The Committee on Academic Standing reviews the records of any student whose progress is not satisfactory. A student's academic standing is typically satisfactory if the student is making normal progress toward graduation from Grinnell. However, if a student earns fewer than 12 credits of "C" in any semester, his or her case will be reviewed by the Committee on Academic Standing. Students who fall 12 or more credits below the amount listed in the table of normal progress or the minimum required grade point average are not considered to be making adequate progress toward the degree and should expect some action by the Committee on Academic Standing. Such students may be warned, placed on probation, suspended, or dismissed. Students, their advisers, and their parents are notified of committee actions.

Academic probation is a proving period during which a student's continuance at the College is in jeopardy. During this period the student must give evidence of significant progress toward satisfying the graduation requirements and must meet any requirements that may be specified by the Committee on Academic Standing; otherwise, he or she may expect to be dismissed. Students on probation are typically required to complete 16 credits with a grade of "C" or better in each course. The committee may make exceptions to these general rules if warranted by illness or other special circumstances. A student on academic probation should understand that his or her registration for the next semester is tentative and subject to review by the committee.

The College may suspend or dismiss, at any time, a student whose academic standing is not satisfactory. Usually, students who are dismissed have previously been on probation, but action to suspend or dismiss may be taken if a student shows a sudden semester decline in credits earned or has received a previous academic warning. (A student also may be dismissed from the College under conditions set forth in Part III, Judicial Processes, of the Student Handbook.)

A student who earns fewer than 12 credits in a semester or whose cumulative grade point average falls below the minimum prescribed in the following table will ordinarily be placed on probation: