What are your responsibilities and contributions as a member of the Academic Standards committee?
I was appointed as the faculty representative to the University Academic Standards Committee three years ago. As a member of the committee, we review students that have fallen below the 2.00 minimum GPA for graduation. Our job is to determine appropriate academic status for the student (probation, suspension or dismissal). As part of the process, we review the type of academic support the student has been receiving and recommend possible additional support. I also serve on the appeals sub-committee where we review appeals from the students, after they receive notice of their status. This is often where we learn about the real issues the student is facing and can determine if exceptions should be made to the student status.
What motivates you in serving in this role and how do you find it fulfilling and important for your professional development?
As both a faculty member and an alum, I am interested in maintaining the academic reputation of the school. I am also interested in maintaining the University’s reputation for taking care of its students. Although we sometimes need to make the hard decision to have a student leave the University, the purpose of the process is to catch the problem early enough to remedy the situation and set the student on a path for success. Seeing the various issues from across the University helps me better understand the situations faced by students in my own unit, and address issues before they end up in the Academic Standards process.