Academic Student Progress
What is Academic Student Progress?
Academic Student Progress refers to Seattle College District Policy Number 311 that affects all students enrolled in certificate or degree programs and students taking prerequisite college courses numbered 100 and above.
Students are expected to make satisfactory academic progress while enrolled at the Seattle Colleges. Satisfactory progress means that students are passing and completing their coursework and educational programs. Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. Students are placed on Academic Alert the first quarter their GPA falls below a 2.0. Students are placed on Academic Probation when their cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 for two consecutive quarters of attendance. Three quarters of low scholarship may result in Academic Suspension.
Students who are enrolled in specialized programs such as Seattle Promise, High School Completion, Running Start, International Students, certain career training programs, Veterans, and students receiving Financial Aid may have different and/or additional academic standard requirements and appeal processes to those listed below. Students in these programs should contact their program’s advisor for more information.
Questions? Contact your advisor directly to learn more.
What does this mean?
Considered a first warning, Academic Alert is an academic standing status that is placed if your cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0.
Once final grades are posted and your academic standing is updated to this status, an email will be sent that encourages you to schedule an appointment in Starfish with your assigned Area of Study Advisor to help identify strategies for college success.
Your Advisor will also share information about campus resources and can assist in clarifying and achieving educational, career and/or personal goals.
What to do if you’re placed on Academic Alert...
- Try not to worry. Academic Alert is the first check point that is used to see if there’s any support or resources to help you bring your cumulative GPA above a 2.0 next quarter.
- Schedule a 30-minute appointment with your assigned Area of Study Advisor. A discussion like this deserves some dedicated time, rather than seeing an advisor during drop-ins.
- Make a plan for next quarter. Reflect on the small changes you can make next quarter in order to help your chances of boosting your cumulative GPA. Review your education plan with your advisor to see if you could swap out classes for a more balanced schedule or learn about how the number of units (credits) you’re taking can impact your success.
What does this mean?
Considered a second checkpoint for your academic progress, Academic Probation is an academic standing status that is placed if your cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0 for two consecutive quarters of attendance.
Once final grades are posted and your academic standing is updated to this status, an email will be sent stating that you must meet with your assigned Area of Study Advisor before making any changes to your registered classes for the next quarter. A hold is placed on your academic record that may be temporarily lifted during special circumstances, but you must meet with your advisor to get the hold removed for the quarter.
Your advisor will help you create a success plan for next quarter, share campus resources, and may refer you to Counseling for an appointment or one of their many HDC classes to support your success.
What to do if you’re placed on Academic Probation...
- Schedule a 30-minute appointment with your assigned Area of Study Advisor. A discussion like this deserves some dedicated time, rather than seeing an advisor during drop-ins.
- Complete the Student Success Plan and Survey (PDF). Set aside some time to reflect on your experiences thus far and answer each question. Send the completed packet to your advisor before your meeting as a starting point to develop a written success plan to improve your GPA.
- Make a plan for next quarter. Reflect on the small changes you can make next quarter in order to help your chances of boosting your cumulative GPA. Review your education plan with your advisor to see if you could swap out classes for a more balanced schedule or learn about how the number of units (credits) you’re taking can impact your success.
- Schedule follow-up appointments with your advisor throughout the quarter. Use these meetings to talk about how your classes are going, share improvements or challenges you have been experiencing, and to see if there are any other resources you should know about.
What does this mean?
Academic Suspension is the third checkpoint for your academic progress and is an academic standing status that is placed if your cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0 for three consecutive quarters of attendance and your previous quarterly GPA was below a 2.0.
Once final grades are posted and your academic standing is updated to this status, an email will be sent stating that you have been placed on Academic Suspension and your classes for the next quarter are dropped.
If you are on Academic Suspension, you are not permitted to take classes at North Seattle College for one academic year, or four quarters, following the suspension. However, you may appeal for reinstatement during this time by completing and submitting an Application for Reinstatement (PDF) to the Director of Advising.
What to do if you’re placed on Academic Suspension...
- Schedule a 30-minute appointment with your assigned Area of Study Advisor. A discussion like this deserves some dedicated time, rather than seeing an advisor during drop-ins.
- Review your Student Success Plan and Survey you submitted to your advisor. Take some time to identify the areas that you could improve on.
- Consider Reinstatement (see section below to learn more about the process).
- Remember that it is okay to take a break to reassess your academic goals before returning with a strong start! Feel free to reach out to your assigned advisor to discuss your options.
Students who are on Academic Suspension must take one quarter off from the college, but may choose to apply for reinstatement if they wish to return before four consecutive quarters have passed. Learn more about the process below:
- Prepare your materials, which includes a letter to the reinstatement appeals committee outlining your educational goals, extenuating circumstances, and how you will work to be successful if reinstated.
- Email your letter, relevant documents, unofficial transcripts, and the signed form to AdvisorNorth@seattlecolleges.edu no later than three weeks before the start of the quarter in which you want to return.
- The appeals committee will review your packet and make a recommendation. The Director of Advising will contact you to set up an appointment to discuss the recommendation and next steps.