Academic Policies
Academic Standing
Academic Standards and Progress Policy
Cascadia Community College is committed to the academic success
of students. The primary purpose of the Academic Standards and Progress Policy
is to quickly identify and alert students with low academic achievement and
provide those students with assistance to improve their academic performance.
Additionally, the policy is intended to ensure students progress
toward their educational goals.
In 2003, the Legislature of the State of Washington established a law
requiring colleges to develop policies "to ensure that undergraduate students
complete degree and certificate programs in a timely manner in order to make the
most efficient use of instructional resources and provide capacity within the
institution for additional students." WAC 131-12-080 requires that student academic
progress policies address:
- Students who remain on academic probation for more than one quarter;
- Students who accumulate more than 125% of the number of credits required
to complete their degree or certificate programs; and
- Students who drop more than 25% of their course load before the grading
period for the quarter, which prevents efficient use of instructional
resources.
Level I - Academic Alert
Students carrying five or more credits will be placed on Academic Alert at the end of any quarter when the
following occurs:
-
Have attempted 30 credit hours or
more and
-
Quarterly credit hours completed
are less than 75% of the credits attempted for two consecutive quarters. This
includes students who receive a W, V, NC, I or 0.0 grade.
Students placed on Academic Alert will be sent a letter that outlines the
legislative concerns regarding efficient use of instructional resources and
encourages students to prepare carefully for degree and certificate completion
by using campus career and educational planning resources. There is no appeal
process to this level of intervention.
Level II - Academic Warning
Students carrying five or more credits will be placed on Academic Warning at the end of any quarter in
which one of the following occurs:
-
Quarterly GPA is below 2.00.
-
Have attempted 30 credit hours or
more and quarterly credits completed are less than 75% of the credits attempted
for a third consecutive quarter. This includes students who receive a W, V, NC,
I or 0.0 grade.
Students placed on Academic Warning will be sent a letter that offers
effective study tips and strongly encourages students to take advantage of
college support resources for educational planning. There is no appeal process
to this level of intervention.
Students who fail to make satisfactory progress over time will be placed on the next level of academic intervention.
Level III - Academic Probation
A student carrying five or more credits will be placed on Academic Probation at the end of any quarter in
which one of the following occurs:
-
Quarterly GPA is below 2.00 for a
second consecutive quarter.
-
Have attempted 30 credit hours or
more and quarterly credits completed are less than 75% of the credits
attempted, for the fourth consecutive quarter. This includes students who
receive a W, V, NC, I or 0.0 grade.
A student placed on Academic Probation will be required to complete an
Academic Success Plan that outlines steps for improving the student's academic
performance. A student on Academic Probation will be required to submit this
plan to a designated advisor and the advisor may adjust the student's plan.
Registration will be blocked for a student on Academic Probation until the
student secures advisor approval to enroll in specific classes. There is no
appeal process to this level of intervention.
Level IV - Academic Suspension
A student carrying five or more credits will be placed on Academic Suspension at the end of any quarter in
which one of the following occurs:
-
Quarterly GPA is below 2.00, for a
third consecutive quarter.
-
Have attempted 30 credit hours or
more and quarterly credits completed are less than 75% of the credits attempted,
for the fifth consecutive quarter. This includes students who receive a W, V,
Z, NC, I or 0.0 grade.
Students placed on Academic Suspension will not be permitted to register for
any courses for credit the subsequent quarter. Students who are suspended at the
end of spring quarter may not attend summer or fall quarters. While suspended,
students may not participate in events or activities reserved for students.
Suspended students will be blocked from registering. Students who enrolled for
classes prior to suspension status will be administratively withdrawn, and
tuition paid will be refunded.
Students placed on Academic Suspension will be sent a letter that outlines
the appeal process for immediate reinstatement. To be considered for immediate
reinstatement, students must show proof of circumstances over which they did not
have control and/or proof of making measurable and substantial progress towards
improving their grade point average. Students must contact an academic advisor to initiate this process. All appeals are reviewed by the Academic
Standards Committee.
Reinstatement After Suspension. A suspended student may
petition for reinstatement to the college after a waiting period of at least one
quarter (not counting summer quarter).
The student must arrange for an appointment with an advisor at least four (4)
weeks prior to the beginning of the quarter that the student wants to attend.
Prior to the advising appointment, the student must prepare a written plan that
includes;
-
the student's short-term
educational goals;
-
specific plans to overcome barriers
and improve the student's academic progress;
-
proposed course schedule.
The advisor will adjust the plan with the student and outline specific
conditions that the student must meet for reinstatement. These specific
conditions, a proposed schedule, and the student's academic plan will be
forwarded to the Dean for Student Success Services for review. If approved, the
student will continue on probationary status Level III until satisfactory
academic progress has been met. Notification will be sent to the student
outlining conditions of reinstatement.
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Excessive Credits Policy
Students in a degree or certificate program may not take college-level
courses in excess of 150% of the credits needed to complete a degree. To assist
students in meeting this standard, the college will monitor progress at three
critical stages and intervene as specified. Only college-level credits will be
monitored.
Stage I - 85% of Completion
When students reach 85% of the number of credits required for their degree or
certificate, students will receive direct notification from Student Advising and Support
Services.
-
Students will be required to work
with an advisor to develop an academic plan that assures completion of remaining
requirements in a timely manner.
-
The advisor will review credit
completion policies with students and emphasize the potential consequences of
exceeding 125% of the credits required for a degree or certificate.
Stage II - 125% of Completion
When students reach 125% of the number of credits required for their degree
or certificate, students will receive direct notification from Student Advising and
Support Services.
-
Registration will be blocked.
-
Registration will be restricted to
courses relevant to a student's academic plan. Courses will be identified by way
of advisor signature on the appropriate registration form indicating the courses
included in the plan.
-
Students will need to register in
person and will not be able to web register.
-
Students who feel inappropriately
restricted may appeal to the Dean for Student Success Services.
Stage III - 150% of Completion
When students reach 150% of the number of credits required for their degree
or certificate, students will receive direct notification from Student Advising and
Support Services.
-
Registration will be blocked.
-
Students may appeal the registration
block with the Dean for Student Success Services.
-
Students who fail to appeal or whose
appeal is denied, may choose to register for courses and pay a tuition surcharge
of 25%.
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High Scholarship
Cascadia Community College places a high value on scholarship. To encourage and reward high academic achievement, students who distinguish themselves in the classroom each quarter are honored through inclusion in one of two honors lists described below. In addition to receiving a certificate each quarter a student is named to one of the two honor lists, any student named to an honors list for at least one quarter during the academic year is also recognized at the annual Honors Reception held each spring.
President's List
Full-time students who are enrolled for at least 12 college-level credits and who earn a quarterly grade point average of 3.9 to 4.0 will be named to the President’s List.
Faculty Honors List
All students who are enrolled for at least 5 college-level credits and who earn a quarterly grade point average of at least 3.6 will be named to the Faculty Honors List.
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Fresh Start
Students who have not been in attendance at Cascadia Community College or any institution of higher learning for a period of 18 months may request the elimination of their previous Cascadia credits and GPA. The student's academic record and transcript will continue to show the previous courses taken and grades received, but the grades for previous courses will not be used in the calculation of the
student's GPA at Cascadia and duplicate credits earned may not be used to satisfy graduation requirements. If a student transfers to another college or university, the receiving institution will receive transcripts containing all courses taken. The receiving institution may accept
credits and recalculate the GPA according to its own policies.
A student may request a Fresh Start only once by contacting the Dean for
Student Success.
Financial Aid Students
Financial Aid students should consult with the Student Financial Services Office to determine the impact of dropping classes or earning no credit in courses per the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. Financial Aid students who earn zero credits in a quarter (including any combination of the grades listed above and 0.0 grades) may owe a repayment to the college.
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