The Academic Standing Committee (ASC) reviewed ninety-four (94) petitions for readmission by exception following academic suspension between 29th June 1998 and 22nd June 1999. Twenty (20) of these were denied; seventy-three (73) were approved. On one the Committee took no action, as the petitioner failed to appear when the case was reviewed. There were no deferrals.

Prompted by the unusually high number of approved petitions in recent years, ASC undertook a review of the method by which it grants readmission by exception. Specifically, the Committee reconsidered language in the guidelines which emphasizes the "extraordinary" nature of the circumstances in which reinstatement by exception should be granted. As a consequence of this review, the policy guidelines by which the ASC is currently governed were amended and confirmed on 12th January 1999, and sent to the Executive Committee of Faculty Senate.

Other business conducted by the Committee during the 1998-99 academic year:

• met with representatives from the Athletics Department to clarify the consequences for student athletes who wish to withdraw temporarily from OSU before a personal crisis (e.g., death or illness in their families) does irreparable harm to their GPAs. Specifically, the Committee was concerned that such students might be penalized by a reduction or loss of financial aid and/or opportunities to compete (a copy of the relevant minutes of that meeting is attached);

• responded to Faculty Senate President Maggie Niess's charge to (1) consider ways to improve student participation as committee members, including the recruitment of student members and practices to ensure their continued participation, (2) review the Committee's current rules and regulations to ensure that the work of the Committee supports the new budget model, and (3) prepare a summary and analysis of the Committee's perspective on why students are not successful at OSU;

• reviewed the Registrar's preliminary report on the retention of reinstated students which indicated an overall retention rate of 53.7% for the 121 students reinstated by exception over the period Fall 1996 – Fall 1999. This was figure was compared to 58.8% for the 165 students reinstated by the 24-credit rule, 33.1% for the 124 students reinstated by the 2 year absence rule, and 71.4% for the 21 students reinstated by the senior-exception rule.

• responded to the Committee on Committees' charge to review (1) voting procedures, (2) the role of students, (3) the University's strategic goals, and (4) the new funding model;

• revised the "Request for Reinstatement" and "Request for Exception to Reinstatement Regulations" cover sheets;

• composed a memo to Head Advisors listing four recommendations for students on probation (a copy of this memo is attached), and

• is composing an additional memo to be sent to the Deans of all colleges and copied to all academic advisors encouraging a stricter adherence to the perquisites established for courses at OSU. This recommendation is made in response to a number of students who have appeared before the Committee after having performed poorly in courses recommended or approved by an advisor, despite the student's inadequate preparation.

Respectfully submitted,

Jennifer C Cornell, Chair
Academic Standing Committee