The Academic Support Framework (ASF) is the structure used by the School of Arts and Sciences to identify and respond to students who may require additional support to make satisfactory progress towards degree completion. Through early intervention and proactive advising, the ASF empowers students to identify and access the resources they need to achieve their academic goals. 

There are four academic standing categories under the ASF:

• Good Academic Standing
• Academic Recovery Commitment (ARC)
• Mandatory Withdrawal for Academic Reasons (MWAR), which is an Academic Suspension
• Academic Separation 

The ASF uses five criteria to determine academic standing.

• Cumulative GPA
• E accumulation over time
• D accumulation over time
• Single term performance (credits earned)
• Previous interventions

Good Academic Standing - A student is in Good Academic Standing when they are not on an Academic Recovery Commitment, taking a Mandatory Withdrawal for Academic Recovery, or Academically Separated. This is the default standing for any student entering Dartmouth. 

Academic Recovery Commitment (ARC) - A student is placed on an ARC when one or more of the following criteria are met. It is important to recognize that only one of these conditions must be met for a student to be placed on an ARC. Each individual term a student is on an ARC counts as a unique ARC term, even if the student is on an ARC in consecutive terms. 

• Between two and four E grades in a single term or over two consecutive terms, OR
• Seven total D grades, OR
• Only one credit earned in a term, OR 
• Cumulative GPA 1.60 or below. 

Mandatory Withdrawal for Academic Recovery (MWAR) - A MWAR is an academic suspension. A student is placed on a MWAR when one or more of the following criteria are met: 

Has been on an ARC within the last three enrolled terms AND one or more of the following criteria are met:

• Two or more E grades in a single term, OR
• More than four E grades over the course of two consecutive terms, OR
• Cumulative GPA 1.60 or below.

OR

• A student will be placed on MWAR if their grades would result in a third ARC.

Academic Separation - Academic Separation is permanent removal for unsatisfactory scholarship. A student is academically separated from the college when one or more of the following criteria are met.

• Has been on a Mandatory Withdrawal for Academic Reasons within the last three enrolled terms AND one or more of the following criteria are met:
• Four or more E grades over two consecutive terms OR
• Cumulative GPA 1.60 or below
  
   

Beginning in Fall 2026, all students will be held to the standards outlined in the Academic Support Framework. Students who matriculated prior to Fall 2026 may have academic records that include actions under the previous Academic Actions system. As those actions were earned under the previous system, they will remain on the student’s record. 

• All active undergraduate students will start the Fall 2026 term in good academic standing.
• For students who were previously placed on academic risk, warning, or probation but never completed an academic suspension or withdrawal with prejudice, the first change in academic standing will be a first Academic Recovery Commitment. 
• For students who were suspended or withdrawn with prejudice and have subsequently been enrolled for at least three terms, the first change in academic standing will be a first Academic Recovery Commitment.
• For students who have been previously suspended or withdrawn with prejudice within their last three enrolled terms, the first change in academic standing will be a second Academic Recovery Commitment. As noted above, a student will be placed on MWAR if their grades would result in a third ARC.

An Academic Recovery Commitment (ARC) is both an academic standing and a living document created by the student, with guidance from advisors, that outlines their vision and plan for achieving their academic goals. The student will work on this document in the first week of the term with the Academic Improvement Specialist and will submit it to the Academic Support Team for approval. The Academic Support Team is a sub-committee of the Committee on Standards charged with reviewing students’ ARC plans and hearing requests for review of MWAR and Academic Separation.

The document asks students to reflect on their journey at Dartmouth thus far, to identify campus and other resources that they would benefit from in the upcoming term, and to articulate their concrete plan for academic improvement. This is a student-driven, collaborative process that empowers the student to reflect on what support they need to be successful in returning to Good Academic Standing and achieving their academic goals. Students on an ARC are expected to follow their plan and avail themselves of the resources that they have identified as vital to their success. Some typical components of the ARC are regular and consistent meetings with the Academic Improvement Specialist to check-in on their ARC progress; consistent class attendance; regular use of office hours; and engagement with programming and individual academic coaching in the Academic Skills Center. A student’s engagement with the ARC will be considered by the Academic Support Team in any appeals to future Mandatory Withdrawals for Academic Reasons.

The ARC is intended to be supportive, not restrictive. That said, some extracurricular organizations and experiences require students to be in Good Academic Standing as a condition for participation. Students should contact the Undergraduate Deans Office with specific questions about eligibility.

A Mandatory Withdrawal for Academic Recovery (MWAR) is an academic suspension. When placed on this status, a student is required to take three terms away from Dartmouth to address the factors that are impacting their academic performance and to prepare for re-engagement with academic work. Students may not make progress towards their degree while they are suspended. Suspension is permanently recorded in the student record maintained by the Undergraduate Deans Office and will be noted on the student’s transcript during the period of suspension. College verification of student records in connection with law school, graduate school, employment and other applications will include reports of academic suspensions. Additional information about Deans Certifications is available on the UDO website. 

A student is in Good Academic Standing following any term that does not place them on Academic Recovery Commitment or Mandatory Withdrawal for Academic Reasons. Please see the criteria for these statuses above for more information.

When academically separated, a student is permanently removed from the College community for unsatisfactory scholarship. Separation is permanently recorded in the student record maintained by the Undergraduate Deans Office and will be noted on the student’s transcript. College verification of student records in connection with law school, graduate school, employment and other applications will include reports of academic separations. Additional information about Deans Certifications is available on the UDO website. 

Students whose grades and prior engagement with the ASF prompts either a Mandatory Withdrawal for Academic Reasons or an Academic Separation have the opportunity to request  reconsideration. Requests for reconsideration will be reviewed by the Academic Support Team. Students will receive outreach from their undergraduate dean and will work with their dean throughout the reconsideration process. The student must demonstrate meaningful engagement and adherence to their most recently approved Academic Recovery Commitment in the request for reconsideration. Reconsideration of Mandatory Withdrawal for Academic Recovery will result in either Mandatory Withdrawal for Academic Recovery being upheld or approval of an Academic Recovery Commitment. Reconsideration of Academic Separation will result in either Academic Separation being upheld or Mandatory Withdrawal for Academic Recovery.

Faculty should continue to share concerns about students using the Dartmouth Student Academic Support Application (DSASA). Specific information regarding a student’s academic standing is not routinely shared with faculty unless there is a need to know. Demonstrated engagement with faculty (i.e., attending office hours, review sessions, etc.) may be an aspect of a student’s Academic Recovery Commitment, but specific faculty support of any student will remain unchanged as part of the ASF.

Students on an ARC may identify individual staff members or specific offices to include in their Academic Recovery Commitment plan. Most college staff are not routinely notified of a student’s academic standing outside of what is appropriate for their normal job responsibilities. Many staff play a critical role in students’ academic success, and it is likely that students may choose to share their academic standing with certain staff members. Staff can help reinforce the supportive, non-punitive nature of the ASF.

Unless your normal job responsibilities include knowledge of an individual student’s academic standing (i.e., eligibility for certain programming, athletic eligibility, financial aid, etc.), then you likely do not need to know a student’s academic standing. 

Students who are placed on an Academic Recovery Commitment are free to engage with any of the academic support resources that are available to the undergraduate student body. In addition, they will complete an ARC form that will detail the specific resources they are planning to engage with and will have regular meetings with the Academic Improvement Specialist to check-in on their ARC. Undergraduate Deans will also provide regular outreach and support to students on an Academic Recovery Commitment. 

Mental and physical wellness are important factors in a student’s academic performance. Students are encouraged to engage with Dartmouth College Health Services counseling services or primary care if their mental or physical health are significantly impacting their experience at Dartmouth. These offices may also be included in a student’s Academic Recovery Commitment as resources that a student plans to engage with as they attempt to return to Good Academic Standing.

Additionally, undergraduate students can engage in the Time Away process at any time. If a student’s mental or physical health has contributed to their change in academic standing (e.g., Academic Recovery Commitment or Mandatory Withdrawal for Academic Reasons), they are encouraged to consider the option of taking Time Away for Medical Reasons. For more information, students should contact their Undergraduate Dean or the Time Away Office. 

No. Undergraduate Deans provide regular outreach to all students regarding academic resources. Students who are facing academic challenges but remain in Good Academic Standing will receive specific outreach and support from their Undergraduate Dean and are welcome to meet with their Dean at any point for further resources and referrals. Additionally, academic resources across campus are open to all students regardless of academic status within the ASF.