40 women students at Yanbu University College have been removed from their courses for failing to meet required academic standards. College head Abdul Karim Al-Alwani said that their failure to achieve an average grade of 2 over a regular academic term invoked the ruling, but added that the doors were not closed for them to return. Regulations state, however, that the students have to spend a minimum of one academic semester away from the college. Students are expelled, according to Al-Alwani, if they fail to achieve a grade of 1.5 in any given semester or if their cumulative grades over a period of several consecutive semesters fail to add up to 2. “Students have the right to request re-admittance after the passing of one academic semester,” Al-Alwani said, adding that a review committee is then assigned to assess the student's academic situation and future chances of success. The 40 students, who were informed of the move on Thursday, have presented a formal complaint to the college describing the decision as “arbitrary and late”, given that studies had already recommenced and study timetables had been published. “Management at the women students' department, including the student counselor, have not been in their offices when we've tried to see them about this, so we made the complaint to the college head,” they said.
