In accordance with University of Washington policy, all degree-granting units within the College of the Environment have a Continuation Policy to monitor satisfactory progress of students within their programs. Although these policies vary, they are all governed by the university’s Academic Satisfactory Progress policy. In short:

  1. The minimum number of credits required to graduate is 180.
  2. Students must declare a major by the time they have completed 5 academic-year quarters and earned 105 credits. Refer to the university’s 105-credit rule for more details.
  3. Students must complete their undergraduate degree programs and graduate with no more than 30 credits over the minimum required (or a total of 210 credits = 180 + 30). Credits earned include University of Washington credits, transfer credits, and credits earned by testing (Advanced Placement (AP)International Baccalaureate (IB), Armed Forces Training Schools (AFTS), and credit by exam). Refer to the university’s 210-credit rule for more details. The timing for enforcement of this policy depends on the student’s total number of University of Washington quarters as follows: Double majors and double degrees are not prohibited, if the student’s program can be completed within the credit and quarter limits. Students planning to pursue a double major or degree should declare those majors early in their university education, should map out a graduation plan with advisers from both departments, and should submit a graduation application for both degrees 1 year before their graduation date to avoid unnecessary registration holds.
    • For students admitted as freshmen, the satisfactory progress policy is enforced after a student has completed 12 academic-year quarters, not including summer quarters, at the University of Washington.
    • For students admitted as transfers, the satisfactory progress policy is enforced after the student has completed:
      • 12 quarters at the University of Washington if the student enters with less than 1 year of college work (less than 45 credits transferred from another institution).
      • 9 quarters at the University of Washington if the student enters the University with more than 1 year of college work and less than 2 years (more than 44 and less than 90 credits transferred from another institution).
      • 6 quarters at the University of Washington if the student enters the university with 2 or more years of college work (90 or more credits transferred from another institution).
  4. Colleges must have a policy governing the conditions under which students with more than 210 credits may continue to register for more quarters.

Notification Process

The Registrar’s Office will notify students by email with satisfactory progress warnings or holds at the following points:

If the student’s situation is:
Transcripted Credits Completed

≥ 105

150 – 164.5

165  – 210

≥ 210

UW Quarters Completed

≥ 5

≥ 10

≥ 11

≥ 12

Degree
Status
No major declared (premajor) No graduation application on file or graduation plan has expired No graduation application on file or graduation plan has expired Graduation plan has expired
 ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼
Registrar’s
Action/
Notification
Registration Hold (cannot register for any quarter) Early warning Notice Registration Hold (cannot register for any quarter) Registration Block (cannot register for any quarter except summer)
 ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼  ▼
Student
Must
Meet with adviser to declare a major or get a pre-major extension Meet with an adviser to complete or revise graduation application Meet with adviser to complete a CoEnv Petition to Remove Satisfactory Registration Holds (Graduation Plan Beyond Maximum Credits) If cannot complete degree during summer quarters, meet with adviser to complete a CoEnv Petition to Remove Satisfactory Registration Holds (Graduation Plan Beyond Maximum Credits)

Petition Process

Students who receive a Satisfactory Progress registration hold or block must complete the College of the Environment’s CoEnv Petition to Remove Satisfactory Registration Holds (Graduation Plan Beyond Maximum Credits).

To File a Petition

  • If student is completing a single College of the Environment major, student meets with adviser in their College of the Environment major department to complete the petition.
  • If student is completing a double major or double degree within the College of the Environment, student meets with both departmental advisers and submits one form signed by both advisers.
  • If student is completing a double major or double degree across colleges, student meets with major adviser in both colleges and coordinates submission of one petition to one college. The petition must include a confirmation that both departments have approved the student’s graduation plan.  If the College of the Environment receives a cross-college petition and the non-College of the Environment department has not been consulted, the petition will be sent back for review and coordination with the second major adviser.
  • Advisers in college units send completed petitions to the College of the Environment Director of Student and Academic Services.

Review Process

  • The College of the Environment’s Director of Student and Academic Services reviews the petition.
  • The College of the Environment’s Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will also review the petition if the student:
    • has a GPA below 2.5,
    • proposes a graduation plan exceeding 225 total credits for a single degree or 255 total credits for a double degree,
    • has changed majors more than once in the past year, and/or is adding a third major or a third minor.
  • Petitions to extend the removal of the registration hold may be approved for the following lengths of time:
    • 3 quarters maximum (one degree)
    • 5 quarters maximum (double degrees)
  • If the petition is approved, the College of the Environment’s Director of Student and Academic Services notifies the Registrar’s Office to request that the hold be lifted for the quarters indicated in the petition.

A student whose petition is denied may revise their graduation plan and submit a new petition to graduate in fewer quarters than proposed within the original petition.

Continuation Policies

Dean's Office Contact: