Academic Probation: what is it, and what should students do about it?

By: Marianne Salina, AAA

As the midterm rolls around each semester, students have the opportunity to check in with their faculty advisors, receive their mid-semester grades, and get a good sense of exactly what their progress is at the half-way point. While mid-term grades aren’t the most comprehensive representation of a student’s overall performance in a term (there are still tests to take, papers to write, presentations to execute), it is considered an important checkpoint for students to take stock and consider whether they need to make any changes.

Midterm grades are not printed on final transcripts; they are considered only a partial representation of a student’s work. If a student is below a 2.0 at midterms, it is a good indication that he or she needs to take action in order to avoid landing on academic probation at the end of the semester.

What is academic probation, you may ask? It is when a student’s GPA (term and/or cumulative) is below a 2.0. Good academic standing is considered a 2.0 or above. You can read more about academic probation here.

Midterm grades are below a 2.0; what should my student do?

• First, students should check in immediately with professors. It’s always encouraged that students visit professor’s office hours, but they’re often under-utilized until problems come up. Regular visits throughout the term are a good habit to establish, but now more than ever, students should visit the professor and determine whether or not it will be possible for them to be successful. If professors say no, or if they suggest there’s a slim chance, then it’s time to withdraw from the course, which AAA can assist with.
• Make use of the campus resources. Gonzaga has a Math Lab, a Writing Center, and Chemistry and Biology tutoring sessions available to students throughout the semester. Check out our link to the tutoring services available on campus.
• Go to class regularly. Yes, it sounds obvious enough, but students often earn academic probationary status due to an excessive number of absences in a class, which can result in a V (failing) grade.
• Consider a change of major. It’s not an immediate fix for the current semester, but a student’s lack of success could be directly related to an ill-fitting major. Academic Advising loves to help with major discernment, so students are welcome to make an appointment.

What about financial aid and scholarships? Will my student lose funding?

• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a regulation of the Department of Education that requires students be evaluated for minimum standards in order to receive financial aid.
• To continue to qualify for scholarships, grants and federal financial aid, a student must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements, which includes a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and successful completion of all credits attempted.
• Additionally, students receiving Washington State funded financial aid are required to complete at least 50% of their attempted credits, in order to be eligible for state aid the following semester.
• A student’s SAP status is evaluated at the end of each semester, not at mid-term.
• When a student does not meet the SAP requirements, they receive a Financial Aid – Satisfactory Academic Progress Warning. If they fail to meet SAP two consecutive semesters, or if students don’t complete any of the courses they’ve attempted, their financial aid will be automatically suspended. Please note that suspension status can be appealed and successful appeals find their aid reinstated. To read the full SAP policy, click here.

Okay, it happened… my student’s on academic probation. What’s the first step?

Students who are placed on Academic Probation will receive a letter from the AAA office, notifying them of initial steps to take. These steps include:

• Complete the online Academic Success Plan we send and submit it to AAA online before the scheduled date of your meeting with an advisor.
• Schedule a meeting with one of the academic advisors in our office to go over the plan, to talk about what the issues/challenges were from the previous semester, and to create a game plan for how to make the next term go much better.

How does my student get off probation?

As soon as a student’s term GPA and cumulative GPA are both above a 2.0, a student is no longer on academic probation. As far as what it takes to get there, we suggest all of the steps mentioned above, including a good deal of self-reflection. If a student is struggling mightily, there are sometimes bigger issues at play. Maybe he or she is in the wrong major, maybe there are personal or family challenges that are forcing their focus elsewhere. Ultimately, we encourage students to be open and honest with themselves, with their parents, and with professors so that when academic problems arise, we can locate the root of the issue with accuracy.

If your student has questions about any of the above information, please encourage them to contact AAA at 509-313-4072 or at advise@gonzaga.edu.