Advising Center

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. 

Next Step: Go to the Learning Center for free help with time-management—it is a game-changer! Make an appointment with a tutor in the Learning Center

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.

Academic help may be sought from your instructors, your advisor, or Learning Center tutors; assistance with personal issues (medical, psychological, addiction, etc.) is available at Health Services and Counseling and Behavioral Health.

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

Make an appointment with an academic advisor

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). 

Consult the College’s Academic Calendar, which shows withdrawal deadlines and other important dates.  

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.

Next Step: Make an appointment with your Major Advisor, your EOP counselor, an advisor in the Advising Center, and/or a Career Development Professional 

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.