Support Services  |  Academic Progress  |  Academic Strategies  |  GPA Calculators

How Can I Improve My Academic Standing?

Steps to Take to Get back / Stay on Track

1 )  REFLECT ON YOUR ACADEMIC PROGRESS so far and your future goals.

• Did you receive a letter that you are not making Satisfactory Academic Progress? Check to see how far you are behind in credits or/and GPA.
• Do you want to just improve your GPA or get ahead on credits?

2 )  REVIEW THE STRATEGIES listed here and explore other support web-pages 

1. How to Improve your GPA?
2. How to Catch Up in Credits?
3. Can I use the F to R Policy (This is the fastest way to raise your GPA)
4. Should I Change My Major? (Why struggle when you can exel elsewhere?)

3 )  MEET WITH THE ASSISTANT TO THE DEAN FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS to review more specific strategies tailored to your situation.

4 )  REVISE YOUR SCHEDULE WITH YOUR ADVISOR IF NECESSARY.

1. Change your schedule to add F to Rs.
2. Avoid 2nd Semester sequences of courses you failed.
3. Explore alternative major courses
4. NOTE: If you are having problems reaching your advisor contact us.

5 )  SEEK OUT ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES ON CAMPUS to help you get back on track. (Including the spring Academic Success Program for first year students)

6 )  STAY ORGANIZED AND KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS

• Attend all your classes and turn your work in on-time (Your syllabi list your class attendance and late work policies.  Don't loose points unneccessarily!)
• Check in with your faculty periodically to see how you are doing.
• Get help early on if you need it and watch out for warning signs.
• Check your midterm grades on my NU
• Be aware of the Add / Drop Procedures / Deadlines
• Know that you can always stop in to the Dean's Office for assistance.

• FIRST YEAR STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS PROGRAM
  • This program is provided for first year students below a 2.0 after their first semester.   It is designed to assist students in understanding and changing the behaviors and skills which affected their first semester performance.
  • The program consists of a series of appointments with an academic support advisor, which are monitored by the Dean's office.
  • Participation and engagement in the program are taken into consideration by the Dean's Office at the end of the Spring semester when academic progress is reviewed.

How Can I Improve My GPA?

• GPA

GPA (also called QPA) is a calculation of your total quality points divided by the total number of credits you have attempted. (GPA = quality points / attempted credits).  Improving your GPA requires that you increase your total quality points relative to your attempted hours.

• AIM FOR HIGHER GRADES IN YOUR NU CLASSES

  Each grade you receive at NU contributes to both your quality points and your attempted hours.  Higher grades give you more points per hours attempted. An A will boost your GPA by increasing your quality points relative to your attempted hours, while a D will hurt your GPA because it is below a 2.0 in value.	3 credit A+:   3 x 4.33 = 12.99 quality points - Greatly Boosts GPA
  	3 credit A:   3 x 4.0 = 12 quality points - Greatly Boosts GPA
  	3 credit A-:   3 x 3.66 = 10.98 quality points - Boosts GPA
  	3 credit B+:   3 x 3.33 = 9.99 quality points - Boosts GPA
  	3 credit B:   3 x 3.0 = 9 quality points - Boosts GPA
  	3 credit B-:   3 x 2.66 = 7.98 quality points - Boosts GPA
  	3 credit C+:   3 x 2.33 = 6.99 quality points - Boosts GPA
  	3 credit C:   3 x 2.0 = 6 quality points - Baseline GPA
  	3 credit C-:   3 x 2.0 = 6 quality points - Hurts GPA
  	3 credit D+:   3 x 1.0 = 3 quality points - Hurts GPA
  	3 credit D:   3 x 1.0 = 3 quality points - Hurts GPA
  	3 credit D-:   3 x 1.0 = 3 quality points - Severely Hurts GPA
  	3 credit F:   3 x  0.0 = 0 quality points - Severely hurts GPA  (See the F to R Policy)

• CONSIDER RETAKING COURSES AT NU THAT YOU FAILED

  The F to R policy (more info below) can help your GPA by allowing you to remove attempted hours from your transcript thus increasing the ratio used to calculate your GPA.

 

• CALCULATING WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO REACH YOUR GOAL

  You can use the GPA calculators to determine what you would need to achieve in your current/future courses to reach a certain goal GPA, including any F to Rs you plan to take.

• CONSIDER CHANGING YOUR MAJOR

If you are struggling in your major courses, consider changing your major.  You may be able to achieve much higher grades in a different major discipline.

• AVOID MISSING ANY CLASSES OR ASSIGNMENT DEADLINES

Check your syllabi attendance policies, if you miss too many classes or miss deadlines for submitting work your GPA can suffer or you might even fail the course.

How do I Catch Up On Credits?

• WHAT IF I AM BEHIND IN CREDITS?

If you are behind in credits (under 12 credits per semester) you will find yourself making unsatisfactory academic progress even if you GPA is above a 2.0. This means it will take more than 5 years to complete your degree.  If you are significantly behind and not making progress you may still be dismissed based on credits.

• HOW TO ESTIMATE WHAT YOU NEED TO GET BACK ON TRACK
  • Calculate your # Total Earned Credits - Available on MyNU
  • Add up the number of semesters you have attempted a full-time load.
    • Each full-time semesters (12+ credits) including those with Ws
    • Each full-time equivalent semester = 15 credits of part-time or transfer credit
  • To catch up to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (5 year Plan)
    • (Approximate # of Credits Behind) = (# Semesters Attempted) X 12 - (# Total Earned Credits)
  • To catch up to a 4 year plan
    • (Approximate # of Credits Behind) = (# Semesters Attempted) X 15 - (# Total Earned Credits)
    • This is deceptive if you have 4-credit courses, labs, or courses that don't count toward your degree requirements.  Some majors require more than 120 hours
• STRATEGIES FOR CATCHING UP ON CREDITS
  • 15 credits/semester allows you to catch up on 3 credits toward the total that you need for satisfactory academic progress, but will not catch you up to the 4 year plan.
  • Summer courses at NU can catch you up on credits in between the semesters while taking courses that may improve your GPA.
  • Transfer courses elsewhere (e.g. winter/summer courses at another institution).  
    • Transfer courses do not affect your GPA
    • Transfer courses cannot be used for the F to R policy
    • Catch you up on credits
    • Such courses must be preapproved using the transfer permission form.  Some restrictions apply.
  • Part-time study may allow you to catch up on credits, while not adding another semester to the chart. Contact the Dean's office as this is a bit complicated.
  • Overloading (Taking more than 18 credits per semester) is not recommended for anyone below a 3.0 overall GPA and is highly dangerous for anyone struggling with GPA issues

What If I get an F in a Class?  The F to R Policy

• THE F TO R POLICY IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR GPA if you are struggling academically or making unsatisfactory academic progress.  For full details on this policy check out the Undergraduate Catalog.

• HOW TO UTILIZE THE F TO R POLICY
  • The F to R policy can be used on up to 4 failed courses.  If you failed a course multiple times, the F to R policy will change all the Fs for that course.
  • You must retake and pass the same course at NU that you failed.  Transfer courses don't work for F to Rs.
  • Fill out an F to R Form once you pass the course and turn it into your Dean's Office.  This switches the original "F" to an "R" which no longer factors into your overall GPA.

 

• USE THE GPA CALCULATORS TO ESTIMATE THE BENEFIT OF AN F TO R

• Obtain the latest copy of your transcript on My NU or from Records.
• Follow the directions on the Overall GPA Calculator using the optional F to R columns to see how pursuing an F to R can help you to reach your goal GPA

 

• EXAMPLE - Based on 30 credits (2 As, 2 Bs, 2Cs, 2Ds, 2 Fs)

If you retook the and passed the Fs next semester, your starting GPA before your new grades are factored in would be:

2.0  without retaking any Fs

2.22 after retaking one F

2.5 after retaking two Fs

Is my major a good fit for me?  It is OK to switch your major(s)!!!!

It is normal for students to change their major after exploring new fields and interests not previously encountered.  Remember not to limit yourself to one major, particularly when there might be alternative paths to certain careers.

• YOU SHOULD CHANGE YOUR MAJOR IF...
  • You have struggled in your major courses (e.g. multiple courses below a C).  Remaining in a major for too long can affect your ability to make satisfactory academic progress and complicate your ability to graduate or remain at NU.
  • You no longer have an interest in the major.  Selecting a major with courses that you are interested in and can do well at, can make it easier to raise your overall GPA
• WAYS TO EXPLORE NEW MAJORS...
  • Career Services has a variety of software and links to explore your interests
  • Academic Exploration has helpful links to information about choosing majors
  • Arts & Sciences Programs includes departmental & major specific information
  • Advisors & other faculty members can help you examine your interests
  • Dean's Office staff can help work up your credits in the new major's Curriculum Card so that you can see what requirements you would still need to fulfill.
• Logistics of changing your major
  • Major Change / Transfer Within NU form - To switch majors within a college or to switch majors between colleges.  This generally requires a 2.0 GPA or higher (Education & Social Work require a 2.5)
  • If your GPA is too low to get where you are headed, consider temporarily enrolling in General Studies to work toward your goal. The advisor for General Studies is also the Assistant to the Dean for Academic Affairs and can assist you in developing strategies for improving your GPA.