2008 Woodie Awards
UC battles dismissal rate with mandatory intervention programs
Michael Walker
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: College News
The Career Center, situated on the third floor of University College, had the distinct aura of a hospital during the past two weeks. Students looked sick, and like patients they had to sign in before sitting in a silent, sterile lobby. And then, after a brief wait, a well-dressed counselor would appear and start calling names.
"Ashley?" summoned one advisor, while surveying the lobby. "Ashley Hodges?"
Hodges, who was thumbing through a thick textbook, looked up, exhaled and sauntered toward her caller. Hodges didn't want to be in the Career Center that day. She had to be.
A hard-working IUPUI sophomore, Hodges received a letter last week that told her she had to report to an academic advisor before Feb. 1. The reason: academic probation, which, as Hodges saw it, was a very serious ailment.
Last semester the faculty at University College (UC) amended their policies so that students who land on probation were required to report to an advisor. More important, the students have to take one of three intervention programs to improve their academic performance.
UC serves as the waiting place for new students who haven't been accepted in their respective schools. This semester 561 of 6,450 UC students - most of them freshman - obtained grade point averages of 2.0 or less, a score that places them on academic probation. Any student whose GPA remains less than 2.0 for two consecutive semesters is dismissed.
Chris Maroldo, coordinator of the probation programs, believes the new policy will decrease freshman and sophomore dismissals. Students must pick one of three programs - a mentoring program, a workshop or lectures - and attend the sessions weekly. Maroldo said the programs try to hone each student's strength and revise their study habits.
Some students, however, dislike the idea of mandatory study programs. Hodges, who saw her adviser Jan. 28, saw the program as beneficial, just not for her.
"I think for most people it's good, but for me, I've already taken steps toward improving my grades," she said.
"Ashley?" summoned one advisor, while surveying the lobby. "Ashley Hodges?"
Hodges, who was thumbing through a thick textbook, looked up, exhaled and sauntered toward her caller. Hodges didn't want to be in the Career Center that day. She had to be.
A hard-working IUPUI sophomore, Hodges received a letter last week that told her she had to report to an academic advisor before Feb. 1. The reason: academic probation, which, as Hodges saw it, was a very serious ailment.
Last semester the faculty at University College (UC) amended their policies so that students who land on probation were required to report to an advisor. More important, the students have to take one of three intervention programs to improve their academic performance.
UC serves as the waiting place for new students who haven't been accepted in their respective schools. This semester 561 of 6,450 UC students - most of them freshman - obtained grade point averages of 2.0 or less, a score that places them on academic probation. Any student whose GPA remains less than 2.0 for two consecutive semesters is dismissed.
Chris Maroldo, coordinator of the probation programs, believes the new policy will decrease freshman and sophomore dismissals. Students must pick one of three programs - a mentoring program, a workshop or lectures - and attend the sessions weekly. Maroldo said the programs try to hone each student's strength and revise their study habits.
Some students, however, dislike the idea of mandatory study programs. Hodges, who saw her adviser Jan. 28, saw the program as beneficial, just not for her.
"I think for most people it's good, but for me, I've already taken steps toward improving my grades," she said.
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