About the Author
Anna McClatchy, EdD
Assistant Dean of Student Success and Director of the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
On December 17, 2024, a handful of offices processed several thousand grades. For many students, this resulted in a sigh of relief, or even celebration, but for some this news may not have been as joyous. On average, 100 students receive academic suspensions at the end of each semester. Of those 100 or so students, 50 percent of them appeal their suspension to the Scholastic Standards Committee. Nearly half of those appeals are approved each semester. The remaining students must sit out on suspension. Suspension terms last for one semester plus summer semester, or for an entire academic year.
Support Through the Process
However, our process and support does not end there. After the appeal decisions, the Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success, along with other student affairs staff, continue to support these students. Students who receive approved appeals meet with an assigned professional staff member for at least one semester. Our staff know that it is more often a more personal issue that has affected their academic performance rather than a lack of comprehension. These one-on-one meetings provide the space for the student to discuss their situation with a staff member, who then educates the student on their available resources.
We also provide follow up support to suspended students. Our office can meet with each student individually to discuss a plan for their time away. Suspended students who plan to return to Michigan Tech have requirements to return. They must successfully complete courses at another institution. If that is not possible, they must obtain employment for at least three months and provide the committee with a favorable letter of recommendation from their supervisor. For students who do not attend individual meetings with us, we provide detailed information the requirements for successful reinstatement via email.
Even in their time away our staff still supports our students. We want the students to return, and we want them to be successful in their return.
Purpose-driven Supportive Measures
While sitting out on a suspension may look and feel like a punishment to students, our staff know that often this is exactly what they need. One such student recently came back into the Wahtera Center. This student had been placed on probation after their first year and put into a success course. Then, at the end of their third semester, the student was placed on suspension. Their suspension appeal was denied and they sat out on suspension for a spring and summer semester.
We want the students to return, and we want them to be successful in their return.
During their suspension, the student had the time to focus on their medical needs and work full-time. They also had some difficult conversations with their parents about changing their major. This student returned to Tech with a changed major and a better understanding of how to take care of themselves. Since this student has returned they have consistently made the Dean’s list and have been provided with multiple opportunities within their academic program. This student told us that at the time they were upset about the denial of their suspension appeal, but now they see that it was the best thing for them. Without that break they said they do not believe they would have been able to resolve the issues they were facing and find where they belong here at Michigan Tech.
This is one student’s story, but for those of us in the Wahtera Center we have experienced many similar success stories. Regardless of a student’s academic status, Student Affairs staff are here to support students.