Academic Progress

Grade Point Average

The grade point average (GPA) is determined by dividing the number of grade points by the number of credits the student has attempted. Courses with the following grades are not included in the GPA calculation: AU, I, IN, S, U, W, WZ.

The GPA is calculated only on the basis of credits attempted at Bethel. In order to receive a degree, a student must have earned at least a 2.00 cumulative overall GPA and the required GPA in the major. Most departments require a 2.25 GPA in the major, but some departments require a higher GPA. See requirements for majors in this catalog.

When a student who has not yet received a degree from Bethel University’s College of Arts & Sciences repeats a course, both grades for the course will remain on the transcript if the original and the repeated course were both taken at Bethel. The most recent grade will replace the previous course grade in the student’s GPA. If the repeated course was taken at a different institution, the Bethel course will be excluded from the student’s GPA but remain on the student’s transcript. Transfer credit is not figured into a student’s GPA.

Provisionally Admitted Students

Students whose past academic performance falls below Bethel’s requirements for admission may be admitted on a provisional basis. These students must attain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better at the end of their first year at Bethel in order to continue at Bethel. To support these students, Bethel requires all provisionally admitted students to participate in the Fresh Start program. This program includes GES 109 Orientation to College Studies (for first-time college students) and GES 119 Introduction to Bethel (for transfer students), and is taken the first Fall semester of the student’s enrollment at Bethel, enrollment in GES 130 Christianity and Western Culture their first semester at Bethel, group tutoring sessions for GES 130 Christianity and Western Culture, and a specialized academic advisor who will monitor students’ progress. 

Academic Progress, Probation, and Dismissal

Academic standing is calculated at the end of fall and spring terms. Students and advisors are notified by the Office of the Registrar if they are placed on Academic Alert, Academic Warning, Academic Probation, and Academic Dismissal.

  1. Good Academic Standing: Students who are not on academic probation or academic dismissal are considered to be in good academic standing.
  2. Academic Alert: Students receive an academic alert whenever their term GPA is below 2.00.
  3. Academic Warning: Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.00 for the first time receive an academic warning for one term. After receiving an academic warning, students receive a warning for one additional term if their cumulative GPA remains below 2.00, but their term GPA is 2.25 or higher.
  4. Academic Probation: Students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.00 and who do not meet the requirements for an academic warning are placed on academic probation. After being placed on academic probation, students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.00 and whose term GPA is 2.25 or higher move to academic warning. Students remain on academic probation for one additional term if their cumulative GPA is below 2.00 and their term GPA is 1.75 to 2.24. Students can remain on probation for a maximum of two consecutive terms. At that point students must progress to good academic standing or move to academic dismissal. Students who have a term GPA below 1.75 while on academic probation are placed on academic dismissal.
  5. Academic Dismissal: The following students may be subject to academic dismissal:
    1. regularly admitted students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.00 at the end of their second semester;
    2. provisionally admitted students whose cumulative GPA is below 1.00 at the end of their first semester;
    3. all other students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.00 for two consecutive semesters; and
    4. students who do not meet the stipulations set by the Registrar at the time of being placed on academic probation. Patterns of poor performance not listed in items (a)-(d) above may also lead to academic dismissal.
    5. Academic dismissal of any student is the decision of the Bethel University Registrar. Academic warning and academic probation may not always immediately precede academic dismissal.
  6. Appeal of Academic Dismissal: Students who have been dismissed may appeal to the Academic Appeals Committee. Instructions for the appeals process are provided by the Registrar when students are notified they have been dismissed.
  7. Academic standing is determined upon initial submission of final grades for Fall and Spring semesters.
    1. Students who have received a change in final grade or who have repeated a course may petition the Office of the Registrar to have their current academic standing reassessed.
    2. Students who have completed Summer credits may petition the Office of the Registrar to have their current academic standing reassessed.

​NOTE for Active Military Duty Students: Class sessions students miss due to performance of active military service are counted as excused absences and will not be used in any way to adversely impact the students’ grades. Any student who selects this option is not, however, automatically excused from completing assignments due during the period the student is performing active military service. A letter grade or a grade of pass will be awarded only if, in the opinion of the faculty member teaching the course, the student has completed sufficient work and has demonstrated sufficient progress toward meeting course requirements to justify the grade. Payment during an enrollment period in which continuation is elected as a result of call to duty may be delayed until course completion at no additional cost.

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