Student Academic Success Policy

On Track - On Time

In UM's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Student Academic Success is more than just a campus policy; it is a way of university life we want to help you achieve! Your goal is ( or should be) to get your degree and move on to your next endeavor. The job market and post-graduate schools are competitive - they both want applicants who show they can do the job right the first time. And, there's no denying that it just plain costs a lot to be in school! Getting out on time helps your pocketbook. So, here's the lowdown on the Student Academic Success Policy:

1. What's the policy say?

Students are expected to complete their degree within 10 semesters or 130 cumulative credit hours, whichever comes first.

Units offering majors are required to have a reasonable set of standards (benchmarks) that help define 'satisfactory progress' in the major. Students and advisors are supposed to have copies of the pertinent benchmarks or have easy access to them.

Units offering majors are required to have reasonable sample 4-year plans - an example of one way in which to proceed through courses that allows a first-time, full-time freshman to complete a degree in 4 years (assuming a 120-credit degree). Students and advisors are supposed to have copies of the pertinent 4-year plans or have easy access to them.

Each student is expected to take responsibility for the development of his/her unique 4-year plan (using the sample as a guide) and up-date it regularly (in this college, ahead of and during each advising appointment). Students are expected to understand the benchmarks that apply to their major. Advisors are expected to review benchmarks and 4-year plans at each advising session.

2. What will we (the college) do to help?

We've started with this page to explain the policy and how it works. From here you can directly access the Sample 4-Year Plans for each major in the college. From here you can directly access the campus' online academic audit tool, DegreeNavigator4, which will let you monitor your major (and minor) requirements now and soon will let you monitor your progress through the benchmarks for your major.

Beginning this Fall semester, we've asked each advisor to ask you if you understand the policy (if not, he or she will try to explain it to you), if you have seen the benchmarks for your major (if not, he or she will provide you with a copy), and if you have prepared your individual 4-Year Plan (if not, you will likely be stretched on the rack for the entire semester).

Beginning this Fall semester, you will be granted access to the online academic audit tool, DegreeNavigator4 (DN4). DN4 is a complete audit system that allows you to access the requirements and see the progress you have made in YOUR degree program. It reflects your personal academic record in the context of the curriculum requirements. With it you can judge whether your record accurately reflects what you have done in CORE, in your major courses, and if you are getting expected credit for transfer courses. Within your department, your undergraduate program coordinator can add waivers and exceptions to account for courses taken in lieu of requirements, etc., such that your record should accurately reflect what your progress to degree really is.

Beginning this Fall semester, your progress will be checked regularly (you should do this prior to every advising appointment) by your program and the college.

2. What are the results and expectations ?

If you entered this college as a first-time, full-time freshmen, your 'clock' began on day one of your first semester. You are expected to meet the benchmark requirements on time and fulfill the graduation goal as described above.

If you transferred from another unit within this university or from an outside school, you will need to work with your advisor to determine your 4- (or 3- or 2-, etc.) year plan and establish the time at which your 'clock' started for purposes of benchmark reviews.

If you are a double major, are pursuing a minor, are involved (or later become involved) in an academic enrichment program (University Honors, College Park Scholars, Gemstone, living-learning programs, study abroad, internships, etc.) you will need to work with your advisor to modify appropriately your 4-year plan and benchmark review triggers.

If you are unable to meet benchmarks for your major, your advisor, program coordinator, and college will work with you to determine if you should seek a new major. In that case we will assist you in transferring to a major in which you can succeed.

Working together, we can both achieve a great goal: you can be successful and complete your degree on time and we will get an alumnus in whom we can take great pride!

For more information, contact John Doerr

Last updated: 03/19/2006