Step 1 - Getting Started
- Taking Stock . . . what went wrong?
- Developing a Plan
- Opportunity Knocks
Step 2- Meet with an Academic Advisor
Step 3—Maintain a Satisfactory GPA
Step 4 - Take Advantage of Resources
Step 1— Getting Started.
There are many reasons students do not earn the grades they are capable of earning—not being adequately prepared for a course, lacking test preparation, failure to complete homework assignments. However, if you find you are on academic probation there are steps you can take to get back in good standing.
While on academic probation you should complete an 
Academic Recovery Plan with your advisor. The plan will provide you with important information about your academic status at HBU and strategies to help you recover and get back in good academic standing as quickly as possible.
Taking Stock . . . what went wrong?
Download: Academic Student Assessment Worksheets- coming soon!
If you are serious about improving your grades, completing the Student Assessment Worksheet will be of great assistance to you. Be warned, in this exercise you will be asked to consider new ideas, question your own assumptions, and try new strategies. There is no one formula for success that works for everyone, but there are ways to figure out what works best for you.
The reasons students do poorly can be complex, multi-faceted, and sometimes unavoidable. It could be a handful of little things contributing to a bigger problem or other larger issues that need your full attention. No matter what the causes were that contributed to your doing poorly, they must be addressed. How you got to this point is probably less critical than where you intend to go from here.
First of all, think about your initial reaction to your grades, or finding out that you are on Academic Probation, or have a GPA below 2.0. Your first response may have been one of surprise, anger, disgust, despair, or even joy (“I did’t do as bad as I thought!”). You may have shrugged it off and said, “I’ll just work harder next time.” You may have blamed your professor for testing too hard. You may have decided that you did the best you could do given your present situation. Each of these feelings is valid and each response is legitimate.
Developing a Plan
Download and share with your advisor: Academic Recovery Plan
No matter what your generalizations or judgments are about your academic performance, you may conclude that you just need to study harder. The resolution to work harder is admirable, but somewhat short-sighted. What does it mean to “study harder?” You will need to focus on how you plan to “study harder.”
It is important to know the terms of your probation, or the consequences of having a GPA below the required scholastic standing. Some of that is covered again in this website, but if you are not sure about something, ask an academic advisor.
Opportunity
There are two ways to deal with failure. The first way is to avoid the negative feelings associated with failure. Students who protect themselves in this manner expend a lot of energy denying or defending their failure.
The other way to deal with failure is to acknowledge that errors and mistakes were made and then seek ways to correct them. By accepting this responsibility, the student then has the power to make the needed changes to avoid failure in the future.
In many respects, academic trouble can be seen as an opportunity. You came to college to learn, and here is a great chance to do so. But also remind yourself that growth and development involves a certain amount of risk and the possibility of failure. But, just as crashing is part of learning to ride a bike, once you’ve learned to ride, it’s something you don’t forget.
Step 2—Meet with an Academic Advisor
It is recommended that you meet with your academic advisor face-to-face so that they can work with you individually to get you back on track.
Prepare for this meeting by asking the following questions:
- Am I in the right classes?
- Should I repeat any classes to improve my GPA?
- Are these classes essential for my prospective major?
- Should I consider changing my major?
- What grades do I need to earn to improve my GPA and get back into good standing"?
- What are some helpful strategies?
- What campus resources exist that can help me improve my grades?
- How can I set myself up for success in my classes in future semesters?
Step 3—Maintain a Satisfactory GPA
To begin the process of improving your GPA, it’s important to know where you stand academically. The first thing you must do is run a
CAPP Degree Evaluation Report to find out what you have completed towards your degree, what are your total earned credit hours, your semester GPA, and cumulative GPA.
Step 4 - Resources
Take advantage of the many HBU resources and services.
Updated 7/31/2009
- Content Author
PYoung 
are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader. 