Continuation Policy for Undergraduates Majoring in the Department of Earth & Space Sciences

While the University has regulations governing the scholastic eligibility for continuance (UW Satisfactory Progress and Low Scholarship policies), the Department of Earth and Space Sciences defines additional criteria in order to make the best use of department resources available, and to provide reasonable assurance for the academic success of our majors. The following will apply to all students majoring in the Department of Earth & Space Sciences. Students are encouraged to frequently review their academic progress and may seek advising from ESS Student Services at any time.

Criteria for Satisfactory Progress

1. Students are expected to make satisfactory progress towards graduation with an ESS degree. Under normal circumstances, an ESS major attending full‐time would be considered meeting satisfactory progress if s/he is taking major sequence coursework after declaring the major. Low scholarship, excessive course repeats, excessive course drops, and excessive University withdrawals may demonstrate a lack of satisfactory progress.
2. Students must earn at least a numerical grade of 2.0 in each course used towards a major requirement. This includes major core sequence courses, major electives, basic and foundational science and math coursework, and field camp. Courses used to satisfy major requirements must be taken on a graded basis. Courses taken as satisfactory/not satisfactory cannot be used towards major requirements.
3. Students must maintain good academic standing with the University of Washington. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be in good academic standing with the University. Students falling below a cumulative GPA of 2.0 will be placed on the University’s Low Scholarship list.
4. Students must maintain a graduation plan with ESS Student Services. ESS students will create a plan with ESS Student Services upon declaring the major. Students must maintain this plan with the guidance of ESS Student Services.

Conditions Warranting Recommendation to Alter a Student’s Standing

ESS Student Services will review the progress of undergraduate majors. If a student fails to meet the criteria for satisfactory progress outlined above in any quarter during their tenure as a major in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences, the student may be placed on departmental warning, probation, and in extreme situations, may be dismissed from the major.

Warning

Students will be issued a warning letter by the department at the end of the first quarter in which they do not meet departmental satisfactory progress. The warning letter is issued only one time. Students receiving a warning letter must meet with ESS Student Services. If you receive a warning letter, please contact ESS Student Services (). Your adviser will assist you by:

• Recommending resources, such as study skills workshops or tutoring
• Help plan out quarterly course loads that will progress you towards graduation
• Assist you with choosing the correct pathway within the major, or discussing other majors at UW

Probation

Students who are on warning status, who continue to miss departmental satisfactory progress will be placed on probation. Students on probation will be notified of their status, and a registration hold placed on their student account. To remove the hold, students on probation must meet with ESS Student Services by the end of the third week after notification. Students on probation who fail to meet with ESS Student Services will not be able to register for upcoming quarters. If you receive a notification of probation, please contact ESS Student Services ().

Dismissal

In extreme situations, students on probation in consecutive quarters may be dismissed from the major. Students who fail to communicate with ESS Student Services while on probation, or fail to meet satisfactory progress, can be dismissed from ESS majors. Dismissed students will be assigned a premajor, or extended premajor code.

ESS majors who fail to meet the departmental requirements for satisfactory progress should meet with ESS Student Services as soon as possible. Meeting with ESS Student Services can prevent progressing toward probation and dismissal. Students are encouraged to discuss all circumstances leading to a lack of satisfactory progress, including extenuating circumstances, and situations outside of academic life that may impact student success.

Appealing Probation or Dismissal

Students who are placed on probation or dismissed from the department may request reconsideration of their status. This may be done for a number of reasons, but particularly if the student believes that some facts in the student’s documentation have been overlooked or misinterpreted. The appeal should be formed as a letter and explain the circumstances and provide supporting documentation for why the academic status of the student should be reconsidered. Appeals should be submitted to ESS Student Services. ESS Student Services will transfer the letter and supporting documentation to the Department Undergraduate Program Coordinator, who will consider the appeal.