Academic Probation or Dismissal

It sounds so simple, but a real key to success is just showing up. So much so, that observational comedians note the connection. In 1977, Woody Allen said, “Showing up is 80% of life.” And that has become a widely repeated and widely attributed adage.  

But a real key to academic success is not just attending class but going to class prepared to engage and take notes. Read the assigned text sections BEFORE class, so you’ll know ahead of time what to expect the lecture to be about. And so that you’ll have the confidence to participate in class discussion and answer teacher questions, which they frequently ask to break up the lecture and to gauge student preparedness. Develop the note-taking skills to capture lecture information AND class discussions, too. 

Get to classes a few minutes early and plan to stay a bit afterward. Clean up your notes immediately after class while the information is fresh and BEFORE you go to the next class and switch to a different topic.  

There are tons of free resources on campus to help you whenever you are experiencing academic struggles, and students who utilize those resources regularly are far more likely to succeed in their classes than those who do not.  Be sure to reach out to these resources early and often, as addressing a little problem before it becomes a big one is the best way to avoid becoming overwhelmed. 

One of the best resources for academic assistance is tutoring.  USI offers free tutoring to students through Academic Skills, which is in the Education Center, room 1111A.  You can receive tutoring on a variety of subjects, and there is even the Writers’ Room if you need help with a paper.  If you cannot make it to campus, Academic Skills offers online tutoring as well.  Give them a call at 812-464-1743, or visit them in ED 1111A for more information. 

Your academic advisor is also a great resource to go to whenever you are having trouble with a class.  Your advisor will be able to help you make a plan for success and connect you with a variety of resources on campus.  If you don’t know who your academic advisor is or how to contact them, login to your myUSI account and click the Degree Works icon under your Eagle Apps (it looks like a graduation cap).  Your advisor’s name will be listed in the top left corner of the screen.  Click on it, and a window will pop up so that you can send them an email. 

Sometimes, the stress of college life or even things outside of school can interfere with academics.  When this happens, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is there to help!  Counseling through CAPS is free to USI students, and it may be just the thing you need to navigate a tough period in your life.  You can visit the CAPS office in the Orr Center, room 1051, or give them a call at 812-464-1867 to schedule an appointment. 

While on probation students are limited to taking 12-13 hours per semester.  Remember reducing your course load will help you devote more time to each course and increase time spent on academic skills and writing center.  If you need to take additional hours for a scholarship or financial aid it is important to discuss this with your academic advisor to identify the best course options and plan for success. 

You should be studying (or working on classes) outside of class 2 hours on your own for every 1 hour that you’re in class. It’s literally how colleges are set up. You’re a full-time student if you only have 12 hours of class per week. 12 hours is not full-time in other job or life situations. BUT if you’re working 24hours on your own (2 hours for every 1 hour in class) AND going to class 12 hours per week, that’s 36hours or about 40hrs/week, which is the widely accepted “full time” amount. 

Put a study schedule on a calendar. Set reminders on your phone. And treat study time the same as class time – as mandatory, essential, and the top priority.  

Find a regular place to study without distractions.  

Create a study group for your toughest classes, or ideally all your classes.  

Try to be ACTIVE when studying. Don’t just run your eyes over text. But be writing/typing out information for study guides and rewriting those study guides until you’ve put in the information into long term memory. Note cards are a classic system for studying actively rather than passively. 

The stress of college can be demanding, which isn’t made easier by the demands of work. While we understand that many students must maintain their jobs to help afford college, consider working with your boss to limit hours if you are feeling overwhelmed. They may be able to allow you time off for big exams or flexible work arrangements.  

Sometimes working on campus can be more beneficial as it offers flexible hours, supervisors who understand the stress of being a college student, and you may even be able to complete some homework while managing a front desk. To apply for a student worker position, visit the CareerLink app on your my.USI account.  

If affording college is your main reason for having a job as a student, you may be eligible for grants and opportunities through the Financial Aid Office. You can contact the Financial Care Team using this link: https://www.usi.edu/financial-success/financial-care-team or by calling the Financial Aid Office directly at 812-228-5615. If you do not need to work to afford college, it may be beneficial to focus fully on being a student for years; the rewards from this will pay off upon your successful graduation.  

The quickest way to succeed while on probation is to repeat courses with “D” or “F” grades.  At USI, when you repeat a course the higher letter grade will replace your previous grade.  The previous grade will remain on your transcript but will not be counted toward your GPA.  When repeating a course, achieving a “C” grade is more effective at increasing your GPA than achieving a “A” in a new course.

Every student has areas of strength. Take advantage of them! In addition to repeating courses in which you failed or made a “D” in during your probation semester, take courses that include those strengths. if there are certain subjects you feel you are weak in, you may want to consider taking those in a later semester, unless they need to be repeated for GPA purposes. To get you on the right path going forward, your academic advisor is there to help you determine classes that fit those strengths! Make sure to have regular meetings with your advisor to create your customized academic plan and to develop schedules with balanced course loads.  

Assessing your interests, skills, and abilities can help you identify a major and career path that is right for you. What are your interests? What were your favorite subjects and courses in high school? Which subjects and courses have you enjoyed while in college? What careers are interesting to you? What do you love to do? As a child, what did you dream of being? What aspects of your job(s) have you enjoyed the most? What skills have you gained on the job? What are you passionate about?  

Here are a few helpful resources that can assist you with identifying your skills, the exploring majors process, and career counseling:  

USI Skills Survey

Strategies for Exploring Majors

Career Counseling

Want a simple way to ensure academic success?  Visit your professor during their office hours!  Don’t be afraid to drop by and ask questions about class content or assignments.  Prepare for an office hour visit by writing down exactly what you are having trouble with (if you are unsure, attempt an assignment and see exactly where you get stuck).  It is a lot easier for your instructor to help you if they know where your struggles are coming from.  Instructor office hours should be detailed in the class syllabus, or you can ask your professor about them.  Your instructors want you to succeed, and they want you to utilize their office hours—that’s why they have them!