Honors Academic Standing

The Honors College is pledged to helping you succeed both academically and personally here at UMaine, and to providing guidance to ensure that you are staying on track as you progress through the Honors curriculum.  To that end, at the end of each semester we review the GPA and Honors progress of all students in the college. 

Note: In order to graduate from the Honors College, students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 and have earned grades of C or above in all Honors classes.

Academic Standing Policy (students who joined Honors prior to Fall 2025)

Graduation from the Honors College requires completion of all curricular requirements, a cumulative GPA of 3.30, and a grade of C or better in all Honors courses.  These courses may be repeated once for credit.

Students who fall below a 3.30 GPA are subject to academic action caution based upon a set of GPA thresholds for each cohort (determined by date of admission to UMaine).

  • At the end of their first year in Honors, students whose cumulative GPAs are below 2.7 are subject to dismissal from the Honors College, and students whose GPAs range from 2.7-2.99 will remain in Honors, but will be placed on caution status.
  • At the end of the second year in Honors, students whose cumulative GPAs are below 3.00 are subject to dismissal from the Honors College, and students whose GPAs range from 3.00-3.14 will remain in Honors, but will be placed on caution status.
  • At the end of the third year in Honors, students whose cumulative GPAs are below 3.15 are subject to dismissal from the Honors College, and students whose GPAs range from 3.15-3.29 will remain in Honors, but will be placed on caution status.

Academic Standing Policy (students who joined Honors Fall 2025 or after)

Good standing in and graduation from the Honors College requires a cumulative GPA of 3.30, and a grade of C or better in all Honors courses.  

The Honors College monitors students’ progress in their coursework each semester, including GPAs and Honors grades, and in the program overall. Stated due dates, deadlines, and expectations are designed to ensure that students stay on track, fulfill requirements in a timely fashion, and complete high-quality work.

The following conditions are grounds for Honors College probation:

  • Cumulative GPA between 2.7 and 3.29;
  • Grade below C in any Honors course; GPA below 3.3.  


Probationary process:

Students on probation will be required to meet with a member of the Honors administrative team to establish the conditions by which they will maintain their place in Honors. Conditions will vary, depending on individual situations. Once the conditions/terms are established, students will meet with the Coordinator of Academic Advising and Student Success (first- and second-year students) or the Associate Dean (third- and fourth-year students) to discuss how to reach their goals. Students who meet their conditions will maintain their place in the college; students who do not meet their conditions will be dismissed from the Honors College. Typically, only two semesters of probation (whether consecutive or total) are allowed during a student’s tenure in Honors.

Note: the Honors College probation process is an internal one and does not have an impact on your academic standing in your degree program or at UMaine more generally.  

The following conditions are grounds for Honors College dismissal: 

  • Cumulative GPA lower than 2.70
  • Grade below C in any Honors course
  • Not meeting expectations for progress in Honors, e.g.,
  • Not being registered for an Honors class for two or more semesters without prior arrangement with the Honors College;
  • Not progressing on the thesis (including not meeting thesis form deadlines or not responding in a timely fashion  to outreach from your advisor or the Honors College);
  • Not fulfilling the conditions of academic probation


Students may appeal their dismissal; if reinstated, they move into the probationary process, as outlined above.  Students who are reinstated but do not meet the terms of their probation will be permanently dismissed from the college; no further appeals will be allowed. 


Honors College Withdrawal: 

Students seeking to withdraw from the Honors College should send an email to honors@maine.edu for information about the withdrawal process.

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