Message from the Dean's Office

An email message to first year students on academic probation after Fall 2017:

Dear Student,

Dean Dean and I hope you have had a restful and enjoyable winter break. We are sending you this note because we are concerned that your fall quarter did not go as well academically as you expected it to. Your fall quarter GPA was below 2.0 which means that you are on academic probation for fall 2017. We hope you read this entire email and reach out to us if you have any questions.

At the beginning of fall quarter, you received a note from Dean Dean. In that note he reminded you of advice we heard from your fellow students. As you read this list, ask yourself which ones you actually implemented during fall quarter. Then tell yourself which ones you will implement this winter quarter and beyond.

1. Deep learning takes time. 25-35 works!
2. Go to office hours; get to know your professors
3. Study without distractions
4. Seek to understand before you try to remember
5. Find meaning in your courses by connecting to the passion of your professors
6. Avoid boom and bust studying; 5 hours over 5 days is better than 5 hours in one study session
7. Get sleep and exercise!
8. Forgo the marshmallow…deferred gratification promotes success
9. Get to know yourself: What works for you, when are you most alert? Work then.
10. Learn from your peers, especially those that are different than you. Always engage from a place of “Love, Empathy, and Respect”
11. The fact that you exist is a miracle. Make the most of it!

Being academically successful in college takes quite a lot of effort. We know you are capable of achieving this success, but you must be willing to put in the effort and seek assistance from the people around campus who are here to help.

A fellow student offers some advice in "Lessons Learned in Your First Quarter of College to Carry on into Winter Quarter" that was published in the January 8, 2018 edition of Mustang News.

Here are a few suggestions from us to help you begin winter quarter and the rest of your undergraduate career at Cal Poly.

• Check your Fall 2017 grades and adjust your Winter 2018 schedule as necessary. If you are registered for a course and did not do well in the prerequisite (D+ or lower), do not continue in the sequence. Repeat D+ or below courses as soon as possible. See the Repeat Policy for more information.
• Be honest with yourself and take a reasonable amount of courses that will progress you towards a degree successfully. Don’t panic or try to get yourself back on schedule by taking more courses than you can handle.
• Make sure you are devoting sufficient time to studying to ensure you are truly learning. If you can talk about something fluently, accurately, and confidently and teach it to someone else, you probably know it; if you can’t, you don’t.
• Familiarize yourself with the university's academic probation and disqualification policy. There is a brief video that provides a very clear summary of the policy. As a new student, you get a few quarters of "grace" to adjust to college life and learning. However, if at the end of spring quarter 2018, your term GPA falls below the threshold for your actual academic progress, you will be in a disqualification status.
• Now is the time to set S.M.A.R.T. Goals to help you implement the "25-35" hours per week of studying that can help you be academically successful. We are here to help you set, reach and modify those goals throughout your academic career.
• Please let us know if you have an extenuating circumstance that may have led to your substandard performance so we can advise and guide you. Also, during your next quarter of enrollment or beyond, if something serious interferes with your ability to perform academically, let us know right away.

There will also be a chance for you to participate in a Freshman Success Program sponsored by the Mustang Success Center. In that program you will work with an academic coach who will help you set S.M.A.R.T. goals and help you figure out ways to better manage your time and play to your strengths as a student. Make sure you respond to the email inviting you to register for the Freshmen Success Program!

We are glad that you chose Cal Poly and know that you are very capable of earning your degree. Sadly, we cannot do the work for you. We can cheer you on and offer you assistance along the way.

If you would like to meet with either of us in person, please call 805-756-2226 and schedule an appointment.

Best wishes for a healthy and successful winter quarter.

Sincerely,

Dean E. Wendt (Dean) and Camille O'Bryant (Associate Dean)