A graduate student cannot graduate with a cumulative SPU GPA below 3.0 (with the exception of students in the Seattle Pacific Seminary, who may graduate with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50). Any graduate student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 shall be placed on Level 1 academic probation (Seattle Pacific Seminary students will be placed on probation if the student’s cumulative SPU GPA falls below 2.50).
- Students placed on academic probation must contact their program advisor to create a plan to raise the student’s GPA. A registration hold may be placed on the student’s account until the student meets with an advisor.
- Students on probation must review their program handbook regarding specific program policies related to academic probation, dismissal, and reinstatement.
- While on Level 1 academic probation, master’s students may take up to 6 additional credits in the graduate program to which they have been admitted (doctoral students may take up to 9 additional credits). Students who do not improve will be dismissed at the end of their Level 1 probation term. Students who obtain a quarterly GPA of 3.0 (2.5 for SPS students), but have not yet met the graduation standard, will be placed on Level 2 probation, and may take an additional quarter of up to 6 additional credits (9 for doctoral students).
- Failure to achieve the graduation standard by the completion of Level 2 probation will normally result in dismissal from the program and from SPU. Students who have obtained a quarterly GPA of 3.0 (2.5 for SPS students), but have not yet met the standard after the second quarter of probation, a third opportunity (i.e., Level 3 probation) to improve may be granted providing it can be reasonably projected that the graduation standard will be reached at the conclusion of the third quarter on probation, at the discretion of the program chair or the governing body of faculty within the student’s department. Under no circumstance will a student be allowed to progress on probation status into a fourth term.
- Dismissed students may petition the program for reinstatement after one quarter of absence.
- Reinstated students will be granted one additional opportunity to take up to 6 additional credits in the graduate program to which they have been admitted (doctoral students may take up to 9 additional credits). Since the student remains on academic probation, even upon reinstatement, the student must earn at least a quarterly 3.0 GPA or meet the graduation standard of a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Otherwise, the student will be dismissed for a second time.