Improve academic performance with the Phoenix Program
Are you on Academic Probation or do you have questions about academic status? We are here to answer your questions and help you get on the right path.
It can be challenging to turn around your academic performance, but we believe you can achieve your goals. Our Phoenix Program can help. The Phoenix program is run collaboratively through University Division and the Student Academic Center to help you achieve academic success by providing support services and requirements to help you improve your past behaviors.
As a UD student on academic probation, you need to:
You are not alone; there is a vast support system that is in place to help you succeed to the best of your abilities.
Patrick
To learn more about the University Division Phoenix Program attend the “Steps to Success” online webinar.
In the webinar, you will learn about the resources available to help you achieve success and hear from students who have been where you are now and made changes that helped them thrive at IU. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend.
“Hearing other students talk about their time on academic probation and all the things that led up to the point was very inspiring and it reassured me that anything was possible if you had the faith and determination. After leaving that meeting I knew that I could do it, I just couldn't make the same mistakes that I had the previous semester.” Shelby
This Phoenix Program Success Seminar provides a structured and supportive environment where students improve time management, learn new study skills, and identify career goals. Small classes composed only of 16 to 19 students who are on probation are co-taught by both an instructor and an undergraduate student who has been on academic probation, achieved good standing, and trained to become an instructor in the class. Students meet one-on-one with the AI and the peer instructor to help plan their individual strategies for success.
You can read a full description of the EDUC-X 158 Culture of College course to better understand what the course is about and to hear from fellow students about their experiences. This course is required for all students on Probation or Critical Academic Probation who have not yet taken it, as part of the Phoenix Program Probation Agreement.
Comments from students who have taken EDUC-X 158 Culture of College
“The discussions gave us the opportunity to learn from other students as well as the instructors.”
“I have learned many things, such as better study habits, perspectives on education and personal responsibility, all of which contribute to becoming a better student…”
Your academic advisor is an excellent resource for you as you are working to change your academic path. Before you meet with your advisor to sign a probation agreement, do the following:
As a UD student on Academic Probation, you are required to sign a Phoenix Program Probation Agreement with your academic advisor during the first four weeks of the semester. You then must fulfill the terms of your agreement in order to register for classes during the Early Registration period.
As part of this agreement, UD students on academic probation are required to take EDUC-X158 Culture of College. If EDUC-X158 if closed you may take EDUC-X156 College and Life Long Learning or EDUC-X150 Becoming Your Best Student. If you have already taken EDUC-X158, then you will still sign a Phoenix Program Agreement with your assigned advisor.
Being on Academic Probation can be emotionally difficult. Sometimes it can help to get words of advice from students who have been there.
Resilience and Bouncing Back - In this video we go straight to the source and get some ideas and strategies from students who have known what it’s like to struggle academically and then come out on top.
"When I first found out that I was on academic probation I couldn't really say I was surprised because, in all honesty, I wasn't at all. I knew the day was coming and I couldn't ignore it. The day I got the dreadful email was a very emotional one, and the worst part was having to tell my parents. I knew they were going to be disappointed, but I knew they had my back no matter what.
I can say that I probably wouldn't have wanted any words of advice those first few days. I needed to figure some things out for myself before people started giving me words of affirmation and advice.
Some encouraging things that people told me were:
Anything is possible.
This isn't the end of the road.
I have faith in you.
You are a very smart individual; you are just in a tough spot right now.
You will learn from your mistakes and come out of all of this a better person and more successful than you would have thought.
All of these things really assured me that everything in my life was going to be just fine…They gave me faith in myself and made me realize that I could do anything that I set my mind to... Positivity is the only way you are going to be happy in life. If you only find negativity out of things and blame others you will not be nearly as successful as you could be. Just remember to always have faith and always make the best out of any situation that you are in."
— Shelby
"One thing that my advisor always told me was that if you are smart enough to meet the entry requirements to IU, you are smart enough to succeed in college. Some people just have a harder time than others. Don't be upset with yourself because you are on academic probation. Personally, I look back on myself being on probation as a positive experience that changed my life for the better. If I had the opportunity to go back in time and change me being on academic probation, I wouldn't do it because I have learned so much and grown greatly as a person throughout my journey. You shouldn't feel alone either just because you are on academic probation. You have a great support system that is here to help you, and the people in this support system really do want to help you, we want you to be the best student that you can be!
So don't lose hope in yourself, because it isn't too late to make a change in your life to set you up on the path to success in your schoolwork. It is an achievable goal with the right guidance and the right kind of attitude. …. Look at your situation as something that will motivate you to perform to the best of your abilities. We know that you can do it!"
— Patrick
If you transfer out, but plan to return to IU Bloomington, you will need to submit a Returning Student Application right before the term you plan to return.
Realize that if you take course work at another IU campus, it will affect your academic standing at IU Bloomington. IU coursework taken in the fall, spring, or summer term will be calculated into your IU GPA and so could lead to a dismissal or get you back into good standing. If you transfer to another IU campus, you will only be affected by the academic standards on that campus. However, if you plan to return to IUB, your coursework will be reviewed according to UD academic standards before being allowed to return. If you are dismissed from IUB as a result of that review, you will need to fill out a Reinstatement Petition.
Academic status can affect financial aid. For most financial aid the minimum requirement is that a student maintains a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and complete at least 67 percent of hours attempted (W’s, I’s, and F’s do not count as completed hours). Many scholarships and grants have more stringent requirements.
Questions about financial aid? View Keeping Your Aid on the Student Central Website.
When a student is on Critical Probation they are in danger of dismissal. The second time a Student’s cumulative GPA falls below the Critical Probation range they are dismissed, unless they get a term GPA of a 2.5.
If you get dismissed from University Division your enrollment will be cancelled. We hope that you can learn to grow from this difficult experience.
If you have been dismissed, we suggest that you ask yourself the following questions:
Should I continue my education at another institution? Do I need to take a break from college?
What contributed to my academic difficulties? What would I be willing to change if I were to resume my education?
What do I really want for myself, and what kind of training or education do I need to accomplish these goals?
If you hope to return to IU Bloomington in the future, you must petition for reinstatement. Before being eligible to submit a petition, you must not attend IUB for at least one fall or spring before the date you hope to return. There is no guarantee of reinstatement; petitions are subject to committee review. You may want to schedule an in-office or telephone appointment with a University Division academic advisor to discuss this process. Please call (812) 855-6768 to schedule an appointment with a University Division advisor.
Petitions for reinstatement are due June 15 for the fall semester or November 1 for the spring semester.