We can help, but you’ll need to participate in the process. You first need to understand how you got here.
Your GPA Gets Reviewed
Both your Term/Semester GPA and Cumulative GPA from the fall and spring are reviewed to make sure you stay on track. Below are some definitions you should know.
Term/Semester GPA
Reflects the average of the grades you earned for that semester only.
Cumulative GPA
The overall average of all grades you have earned throughout your Purchase College history. Grades earned at other institutions do not calculate into your Purchase GPA.
For a first-semester transfer or freshman, your semester and cumulative GPA will be the same.
Find Your GPA
You have 24/7 access to track your semester and cumulative GPA. In MyHeliotrope, go to the Students tab, then choose Student Records. You’ll then see links to your Final Grades, Unofficial Transcript, and Degree Progress Report. All show your GPA.
Students on academic warning for three consecutive semesters may be subject to academic dismissal.
How will I be notified about my status?
You will receive a notice via your Purchase email from adv.acad.standing@purchase.edu within 2-3 weeks from the end of the semester with all of the information on next steps, as well as resources to support your academic recovery.
How will this affect me?
This is not meant to be a punitive process, although it may feel that way. The College must uphold academic standards and give students fair notice if they are not doing well academically. Receiving low grades may impact your financial aid, your ability to participate in sports, or your ability to hold a position in student government. Restriction of activities is meant to allow you to focus on what you are in college for—your studies! See below for tips on turning things around.
Students often find themselves in academic jeopardy for one of a few reasons. Whether your main sources of poor academic performance were academic, personal, or some combination, it is vital that you reflect deeply on those factors and commit to reorganizing priorities (if possible) in order to repair your academic record.
Academic Habits
Not studying enough (quantity), not studying appropriately (quality), frequently missing classes, missing assignments or turning them in late, excessive socializing/partying to the detriment of academics, not checking Purchase email or Brightspace for course content and due dates, misusing free time, excessive napping, media binges, or gaming.
Academic Skills
Reasons include your major and/or courses are not suited to you. Your academic skills such as reading, math, writing, or abstract thought are not sufficiently strong. You may struggle with poor notetaking, test-taking, or attention skills. The amount of work is overwhelming, and your planning, organizing, and time management skills are not strong. You have not sought or utilized help and resources when you began to struggle.
Personal Issues
Maybe medical or psychological issue affected your academic work. Family or personal situations distracted your concentration. Relationship involvement or drama became a focus. Your employment or extracurricular schedule was too heavy. You had substance use/abuse problem or other activities subtracted from your academic clarity. Maybe you experienced difficulty adjusting to a new place or a new culture, or suffered from other fears, uncertainties, or discomfort.
What can I do to start my academic recovery?
Since the reasons for poor academic performance differ, the strategies to implement will vary accordingly. Below you’ll find a series of suggestions to raise your GPA.
If this feels overwhelming, reach out to us in the Advising Center for more personal support. You can do this!
Perfect attendance is the most fundamental behavior you’ll need to institute while on academic probation, regardless of the attendance policy. Going to class, remaining attentive, and taking good notes ensures that, at a minimum, you are receiving all of the information you need to do well.
It is widely known that once a student starts missing classes, it is that much easier to continue missing classes. Of course, making it to all of your classes requires that you have a lifestyle that permits waking up earlier and remaining alert throughout the school day.
Save your absences for times when you are legitimately ill or attending to other emergencies.
If you did not previously study much, you must carve out substantial amounts of time each day for academic work and that includes reading course material and starting assignments even when there is nothing due the next day.
If you studied some, but did so in a distracting environment (people and/or computer, cell phones, etc.), you must completely change locations to a place more conducive to focused work and/or silence text messages and social media notifications.
If you tended to be a procrastinator or late night crammer, you must learn to do school work during the day, weekend, and/or in between classes instead of waiting until the middle of the night.
Especially if you know you have struggled with grasping course content or experienced medical/psychological difficulties in the past, it is imperative that you BEGIN your probationary semester with the resources you need. Waiting until midterm is simply too late to repair most academic or personal problems.
If you have a documented learning disability, utilize accommodative services available through the Office of Disability Resources.
If you are struggling with a current course that is not salvageable, it might be wise to withdraw from it—only after consulting with your instructor, advisor, and possibly financial aid. If you are struggling with school overall, you might consider a personal leave of absence or medical leave in order to avoid dismissal.
Did you know that repeating the same course that you failed (it has to be the same course, but can be a different faculty member) and getting a higher grade in it can raise your GPA? For example, if you got an F or WF in College Writing and you repeat it and receive a B+, the F grade drops out of your GPA calculation and the B+ is calculated instead. The F grade remains on your transcript, but it no longer affects your semester or cumulative GPA.
Next step: Make an appointment with us in the Advising Center for help
Most of your instructors have a syllabus with the dates on which reading and other assignments are due. To keep all of this information centralized, transfer due dates into a daily planner or scheduling app so that you can “see” your whole week at one time.
Knowing what is due when will allow you to better manage your workload and keep other commitments such as group meetings, tutoring appointments, and instructor/advisor office hours. More than that, fill in your non-class time with how you will use your time (e.g., gym, studying specific things, recreation, taking care of personal business).
Next step: Need help with planning your schedule? Go to the Learning Center and meet with a peer tutor!
If, in the past, you already attended classes, studied very hard, got extra help, and you still performed poorly in your major courses, it might mean that your major does not speak to your strengths.
We understand that you might have done well in the subject in high school/community college, or had your heart set on becoming a professional in that field. But the feelings of constantly climbing uphill, with little in the way of results, can be draining and discouraging. In these instances, you might seek an honest appraisal of your prospects with your faculty or a trusted advisor.
If all else fails, consider having a heart to heart with your family or trusted support network. Some students feel they are expected to go to college right after high school; even if you lack the health, desire, maturity, or self-discipline to fully embrace what college demands of you.
If you are not “into” college, or if life is too challenging right now, you should reconsider if a full-time, four year college education is right for you at this time. Sometimes there are personal/family tragedies and trials that provide constant or acute stress. If you experienced personal trauma or continue to face other major obstacles, you might not feel ready to undertake another semester right away. Returning later, when you are fully focused, can make all the difference in the long run.
Next Step: See a counselor in our office of Counseling and Behavioral Health; they can provide resources to help you make these important decisions.
