“Stranded, Suspended and Ready to Jump Off the Rocks” Option 3 to the Rescue. What happens when students who earn academic suspension or dismissal are NOT required to leave the university? Dr. Julie Preece Dr. Cynthia Wong Nathan Walch Dr. Ron Chapman Irene Windham Brigham Young University J

Academic Standing Diagram Good Previous (Good) Key < 2.0 GPA > 2.0 GPA 3.2 GPA or higher Warning Dismissal CAP Probation Suspension 12 months away N

History Fall 2001 Conflict with the time enabling ASO to send letters to students informing them of their academic suspension/dismissal. ASO very small office, two advisors, one Information Specialist/Assistant Advisor Students were permitted to return without a program- they “just came back or not.” R

Fall 2001 Results Academic Standing Number of Students n 85 Good 37 Probation 9 Suspension 30 Dismissal Withdrew R

Circumstances leading up to the “Option 3 Program” Insufficient time To advise students individually For students to file grade petitions Campus-wide closures due to holidays N

Circumstances leading up to the “Option 3 Program” Fall 2009 calendars A conflict with the academic calendar prevented ASO from informing students of their academic suspension/dismissal. December 2009 January 2010 N

Circumstances leading up to the “Option 3 Program” Fall 2010 A further conflict with the academic calendar prevented ASO from informing students of their academic suspension/dismissal. December 2010 January 2011 N

Exclusions Time away = Benefit? Academic/grade issues Which students did not qualify? Participated in “Option 3” before No support from department chair Petitioned during the previous year and permitted to stay in school J

Choices at the End of Grade Processing Option 1 Take time away from BYU to resolve issues Option 2 Take reduced time away (at least 6 months) from BYU and petition to return with class work outside of BYU that shows academic success Option 3 Remain at BYU and participate in the “Option 3 Program” J

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Disqualified Students Students were disqualified from participating if: Failed to turn in the response sheet declaring their choice by the deadline Failed to attend one of the workshops J

The “Option 3 Program” Let the ASO know by a given date what options the student was taking Attend a workshop during the 2nd week of school Students strongly encouraged to work with an ASO advisor and Peer coach Complete an Academic Improvement Plan (AIP) with advisor Mid-term Evaluations (only for 2009) If GPA requirements are not met at the end of the semester Academic standing is reinstated Take appropriate time away J

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Option 3 Workshops 3-4 workshops offered Workshop outline Introduced advisors and peer coaches Explained academic standings Highlighted all options and encouraged time away Outlined of the Option 3 Program Educated regarding available resources Taught study skills If not attended, classes were dropped C

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How did the “Option 3” students perform?

Participation Rates Fall 2009 AIPs: 79% turned in Mid-term Evaluations: 42% participated 7% reported as not passing all classes Fall 2010 AIPs: 65% turned in N

By the Numbers 188 198 186 96 103 93 8 12 Fall 2009 Fall 2010 SUSP/DISM 188 198 186 Option 3 96 103 93 Ineligible 8 12 R

The Bottom Line R

Summary Percent of students who chose Option 3 and returned to good standing or remained on probation at the end of the semester Fall 2001: 54% Fall 2009: 72% Fall 2010: 62% N

Concerns and Issues More contact with overall suspended population Early warning through mid-term evaluations Load on ASO staff No follow up over multiple semesters Needed buy-in from administration FERPA induced vagueness What to do with students who don’t show up to the workshops (hard for the soft-hearted) Nasty fruit punch and stale cookies J

Questions and Comments J

Case Study #1 Laurie the Late 24-year-old senior (still has approximately 1-2 years of school) Received 6 e-mails (including “your classes will be dropped in one week”), 2 letters, 2 phone calls Came in when a teacher informed her she was no longer on his class roll Told an ASO advisor that she had received no notification of her academic status or the Option 3 program Record of e-mails demonstrated that she had received the e-mails Laurie admitted she had received them and notification from her family of the phone calls Told advisor that she had health issues ASO advisor helped her to petition through the petitions office for a “weak” medical petition (although had mediocre medical documentation and doctor reported that the “medical condition” would not have prevented Laurie from performing academically) Stayed in classes although she was no longer enrolled ASO discussed case with department chair J

Case Study #2 Brian the Bluster 27-year-old junior Had done well in school with the exception of the past 4 semesters Reported psychological issues Attended workshop, turned in AIP, visited with psychologist Not interested in changing study skills or habits ASO advisor confronted his behavior Dropped all but one class, passed class Next term continued to work with ASO, made significant changes and returned to GOOD academic standing J

Case Study #3 Burt Bed Bug 26-year-old international student Lots of family drama, has received counseling, but continued to struggle Avoided coming in for help from ASO Came in when facing academic suspension Option 3 program was explained to him in detail face-to-face (2 times), signed up for a workshop and never attended or contacted the ASO ASO sent e-mail informing Burt that he was now suspended and should take his time away Burt insisted he had a good reason (bed bugs), did not have any explanation as to why he had not called ASO to let us know of the development Worked with department (student was directed to Option 2) Is working with family to resolve problems and is taking independent study classes J

Contact Us To receive any of the materials presented today, please email academic_support@byu.edu J

The Bottom Line