Academic policy should be structured in a way that best serves the needs of both the institution and the individual student. Existing policies generally inherited from the past, were designed to protect the institution, and are based upon faulty assumptions regarding reasons for low academic performance. Five guidelines designed to meet the needs of the college and the needs of the student in academic difficulty are suggested: (1) have well established boundaries which are maintained, (2) be clearly understandable to non-members of faculty, (3) provide assistance to the student in setting realistic goals, (4) have an orderly procedure for exceptions, and (5) provide concrete possibilities for action to be taken by the suspended student. (KP)