An academic warning once meant near-certain suspension, but a new academic standing level added two years ago now means struggling students are less likely to get the boot.
The University decided two years ago to add a category to its levels of academic standing, which had previously included good standing, academic warning and suspension. The Committee on Academic Standing added a fourth level called "serious warning in lieu of suspension," an intermediate stage between warning and suspension.
With this change in the level of academic standing, the committee added a component of academic and advising support for students.
Students on serious warning in lieu of suspension are now required to earn only three credits the following semester and attend workshops held by the committee, said Stephen Lassonde, deputy dean of the College and chair of the Committee on Academic Standing.
The workshops — which are limited to 20 students and are open to all undergraduates — focus on topics such as "study skills, note-taking and how to speak to professors," Lassonde said.
Before the new level was created, students were allowed to continue their education on warning but would be suspended if they did not earn four credits the following semester.
With the new level of academic standing, students are less likely to be suspended because they are not responsible for as many credits and receive greater academic support, Lassonde said.
"We put the student on pause," Lassonde said. "We ask how can we help and if it is an advising issue."
Sometimes, deans find that time away from Brown might be best for students, Lassonde said.
Meiklejohn Daniel Aaron '12 said he was trained to assist struggling advisees. "We're supposed to refer them to the resource they need, like the dean of the College, (the Third World Center) and writing fellows," Aaron said.
Ultimately, it takes a collaborative effort to turn around the academic careers of struggling students, Lassonde said. "It is a combination of getting the student to find the problem, support, monitoring and advising."
