Academic Probation Recovery

 

Why students’ grades fall leading to academic probation (results of UNC-G survey)

Procrastination in doing assignments

Missed classes

Stress

Lack of Time Management

Lack of motivation

Lack of study skills

Test taking skills

Poor study environment

Inadequate study time

Inability to concentrate

 

Purpose of academic probation

o   To provide a warning that allows time to recover before reaching suspension

o   To focus attention on students’ grades and address issues preventing success

o   To connect students with strategies and support services needed to insure success

 

University policies on probation and recovery from probation

Academic Probation

Students who fail to maintain academic good standing are placed on academic probation or suspension. (Good standing means a GPA of 1.8 for students with 29 or fewer hours; 2.0 for students with good standing: 30 or more hours). Students previously in academic good standing who fail to achieve the minimum cumulative grade point average for their classification will be placed on academic probation.

Students placed on academic probation may enroll any following semester. If, upon enrolling, they achieve the minimum cumulative grade point average for their classification, they are then returned to academic good standing. If they do not attain that minimum, but they do earn a semester grade point average of at least 2.0 on nine or more hours, they are continued on probation. A student on probation may not apply for graduation.

Academic Suspension

Students previously on academic probation who fail to achieve the minimum cumulative grade point average for their classification or not continued on probation as just described, are placed on academic suspension.

• Students placed on academic suspension for the first time are not allowed to enroll at TWU for the next long semester.

• Students placed on academic suspension for the second time are not allowed to enroll at TWU for both of the next two long semesters.

• Students placed on academic suspension for the third time are not allowed to enroll at TWU for an indefinite period; usually, that is at least two years from the date of the third suspension.

When the suspension period has expired for suspended students, their status upon enrolling is Academic probation. They may not enroll without completing a Suspension Recovery Contract, which is available in the Registrar’s Office. It is not possible for students on academic suspension to shorten the suspension period by submitting work.

 

Financial Aid Consequences for Academic Probation

o   Students who are suspended are NOT eligible for federal financial aid.  Your probationary status could lead to suspension, if not corrected.

 

Top strategies for recovery from probation

o   Meet with your academic advisor before registering for next semester and again at mid-semester

o   Make a written plan to recover your GPA; calculate what GPA you will need to earn

o   Take no more than 12 credit hours

o   Re-take and pass classes you have failed as soon as possible.

o   Get help to improve study habits and time management

o   Attend every class

o   Regularly seek assistance from tutoring centers

Least effective strategies for recovery from probation

o   “Try harder” but make no change in study habits or attendance

o   Continue working full time while on academic probation

 

Examples of probation recovery efforts

The fastest way to get off probation and clear up your record is to enroll in fewer classes, repeat any substandard work, and pass all future classses.  Following the sample student's academic record below may help you select a strategy for academic recovery.

Fall 2007

	SCH	Grades
MATH 1013	3	D
ENG 1013	3	F
SCI 1114	4	C
GPA	1.1 (semester GPA)	1.1 (cumulative GPA)

Spring 2008

	SCH	Grades
WS 2013	3	B
HIST 1013	3	D
PSY 1013	3	D
GPA	1.67 (semester GPA)	1.385 (cumulative GPA)

Strategy 1: Same plan, just try harder

	SCH	Grades
HIST 1023	3	C
MATH 1303	3	C
GOV 2013	3	C
GPA	2.0 (semester GPA)	1.69 (cumulative GPA)

The student takes the same number of courses.  She works harder and does better, earning all C grades.  However, C grades earn a 2.0 GPA for the semester and only bring the student's cumulative GPA up to 1.69.  The student would continue on probation.

Strategy 2: Fewer classes, more study = much better grades

	SCH	Grades
HIST 1023	3	B
MATH 1303	3	C
GPA	2.5 (semester GPA)	1.94 (cumulative GPA)

The student takes only two courses and does much better, earning a B and a C.  She is able to get better grades because she can devote much more time to study for each class, and the quality of her work goes way up.  Her cumulative GPA goes up significantly to a 1.94.  She is still on probation, however, she could potentially get off probation after one more successful semester like this one.

Strategy 3:  Fewer classes, more study and repeat Ds and Fs

	SCH	Grades
ENG 1013	3	A
MATH 1303	3	A
GPA	4.0 (semester GPA)	2.27 (cumulative GPA)

In this final strategy, the student has chosen to repeat ENG 1013 (which was an F grade in Fall 2008) and take only one other course.  She gets all A grades, however, because she is repeating an F grade, her cumulative GPA shoots up to 2.27!  The student is no longer on academic probation!

Guidelines for GPA Calculation for Probation Recovery

A = 4 grade points

B = 3 grade points

C = 2 grade points

D = 1 grade point

F= 0 grade points

W = no grade points, not figured into GPA

WF = 0 grade points, but IS figured into GPA

Developmental course grades are NOT figured into GPA.

For 2.0 GPA [C average] to continue on probation (2.0 GPA)

A student could continue on probation with the following grades:

9 SCH

1 B, 1C, 1D;  -or-

3 Cs;  -or-

1 A, 2 Cs

12 SCH

1 B, 2 CS, 1 D; -or-

4 Cs; -or-

2 Bs, 2 Ds; -or-

1 A, 1 C, 2 Ds

15 SCH

15 SCH is not recommended for students on probation.  TWU recommends taking fewer courses and repeating and replacing failing grades to boost your GPA.