STARS Student Tracking Alert Retention System Keys to Academic Success Module 2

YOU ARE TAKING THE FIRST STEP BY COMPLETING THE STARS PROGRAM. A STUDENT WHO FAILS TO MAINTAIN A MINIMUM 2.0 UCF GPA WILL HAVE A HOLD ON THEIR ACCOUNT AND WILL BE PLACED ON ACADEMIC PROBATION. STUDENTS WILL NEED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN ADVISOR AND COMPLETE THE STARS PROGRAM.

Understanding GPA There are different GPAs on your audit. The overall GPA Calculated with grades from all college courses completed The overall GPA Calculated with grades from all college courses completed Upper Level UCF GPA Calculated with grades from all 3000 and 4000-level coursework completed Upper Level UCF GPA Calculated with grades from all 3000 and 4000-level coursework completed UCF Cumulative GPA Calculated with grades from all UCF coursework UCF Cumulative GPA Calculated with grades from all UCF coursework

Program GPA Calculated with grades earned from the courses taken within the major Program GPA Calculated with grades earned from the courses taken within the major

Should contact an academic advisor at the appropriate Regional Campus location Will have an academic hold placed in their Student Center on My UCF and will not be allowed to be enroll in courses until they meet with an advisor Must earn a 2.0 GPA each semester until the UCF GPA is a least 2.0 or higher to avoid disqualification Are not able to apply for graduation until their UCF cumulative GPA is 2.0 or above.

Students must earn a 2.0 GPA in the following semester; however, if the UCF cumulative GPA is still below a 2.0 GPA, the student will continue on probation The student on probation must receive a least a 2.0 semester GPA or may risk being disqualified Students must meet with an academic advisor to discuss their progress each semester

A disqualified student must sit out from UCF for two consecutive semesters Readmission to UCF is not guaranteed or automatic Clear evidence of academic achievement must be shown. Student must attend another institution and show academic improvement Student must use a personal statement to explain why they had academic difficulties and how they plan to achieve a GPA of 2.0 or better at UCF A student on probation who fails to attain a 2.0 GPA in subsequent term will be disqualified from UCF. What does this mean for the student?

retake Grade Forgiveness offers a student the opportunity to retake a course and earn a higher grade that will be substituted for the previous lower grade and thus raise the GPA. no later Grade forgiveness requests must be submitted no later than the withdrawal deadline for the term in which the student has registered for the course being repeated.

Grade Forgiveness is limited to two courses during student’s academic lifetime Grade Forgiveness may not be used twice for the same course Grade Forgiveness will only be awarded if the original and repeated course both are taken at UCF Must apply for Grade Forgiveness before the deadline

only All grades will remain on the student’s official transcript only always repeated course grade The original grade will always appear on the transcript, but the repeated course grade will be calculated into the GPA withdraws “I”“NC” If a student applies for Grade Forgiveness and later withdraws or receives an “I” grade or “NC” grade in the course, the attempt will count as one of the allotted Grade Forgiveness attempts For more information go to

Go to Student Self-Service Student Center Apply for Grade Forgiveness On the next page, type in the code number for the current term (semester). A list of terms can be found by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. Click on the current term. On the next page, a list of your currently enrolled classes will appear. Click on the select box for the course that you are retaking for Grade Forgiveness. A note will appear that lists the previously taken course, the term previously taken in, and the original grade. If this information is correct, click on the submit button. You will then receive a message back. For more information:

Attendance 1.Attend your classes. Attendance is linked to your grades and many instructors will have participation points incorporated into their grading system 2.Alter your schedule difficult classes a. Take difficult classes in a semester in which you are not on probation. If you are on probation, it is not a time to take a course that you feel uncertain about passing. If you are not sure, contact your academic advisor to review the courses you are planning to take. Decrease your class load b. Decrease your class load. When taking fewer hours, you can concentrate on classes and focus on earning a higher GPA. If you are working, depending upon the number of hours you work, keep in mind that your class load comes with many hours of studying.

12 hrs. class time + 24 hrs. of studying/preparing time = 36 hrs. per class per week Keep the following in mind : On an average a student should spend about 2 hours of studying time per every hour of class. So if a student takes... Add to this time for resting, sleeping, and extracurricular activities. However, work responsibilities will complicate the schedule. When your schedule is overloaded, you might feel more stress and less in control of everything that is happening. Grades are usually what will suffer.

Add/Drop/Swap Week add/drop/swap week During the add/drop/swap week consider dropping if a class seems too difficult, and adding a class that will match your abilities and interests. The add/drop/swap is during the first week of class. Check your academic calendar for the dates. Withdrawal does not affect Once the semester is on the way and you are not confident that you will pass the class, consider withdrawing before the withdrawal deadlines. Meet with the academic advisor to discuss your options. A “W” does not affect your GPA and it is better than failing the class. not able to continue Consider withdrawing from all your classes in the semester. Life brings unpredictable circumstances and if you are not able to continue with your classes, make an appointment to meet with your academic advisor to discuss your best option.

Withdrawing from a class may affect your financial aid or scholarships. Check with a Financial Aid Coordinator about how withdrawing from a class can effect you Withdrawing from a class may affect your financial aid or scholarships. Check with a Financial Aid Coordinator about how withdrawing from a class can effect you