In order to be in good academic standing, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.300. If a student does not reach a cumulative GPA of 2.300 in any one regular semester, the student will be placed on academic probation the following semester. If a student, other than a first-year student, who is on academic probation does not reach a cumulative GPA of 2.300 by the end of the probation semester, the student will be academically dismissed. If a first-year student who is on academic probation does not reach a cumulative GPA of 2.300 by the end of the first semester of their second year of studies, the student will be academically dismissed. (This does not apply to students who are academically dismissed under the provision for Academic Dismissal After First Year.)
At the end of any semester in which the student is not in good academic standing as set out under the subsection on Academic Standing, the student will be placed on academic probation. (This does not apply to students who are academically dismissed under the provision for Academic Dismissal After First Year.) Once notified of Probation status by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, a student on Probation must meet as soon thereafter as possible with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. In addition, the student must meet as soon as practicable with the Director of Academic Success and Bar Readiness to develop an Academic Success Plan for moving forward with their studies. Lastly, a student on academic probation must have their course schedule approved by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
After the first year of studies at the College of Law, any student (whether full-time or part-time) whose grade point average is less than 2.000 will be academically dismissed. This dismissal is final. There is no appeal of the dismissal, and the dismissal is not subject to any petition for an additional semester on probation. Any student whose grade point average is equal to or greater than 2.000 but less than 2.300 after the end of their first year will remain on probation during the first semester of their second year of studies.
If a student who is on academic probation does not reach good academic standing by the end of the next regular semester, the student will be academically dismissed. (This does not apply to students who are academically dismissed under the provision for Academic Dismissal After First Year.) A student who is academically dismissed is not eligible to be enrolled in the College of Law.
Once a student has been academically dismissed, the Registrar will notify the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The Associate Dean will then notify the student of their status by written communication that will become a part of the student’s academic record. The written communication shall include:
1. Whether the student is eligible to petition to continue on probation or to petition for readmission
2. The time limit, if any, on such petitions
3. That any such petition must be submitted to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
4. An enclosure or attachment of applicable College of Law policy
If a student is enrolled in one or more courses when dismissed, the Registrar shall withdraw the student from the course(s). The Associate Dean’s notification to the student of an academic dismissal shall also provide notice that a student enrolled in any course will be immediately withdrawn from the course and if the student is withdrawn prior to Census Day, will be entitled to a full refund, and if after Census Day, pursuant to UNT Dallas’s refund policy.
A student who has been academically dismissed after probation and has a grade point average above a 2.0 may petition for eligibility to continue on probation, petition for readmission, or may petition for both. A petition for eligibility to continue on probation requests that the academically dismissed law student be allowed to continue their law school education while on academic probation for another semester. A petition for re-admission requests that the academically dismissed law student be allowed to begin their law school education again as a 1L.
A student who has received notice of academic dismissal may submit, to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, a Petition for Eligibility to Continue on Probation. Such a petition must be filed within thirty (30) calendar days after the student has received notice from the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of academic dismissal.
Students should not assume or expect that the petition will be granted. This is not for punitive reasons, but because it is not fair or appropriate to allow students to continue a course of study in which they are not likely to be successful. A petition may be granted only if the student establishes the following: (1) that the student’s inability to remain academically eligible resulted from extenuating circumstances; (2) that the circumstances resulting in the student’s academic dismissal have been remedied and will not prevent the student from attaining good academic standing; (3) that the student is likely to attain and maintain good academic standing and is able to satisfactorily complete our program of legal education and to be admitted to the bar; and (4) that the student complied with the requirements of the Academic Success Plan developed after probation. The Committee may set conditions for the student's continued enrollment on probation, including but not limited to reduction in course work and specific academic success programming.
A student's petition must include any and all supporting documentation that the student would like the Academic Standards Committee to consider and that would support the Committee finding that the student has established all four factors required to have the petition granted. For this reason, the petition should include any Academic Success Plan documents the student can obtain. The Academic Standards Committee will likely review some or all of the petitioner's Academic Success Plan documents, including in particular any documents showing whether the student complied with any Academic Success Plan. The petition should include the number of hours worked during each semester in attendance at the UNT Dallas College of Law. This listing of documents and information in support of a student's petition is not exclusive. The student bears the burden to supply the Academic Standards Committee with documents and information sufficient to demonstrate the student meets the criteria to continue or resume their studies at the UNT Dallas College of Law.
A successful petition will result in the student continuing their studies on academic probation for an additional semester or for a period of time determined by the Committee. In such a case, the student will be required to retake all required courses in which the student received a grade of F.
The Committee's decision to continue a student on academic probation must be unanimous. If the Committee decides to grant a petition to continue a student on probation, the Committee must provide to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs a statement explaining the considerations that led to the decision to grant probation to the student that must be included in the student’s file.
Procedures—Probation
1. Once a student has submitted to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs a Petition for Eligibility to Remain on Probation, the Associate Dean shall forward the petition to the Registrar and shall notify the Chair of the Academic Standards Committee that a petition has been submitted.
2. As soon as reasonably possible, the Chair of the Academic Standards Committee shall schedule a meeting of the Academic Standards Committee to consider any petition or petitions that have been submitted. Once the meeting has been scheduled, the Chair shall notify the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the Registrar of the date and time of the meeting.
3. The Registrar shall then assemble a package of materials for each student who has submitted a petition, including the petition with supporting documentation; the student’s law school transcript; and the student’s LSAC report. The Registrar shall provide this package of materials to the members of the Academic Standards Committee before the Committee meets to consider the petition. Upon receiving the package of materials, the Committee may request additional information from the Registrar and/or the student.
When the Committee meets it shall consider the student’s petition and all supporting documentation provided by the student, and the materials provided by the Registrar. The Committee will make its decision without the personal appearance of the petitioner. The Committee thus encourages petitioners to provide fulsome information and thorough documentation to support a petition. The decision of the Committee is final and there is no reconsideration or appeal of its decision. Nothing herein shall prevent the petitioner from filing a Petition for Re-Admission.
Petition for Re-Admission to the College of Law
If a student has been academically dismissed from the College of Law and seeks readmission to the College of Law, the student may not seek admission through the regular Admissions process. Rather, such a student may return to studies at the College of Law only by filing, with the Academic Standards Committee, a Petition for Re-Admission. A student who has been academically dismissed from the College of Law is only eligible for readmission after at least one (1) year has passed since the date of the student’s dismissal from the College of Law. Students should not assume or expect that the petition will be granted, because it is not fair or appropriate to allow students to take a course of study in which they are not likely to be successful. A petition may be granted only if the student establishes the following: (1) that the student’s academic dismissal resulted from exceptional circumstances; (2) that the circumstances resulting in the student’s academic dismissal have been remedied and will not prevent the student from maintaining good academic standing; (3) that the student is likely to attain and maintain good academic standing and is able to satisfactorily complete our program of legal education and to be admitted to the bar; and (4) that the student complied with the requirements of the Academic Success Plan during the time they were in law school.
A student's petition must include any and all supporting documentation that the student would like the Academic Standards Committee to consider and that would support the Committee finding that the student has established all four factors required to have the petition granted. For this reason, the petition should include any Academic Success Plan documents the student can obtain. The Academic Standards Committee will likely review some or all of the petitioner's Academic Success Plan documents, including in particular any documents showing whether the student complied with any Academic Success Plan. The petition should include the number of hours worked during each semester in attendance at the UNT Dallas College of Law. This listing of documents and information in support of a student's petition is not exclusive. The student bears the burden to supply the Academic Standards Committee with documents and information sufficient to demonstrate the student will succeed at the UNT Dallas College of Law. If the petition is granted, the Committee may set conditions for the student's enrollment, including limits on course hours and specific academic success programming. Before granting an applicant’s petition for re-admission, the Committee must determine that in addition to satisfying the four factors listed above, the applicant must consult with the Assistant Dean of Admissions to ensure that there is a place in the incoming class for the applicant. The Committee's decision to readmit a student must be unanimous. If the Committee decides to grant a petition for readmission, the Committee must provide to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs a statement explaining the considerations that led to the decision to grant readmission to the student that must be included in the student’s file.
Procedures—Re-Admission
1. Once a student has submitted to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs a Petition for Re-Admission, the Associate Dean shall forward the petition to the Registrar and shall notify the Chair of the Academic Standards Committee that a petition has been submitted.
2. As soon as reasonably possible, the Chair of the Academic Standards Committee shall schedule a meeting of the Academic Standards Committee to consider any petition or petitions that have been submitted. Once the meeting has been scheduled, the Chair shall notify the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the Registrar of the date and time of the meeting.
3. The Registrar shall then assemble a package of materials for each student who has submitted a petition, including the petition with supporting documentation; the student’s law school transcript; and the student’s LSAC report. The Registrar shall provide this package of materials to the members of the Academic Standards Committee before the Committee meets to consider the petition. Upon receiving the package of materials, the Committee may request additional information from the Registrar and/or the student.
4. When the Committee meets it shall consider the student’s petition and all supporting documentation provided by the student, and the materials provided by the Registrar. The Committee will make its decision without the personal appearance of the petitioner. The Committee thus encourages petitioners to provide fulsome information and thorough documentation to support a petition. The decision of the Committee is final and there is no reconsideration or appeal of its decision.
Amended by Faculty vote on February 15, 2018; Amended and approved by Faculty vote on December 19, 2019; Amended and approved by Faculty vote on January 22, 2021; Amended and approved by Faculty vote on October 6, 2021; Amended and approved by Faculty vote on September 21, 2022; Amended and approved by Faculty vote on November 22, 2024; Amended and approved by Faculty vote on April 25, 2025