Academic Standing Support at KPU
If you have received notification that you are on academic warning or academic probation, Academic Advisors are here to help you understand your academic standing and identify strategies to improve your GPA and succeed in your studies.
You can book an appointment through kpu.ca/advising/advisor-connect or via the information listed at kpu.ca/advising/contact-us.
How Academic Advisors Can Help
Academic Advisors offer a host of resources for students, and can support you in making informed decisions about your studies, including:
- Which courses should I repeat to improve my GPA most efficiently?
- Should I consider withdrawing from a course if I am not doing well?
- What are the stages of academic standing, and could I be required to withdraw?
- How long might it take to return to good academic standing?
- Where can I find support if I am experiencing academic difficulty or want to strengthen my learning strategies?
Understanding Academic Standing
Academic Standing is part of your permanent academic record and appears on statements of grades and official transcripts. Academic standing is assessed at the end of each term for students who are enrolled in undergraduate level courses where letter grades are assigned.
Students attending KPU are expected to maintain an acceptable standard of academic achievement. For programs in which letter grades are assigned, this means maintaining a minimum Institutional Cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 2.00.
If a student’s CGPA falls below 2.00, corrective action will be taken and may ultimately lead to permanent withdrawal from KPU.
Students whose CGPA is below 2.00 must achieve a Term GPA (TGPA) of at least 2.00 in each subsequent term until their CGPA returns to 2.00 or higher. Students who do not meet this requirement will progress through the Academic Standing review stages.
Academic Standing categories include:
Good Academic Standing
All students begin in Good Academic Standing. A student who has achieved a minimum Institutional Cumulative Grade Point Average (Institutional CGPA) of 2.00 is in Good Academic Standing unless stated otherwise on their academic record.
Academic Warning
A student who has completed a minimum of 9.0 term credit hours and has achieved an Institutional Cumulative Grade Point Average (Institutional CGPA) of less than 2.00, will be placed on Academic Warning. Students will remain on Academic Warning until they have completed 18.0 term credit hours. A student who is on Academic Warning and who has completed a minimum of 18.0 term credit hours and has achieved both a Term Grade Point Average (TGPA) and an Institutional Cumulative Grade Point Average (Institutional CGPA) of 2.00 or higher will be restored to Good Academic Standing.
Academic Probation
A student who has been on Academic Warning, has completed a minimum of 18.0 term credit hours and has achieved an Institutional Cumulative Grade Point Average (Institutional CGPA) of less than 2.00, will be placed on Academic Probation. Students will remain on Academic Probation until they have completed 27.0 term credit hours. A student who is on Academic Probation and who has completed a minimum of 27.0 term credit hours and has achieved both a Term Grade Point Average (TGPA) and an Institutional Cumulative Grade Point Average (Institutional CGPA) of 2.00 or higher will be restored to Good Academic Standing.
Required to Withdraw
A student who is on Academic Probation and who has completed a minimum of 27.0 term credit hours and whose Term Grade Point Average (TGPA) and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) are both less than 2.00, will be required to withdraw for a period of no less than two (2) standard terms. If a student is already registered in courses for the upcoming term, they will be de-registered and any fees paid for that term will be refunded in accordance with Policy FM8, Student Tuition and Fees.
Re-admission to the University
Prior to applying for re-admission to the University, students must consult with an Academic Advisor and establish a Request for Reinstatement that will help them successfully complete their academic studies at KPU. The Request for Reinstatement must include:
- Reason(s) for being placed on Required to Withdraw
- Step(s) taken or that will be taken to support academic success upon readmission to the University
- Activities undertaken since leaving the University to upgrade academically or improve study skills
- Educational goal, including reasons for changing or not changing the goal
- Letters of reference from employers or instructors may be included.
A student who has been Required to Withdraw may apply for re-admission to the University for a term which begins at least two (2) standard terms after the student was required to withdraw. The Request for Reinstatement, endorsed by an Academic Advisor, must be submitted one (1) month before the application deadline for the term for which the student is applying.
If re-admission is granted, the provisions under Academic Probation above will apply, with the exception that the student must have completed a minimum of 36.0 term credit hours before further action will take place.
Extended Withdraw
A student who has been re-admitted on Academic Probation and has completed a minimum of 36.0 term credit hours and whose Term Grade Point Average (TGPA) and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) are both less than 2.00, will be placed on Extended Withdrawal for a minimum of three (3) terms.
Re-admission to the University
Prior to applying for re-admission to the University, students must consult with an Academic Advisor and establish a Request for Reinstatement that will help them successfully complete their academic studies at KPU. The Request for Reinstatement must include:
- Reason(s) for being placed on Required to Withdraw
- Step(s) taken or that will be taken to support academic success upon readmission to the University
- Activities undertaken since leaving the University to upgrade academically or improve study skills
- Educational goal, including reasons for changing or not changing the goal
- Letters of reference from employers or instructors may be included.
A student who has been placed on Extended Withdrawal may apply for readmission to the University for a term which begins at least three (3) standard terms after the student was placed on extended withdrawal. The Request for Reinstatement, endorsed by an Academic Advisor, must be submitted one (1) month before the application deadline for the term for which the student is applying.
The following additional resources are also available to help students succeed at KPU:
- Academic resources and supports are available through the Learning Centres.
- Students experiencing barriers due to disabilities or who require accommodations are encouraged to contact Accessibility Services.
- Students seeking support with coping strategies may wish to speak to a Counsellor.
If re-admission is granted, the student will be reinstated to Good Academic Standing. If re-admission is denied, the student may appeal the decision to the Senate Standing Committee on Appeals only on the basis of:
- procedural unfairness, which means that established procedures were not followed or were improperly applied during the decision-making process; and/or
- new information being available which could not have been available at the time of the decision, but could reasonably have impacted the decision.
The University Calendar provides detailed information about Academic Standing, including definitions and regulations. KPU Policy ST6 defines the minimum standard of academic achievement required for KPU students.
Additional Student Supports
You may also benefit from connecting with the following services:
- The Learning Centres offer free, individualized academic support to help students develop learning strategies and strengthen course skills.
- Connect with Student Aid and Financial Awards (SAFA) if receiving a student loan, financial aid, grant, scholarship, award, or bursary.
- International students are encouraged to contact International@kpu.ca, as academic standing may affect study permit or visa status.