The effects of academic monitoring for students who have been academically dismissed and readmitted to the University of Wisconsin-Stout

Abstract

Each semester 250-300 students or approximately 3.6% of the total student body at the University of Wisconsin-Stout are academically dismissed based on university policy. Students have the opportunity to appeal policy guidelines by indicating extenuating circumstances affecting their academic success. Approximately 50% of students choose to appeal and for the years 1997 - 2000, the appeal success rate averaged 85%. Currently, students are required to meet with an academic advisor on a bi-monthly basis during the semester following their successful appeal. The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in academic success, as measured by grade point average, for students who continued to meet with an academic advisor throughout the semester and those who did not. Dismissed and readmitted students from the 1999 spring and fall semesters comprised the 172 students in this study. Two groups were formed consisting of students who met fewer than three times with an academic advisor and those who met three or more times. The study hypothesized that students who have regular contact with an academic advisor will also be directed to appropriate university services and will develop university connections that will lead to greater academic success. Data was obtained from official University of Wisconsin-Stout records for registered credits, completed credits, and grade point average for each subject in the semester following their dismissal. The study also considered the year in school at the time of dismissal. Comparisons were made between the two groups to identify statistical significance between the variables of grade point average and credits completed in the semester following dismissal for students who met with an advisor regularly and those who did not. No statistical significant difference was found between the two groups when assessing either variable.