Academic Standards Policy
The Academic Standards Policy (ASP) applies to students who have a quarterly and cumulative GPA below 2.0. The goal and purpose of ASP is to provide support to students so they can examine their educational journey while working with the college to pave a successful road ahead to their educational goals.
Highline College Academic Standards Policy became inactive during the COVID-19 pandemic, and since Spring 2023 there has been a provisional policy. Starting Spring 2025, Highline College implemented the finalized and approved new Academic Standards Policy. Within this new policy students were provided a starting point of Level 1 Academic Standing to ensure no further consequences for previous quarters.
ASP and its related procedures are in accordance with RCW 28B.10.695 and WAC 131-12-080.
Contact Information
If you have questions about the Academic Standards Policy, contact Sarijana Clark.
Types of Academic Standing (as of March 2025):
- Satisfactory Academic Standing: Satisfactory Academic Standing is a status indicating a student is meeting ASP requirements by maintaining a quarterly and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Level 1 Academic Standing
- Students are placed on this level if both their quarterly and cumulative GPAs are below 2.0 for one quarter.
- Students on this level are placed an ASP Level 1 registration hold and they must complete an Academic Improvement Plan in order to have the hold lifted.
- Level 2 Academic Standing
- Students are placed on this level when both their quarterly and cumulative GPAs are below 2.0 for two consecutive quarters.
- Students on this level are placed an ASP Level 2 registration hold and must complete all of the following to have the hold lifted:
- Submit an Academic Improvement Plan approved by Highline College staff or faculty and
- Participate in an Academic Standards Policy sponsored activity.
- Level 3 Academic Standing
- Students are placed on this level when both their quarterly and cumulative GPAs are below 2.0 for three or more consecutive quarters. At this level, the college is concerned about continued challenges and requires the student to pause their enrollment to re-evaluate their academic progress before returning.
- Students on this level are placed on ASP Level 3 registration hold, and their classes will be dropped by the 100% refund date of the following quarter. There will be an appeal process for students that want to continue their enrollment, which is still being created.
*Academic Suspension is different from Financial Aid Suspension. Students who have questions about funding should contact Financial Aid directly.