Academic advisors often advise students who have academic difficulty. There are a variety of reasons why students end up on academic warning or probation. Some of the reasons:
- Poor or no study habits; lack of time management
- Involvement in too many activities or lack of involvement
- Lack of motivation
- Test-taking anxiety
- Overwhelming personal or family issues
- Lack of preparation for college
- Lack of direction
Students will not always recognize the results of poor academic performance. The existence of mid semester deficiencies and its overlap with preregistration facilitates a discussion.
Suggestions for Advising Students in Academic Difficulty
Early intervention may help students avoid continued unsatisfactory academic progress. See the advising students in academic difficulty page for suggestions and intervention strategies.
Advising Students with Deficiencies
Here are some suggestions for advising students with deficiencies:
- Help them realistically assess their ability to recover.
- How many tests are left?
- What percentage of their grade is determined/left?
- Is there a paper due?
- How much does homework count?
- Explain warning/probation and if they are in danger if XYZ occurs.
- Have they talked with the professor? Have they talked with parents about the financial implications of dropping a course?
Related Resources and Information
The Academic Resource Center (ARC)
Saint Anselm College
Learning Style Resources
NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources
Encouraging College Student Success
Academic Support Resource Links
NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources
Advising Academically Underprepared Students
NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources
Millennial Students: Rethinking Time Management
Advising Students on (Academic) Probation
NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources