Progress Probation - All About Progress Probation! - Student Success Workshops - Counseling Department
Having a status of ‘progress’ probation, subject to dismissal or dismissal means that you have more “W”, “I”, “NC” grades then passing grades. It does NOT have to mean that your grade point average (GPA) is low!
Most students who accumulate too many “W” grades do so because they try and take too many classes each semester. Many students at Ohlone College are also working full-time and it is very difficult to work full-time and successfully maintain a full-time college schedule.
These examples will illustrate how this student earned a ‘Progress Dismissal’ status in 3 semesters. We will give you three possible 4th semester options to show you how enrolling in less classes helped this student get off probation in one semester:
| Semester 1 | Units | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Art 103A | 4 | W |
| Psych 101 | 3 | W |
| Math 151 | 5 | C |
| 2.0 | 2.0 GPA | |
| Student has passed | 5 out of 12 units | 42% of units were grades |
| W/NC/I | 7 out of 12 units | 58% of units were “W”s |
| STATUS | Progress Probation |
Since more then 50% of this students units are made up of “W” grades this student has a status of Progess Probation.
| Semester 2 | Units | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Engl 151B | 4 | B |
| Psych 101 | 3 | W |
| Math 152 | 5 | W |
| 3.0 | 2.44 GPA | |
| Student has passed | 9 out of 24 units | 38% of units were grades |
| W/NC/I | 15 out of 24 units | 62% of units were “W”s |
| STATUS | Subject to Dismissal |
Since more then 50% of this students units are made up of “W” grades and since this has been true for 2 semesters, this student has a status of Progress Subject to Dismissal.
| Semester 3 | Units | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Hist 117A | 3 | A |
| Mus 102 | 3 | A |
| Art 101 | 3 | A |
| Span 101A | 5 | W |
| 4.0 | 3.06 GPA | |
| Student has passed | 18 out of 38 units | 47% of units were grades |
| W/NC/I | 20 out of 38 units | 53% of units were “W”s |
| STATUS | Progress Dismissal |
Here are three possible scenarios for this student's 4th semester at Ohlone:
Strategy 1 (“Same plan, just try harder”)
| 4A | Units | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| TD 102 | 3 | W |
| AJ 101 | 3 | W |
| PS 102 | 3 | B |
| Soc 101 | 3 | B |
| 3.0 | 3.17 GPA | |
| Student has passed | 24 out of 50 units | 48% of units were grades |
| W/NC/I | 26 out of 50 units | 52% of units were “W”s |
| STATUS | Progress Dismissal |
This student chose to continue to be full-time and was unable to pass all four of the courses they enrolled in. This student may be dismissed from Ohlone at this time.
Strategy 2 (“Fewer classes, more study=much better grades”)
| 4B | Units | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biol 130 | 4 | W |
| PS 102 | 3 | B |
| Soc 101 | 3 | A |
| 3.5 | 3.29 GPA | |
| Student has passed | 24 out of 48 units | 50% of units were grades |
| W/NC/I | 24 out of 48 units | 50% of units were “W”s |
| STATUS | Progress Dismissal |
This student takes one class less then full-time, but is still unable to pass a class and earns yet another “W” grade. This student may be dismissed from Ohlone at this time.
Strategy 3 (“Fewer classes, more study & repeat D’s and F’s”)
| 4C | Units | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| PS 102 | 3 | A |
| Soc 101 | 3 | A |
| 4.0 | 3.42 GPA | |
| Student has passed | 24 out of 44 units | 55% of units were grades |
| W/NC/I | 20 out of 44 units | 45% of units were “W”s |
| STATUS | Clear Standing |
The student in this example has chosen to limit themselves to two classes this semester. The student has successfully passed both classes with “A” grades and has earned no “W” grades this term.
This student is no longer on probation!
What Worked?
- Chronic W’s can lower students’ GPA by draining focus from other classes
- Reducing the number of enrolled courses can actually raise GPA and maximize progress toward degree/transfer
- Until off probation, only take classes you know you will finish, even if you COULD handle more
Emergency