Advising Students on Academic Probation Carolyn Blattner, Dr. Rick Lejk November 18, 2014

“The academic advising process has been identified as the crucial link between students on probation and the institution.”

Goals Understand factors that contribute to academic probation Consider strategies academic advisors can use to support students on academic probation Understand campus resources available

Academic Standing Policy Good Academic Standing To remain in good academic standing, an undergraduate student must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0. Semester Warning An undergraduate student whose term GPA is below 2.0 in the semester of the evaluation is given a “semester warning.” Academic Probation An undergraduate student whose cumulative GPA is below 2.0 is placed on academic probation. Academic Suspension An undergraduate student on academic probation whose cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 at the next evaluation is suspended from the University, unless the student’s GPA for that semester is at least 2.3, in which case the student remains on probation instead. Be watching for more information about earned to attempted credit ratio!

Undergraduate Students on Academic Probation (Fall) Fall Semester% Probation% Suspension % New FR Probation % New TR Probation

Factors that Contribute to Academic Probation Transitions (academic, personal) Myth of self reliance Lack of academic preparation Lack of skills (time management, study) Lack of utilization of free resources Poor decisions Course/major selection Personal issues And more…

Advising Strategies Engage student in conversation about situation Determine best plan of action Establish expectations Monitor grades Hold student accountable

Advising Strategies (continued) Enroll student in 49er Rebound (new students) Refer to campus resources Provide accurate information (academic standing, progression, grade replacement, W policy, Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid) Evaluate number of credits (do not necessarily limit credits)

49er Rebound Program Philosophy: UNC Charlotte admits students who can succeed here. Program: University-wide, collaborative effort to support new students (freshmen and transfers) who are on academic probation at end of first semester of enrollment

49er Rebound Students choose intervention option with advisor input UCOL 1300: 2-credit, graded Academic Success Seminar Students Obtaining Success (SOS) peer mentoring 49er Focus (pilot in Spring 2013) College options: BUSN 2000, MAPS Results: Students who complete 49er Rebound are more likely to return to good academic standing, have higher average GPA improvements, and are more likely to be retained (statistically significant results).

Campus Resources University Center for Academic Excellence: Tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, skills development workshops, personal academic consultations, SOS peer mentoring, BEST program Writing Resources Center Departmental Support: Math lab, Physics Resource Center, PASS Center, Language Resource Center, CCI tutoring, MAPS program, and more UCOL 1300 and SOS available this fall to students who are not identified as 49er Rebound

Experience Tells Us… Helping students connect to resources is critical Accountability/follow-through matter Not one cause/factor Not one solution/plan Advisor matters!

Sources Undergraduate Catalog: Degree Requirements and Academic Policies Academic Standing of All Undergraduate Students Reports, Institutional Research, UNC Charlotte. Gehrke, S., & Wong, J. (2007). Students on Academic Probation. In L. Huff & P. Jordan (Eds.), Advising Special Student Populations (pp ): National Academic Advising Association.

Questions/Discussion