Advisee Responsibilities

The advisee is an equal partner in the advising process. It is their education and their choices to make. Advisees have the following responsibilities:

(1)  Clarify their personal values, abilities, interests, and goals.
(2)  Contact and make an appointment with the advisor when required or when in need of assistance. If the student finds it impossible to keep the appointment, the student will notify the advisor.
(3)  See your advisor at least four times during the semester, one of which is for an advising registration conference
(4)  Become knowledgeable and adhere to institutional policies, procedures, and requirements.
(5)  Prepare for advising sessions and bring appropriate resources or materials.
(6)  Access and use MyStuff for academic updates and information updating.
(7)  Follow through on actions identified during each advising session.
(8)  Use HPU email and keep the inbox/deleted box "cleaned out."
(9)  Request re-assignment of a different advisor when changing majors.
(10)  Accept final responsibility for all decisions made.

Monitoring Academic Progress

Advisor Access
It is clear, from numerous research studies, that effective academic advising can have a significant and positive impact on the success of students in the University. Academic advising presents an opportunity for a one-on-one relationship between student and faculty member that is separate from the classroom relationship.  Students should feel confident that they have ready access to faculty to discuss their academic and career plans. 

Monitoring Techniques and Student Conferences
Students are responsible for monitoring their own academic progress. However, advisors have an equal responsibility to discuss with a student their academic progress. The mid-term Grade Report provides an early "look" at the academic results of the first half of a semester.  Deficiencies (C-, D's and F's) should be discussed with both your advisor and the course's instructor immediately upon receipt of mid-term grades. Likewise, receipt of class probation notices for attendance and involuntary withdrawals should be immediately discussed with your instructor and advisor, respectively.

Retention studies have indicated that an important factor in academic success is early intervention when a student encounters difficulties in classroom performance.  The most critical period is the first semester of the freshman year, which appears to be the period when many students make decisions about their level of commitment.

The mid-term Grade Report is often the first indication of student progress [or the lack thereof]. It is highly recommended that a conference be scheduled immediately after fall or spring break with your advisor and the course's instructor.  Previous experience indicates that students with poor grades at mid-term will very likely end up with similar grades at the end of the semester unless some form of active intervention helps to get them back on track. Basic options include obtaining academic support through the Academic Services Center or dropping the course.

Attention also needs to be given to attendance reports [Class Probation notices]. Poor attendance often indicates a lack of commitment and usually translates into poor grade performance.

End-of-semester grade reports also provide another opportunity to review academic performance and to set up additional conferences with your advisor as appropriate.  These conferences should be used to discuss repeating courses in which the student has received a D or F grade, thus requiring a need to change the registration schedule.

Repeating Courses
Students who receive grades of "D" or "F" generally should repeat the course(s) as soon as possible to improve their academic standing. When a course is repeated, the initial grade remains on the transcript; however, the higher of the two grades is used in calculating the students' grade point average (GPA) [and their quality point balance (QPB), if appropriate]. Thus, repeating a course is one of the fastest and easiest methods to improve quality point balance and academic standing. Student athletes also need to make sure in repeat situations they have at least 12 semester hours in new courses. Students receiving financial aid also need to check with their financial aid counselor as to what effect, if any, dropping a course will have on their financial aid package.

SPECIAL NOTE: Of course, it is not necessary to wait for "official" communications to initiate either formal or informal contacts with an advisee.  In fact, it may be more effective in some cases to talk with a student in a more casual situation, demonstrating that the advisor's concern for the student goes beyond their formal duties as an advisor.

Appointment of Advisors
An Academic Advisor is appointed for each student by the Office of Academic Development at the time of first enrollment.  Generally, entering freshmen will be assigned to advisors within the area of their intended major.  Undecided students will be assigned to advisors independent of any particular academic plans. 

Changing Major and Advisor
Student's desiring to change majors need also change advisors. To do this, the student needs to go to the Office of Academic Development and inform them of their desire to change. A new advisor will be assigned and both the new and current advisors will be informed. The current advisor then should forward the student's advising folder to the new advisor.

Other Student Information

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE HOURS:
8:30 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Friday [for most offices, a few are closed during the noon hour]

CATALOG (UNDERGRADUATE BULLETIN): 
Students are under the requirements of the catalog of the year they entered or the year they will graduate, at the option of the student.  A student who is not enrolled at the university for more than a year will be under the catalog of the year of re-entrance.

CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY
The University's Attendance Policy as approved by the faculty, January 8, 1990, is located in the Undergraduate Bulletin, Academic Program's section. (Also available to faculty in the Faculty Handbook)

DROP/ADD: 
To be valid, courses dropped or added must be initialed by the instructor teaching each course on the Drop/Add Form and signed by the advisor.  The form then must be submitted to the Registrar's Office by the student. The student should retain their copy and the faculty advisor should put their copy in the students advising folder.

GRADE OF INCOMPLETE: 
A grade of "I" may be given when the instructor feels that the student should be allowed an extension to complete the course, due to illness or some other justifiable reason.  If an "I" is given, an Incomplete Grade Contract must be completed by the instructor indicating the reason for the Incomplete, the work to be completed, and a completion date.  Instructors are encouraged to establish early completion dates so as to prevent longer range complications.

POLICY FOR WITHDRAWALS FROM CLASSES AND FROM THE UNIVERSITY
The University's policy on Voluntary Withdrawal, Selective Withdrawal, and Withdrawal from the University can be located in the Undergraduate Bulletin, Academic Program's section. (Faculty need to see Faculty Handbook for description of policies that apply in this area.)

DESIRED ATTRIBUTES OF HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY GRADUATES
This set of clearly defined goals and objectives for the University's educational programs, educational support services and campus life, and administrative operations is printed in A Guide to Campus Life: The Student Handbook of High Point University.

Grading System

Fall semester, 1996, a "plus and minus" grading system was placed into effect at the University.  For purpose of calculating averages, honors and academic standing, the following quality points are assigned to the letter grades: (Note: Students should be advised that faculty may elect not to use the plus/minus grading system in their course(s).)
   "A"   = 4.0 quality points per semester hour (same for an "A+")
   "A -" = 3.7 quality points per semester hour
   "B+" = 3.3 quality points per semester hour
   "B"   = 3.0 quality points per semester hour
   "B -" = 2.7 quality points per semester hour
   "C+" = 2.3 quality points per semester hour
   "C"   = 2.0 quality points per semester hour
   "C -" = 1.7 quality points per semester hour
   "D+" = 1.3 quality points per semester hour
   "D"   = 1.0 quality point per semester hour
   "D -" = 0.7 quality point per semester hour
   "F"    = 0.0 quality point per semester hour
   
NOTE: Beginning in Fall, 2009, only the Grade Point Average (GPA) will be used to calculate academic standing; students who entered the University prior to August, 2009, will remain on the Quality Point Balance (QPB) calculation method.

To calculate the GPA [Grade Point Average], complete the following steps:
STEP 1. calculate the quality points earned by taking the number of credits a course is worth and multiplying it by the quality points associated with the specific earned grade (use the chart above). Example: ENG101 carries 3 credits and you earn a B+. To calculate: 3 X 3.3 = 9.9 quality points earned for the course.
STEP 2. calculate the quality points earned for each course you are taking and add them together to get your total quality points earned
STEP 3. take the total quality points earned and divide them by the number of credits used to calculate the total. example: 43 quality points earned divided by 16 credits taken = 2.6875 GPA

GPA FORMULA: QP's divided by credits attempted = GPA

To calculate the QPB [Quality Point Balance], complete the following steps:
STEP 1. calculate your total quality points for course taken (see GPA calculation method above)
STEP 2. multiply your credits taken by 2
STEP 3. take your total quality points and subtract your credits attempted X 2 or take STEP 1 minus STEP 2 above. Using the GPA example above, 43 quality points minus credits attempted X 2 [16 X 2] = QPB or 43 minus 32 = +9 qpb

QPB FORMULA: QP's minus credits attempted X 2 = QPB


ACADEMIC STANDING

Graduation Standard:  A student must have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) to graduate from High Point University.

Quality Point Balance [applicable to students entering High Point University prior to August, 2009]:  The difference between two times the number of credit hours attempted and the actual number of quality points earned is the quality point balance (QPB).

Academic Good Standing:  A student will be considered in academic good standing if the culmulative GPA is 2.0 or higher [or if the QPB is no less than negative nine (-9).].

Academic Warning [applies only to students under QPB calculation method]:  Any student who has a QPB between negative one (-1) and negative nine (-9) is in danger of not making satisfactory progress toward graduation.

Academic Probation:  Academic Probation indicates that the student's academic performance puts him at risk of becoming academically ineligible and unable to return to the institution. Students may be on academic probation only two consecutive semester (summer excluded) or they will be ineligible to return to the University.

The following cumulative GPA standards apply to students entering in August, 2009 or thereafter and are on the GPA calculation method:
. . . Freshmen: 1.70 to 1.99 cumulative GPA
. . . Sophomores: 1.80 to 1.99 cumulative GPA
. . . Juniors: 1.90 to 1.99 cumulative GPA

Academic Probation [for students under the QPB calculation method]: Any student who has a QPB between negative nine point one (-9.1) and negative seventeen (-17) will be placed on academic probation.  If the student is not currently on probation, he will have two consecutive semesters (summer terms excluded) to reduce the balance to at least negative nine (-9).  Students failing to achieve this standard will be automatically Academically Ineligible in the following semester.

Academically Ineligible:
. . .  For students on GPA caluclation method: Any student who has less than the GPA requirement for academic probation [1.7; 1.8; 1.9 respectively - see above] is Academically Ineligible to return to the institution. Students may appeal to the Admissions Committee and/or attend summer school to correct tehir academic deficiency and improve their academic standing.
. . . For stduents on the QPB calculation method: Any student who has a QPB of negative seventeen point one (-17.1) or more will be suspended from the University for one semester, provided that the student has not previously been suspended.  A student suspended for academic reasons a second time will normally be excluded for two or more semesters.

Senior Eligibility:  After 96 or more credit hours, a student must have a 2.0 GPA or the student will be declared ineligible and must go before the Admissions Committee for permission to continue at the University.  If the student has never been ineligible previously, the Dean of Arts and Science can readmit the student for one semester.  Any student failing to meet this standard may remain enrolled only with permission of the Admissions Committee.

Evening Degree Students:  Any student who is enrolled in EDP will be subject to same rules as non-EDP students.  For the purpose of calculation, a semester of enrollment will be considered to have elapsed with each additional 12 credit hours attempted (summers excluded).


University Resource Contacts

Students have access to wide variety of resources to support their academic and personal lives. Following is a list of resource contacts for students [and for faculty to use as referrals].

 Academic Development and Academic Advising
  Dr. D. Allen Goedeke, Associate Dean for Academic Development

 Academic Records, Transcripts, Degree Audits, etc
  Ms. Diana L. Estey, Registrar and Mrs. Ann Miller, Assistant Registrar
    
 Academic Services Center - tutoring
  Mr. Craig Curty, Director, 4th floor Smith Library
    
 Athletic Academic Advisor
April Wines, Assistant Director of Athletics/ Senior Women's Administrator
  
 Athletic Programs
  Mr. Craig Keilitz, Director of Athletics
  
 Career Development Center
  Mr. Eric Melniczek

 Disability Support Programs
   Mrs. Irene Ingersoll, Ms. Janelle Cary, Ms. Dana Bright, 4th floor Smith Library 

 Evening Degree Program
  Ms. Tracy Collum, Associate Dean for Evening Degree Program

Experiential Learning
  Dr. Kelly Norton

Greater Greensboro Regional Consortium
  Ms. Diana L. Estey, Cross-Registration Coordinator

 Graduate Studies
  Ms. Tracy Collum

 Honors Program
  Dr. Elizabeth McCorquodale, Director

 Individualized Major Program
  Dr. James Stitt, Coordinator

 International Student Advisor
  Dr. Judy Danley
    
 NCAA Compliance Officer
  Mr. Mike Tuttle

 Personal Counseling
  Ms. Lynda Noffsinger

Pre-Professional Programs
  pre-dental: Dr. Dinene Crater and Dr. Kelli Sapp
  pre-engineering: Dr. Robert Harger and Dr. Martin DeWitt
  pre-forestry and environmental studies: Dr. Joshua Campbell
  pre-law: Dr. Paul Ringel
  pre-medical: Dr. Dinene Crater and Dr. Kelli Sapp
  pre-physican assistant: Dr. Dinene Crater and Dr. Kelli Sapp
  pre-pharmacy: Dr. Gray Bowman
  pre-veterinary science: Dr. Kelli Sapp (and Dr. Gray Bowman)

 Student Career Internship Program (SCIP)
  Mr. Eric Melniczek

 Teacher Education
  Dr. Mariann Tillery, Dean, School of Education