Bowdoin expects all students to maintain an acceptable level of academic progress, therefore this Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy applies to all matriculated students. These standards have been developed in accordance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
The Recording/Action Committee meets twice each year to review the academic records of students who are not meeting these standards. Students are placed on academic probation, suspension, or dismissal according to the criteria below; students on academic probation or suspension are not considered to be in good academic standing.
At the close of each semester, once grades post, all students’ records will be assessed for academic and, if applicable, financial aid SAP. All students earning a cumulative or semester GPA of less than 2.000 will be reviewed, as well as those who have not met the quantitative measure outlined.
In cases of repeated poor performance, a student may be dismissed from the College. In cases when a student’s academic standing changes, copies of correspondence with the student that outline the student’s final academic standing are sent to the student’s parent or guardian.
In cases where a student is also aided, The Office of Student Aid, the Office of the Registrar and the Office of the Dean of Students will collaborate to ensure that student communication is coordinated through any aid warning and appeal processes.
It is important to note that this policy and the College’s financial aid SAP necessarily share regulations. While these policies share details, they are implemented separately from one another to maintain the integrity of each process. For details about the financial aid components of the SAP policy, please visit the Student Aid Office's website here.