One of the greatest challenges facing faculty and professional academic advisors alike is what is referred to as "students-at-risk", that is, those students whose progress in his or her degree program is in serious jeopardy because of poor academic performance. Often times the term is used, and even confused, with that of "retention". Retention refers to the strategies and programs created to "retain" students who may drop out of college temporarily or permanently, including those who choose to leave UH for another university. While such individuals may include students who are at risk of being suspended from the university for their performance, it is not always the case. Students may delay their studies because of financial or personal concerns. Others may leave because of programs they want to pursue elsewhere, and even some leave because they feel that they do not receive the timely, accurate, and respectful support they need for making their academic and life decisions. Therefore, retention is an issue for all students, those at risk as well as those who are our very best students. For an advisor it is important to understand how to identify a "student-at-risk" and to have mastery over the policies and regulations that exist to help manage these students' academic development. To this end USD has designed and implemented the following advising procedures specifically for this cohort of students.

ACADEMIC NOTICE Freshman students in their first semester of enrollment at the University of Houston who earn less than a 2.00 grade point average are placed on Academic Notice. Almost one third of all newly admitted University of Houston freshman students are on Academic Notice at the end their first semester. The University Studies Division mails a letter to each of these students early in the semester notifying them of their status and that a stop has been placed on their future enrollment. To clear this stop they must meet with an advisor for review of their academic progress and to receive recommendations and referrals to support their future academic success.

PROBATION Students are placed on Academic Probation if their cumulative grade point average falls below a 2.00. Those students on Academic Probation must maintain a 2.00 semester grade point average to avoid suspension. Students on Academic Notice or Academic Probation should enroll in no more than 13 semester hours (six semester hours each summer session).

 

ACADEMIC SUSPENSION The University of Houston Suspension Policy stipulates:

1. A first academic suspension is for a period of at least one semester (the Summer sessions equal one semester).
2. A second academic suspension is for a period of at least 12 months.
3. After earning a third academic suspension, a student is ineligible to reenroll at the University of Houston.

Readmission from academic suspension is not automatic or guaranteed. Students who have completed their term of suspension and who are eligible to return to the University of Houston must apply for readmission.

Students seeking readmission to a declared major should meet with a college advisor to discuss college readmission requirements. Students seeking readmission as a University Studies Division (USD) student should meet with a USD advisor well in advance of registration to begin the readmission process. USD can only readmit students to the University Studies Division, not to any academic major or department.

SUSPENSION NOTIFICATION

USD students who have been suspended are contacted by letter at the beginning of each semester and informed of the USD readmission requirements. Suspended students sometimes come (or are referred) to USD because they have not been successful in their current major. All students requesting readmission from suspension advising are provided with printed information at intake. (This document is available at http://www.uh.edu/academics/usd/usdforms/readmiss.htm).

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READMISSION

READMISSION FROM SUSPENSION POLICY The University Studies Division adheres to the University Suspension policy: a first academic suspension is for a period of at least one semester; a second academic suspension is for a period of at least 12 months; after earning a third academic suspension, a student is ineligible to re-enroll at the University of Houston. Suspension is never the result of a single semester or a single grade. In order to be successful, students must resolve whatever academic or personal problems have resulted in the suspension. The UH Suspension policy exists to allow a student time and opportunity to take steps to resolve these problems, to seek academic success at another institution, or to work full-time to build financial resources. Too early return can only result in additional academic peril (for instance, earning a second suspension which will entail a full year—12 months--of non-attendance).

Readmission Deadline The University Studies Division's Readmission Deadline is set a week before the First Class Day of the Spring or Fall semester. (Summer readmission is generally not in a student’s academic best interest due to the compressed time frame). The Readmission Deadline allows sufficient time to complete the readmission process before (or soon after) classes begin. A late start may jeopardize a student’s chance for academic success and place the student in further academic danger.

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THE READMISSION PROCESS Readmission from academic suspension is one of the most demanding advising interventions.  Readmission requires upholding University regulations while supporting student success. Complicated academic decisions may sometimes be difficult for both advisor and student.

Advisors in the University of Houston’s University Studies Division (USD) have developed a readmission process that provides a structured approach to readmission decision-making.  Detailed documentation and clear expectations result in more uniform and rational decisions, based on university policy, office experience, and useful precedent. This structure allows all USD advisors (after initial training) to advise students seeking readmission from suspension.

The three-part University Studies Division readmission from suspension advising process includes:

1.      Screening (Is the student eligible to return?)
2.      The Readmission Interview (Is the student ready to return?), and
3.      The Administrative Review (Is the advisor’s readmission recommendation supported by the readmission packet’s documentation?) 

The Initial Screening During this initial screening session the advisor makes the first of a series of decisions about the students potential to return.  Is the student eligible for readmission (e.g., has the required suspension term elapsed)?  Is a contract required? (Because University Studies Division students may only be undeclared for their first 60 hours, any student seeking USD readmission who has earned 55 or more hours must enter into a contract with a degree granting college before readmission can be considered.). Has the student earned coursework elsewhere during the term of suspension or is the student currently enrolled elsewhere, and if so has the student maintained a 2.00 GPA on all attempted coursework?

If the student is readmittable, the advisor releases the readmission application (click to access) to the student, explains the readmission procedure, and outlines the documents the student must complete and return:

a.       The Readmission from Suspension Application;
b.      A Personal statement (typed);
c.       Transcripts from other institutions;
d.      In-progress Grade reports  (if currently enrolled)-- click to access; and,
e.       A Contract with a College (if student has earned 55+ hours). 

When the student returns these documents, an appointment is set for the next step in the readmission process, the readmission interview.

The Readmission Interview During the readmission interview the advisor reviews the academic history; personal statement; transfer work (if any); and contract (if required) with the student.  The advisor prepares and explains the Core Path worksheet, finalizes course selection for the upcoming semester if the advisor intends to support the student’s readmission application, and completes an Academic Agreement (click to access). The Academic Agreement includes a review of problems that led to the student’s difficulty, referrals and assignments to support the student’s success in future semesters, and a review of academic requirements.

Finalizing the Readmission Packet After the interview the advisor completes the Readmission File Notes (click to access), including the readmission recommendation and rationale; the number of hours earned; GPA; intended major; and referrals made (if any). If recommending readmission, the advisor fills out the Readmission Authorization Form (a University document), and forwards the readmission packet to the Associate Director for administrative review.

Administrative Review The Associate Director reviews the packet for policy adherence and completeness and forwards for final signature.

EXCEPTIONS Not all cases are clear, however, and over-riding considerations may be present.  In these rare instances the Director of Undergraduate Academic Development and Retention may make an exception, based on information and documentation provided by the advisor.  Additionally, students may appeal a negative readmission decision by formally petitioning in writing to the Director of Undergraduate Academic Development and Retention.

READMISSION: ALTERNATIVE MAJORS Suspended students sometimes come (or are referred) to USD because they have not been successful in their current major. If readmitted through USD, these students change their major to USD and remain in USD while completing prerequisites and improving their cumulative grade point average to a minimum of 2.00. USD advisors work with these students, providing degree alternative information and suggesting majors in which they may be successful.  USD advisors focus on student success. Success may be achieved by earning a degree at UH in a new major or by transferring and earning a degree elsewhere.

NON-READMISSION: OTHER ALTERNATIVES One aspect of successful readmission advising involves making the decision to deny readmission. An environment that allows alternatives ameliorates the bad news. One alternative is to attend another area institution temporarily perhaps to remediate skill areas (particularly in Math and/or English) or to benefit from smaller classes with greater student-teacher interaction. Another possibility is to take some additional time off from school to resolve the personal, financial or maturity issues that may have contributed to academic difficulty.  A third possibility is to earn a degree at another institution.

This process is demanding of both advising staff and returning students, but the results can be gratifying. Returning students sometimes go from suspension to Dean’s List, providing dramatic proof of a successful intervention.

CONTRACTING

The University of Houston’s 60-hour Rule http://www.uh.edu/academics/catalog/general/admis.html#univstud requires that students who have earned 60 or more hours declare a major in order to continue enrollment. Newly admitted undergraduate transfer students with 60 or more hours may remain in the University Studies Division for two semesters.

During their stay in the University Studies Division, students complete Core Curriculum coursework, are encouraged to seek vocational and career counseling to identify fields of interest, and are referred to major advisors for degree exploration. They work to establish a successful University of Houston grade point average, to identify and eventually to declare a major.

Each semester, USD places an enrollment stop on some 500 junior and senior level students who have not yet declared a major. Students with a 2.00 or better UH GPA may declare a major in any college in which they meet the minimum GPA requirements. Students with less than a 2.00 will require a college contract in continue enrollment.

The option of contracting benefits not only the student but also the university. Often a potentially able student (who may have initially chosen the wrong major or enrolled in inappropriate coursework) is retained and eventually earns a UH degree due to the availability of a contract (and of a college willing to look at the student’s individual circumstances). 

USD advisors work with these students, providing degree alternative information and suggesting majors in which they may be successful.  We provide GPA projections and help students understand the semester GPA required to eventually earn a 2.00 cumulative and declare a major.  GPA projections are often eye-openers for students, resulting in the realization that some majors are unrealistic and culminating in the acceptance of alternatives. Many contracting students succeed in their new major and earn degrees from the university.

Students who enter into a contract with a college should be willing to earn a degree in that college.  If not, they have the option of transferring to another institution and earning the degree they seek elsewhere.

UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON ACADEMIC FRESH START PROGRAM

University of Houston Academic Fresh Start is designed to recognize the changes that can occur over time and to forgive academic difficulty that occured in the distant past. Returning or currently enrolled University of Houston undergradute students who wish to seek academic forgiveness for all University of Houston coursework completed 10 or more years ago may invoke this program.

After completing the University of Houston Fresh Start Semester of Application, the students' University of Houston acdemic record will reflect the new Fresh Start Hours and Fresh Start Grade Point Average. The Fresh Start GPA and earned hours will determine the students' classification, acdemic standing, course prerequisities, degree requirements, eligibility for graduation, eligibility for honors, along with other possible academic outcomes.

The University of Houston Fresh Start Policy stipulates:

1. All academic course work completed at the University of Houston ten or more years prior to the semester of election will be removed from consideration by the University and by the dean of the college of the student’s major for any academic purpose and that this coursework cannot be used for any academic purpose.

2. Courses removed from consideration under University of Houston Academic Fresh Start will not be removed from the student’s UH transcript but the UH transcript will be annotated to identify the courses removed from consideration.

3. University of Houston Academic Fresh Start can be selected only once.

4. There may be implications for financial aid and veterans benefits and these offices should be contacted for information.

5. University of Houston Academic Fresh Start may not apply to admission to postgraduate or professional programs.

6. Failure to attend the University during the initial semester of University of Houston Academic Fresh Start election will negate this agreement and under these circumstances the student would be required to reapply for University of Houston Academic Fresh Start in any subsequent semester.

The UH Fresh Start Application Process

University of Houston undergraduate students who have a declared major should meet with their College Advisor to begin the Fresh Start process. Students who wish to change majors may change their major to University Studies Division (USD) for purpose of Fresh Start, as part of the USD Fresh Start application process.

Students applying for Fresh Start will be asked to provide transcripts of all coursework attempted (if any) since their last University of Houston attendance and to prepare a typed personal statement addressing:

    1.   Their reason for electing Fresh Start.
2.  Their educational goals.
3.   The educational or career activities they engaged in since their last
    UH enrollment.

Some Program Specifics

1.      University of Houston Academic Fresh Start is for currently enrolled UH undergraduate students (or PB’s seeking a second degree).

2.      Prospective transfer students seeking forgiveness on transfer work (10 years or older) should be referred to Transfer Admissions to discuss Texas Fresh Start.

3.      Students who have earned a UH undergraduate degree may not invoke Fresh Start on their undergraduate coursework. Doing so would void their degree.

4.      UH Fresh Start may be taken only once.

5.      The UH Fresh Start is finalized (i.e., Fresh Start GPA is posted) when the student completes the Fresh Start application semester. For UH Fresh Start purposes, a “W” is not considered a completion; however, an “F” or an "I" is a completion.

6.      When a student elects UH Fresh Start all coursework taken prior to the elected FS date will be removed from consideration. This coursework must be 10 years or older.

7.      The coursework removed from consideration appears on the transcript with the notation: REMOVED FROM CONSIDERATION: UH ACADEMIC FRESH START.