation	3.00 - 4.00
Probation	< 3.00
Dismissal from CIT program	Already on probation and < 2.50

Monitoring Process for Grades and GPA

Each semester CIT graduate student performance is evaluated to ensure that each student is performing satisfactorily. Procedurally this is done in the following way:

• Graduate student grades and academic progress will be monitored at the departmental level.
• Monitoring will begin after six (6) credit hours have been completed, and every semester thereafter in which the student is enrolled.
• If a student has a cumulative GPA less than published minimums, a letter will be sent by the program chair to the student, with a copy to the student’s major professor, the student's file, and as appropriate, to the Department and/or Graduate School, indicating academic status and corrective actions.
• If a student receives a “C+” or lower grade in any course, an appropriate letter will be sent by the program chair to the student, with a copy to the student’s major professor, the student's file, and as appropriate, to the Department and/or Graduate School, indicating academic status and corrective actions.

Probation Status and Implications

Probation occurs when a student performs below the following CIT standards.

• If a student’s semester GPA falls below 2.75 or if a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.00/4.00, the student will be placed on academic probation, the student will be placed on academic probation.
• The CIT Program Chair will generate a letter informing the student, major professor, and department head of the probationary status. A copy will also be forwarded to the Graduate School and placed in the student’s permanent record.
• The student will have two subsequent completed courses to raise their cumulative GPA to the required level and return to good standing. If they do not, they will not be able to register for classes the subsequent semester and will be dismissed from the program.
• Eligibility for an assistantship while on probation will be left to the Department Head’s discretion.

Dismissal Status and Implications

Dismissal occurs when a student performs below the following CIT standards. Procedurally dismissal means:

• If a student is on academic probation and the student’s semester GPA is below a 2.50 or if a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.75, the student will be immediately dismissed from the program.
• If a student earns a grade of “C+” or lower in three cumulative courses, the student will be dismissed from the program.
• A student will also be dismissed from the program if they remain on probation for one semester without improvement.
• If dismissed, the student will forfeit any graduate assistantship and funding they had.
• The student cannot apply for re-admission until they have missed at least one academic-year semester (meaning fall or spring, and excluding summer). The re-admission process is the same as the original admission process.

Appeals of Dismissal

A student may appeal the department’s probation or dismissal decision as follows:

1. A student may appeal their probationary or dismissal status by contacting the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in writing within thirty (30) days of the date of the requisite notification letter. The appeal should include the student’s specific reasons for exception to the aforementioned policies.

2. The appeal will be reviewed by a subcommittee of three (3) members of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute Graduate Education Committee (including the Graduate Education Committee representative from the student’s home department). An alternate departmental representative shall be appointed in the event that the sitting representative is the chair of the student’s committee.
3. If the review committee recommends reinstating the student, the student’s graduate advisor/chair must approve. If the graduate advisor does not approve, the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies will render a final decision.
4. In cases where a student is reinstated without approval of the graduate advisor, a new advisor may need to be assigned.
5. The decision of the appeal subcommittee and/or Associate Dean for Graduate Studies will be considered final and will be delivered within thirty (30) days of the student’s request for exception to probation.