How to Navigate Academic Trouble at Semester’s End
There may be a time at the end of the semester when you walk away knowing that you struggled, it went poorly, and a storm lies ahead. Now, the immediate reaction you may have is to run away from your problems and avoid your college email account, but I am here to tell you the best advice to follow when the semester doesn't go your way and you are afraid of a potential academic probation status or academic suspension.
Your Action Steps
Stay Calm
Do not panic, especially if you do not have all of your final course grades yet. So many students snowball and shut down, including not responding to emails. I want to suggest that you channel this energy into fact-finding. You should try to collect all information, including your final course grades, academic policies, and information about the processes that take place after your final grades are posted (like academic standing and financial aid).
Talk to Faculty
If you have any incomplete or unfinished courses, you need to reach out to the course faculty member. There are times when faculty are willing to be flexible and allow additional coursework to be submitted in a class. Usually, this applies only to courses without final grades; however, at times, I have seen students with final course grades be granted the opportunity to submit additional work and then receive a new final grade in the course. Your institution may have specific guidelines about submitting additional work and incomplete courses.
Academic Policy Research
You need to look at the academic policies. The policies can clarify the incomplete or the ability to submit additional coursework. Then, the policies can help you to confirm the definitions for academic suspension, probation, warning, or any other academic-related statuses. Some schools have different rules depending on your class standing or your current semester academic standing status.
Academic Advisor Meeting
To assist your fact-finding mission, reach out to your academic advisor for help understanding the policies. There may be academic parameters that are not a policy but are about the academic standing process that someone would need to share with you. This can include the parameters for each academic standing outcome, the deadlines for steps within the process, and the documentation requirements to submit to be considered if you are up for review for standing.
Personally, I have helped many students interpret, understand, and navigate academic standing policies and how they would apply to the potential outcomes of a single semester. There have been times when a student thinks they will be suspended, and in fact, they are placed on academic probation (a difference that matters and is explained more below). At other times, I have helped students navigate the academic suspension review process, including assisting with the submission of documentation.
Stay Engaged
During the academic standing process, make sure to stay engaged. I suggest checking your email daily until you receive your final academic standing outcome. Your faculty, academic advisor, and other staff will communicate with you via your school-issued email address. Information about the steps and process for academic standing will be sent to your university email, and you need to make sure you are checking your inbox regularly to avoid missing an important deadline.
Meet Deadlines
If you have outstanding work or incomplete classwork, you need to submit these assignments, most likely via email or via a learning management system (e.g., Blackboard or Canvas). And, if it isn’t obvious, make sure that you adhere to the timeline for your additional work with your faculty member and stay on track with the timeline.
If you do not have additional work to complete but are able to submit an academic standing appeal, do not miss the deadlines! I had a coworker who wouldn't review a student's submission if it was even 30 minutes late. So, do not miss the deadline! This is a preventable reason for not being eligible to continue.
Status Basics
Warning Status
At some institutions, there is a status called “academic warning.” This is typically for students who are near good standing or are first-year students. This status provides an opportunity for additional support to help students obtain good academic standing. Usually, the term does not have any negative connotations and is not noted on your transcript.
Academic Probation
This status typically imposes some restrictions on students. Some restrictions include a credit limit, participation in student organization leadership positions, and could require meetings with a staff member on campus. Students placed on academic probation may face harsher outcomes and be academically suspended if they do not return to good academic standing.
Academic Suspension
This status forces students to take an involuntary leave from their institution. Each institution has different lengths and requirements for leave.
Now, the suspension category can be further broken down. The first subcategory allows students to appeal or submit information for review. This group might be continued in the following term or suspended depending on whether they submit an appeal, if the deadlines are met, and the criteria used for the review.
The second category includes students who are unable to submit documentation and, therefore, will be suspended. I suggest that if you are in this group, you focus on using your leave productively, either with your academics or professionally. This could involve completing transfer courses, submitting incomplete work, finding an internship, securing a part-time job, completing Coursera classes, volunteering regularly, or addressing health issues.
Conclusion
I know the academic standing process can be intimidating, scary, and filled with anxiety. Make sure to do your research, learn the policies, work with your academic advisor, stay engaged, and meet deadlines. Lastly, if you are forced to take an involuntary leave, use the time productively to address your challenges. The stormy waters will become calmer, and you will learn to be able to sail through the choppy waters for the smaller storms that may enter your path as a student.
Image: Johannes Plenio via Pexels.