Tough love

Imagine what the campus of N.C. Central University would look like if 14 percent of the student body were gone overnight.

To give an idea of what that number looks like, add the entire population of both Baynes Residential Hall and Eagle Landing — that is the number of students currently at risk of dismissal from the University.

An announcement from the provost send via e-mail on Dec. 1 stated that poorly performing students must raise their grade point averages by the end of this semester or be barred from re-enrolling in the fall.

The new policy states that students may face dismissal from the University if they do not achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 1.9 before the 2011-2012 school year.

In accordance with Chancellor Nelms's proposal, this number is set to be raised to 2.0 before fall of 2012.

This policy replaces the old standard, which was based on a sliding scale equation according to how many credit hours had been attempted versus GPA earned.

"We're doing away with the range and having across the board GPA requirement for all students," said University Registrar Goodwin.

Students may feel the effects of the new grade point average policy as early as this month.

Academic advisors are gearing up to deal with the 519 students who may be facing expulsion this semester, as well as an additional 288 by next year, if they do not quickly pull their grades out of the dumps.

Students and advisers have been instructed to work together to create individualized strategies and plans to ensure that student grades comply with the new standards.

Deans and department chairs are expected to help advisers develop procedures for counseling students.

Over the next few months, students will be meeting with faculty and others to discuss ways to build, or rebuild, their GPAs.

Some of the strategies that students may be instructed to employ may be increasing hours spent in study, meeting regularly with academic advisers, seeking outside tutoring, reducing work hours if employed, and seeking help for family issues or child care that may be affecting their performance.

Should these tactics fail, and the student faces dismissal, there is still recourse. Students may appeal a suspension. This would entail going before the administration and convincing them, with a concrete plan that would acknowledge their short-comings and specifically outline ways the student will improve his or her performance.

With the dean's permission the student may be allowed to continue at NCCU, with a close supervision.

Students who do not provide adequate evidence that they will be able to bring their GPAs up in a timely manner, and are facing expulsion, may be counseled to leave the University.

This may take a variety of shapes, but one option for students may be to transfer to a community college for a year or two, in order to allow greater flexibility and improve their grades.

After reaching the required transfer GPA, they would be allowed to reapply and potentially re-enroll.

Though those who face the grim reality of being suspended from the University may not see it this way, Goodwin stresses that the institutional policy will have a positive effect on NCCU.

"By increasing our academic standards, it's a good thing, for the student, for the institution," he said.

"It sends a very positive message to the community at large, and to employers. When they see that we are very serious about increasing our standards, they are now more motivated to go after our students."

It is undeniable that there are schools that have reputations for enforcing academic rigor, and that graduates from those universities are highly sought after in the job market.

But is raising the cut-off point for student grades the only factor in success?

"Enhancing  student academic success entails more than raising expectations and making structural changes," Nelms stated in his 2008 Installation Address.

"We must improve the quality of student life," he said.

"NCCU students deserve a more comprehensive array of cultural, intellectual, social and leadership opportunities."

Now that the changes have been made, some Eagles will be left scrambling.

But many students, though, don't see raising GPA requirements as an insurmountable feat.

"It might be hard if someone had something major come up," says Rosalina Ramirez, Spanish education junior, "but it shouldn't be that difficult if they just do their work."

The University maintains that raising the bar for students will push them to attain their goals — not just now, but throughout their lives.

"We don't want to get rid of anybody — this is good, tough love," said Goodwin, smiling broadly as he swept his arms as though embracing the campus.

"I know our students can do better. I know they can and I tell them they are great.

"All we need to do is help pull that greatness out of them."