Stay Whelmed is an academic support initiative for first-year students who earned less than a 3.0 GPA in their fall semester. (First-year Honors students must earn a 3.000 GPA by the end of the academic year to continue in Honors; students who do not meet this requirement may be dismissed from the Honors Program and have an opportunity to appeal.)
Last week, an email (copied below) was sent to all Honors first-year students with a semester GPA below 3.0. Students below a 2.50 GPA have been asked to submit an Academic Success Plan and will meet individually with Honors staff advisors to discuss their goals, resources, and next steps.
All Honors students are encouraged to attend weekly drop-in hours with Honors staff advisors if they have questions about Honors requirements or getting connected to campus resources. Students may also use Nexus to schedule an appointment with an Honors staff advisor.
Dear Honors Student,
You’re receiving this email as a reminder that you need to achieve a 3.0 cumulative GPA by the end of your first year to remain in Honors and to offer you support in reaching that goal. The first semester of college is always a time of academic and social adjustment, and it’s understandable that individuals may encounter bumps in the road and perform at a level below that to which they’re accustomed. It is also understandable that personal issues can sometimes pull one’s focus away from academics, particularly given the continued global crises we are all facing.
Please note: this is not a notification that your current status in the Honors Program has changed. The Honors GPA review takes place at the end of each academic year, and we want to let you know that there are UConn resources available to help you plan for a successful semester. We are here to help you!
(This GPA review was of your first semester GPA, which doesn’t include any ECE credits you might have accepted to roll over as degree granting. While they were not considered in this review, ECE credits may be reflected in your cumulative GPA during the spring semester and be considered in the official Honors GPA review this summer.)
While challenging, the best first step is to reflect on, “what affected my performance?”
Consider:
- Was there a personal crisis?
- Did you spend too much time on extracurricular activities?
- Did you struggle with the modality of your courses?
- Did you find that your old study habits didn’t work anymore?
Whatever the contributing factors were, we want you to identify them, determine whether they’re resolved or whether they’ll continue to be a part of your life, and then decide how to proceed and what you can do differently.
Remember that we are here to help! While we can’t replace an official advisor, we act as secondary advisors to any Honors student who has questions or confusion. Please feel free to email us, make an appointment, or visit our weekly drop-in advising hours.
We know we speak for the entire Honors staff when we say that we want you to do well academically and be well and “whelmed”! We hope that you’ll take advantage of the resources listed below. It’s better to address an issue as soon as it arises than to wait until the last minute when there are few options available to address it.
Best wishes for a successful spring semester,
Greg Champion, M.A.
Honors Program, Program Assistant II
Schedule an appointment on Nexus
Coral Fernandez-Illescas, Ph.D.
Honors Program STEM Scholar Advisor
Schedule an appointment on Nexus
Kaitlin Heenehan, M.A.Ed.
Honors Program Assistant Director, UConn Stamford
Schedule an appointment onNexus
Anne Kim, Ph.D.
Honors Program Assistant Director
Schedule an appointment on Nexus
Jennifer Oliveira, M.Sc.
Honors Advising Administrator & Honors ACES Advisor
Schedule an appointment on Nexus
Sierra Trudel, M.S.
Honors and Enrichment Programs, Graduate Assistant
Schedule an appointment on Nexus
(Storrs Campus)
Academic Resources
- The Academic Achievement Center helps with the process of studying, test-taking, and time management. Old habits often aren’t enough and each course needs different strategies. Take advantage of workshops, individual coaching, and electronic resources. Supplemental Instruction is also offered for certain entry level courses.
- If you have difficulty with quantitative courses, make sure you check out the Q Center. The Center offers tutoring, guidelines for course placement, and other helpful information. The Engineering Tutoring Center is also open to all majors in the classes supported.
- If you find that your writing is not as strong as you or your instructors think it should be, meet with the Writing Center. You can work with tutors who will help you with everything from brainstorming to doing a final overview of your paper. The tutors can address any type of writing, whether it’s a paper, lab report, scholarship application, etc.
- Take advantage of your professors’ office hours. All professors have to offer hours when they’re in their offices available to help you. Often they’ll post those hours on their syllabi – or they’ll be by appointment, so make an appointment!
- If your professor or TA offers review sessions, attend them! This is your chance to ask questions, so don’t hesitate!
- Meet with your advisor. Much like professors, advisors are here to help you with the questions and stumbling blocks that you may come across. Most advisors have office hours or drop-in hours when they’re available to meet with anyone who drops in.
- Tutoring (right side of the page) is something that can really help if you’re having trouble understanding the content of a course.
Mentors
- If you have a PATH mentor, don’t hesitate to talk to them! Students volunteered to be mentors because they wanted to help first year students avoid the mistakes they made and provide them with the benefit of their experiences. Ask what difficulties your mentor encountered their first year and what steps they took to resolve them.
- UConn Connects is a program for anyone who feels that they might benefit from having a mentor to act as a guide throughout the semester. The mentor can check up on academic strategy and progress and offer advice about resources with the goal of improving GPA.
- Just because UNIV 1784 is over doesn’t mean your facilitators have to be out of your life – connect to one or both and continue to ask them questions and for advice.
Cultural Centers and Programs
The cultural centers and programs can offer everything from advice, to peer mentors, to a quiet place to study. You can learn more about what they have to offer by visiting their websites:
Other Resources
- Utilize Mental Health Services at Student Health and Wellness. Along with personal sessions, the office also offers group sessions. Check out their ‘Self-Help’ tab for a wide range of online information if you prefer to begin that way. The Psychological Services Clinic is another resource on campus for mental health.
- The Dean of Students office advocates for students, connects students to resources, and supports students in resolving educational, personal, or university concerns that impact life and goals.
- Keep in mind the Academic Calendar and deadlines as you make decisions about courses and create a schedule that will help you to be most successful.
- Advising online hub can also help point you in the right direction of resources on campus.
- The Major Experience can help you to explore fields of study and career options.
(Stamford Campus) Please note that some of the UConn Storrs resources are also open to students from all campuses, with some virtual offerings, so see below for Stamford resources, but also above for additional support.
Academic Resources
- Take advantage of your professors’ office hours. All professors have to offer hours when they’re in their offices available to help you. Often they’ll post those hours on their syllabi – or they’ll be by appointment, so make an appointment!
- If your professor or TA offers review sessions, attend them! This is your chance to ask questions, so don’t hesitate!
- Meet with your advisor. Much like professors, advisors are here to help you with the questions and stumbling blocks that you may come across.
- The Source for Active Learning offers free tutoring in Writing or certain Quantitative courses
Mentors
- If you have a PATH mentor, don’t hesitate to talk to them! Students volunteered to be mentors because they wanted to help first year students avoid the mistakes they made and provide them with the benefit of their experiences. Ask what difficulties your mentor encountered their first year and what steps they took to resolve them.
- Just because UNIV 1784 is over doesn’t mean your facilitators have to be out of your life – connect to one or both and continue to ask them questions and for advice.
Other Resources
- Visit the Mental Health Resource Center.
- The Office of Student Services at Stamford includes a variety of resources and support in your educational journey including Center for Students with Disabilities and other support including advocacy, connections, and addressing concerns impacting your educational journey.
- The Affinity Collaborative and Community Center at Stamford is available for students to make intentional social connections with other identify focused groups and students, as well as allies.
- Keep in mind the Academic Calendar and deadlines as you make decisions about courses and create a schedule that will help you to be most successful.
For more information, contact: Anne Kim at anne.kim@uconn.edu