The Office of First Year Experience provides probation advising services to help undecided students work towards good academic standing.
If you are a probation student, be sure to familiarize yourself with the following Frequently Asked Questions.
Why am I on probation?
Students go on academic probation when at least one of the following Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards (SAPS) are not met: (a) they have an MSU GPA of less than 2.0, and/or (b) they have an MSU credit completion rate of less than 67%.
What do I need to do if I am on academic probation?
To successfully begin the probation advising process undecided students should complete the following steps in the order listed.
-
Call the Office of First Year Experience at 507-389-5498, M-F, 8:00 am – 4pm, to sign up for an Intake Session (there are a limited number of sessions offered at the beginning of a semester, so take care of this soon after you received the email notifying you of your academic standing).
-
Attend your scheduled Intake Session.
-
-
Make an appointment to see an advisor with the Office of First Year Experience by calling 507-389-5498.
-
Attend your scheduled appointment.
When are the Intake Sessions for this semester?
Please see the following dates/times for intake sessions scheduled for fall 2009. If all of the dates have passed, AND you still have not attended an intake, you will need to set up an appointment that includes intake information. Plan for an hour long appointment. Call FYE at 507-389-5498 to set up this appointment, and tell the person you talk with that you need to do the intake as well.
Location for all intake sessions is Gage 8
- Thurs., August 27 - 1PM
- Fri., August 28 - 11AM
- Mon., August 31 - 1PM
- Tues., September 1 - 12:30PM
- Thurs., September 3 - 12 noon
- Tues., September 8 - 1PM
- Weds., September 9 - 10AM
How can I have a GPA above a 2.0 and still be on academic probation?
Satisfactory academic progress at MSU is defined as:
- Achieving a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher in all MSU coursework (excluding transfer coursework) completed, AND
- Maintaining a cumulative satisfactory credit completion rate of at least 67 percent of all MSU post-secondary credits (excluding transfer credits) attempted.
You may have a GPA of 2.0 or higher; however, if you have not completed a number of your courses because of incompletes (I), in progress (IP), no credit (NC), withdraw (W), or failure (F), you may be below the 67% completion rate required to be in satisfactory academic standing at MSU. Calculate your percentage of completion by using the following formula: (Number of credits completed, meaning credits marked A, B, C, D, P) ÷ (Number of total credits attempted, meaning credits marked as A, B, C, D, P, F, NC, I, IP, W, Z) = completion rate.
For example: Sandy has attempted 25 credits at MSU. She received 10 credits worth of straight As. She withdrew from 15 credits because she was not getting good grades and wanted to protect her GPA. Unfortunately Sandy’s completion rate is only 40% (10 ÷ 25 = 0.4). Sandy is on academic probation because of her low completion rate.
How does academic probation impact me?
- When a student drops below satisfactory academic standing they will be placed on academic and financial aid probation. Students placed on academic probation will have two academic terms (note: summer session counts as a term of probation) to meet standards of satisfactory academic progress. Failure to achieve the required GPA and/or completion rate will result in academic suspension at the end of the second probationary semester.
- While on academic probation, a registration hold will be placed on students’ records. Students will be required to take part in the probation process with the student’s major college or the Office of First Year Experience, prior to registration for the following term and for any subsequent probationary term(s).
- Students on academic probation will be placed on financial aid probation for their first term of academic probation. Financial aid suspension will occur in any future term that satisfactory progress standards are not met.
- In addition to financial aid suspension, other consequences of academic probation include: potential loss of health insurance, potential loss of car insurance discounts, last choice for registration, possible non-admittance to a program of study, and as stated earlier, possible academic suspension.
How can I improve my academic situation?
To understand what steps you can take to improve your academic situation it is important to meet with an academic advisor. Advisors are available to give you concrete information specific to your situation. Students who are undecided can call the Office of First Year Experience at 507-389-5498
How does FYE serve probation students?
The Office of First Year Experience offers one-on-one probation advising for undecided students on academic probation. Probation advisors assist students in completing an Academic Improvement Plan (AIP). The AIP is a contract created by the student and their advisor where student’s needs and challenges are discussed and achievable goals are set. Regularly scheduled advising appointments help keep students accountable for their goals. Advisors closely monitor student progress and offer suggestions throughout the semester as their needs may change.
Probation advisors who have established a relationship with their advisee can play a significant role in an appeal process. Probation advisors may be asked to write a letter of support for a student attempting to appeal financial aid suspension or academic suspension. If a relationship between advisor and advisee is never established, advisors have no means to write a letter of support.
