ACE College Policies

An Academic Alert email is sent to any student who received their 1st NP grade in ESL1068. An email is sent to serve as a reminder that continued below-average academic performance may result in Academic Probation, and possibly Academic Suspension in later terms. An Academic Alert is a signal to direct the student toward academic improvement.

During the next fall or spring semester of classes, a student on ACE Academic Alert will be required to complete a Success Plan through the Academic Writing Center while working to retake the course and pass it successfully. 

If the student passes ESL1068 after taking it for the 2nd time, the student’s ACE academic alert will be removed from Catalyst, and the student will have permission to register for ESL1069 in the following semester.

Note: ESL1068 is only offered in fall and spring semesters. It is not offered during summer semester. 

An Academic Probation email is sent to any student who received their 2nd NP grade in ESL1068. Academic Probation is intended to inform students that they are making unsatisfactory progress and need to seriously change their study habits. This will signal to students the potential danger to their academic goals and allow students an opportunity to demonstrate acceptable performance.

During the next fall or spring semester of classes, a student on ACE Academic Probation will be required to complete a Success Plan through the Academic Writing Center while working to retake the course and pass it successfully. 

The student will also be required to meet with their ACE academic advisor once a month to check in and discuss their progress in ESL1068 and their Academic Writing Center Success Plan.

If the student passes ESL1068 after taking it for the 3rd time, the student’s ACE academic probation will be removed from Catalyst, and the student will have permission to register for ESL1069 in the following semester. 

Note: ESL1068 is only offered in fall and spring semesters. It is not offered during summer semester.

An Academic Suspension email is sent to any student who received their 3rd NP grade in ESL1068. A student on Academic Suspension may not enroll in classes at the University of Cincinnati during the suspension period. If a student has already registered for classes for the next semester before being placed on Academic Suspension, those classes will be dropped by the UC Registrar (i.e., enrollment is cancelled).

The length of the Academic Suspension is 3 full semesters (i.e., one academic year).

A student can submit an Appeal Letter to ACE to request reconsideration of their Academic Suspension status. 

Readmission after the mandatory suspension period is not automatic. Suspended students must submit a petition for readmission after completing the suspension period and meeting with the ACE academic advisor. The suspended student must submit an application for readmission to ACE, supported by 1) a letter documenting the reasons for the previous academic difficulties, and 2) an advisor-approved plan for passing ESL1068 and all remaining ESL composition courses required for ACE students. 

Information Suspension Details for F-1 students:

If a student does not submit an Appeal Letter, OR if ACE denies a student’s Appeal Letter, then international ACE students on F-1 visas must depart the US or transfer to another institution within 21 days after the date of end of the semester or their Appeal Letter denial.

If an international ACE student departs the US, their F-1 record will be terminated and the student will need to pay new SEVIS fee to return to the US on F-1 status in the future.

If an international ACE student transfers to another institution, their F-1 record will be transferred and student will maintain their F-1 status in the US.

Every fall and spring semester, international students on F-1 visas are required by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enroll in and attend classes full-time (12+ credit hours, with 9+ credit hours in-person).

This requirement comes from the US Government. For more information: F-1 Student Visa - International Services | University of Cincinnati

As a result, ACE has the following college policy:

Every fall and spring semester, international ACE students on F-1 visas are considered in violation of F-1 immigration status and will be asked to 1) leave the US and 2) drop all classes if they have skipped 3+ weeks of classes. 
 
This is because:

1. UC faculty and staff have confirmed that it is impossible for students to catch up in courses if they have missed 3+ weeks of classes, and  
2. International students who are enrolled full-time but are not attending classes are not fulfilling the full-time study requirement of their F-1 status from the US government, an
3. ACE wants to support student success – and this support sometimes means requiring that students try again fresh in a new semester, to protect students’ GPA and increase their chances to successfully complete ACE and transition to their desired college at UC. 

Students’ attendance information will be confirmed by professors to the ACE academic advisor. 

If a student’s professors confirm that the student has skipped 3+ weeks of classes, then: 

• The ACE academic advisor will work with International Services to guide the student through submission of the required eForms in iBearcatsGlobal and confirm the deadline by which the student needs to depart the US and return to their home country for the remainder of the semester
• The ACE academic advisor will guide the student through the necessary steps and procedures required to drop all their classes 
• The ACE academic advisor will provide the student with information and resources available to support them with the challenges they are facing
• The ACE academic advisor will work with the student to update their academic plan and make specific plans for a fresh start with support in the next semester 

Note: An international ACE student returning home for the remainder of the semester should be able to return to the US on their current F-1 status, if they do not spend 5+ months in their home country before returning to UC.