Controversy is brewing at the State University of New York at Old Westbury, where school officials have recently started to enforce an old rule that requires on-campus residents to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.

The New York Times reports that one student, whose grades slipped due to an illness during exam week, received a letter informing her of this policy only days before the spring semester. She was also dropped from the meal plan, and her ID card no longer allowed her access to her dorm, making even clearing out her belongings difficult.

Some schools, such as Seton Hall and SUNY Farmingdale, have GPA minimums as well, but lack Old Westbury’s zero tolerance policy, instead offering tutoring and academic monitoring to low-performing students. Other schools offer free or reduced-rate housing to those with high GPAs. Read More »