Original Date: 3/29/2005 * Last Revision Effective: 2/25/2025
Policy Contact: Vice President, Student Affairs
Purpose
The college places high importance on student academic success and helping students achieve their academic and career goals. To ensure that students know about and have access to support services that can assist them in reaching their goals, the college has developed these academic standing procedures to provide progressive interventions for students who struggle academically. The college takes into consideration students’ overall academic progress, which includes grade point average (GPA), number of withdrawals, number of course repeats, and the ratio of attempted credits (credits students register for) versus completed credits (credits in which a student received a C or better), when considering appeals or exceptions to the academic standing policy and procedures.
Except where noted, this procedure applies to all students. The levels of academic standing outlined below apply to a student’s transcript record for the ten (10) quarters prior to the quarter in which an action is taken.
Procedures
Level 1: Academic Concern
The college places students on academic concern after the first quarter in which their cumulative and term GPA falls below a C average. Academic concern is an informational step designed to help students understand that the college is concerned about their academic progress, and to provide information regarding campus resources that are available to support students in reaching their academic and career goals. The college places students on academic concern at the end of the first quarter in which their cumulative GPA falls below a C average (2.0).
The college does not allow an appeal process for the academic concern level. Students on this level will remain on Academic Concern until their cumulative GPA is a 2.0 or higher. Students who have another quarter where their term GPA falls below 2.0 while their cumulative GPA is below 2.0 will move to the next academic standing level.
Level 2: Academic Intervention
The college places students on academic intervention at the end of the second quarter in which their cumulative and term GPA falls below a C average (2.0).
The academic intervention level requires students to complete a workshop, class or other specified academic intervention related to student success strategies. Students may not register for an upcoming quarter until the required intervention is completed. The college does not allow an appeal process for the academic intervention level. Students on this level will remain on academic intervention until their cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher. Students who have another quarter where their term GPA falls below 2.0 while their cumulative GPA is below 2.0 will move to the next academic standing level.
Level 3: Academic Credit Restriction
The college places students on academic credit restriction at the end of the third quarter in which their cumulative and term GPA falls below a C average (2.0). Academic credit restriction prevents students from registering for more than eight (8) credits per quarter until their cumulative GPA is at least a C average (2.0). In addition to the limit on the number of credits a student can register for, the college may also require students to complete academic success interventions, which include, but are not limited to the following:
- Mandatory meetings with an academic advisor or other support staff.
- Development of an education plan.
- Registration in a student success course.
Once a student earns a quarterly GPA of 2.0 or higher for two consecutive quarters, their credit limit will be increased to 10. The restriction is removed when a student’s cumulative GPA is a 2.0 or higher.
Academic Credit Restriction Appeal
Students on academic credit restriction may appeal by following the process outlined by completing the Credit Restriction appeal form located on the Academic Standing website. Instructions for the submission of the appeal and the timeline for review are indicated on the form.
Academic Credit Restriction Exemptions
Some students participating in specific programs are required to register as full-time students. These students may appeal the academic credit restriction prior to completing two quarters but may be required to participate in specified academic success interventions and submit an education plan signed by an academic advisor.
Level 4: Academic Dismissal
The college places students on academic dismissal at the end of the fourth quarter in which their cumulative and term GPA falls below 2.0. Academic dismissal prevents students from registering for classes for a period of one-year (four consecutive quarters).
Academic Dismissal Appeal
Students who are notified of academic dismissal may appeal this action prior to a one-year absence from the college by completing an academic dismissal appeal located on the Academic Standing website and by following the process outlined below.
- Meet with an academic advisor to develop an education plan.
- The plan must outline the courses to be taken and needed to make progress towards degree, certificate, or academic goal completion for the next three quarters.
- The advisor must sign the education plan.
- The education plan must also include a strategy for how students will raise their GPA to at least a C average (2.0) (academic renewal, repeating classes, etc.).
- Provide documentation of the circumstances that prevented successful completion of coursework.
- Outline a plan for how GPA will improve to at least a C average (2.0) over the next three quarters.
During the appeal process, the college reviews a student’s overall academic progress, which includes the rate of completion for all attempted credits, the number of withdrawals, the number of repeated classes, and the quarterly GPA for each quarter. All quarters of a student’s previous attendance are taken into consideration.
Students returning after academic dismissal are placed on Level 3: Academic Credit Restriction and are limited to taking eight credits for at least the first two quarters. Students who are returning may also be required to meet with a staff member to discuss a plan for their return to the college.
Academic Dismissal Exemptions
Some college programs exempt their students from the academic dismissal level, as these programs have strict academic requirements related to participation in those programs. These programs include but may not be limited to Career Education Options and International Education.
Relevant Laws and Other Resources
RCW 28B.10.695
Revision History
Original 3/29/2005
Revisions 5/21/2009; 9/11/2012; 4/6/2015; 3/29/2016; 12/5/2018; 10/19/2020; 12/07/2021; 12/12/23; 4/18/2024; 2/25/2025
Approved By
President’s Cabinet
Last Updated March 17, 2025