Midterm Madness

Your student is back to campus, refreshed and ready to take on the second half of spring semester after a relaxing week off.  Your student should be making an appointment with their academic advisor to both pick up their mid-term grades, available after March 22^nd, as well as talk about course registration for both summer and fall.

• Mid-term Grades: What’s in a mid-term grade?  It varies from course to course, and typically is not representative of half a semester’s work.  Your student can determine the weight of their mid-term grade, as it relates to the entire grade for the course, by using the course syllabus and a Syllabus Analysis Chart.  Mid-term grade reports are intended to provide students with feedback concerning their progress, and are not absolute predictors of final grade performance or GPA.  Although mid-term progress reports are not a part of the student’s permanent record, it does not mean poor grades should be taken lightly.  Students who do not attain a final GPA of at least a 2.0, both term and cumulative, will be placed on academic probation.  To help your student improve their standing in courses, encourage him or her to follow these steps:
  • Talk to the professor(s).  Instructors can offer advice that is specific to the course, and may be able to provide your student with helpful recommendations in preparation for final exams.

• Use the University’s academic resources.  We offer a Writing Center, Mathematics Lab, and free group tutoring sessions in several disciplines.  For a complete list, click here.  Your student may also wish to see a counselor in the Counseling Center, for specific study strategies.  If one-on-one assistance is preferable, consider an Academic Success Coach.  Academic Coaches work with students on a variety of topics, including time management, study strategies, and organizational skills.  NEW! The Office of Academic Services has also just launched a new peer tutoring program, called Tutoring for Academic Success.  To learn more, or sign up for a tutor, please click here.
• If, after consulting with the professor and academic advisor, your student’s best option may be to withdraw from the course.  Your student can do so by completing and submitting a Course Withdrawal Form, with the advisor’s signature, to the Registrar’s Office, College Hall 229, by 5:00 pm on March 26^th.

• Summer School
  • At Gonzaga: Students can register for summer session courses at Gonzaga beginning March 15^th through Zagweb.  Gonzaga offers its Undergraduate students two six-week long summer sessions, in which they can take 7 semester credits each.  Some financial aid is available to students on a first-come, first-served basis, once students are registered for summer courses.  Students can pick up a financial aid application in the Financial Aid office, College Hall 129.  Gonzaga offers online courses, as well as those in a traditional classroom setting.
  • Transfer Institution: Of course, your student can also take courses at home.  To do so, make sure he or she completes a Permission to Transfer Credit form (available in the Registrar’s Office, College Hall 229) BEFORE they take the course(s).  This form, when complete with signatures, guarantees how credit will be accepted, so long as a grade of C or better is achieved.  The course credit will transfer to Gonzaga; the grade earned will not affect the student’s Gonzaga gpa.

Fall registration for courses begins for returning students on April 6^th.  Your freshman student will register soon after.  Check our blog in April for registration tips, as well as a look ahead to sophomore year.