This is the third of three posts on College Parent Central considering the realities of academic dismissal from college. Our first post, What To Do If Your Student is Academically Dismissed from College, has been visited most often and received more comments than any other post on this site over the past several years. We followed with our last post, Academically Dismissed from College? Time for a Reset, in which we discussed some of the causes and emotions surrounding dismissal.
In this post, we look at potential next steps for parents and students to work together to come to terms with the situation. Of course, just as the causes for a student’s dismissal are unique and personal, so are next steps. However, we’d like to suggest a path that might help you and your student move ahead.
Step 1: Accept the reality
There are some truths that you and your student will need to accept.
- Schools do not dismiss students lightly. Standards set by schools are usually based on previous experience. If your student did not achieve or maintain the required standard (usually measured by GPA and progress toward degree), the school does not expect your student to be able to succeed.
- Your student might appeal a decision, but should give careful thought to whether that is the best thing to do at this time. (See How to Help Your Student Use the College Appeal Process Effectively.)
- Your student’s official record or transcript is probably permanent. Although some schools do have a ”clean slate” or amnesty policy for students who are dismissed and return, it is more likely that the student’s transcript is permanent and will follow them to their next institution. Your student may be able to explain the situation later, but their academic record is official and permanent.
Accepting the dismissal as real is the first step toward moving forward.
Step 2: Accept responsibility
Perhaps even harder than accepting the reality of academic dismissal is accepting responsibility. Although there may be extenuating factors such as illness, family issues, or mental health problems, it is important that your student think hard about what caused the situation that led to dismissal. Getting past blaming others will be important for moving forward. Whether the responsibility falls totally on your student or is shared, your student needs to consider what they might have done — or not done — to contribute to academic failure.
Step 3: Learn from mistakes
Wherever responsibilities lie, it is important that your student learn from previous mistakes. What can be changed? What should — or should not — be repeated?
Step 4: Know that there are options
There are always options. Some options may be better than others. Some options are difficult or even undesirable, but there are options. The path may not be as planned, but there are paths, chances to learn and change. Your student may take a semester or a year off and then return to the same school. Your student may take time off and return to another school. Your student may attend a local community college and then move on to another school. Your student may need to change major or career plans. Your student may need to work for a while (a semester, a year, several years) to grow and gain the maturity and motivation to return to school. There are always options.
Step 5: Do your research
There are always options, but finding them may take some time and research. Your student should be prepared to do some work investigating — jobs, local schools and admission or readmission policies, alternative majors or careers, or alternative programs such as Americorps, volunteer or community service programs. There may be options out there that you and your student never considered.
Step 6: Be honest
It is essential that your student be honest in their own mind about what went wrong, but it is also helpful if they are honest with you, with other family members, with employers and with future schools. They don’t need to share all of the details of their situation, but they can share that school didn’t work at this time and that they are taking a different path. It is essential that they be honest with a future school. Any future institution will want to see a transcript. This is the time for your student to take responsibility for their history, explain what they have learned, and describe their new understanding, maturity and motivation.
Step 7: Set goals — and take action
Help your student think about their ultimate goals and some action plans to achieve those goals. These action steps are critical. It is important your student feel that each step, however small it might be, is a step toward an ultimate goal. Your student may now realize that there are more steps than they initially anticipated, but they will be making progress.
Step 8: Make a commitment
Goals, action plans, baby steps. All of these are important, but all will fall by the wayside if your student is not committed to what they are doing. If they aren’t sure of the ultimate direction yet, they can commit to actively exploring and finding their passion and path.
Step 9: Be flexible
Your college student is an emerging adult. One characteristic of emerging adulthood is finding who you are and who you want to be. Your student has already been forced to take an alternate path. They will need to be open to what they discover personally and about their world as they travel this path. It may require another change in direction — or several changes of direction. Goals may need to be reset — perhaps several times. Each life experience will help your student grow toward their ultimate goal — even if they haven’t quite discovered that yet.
Step 10: (for parents) Be there but stand back
If your student has been dismissed, they may need your support more than ever right now. You may need to help them get past the guilt and shame they may be feeling. This is important. Your response will help to set the tone. But the work of moving on will need to be done by your student. This is part of what may make the difference moving forward. Be there — but stand back and let your student take responsibility.
No one starts college expecting failure (although many may fear it). If your student has been academically dismissed, it feels as though the roadblock is overwhelming. But finding the causes, taking responsibility, being honest in setting new goals and plans, may give your student a motivation and drive that those students on the straighter path never find. As difficult as this situation is, help your student find the opportunity that lies in the situation. You may be surprised, and pleased, at what you learn about your student as they move ahead.
Related Posts:
What to Do If Your Student Is Academically Dismissed from College
Academically Dismissed from College? Time for a Reset
Twelve Things You Can Do to Help You Listen to Your College Student
Boomerang Kids: When Your College Student or College Graduate Moves Back Home
Communicating With Your College Student: Is the Climate Right?
I was just dismissed from online college where I was seeking for a master degree. I feel I was expelled. I was informing to my counselor about my struggles few months ago about being assigned many courses at the same time with the same due dates for assignments and the same examination dates. He just answered that these was told to me in the admission call. I was about to start my practicum, and I was voluntarily participating in the tutorial sessions twice a week. My GPA dropped after obtaining three consecutive C’s. I have the option to be transferred to another specialty but I lost the trust in this organization. Do you have any advice? Thank you
Lizzy – Being dismissed from a school or program can feel devastating. It’s understandable that right now you may be at a loss for what to do. There is no one answer that I would suggest, but you can consider some options.
I’d suggest you start by thinking hard about why you received the C’s that you mention. Were you overwhelmed with the amount of work? Was the subject matter too difficult? Do you have other things going on in your life that are getting in the way? Depending on your answer to these questions, you may want to explore whether part-time is an option with fewer classes at a time, changing to another area of study, or taking a break from school for a little while until things settle down. Getting to the root of what is going on will be a good start.
Once you decide what the best way to move forward for you is, you can think about whether the school you are in is the best place for you. If you have “lost trust” in the school, you might want to consider something else. As you mention, you might want to switch to another program at the same school (if it interests you) or transfer to another school. You can also ask the school whether you can be readmitted after some time away.
Think about some of the suggestions in this article and try to put some in place. Good luck.
Vicki
My son transferred to a 4 year school after completing his Associates degree in Engineering. He had a GPA of 3.45 while also working part-time. When he transferred to the new college the TA who was assisting with his class schedule had him sign up for 6 engineering classes. Although I didn’t think this was a good idea he thought that since he was advised to take these classes it would be alright. He struggled after the first few weeks and was told it was probably just “transfer shock” and that he would adjust. Well he didn’t. He began to suffer panic and anxiety attacks, gained 60 pounds in 4 months, and became depressed. He failed all of his classes that semester. His advisor helped him with his next schedule and although he has done better – a 2.4 – he isn’t doing well and has become increasingly withdrawn. Although I know he has to own some of this, I feel that the college should also be held accountable for misadvising him from the beginning. He has always been a confident, social person and now he is depressed and has lost confidence. What would be the best way to handle all of this?
Rachel – It all depends on the school. Each school has its own policy. Call the admissions office and explain your situation and ask. They may ask you to explain, as part of an application, what happened at your previous school and why things are going to be different the next time. You won’t know until you ask.
What about academic dismal from a tech college? Will other accept me if I apply after that? Can I still go to school after that?
Watermelone – I’m sorry this is the point you took from the article. We try to alternate gender in our articles. Several other articles regarding probation and dismissal do use the male pronoun. Obviously, this situation can happen to anyone.
“If your student has been dismissed, she may need your support more than ever right now. You may need to help her get past the guilt and shame she may be feeling.” What a sexist article!!! Of course only a GIRL would be academically dismissed! What a misogynistic article!
Peter – Thanks for sharing your story. You are right that there certainly seem to be times when everything goes wrong and conspires against you. One question to ask yourself is whether you are ready for school again (yet). If you are, and you are determined, then you’ll find a way to overcome the situational obstacles. It sounds simplistic, but I’ve seen it happen over and over. A D isn’t good, but it’s not the end of the world. You are the only one who knows what you can overcome and, more importantly, how much it matters to you. Maybe you’ll need to take more time with a job so that you can save and be able to do school and not work at the same time. Maybe you’ll need to find a different school closer to where you work. Research and consider your options. Obviously, you made it work to earn your Associates’ Degree. Congratulations on that! Think about what worked then/there and try to apply that to your current situation. Good luck!
Can you argue in court dismissed from a college program with a good results ?
Connie – It’s really impossible to answer that question. It depends a lot on what the reason for the dismissal was. Start by reading all of the material, including the fine print, in the college policies. It may be clear that they are within their rights to dismiss. If, for instance, the school has a policy that you must maintain a certain GPA to remain in good standing and the student is below that GPA, then the school is simply upholding their policies. If the dismissal is for another, perhaps behavioral reason, that may be less clear cut. I’d suggest beginning by your student (not you) having a conversation with someone at the school to understand the reasons and policies and to ask whether there is an appeal process. If there is, take advantage of that. If the college is unrelenting, then you can decide whether it is possible or worth pursuing legal action. However, short of educational malpractice, I think it might be a stretch. Your daughter might be better served to look at alternative avenues – perhaps working for a time to gain experience and then trying a different school.
So… About to get expelled from the same school. Dropped out in 2010 due to terrible grades. Gpa was at a 1.3. Left the school. Starting take classAt At a community college. Scraped a 3.1 with a full time job on the bus. Got my associates. Felt like i can take college. So i applied for my reinstatement and got it.Gotta pay outta pocket due to financial legalese banned me for recieving aid. Got a car. Took my first class returning. Got an A.felt good. Got another job since. Put more money in my pocket but vastly. Changed the type if work i was doing. Office work to factory type of work. Them my car died and i worked 2 cities away. School wouldnt let me withdraw. I got a D. Thats not upholding my contract. Sometimes… Shit just happens… What can i do?
Cynthia – It sounds as though you have learned some important lessons from this situation. It is good that you are at least in a certificate program now. Perhaps you need to take a break from school for a little while, get a job and then reapply at a later date. Whether you reapply to the same school or to a different school, you will need to be honest about explaining the past incident, what you have learned, and why things will be different. Perhaps with some time passed and work experience and reference, a school will allow you to enter a program. This may take more patience than you would like, but give yourself some time.
I was recently not dismissed but expelled from Ashford University online. The reason was due to the grade appeal process which i handed in a forged doctors note, under desperate frustration. Not even realizing the did the action clear as the eye can see. I then had a formal hearing with a group of academic members to plea my class. But in the end they decided to expell me because my actions could have legal and ethical reamifications if repeated in the future. Although this is true i refuse to be treated like i am a problem being assosicated with the school, or that i am a horrible student. I graduate from the same school before with my bachelor’s and have been on the dean’s list multiple times. What hurts is that all my accomplishments seem to be used against me and i couldn’t be stronger when i argued my case. Also when i was informed of my situation i was offered a conduct liasion which also seemed to be used against me as evidence and the advice given to be honest kind of felt like it backfired because i admitted to my actions. I was very upset after my former hearing and know that failure of this size has really hurt me. I have always. Had a history with jobs where i quit or was terminated and now i feel i lost the only thing i was good at which was schhol. However, i was getting overwhelmed with my master classes and my stepdad has been failing healthwise all of which factored in my situation. The doctors note was real but the fogery was of the times to allow a previous course to be changed. Currently i am payinh out of pocket to do a online certificate course to work right away, but i do no know what my future will hold since i will have to either work low paying jobs or find a way to go back to continue with my masters since it was in a specific field. My assosicate and bachelor are both in general. I hope that others learn from my situation and if you have any supporting comments please reply. I just do not know and would like to, if other schools might take me or what i shold do if i decide to go back.
Karen – Thanks for your observation. It is interesting, because I often have the feeling that many people do the opposite – refer to students in trouble as “he” and successful students as “she.” Here on College Parent Central, I try as much as I can to alternate between the pronouns in new posts. The alternative of referring to each student as “they” just doesn’t sit with me grammatically. Your comment is prompting me to go back to look at earlier posts to see whether unconsciously there is a pattern. Thanks for your observation.
Unfortunatelly when we read about student’s succes we read almost always the pronoum HE. In order to talk about succes authors use the pronoum HE and curiously when they want to talk about fails they use the pronoum SHE…
I was at a on campus university in 2009. I “withdrew” on academic probation and medical leave. I made the mistake of jumping into community college the following year. I was dismissed from community college, last year of july. I was told I could appeal, but I didn’t. I want to come back with some evidence that I have made progress. Like volunteer work, time to reflect, and a job. I haven’t though, I’ve sunken into depression. I feel like I am not being taken seriously by my family as well. I want to say that the reason I was terminated was because of my chronic illness. But the truth is, I haven’t had to the discipline to commit to online coursework either. I haven’t been putting in enough effort. I don’t know what to do at this point. I feel like I am doomed to failure no matter what. I need help.
I was dismissed from my university recently. I dont know what should i do and how should i tell my parents about this since they are always have a high expectation for me, i was scared i will disappointing them if i tell the truth.
I have a student who failed 3 semesters. He is extremely smart but just can’t find the drive to go out and do the work. From what he told me he can’t get himself to go to sleep at night even if he’s tired and sleeps late.. he also is really shy around people he doesn’t know very well. Any ideas on what he should do because he has a lot of potential he just has a hard time.