Introduction
Spokane Falls Community is a state supported public institution. Tuition covers
about 25% of the cost of a student's education. In an effort to assure that state
education funds are used in an efficient manner, legislation was passed in 2003
under Senate Bill 5135 "Lingering Student" which is reflected in RCW 28B.10.695.
This required institutions of higher education to develop policy and procedures
that encourage students to complete their education in a timely manner. Specifically,
the legislation required policy and procedures that address academic standards,
failure to complete coursework, and students who take excessive courses in the pursuit
of their degrees or certificates. The following policy and procedures have been
developed for SFCC in compliance with this legislation.
Fequently Asked Questions
about the new policy
Contents
CHAPTER IV – Instruction and Program Development
Board Policy 4.40.02 Academic Standards Policy
Community Colleges of Spokane’s Academic Standards Policy is intended to support
a successful learning experience for all students. Students enrolled in degree or
certificate programs are expected to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress
as defined by the following three general policy requirements:
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Minimum Grade Point Average: Students must achieve and maintain
the required grade point average
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Credits Earned/Credits Attempted: Students must complete a minimum
percentage of attempted credits per quarter
- Degree/Certificate Completion: Students must complete the degree
or certificate within the maximum credit limit
Community Colleges of Spokane recognize the unique and diverse backgrounds and needs
of students, and while all students are held to the same level of academic excellence,
students with special circumstances may petition for special consideration. Students
enrolled in special programs are also required to follow the requirements specified
by their funding agency. In addition, students receiving federal and/or state financial
aid must follow the Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Policies.
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Academic Standards Policy Procedures
Board Policy 4.40.02 Academic Standards Policy Procedures
Students enrolled in degree or certificate programs are expected to demonstrate
satisfactory academic progress as defined in terms of a student’s grade point average
(GPA) and how much time a student takes to complete a degree or certificate program.
Time is a function of credits attempted and earned. The following procedures address
the three elements of the Community Colleges of Spokane’s (CCS) Academic Standards
Policy 4.40.02.
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Minimum Grade Point Average
A degree seeking student or student enrolled in a certificate program must maintain
a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better in all coursework. Students are encouraged
to consult with instructors, counselors or faculty advisors, and student services
support staff for assistance in achieving their academic goals and objectives. Students
whose GPA falls below a 2.0 are notified of progressive action, to include warning,
probation and suspension.
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Minimum Grade Point Average |
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Action |
Intervention |
Warning
The first quarter that a student’s quarterly grade point average (GPA) is below
a 2.0 the student is placed on Academic Warning.
There is no appeal to academic warning.
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A letter is sent to the student notifying him/her of the potential academic problem.
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The student is provided a list of campus resources to assist him/her in taking early
corrective action.
- Division deans may receive the names of students enrolled in programs within the
division who are on academic warning.
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Probation
A student who is on Academic Warning and whose cumulative* GPA falls below a 2.0
is placed on Academic Probation.
The student remains on academic probation until the cumulative GPA* rises above
a 2.0.
There is no appeal to academic probation.
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A letter is sent to the student notifying him/her of the probation.
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The student is provided notice of the conditions of probation.
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The student is notified that financial aid may be discontinued as determined by
Federal/State Financial Aid Regulations.
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The student is reminded of the potential for future suspension.**
- Division deans may receive the names of students enrolled in programs within the
division who are on academic probation.
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Suspension
A student who is on Academic Probation and whose quarterly* GPA falls below a 2.0
is placed on academic suspension for one quarter.
The student may appeal this suspension.
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A letter is sent to the student notifying him/her of the suspension.
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The student is dropped from all classes and provided the appropriate refund.
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Financial aid may be discontinued as determined by Federal/State Financial Aid Regulations.
- Division deans may receive the names of students enrolled in programs within the
division who are suspended.
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Appeal
The college will establish an appeals committee and a process for reviewing appeals.
A student who is notified of Academic Suspension may appeal this decision and petition
for re-instatement to the college appeals committee. The student must show proof/documentation
of circumstances over which he or she did not have control that led to suspension.
The appeals committee may reinstate the student, alter the terms of suspension,
or uphold the suspension. Decisions of the appeals committee are final.
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Reinstatement
A student who is suspended may apply for reinstatement when the conditions of suspension
have been satisfied. Reinstated students are readmitted on probationary status. |
* Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) will initially track students based on
quarterly and cumulative GPA while Spokane Community College (SCC) will track quarterly
only. This is an attempt by SCC and SFCC to identify the best interval for intervention.
Results will be monitored and analyzed following three quarters of intervention.
** Students on academic probation are permitted to register for the next quarter,
however, once grades are posted those students who fail to meet the acceptable GPA
will be dropped from all classes, suspended from the college and have their financial
aid cancelled.
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Credits Earned/Credits Attempted
A student in a degree or certificate program who has attempted 30 or more credits
must successfully complete at least 75% of attempted credits. Repeated courses and
courses in which the student receives a Special Withdrawal (Z), a Withdrawal (W)
or an Incomplete (I) are included in the total of attempted credits. A student receiving
these alternative grades may not meet credit completion requirements. A student
who fails to complete 75% of attempted coursework is notified of progressive action
to include warning, probation and suspension.
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Credits Earned/Credits Attempted |
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Action |
Intervention |
Warning
The second consecutive enrolled term that a student’s quarterly completion rate
is less than 75% will result in the student being placed on warning status.
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A letter is sent to the student notifying him/her of the academic problem.
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The student is provided a list of campus resources to assist him/her in taking corrective
action.
- Division deans may also receive notification of students placed on warning.
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Probation
The third consecutive enrolled term that a student’s quarterly completion rate is
less than 75% will result in the student being placed on probation status.
The student remains on probation until he/she has completed over 75% of credits
attempted for two quarters.
There is no appeal to this probation.
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A letter is sent to the student notifying him/her of the probation.
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The student is provided notice of the conditions of probation.
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The student may be required to meet with a counselor or faculty advisor to develop
an educational plan prior to registration.
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The student is informed of the potential for suspension in the event he/she fails
to complete 75% of attempted credits while on probation.
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Financial aid may be discontinued as determined by Federal/State Financial Aid Regulations.
- Division deans may receive the names of students enrolled in programs within the
division who are on academic probation.
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Suspension
A student who is on credit completion probation and who fails to complete 75% of
attempted credits during the probationary quarter may be suspended for one quarter.
The student may appeal this decision.
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A letter is sent to the student notifying him/her of the suspension.
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The student is dropped from all classes and provided the appropriate refund.
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Financial aid may be discontinued as determined by Federal/State Financial Aid Regulations.
- Division deans may receive the names of students who have been suspended.
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Appeal
The college will establish an appeals committee and a process for reviewing appeals.
A student who is notified of Academic Suspension may appeal this decision and petition
for re-instatement to the college appeals committee. The student must show proof/
documentation of circumstances over which he or she did not have control that led
to suspension. The appeals committee may reinstate the student, alter the terms
of suspension, or uphold the suspension. Decisions of the appeals committee are
final.
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Reinstatement
A student who is suspended may apply for reinstatement when the conditions of suspension
have been satisfied. Reinstated students are readmitted on probationary status and
must comply with conditions in place at the college for reinstatement.
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Degree/Certificate Completion
A student who is enrolled in a degree or certificate program must complete the program
in at least 125 percent of the program’s credit requirements. A student in a degree
or certificate program may not take college-level courses in excess of 150% of the
credits needed to complete the degree or certificate. For the purposes of this policy,
90 credits will be assumed to be the program length unless otherwise indicated in
Appendix A.
To assist the student in meeting this standard the college will monitor local, college-level
credits leading to degree/certificate completion. A student who does not meet this
standard will be subject to corrective actions.
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Degree/Certificate Completion |
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Action |
Intervention |
STAGE 1
Prior to 65% of credit completion
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A letter is sent to the student prior to the completion of 65% of the number of
credits required for a degree/certificate completion.
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The student will be reminded of the necessity of completing the degree in a timely
manner.
- The student will be provided information on available campus resources to assist
him/her in meeting academic/career goals.
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STAGE 2
85% of credit completion
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A letter is sent to the student who has completed 85% of the college credits allowed
for a degree or certificate program informing the student of the credit status.
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The student is encouraged to meet with a faculty counselor/advisor to develop an
educational plan that assures the completion of remaining requirements in a timely
manner.
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The student is reminded of the possible consequences of exceeding 125% of the credits
required for the degree/certificate.
- Division deans may receive the names of students who completed 85% of credits
required for degree/certificate.
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STAGE 3
125% of Completion: Excess Credit Hold
There is no appeal to this decision.
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A letter is sent to a student who has completed 125% of the college credits allowed
for a degree or certificate program notifying the student he/she has been placed
on an Excess Credit Hold.
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A student on Excess Credit Hold must meet with a counselor/advisor to complete an
educational plan.
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Registration is restricted to courses relevant to the educational plan.
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A student on Excess Credit Hold will need to register in person and will not be
able to web-register.
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Financial aid may be discontinued as determined by Federal/State Financial Aid regulations.
- Division deans may receive the names of students on Excess Credit Hold.
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STAGE 4
150% of Completion
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A student who has completed 150% of the college credits allowed for a degree or
certificate program is sent a letter of notification and is blocked from registration.
- The student may appeal the registration block to the college’s appeals committee.
If the student fails to appeal, or the appeal is denied and the student chooses
to register for courses, an additional tuition surcharge may be applied.
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Special Circumstances
A student who is enrolled in a SFCC or SCC degree or certificate program and is
enrolling in courses that are prerequisites for acceptance into a degree program
at another institution may submit an Excess Credit Exception Appeal Form to request
additional quarters to complete the program. The student will need to include printed
materials from the other institution outlining which courses are required for admission
into the degree program.
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