Foundational requirements for a student to gradate with a bachelor’s degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences include achievement of a minimum grade point average of 2.00 for all course work attempted in the major, as well as for all University of Iowa course work attempted in the major. The College does not permit degree conferral for students who fail to achieve a 2.00 in either the cumulative or University of Iowa grade point average in the major.

The College encourages departments to work with students in their majors early enough to remedy deficient major grade point averages, or suggest a change of major. You may want to have your students to speak with professional academic advisors assigned to your department, if available. Academic staff members in CLAS Undergraduate Programs do routinely reach out to students who have a low major grade point average with at least six semester hours completed in the major, and also are happy to consult with you or meet with students to discuss progress towards graduation.

However, on the rare occasion when an undergraduate student does not achieve the minimum 2.00 grade point average in course work in the major, the College is willing to consider requests from departments to permit graduation as a special exception. Such requests will be considered only if a student has a major grade point average from 1.90-1.99, but the student has demonstrated significant improvement in major course work, often over and above the minimum hours required for the major.

The DEO or the designated faculty director of undergraduate studies must email Jennifer Bertrand, Director of Academic Policies and Student Services (jennifer-bertrand@uiowa.edu), petitioning to waive the 2.00 standard in the major. Students should not write a letter to ask for this waiver. The petition should include a rationale in which the department explains why requiring the student to complete more course work in the major has no pedagogical benefit.

We do not wish to convey to the student any notion that they will be entitled to a waiver from this degree requirement. Departments may decide not to petition the College on the student’s behalf. Please contact Jennifer Bertrand (jennifer-bertrand@uiowa.edu, 319-335-2633) with questions.