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From the Provost: Strategies to help CU students stay on track to graduation

Earning a CU-Boulder degree – one of the most valuable degrees in the nation according to payscale.com and other studies – is the prime objective of all our students, and it’s the reason our faculty, staff and administrators are here. While our campus has always worked to support the success of our students, we are redoubling our efforts in this area as part of the chancellor’s goal to ensure student success. With first semester finals just a month away, we strongly advise you to carefully evaluate your academic progress, and if you are struggling, to take the steps outlined below to get back on track:

  • Book an appointment with your academic advisor as soon as possible to assess your progress toward a degree this year. Take advantage of evening advising hours in Norlin Library if you are a student in the College of Arts & Sciences, or at all colleges from 1-3 p.m. every Monday, when you can drop in without an appointment http://www.colorado.edu/advising/;
  • Visit with your professors during their office hours to discuss your performance and develop strategies to improve it. You can also take advantage of CU-Boulder’s Faculty-Student Mentor Program at http://www.colorado.edu/facultymentorprogram/. If you are already involved in the mentoring program, stay connected with your mentor.
  • Have an honest discussion with your parentsor other trusted advisors about the challenges you are facing and develop strategies to address them. Be clear with your family and advisor if you think you are in the wrong major and address it now. There are ways to change successfully and university staff and faculty will support you and guide you through that process;
  • If you are personally struggling with depression, alcohol or drug use, or just not adapting emotionally to life at CU-Boulder, make an appointment to visit the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services, or Wardenburg’s Psychological Health and Psychiatry office, where trained, compassionate and helpful professionals are available Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for walk-in appointments, or visit http://www.colorado.edu/counseling/ for more information;
  • Examine your time management and find ways to focus enough time on academic work. Build a schedule around studying and healthy free-time pursuits such as exercise, intramurals/club sports, or involvement in other student organizations. For help on building your study skills and managing issues around test-taking and other academic challenges, visit the CU-Boulder Student Academic Success Center (SASC) at: http://www.colorado.edu/sasc/skills

Faculty, staff and administration are working on providing additional tools and services to enable your progress. Among these are new advising systems that will put your data and the courses we offer right on your mobile device, providing real-time data to your advisor. Look for that innovation to come online in the spring semester. The administration and student government are also working together to improve the student experience here at all points, including focusing on our campus climate to make it more welcoming and inclusive for all students.

Our goal is to help you earn the degree that will serve you well for the rest of your life.