Academic Reinstatement and Re-enrollment

Recommendations after a First Academic Suspension

To be reinstated, a student who has been suspended for academic reasons must present convincing evidence that the barriers to academic success have been corrected or eliminated. There are various ways in which a student can prepare themselves for re-enrollment, including:

Students should consider completing at least two courses at another institution. These courses must be comparable to courses offered at W&M. Credits earned while a student is academically suspended from William & Mary will not transfer and do not count toward a William & Mary degree. These courses, however, may help the student strengthen a weak background and will demonstrate academic responsibility. While taking course(s) away from W&M, students should make sure to register as a "non-degree seeking student" at the other institution.
Students may also consider employment or volunteer work averaging at least 20 hours per week, during the period of suspension. This work is viewed as an indication of maturity and seriousness of purpose. Many work skills are also skills related to successful academic achievement.
Students also may benefit from professional help if they are dealing with medical issues, mental health concerns, family circumstances, financial difficulties, deficiencies in academic skills, or other personal matters.

Recommendations after a Second Academic Suspension

It is unlikely that a student who is suspended twice from William & Mary for academic reasons by the Committee on Academic Status will be reinstated. If you would like to consider options for reinstatement after a second suspension, please reach out to advising@wm.edu to discuss further.

Important Dates for Reinstatement

Reinstatement and reenrollment are not automatic. Reinstatement petitions must be submitted two weeks prior to the reenrollment deadline to allow time for Committee review and reenrollment processing. Do not wait until the last minute!

Students who were academically suspended in May may apply for reinstatement starting October 1. To return for the following spring semester your completed petition must be submitted by November 1. All other future semesters must be submitted two weeks prior to the reenrollment deadline.

Students who were academically suspended in January may apply for reinstatement after May 1. To return for the following fall semester, your completed petition must be submitted by July 1.

Reinstatement Process

To apply for reinstatement, a student must petition the Committee on Academic Status. Consider using the Academic Reinstatement Resource Guide as a resource.

Required in for the petition:

Meet with an academic advisor at the Advising Center or your major advisor. Create an academic plan developed in conjunction with an academic advisor. To make an appointment with an academic advisor for a reinstatement plan, email advising@wm.edu.

Plan to utilize academic success strategies by meeting with member of Academic Wellbeing. To make an appointment with a member of Academic Wellbeing, email academicwellbeing@wm.edu

Your personal statement must include:

A detailed account of activities the student participated in during the period of academic suspension from William & Mary.
A discussion of the factors that were barriers to academic success and the manner in which those factors have been overcome.
Current academic goals and a specific plan to achieve them including

Optional:

If a student took courses elsewhere, they could arrange for unofficial transcripts or letters from professors of courses in progress. This can be submitted as files with your petition, or sent to advising@wm.edu.
Students may choose to provide a letter of recommendation from an employer/volunteer supervisor/mentor (not next of kin), to highlight the student’s accomplishments during suspension. These can be submitted as files with your petition, or sent to advising@wm.edu.

Reenrollment

After a student receives notification of reinstatement, the student must submit an application for reenrollment if the student wishes to return to William & Mary and has not enrolled as a degree-seeking student at another institution since last attending William & Mary.

Further Information

Questions concerning these policies should be addressed to the Advising Center by emailing [[advising]] or calling 757-221-2476.