Remember when the semester was brand new and you were getting ready to crush it? Now you’re just feeling crushed.
Maybe that paper you pulled an all-nighter to finish didn’t get the mark you were counting on. Or your prof just told you that you’ve violated the university’s academic integrity policy. Or you got a notice that says you’re on academic probation and at risk of being required to withdraw.
Seeing that grade, having that talk or receiving that email was a shock. Or maybe it wasn’t. Either way, it probably stings. This isn’t something you planned for, and it’s not the way your education was supposed to go.
You can get through this and there is support here. What you are going through might be devastating, but there are people at MacEwan who are here to help you get through this.
1. Give yourself some time to catch your breath
If you need help figuring out how to move beyond the panic, visit Wellness and Psychological Services. Counsellors and staff are trained to help you move through the challenges you may be facing.
2. Next, as yourself "What do I need help with?"
This question will help you examine how you got here.
The university provides a ton of resources for students going through exactly what you are experiencing.
- If you need help with a last-ditch effort to salvage the term, talk to someone at the Advising Centre, your program advisor, the Writing Centre, Student Success Navigators or staff at the Library.
- If your finances are at the heart of the matter, see a financial advisor.
- The Academic Integrity Office can help you learn about the ethics of being a student – things like how to cite sources properly and how to avoid plagiarism.
- SAMU’s Student Advocacy Centre can help you unravel university policies around appeals and processes.
While your situation may be serious and can seem bleak, it’s probably not as dire as you think. Use the resources available to you. And be honest and upfront with the people you talk to. They will be able to help you best if they know all the details.
If your next step does involve a formal appeal process or a hearing, SAMU’s Student Advocacy Centre can help you prepare for that too.
3. Talk to your prof
This may seem daunting, but something you should almost always do is talk to your instructor.
Misunderstandings and mistakes happen to everyone, so speaking with your prof is a great place to start in case there is a simple, informal resolution.
That conversation may feel impossible at first, so take a bit of time to come up with a plan before you fire off a hasty email. Write down your concerns, summon your courage and try to practice what you’ll say without sounding defensive. Then book a time to meet with them during office hours.
It might be difficult to have that talk, but remember: your profs are human too – and they want you to succeed.
4. Find the opportunity
Finding a path out of any academic situation is almost always possible. It may mean putting in more effort or doing something differently like adjusting your workload or putting strategies in place – especially at the beginning of the term before you find yourself falling behind – but you can find academic success.
Even if you find yourself on academic probation – with the potential of being required to withdraw – that doesn’t mean your academic career is over.
Take time to think about what you want to do and consider what compromised your academic performance. If you have to take a year off, find a way to take a course, earn some money, refocus and prepare to be successful the next time around.
You’re in charge
This is your learning journey. Everyone at MacEwan wants you to succeed, so if you need help, we are here for you.