For many students, falling behind in a quarter does not necessarily lead to failure. If they recognize the seriousness of the situation, look for resources early, and work to catch up, they may still be successful. The following strategies should be considered when working with students who are off track, along with other topics already covered, including mental health counseling, DAS, food and housing insecuity, and more.
One of the most important resources available to students is tutoring. SCC Tutoring SCC maintains a learning environment where every student is valued, challenged, and encouraged. Their primary mission is to empower students to gain the necessary confidence and skills to become independent learners. Students have several options for tutoring, including in-person, drop-in (no appointment necessary) tutoring on a variety of subjects and also online tutoring. Subjects, locations, and hours vary depending on location and subject. If your students have questions about times and locations, encourage them to call 509-533-7322. Our Colville and Newport Centers also have tutoring available, and the main Tutoring Centerpage provides links for the Northern Counties. ABE and ESL tutorare also available online.
If you have questions about tutoring services, please contact Erin Smith, the Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences (509-533-8016 or Erin.Smith@scc.spokane.edu) or Ellie Rieboldt, Tutoring Services Manager (509-533-7329 or ellie.reiboldt@scc.spokane.edu).
For students who are taking online courses, online help is available! Contact a CCS eLearning Student Success Coach to ask for help or to join their Canvas course and gain access to campus resources, important date reminders, help with classes, and priority registration. Their contact information is listed here:
I-BEST is an approach designed to support students through team teaching and additional help with academic and social needs. I-BEST provides an opportunity for students to work with two instructors who use a variety of team teaching strategies and help students connect with the most appropriate resources students need to remain successful at SCC. For more information on using the I-BEST model in your courses or programs, contact Sarah Stiffler at sarah.stiffler@scc.spokane.edu.
If a student decides to drop one or all their classes because they are failing or need to focus on other areas of their life, they should check with advisors and/or counselors.
Perhaps the issue is that a student has decided that their chosen program is not a good fit for them. If that is the case, the Counseling team also offers career counseling and planning services. If students are unsure what they want to study/do, the SCC Counseling Department can help them explore different career options, and then build a plan to achieve the career goal they identify. Students can connect to the counseling office by visiting Building 1 (room B-102) or by calling 509.533.8400.
If the student is receiving financial aid, they should also discuss their program change with the Financial Aid Office (509.533.7017) to make sure their funding won’t be affected by the change. Not all programs are eligible for financial aid and some programs are limited to only certain types of aid.
If a student asks to drop all of their (credit) classes, Financial Aid can offer some guidance.
The Director of Admissions and Registration suggests:
If the student withdraws from or drops credit courses while receiving financial aid, there are consequences. Dropping classes within the first 10 days of the quarter (or first 8 days in Summer) and/or receiving an I, Z, W, or 0.0 grade will almost always affect a student’s financial aid.
Students should contact the Financial Aid Office at 509-533-7017 or fscc@scc.spokane.edu if they have questions about how withdrawing or dropping credits will affect their eligibility for funding.
Here are a few FAQs if you are interested in learning more:
FAQ: "Is there a difference between academic standing and financial aid standing?"
Yes. Financial aid standing (warnings, suspensions, and probations) uses different GPA and credit completion standards than academic standing (warnings, probations, suspensions, and disqualifications). Academic standing impacts a student's ability to enroll in classes whereas financial aid standing impacts a student's eligibility for funding to pay for those classes. It is possible, for example, for a student to be placed on an academic warning status based on their grades, but still be suspended from financial aid. Similarly, being placed on an academic probation does not make them eligible for a financial aid probation. If suspended from financial aid, a student must appeal directly to the financial aid office for them to determine if the student is eligible for continued funding.
FAQ: "Why does the Financial Aid Office need to know whether a student attended my class? Why do faculty have to report a student’s last date of attendance if they do not pass a class?"
A student’s financial aid eligibility is linked to attendance: If a student does not attend a course, the student is not eligible for financial aid funding for that course. Therefore, the course cannot be counted toward the student’s enrollment and financial aid eligibility is required to be recalculated at the lower enrollment level. If the student did not attend any courses, or if attendance cannot be verified by the student’s instructors, the student is not eligible for any aid and must repay all aid received for the term. Verification of attendance is the school’s responsibility, not the student’s. If a student never attended, the last date of attendance reported by the instructor should be a date prior to the first day of the quarter.
FAQ: "I'm working with a student who is nearing graduation and starting to job hunt. Who on campus can help a student with their resume and interview prep?"
SCC has multiple supports on campus that can help students with career counseling and planning services, whether it is working with a student who is nearing the end of their academic journey and needs help with finding a job, or supporting a student who is unsure of how to choose a program that fits their needs. Encourage your student to visit Career Serviceson campus in Building 1/Main or to call 509.533.8855. Career Services is also available to come to your classroom to provide more information on their services to students. Reach out to Norma Cantu for more information and to schedule (Norma.Cantu@scc.spokane.edu).
Review the following sites or share them with students:
Or, read this article from Forbes, "What Happens To Your Student Loans When You Drop Out Of College."