Level 4: Academic Dismissal

Read rules and guidelines related to academic dismissal at BC.

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Level 4 – Academic Dismissal

  • The college places you on academic dismissal at the end of the fourth quarter in which your overall and term GPA falls below a C average (2.0). 
  • Academic dismissal restricts your enrollment at Bellevue College for one academic year.

Dismissal Appeals

  • Students on academic dismissal are required to submit an appeal at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the quarter.
  • If you are submitting an appeal, you are required to do the following:
    • Provide the appeals committee with any extenuating circumstances you experienced that impacted your academic standing.
    • Schedule a dismissal appeal appointment with a member of the Student Success & Retention team to develop an educational plan
    • The plan must outline the courses to be taken over the next 4 quarters and needed to make progress towards your degree, certificate, or academic goal. Remember that each quarter must not exceed 8 credits. Your plan must also be signed.
  • If your appeal is approved, you will continue on academic credit restriction. If you do not earn a quarterly GPA of 2.0 during the next quarter after readmission, you will be dismissed for another four quarters.

Returning After 1 Year Dismissal

If you are returning to Bellevue College after sitting out for one academic year, you are still required to submit an Academic Standing Appeal and must follow the procedures above for your appeal to be reviewed.

Academic Renewal

Students returning to Bellevue College after a break in taking credit classes or those who have completed all of the coursework and requirements for a degree or certificate may petition for academic renewal. Academic renewal replaces all original grades students earned in select quarters with a grade of “X,” which is not included in the calculation of their Bellevue College grade point average (GPA). The college allows this as a one-time irreversible option for students who meet the following criteria:

  • The student took a minimum one-year (four consecutive quarters) break in taking classes and earns at least a “B-“ quarterly and cumulative GPA in three (3) consecutive quarters starting immediately upon the student’s return to the college; or
  • The student has completed all coursework and requirements necessary for degree or certificate completions, and has applied for graduation.

If you submit an appeal for academic renewal, refer to the Student Central Processing Dashboard to determine where Student Central is in processing your appeal. Contact Student Central for any appeal related questions.

What if My Appeal is Denied? 

  • Think about taking a quarter to reflect on what you really want out of your education.  Sometimes focusing on college and doing well can be extremely challenging when you have competing priorities and/or you are not clear about your academic, career, and personal goals. Take the time you need to ensure you return when you are ready and more prepared. 
  • Think about another institution – Bellevue College is not the only college out there and it might be good to try out another school to see if it is a better fit. If you take a class and do well, you can always use that as part of a future appeal. This can demonstrate your readiness for success.  

Is There a Benefit to Sitting Out a Year? 

  • Taking some time to reflect on your goals is one of the best ways to develop a plan of success in the future. 
  • If you sit out a year, you could qualify for Academic Renewal (see above). Academic Renewal is a way to repair your transcript and can get you off to a fresh start.  An Academic Advisor can discuss Academic Renewal when you are ready to return.  
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