Academic Catalog

Academic Probation

An undergraduate student attempting five or more college-level credits at SPU will be placed on probation level 1 when their total SPU college-level cumulative grade-point average first falls below a 2.0. The student is removed from academic probation status at the end of the quarter in which they raise the SPU college-level cumulative grade-point average to 2.0 or above.  Below college level credit (0-0999) does not factor into academic standing.

When a student leaves the University while on academic probation, the student resumes the same probation status upon returning as when leaving. The student is removed from probation at the end of the quarter in which a cumulative SPU GPA of 2.0 or better is achieved. No student will receive a degree until they are removed from academic probation.

The quarterly SPU GPA that determines a student’s academic standing will take into account the entire SPU GPA from that quarter and will not exclude grades from repeated courses in which the student earned equal or higher grades in past quarters.

Probation Level 1

Students on probation level 1 are asked to complete an Academic Reflection Survey and meet with their academic counselor in the Academic Counseling Office to develop a plan that outlines goals and appropriate means to meet those goals toward achieving academic success. This meeting must occur before the fifth day of the quarter. Students also are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisors.

If, after a second quarter, a student's cumulative SPU GPA remains below 2.0 and the quarterly GPA is below 2.0, the student will be placed on probation level two.

Probation Level 2

A student on probation level 2 may not enroll in more than 13 credits. Again, students are asked to complete an Academic Reflection Survey, meet with an academic counselor and faculty advisor. 

If a student on probation level 2 does not earn a quarterly GPA of 2.0 or raise their cumulative GPA to 2.0, the student will be dismissed from the University. The academic dismissal will be noted on the student’s academic record.

Academic Dismissal

An academically dismissed student can apply for reinstatement after two quarters away from Seattle Pacific University (which can include summer). 

Academic Reinstatement

Additional information on the academic reinstatement process can be found on the Academic Counseling website.

A student who is granted reinstatement will still be considered on academic probation level 2 upon re-entry until their cumulative SPU GPA is a 2.0 or higher. A reinstated student will be dismissed if they fail to attain either a quarterly GPA of 2.0 or higher or a cumulative SPU GPA of 2.0 or above by the end of the first quarter back.

If a student on academic probation leaves the University, that person resumes the same probation status upon returning as when leaving. The student is removed from probation at the end of the quarter in which a cumulative SPU GPA of 2.0 or better is achieved. No student will receive a degree until they are removed from academic probation.

Quarterly GPA below 2.0

In addition to tracking students’ total SPU GPA, the University monitors their quarterly SPU GPA so that resources may be offered to students showing signs of academic struggle. Therefore, students whose quarterly GPA falls below the 2.0 threshold will be required to meet with their faculty advisor, even if a student's SPU cumulative GPA is above the 2.0 threshold. A student who earns below a 2.0 GPA in a given quarter must meet with an advisor before a registration hold applied to the student’s records will be lifted.