Tips for Advising Academically Dismissed Students
Re-enrollment Chances
Students often try to have an advisor tell them their chances of re-enrollment. Never tell a student that his/her re-enrollment is a sure thing. The Faculty Petition Board considers many factors in each individual case.
Academic Dismissal Timeline
Students on academic probation are notified before early registration that they are in danger of being academically dismissed. They are asked to talk to an advisor. When students are academically dismissed, they receive an email the day after the GPA calculate is run.
GPA Calculation
Use the GPA calculator on SIS (gpacalc) to show a student how many credits and grades are needed to earn a 2.00. Remember to use attempted credits, not earned credits. If a student needs 30 credits of a 3.0 to earn a 2.00, and has never in the past earned anything higher than a 2.00, the student must adjust his/her understanding of how long it will take to be in good academic standing. To further assess a student's readiness to reenroll at the University of Maryland, refer to the Re-enrollment Assessment Worksheet.
Attending Classes
Remind students that they may not attend classes until they have been reenrolled.
Returning to a Major
If a student has been reenrolled and it doesn’t look as though the student has met the benchmarks, we will contact the college to find out if the student may return to the major. We will not accept approval from departments; approval must come from the college.
Office of Student Financial Aid and Department of Resident Life
Advise student to contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and the Department of Resident Life for more information about the impact of academic dismissal on their contracts with those departments.
UMD Graduates
Students who have graduated from the University and wish to return must apply for re-enrollment. Students may not return to the major from which they graduated. If a student wishes to be degree seeking, he/she must develop a graduation plan with an advisor in accordance with the Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy. Advisors may submit their approval via email at rr-admit@umd.edu.
Decision Timeline
During heavy re-enrollment periods, students may need to wait for a decision. Please ask them to be patient. Visiting the Student Success Office slows down the process of re-enrollment. Students will be able to view their decision online when a decision is made.
The Written Statement
Re-enrollment applicants must submit a written statement as a part of the re-enrollment application. The written statement must include answers to the following questions:
- What issues contributed to your academic dismissal or withdrawal from your last semester at the University of Maryland?
- What steps have you taken to resolve these issues?
Tips for Writing the Written Statement
The student's written statement is often the most important piece of information for the Faculty Petition Board. Letters of support from advisors are not always helpful and should only be included in very rare cases. Advisors are most helpful when they assist students in preparing their written statements. Here are some tips for students when writing the written statement:
- Be direct and honest
- Provide specifics without including lengthy details
- Proof-read carefully
- Be patient for a response
Written Statement Checklist
We recommend that students use the following checklist when writing or reviewing their written statement.
Both academic dismissal and withdrawal are usually the consequence of ongoing academic and/or personal issues. Many students need time to improve the situations that led to these difficulties. This especially applies to fall dismissals because of the short period between fall and spring semesters.
Demonstrate that you are sincere in both your analysis of your difficulties and your desire to return.
There are many reasons that lead to dismissal or the decision to withdraw. While your situation may be unique and complex, the Faculty Petition Board has read a wide range of explanations and appreciates a direct statement that shows maturity and humility. If you are not in good academic standing, it is important that you explain why and outline how you will become a more successful student.
Provide enough information to answer the questions, but don’t be long-winded. The best written statements are concise and get to the point. Each question is answered in at least a paragraph or two, but not longer than one page.
For example, if you were dismissed because you did not put enough effort into your classes, it is not sufficient to write, “I’ll try harder and study more.” Provide details about what steps you have taken or intend to take to remedy the situation that lead to your dismissal. If you withdrew for personal reasons, please be brief in describing your situation and why you believe you are now in a better position to return to your education.
Read available information. Dismissal students should use the GPA calculator to determine what semester grades are necessary to raise their cumulative GPA to at least a 2.00.
Do not assume that you will be reinstated because you have been in the past, or because you believe you provided a good enough reason for your difficulties. We understand that you are eager to get a response, but please try to be patient. You should anticipate that the Faculty Petition Board reviews many applications and it takes time to make an appropriate decision.
The best statements demonstrate progress and are specific to your situation at the time of writing.
Be careful to avoid spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors.