Innovative class boosts CHBS students' academic success
JMU News
SUMMARY: A course designed to help students thrive in the College of Health and Behavioral Studies (CHBS) after facing suspension is achieving remarkable success, with 69% (18 out of 26) of students in the first cohort increasing their semester GPA.
A course designed to help students thrive in the College of Health and Behavioral Studies (CHBS) after facing suspension is achieving remarkable success.
Kevin Apple, associate dean of CHBS, said 26 students enrolled in PSYC 200 Topics in Psychology - Learning Strategies during its inaugural offering in fall 2022 and 69% (18 out of 26) of these students increased their semester GPA. In contrast, 71% (24 out of 34) of students who did not take the class saw a decrease in their semester GPA.
On average, students who completed the class improved their semester GPA by 0.44 during the fall, while those who did not complete the class experienced a reduction of 0.58 in their semester GPA, Apple noted.
The one-credit hour class meets weekly for one hour during the fall semester and is offered to students who are placed on academic suspension following the previous spring semester. Students are suspended if their cumulative GPA dips below a value between 1.5-1.9, depending on how many credits they’ve completed. Seniors, who need at least a 2.0 GPA to graduate, are suspended if their cumulative GPA falls to 1.9 or below, while the scale is a bit more forgiving for students who have more time to recover.
Apple said about 100 CHBS majors are placed on academic suspension each spring. When he became an associate dean in 2020, he continued the practice of his predecessor by inviting the students to his office for consultation, but it didn’t seem to be effective. To help more students succeed, Apple started the course to see students on a weekly basis, build relationships with them and allow them to connect with other students in similar situations.
While the number of students who face suspension is statistically small at JMU, Apple emphasized the importance of helping every student succeed.
Apple said there are similar classes in other JMU colleges, but this learning strategies course is unique in catering to students who have fallen into the suspension zone. The classes in other colleges are designed for first-year students to help them adjust to college-level work.
