Advising Students on Academic Probation Friday December 9

Advising Students on Academic Probation Friday, December 9, 2016 Dawn Traynor & Paul Holliday-Millard

Learning Objectives – Understand the factors that contribute to academic probation – Through case studies, consider strategies academic advisors can use to support students on academic probation – Explore available campus resources – Share best practices on how to support this student population

Four Types of Academic Standing – Good Academic Standing with Warning – Doesn’t directly impact student but raises flags – Academic Probation – Suspension – Student can’t be suspended if their GPA is above a 2. 0, even if they lose Financial Aid due to 2/3 rule

Fall Probation Trends Probation Rates- Fall Semesters 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Fall 2011 Fall 2012 Fall 2013 University New FR Fall 2014 New TR Fall 2015

Spring Probation Trends Probation Rates- Spring Semesters 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Spring 2012 Spring 2013 Spring 2014 University New FR Spring 2015 New TR Spring 2016

What does a student on academic probation look like?

Common Student Reactions to Academic Probation Emotions – Frustration/Anger – Denial – Sadness – Guilt – Fear – Shame – Ambivalence – Depression Actions – Blame others – Look for loopholes – Try to hide the situation – Appeal to “higher powers” – Over-commit to improve – Soul-searching/questioning – Ignore the situation

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…

Case Study #1 It is the first week of January in 2017. Jade, a sophomore, has just completed her third semester at UNC Charlotte. She has learned that she has been placed on Academic Probation for the second time since starting here a year and a half ago. During her first semester on probation (Spring 2016), she completed the 49 er Rebound program by participating in the SOS Peer Mentoring program, which she says she found to be very beneficial due to the weekly accountability and personalized support. She returned to good standing after the spring but struggled again this fall. She says she did not go to class as often as she should have and had some personal issues that made her miss a test in one class and a quiz in another. Jade says she wants to get things turned around…again. • What do you need to address with the student? • What campus resources should you refer the student to? • What university policies or procedures (or programs) impact your actions in these circumstance? • What, in any, questions do you have after discussing this case?

Case Study #2 Brandon, a transfer student who completed one semester at CPCC before coming to UNC Charlotte, has earned 62 total credit hours. He comes to you just before mid-semester to let you know he is failing all but one of his five classes. Three of the four classes he is failing are required for his major. After earning a 0. 4 during his first semester at UNC Charlotte, Brandon has been on academic probation every semester since but has been able to continue on probation by barely earning a 2. 3 or higher each semester. He did not complete the 49 er Rebound program when given the option after his first semester at UNC Charlotte. He says he was really sick for the first four weeks of this semester and attended no classes during that time, but that he did email his professors to let them know what was going on and tried to keep up with things on Moodle/Canvas. He wants to know what his options are at this point. • What do you need to address with the student? • What campus resources should you refer the student to? • What university policies or procedures (or programs) impact your actions in these circumstance? • What, in any, questions do you have after discussing this case?

Case Study #3 It is January 4, 2017. William has just finished his first semester at UNC Charlotte and has come in because he received the 49 er Rebound letter in the mail over break. He says he knows why he had trouble first semester and has plans to turn things around. He wants to know if this program is required. • What do you need to address with the student? • What campus resources should you refer the student to? • What university policies or procedures (or programs) impact your actions in these circumstance? • What, in any, questions do you have after discussing this case?

Case Study #4 Kara has been your advisee since she started at UNC Charlotte as a freshman in the fall of 2015. She is always extremely friendly and makes her advising appointments with you well in advance of the beginning of registration. During her first semester, she took two courses and earned A’s in both of them. During her second semester, she took four courses but withdrew from all of them without contacting you or the Dean of Students Withdraw Advisor first. She has come to you at the start of the fall semester as she is concerned that she has been placed on “Good Academic Standing Warning” and doesn’t understand why this happened since she has a 4. 0 GPA. • What do you need to address with the student? • What campus resources should you refer the student to? • What university policies or procedures (or programs) impact your actions in these circumstance? • What, in any, questions do you have after discussing this case?

Case Study #5 It is the beginning of the Fall 2016 semester. Miguel has come to see you because he doesn’t understand why he is still receiving notifications from the Registrar’s office in reference to him being on academic probation. He is starting his senior year and doesn’t want this to be his academic standing as he prepares for graduation. In looking at his transcript, you see that he was placed on academic probation at the end of the spring semester. He then took three summer classes that have brought his cumulative GPA back above a 2. 0. “I’m no longer on probation, right? ” he asks you. • What do you need to address with the student? • What campus resources should you refer the student to? • What university policies or procedures (or programs) impact your actions in these circumstance? • What, in any, questions do you have after discussing this case?

Thank you!